A visit to Hawaii starts with choosing which island you want to explore. Trying to make multiple islands in a short (1 week) trip tends to leave out so much you should see.
Waikiki, with its beautiful stretch of oceanfront beach, is Hawaii’s biggest tourist attraction. A suburb of Honolulu, Waikiki is popular for its big resorts, dining, entertainment, and shopping. The Waikiki Historic Trail includes historic markers made of surfboards, inspired by Waikiki’s own Duke Kahanamoku, an Olympic gold medalist swimmer and avid surfer. The boardwalk, known as the Waikiki Beach Walk, is lined with cafes and entertainment venues, while Kuhio and KalaKaua Avenues are where the bulk of the area’s restaurants and boutiques can be found. Diamond Head State Monument sits at the end of the crescent-shaped beach, creating a distinctive profile on the coastline. It was once an important vantage point for the island’s coastal defense, and a steep hike to the top brings you to the old bunkers and artillery control station and rewards your efforts with panoramic views.
Pearl Harbor is a National Historic Landmark and active military base that earned its place in history for the 1941 attack, which killed 1,177 servicemen on the USS Arizona. The site is now home to several attractions that are part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific Monument, including the USS Arizona Memorial, which floats above the remains of the sunken ship – parts of which can be seen protruding from the water.
Located on the Big Island of Hawaii, Volcanoes National Park offers a unique, close-up look at an active volcano system where lava seeps from fissures in the earth. The surrounding landscape is shaped by cooled lava rock, both old and new, which has flowed over roads in a display of its unstoppable force.
Located on Maui, Haleakala National Park offers access to the inactive Haleakala Volcano, which stands at over 10,000 feet. Views from the summit stretch across the entire island and are particularly beautiful at sunrise. The dormant crater is exposed, showing a lunar-like landscape, while other areas of the park are covered in subtropical rain forests, which are home to endangered species.
Waimea Canyon, located on the west side of the island of Kauai, is often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” The canyon stretches over ten miles long, reaches depths of 3,600 feet, and is a mile wide at some points. This dramatic spectacle can be viewed best from the two main lookouts, Puu ka Pele and Puu hinahina. The canyon’s landscape features rock strata in varying colors and several stunning waterfalls.
The Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park on the island of Kauai contains some of the world’s most dramatic landscapes. These were made famous in the film Jurassic Park, which shows a dramatic coastline with cliffs that seem to ripple and the “Wall of Tears” on Mount Waialeale, named for the way in which hundreds of waterfalls weep from the slopes of the mountain.
Jaws, Maui
Jaws (Pe’ahi in Hawaiian) is the biggest and baddest surf spot in all of Hawaii. With waves that are rumored to reach 120 feet, the reef break was largely inaccessible to surfers before the advent of tow-in surfing.
Ready to try your stuff? Be it sunbathing, hiking, Scuba, or surfing, all can be found on one or more of the islands of Hawaii.
Here too are ways to help you cover some of your vacation travel should you choose to stay close to the USA.
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