Hawaii – A Fun and Relaxing Destination Like No Other
Hawaii is one of the top vacation destinations in all of the United States. As the 50th state of America, it's also the only island state and is separated from mainland USA by more than 4,000 km from the shores of San Diego, California. Hawaii offers a different face of America, with many of its residents being Polynesian (though a large part of the population is from the mainland), its language slightly different (everyone speaks English, but place names can be hard to pronounce), and it's considered a foreign land for Americans within the union. Hawaii boasts stunningly beautiful beaches with developed resort strips, perfect tropical weather, and especially breathtaking volcanic mountain landscapes.
How many days are needed for a trip to Hawaii?
For a trip to Hawaii (not just a vacation), you need at least five full days to a whole week, including two to three days on the Big Island, two days in Honolulu and the island of Oahu, and another two to three days on Maui and the island of Kauai. If you're coming for a beach vacation, the more, the merrier (seriously!), just keep in mind that a vacation in Hawaii can be quite pricey.
Whether you're coming to Hawaii for a vacation or a tour, you've got to book a place to stay in advance…
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21 Things You Must See and Do in Hawaii
- Amazing Vacation at Waikiki, Honolulu's Beach Paradise
- American History in Pearl Harbor
- Crater Rim Drive Tour around the active volcano Kīlauea
- Lava Beach on the Chain of Craters Road, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- Hike the Tuff Crater at Diamond Head State Monument overlooking Honolulu
- Luxurious Vacation and Stunning Beaches at Wailea Beach and Makena Beach State Park
- Stunning Views of Mauna Loa Volcano on the Big Island
- Family Fun at Napili Bay Beach and Ka'anapali Beach
- Resorts for Vacations on Beaches North of Kailua-Kona on the Big Island
- The Perimeter Trail above the Cliffs of Koko Head Crater in South O'ahu
- The tropical rainforests on the Manoa Falls trail and the tropical nature cataloged in Lyon Arboretum on O’ahu
- Akaka Falls State Park on the Big Island of Hawaii
- Ocean view on the Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail in southern O’ahu
- Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden on O’ahu Island not far from Honolulu
- The spirit of Hawaii at the Polynesian Cultural Center in northern O’ahu
- The spectacular beach and waterfalls of Waimea Valley in western O’ahu
- Man-made tropical jungle at the Hawai‘i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden
- The geological beaches of the southern Big Island of Hawaii – Punaluʻu Beach – the black sand beach and Papakōlea Beach – the green sand beach
- Explore the caldera and stargaze at Haleakalā National Park
- A dreamy road trip on the Hana Highway
- Diving in the volcanic crater of the island of Molokini
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What is Hawaii?
The Aloha State is an isolated archipelago in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, located 4,000 kilometers from the western coast of the United States. Its separation from mainland USA makes it one of the most unique states in the union.
- Hawaii is the only island state in the union, and it is also the only fully tropical state
- The southernmost point in the United States is South Point Park on the Big Island of Hawaii.
- Hawaii is also the youngest state in the U.S. and officially the 50th state.
- It joined the Union on August 21, 1959, about seven months after Alaska was admitted.
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Officially, the State of Hawaii is made up of no fewer than 132 islands in the Pacific Ocean, including Midway Atoll way out to the west. In reality, what we know as Hawaii consists of nine relatively large islands, which are the peaks of an underwater volcanic ridge in the heart of the Pacific Ocean.
- The total area of the islands is 16,500 square kilometers and is home to about one and a half million people.
- The majority of the island's population lives in the Honolulu metropolitan area. The island's capital is home to about three hundred thousand people, and the metro area, which includes the entire western half of the island of O‘ahu, has nearly one million residents.
- The other two large inhabited islands of the archipelago are Maui and the Big Island of Hawai'i, with its capital Hilo, the largest and southernmost of the islands.
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Most Hawaii residents are Polynesians, islanders of Oceania believed to have originated from the island of Taiwan. The Polynesians are estimated to have arrived at the islands about 1500 years ago. The famous British explorer James Cook officially discovered the island in 1778.
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- During those years, the British settled on the islands, forming the early white population base. They established the Kingdom of Hawaii on the island which ruled until 1893.
- In 1898, the islands were annexed by the United States as a territory and in 1959, as stated, became a state.
- On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked the American fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, an attack that led the US to join World War II.
- Hawaii served as the departure point for American forces pushing the Japanese out of the Pacific islands until reaching Japan itself.
- After the war, many Americans migrated to the islands as part of the ‘sun migration,' and the islands became a rare tourist attraction that today pretty much supports the whole state's economy.
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Map of Hawaii
How to get to Hawaii?
How to fly to Hawaii?
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu – The main airport of the state of Hawaii, located near the capital of the island Honolulu on the coast, west of downtown. It's the primary gateway to the islands and one of the busiest airports in the US (its traffic volume exceeds the airport's infrastructure capacity). The airport is the hub for Hawaiian Airlines, which reaches all major airports in the Pacific Ocean islands and the surrounding coasts in Asia, Oceania, and America.
This is one of the main airports in the Pacific Ocean islands with transatlantic flights from all over the Far East, such as Japan, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. The airport is also well-connected with major airports on the Pacific coast, mainly routes from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Diego, and Vancouver, Canada. It also serves as a key point for distributing passengers to other Hawaiian islands with connections to all major airports on the nearby islands.
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Kahului Airport (OGG) – Kahului Airport – The main airport of the island of Maui and the secondary airport of the Hawaiian Islands. The airport is located adjacent to the city of Kahului to the east, a short eight-minute drive from its center. Kahului serves the tourist traffic to the island and is well connected with other island airports and major airports on the US West Coast, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Denver, and more.
Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) – The main airport of Hawaii's Big Island is situated on the western side of the island, north of Kailua-Kona. The airport primarily serves flights connecting the island with Honolulu. It also receives flights from several major airports on the U.S. West Coast. This airport replaced the Hilo International Airport, which now only receives flights from Honolulu and Kahului.
Lihue Airport (LIH) – The airport in the small town of Lihue is the main gateway to the island of Kauai, located in the western part of the archipelago. It's a small airport primarily connected with the airports of the other islands in the archipelago, especially Honolulu. There are several flights arriving directly from airports on the U.S. West Coast.
When to Visit Hawaii?
Although Hawaii is a tropical state, its weather is fundamentally different from, for instance, South Florida, making it a great summer destination.
- The best months to visit Hawaii are from the beginning of spring until the end of September
- During this period, the weather is generally warm and pleasant, with not too much rainfall
- June is ideally the best month to visit Hawaii considering both the weather and costs. The month is relatively dry, just before the tourism wave of July and August hits. In June, the long sunny days and the fun summer atmosphere come before the big summer rush
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The peak of summer in Hawaii is especially dreamy. Although everything is packed with tourists and prices are high (both flights and resorts), this is when the tourist showcase called Hawaii is at its best. July and August are very hot and humid, almost like Florida.
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- The fall and winter months in Hawaii show a different side of the islands. These months are relatively rainy, yet the weather remains warm and pleasant.
- Winter in Hawaii is wonderful, and it's definitely worth visiting the islands during this season. Just keep in mind that rains might affect your trip. Off-season prices are entirely different from summer rates and are very affordable.
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Everything You Need to Know About Accommodation and Hotels in Hawaii
Where is the best place to stay in Hawaii?
- Honolulu – Waikiki Beach
- Maui Island – Wailea Beaches
- Oahu Island (near Honolulu) – Olina Beach
- The Big Island of Hawaii – Waikoloa Beach
- Maui Island – Kaanapali Beach and Napili Beach
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Everything you need to know about lodging and hotels in Honolulu and Oahu Island
The accommodation on Oahu Island is mostly centered in the large city and capital, Honolulu, primarily in the hotels of the Waikiki district. The big city offers a wide array of lodging options from high-end resorts to simple hotels or motels offering mainly easy access to the stunning coastline.
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- Right on Waikiki Beach, you will find great hotels and resorts from big international chains, rated at five and four stars. Staying in Waikiki isn't cheap, but prices drop the further you are from the beach
- There are lodging options with a more urban vibe towards downtown Honolulu
- Olina Beach, located a half-hour drive from Honolulu International Airport within the resort city of Kapolei. The beach is a developed resort area built along three small artificial lagoons. It's a dreamy vacation spot, perfect for families, but definitely not cheap
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Everything You Need to Know About Lodging and Hotels in Maui
Maui is one of the most attractive and luxurious vacation destinations in all of Hawaii. The island receives a large number of tourists each year, mainly arriving for the fabulous resorts near the paradise beaches on the island's western coastline. The resorts and vacationing in the island are roughly divided into three categories:
- Family-friendly resorts on the beaches of Kaanapali, north of Lahaina
- Luxury resorts on the beaches of Wailea, south of Kihei
- Small urban-style hotels in Kahului
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Click here for a list of 10 amazing resorts for a vacation in Maui…
On the beaches of Wailea, stretching from Kihei in the north to the Makena Beach State Park, one of the most beautiful beaches in Hawaii, lies an endless list of ultra-luxurious resorts. On the beach, vacation villages of all luxury networks including Waldorf Astoria, Four Seasons, and more. These are unique and especially lavish hotels, considered the top of the top when it comes to vacation resorts across the USA. The resorts feature adjacent sandy bathing beaches in paradisiacal coves, massive pools, exquisite spa facilities, and superb culinary offerings. The hotels are built like vacation villages with bungalows of high finish and a wide range of sizes.
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The beaches of Ka'anapali and Napili on the westernmost part of the island are a great vacation spot for the whole family. These are fantastic three- and four-star resorts, some built like vacation villages and some as large beachfront hotels. Unlike the coast of Wailea, these two beaches have a continuous and long shoreline that runs along the resorts.
Everything you need to know about accommodation and hotels on the Big Island of Hawaii
Hawaii Island is a particularly rural and experiential vacation spot. Most of the tourist traffic to the island is purely for beach vacations, but the island also receives many visitors who come to explore the national park of the volcanoes or the stunning natural sites of the island.
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Vacation on the Big Island of Hawaii:
- The main resort area of the island is the superb beaches north of Kailua-Kona (or Kona for short), not far from the island's international airport and the city
- North of Kona, a drive of fifteen to fifty minutes, there is a long list of large bays with white sand. Nearby beaches are Hapuna, Kaunaʻoa Beach, Waikōloa Beach, Anaehoʻomalu Beach and others, offering the island's best and most luxurious resorts. These are five or four-star resorts, featuring large pools, organized beaches, and all the summer vacation fun. Here you will find representative of all the well-known and high-quality international brands
- There are also vacation hotels in Kona itself, on the beaches south of it, as well as in Hilo on the eastern coastline
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Accommodation in Hilo and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:
The large city of Hilo is the base for exploring the natural expanses of the island, including the national park. In the city center, there are plenty of accommodations ranging from motels to three-star hotels.
The town of Volcano (more of a logistical hub than a settlement) up the volcanic ridge is also full of accommodations, mostly lodges, which serve as the gateway for a deep dive into the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
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How to plan a travel itinerary in Hawaii?
A travel itinerary in Honolulu and the island of O'ahu
The city of Honolulu is a large resort city with a beautiful downtown, but it isn't the highlight of a trip to the island of O'ahu. The heart of vacation and tourism in Honolulu is Waikiki Beach, an area of entertainment and relaxation with massive hotels. For those exploring the city and island (without necessarily hitting the beach or lounging), it’s worth dedicating a few hours to the district.
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- The tour in Honolulu includes several stops in the city center such as the charming Aloha Tower and a taste of Downtown and the harbor.
- Iolani Palace and the nearby Capitol building are the governmental center on the island and the main “urban” attraction in all of Hawaii, along with the great Bishop Museum. Waikiki Beach is also a lovely area with many options for dining, shopping, and stunning beaches. On the outskirts of Honolulu, there are must-see sites like the Diamond Head crater to the south, Kapiolani Park and the zoo, and of course, the Pearl Harbor National Memorial.
- A short hop from Honolulu up the ridge is the Lyon Arboretum and nearby, the Manoa Falls trail, some of the most spectacular tropical nature sites on the island.
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The trip outside of Honolulu covers all corners of the island, all within an hour's drive from the capital. You can plan a circular island itinerary including all attractions around the island or go for day trips from Honolulu.
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- The itinerary in the southern part of the island includes the Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail, Koko Head Crater, and Hanauma Bay, all just a short drive from Honolulu
- The south of the island boasts stunning views of dormant volcanic activity and blissful ocean scenery
- The itinerary on the east coast includes the beaches of Kailua and Lanikai and a jump to the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden up the mountain
- The northern island tour includes the Polynesian Cultural Center in the small town of Laie and a trip to the Waimea Valley, both at the picturesque beach on the river mouth and along the trail up the gorge to the waterfalls and cascades.
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How to plan a trip itinerary on the island of Maui and the neighboring volcanic islands?
If coming to Maui for a vacation, it's worth spending most of the time at the resorts, mainly because it's likely one of the most expensive vacation destinations in the USA. If you want to tour the island, consider renting a car to reach some of the most stunning volcanic landscapes in all of Hawaii.
- The main attraction on the island is the Haleakalā volcano and the surrounding national park.
- The northern part of the park is Highway 378 – Haleakalā Highway, which climbs all the way to the summit of the mountain. From the highway, there is an amazing view of the massive caldera and the stars. There are stops along the way where you can descend to the hiking trails within the caldera.
- The southern part of the park is accessible by driving Hana Highway, the stunning road that heads south from the island's capital, Kahului, towards the town of Hana and further to the southern part of the park. Along the road, there are natural sites such as the Garden of Eden Arboretum, the Hana Lava Tube, the Kipahulu Valley Biological Reserve, and the magnificent sacred site of Ohe'o Gulch – the Seven Sacred Pools.
The trip in the northwestern part of the island includes relaxation and touring at Napili Bay beach and Kaanapali Beach, the island's family resort area, and the unique Nakalele Blowhole at the northern tip of the island.
You can combine a tour with luxury relaxation at Wailea Beach, which includes visiting the Makena Beach Nature Preserve to its south and sailing and snorkeling at the Molokini Crater.
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How to plan a trip itinerary on the Big Island of Hawaii?
The Big Island of Hawaii has two main hubs, Hilo on the east coast and Kona on the west coast. The island's major airport is in Kona, but you can also reach Hilo via internal flights from Honolulu. The drive time between Hilo and Kona is about an hour and a half.
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- The main attraction of the island dominates its entire southern part. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is one of the most spectacular destinations for hiking among the national parks of the USA. The hiking trails in the park are close to the main roads within it.
- The coastline south of the park includes the beach where lava flows, which is part of the park, and further south – the black sand beach and the green sand beach, which have become popular hiking attractions.
- Kona is the main resort town on the island of Hawaii. Nearby are several attractions such as the Captain Cook Monument and the Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park to the south and the wonderful swimming beaches and resorts usually to the north.
- Hilo is the largest city on the island. It's worth exploring its center and also a few natural sites on its outskirts (besides Hawaii Volcanoes National Park) like the Rainbow Falls in Wailuku River State Park, the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, Akaka Falls State Park and the lava tubes at Kaumana Caves.
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Honolulu and the Island of O‘ahu
Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii, is the largest city in the magnificent Pacific archipelago. The city is the cultural, financial, and especially the tourist hub of Hawaii. Greater Honolulu dominates the southern part of the island of O‘ahu, the third largest of the archipelago's islands. The Waikiki district is the main leisure area on the island, featuring luxurious beachfront hotels and resorts.
In the northern part of Honolulu lies the naval base at Pearl Harbor, the most important historical site in all the islands. A short drive from Honolulu takes you to stunning natural areas like the tuff craters of Diamond Head and Koko Head, magnificent botanical gardens, the significant Polynesian Cultural Center, and nature trails in tropical forests along streams and waterfalls.
What are Honolulu and Oʻahu Island?
Honolulu is the capital of The Aloha State and the biggest city within it. About 400,000 people reside in Honolulu and around a million in its entire metropolitan area.
- The metropolitan area of Honolulu covers the entire southern part of Oʻahu Island, the third-largest island in the archipelago and the only one densely populated
- The island's size is about 1,500 square kilometers, roughly a tenth the size of the Big Island of Hawaii
- Honolulu stretches along the southern coastline of the island, near the natural harbor of Pearl Harbor. This protected bay served as the base for the US Pacific Fleet and was the site of the surprise Japanese attack on December 7, 1941, which led to the US joining World War II
Honolulu was crowned the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1845. In 1898, the islands became an American territory and ultimately were declared the 50th state in 1959.
- The city rapidly developed under the United States, absorbing a large American immigrant population, initially as missionaries and later as part of the sun migration
- Waikiki district became the city's vacation hub, with large hotels and resorts built along the coast
Maui Island
Maui is the second-largest island among the Hawaii Islands but is arguably the number one vacation and travel destination in the archipelago. The island features stunning volcanic scenery in its eastern part and legendary beaches on the western coastline. The beaches of Kaanapali and Napili on the west side of the island are among the most attractive family vacation spots in Hawaii.
The jagged beaches along the shore of Wailea are the most luxurious vacation destination in all of Hawaii. Along the beaches are deluxe five-star resorts from the top luxury brands. The eastern part of the island is dominated by Haleakala National Park, on the summit of a volcano. It is one of the most beautiful volcanic natural destinations in Hawaii and the number 1 spot in all of the United States for astronomy enthusiasts.
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What is the island of Maui?
The island of Maui is the second largest in the Hawaii archipelago after the Big Island of Hawaii. Its area is almost 2000 square kilometers, about a tenth the size of the Big Island located to the south.
- The island is the largest of the four islands that make up Maui County, which also includes Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoʻolawe.
- The four islands are the peaks of a giant volcano that is submerged under the ocean waters. The volcano last erupted twenty thousand years ago.
- The summit of the submerged volcano is the Haleakalā Ridge in the south of Maui Island, with its peak reaching just over 3,000 meters above sea level. The sunken part of the volcano plunges to a depth of 5,000 meters, making the volcano over 8,000 meters tall, one of the largest volcanoes in the world (the largest is Mauna Loa in the south of the Big Island of Hawaii, 50 km south in a straight line from the ridge).
- On the northern slopes of the ridge, there is a fertile valley, and in the western part of the island, there's another ridge, the West Maui Mountains.
Maui is the nearly exclusive settlement in the county, with about 165,000 residents, while the other islands have only a few thousand inhabitants (the largest and most populated among the three is Molokai, which only has about eight thousand people).
- On the island are several small towns, the largest being Kahului, with about thirty thousand residents. Kahului is the transportation hub of the island, home to the international airport.
- The other towns are Kihei and Kaanapali, which are the tourist centers of the island. Along the beaches near the small towns are stunning beachfront resorts for vacationers.
- Aside from tourism, the island has developed agriculture, mainly sugarcane cultivation, large pineapple fields, and cattle grazing areas.
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Hawaii – The Big Island and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The island of Hawaii (Hawaii island), as opposed to the state, is the southernmost and largest among the islands of the archipelago, and it's quickly growing even more. Due to the volcanic activity of Kilauea and Mauna Loa, the island keeps expanding southward with lava flowing into the Pacific Ocean. The island is one of the top vacation destinations in Hawaii, combining especially wild nature attractions with stunning coastal cities and towns for vacationing.
The city of Hilo on the east side of the island is a great urban trip destination and the gateway to spectacular natural sites and the big national park. The city of Kona on the west side of the island is a tourism hotspot for vacations. Near the beaches of Kona, dozens of resorts offer vacations next to some of the most beautiful beaches in the USA.
What is the Big Island of Hawaii?
Hawaii Island (not to be confused with the state consisting of 19 islands) is the largest among the fifty states of the USA. The state is named after the island, which in turn is named after Hawaiʻiloa, a Polynesian fisherman believed to have discovered the island and discovered the neighboring island of Maui, named after his son. When the British explorer James Cook arrived at the island, he adopted the Polynesian fisherman's name (he had already named southern islands after himself, which are now the Cook Islands Archipelago).
- Hawaii Island is the largest among the archipelago's islands, the southernmost, the easternmost, and also the youngest in terms of formation age
- The island is the peak of an active volcanic ridge, covering an area of ten and a half thousand square kilometers (half the size of New Jersey). It's significantly larger than the other islands in the archipelago and continues to grow due to lava flowing into the sea on its southern part, creating new areas along its edges.
- The largest of the island's active volcanoes is Mauna Loa. It is the biggest active volcano in the world, dominating the island's southern part, with an elevation of almost 4,200 meters above sea level. The volcano is very active and erupts every few years.
- The eruptions of Mauna Loa are relatively predictable, while its younger sibling, Kīlauea, is considered much more dangerous and is currently the most active volcano in the world.
- On the small island, there are additional volcanic peaks, some of which are active, such as Mauna Kea, Kohala, and Hualālai.
- Due to the volcanoes and the topographical heights, the small island has multiple and unstable climate zones, as well as a relatively sparse population.
Around two hundred thousand people live on the island of Hawaii. The largest city on the island is Hilo on the east, where about a quarter of the island's population resides. The largest city on the west coast is Kailua-Kona (the city is Kailua and the area is Kona).
The island's economy mainly relies on tourism and agriculture. Due to the fertile volcanic soil, there are coffee plantations and huge cattle farms.
