I am guessing you are here because, like us, you love traveling. Of all the places on your bucket list, are you wondering if Hawaii is the destination you should be heading to next? Here we will describe why we think you should, and some reasons that hold people back, so you can decide for yourself.
What makes a great vacation destination
What type of a vacation are you looking for? Is it a beach vacation, someplace you are close to nature, a resort vacation or maybe thinking of taking a cruise ship? If it’s for any of these reasons, you probably are looking for pristine beaches, untouched forests, resorts or vacation rentals with amenities, fun activities, great food, culture and more. Then there are some other factors that we often don’t consciously think about, but it matters too. Things like safety, ease of transportation and hospitality of the locals. All these put together makes for a great experience.
Great experiences
All Hawaiian islands have a lot to offer that makes for a great vacation destination.
- The Weather
- One of the first things we consider while planning a vacation is whether the weather is good and avoiding off-seasons. Hawaii has one of the best weather in the world. Also since it is relatively consistent (around 80℉/ 25℃) throughout the year, it has one of the shortest off-seasons. Summer months are great, but interestingly, winter is the busiest time in Hawaii. This is because a lot of people escape their cold local weather and come to Hawaii.
- The Beaches
- Let’s face it, most people have beaches on their minds when they think of Hawaii. All islands have great beaches … Oahu probably has the most number of white sand beaches of the islands. Kauai’s tunnel beach is often rated as one of the most picturesque beaches in the world. Maui has one the most amazing jaw dropping red sand beaches near Hana, while the black and green sand beaches on the Big Island are hard to beat. So, not only will you get to relax or play on the beach, but all these different types of beaches sets themselves apart from rest of the world.
- Activities
- Talking about playing on the beach, you will find plenty of water activities on the islands. Snorkel and scuba tours are abundant. And not all the great snorkeling spots need a tour. Fringing Reef in Molokai, Turtle Town in Maui, Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island, Poipu Beach Park and Tunnels beach in Kauai and North Shore in Oahu are all great snorkel spots where you can take your gear, that you own or rent, without having to be part of a tour. You can also kayak, surf and hike.
- Let’s talk hikes! Whether you prefer casual hikes or you are looking for a more extreme hikes, we have it all here. The Kalalau Trail, Kauai, is particularly well known for its spectacular views of Napali Coast. The Haiku Stairs ‘Stairway to heaven’ unfortunately is closed on Oahu, but there are several other awesome trails there. Kilauea Iki Trail in a crater on the Big Island is rated high for its novelty. Though my personal favorite on the big island is the Pololu Valley Awini Trail.
- The list of activities on the island is huge. Leave a comment below and let us know what is your favorite activity.
- Wet and dry sides of the islands
- All the islands have a dry (leeward) side of the island and a wet (windward) side of the island. This creates multiple climatic zones. The Big Island alone has 10 of the 14 climatic zones.
- Most people prefer to stay on the dry side of the island so they can enjoy the beaches uninterrupted by the rain. That is also where most of the hotels and vacation rentals are. However, if you want to experience the lush tropical forest, the waterfalls, the swim holes and the botanical gardens, you can just drive for an hour or two to the windward side and you will be in the middle of it.
- History and Culture
- The moment you land on any of the Hawaii islands or get into your hotel, you will be greeted with aloha and you may be greeted with the Hawaiian Lei (flower garland) as well. On every island you can also experience a Luau. This is the easiest way to get a glimpse into the traditional food and dance and we highly recommend it.
- You will also find a historic site or monument on most of the islands.
Memories to last a lifetime
All the above factors together makes a great experience. But, I think a great experience becomes a memorable one when there is something novel or unique, something you can’t easily find anywhere else in the world, and this is what stays with you forever. So here are some of those must-see places.
- Active volcano
- You probably know that the islands were created because of volcanoes. The youngest island is the big island where the volcano is still active because of which the island is still growing.
- Even though I had this information from the discovery channel, when I saw the lava flow in person, I was in awe! I can appreciate now why the native Hawaiians found this humbling and a sign of a higher power, which they call Pele (the Hawaiian Volcano Goddess).
- There are 3 ways you can watch the lava flow. You can walk to the lava flow, you can take a helicopter ride, or you can take a boat ride to see it. See the Volcanic National Park Service site for more information.
- Close proximity to extraordinary marine life
- From humpback whales, spinner dolphins, green sea turtles, seals to vast variety of fishes, you have easy access to them. Taking tours will get you close and personal to these extraordinary creatures. It’s not unusual to view them even from the shoreline.
- One of the most sought after tours is the Manta Ray Night Snorkel.
- Interestingly, the active volcano and the Manta Ray snorkels can only be found on the Big Island. So, if this is high on your priorities, you should consider staying on the Big Island.
- Helicopter Tours, Napali Coast Kauai
- Yes, you can do helicopter tours in many destinations around the world including the other islands. But the helicopter tours on Kauai is taking it to the next level. Have you seen the scene in Jurassic Park where the helicopter drops down next to the waterfall? That was shot in Kauai! Seeing all the sites around the Napali coast is just amazing and so easy by helicopter.
- By the way it is impossible to explore the Napali coast by car. Besides taking the chopper, you can get there as part of a boat tour or with a very arduous hike. We highly recommend both, but you may need a permit for the hike depending on how far you go.
- Hiking Maui’s National Park
- The landscape of Haleakalā National Park on Maui is surreal and feels like it is from another planet. Even if you are not a sci-fi fan, you will enjoy it a lot.
- The interior of the crater is dotted by numerous volcanic features, including large cinder cones. Two main trails lead into the crater from the summit area – the Halemau’u trail and the Sliding Sands trail. The Sliding Sands trail is the most popular one. You see these multi color cinders. You also get to see these amazing Silverword plants that are very uncommon.
Other factors to consider
The other factor that affects the number of people visiting the islands are just the fact that they are hard to get to. Even if you are on the west coast of North America, it will take you a minimum of 4-5 hours of flight time to get here. Hawaii gets a lot of visitors from Canada and Japan too. For Europeans, this would be almost the other side of the globe. If you are a European considering to visit Hawaii, it may make sense to combine it with a stop on mainland US – possibly San Francisco or Los Angeles.
Hopefully this helps you get a good idea about what to expect when you come to Hawaii. If you have questions or suggestions on what additional I should provide here, please leave a comment below.
If you are interested in staying on the Big Island, please consider staying with us and check out our beach house by clicking here. Mahalo!