Things to do in Hawaii
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FEATURED
Big Island Day Trip: Volcanoes National Park from Oahu
15 hours (Departs Oahu, Hawaii)
by Viator
Take a Big Island volcano tour from Oahu on a day trip to Hawaii's Volcanoes National Park. The recent eruptions of Kilauea Volcano have captured the world's…Not LP reviewed
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Mauna Ulu
In 1969, eruptions from Kilauea's east rift began building a new lava shield, which eventually rose 400ft above its surroundings. It was named Mauna Ulu. By the time the flow stopped in 1974, it had covered 10,000 acres of parkland and added 200 acres of new land to the coast.
It also buried a 12-mile section of Chain of Craters Rd in lava up to 300ft deep. A half-mile portion of the old road survives, and you can follow it to the lava flow by taking the turnoff on the left, 3.5 miles down Chain of Craters Rd. Just beyond this is Mauna Ulu itself.
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Bamboo
Bamboo is excellent value, so relax and get your tab started, which will be easy after you've had one of the bar's killer mai tais! Dinner here on a Friday or Saturday night, when down-home Hawaiian music (try to catch John Keawe) and hula are in full swing, may well be one of your best dining experiences on the island.
Friendly waitstaff bustle around in T-shirts, proving that there's no dress code here. Fresh, local food with vibrant flavor is the focus, and the menu's most exotic flavors are pulled off with ease. Reservations are recommended.
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Lili'uokalani Church
Although the current building was constructed in 1961, the Lili'uokalani Church congregation dates from 1832. A Protestant church, it's named for Queen Lili'uokalani, who spent summers on Anahulu River and attended services here, held entirely in Hawaiian until the 1940s.The church is open whenever the minister is in, usually mornings.
In 1892 Queen Lili'uokalani gave the church its seven-dial clock, which shows the hour, day, month and year, as well as the phases of the moon. The queen's 12-letter name replaces the numerals on the clock face.
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Small-Group Road to Hana Luxury Tour
9 hours (Departs Maui, Hawaii)
by Viator
Travel the famously spectacular Road to Hana in comfort and style on this luxury small-group tour. With a maximum of eight passengers in a customized, deluxe…Not LP reviewed
from USD$228.12 -
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HA Baldwin Beach Park
Bodyboarders and bodysurfers take to the waves at HA Baldwin Beach Park about a mile west of Pa'ia, at the 6-mile marker. The wide sandy beach drops off quickly and when the shorebreak is big unsuspecting swimmers can get slammed soundly. If you see lots of bodysurfers in the water, it's probably big! Showers, rest rooms, picnic tables, and a well-used baseball and soccer field round out the facilities.
The park has a reputation for drunken nastiness after the sun sets but it's typically fine in the daytime when there's a lifeguard on duty.
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Alan Wong's Pineapple Room
Though Honolulu foodies may disagree, we prefer this dressed-down cafe inside a high-end department store to Alan Wong's eponymous dining room on King St. All the star chef's classics are made here in an open exhibition kitchen, plus the menu shows off some haute twists on island comfort food like the kalua-pig BLT sandwich and loco moco (rice, fried egg and hamburger patty) made with kiawe-grilled North Shore beef burgers. Desserts are killer, especially the five-sorbet sampler with knock-out pairings of fresh fruit and sweets.
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La'ie Hawaii Temple
In 1919 the Mormons constructed La'ie Hawaii Temple, a mini-version of the great Salt Lake temple, at the end of a wide promenade. It is formal and stately, like nothing else on this end of the Windward Coast. There is a visitor center where enthusiastic guides will show you pictures of the interior of the temple (off-limits to non-Mormons) and talk to you extensively about the wonders of their faith.
Nearby is the Hawaii branch of Brigham Young University, with scholarship programs attracting students from islands throughout the Pacific.
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Kekaha Beach Park
Just west of Kekaha town, the vast Kekaha Beach Park is ideal for solitary walking. Without any shade, however, the sun is brutal. Before you jump in, watch the tide carefully. This is unprotected open ocean and when the surf is high currents are extremely dangerous; under the right conditions it can be good for surfing and bodyboarding.
Ni'ihau and its offshore islet, Lehua, are visible from the beach. An inconspicuous shower can be found just inland from the highway between Alae and Amakihi Rds; rest rooms and picnic tables are nearby.
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Oahu Atlantis Submarine Adventure
2 hours (Departs Oahu, Hawaii)
by Viator
Dive below the surface of Hawaii's blue waters on an Atlantis Submarine Oahu tour! You'll have a unique chance to observe marine life up close without getting…Not LP reviewed
from USD$117.40 -
Small-Group Tour: Luxury Haleakala Sunrise Experience
8 hours (Departs Maui, Hawaii)
by Viator
Start your day on Maui at the top of the world! This small-group guided tour, for just up to eight guests, gives you an exclusive view of the famed Haleakala…Not LP reviewed
from USD$234.37 Advertisement
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Honoli'i Beach Park
North of downtown Hilo, the protected cove at Honoli'i Beach Park has Hilo's best bodyboarding and surfing, particularly for beginners. A lovely, well-tended grassy picnic area fronts the beach, with fantastic views of Hilo, plus there are rest rooms, outdoor showers and a lifeguard. Honoli'i isn't the best for swimming, as the adjacent river often muddies the waters.
From Hilo, take Hwy 19 north; after the 4-mile marker, turn right onto Nahala St, then left onto Kahoa St. People park on the roadside and walk down to the park.
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Moku O Lo'e
Moku O Lo'e (Coconut Island), once a royal playground, was named for the coconut trees planted there by Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. In the 1930s it was the estate of Christian Holmes, heir to the Fleischmann fortune, who dredged the island, doubling its size to 25 acres. During WWII it was also used as an R&R facility. In the 1960s the island was used in the filming of the popular Gilligan's Island TV series.
Today the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology of the University of Hawai'i occupies part of the island.
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Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm
Up for a little aromatherapy? Maybe it's time to immerse yourself in the soothing scents at Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm. More than 30 varieties of lavender blanket the hillside - stroll the garden paths and feel your whole body relax. Then sit for a spell with a glass of lavender lemonade (around US$3), or browse the gift shop for lavender-scented bath gels and creams.
You can also join a Lavender Garden Tea Tour (call for reservations) and get the skinny on all things lavender, including a sampling of lavender scones and tea.
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Fujimamas
Fujimamas blends hip, eclectic ambience - something Kailua's restaurant scene sorely lacks - with chic presentation, making it a very exciting new addition. The heavily Japanese-influenced menu includes sushi, wok dishes and 'things that make you go ummm'. The handmade Chinese noodles with mushrooms and truffle oil get wide acclaim, as does the grilled pork chop on tempura sweet potato bread with apple chutney and miso sesame sauce.
Oh, and leave room for the insane desserts, such as banana tempura on tropical French toast.
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'Opaeka'a Falls
While neither the highest nor the prettiest, the 40ft 'Opaeka'a Falls became a major tourist attraction because tour buses can easily stop here. Just head up on Kuamo'o Rd for 1.5 miles and turn right into the lookout parking lot. You're likely to encounter a herd of camera-toting sightseers all capturing exactly the same shot.
Cross the road for an overhead view of the Wailua River. Note that hiking down to the base of the falls is perilous and not recommended, especially after two tourists plunged to their death in 2006.
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Lava Legends and Legacies Luau on the Big Island
3 hours (Departs Kona, Hawaii)
by Viator
Take a journey through the South Pacific's legends and legacies, and enjoy an evening of Big Island luau feasting, music and dance. The Kona Coast's spectacular…Not LP reviewed
from USD$77.99 -
Oahu Day Trip: Pearl Harbor, Honolulu and Punchbowl from the Big Island
14 hours (Departs Kona, Hawaii)
by Viator
This historic Oahu Day Trip from the Big Island to Pearl Harbor Hawaii takes you on a patriotic journey from the site of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor to…Not LP reviewed
from USD$356.54 -
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Haiku Gardens
A more meditative place is hard to imagine than Haiku Gardens, a little valley containing a lily pond, an abundance of fragrant tropical flowers and lots of birdsong. The gardens, cradled by the Ko'olau Range, are picture perfect. The path starts at the side of Hale'iwa Joe's restaurant and takes only about 15 minutes down and back.
To get there from Kamehameha Hwy, turn west on Haiku Rd just past the Windward Mall; after crossing Kahekili Hwy, continue on Haiku Rd for a quarter of a mile. Haiku Gardens is on the right.
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Waikoloa Petroglyph Preserve
A lava field, Waikoloa Petroglyph Preserve, etched with impressive petroglyphs, many dating back to the 16th century, is located beside the Kings' Shops. Some are graphic (humans, birds, canoes) and others cryptic (dots, lines). Western influences appear in the form of horses and English initials.
From the King's Shops, a five-minute walk along a signposted path leads to the first of the etchings. Stay on the path to avoid damaging the petroglyphs. The King's Shops offers a free, one-hour petroglyph tour at 10:30 daily.
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Maui Sunset Dinner Cruise
2 hours 30 minutes (Departs Maui, Hawaii)
by Viator
Snuggle up with your partner and soak up the best views of the West Maui Mountains on a romantic Maui dinner cruise. After watching the stars come out over the…Not LP reviewed
from USD$82.99 Advertisement
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Ka'eleku Caverns
You don't need to be a geology buff to get off on the mammoth Ka'eleku Caverns, formed by ancient lava flows. The caves are so formidable that they once served as a slaughterhouse - 17,000lb of cow bones had to be removed before they were opened to tourists! Winding your way through the extensive underground lava tubes you'll find a unique ecosystem of stalactites and stalagmites.
Most people take about an hour to explore. The admission includes use of flashlights and hard hats. Bring a sweater - it's cool down under.
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Kahakuloa Head
Heading up out of the valley a pull-off above the northern edge of town provides a bird's-eye view of the village and the surrounding coast. The rise on the south side of Kahakuloa Bay is Kahakuloa Head (636ft), once one of chief Kahekili's favorite cliff-diving spots.
As you climb out of the valley, the terrain is hilly, with rocky cattle pastures punctuated by tall sisal plants. At a number of pull-offs, you can stop and explore. Lush pastures beg you to traipse down the cliffs and out along the rugged coastline.
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Kalahikiola Church
Protestant missionaries Elias and Ellen Bond built Kalahikiola Church in 1855. The land and buildings on the drive in are part of the vast Bond estate, proving that missionary life wasn't one of total deprivation. Large portions of the church crumbled in the 2006 earthquake, and the congregation immediately began fundraising to rebuild. Towering banyan trees and peaceful macadamia-nut orchards surround the church, making it a worthwhile detour.
The church is 900yd up 'Iole Rd, between the 23- and 24-mile markers.
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Na Pali and Ni'ihau 'The Forbidden Island' Kauai Snorkel Cruise
7 hours (Departs Kauai, Hawaii)
by Viator
Take the ultimate Kauai snorkeling adventure, departing daily from Port Allen Harbor, Kauai! You'll cruise the majestic Napali coast en route to Forbidden…Not LP reviewed
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Honolulu Power Passtrade;
1, 2, 3 or 5 days (Departs Oahu, Hawaii)
by Viator
See more, save more with the Honolulu Power Pass! For one low price, you receive free entry to the most exciting attractions in town - with a combined value of…Not LP reviewed