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When millions of visitors want to enjoy year-round tropical weather, relax on beautiful beaches, and experience exotic island culture, they head to the Hawaiian islands. Whether you’re after the diversity of Oahu or prefer to chill away from everyone at Lanai, you’ll uncover too many experiences to fit in a lifetime. You can narrow your vacation choices to these top places to visit in Hawaii.
Places to Visit on The Big Island (The Island of Hawaii)
As the largest and youngest in the chain, the Island of Hawaii, lets you travel through many of the world’s climate zones, ranging from the wet tropics of the east side to the polar tundras at the summit of both Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. You can experience natural wonders like volcanoes and human-created concerns like coffee plantations.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Big Island)
At Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which is also designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve, you’ll be mesmerized by two of the planet’s most active volcanoes. Mauna Loa is the biggest one in the world, based on volume. However, Kilauea is more active and the place to be when you want to marvel at orange flows of lava.
The best locations to visit vary by what you want to see and eruption status. Be sure to check out the National Park Service website for information on where to go and the current conditions. Go early to avoid the crowds and to catch the wonders in the morning light. You can also visit at night to be mesmerized by the orange glow but don’t forget to bring a headlamp and durable closed-toe shoes to negotiate the rough landscape.
Keep in mind that the park encompasses many sacred sites, so respect the surroundings.
Kona Coffee Farms
If you like to drink a light and sweet fruity beverage with a hint of nuts, you have to try traditional Kona coffee. And there’s no better place to find it than in the hundreds of coffee farms that dot Kona, on the west side of the Big Island. Many of them offer tours to the public, including the following:
- Kona Coffee Living History Farm. This is the only living history coffee farm in the USA and offers a glimpse of coffee growing during the early 20th century. You’re free to stroll through the ground in a paid self-guided tour where you’ll meet costumed interpreters who demonstrate traditional activities.
- Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation. You can take the free 30-minute tour to view all parts of coffee growing, processing, and roasting. There’s also a paid Nature Walk that covers the plantation, lava tubes, an observation deck, and local vegetation.
- Hula Daddy Coffee. A minimum of two people are needed to book the tour, which includes visits to the orchard and roasting room. You’ll also receive a private tasting of the company’s award-winning beverage.
Punaluu Black Sand Beach
At Punaluu Black Sand Beach, you can do many of the things that Hawaii is known for: swim, snorkel, hike the coast, or camp with a permit. But the color of the sand, which comes from old black lava, makes this location unique. The black sand also absorbs sunlight more than its golden counterpart. The surface can get hot although you can take shelter under the many palm trees.
Another attraction consists of the turtles that bask in the sunlight or feed in the sand. You’ll often encounter Hawaiian green sea turtles and sometimes, the rarer Hawksbill turtles. Both types are protected under the Endangered Species Act. You can watch them and take their pictures, but don’t try to touch or feed them, and stay at least 10 feet away.
Stargazing at Mauna Kea
You can get closer to the night sky at the 14,000-foot summit of Mauna Kea. You’re above the clouds in one of the best places in the world for stargazing. You’ll be next to over a dozen observatories that are taking advantage of the clear view away from city lights.
From either Hilo or Kona, you can reach the visitor’s center via a paved road, which is currently suspended due to COVID restrictions. Lines may be long and parking limited.
But if you want to get to the summit, you’ll need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to negotiate the steep gravel terrain. The rental car companies that handle such transportation won’t typically allow their rentals up there.
A better option is to take a guided tour, such as the one offered by Mauna Kea Summit Adventures. The eight-hour excursion includes professional guides and a powerful telescope that you can look through. It includes an Arctic-style parka with a hood to keep you warm, dinner, and hot beverages.
Places to Visit on Oahu
Oahu, the gathering place, is the third largest island and home to over two-thirds of the population of the state. Its historical, natural, and cultural attractions make it the most visited island.
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
Travel back to World War II at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, home to the USS Arizona Memorial. The battleship was sunk on December 7, 1941, during the Japanese attack, which ushered the US into the conflict. Almost half of the 2,341 service members who were killed on that day perished on the ship, a total of 1,177.
The Pearl Harbor National Memorial is free although bags aren’t allowed. If you bring any, you can check them into the storage facility near the visitor center entrance for a fee. To visit the USS Arizona requires a boat shuttle that you catch as part of a 45-minute program by the National Park Service.
You can also visit the memorial sites for the USS Oklahoma and USS Utah Memorials, two other battleships that sank on that day. Because they are on an active military base, you’ll need to reserve a seat on the Ford Island Bus Tour, which is part of a 90-minute guided round-trip tour.
North Shore
If your idea of a good time is hanging 10 or watching others do it, then head to the North Shore. Its golden sands stretch for over 11 miles to host the world’s top surfing competitions, such as the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. The big waves, rising to over 30 feet, arrive from November and February. Pay attention to any warnings against tackling such monstrosities because they can be dangerous for the experienced. More manageable water, which you can swim and surf in, comes from May to September.
To watch world-class athletes, head to the Banzai Pipeline, which is also known as Ehukai Beach Park. The local surf break strip creates a tunnel of water that poses a challenge to professionals. If you want to go beyond sightseeing and sunbathing, head to Chun’s Reef Beach, which is popular with intermediate surfers and beginners learning from the local surf school. You can also go swimming, snorkeling, and surfing here.
Waikiki Beach
Of the six beaches nearby, Waikiki Beach stands out as the most famous because it’s an easy four miles from downtown Honolulu, and easy to reach via the Waikiki Trolley or several bus lines. Leave your car at your rental because parking is extremely limited. People come to sunbathe on the white sands, play in the clear and clean water, and, of course, surf.
Look southeast and you’ll spot the recognizable silhouette of the Diamond Head State Monument, which is the crater of a volcano that erupted 300,000 years ago. You can easily walk the 2.3 miles to it from the beach. However, you should be in good shape if you plan on hiking up the 760 feet to the cone, where you’ll be treated to beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean, Waiki Beach, and city skyscrapers.
Honolulu
Whether you’re landing on the island for the first time by plane or are an experienced traveler taking one of the many cruises that stop in the harbor, you can’t miss Honolulu on any visit. Fortunately, the state’s capital and largest city dazzles with numerous attractions, such as the following.
- Saturday Farmer’s Market at Kapiolani Community College. Indulge in such local delicacies as fresh abalone, organic single-floral honey, chocolate from locally sourced cacao, or crispy fried poi mochi.
- Bishop Museum. The island’s primary scientific and cultural center offers everything from historic oil paintings and artifacts from pre-contact Hawaii to a planetarium and adventure center.
- Port Waikiki Cruises. Want to go whale watching, snorkeling, or sailing at sunset with a cocktail in hand? This company offers a variety of cruises on powered and wind-driven watercraft.
- Paradise Cove Luau. Ranking as one of the most touristy things you can do in the state, a luau showcases Hawaii’s culture and food in an entertainment spectacular. This one at the Ko Olina Resort at Paradise cove features hula dancers, fire twirlers, coastal views, and three dining packages.
- Manoa Falls. If this 150-foot waterfall looks familiar, it’s because it appeared in such movies as Jurassic Park and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The two-mile hike to the rock pool takes you through a tropical rainforest.
Places to Visit in Maui
The island of Maui is the second largest and known as the Valley Isle because its flat interior is flanked by two volcanoes: Haleakala and Mauna Kahalawai. This unique geography makes for one of the state’s most beautiful places, which you can tour by car or bus.
Road to Hana
If the hot tropical sun is getting to you, you’ll be pleased to know that you can take the Road to Hana from the comfort of your air-conditioned car or tour bus. On what is arguably the best of the state’s many scenic drives, you’ll be traversing about 64 miles on Routes 36 and 360 from Kahului to Hana. If you don’t stop, you can rush through in about two hours and 40 minutes.
Just make sure that whatever you ride has large windows because there’s a lot to see. Rainforests, water features, and magnificent vistas all beckon. Don’t be surprised if the following sites tempt you from your vehicle. Your trip can then easily take six hours or more.
- Pools of Oheo or the Seven Sacred Pools. You’ll find many waterfall-fed plunge pools that invite you to swim and cliff-jump.
- Ke’anae Arboretum. Wander through the free six acres of botanical gardens filled with 150 specimens of exotic flora.
- Kaihalulu Beach. As the surrounding rust-red cliffs of lava crumble, they fill the beach with red sand. Hiking to the hidden cove requires sure-footedness on the slippery cliff edges.
Haleakala National Park
In Hawaiian, Haleakala means “House of the Sun,” and legend says that the demigod Maui made the day last longer by slowing the sun with a lasso from the summit of the volcano. Two of the best times to visit Haleakala National Park are during sunrise and sunset when the light plays with color and shadow to reveal the blue of day or the stars of the night.
If you want to park at the summit with a rental or personal vehicle, you’ll need a permit to view the sunrise as well as the park entry fee. You can also go on horseback rides, hike with a guide, or simply enjoy the red deserts and lush wilderness. More endangered species live here than in any other location in the National Park Service.
Places to Visit in Kauai
As the oldest and northernmost of the Hawaiian chains, Kauai, or the Garden Isle, has grown rich with tropical rainforests, tall mountains, and green cliffs. Much of the island is accessible only by airplane or boat, rewarding you with wilderness views you can’t get anywhere else.
Waimea Canyon
Also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, Waimea Canyon gets a state park all its own. Measuring 14 miles long, 1 mile wide, and over 3,600 feet deep, this gorge came from the collapse of an ancient volcano as well as natural erosion. You’ll marvel at the green foliage clinging to red cliff walls. The color comes from the lava flows that have hardened into basalt that has weathered from black to red.
Admission is free and other than enjoying spectacular vistas, you can also go on picnics, and take hiking trails in and out of the canyon, and its nearby forest reserves. Trout fishing, and pig and goat hunting are also encouraged.
Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park
Na Pali means “the cliffs,” which makes it a fitting designation for the Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park. Towering peaks and narrow valleys end suddenly at the sea, allowing waterfalls to gush from the streams that flow through the area. Native Hawaiians used to live in the lush greenery between the spires. You’ll still be able to spot their traces in the form of walled terraces dating from as early as 1300 AD.
Take a short 2-mile hike from Hanakapi’ai Beach to Hanakapiai Falls at 300 feet high. If you’re an experienced challenger, try the Kalalau Trail, which snakes through the landscape for 11 miles. For either adventure, you need to buy Parking and Entry Reservations for Ha’ena SP. If you intend on camping in the park, you’ll need a permit.
Keep in mind that the park has no drinking water, trash, or cell phone service. Bring out whatever you bring in and don’t drink from the streams unless you treat the water.
Places to Visit on Other Hawaiian Islands
Lanai
For a calm and quiet getaway, you can head to Lanai on a 60-minute ferry ride from Maui. You can then hike the coastal trails or swim and snorkel at Hulopoe Beach. However, you may also prefer to join the many who pamper themselves with luxury at one of the luxurious places to stay on the island.
Kalaupapa National Historical Park in Molokai
There’s no shortage of natural attractions at this national park, which is located on the island of Molokai and encompasses almost 30 federally listed threatened and endangered species. Marine life alone includes well-preserved coral reefs, humpback whales, green sea turtles, and monk seals.
But most come to the island to engage in history and education at this former leper colony. Over 8,000 mostly native Hawaiians have died here since 1866. The park still hosts a well-maintained community of patient-residents who are afflicted with Hansen’s disease (leprosy).
One unusual activity is to go down the 2,000-foot sea cliffs on the back of a Molokai mule. Skilled hikers are welcome to try the 3.5-mile trail to the park, which is physically demanding and requires a permit.
To visit, you’ll need a permit from one of the two tour companies that offers daily tours. You’ll need to bring in your own food and supplies, and take any trash out. However, the local bar does serve snacks and soft drinks. Taking pictures of residents and their property is not allowed with their express written permission.
Enjoy the Best Places to Visit in Hawaii
Now you’re more than ready to plan the picture-perfect vacation to Hawaii. Whether you choose to island hop through a few of the Pacific Ocean beauties or stay put on one of the islands, we’re certain of one thing: you’ll absolutely love your time in Hawaii!
