Hawaii Attractions
Oahu Attractions
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor on Oahu is an important historical location. On December 7, 1941, which FDR later dubbed “The Day of Infamy,” the Japanese bombed the U.S. Pacific fleet in Pearl Harbor, instigating the United States’ immediate entry into World War II. Today, nearly 70 years later, about 1.5 million people visit Pearl Harbor each year, making it Oahu’s most-visited destination. A visit to the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor is both a humbling and enlightening experience.
Polynesian Cultural Center
The Polynesian Cultural Center is located on Oahu’s northeastern coast near the town of Laie and consistently rates as one of Oahu’s top tourist attractions. This 42-acre (170,000 m²) open-air park offers visitors an exciting day chockfull of adventure, education and entertainment. Visitors can walk through the park grounds, which is like a living museum, and learn about the following eight Polynesian cultures that are featured at the Center: Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, the Marquesas, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and Hawaii.
Maui Attractions
Road to Hana
The Road to Hana, also known as Hana Highway, is 52 miles long and leads from Kahului to Hana along Maui's northern coastline. This narrow, winding road is an engineering marvel that has about 620 curves and 59 bridges and was carved out of Maui’s coastline using hand tools! Hana Highway takes approximately three hours to drive from one end to the other and offers stunning views all along the way. From the road, one can enjoy views of the lush tropical vegetation, plunging waterfalls and pristine black-sand beaches.
Haleakala National Park
Haleakala National Park is one of Maui’s most cherished tourist attractions. Located on the south side of the island, the park is the home of Mt. Haleakala, the largest dormant volcano in the world which last erupted in 1790. The crater itself measures 7 miles (11.25 km) across, 2 miles (3.2 km) in width and 2,600 feet (800 m) in depth. And the large cinder cones inside crater create a surreal environment that some say appears to mimic the surface of the moon.
Big Island Attractions
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, located on the Big Island of Hawaii, is comprised of 377 square miles of natural volcanic land that gives refuge to a host of plant and animal life that continue to thrive in Hawaii today. Due to its tremendous scenic and scientific value and because it protects one of the largest ecosystems in Hawaii, the park was deemed by UNESCO as an International Biosphere Reserve site in 1980 and a World Heritage Site in 1982.
Kauai Attractions
Na Pali Coast State Park
Na Pali Coast State Park, located on the north shore of the island of Kauai, is a pristine stretch of coastline with an abundance of scenic beauty and outdoor activities. The park is located in a wilderness area of 6,175 acres (25 sq. km), which features dramatic 4,000-foot (1,219 m) cliffs that tower over the crystal clear waters of the Pacific Ocean. These cliffs, known as “pali” in Hawaiian, enclose a wild area of deep, narrow valleys speckled with gorgeous waterfalls and languid streams, as well as the remains of ancient Hawaiians who perished in the land ages ago.
Waimea Canyon State Park
Waimea Canyon is a breathtaking natural wonder located on the island of Kauai. Its tremendous size of 16 miles (16 km) in length and over half a mile (800 m) in depth prompted the revered writer Mark Twain to dub Waimea the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific.”It is indeed the largest canyon found in the Pacific and was carved by sheets of rain that cascaded down the sides of Mount Waialeale over a period of many centuries.
Lanai Attractions
Garden of the Gods
The Garden of the Gods is an ethereal spot located on the island of Lanai, about seven miles (11 km) north of Lanai City. Comprised of a vast area of land covered in boulders of orange, red, purple and earthen colors, this natural wonder has inspired scores of myths that seek to explain how such a place can possibly have come to exist on Earth. While some maintain that the rocks fell from the sky, others believe that they contain the spirits of the ancient warriors of Hawaii.
Pu'u Pehe (Sweetheart Rock)
Puu Pehe, popularly known as Sweetheart Rock, is a tiny triangle-shaped rock island located just 150 feet off the coast of Lanai, between Manele Bay and Hulopoe Bay. This red-rock lava formation was once a part of the main island but split off due to years of erosion from ocean waves. Sweetheart Rock is not only a striking natural wonder, but also home to an important local legend.
Molokai Attractions
Kalaupapa National Historical Park
Kalaupapa National Historical Park in Molokai houses a number of historic sites within its five square mile (12.9 sq km) radius. Visitors to this windy, picturesque part of the island’s north shore will gain access to the Kalawao Coast and the Kalaupapa peninsula. They will have an opportunity to explore the park’s lush variety of plant life, as well as come into contact with some endangered Hawaiian species, for whom the park functions as a safe habitat.