Poʻipu
On the grounds of Outrigger’s Kiahuna Plantation complex, this diverting, if modest, cactus and exotic flower garden established in the 1930s boasts…
Must-see attractions in Hawaii
Hilo
This calm little cove is ideal for kids and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) beginners. It's scenic, but not secluded. Set alongside Banyan Dr, the compact park…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
A statue of Captain James Cook stands on Waimea’s central green space. When his ships Resolution and Discovery sailed into Waimea Bay in January 1778,…
Kona Coast
Abalone – otherwise known as sea snails – have delicious flesh and gorgeous shells, and as such, this outfit is trying to figure out a sustainable way of…
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Drop in to this touristy showroom for a visual and olfactory feast of floral hybrids. Although we cannot confirm whether theirs is indeed the world's…
McBryde Sugar Company Cemetery
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
Recently unearthed following decades of neglect, this cemetery above Glass Beach has an impressive view. Worker camps encircled this area during the 19th…
Moloka'i
The present Our Lady of Seven Sorrows is a 1966 reconstruction of the original wood-frame church constructed in 1874 by Hawaii's first saint, Father…
North Kohala
This county park includes a huge pool (call for opening hours), tennis courts, gym with basketball courts and weight room, and playground. It's a great…
The Road to Hana
If you’re looking for a visual feast, turn left just past the 25-mile marker. After winding down to the sea over 2.5 miles, you’ll find a great coastline…
Hilo
This tall green clock is permanently stopped at 1:04, marking the morning of May 23, 1960, when a major tsunami demolished the town. A series of seismic…
Lanaʻi
This harbor, off Hwy 440, is where the ferry from Maui docks. There are bathrooms and a few sheltered picnic tables here, plus a convenience store. During…
North Shore & Upcountry
Marked by its roadside stupa, this Tibetan Buddhist center offers daily, weekly and monthly prayer and meditation sessions, retreats and dharma talks. Or…
ʻIao Valley & Central Maui
Designed by Maui-born architect CW Dickey and completed in 1928, the Wailuku Public Library building displays a now-distinctive regional design. Note…
Kohala & Waimea
This large bronze sculpture by Fred Fellows, a spirited symbol of paniolo (cowboy) culture, depicts Ikua Purdy, the Parker Ranch cowboy who won the World…
Windward Coast
Fronted by a shore wall, this narrow neighborhood beach is used mainly by fishers. You'll see kids splashing around and local families picnicking and…
Poʻipu
Dedicated to the memory of Prince Jonah Kuhio (1871-1922), the Territory of Hawaii’s first delegate to the US Congress, this landscaped park holds little…
The Road to Hana
For a fascinating view of the coast, stop at the pull-off on the ocean side of the highway, 0.6 miles past the 14-mile marker. From the point you can look…
South Kona Coast
If you have young kids, head north a mile or so from Honalo and enjoy shady Higashihara Park. Its unique Hawaii-themed wooden play structure is both…
Lanaʻi
Four miles south of Halepalaoa you'll come to Naha, which is both the end of the road and the site of ancient fishponds just offshore. This is a dramatic…
Kihei
This discreet postage-stamp-sized beach, embraced by a rocky lava shoreline, is Kihei’s best bet for swimming with turtles. Forget it, however, if it’s…
Lahaina
Directly in front of the Pioneer Inn is the site of the first lighthouse in the Pacific. It was commissioned in 1840 to aid whaling ships pulling into the…
Moloka'i
Ongoing restoration efforts have made this the premier fishpond on the island, tended by konohiki (caretakers) who live simply on site. You can see…
Hilo
Designed by architect Henry Whitfield, this stately building (1919) is typical of Hilo’s early 20th-century government buildings. The former courthouse…
Poʻipu
Along the Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail just before Ha'ula Beach on a gorgeous rocky headland, this memorial labyrinth connects you with a mana (spiritual…
West Maui
Dating back to 1908, the light station started out as wooden structure with a temporary light on top, then became a watch shelter. It wasn't until 1922…
ʻAiea Bay State Recreation Area
Pearl Harbor & Leeward O‘ahu
Hidden on a small access road road off the Kamehameha Hwy, this small waterfront park has views of Pearl Harbor along with shady picnic tables and wide…
The Road to Hana
Keʻanae Park is a large green space opposite the scenic coastline of jagged black lava and hypnotic white-capped waves. Forget swimming, as the water is…
Lahaina Public Library Grounds
Lahaina
The gardens here were once a royal taro field, where Kamehameha II toiled in the mud to instill in his subjects the dignity of labor. Today they offer a…
Huleʻia National Wildlife Refuge
Lihuʻe
On the north side of the Huleʻia River lies the 240-acre Huleʻia National Wildlife Refuge, a breeding ground for endemic waterfowl. The refuge is closed…
South Kona Coast
Once this was the royal canoe landing; now it's a tongue of sand that hooks into the waters (wave to those snorkelers at Two-Step just across the way) and…
Poʻipu
With its pavilion and camp tables, Poʻipu’s small commercial harbor is not a bad place for a picnic. Walk the jetty, check out the scuba boats and even…
South Kohala
Part of the lobby space of the Auberge Mauna Lani resort is taken over by this museum, which showcases a wide range of royal artifacts, shark-tooth…
Hanalei
This attractive one-lane bridge is the only crossing over the Hanalei River, east of town. When it’s closed due to flooding or construction, there’s no…
Kohala & Waimea
A much-photographed, historic Hawaiian church with an eye-catching green steeple. There are no set times when the church is open, although Sunday mornings…
Lihuʻe
Island artists share gallery space at the mall and exhibit thoughtful works in oils, pencil, watercolor, sculpture materials, mixed media and photography…
Hana & East Maui
Huakini hosts a deserted, rough and rocky beach (you might see a few fishers). From the two gateposts just east of the 30-mile marker, walk down the dirt…
North Shore & Upcountry
Overlooking a gorgeous view of the coast, this local landmark (c 1907) still bears its name in Chinese characters. It hosts the annual Kula Fest in early…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
This small grassy park at Waimea’s main intersection holds a statue of Captain Cook. Display panels explain local history.
Hawaiʻi the Big Island
Fourteen turbines operated by Tawhiri Power LLC harvest the South Point winds to power approximate 18,000 homes.
Haleakalā National Park
Legend says that the pit leads down to the sea, though the National Park Service says it’s just 65ft deep.
