Things to Do in Hawaii
Ten stops spread across four islands, from a sombre wartime memorial to a sunrise that regularly gets called one of the best on Earth.
Hawaii's spread across several distinct islands, each with its own character, so this list ranges from Oahu's history to Kauai's coastline rather than staying put on one spot. Ten stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site if you fancy testing what stuck.
Pearl Harbor & USS Arizona Memorial
A memorial built directly over the sunken USS Arizona, still holding the remains of over 900 crew members lost during the 1941 attack, the memorial itself accessible only by a short boat ride included in the visit. The visitor centre covers the wider history of the attack in real depth before the boat trip, allow the full experience rather than rushing straight to the memorial.
Tickets are free but limited daily, book online well ahead, this properly sells out during peak season and same-day availability isn't reliable.
Hours Daily, roughly 7am-5pm
Address 1 Arizona Memorial Pl, Honolulu, HI
The Road to Hana, Maui
A winding coastal highway along Maui's northeastern shore, waterfalls, black sand beaches, and jungle scenery packed along a route that takes considerably longer than the mileage suggests given how often the road doubles back on itself. Twin Falls and the Pools of Oheo both make for proper stops if you're not trying to reach Hana town itself before turning back.
Start early, parking at the more popular waterfall stops fills quickly by mid-morning, and the drive back covers the same winding road regardless of what time you turn around.
Best time Early morning start, allow a full day
Address Hana Highway, Maui, HI
Haleakala National Park
A dormant volcano rising over 10,000 feet above sea level, sunrise from the summit regularly ranks among the best in the country, the crater's colours shifting through pink and orange as the sun climbs above a real cloud layer below the viewing area. Reservations are required for sunrise viewing specifically, a system introduced after crowding became a real problem at the summit.
Bring proper layers regardless of how warm it feels at sea level, summit temperatures often sit near freezing before dawn even during Hawaii's warmer months.
Best time Book sunrise reservations up to 60 days ahead
Address Haleakala National Park, Maui, HI
Na Pali Coast, Kauai
A roughly 17-mile stretch of coastline on Kauai's north shore, towering sea cliffs and hidden valleys that remain almost entirely inaccessible by road, boat tours, helicopter flights, or a properly demanding multi-day hike are the only ways to see it properly. Boat tours run the most manageable option for most visitors, several including snorkelling stops along calmer stretches of water.
The Kalalau Trail, for anyone up for the full hike, is considered one of the more difficult and dangerous hiking trails in the country, permits are required beyond the first few miles and book out well in advance.
Best time Summer for calmer boat conditions
Address Na Pali Coast, Kauai, HI
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Home to two of the world's most active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa, the park runs a drivable Crater Rim Drive alongside walkable lava tubes, including Thurston Lava Tube, a properly striking cave-like tunnel formed by flowing lava centuries ago. Current eruption activity varies considerably, check conditions before visiting if seeing active lava specifically is the goal.
Steam vents near the visitor centre release naturally heated vapour you can walk right through, a small but properly memorable detail even without any visible lava during your visit.
Hours Park open 24 hours; visitor centre roughly 9am-5pm
Address Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island, HI
Polynesian Cultural Center
A cultural park on Oahu's North Shore covering six distinct Pacific Island cultures, each with its own recreated village staffed by performers and guides from that specific culture, canoe rides between villages replace conventional walking paths for part of the visit. An evening show featuring fire knife dancing closes out most full-day packages, a properly striking performance that draws a proper crowd.
This runs well for kids specifically, hands-on activities like coconut husking and traditional games keep younger visitors engaged well beyond a standard museum walk-through.
Hours Mon-Sat, roughly 12pm-9pm, closed Sundays
Address 55-370 Kamehameha Hwy, Laie, HI
Hanauma Bay
A partially submerged volcanic crater on Oahu, protected as a marine life conservation area, calm, shallow water and a properly dense concentration of tropical fish make this one of the more reliable snorkelling spots for beginners anywhere on the islands. Visitor numbers are capped daily and a short educational video is mandatory before entry, part of a real conservation effort after decades of overuse damaged the reef.
Reservations are required and the bay closes two days a week to let the ecosystem recover, check the current schedule and book ahead rather than turning up unannounced.
Hours Wed-Mon, roughly 6.45am-4pm, closed Tuesdays
Address 100 Hanauma Bay Rd, Honolulu, HI
Waikiki Beach & Diamond Head
Hawaii's most famous beach, calm water suited well to beginners and a proper strip of hotels, shops, and restaurants running directly behind the sand. Diamond Head, the volcanic crater overlooking the beach, offers a moderate hike to the summit with sweeping views back over the whole Waikiki coastline, the roughly 90-minute round trip pays off.
Surfing lessons run constantly along this stretch, properly one of the more approachable spots in Hawaii to try it for the first time given how gentle the waves typically run here.
Best time Early morning for Diamond Head, before the heat builds
Address Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, HI
A Traditional Luau
A proper luau centres on kalua pig, traditionally cooked whole in an underground oven called an imu, wrapped in banana and ti leaves and left to cook for several hours until the meat falls apart. Most commercial luaus now combine the meal with traditional hula and other Polynesian dance performances, a good, if somewhat produced, introduction to island culture and food together.
Book ahead for the more established, better-reviewed luaus, particularly on Oahu and Maui, the best ones fill up days or weeks in advance during peak season.
Best time Evening
Address Multiple venues across Oahu and Maui
Poke & Shave Ice
Poke, cubed raw fish marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, and various toppings, predates Hawaii's tourism industry entirely, a properly local dish that's since spread well beyond the islands in a considerably more diluted form. Local grocery stores and small poke shops tend to run better, more authentic versions than tourist-focused restaurants, seek one of those out specifically.
Shave ice, finely shaved ice soaked in flavoured syrup, is a completely different texture from mainland snow cones, Matsumoto Shave Ice on Oahu's North Shore remains one of the most established, longest-running spots for it.
Address Matsumoto Shave Ice, 66-087 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI
Best time to visit Hawaii
April through June and September through November cover the most comfortable window for this list, fewer crowds and lower prices than the peak winter and summer holiday seasons.
Winter brings whale watching season to the islands, humpback whales pass through Hawaiian waters roughly December through April, build that into a winter visit if wildlife interests you.
Getting around Hawaii
Each island requires its own rental car, public transport between islands means a short flight, this isn't a state you cover by road alone. Oahu runs the most developed bus system if you'd rather skip driving on that island specifically.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Hawaii worth visiting?
- Yes, unquestionably, few US destinations offer this combination of history, volcanic landscape, and coastline, it earns the flight regardless of which island you prioritise.
- How many days do you need in Hawaii?
- Ten days gives a comfortable pace to cover Oahu properly and add one other island, Maui or Kauai both work well as a second stop.
- Is Hawaii expensive to visit?
- Yes, one of the pricier states overall, flights, accommodation, and food all run above mainland averages across most of this list.
- What's the best Hawaii trip for kids?
- The Polynesian Cultural Center and Hanauma Bay both rank as the most reliably kid-friendly stops on this list.
That's ten decent slices of a state that properly needs more than one island to cover.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
