When we think of Hawaii, we think of tropical breezes, white sandy beaches and mesmerizing ocean views. As soon as you start planning your trip there, an image pops into your head – a poolside cocktail and warm sunshine. Even though this sounds like heaven, there’s much more to Hawaii than what most people know. There’s a reason why visitors leave Hawaii with the impression that they’ve been to the most beautiful place on our planet. If you’ve decided to visit Hawaii, you need to be prepared before you get there. Unless you plan to stay for a very, very long time, you’ll be struggling to find the time to see all the beauties in the Aloha State.
Luckily, we’ve narrowed it down for you – the 8 must-do things for Hawaii’s visitors:
Go to Waikiki Beach
Can’t wait to see those white-sand beaches? Then we’ve got the perfect spot for you!
Oahu Island is the home of one of the most beautiful beaches in the world – the Waikiki Beach. This popular tourist destination represents all you’ve seen in those marvellous pictures of Hawaii – an abundance of great hotels and various entertainment opportunities.
When on Waikiki Beach, you can lay at the beach sipping some tasty Mai-tais, or paddle in the ocean. When you get tired of activities or hungry, you’ll find plenty of restaurants in the beach’s immediate area. At night, you can visit the excellent venues for nightlife, or do some shopping in the luxurious stores such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Dior, and Prada.
Are you a surfer or a surfing enthusiast? Waikiki is the beach with diminutive and greatly-shaped waves, making it the perfect spot for surfing. If you are new to it, you can find many surf schools right there on the beach.
Drive to Hana
Would you want to witness some spectacular views? You must drive the ‘Road to Hana’ in Maui, then!
There are approximately six hundred hairpin turns and over fifty-six bridges that make the Road to Hana. Take a day to do some driving and enter the unforgettable adventure at one of the best attractions in Hawaii. A piece of advice – go slow for safety, since the bridges are one lane. You’ll get to enjoy the amazing landscape along your way, too.
On the Road to Hana, you’ll see some spectacular views of lush forests and waterfalls, as well as views of the blue and sparkling ocean. Most tourists say that the actual journey isn’t the destination, but the road that leads to it. When you get to Hana, which is located in East Maui, visit the Hasegawa store, chat with some locals, and explore their colourful beaches.
Visit the USS Arizona Memorial
Are you interested in learning more about the history of the place? If this is what you’ve been looking for, the USS Arizona Memorial is the place to be!
Hawaii is the home of the USS Arizona Memorial, which represents one of the most popular events in American History. This memorial honours the 2.388 civilian and military personnel that were killed at Pearl Harbor. It was one of the seven battleships that sank that devastating day – December 7th, 1941. For this reason, precisely, this memorial attracts over a million and a half visitors every year.
Do Some Shopping
Are you up for some shopping? Join the shopping craze in the world biggest shopping mall – outdoors.
Hawaii is full of surprises, so don’t be shocked to see the biggest outdoor shopping mall there is in the world! With over 250 shops and stores and one of the most impressive and varied food courts, this is a place you must visit when you go to Hawaii.
On the centre stage of the shopping mall, you can also see hula shows and various performances.
Find a Luau
Want to try the unique cuisine of Hawaii? Make a feast at a Luau of your choice and enjoy their dinner productions.
Find a great Luau spot and treat yourself and your travel companions with an unforgettable evening of performers, costumes, and tasty food. You can find these places at any time during the year on Kauai Island. The most popular is the Luau Kalamaku, a theatre that you can visit in Tuesday and Friday. The production presents you with the story of a Polynesian family and their journey from Tahiti to Hawaii, across the blue ocean.
The tasty diced and raw tuna in combination with herbs and seasoning makes for a tasty memory you’ll carry with you forever. If you want to get a feel of what it is like to live in Hawaii, taste some poi and lomilomi salmon, tuck a fresh flower behind you and enjoy the performance.
To do this, you will probably have to reserve in advance. The hula styles are one of the most popular attractions in Hawaii, so plan ahead if you want to add them to your to-do list.
Drink some Hawaiian Wine
Would you like to taste the Hawaii wines? Visit the Big Island and Sample their Tasty Wines.
Visit the Volcano winery and the Mauna Loa volcano on the Big Island and taste the unique wines made with Hawaiian fruits. The most popular ones are those made with yellow guava and jaboticaba berry, while the top selections are Specialty Infusion Tea Wine and the Macadamia Nut Honey Wine.
Watch the Humpbacks
Interested in sea life? Then you’ll surely love to see the beautiful humpback whales!
Off the Kailua coast, you can see the humpback whales. There are companies who will guarantee you a sighting, especially if you visit Hawaii somewhere between December and April. These mammals are huge, making them easy to spot when they rise to the surface of the Pacific Ocean. On average, they weigh 40 tons!
Hawaii is the cradle for these whales that frolic in its beautiful waters. If you book a boat with a hydrophone or decide to go underwater, you can hear their strange and beautiful chortles and squeaks. Very often, you can gaze at the humpbacks from the beach!
Trek Down the Trails into Haleakala
Are you into hiking? If you are interested in this, take a day to visit the trail into the national park called ‘Haleakala’.
Haleakala isn’t just the name of the park – it is a name of a volcano. The dormant volcano that lies in the Haleakala National Park is a grand attraction for tourists. With its cinder cones and coloured swirls that sparkle when there’s sunlight make it an amazing place to visit. It is a landscape that you can hardly see anywhere else, with a terrain that appears barren, but is actually the home of rare birds, plants and insects.
Ready for your trip to Hawaii? Add these things to your to-do list and plan your time to see the most of it. It will be an experience you’ll never forget!
