Do you feel the pull of the islands calling to you? Does your soul crave the rejuvenating power of warm tropical breezes and the serenade of rolling ocean waves?
I know that feeling well - it's the unmistakable allure of Hawaii.
Because there are so much to see and do across the Hawaiian islands, it can be hard to narrow down your must-see list.
But after consulting with locals, researching guides, and exploring the islands myself, I've come up with the ultimate list of the 10 most popular places to visit in Hawaii.
Let’s start!
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - Big Island
Visitors to the Big Island are greeted at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park by Mother Nature in a major way.
Experience this high volcanic desert and feel tiny. See new land being built before your eyes, as molten lava continues flowing from the goddess Pele.
Start your adventure at Kīlauea’s Visitor Centre, and then come back later to deepen your knowledge of volcanology and find out how these volcanoes erupt!
Then take Crater Rim Road and drive 11 miles of jaw-dropping awe, with stopovers at mind-boggling overlooks, such as the Jaggar Museum, Sulphur Banks, where volcanic clouds hiss out greens and blacks from the earth below.
Are you ready for the best part? Cross the floor of Kīlauea Caldera, the collapsed crater of a massive ancient volcano. Feel brass-hot rocks under your feet, and look around at steaming fissures and pits straight out of Middle Earth!
Return again after dark to the glowing Halema‘uma‘u Crater. Listen to the steamy lava lake roar into the night. Let your soul explode!
USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor - Oahu
At Pearl Harbor on O’ahu, stand in reverent silence before the submerged wreck of the USS Arizona. Look down to the still water of this watery tomb, to where 1,177 lives were lost on 7 December 1941. Recognise their sacrifice, which changed the world.
Come early; Pearl Harbor is still Hawaii’s most popular destination and you need time to absorb what happened here, especially since it was the United States entry into the Second World War.
Look at each name chiselled into that wall and think about what war does — not just to soldiers but to ordinary people all over the world. Think about humanity as it is; its potential for both good and evil. Be inspired.
Moloka’i’s Kalaupapa National Historical Park - Moloka’i
Beauty and community seemed imprisoned here for over a century on the desolate Kalaupapa Peninsula on the Hawaiian island of Moloka’i where Hawaii’s leprosy sufferers were isolated.
Today, the heartbreaking history of Kalaupapa is commemorated at Kalaupapa National Historical Park. Take a guided tour of the peninsula and find yourself touched by the poignant stories of the patients, whose tiny hamlet, church and peaceful cemetery can all be visited.
If you possibly can, be with a Kalaupapa patient and learn from them what it was like. Secondly, take that walk, all the way down, to Kalaupapa Overlook and spend time looking out at the sea cliffs. You will – like I did – be buoyed up by the sense of flighty freedom you feel from that view.
Human spirit triumphs over adversity at Kalaupapa. Leave it with your heart full after honouring a deeply moving history.
Take a Trip to Lana’I - Maui
I am about to tell you about one of Hawaii’s best-kept secrets, Lana‘i, ‘The Pineapple Isle’.
This rustic backwater – there are no traffic lights here, and precious few tourists – has the feel of a time capsule. Take your rental car down desolate dirt roads through guava groves to find untamed shores worthy of your wildest fantasies.
Bring a picnic and a snorkel to the best beaches in the world on Hulopo’e; golf on a world-class course; or take a hike to ancient villages of old Hawaii, hidden in valleys.
Splurge on a room at the Four Seasons Resort Lanai and get the full treatment.
On Lana’i, nature will engulf you and quiet mystery will envelop you, far from the cares of the world. Find your new place here!
North Shore of Oahu - Oahu
Wintertime and winter swells draw the surfing world to O’ahu’s North Shore because … wait for it … WAVES!!!
Watch world-class surfers hang from water-mountains they call bombing behemoths at the famed and feral Banzai Pipeline and compete at the world’s premier tours and competitions, including the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.
And even landlubbers are attracted to its infectious energy and beautiful landscape. Kick back in the sleepy surf town of Haleiwa. Marvel at sunsets over head-high waves at Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay.
Take a surf lesson if you dare, or just watch as Mother Earth unleashes her oceanic force! The North Shore’s world-class surf will blow your mind.
Waikiki Beach - Oahu
A holiday to O’ahu is not complete without a stroll down razzmatazz Waikiki Beach – past designer boutiques and high-rise hotels on one side of sugary sand and azure water.
Learn to surf gentle swells or spend your day swimming and paddleboarding with sea turtles. Sip a beverage in a beach chair to Hawaiian music and the sounds of the sea.
Gaze at the landmark Royal Hawaiian Hotel – or, ‘the Pink Palace’. Enjoy a fiery sunset luau on the beach and eat traditional Hawaiian food.
And tip your laptop so Diamond Head volcano appears to crawl out from behind your shoulder (that shot is a must for Waikiki walls!). Waikiki: the sun, the sand, the games.
Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park - Kauai
On the Hawaiian island of Kauai, the Na Pali Coast is about as close as it gets to paradise anywhere on Earth. An emerald corridor of sheer cliffs drops into the Pacific’s deep sapphire waves; waterfalls plunge down verdant valleys; it seems as though this idyllic landscape was made for paradise. Too good to be true?
Hikers who are keen can readily feel its mana following the strenuous Kalalau Trail or by seeing it from the coast by boat or helicopter or plane (keep your eyes peeled for breaching whales in the winter).
Here deep mana, spirit essence, flows strongly from ancient times. The community of ancient Hawaiians that roamed this mana-imbued wilderness can still be sensed in the villages that remain: a place that was protected, and now must stay that way. Timeless Na Pali has retained its strong mana; its unsurpassed beauty will make you forever different.
Haleakala National Park - Maui
Tumultuous sunrises (for those who have the patience for a predawn drive) atop Haleakalā volcano, on Maui, offer splendor at its 10,000 foot altitude.
Dressed for the cold, you could watch in silent awe as those very first rays of sunshine painted the crater with a triangular shadow. You could look for the nēnē goose, a native and endangered species.
Once the sun’s up, hike or bike the outlandish geology of the crater floor – or speed down in a bicycle tour, screaming optional.
Come back at night and see Milky Way skies like you’ve never seen before – Haleakalā is active as an International Dark Sky Park. Whatever way you experience it, the top of Haleakalā will leave you feeling like you’re on top of the world!
Road to Hana - Maui
When you drive the Road to Hana on Maui’s northeast coast, you discover beautiful sight after beautiful scene, along a winding 66-mile-long, single-lane road. Come with me!
The Hana Highway clings to sea cliffs, meanders behind and aside waterfalls, and snakes in and out of rainforests and beaches. Stop often. Linger. Wade through waterfalls. Hike to bamboo groves. Bask in them.
Buy fruit smoothies straight from the shops that sell the tropical fruit, and the sweet coconut cake at the fruit stall. Stay a night in Pa’ia. Go slow. Each turn in the road, a new slice of heaven.
Kona Coffee Farms - Big Island
No trip to the Hawaiʻi would be complete without sampling its own grown coffee. Let’s head to Kona on the Big Island to see where our world-famous Hawaiʻian coffee is grown!
Volcanic soil, coastal weather and altitude are the ingredients behind Kona coffee’s distinctive flavor, and many plantations offer tours complete with free samples that will bring you up to speed on Hawaii’s signature bean.
Drink the velvety, smooth brew. And take home the beans or grounds so you can share Kona’s glory with your friends and family. Before you know it, you, too, will be sipping the intoxicating aroma of the Aloha State in your own homes.
Final Thoughts
These 10 destinations are just the start of the wonders of Hawaii. There are countless adventures to be had all over the islands!
Each island has its own personality and there are so many things to discover. Follow your intuition – Hawaii likes to give, but only if you listen.
At Storymakers Travel, we believe that the magic of Hawaii lies not just in the breathtaking scenery, but in the unique experiences that each island offers. By curating a personalized trip for group travel, a honeymoon or anniversary, or a family, to visit these top 10 popular spots, we can ensure that you fully immerse yourself in the beauty, culture, and spirit of the islands. Let us take the guesswork out of your Hawaiian adventure and craft a journey filled with unforgettable memories, from the volcanic majesty of Big Island to the serene beaches of Lana'i. Hawaii is calling—let’s make your dream vacation a reality! Schedule a call to make it happen with Valerie by visiting the Storymakers Travel calendar.
