Hawaii – Top Tourist Attractions on this Beautiful Island

Hawaii’s relaxing pacific island vibe paired with its tropical climate is a part of what makes these islands so incredible. Situated atop massive volcanic mountains that jut out from under the sea, Hawaii is a place rich with diverse and stunning landscapes from the lunar surface of the Kilauea volcano to forests filled with exotic flowers to waterfalls tumbling down the mountainsides. 

There’s a metric ton of things to see when you go on a trip to Hawaii so to make the outing a little easier, here are some locales within the island that you really need to check out.

Waikiki Beach & Diamond Head State Monument

Waikiki is Hawaii’s most popular tourist destination, with its beautiful stretch of oceanfront beach. Waikiki is a Honolulu suburb known for its large resorts, dining, entertainment, and shopping. The Waikiki Historic Trail features historic markers made of surfboards, which were inspired by Duke Kahanamoku, an Olympic gold medalist swimmer and avid surfer from Waikiki.

The Waikiki Beach Walk is lined with cafes and entertainment venues, while Kuhio and Kalakaua Avenues are where the majority of the area’s restaurants and boutiques are located. Diamond Head State Monument is located at the end of the crescent-shaped beach, giving the coastline a distinctive profile. This was actually an important point of coastal defence in the past and if you hike to the top, you’ll find old bunkers and artillery stations. 

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

Hanauma Bay, formed within the crater of a volcano on the island of Oahu, is a unique protected bay that has long been popular with snorkelers. Following pollution and damage to the delicate reef ecosystem caused by overuse, restoration efforts have returned the bay to its former glory, and it is now open to visitors.

The Hanauma Bay Education Center is a great place where you can learn about the bay, and there are also several snorkelling rental shops that offer lessons for visitors so you can get up close and personal with the spectacular reef system and its inhabitants.

Feeding frozen peas to tropical fish was once a popular tourist attraction; however, this practice is no longer permitted. In addition, all first-time visitors must watch a nine-minute video on marine life, safety rules, and preservation in order to protect the area for future generations.

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park, on Hawaii’s Big Island, will provide you with a unique, up-close look at an active volcano system where lava seeps from fissures in the ground. The surrounding landscape is shaped by old and new cooled lava rock that has flowed over roads in a show of unstoppable force.

Kilauea, the park’s centrepiece, has been recently active including an eruption that formed a lava lake taking place in January 2021. Areas of the park will be closed when there is a threat of seismic activity.  The Thurston Lava Tube, Devastation Trail, and the steaming Halema’uma’u crater are just a few of the attractions in the park.

Hana Road 

Hana Road, also known as Hana Highway, is a scenic 52-mile stretch of highway on Maui’s island that winds from Pia through lush forests and along the coast to the remote town of Hana. The sights to see along this stunning drive, the things to do along the way, and the visit to the town itself are all part of what makes this location so special in Hawaii. Numerous hiking trails, waterfalls, scenic overlooks, and beaches can be found along the route. Because of its remote location on the island, Hana has been able to maintain a more traditional Hawaiian culture than other towns.