One commonly faced question when planning a vacation to Hawaii is where to go. All of the islands offer many different activities, but this piece will focus on the main four islands: Oahu, the most populated and busiest island; Maui, the island known for its great variety, from lush forests to dry volcanoes to snorkeling; the Big Island of Hawaii, well-known for its Volcanoes National Park; and Kauai, the island prominently featured in many films because of its amazing scenery.
If you plan to stop on Oahu, definitely spend more than one day there. On the south side of the island, with Honolulu, there is the world-famous Waikiki Beach, which, with its pristine white sand and teal water, will not disappoint. You can also visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial and the iconic Diamond Head Crater. A drive up the east side of the island makes a great day trip. The sights off the coast are incredible, and you can also see many blowholes, the beach featured in From Here to Eternity, and the Makapu’u Lighthouse, which has the largest lens in the world. On the north side of the island, there is the beautiful Waimea Valley Park, and beaches can have up to twenty-foot waves.
In Maui, the Road to Hana, though commonly avoided because of its extreme curviness, provides excellent views of wildlife and the ocean, along with many stops along the way to visit nature reserves and even a lava tube! Central Maui contains Haleakala National Park, known for its great hikes and volcano. There are also ideal surfing spots off the south shore.
The island of Hawaii, the Big Island, is the place to go when it comes to volcanoes. Though oftentimes overcast, the views into craters, the Devastation Trail of volcanic ash, and even a chance to see real, flowing lava from a recent eruption make Volcanoes National Park worthwhile. The island also contains a spectacular 442-foot waterfall, Akaka Falls, within reasonable driving range of Volcanoes National Park. Off the west coast are many amazing snorkeling spots. One of the most well-known is Kealakekua Bay, filled with diverse marine life.
On Kauai, you are presented with chances to go ziplining through the set of Jurassic Park and see the world-famous Napali Coast, otherwise known as the Emerald Coast for its green covered cliffs. This island also contains the lush Waimea Canyon and the largest bird refuge in the world, Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, that is working to save the few Hawaiian native birds left.
While in Hawaii, there are many opportunities to try new things and go on adventures. Some of the best activities to participate in are snorkeling, surfing, hiking, zip-lining, and horseback riding. If you visit in the winter months or early spring, you can also go turtle or whale watching.
To get to Hawaii, most flights go through Honolulu, Oahu, although there are smaller flights to other islands, sometimes from the mainland and also from Honolulu. However, going from island to island by plane is not always the safest option. Another great way to see a few of the islands is to take a cruise.
Hawaii’s flora and fauna make it a vacation must. It is a great place to kick back and relax, but also to step out of your comfort zone and have an action-packed vacation. Either way, despite all of your preparations, Hawaii will surely blow your mind with all of its amazing views, right from the second you step off the plane.
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