Planning to Visit Hawaii?
Aloha! Are you ready to start packing for your upcoming trip to Hawaii? We simply love to craft lists for our readers with the latest updates and tips on how to travel to wonderful places. And today, it’s all about Hawaii, baby! What’s even better is that all these tips are from a local’s perspective, so you’ll definitely get to experience all the amazing Hawaiian flavors.
Whether you live there or wish to visit the island, make sure you don’t give up on your dream vacation and give Hawaii a chance! So, considering there are so many locations to visit on the Hawaiian Islands, we will only enlist the best and most affordable options.
Waikiki, O’ahu
Waikiki, on O’ahu’s sunny south shore, is probably the most famous resort in town. Over time, the neighborhood drastically changed from being less kitschy to more authentic. Nowadays, hotels offer lei-making classes in beautiful open-air lobbies, but traditional hula is also the main attraction on the tiki torch-lit hua mound on one of their most visited beaches, Kuhio Beach.
You can take surfing lessons from young and athletic modern-day beach boys or simply indulge in afternoon tea at the historic Moana Surfrider. The Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort has been known for its outstanding fireworks show every Friday since 1988.
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai’i Island
The 323,431-acre Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is the definition of a unique place. I can vouch that you won’t find a place like this in Hawaii or the US. In fact, it’s one of the few places in the world where you can drive up to watch an active volcano.
Kilauea, an active shield volcano, had been constantly erupting until 2018, altering and changing the landscape since 1983. For now, it’s not active, but that could change any day. The national park, one of five on the Big Island, stretches from sea level to Mauna Loa, one of the largest volcanoes ever. Trek along one of the many hiking routes in the park and see how beautifully the old lava flows around.
The island of Moloka’i
Fairly undeveloped and overlooked, Moloka’i will offer you some of the most unique experiences in the Hawaiian Islands. It spans 38 miles long and 10 miles across its widest point, and it’s the fifth largest island in Hawaii.
It’s also the place with the tallest sea cliffs, the longest waterfall on the islands, and beautiful white-sand beaches like Papohaku Beach. There aren’t any big hotels or traffic lights, either, but they do have the Mo’omomi Dunes, the 2744-acre Kamakou Preserve with mesmerizing montane bog, and also the secluded Kalaupapa Peninsula, which was once a very isolated community of patients with Hansen’s disease. You can stop at the Kanemitsu Bakery in Kaunakakai for sweet bread freshly taken out of the oven.
Hana, Maui
The 53-mile Hana Highway, commonly known as the Road to Hana, is as scenic as it can get. The road twists across 59 one-lane bridges, parallel with plunging cliffs and waterfalls, and around 620 turns to Hana, a town located on Maui’s northeast coast.
The drive could take several hours, but, to be completely honest, it’s an essential part of the journey. Once in Hana, you can enjoy hala tree-lined Hamoa Beach but also take a proper sunbath at Waiʻānapanapa State Park’s black-sand beaches. If you’re into sports, you can hike to the 400-foot Waimoku Falls in Haleakalā National Park.
Nāpali Coast, Kauaʻi
The towering green cliffs of the fabled Nāpali Coast go as high as 2000 feet from the ocean, and they stretch 15 miles along Kaua’i’s rugged northern coastline. You can visit these beautiful valleys and razor-edged cliffs aboard a catamaran, even on a kayak, or from a helicopter.
If you want to get to Ke’e Beach, you can start by taking the Kalalau Trail. However, make sure you make advance reservations to enter Hāʻena State Park. The costs aren’t too big: $5 for out-of-state visitors and $10 for each car.
North Shore, O’ahu
In winter, from November to February, you can watch some of the best surfers in the world (and thousands of other spectators) flock to O’ahu’s North Shore and its 7 miles of famous breaks, from Banzai Pipeline to Sunset Beach.
Also, every now and then, the waves are big enough (larger than 40 feet) at Waimea Bay to host the prestigious and exclusive Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitation. Summer brings calmer and better ocean conditions, which are wonderful for swimming and snorkeling. The colorful beach town of Hale’iwa boasts cute boutiques, eateries, and, of course, the famous Matsumoto Shave Ice Shop.
Haleakalā National Park, Maui
If you’re eager to catch the sunrise at the top of Haleakalā, a dormant volcano that’s 10,023 feet high above sea level, then you absolutely need to make reservations beforehand. Also, it’s worth mentioning that the fee doesn’t include entrance into the national park, and it can be quite hard to get in!
If you don’t manage to get in, you can view the sunset instead and admire the night sky. Trust me, it’s just as spectacular. The park also offers plenty of hiking trails through otherworldly landscapes, and you also get the opportunity to watch the Hawaiian goose, also known as the state bird.
Hanalei, Kaua’i
On Kaua’i’s serene north shore lies the sleepy town of Hanalei. That’s where you can admire the emerald green mountains, the flooded taro fields, and some of the best beaches on the island, as well as the astounding Hanalei Bay with its historic pier.
You can browse through the art galleries and boutiques, eat fresh poke and try the delicious plant-based taro doughnuts from Holey Grail, and walk around a farmers market. About 2 miles west of Hanalei Bay, you can find Lumaha’i Beach, made famous by the 1958 classic film “South Pacific.”
Maunakea, Hawai’i Island
Maunakea, also known as the “white mountain,” is located at 13,802 feet above sea level, and it’s the world’s tallest mountain. It’s also the most sacred volcano, well-known by Native Hawaiians as the house of gods.
But that’s not all! Maunakea is also a hub of astronomical observation, where more than a dozen massive telescopes from all over the world can be found. If you’re looking for a guided stargazing tour, you can book with trustworthy outfitters like Hawai’i Forest & Trail.
Pearl Harbor, O’ahu
The whole world knows what occurred at Pearl Harbor during the 1941 attack on the USS Arizona, which basically launched the United States into the Second World War. Well, even now, millions of visitors come to see the memorial erected in honor of those 1102 men who are still trapped in the metal hull of the battleship.
You can get a boat to the USS Arizona Memorial, tour the aircraft hangars of the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, and also stand on the decks of the “Mighty Mo” battleship, the place where Imperial Japan formally “surrendered” back in 1945. The place was once known as Wai Momi, or pearl waters, thanks to its abundance of oyster beds.
Upcountry Maui, Maui
On the slopes of Haleakalā, two magical towns are located, Kula and Makawao, which are commonly known as Upcountry Maui. Up there, the air is definitely crispier, and the vibe is a bit slower. You can pick fresh strawberries at Kula Country Farms, wander around the magical Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm, or even feed the goats at Surfing Goat Dairy. This area is well known for its paniolo, or Hawaiian cowboys.
If you enjoyed reading this article, then you definitely need to try: 10 Lesser-Known Destinations That Are Going to Be Popular This Year
