Hawaii Things to Do

Like massive fingers cascading down a cliff face, the ridges of the Na Pali coast provide the iconic and dramatic backdrop so often associated with the island of Kauai. Nearly five million years of erosion have carved this undeveloped stretch of coastline into a panorama of precipices which plunge over 3,000 feet down into the sea, and in the native Hawaiian language the words “na pali” literally translate into “the cliffs”.

The Heavenly Hana Tour could also accurately be called the “Road To and From Hana Tour” because on this excursion, the journey (with some stops along the way) truly is the destination.

Located about a 40-minute drive from Waikiki Beach, the popular Dole Plantation is a throwback to the island’s agricultural days and a favorite Oahu family outing. A sprawling plantation which welcomes over a million people per year, visitors descend upon this central Oahu outpost to learn about the island’s agricultural heritage, ride the popular “Pineapple Express” train, and of course wander through “the world’s largest maze”.

Aside from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the town of Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii is one of the most popular attractions for island visitors. The hot, dry weather is a welcome change from the lush, tropical east side, and the nightlife in Kona is far superior to anywhere else on the island.

Planning your day at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park can be somewhat of a challenge due to the constantly changing volcanic activity and the fact that park stretches for almost 500 square miles. Nevertheless, there isn’t really a wrong way to visit the park, and however you choose to spend a day in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will be one which provides dramatic insight into the way in which these islands were formed.

An historic and lush city on the Big Island’s northeastern coast, there are a wide range of things to do in Hilo for all types of Big Island travelers. Waterfall-seekers can head to Rainbow, Akaka, or Onomea Falls right within the confines of Hilo, while the more adventurous can explore the wild coastline of the Hamakua Coast towards Waipio Valley.

There are few winter activities more iconic to the Hawaiian Islands than getting out on the water and whale watching from Maui. Home to the greatest concentration of humpback whales in the northern Pacific, it’s estimated that somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000 humpback whales will pass through the waters of Maui County at some point during the winter.

No visit to Maui is complete without a trip to Haleakala Crater and National Park. This 10,023 ft. mountain holds myriad adventures for island visitors and is one of the most sacred places in Hawaiian lore. Literally translated as “House of the Sun”, it’s from this frosty pinnacle that Maui–the Polynesian demigod–snared the sun so as to slow its path across the sky. In doing so, Maui was able to provide his people with enough heat and warmth to properly farm the fields and dry their kapa cloth in the sun.

Fans of the wildly popular television show Lost should know that despite many blockbuster Hollywood films having been filmed on Kauai, virtually all the Lost filming locations in Hawaii were shot on the island of Oahu. For fans of the show paying a visit to the island, taking a day to visit all the Lost filming locations is not only an adventurous way to spend the day, but also one of the best ways to get back into the rural countryside and experience the beauty of the island of Oahu.

Nearly all visitors to Kauai will agree that Poipu Beach Park is the undisputed darling of Kauai’s south shore. Located nearby to a number of popular south shore beach resorts, Poipu Beach Park offers pristine snorkeling during the winter months, advanced surfing during the summer months, and ample stretches of golden sand for laying a towel out during any time of the year.