Though I've traveled to nearly 50 countries, I was not in a hurry to visit Hawaii. I always pictured it to be a mass tourist destination full of tacky souvenir shops and overcrowded beaches. I knew my husband would enjoy the ease of staying in the US for a change so I decided to take a chance on this small ship cruise on the Safari Explorer. It turned out to be heavenly! With only 26 travelers in our group, we were able to travel outside the main tourist circuit to 4 different islands, starting in Molokai and finishing on the Big Island. The wildlife was extraordinary! We saw dozens of whales, spinning dolphins, turtles and tropical fish. For anyone who wants to escape the crowds, the Safari Explorer was a blissful introduction to the Hawaii that the locals love!