It is possible to take a trip to Hawaii and not leave the beach. True, the warm white sands and the vibrant blue Pacific waters are magnetic and there is plenty of swimming, surfing and beachcombing to keep you busy. Hawaii has many other facets that can only be discovered if you take the time and effort to find them.
Exploring Oahu
If you can manage to tear yourself away from the sands of Waikiki Beach, rent a car and take a self-tour of Oahu. Get an early enough start and you can snorkel at Hanauama Bay Nature Preserve. Follow the road around the island’s eastern edge to the North Shore and watch surfer’s tackle monster waves. Take to the waves yourself if you’re an experienced surfer. Stop for lunch in laid back Haleiwa then head back through the center of the island, past pineapple fields and the growing town of Mililani.
Hiking Waimea Canyon – Kauai
Visiting Waimea Canyon, on the western side of Kauai, gives you the chance to hike in what is referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” State Highway 550 ends at the Kalalau Lookout in KoKee State Park that puts the entire canyon at your feet. Take a backpack, food and plenty of water and spend the day hiking some of the 45 miles of wet forest trails leading through the park. The park is 28 miles from the Poipu resort area and 63 miles from the Princeville area.
Journey to Heavenly Hana - Maui
Hana, on the southeast coast of Maui, is old time Hawaii. Getting there is half the fun. The road to Hana, with its 54 single lane bridges and 600 hairpin turns is a challenging ride, either by car or bicycle. No matter how you choose to make the trip, the Hana Highway will take you past waterfalls, through sweet scented mango forests and around soaring cliffs. Breaks in the forest on the ocean side let you take in views of the blue Pacific. If driving, allow at least four hours one way to get to Hana. This gives plenty of time to stop and take a stroll on a hidden beach or take a quick dip in a waterfall-fed pond. Spending the night in Hana is an option and would give more time to explore the area. Take some time to find Charles Lindberg’s grave, eight miles south of the village.
Discover Lanai
Take the Maui-Lanai ferry from Lahaina to Manele Bay and indulge in a self-guided day tour of what was once known as the Pineapple Island. Rent a four-wheel drive vehicle and travel the island’s dirt roads to discover the Garden of the Gods, a collection of rock towers and chaotically strewn boulders. Stroll the two-mile long Polihua Beach known for its green sea turtle population and lack of human visitors. Take to the water to snorkel or SCUBA dive in Hulopoe Bay, a marine preserve that is safe for swimmers of all skill levels most of the year.
Exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park – Hawaii
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is located on the southeastern end of the Big Island of Hawaii. The closest major town is Hilo, 30 miles east of the park and just under an hour's drive. Visitors that stay on the Kona side of Hawaii have a longer drive, 107 miles, but the journey takes you along Hawaii’s scenic coastline, past pocket towns such as Captain Cook and through the lava fields of the Kau Forest Preserve. Take time out to snorkel in Kealakekua Bay, or take the road out to South Point to see where the Hawaiians first came ashore. Once at the park check in at the visitor’s center to get an update on volcanic activity. Hike the trails that rim Halemaumau crater and that take you through a primeval forest with plants that date back to the time of the dinosaurs.
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