One the best things about working for a travel company is being able to hear everyone’s stories of where they have been. I personally have never been to Hawaii, but I am fascinated by and wanted to get some tips of things to do when I do get to go. Here’s what I found:
- Climb to the top of Diamond Head, the view is definitely worth the hike.
- Take a surfing lesson. Can you think of a better place to get a surfing lesson than on Waikiki Beach?!
- Pearl Harbor is a must.
- Visit the Dole Plantation–they have train rides, mazes, crafts, koi fish feeding and of course delicious pineapple…fun for the whole family.
- Check out the Waimea Falls in the beautiful tropical garden in Oahu.
- Honolulu Zoo has a “Snooze in the Zoo” allowing guests to stay overnight and enjoy storytelling, campfire songs and walking tours. You can either set up tents or sleep under the stars. If you don’t want to spend the night, take the “Twilight Tour” which offers a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of animals after the sun goes down.
- See the famous Shangri La built in the 1930s on the Pacific Ocean over looking Diamond Head. This home has a very extensive collection of Islamic Art and is considered one of Hawaii’s most architecturally significant homes.
- Everyone should do the “Road to Hana” in Maui. And if you decide to do it, rent or buy the tour guide CD because it tells you the cool spots to stop (waterfalls, pools, bamboo forests, black sand beaches, etc.) and it gives great history and information on the island.
- If you’re going to watch the sunrise atop Mt. Haleakala on Maui remember it will get cold so bring a hat and jacket. Also, you’ll need to get up very early, so go at the beginning of your vacation when you’re still adjusting to the time change.
- You are in Hawaii so a luau is a must. Lahaina on Maui has some great ones.
- Honolulu has a great Academy of Arts with over 50,000 pieces of art to enjoy.
- Take a helicopter tour of Kauai. It’s an amazing way to see the island and feel like you are in Jurassic Park…minus the T-rex of course!
- Cruise along the Na Pali Coast and drive the Waimea Canyon.
- Go to the Kilauea Lighthouse and look for whales.
- Visit Poipu Beach and see the monk seals sleeping.
- Go to Puka Dog for the best hot dog you’ll ever eat.
- Plan day trips and wear your bathing suit–all beaches are open to the public so it’s nice to end an adventure with a few beach stops on the way home. (You usually can’t drive more than 10 miles without hitting a “large” beach with parking and bathroom facilities).
- Rent snorkel gear for the week. If you snorkel 3 days it will usually pay for itself. Avoid getting it at your hotel and rent it from surf shops at the beach ($30/week compared to $21/week).
- Take a day trip up a volcano at the Volcanoes National Park. You can witness lava flowing from the active volcanoes.
What are some of your must-do’s in Hawaii?
July 27th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Good info Sean! Another thing I’d like to add.
Oahu – Make sure you visit hanauma bay. It is very scenic and probably one of the best snorkeling out there.
July 29th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
Good timing…I’m off to Hawaii for the second time (both trips on Delta!) at the end of August.
Oahu-
-Don’t limit yourself to Waikiki. I compare Waikiki to NYC with a beach, and, while nice, honestly wasn’t all that impressed having been to beaches in places such as Puerto Rico, Jamaica, St. Barts, Anguilla & St. Maarten before.
-The real beauty of Oahu can be found by traveling around the island. If you get the chance, rent a car, take a tour, or find a way to the following beaches:
–Waiamea Bay. This is a must. With a large beach, crystal-clear water, and good snorkeling opportunities, it’s incredible and DID pick up the title of my favorite beach, though it lost that personal title 45 minutes later to…
–Hanauma Bay, which is a must, as pdlakhani said. I somehow picked up a flu bug the last time we were there & didn’t really get to stay, but I’ve never seen anything like it & have it at the top of my list for this trip. What’s better is that it’s only a few miles away from Waikiki and Honolulu.
-The USS Missouri is impressive, especially if you’re into anything to do with war or military history. You could also check out the Pacific Aviation Museum and/or the Bowfin while there (all tours originate from Pearl Harbor).
-Rent a car and do a lap around the island. You can make a fun day trip of seeing the scenery. We started through Honolulu, went North to Dole Plantation, up to the beaches known for their surfing, then South along the Eastern side of the island to your choice of beaches (Waiamea and Hanauma were our stops). This could be done in reverse, as well.
-Go to the Punchbowl, which is the U.S. Military’s Pacific cemetery. It’s carved inside an extinct volcano, features tile displays showing all the Pacific battles in WWII, and provides great views of Honolulu from the highest point of the cemetery.
August 2nd, 2010 at 2:44 pm
@pdlakhani & @JSprague24 – thanks for the additional tips on things to do!
@JSprague – have a great trip and tell us about your trip and things you did when you get back!
August 28th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Best travel advice for Hawaii if you’ve never been there can be found in the No Worries Hawaii guidebook or taking a visual tour of Hawaii on http://www.trailblazerhawaii.com
Adventure travel has always been our style and we go to Kauai for that. Hanalei Bay has the best beach and hiking Waimea Canyon, especially the swamp that has a boardwalk trail right through the middle is an experience of a lifetime.
For a short cheap getaway (3 day), Oahu can be alot of fun. There are some great tour package deals going on now.
December 22nd, 2010 at 12:26 am
I just remembered responding to this post & Sean asking for a review of my trip…if you get this, would you still be interested in a recap of Oahu?