You’ve been dreaming about warm golden sands, swaying palms, perhaps even equally swaying hips in rustling grass skirts. Those are enjoyable parts of a Hawaiian vacation, but you’ve really only scratched the surface. Natural wonders, tasty island treats and history, both modern and ancient, are also on the traveling menu. Here are five must-see places to get you started.
Waikiki and Diamond Head Crater
Elvis donned a red and white Aloha Shirt, rode the waves and spawned a fashion trend on his first visit to Waikiki. Years later that strip of golden sand still draws beachgoers eager to catch a few rays, try their luck on a surfboard or ogle at the sometimes barely there bikinis. Relax to your heart’s content, then get up off of that beach towel and discover what it feels like to stand at the top of the world.
The gentle curve of Diamond Head Crater sits on the eastern end of Waikiki Beach. This iconic symbol of Oahu is one of the most photographed sites on the island. But, photographers rejoice, there are even more delightful photos available from the inside. All you need to do is climb a well-marked, 0.8-mile trail to the top of the crater. After hiking along several switchbacks, up two flights of stairs and through a 225-foot long tunnel you find yourself in an unused Fire Control Station Lookout. From here its 54 steps up and out into the Hawaiian sunshine.
All of Waikiki and much of Oahu is at your feet. The panoramic view from the rim of Diamond Head is unmatched. Look out at the Pacific Ocean and you see a hint of the Earth’s curve. Yes, it does take a bit of effort to reach that summit, but think of the bragging rights, and the photos.
North Shore Oahu
Beginning surfers tend to get their feet wet on the fairly gentle waves of Waikiki. Oahu’s North Shore is home to the giant 30-footers that curve round into a perfect circle before they crash into the shoreline. This is the playground of the professional surfer, and home to the O’Neill World Cup that attracts globetrotting surfers each year. The best waves are usually in December and January and the competition doesn’t get started unless the breakers are 20 feet or more. If you’re a novice surfer, find a spot on the sand and enjoy the show.
Visit Matsumoto’s General Store for some Hawaiian shave ice. Similar to a mainland snow cone, the ice is shaved rather than crushed and topped with flavored syrups. Local favorites are guava, passion fruit and pineapple. Go really local and have your shave ice with a scoop of ice cream and sweet Japanese azuki beans. Located in Haleiwa, Matsumoto’s has been serving these island treats since 1951.
Pacific National Monument at Pearl Harbor
A Navy launch takes you out to the gently curved arch of the USS Arizona Memorial. It sits astride the battleship USS Arizona that sank during the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. On one end a white marble wall holds the names of the 2,903 who died, many still entombed below. Look down at the USS Arizona from a large cut out section in the middle of the memorial and see droplets of oil still seeping to the surface. Before your cruise out to the memorial, the Pearl Harbor Memorial Theater shows a documentary with actual footage of the attack.
Next, climb on to a vintage trolley car for the short ride to the battleship USS Missouri, docked near the Arizona and now a memorial in its own right. While the USS Arizona symbolizes the beginning of WW II in the Pacific, the USS Missouri is where it officially ended. It is on her deck that the Japanese signed the surrender treaty, not far from the spot where a torpedo hit but didn’t sink the massive battleship. The scars are still there.
Hana, Maui
The Road to Hana begins at the surfing town of Paia, just east of Kahului. Some 600 curves and 54 single-lane bridges later, it ends in the quiet town of Hana. This place so enchanted aviator Charles Lindbergh that he built a home with a decadent view of the ocean and retired. In 1974 he was buried in a small churchyard overlooking the Pacific.
Hana is a place where mango trees grow along the sides of the roadway and you’re welcome to pick a view. Families of piglets cause mini-traffic jams as they munch away on the fallen fruit. Roadside stands offer fresh pineapple, papaya and mango, usually unmanned with just a jar left open for payment. Hasegawa’s General Store, founded and run by the same family since 1910, is reminiscent of the early part of the 20th century, with groceries, souvenirs and sundries all under the same roof. Their “I Survived the Road to Hana” T-shirt is a hit.
Lightly populated beaches await. Hamoa Beach, a favorite of author James Michener, offers stretches of golden sand. Koki Beach is almost pure white, framed by the red-black volcanic cliffs of Kaiwi O’Pele Hill. Wai’anapanapa State Park is known for its black sand and Kaihalulu Beach for its deep shade of red and a clothing optional policy.
If you start out from Kahului early you can make the roundtrip to Hana in a day, but it’s worth spending a night or two. Accommodations range from the ultra deluxe Travaasa Hana complete with onsite spa to modest beachside cottages hidden in the rainforest.
The Domain of Madam Pele, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The Big Island is the youngest of the Hawaiian chain, at least for now. Madam Pele, the Fire Goddess, holds court within the borders of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, but she does tend to go where she wants. Already Pele is stirring up her cauldrons of lava to create Loihi, a new island forming on the ocean floor south east of the Big Island.
Meanwhile, back at the park, Kilauea Volcano continues to erupt from a rift along its eastern flank and since 1983 has added over 500 acres of land to the island. In the process Pele covered more than eight miles of highway and the village of Kalapana. The lava was slow moving so no one was hurt, but everything in its path was destroyed. Halema’uma’u Crater, at the summit, regularly emits gas and steam. The lava lake in the center of the crater sometimes glows after dark.
Your visit starts at the Kilauea Visitor Center. Movies and interactive displays give you an idea of what to expect. The Jaggar Museum teaches visitors about volcanology and offers the best views of Halema’uma’u Crater. Get the latest eruption information here before you head out into the park. Crater Rim Drive leads through ancient lava fields, tropical rain forests and to marked hiking trails along the way. Walk through the Thurston Lava Tube, a hardened tunnel hidden in a rain forest that once carried molten lava. If you get a chance, take a helicopter tour and get a bird’s eye view of Pele’s handiwork.