10 things not to miss in Hawaii

Too beautiful. So beautiful—and at the same time absolutely packed with amazing things to see. Figuring out what to do and what to see in Hawaii is a challenge: you’d need months to say you’ve seen all the incredible things this Pacific archipelago has to offer. We’ve put together a first list of unmissable stops. Here they are:
 

10 things to see in Hawaii

1. NAPALI COAST

To show just how much we love it, we’ve put it in the number one spot: the Nā Pali Coast. Unmissable! It’s a national park on the island of Kauai, truly one of a kind. This spectacular, breathtaking coastline features lush green mountains plunging dramatically into the sea, with razor-sharp ridges. To admire it all from afar, you can go trekking. Absolutely stunning.
 

2. DIAMOND HEAD

Diamond Head is a beautiful volcanic cone, around 300,000 years old, formed after a volcanic explosion on the island of Oahu, just a few minutes from Waikiki. Hawaiians know it as “Lehi,” probably from the combination of “lae,” meaning promontory, and “ahi,” meaning tuna, because it resembles a tuna’s dorsal fin. Diamond Head is part of a system of volcanic cones, vents, and eruption flows known to geologists as the Honolulu Volcanic Series, created by eruptions from the Koʻolau volcano, which later formed the mountain range. The Honolulu Volcanic Series is a succession of volcanic eruptive events that created not only Diamond Head, but also places such as Oʻahu, Punchbowl Crater, Hanauma Bay, Koko Head, and Manana Island.
 

3. WAIKIKI

Waikiki Beach is located right in the Waikiki district of Honolulu, on the island of Oahu. This beach is definitely one of the most famous and beloved beaches in the world. It’s worth it. Waikiki means “spouting water” or “spraying water” in Hawaiian. The name refers in particular to the many streams on the island that once fed the entire area because of its humidity. In the past, this wetland area even separated the Waikiki district from the island’s inland area.
 

4. HANA HIGHWAY 

There are roads, and then there are roads. And this one is something else. The Hana Highway, also known as the Road to Hana, is the most iconic road in all of Hawaii and is made up of two consecutive sections: Hwy 36 and Hwy 360. The road begins in Kahului, but the very best stretch starts farther on, at mile marker 0, just after the junction with Route 365, and leads to Hana. Let’s start with one assumption: anyone who loves travel should drive the Road to Hana at least once in their lifetime. And if you decide to take a trip to Hawaii, enjoy it—because it’s one of the most scenic routes on the planet.
 

5. SEVEN SACRED POOLS AT OHE'O

If you’re traveling to Hawaii, you absolutely have to stop at the Seven Sacred Pools at Ohe'o. They are located along the southern coastal strip of the island of Maui, surrounded by lush vegetation and just a very short distance from the shore and the pristine ocean. Several waterfalls create a series of natural pools—yes, seven!—where you can take a swim. 
 

6. HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK

Haleakala National Park is located in the south of the island of Maui. Mount Haleakala is the largest dormant volcano in the world, and its last eruption dates back to 1790. The crater itself is विशाल, measuring 2 miles (3.2 km) wide and 2,600 feet (800 m) deep. Haleakala is a Hawaiian word meaning “house of the sun.” According to Hawaiian legend, the demigod Maui tied up the sun here to slow it down and lengthen the day. From the summit, which stands at 3,055 meters, on the clearest days it is even possible to see the island of Big Island. 
 

7. KILAUEA LIGHTHOUSE 

Among the things to see in Hawaii, the Kilauea Lighthouse also deserves a place. It is located on the North Shore, the northern coast of the island of Kauai. After skirting mountains, dazzling white beaches, and cliffs rising as high as 1,200 meters above the Pacific Ocean, arriving at this lighthouse really is the perfect finishing touch to the day. It is the northernmost point of the island, and thanks to its privileged cliffside position, it offers travelers an exclusive panoramic viewpoint during whale season. 
 

8. WAIMEA CANYON

Waimea Canyon is an incredible natural canyon on the island of Kauai. The Hawaiian word Waimea translates as “reddish water,” and one look at it makes it easy to understand why: its walls are entirely red and of volcanic origin.
The canyon is about 16 km long, and in some places its gorge reaches a depth of 900 meters.
 

9. HANAUMA BAY

Hanauma Bay is a stunning bay on the island of Oahu, known for its crescent shape. Thanks to this geological feature, its coral beach is often sheltered from bad weather. The first to take advantage of this are the green sea turtles, which are very often seen here. Hawaiian monk seals also frequently come by to bask in the sun on the warm sand. After Waikiki and the beaches of the North Shore, Hanauma Bay is certainly one of the most famous and most visited places in the entire Hawaiian archipelago.
 

10. STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

The “Haiku Stairs,” which everyone calls the “Stairway to Heaven,” is one of the most extreme hikes you can do in Hawaii. This staircase is located on the island of Oahu: 3,922 steps to reach the summit of Puʻu Keahi a Kahoe. Many years ago, the trail was declared “illegal” because it was too exposed and therefore dangerous for the public. For a while, tourists kept going anyway, since checks were practically nonexistent. Then, in 2015, a violent storm further worsened the condition of the trail, making it definitively off-limits. However, there is a nonprofit association called “Friends of Haiku Stairs” that is working and raising funds to restore and secure the entire staircase.

And really, we can all agree that a classic top-10 list doesn’t do Hawaii justice. In truth, we know plenty more places worth mentioning. But for those, an article isn’t enough: for those, you need to set off with our HAWAII TOUR. Take a look at the itinerary!