SPAC

To describe Bora Bora as paradise is no overstatement. The island is a vision of vivid blues and verdant peaks, topped by slow-drifting, milky white clouds around the centerpiece of Mount Otemanu. Water shapes everyday life here and sailing the serene lagoon by outrigger canoe or snorkeling among the coral gardens are adventurous ways to get a sense of how the island breathes. Visit a working pearl farm to see how rare black pearls are cultivated, or encounter Bora Bora’s military history at the World War II cannons perched above Faanui Bay.

Bali best reveals its deep history in artistry and craft. Admire the work of goldsmiths in Celuk, woodcarvers in Mas, and village batik artists whose hands follow patterns passed down through generations. In Ubud, the former royal capital, Hindu shrines sit among banyan trees, while the surrounding Jatiluwih Rice Terraces—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—invite exploration by foot or by bike.

Set on the sun-drenched western edge of Hawaiʻi Island, Kona’s coast is a study in contrasts. Black lava fields stretch to white-sand beaches, and coffee groves climb the green slopes of Hualālai volcano. In the highlands, Kona’s famous crop reigns supreme; family-run farms handpick beans from trees rooted in volcanic soil. Head to a roastery for a tasting, or sample local cacao and vanilla—crops grown nowhere else in the U.S. Back at sea level, the story is equally as vivid.

Set on the Big Island’s rain-nourished eastern side, Hilo rewards those who follow its pace—gentle, grounded, and unexpectedly powerful. The town is visually striking; look one way to see rainforest and waterfalls, the other to spy the snow-dusted peak of Mauna Kea, Hawaiʻi’s sacred mountain. Begin the day with a stroll along the bayfront into downtown, browsing family-run shops and artist studios that carry on living traditions such as carving wood and beating kapa.