Featured, Hawaii

The 15 BEST Things To Do In Hawaii

March 4, 2023

Today, we are talking about the 15 best things to do in Hawaii.

With the world’s most active volcano, the United States’ only royal palace, and the welcoming aloha spirit, Hawaii is unlike anywhere else on the planet. Cobalt waters, powder-white beaches, volcanic peaks, indigenous wildlife, and a rich traditional culture: It’s no surprise that Hawaii is a popular destination for visitors.

You’ll never run out of incredible things to do in Hawaii, from unforgettable adventure opportunities like ATV riding and zipline courses to cultural insights like Luau shows and street art tours.

15. Visit the Kula Botanical Garden

Kula Botanical Garden, located on the slopes of Haleakala, encompasses 8 acres of colorful and unique plants, amazing rock formations, a covered bridge, waterfalls, koi pond, aviary, and new attractions such as the carved tiki exhibit.

If you are visiting Maui, this enchanting location is ideal for an afternoon spent outdoors. You can see proteas, orchids, bromelaids, native plants and more!

14. The Dole Plantation

What began in 1950 as a Wahiawa fruit stand in the middle of the pineapple fields has since evolved into a popular Hawaiian attraction.

The sprawling Dole Plantation in central Oahu is a rural relic from a time when pineapples dominated the island’s economy.

You can sample the sweet yellow fruit, ride the famous Pineapple Express train through the fields, walk through a massive garden maze, learn how to find fresh pineapple when grocery shopping, and hear how pineapples are grown.

13. Polynesian Cultural Center

If you’re looking for a full day of immersive fun, learning, activities, and entertainment with a luau, the Polynesian Cultural Center is the place to be.

Located on 42 acres on Oahu’s North Shore, you can explore the six reconstructed Polynesian villages, browse markets, watch island dances and shows, take a canoe ride, listen to Tahitian drumming, and feast at a luau.

12. Waikiki Beach

You can’t visit Hawaii without visiting the beach, and one of the most beautiful beaches in Hawaii is Waikiki.

Waikiki Beach, with its palm-fringed white-sand beaches and high-rise luxury hotels stretching from downtown Honolulu east toward the towering Diamond Head, has been Oahu’s tourist mecca for decades.

All of the luxuries of Hawaiian beach life—from sunbathing and swimming to snorkeling and fruity-cocktail sipping—are just a short walk away, as are world-class shopping and dining. One of the best things to do in Hawaii for sure!

11. Meditate at the Byodo-In Temple

The Byodo-In Temple was built in 1968 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Japanese immigration to Hawaii.

The temple is a scale model of a temple in Uji, Japan, constructed entirely without nails.

Located on the island of Oahu, it is the ideal place to unwind, take in some fresh air, and find some much-needed zen after a few days of exploring Hawaii.

10. Pearl Harbor

Made up of several historic sites and memorials, Pearl Harbor is a National Historic Landmark and active military base that is famous for the surprise Japanese air attack on December 7, 1941.

Parts of the USS Arizona Memorial, which floats above the sunken ship’s remains, can be seen protruding from the water.

It is one of Hawaii’s most popular attractions, as well as one of the country’s most significant WWII memorials.

9. Snorkel at Molokini Crater

Just off Maui’s west coast is the striking Molokini crater, a partially submerged volcano crater in the shape of a crescent.

Molokini, according to Hawaiian mythology, was a beautiful woman fighting for the same man with the powerful goddess Pele.

In the legend, Pele splits her adversary in half and turns her into a stone statue. Whether or not the legend is true, the Molokini crater is the most popular snorkeling spot on Maui, thanks to its calm, clear waters, vibrant coral reef, and 250-plus tropical fish species.

It is one of the most popular activities in Hawaii and one you should not miss.

8. Ride aboard a Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe

A must-do activity on Maui, outrigger canoes are traditional Polynesian watercrafts that play an important role in Hawaiian history and culture.

Hawaiian Paddle Sports offers canoe tours aboard its six-seat, 45-foot-long outrigger canoes, and your guide will explain some of the Hawaiian islands’ and Polynesia’s local legends as you paddle.

It is not only a great way to learn, but it is also fun to watch the marine life swim gracefully around you in the waters below.

7. Diamond Head Crater

Arguably Hawaii’s most well-known sight, this crater is more than just a famous Waikiki backdrop; it’s also an entire attraction in and of itself, featuring one of Oahu’s best hikes for a panoramic view.

Not only is it the state’s most recognizable volcanic formation, but hiking to the summit is one of the best things to do in Hawaii.

The hike is short but steep, but well worth it for the iconic view of the Honolulu skyline meeting the coastline.

6. Road to Hana

This scenic serpentine highway, which runs along Maui’s northeast coast, is one of Hawaii’s most iconic roads and makes for an excellent road trip featuring lush vegetation, black sandy beaches, rushing waterfalls, and breathtaking views.

While the Road to Hana is only 53 miles from Kahului to Hana, it will most likely take you several hours because you will want to stop a lot to take in the beauty of cascading waterfalls, jagged cliffs, and vast taro fields.

5. Wai’ãnapanapa State Park

Wai’ãnapanapa State Park is a 122-acre park on Maui. It has nearly 360-degree sweeping panoramic views and looks like a living postcard from heaven.

Its crowning glory may be its exotic black sand beach made of volcanic sediment. This jet black sand, combined with the lush green jungle and azure Pacific waters, creates a breathtaking sight not to be missed.

Along the hiking trail, explore the lava tubes, the sea cave, and even archaeological relics. It’s a stop that the whole family will enjoy.

4. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is located on the Big Island of Hawaii.

This park provides visitors with a front-row seat to the region’s stunning natural beauty, with everything from lush rain forest and the Halema’uma’u crater to lava tubes and rolling black lava fields—where hot steam still rises from fissures and rifts dotting the rugged landscape.

3. Visit the Nã Pali Coast

The sacred Nã Pali Coast is a 17-mile stretch of the North Shore of Kauai, characterized by extraordinary natural beauty.

These emerald-colored cliffs with razor-sharp ridges tower above the Pacific Ocean, revealing stunning beaches and waterfalls that cascade to the lush valley floor.

The Nã Pali Coast is one of Hawaii’s most beautiful regions, and no visit to Kauai is complete without a visit to this magical coastline.

2. Drive Waimea Canyon

Waimea Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, is a large canyon in Hawaii.

It is approximately ten miles long and up to 3,000 feet deep. The Waimea Canyon is a nature lover’s paradise, filled with lush foliage, tropical cliffs, green-and-pink scenery, mesmerizing waterfalls, and stunning rainbows.

Driving through the Canyon is without a doubt one of the best things to do in Hawaii.

1. Haleakala National Park

Haleakala National Park, known as the “House of the Sun,” towers over the island of Maui.

It is a natural force in every way. At 10,023 feet above sea level, this dormant volcano serves as the backdrop for a stunning variety of landscapes—and skyscapes.

The park is well-known for its spectacular sunset and sunrise displays. But these are just two of the many reasons to visit Haleakala.

The breathtaking landscapes range from Mars-like red deserts and rock gardens near the summit to lush waterfalls and streams, as well as endangered species found nowhere else. One of the best things to do in Hawaii without a doubt!