The coronavirus pandemic continues to affect travel, and destinations around the world have various COVID-19 restrictions. As Hawaii reopens to tourists, there is an ongoing debate about how this will affect local residents. For now, please use our content as inspiration for a future trip.
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1. Hanauma Bay — Oahu
This bay is so beautiful and has a rich marine ecosystem that the Hawaiian kings used to come here to fish and hang out. These days, you don't have to be royal to swim with the tropical fish and take in the views from the beach. The park was declared a protected area for marine life in 1967 and remains one of the most beautiful snorkeling areas in the state.
2. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — Hawaii
Hawaiian Island, also known as the Big Island, may be the largest island in the Hawaiian chain of islands, but it is also the smallest.
Composed of compounds from multiple volcanic eruptions, the island never finished growing; There are still four active volcanoes on the island today. You can see two of these in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, including Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano on Earth.
3. The Hana Highway — Maui
The way to Hana may be to go to Maui, but there is a reason for that. A 52-mile stretch of coastal road connects Kahului to the sleepy town of Hana.
It's special because along the way - which can take two to four hours - you'll pass waterfalls, swimming holes, lush rainforests, hiking trails, and plenty of great beaches. It is practically impossible to stay in the car.
4. Keahiakawelo (Garden of the Gods) — Lanai
Most people imagine lush green valleys and sprawling beaches when they think of Hawaii, but you'll feel like you're on Mars at Keahiakawelo, another landscape of rocky towers and boulders on the northwest side of Lanai. The area is particularly charming at dusk, when sunsets bring out the bright red and orange hues of the rocks.
5. Valley of Halawa - Royalty
There's something extra magical about Molokai, which has a high percentage of Native Hawaiians, the world's highest sea cliffs, and the state's longest straddling reef (there are reefs close to shore). It's also where you'll find Valley of Halawa, a sacred place in Hawaiian history.
What was once a place of worship and home to ancient Polynesia is now a destination of stunning beauty - from cascading waterfalls to rainforest crossing paths and sprawling scenery.
6. Wailua Falls — Kauai
Hawaii wouldn't be Hawaii without plunging waterfalls, and one of the best is on the island of Kauai, also known as the "Garden Isle" because of its vast tropical rainforest. Here, you'll find the stunning 200-foot-high Wailua Falls, made iconic by a 1970s TV series Fantasy Island.
7. Punalu'u Beach — Hawaii
The white sandy beaches get all the attention; But if you ask me, black sand is the real show tool. Often found in places with a volcanic history (here, Hawaii), black sand is the result of erosion of volcanic material — think lava and basalt rocks.
Punalu'u Beach is located on the southeast coast of the Big Island and features jet black beaches lined with palm trees. If you're lucky, you might even spot a sea turtle soaking up the sun.
8. Koki Beach - Maui
Again, white sand seems overrated once you try a different color palette. Koki Beach on the eastern shores of Maui has a unique dark red color that will make you forget all the benefits of its bright white counterparts.
9. Sharks Cove - Oahu
Off Oahu's northern shore, a small, semi-protected bay begs to be explored. When the water is flat, the bay attracts divers who come to explore the underwater rock formations and swim with groups of fish finding sanctuary behind the cliffs.
10. Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park
Kauai is best known for its rainforest-rich terrain, but on the northwest shores you'll find cliffs rising thousands of feet out of the water and narrow valleys that feel like they belong in Jurassic Park. If you're feeling adventurous, take the 11-mile Kalalau Trail that winds through the park and ends at Kalalau Beach.
11. Konolo Village - Lanai
In southern Lanai, you'll find beautiful views of the sea cliff and Kahekili's Leap, a 60-foot cliff-jump that used to test the bravery and loyalty of warriors, according to Hawaiian legend.
The site, which was also the site of a prehistoric fishing village, is believed to be sacred and protected as a US National Historic Landmark.
12. Akaka Falls — Hawaii
Akaka Falls State Park, named after the park's impressive waterfall, is a must-visit on the island of Hawaii. All it takes is a half-mile walk in the lush green forest to see the towering 442-foot waterfall for yourself. Along the way, you'll also pass the smaller Kahuna Falls, which are 100 feet high. Just think of it as a setup for the big guy.
13. Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail — Oahu
Hawaii's beaches may be amazing, but some of the most amazing locations in the state require a little extra effort.
The Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail may be a 4.5-mile trek, but it rewards anyone willing to take it on with panoramic views. From the top, you'll see Honolulu to the left and Waimanalo to the right, and Konahuanui—the highest peak in the Ko'olau mountain range on Oahu—straight ahead.
14. Kalaupapa National Historical Park — Molokai
The views in Kalupapa National Historical Park may be beautiful, but they also come with a unique and haunting history. When leprosy was brought to the islands in the late 19th century, those who contracted the disease were sent to the isolated Kalupapa peninsula on the northern shore of Molokai.
Today, the peninsula has become a refuge and shelter for some of the residents who are now healed and forced to live there. Between history and views, Kalaupapa is one of the most sacred and most beautiful destinations in Hawaii.
15. Pools of Ohe’o (Seven Sacred Pools) — Maui
It doesn't get prettier than the Maui Pools on Ohio, where you'll find seven swimming holes connected by waterfalls and thick bamboo forests. It looks magical and it is; But due to flash floods, swimming pools are sometimes closed. Check in at the Haleakala National Park Welcome Center and follow their directions.