Hawaii travel guide: Travel tips, reviews, photos, & videos from real travelers.

Attractions

Category: Beach
Haleiwa, Hawaii, United States
66 434 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712 US

Cue the Jaws music. Shubees (tourists with all the equipment and surf wear but none of the know-how), shark biscuits (body boarders), and pros have been mysteriously drawn to the North Shore for decades. The North Shore has something for everyone. Shaved ice, buttery garlic shrimp, paradisiacal beaches, gentle sunshine, and salty clean ocean breezes make this surf Mecca a righteous vacation destination for even the smallest grommet (child surfer). Ignore the rumors that surfers look like shark bait from beneath the water. That may be true, but wary beginners can sit safely on the shore and stare in amazement as the tiny surfers in the distance are swallowed by tubes of ocean surf and tossed about in the soup (white water). So get totally stoked for that upcoming Hawaiian vacation wahine (women), kane (men), and keiki (children). Palekaiko (paradise) waits.

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Category: Aquarium
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
2777 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815 US
http://www.waquarium.org/

Nemo and his friends live at the Waikiki Aquarium. Well, at least many of the children who visit the third oldest aquarium in the United States think so. I’m inclined to think that if Nemo had a choice, he would, indeed, choose the Waikiki Aquarium. By no stretch of the imagination is the Waikiki Aquarium a fancy setup. You won’t find blowout extravaganza shows or spectacular bonanzas featuring flying killer whales. What you will encounter is the opportunity to touch squishy, slimy sea cucumbers; the thrill of seeing a green sea turtle up-close and personal; the awesomeness of watching seals devour a mid-day meal; and the goose-bumpy feeling of witnessing the lumbering grace of the nearly extinct monk seal. When it comes to aquariums featuring creatures of the deep, the Waikiki Aquarium takes the cake—err, bait.

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Category: Botanical Garden
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
50 N Vineyard Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96817 US
http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/parks/hbg/fbg.htm

Perhaps Dr. Seuss had the imagination-inducing rainbow-colored trees of the Foster Botanical Gardens in mind when he wrote The Lorax. The gardens sit on 14 acres of land, 4 ½ of which once belonged to amateur botanist Dr. William Hillebrand, former physician to Hawaii’s royal family (when it was under monarchy rule). Hillebrand filled the property with enormous earpod and kapok trees. The land was later sold to the Foster family, who then filled in the gardens with exotic plants of all varieties. This attraction is a gardener’s dream with its colorful orchid display, herb gardens, and terraces filled with exotic plants from around the world, including heliconia, aroid, palm, and ginger. The lush and fragrant garden is a welcome respite in the middle of the bustling city of Honolulu.

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Category: Beach
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu, HI 96817 US
http://www.sunsetonthebeach.net/

What do the Pink Palace, Sex on the Beach (the fruity cocktail; get your mind out of the gutter!), coconut bras, and sandy beaches have in common? They are all things you can find in Waikiki, of course. This lovers’ paradise draws the young and old (and in some cases, the really, really old) to her sandy shores, promising perfect weather, warm waters, tan lines, and frou-frou drinks. A special treat, Sunset on the Beach is a free event featuring food vendors, entertainment, and a movie viewing on a 30-foot screen, right on the shores of Waikiki. Held on a semi-monthly basis, Sunset on the Beach is a local favorite, drawing local families and tourists. Waikiki is a sunup to sundown vacation destination.

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Category: Chinatown
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Maunakea Street, Honolulu, HI 96817 US
http://www.chinatownhi.com/?q=node/14

Visiting Chinatown’s Maunakea Street is like entering another country, right in the middle of Honolulu. While Chinatown is not for the weak of stomach or the sensitive of nose, there is a special allure to surveying the piles of exotic foods, including animal lungs, frogs, mussels, and nearly every variety of fish known to man. Most delightful are the piles of vegetables and fruits, including the smelly but ever-popular durian fruit. If you want to make an Asian dish, Maunakea Street is the place to go for the best spices and the freshest ingredients. Quite often, restaurant owners and well-known chefs can be seen perusing the food offerings and making deals with the booth owners.

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Category: Volcano
Hawaii, United States
Haleakala Crater, Maui, HI US

There is almost no sight more amusing than tourists shivering against the cold at the summit of Haleakala (pronounced Holly-Ock-Allah) Crater. Surprised by the sometimes below freezing temperatures, the phrase, “I didn’t know it could get so cold in Hawaii” has been uttered more than once on the island of Maui. Despite the frigid temperatures, the crater, situated in the Haleakala National Park, attracts freewheeling, early bird visitors who wake before dawn to meet designated bicycle tour operators for a trip to the visually stunning summit to soak in a spectacular sunrise and take the daring ride to the base of the crater. Many pause in wonder at the view from the top of the 10,000-foot peak, from which the Big Island can be seen. Amateur botanists and nature-lovers crouch over the mythical Haleakala Silversword, which only grows on the island at elevations over 6,000 feet. (The Mauna Kea Silversword is found on the Big Island.) Haleakala National Park, designated an International Biosphere Reserve in 1980, is one of the few places in the world where one can encounter up to five different climate zones in one day.

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Category: Scenic Drive
Hawaii, United States
Highway 31, Maui, HI USA

The Road to Hana takes its followers on a delightful journey that includes panoramic vistas of the Pacific Ocean, roadside tree-hugging vendors (there's even one with a bicycle-powered smoothie blender and an organic garden), and awe-inspiring hiking trails such as the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail, just outside of Hana. The "Heavenly Highway" boasts more than a dozen jaw-dropping waterfalls, including the Blue Angel Falls (also known as the Helele'ike'oha [pronounced Hay-lay-lay-ee-kay-oh-hah] Falls), where the road-weary can mingle with families, honeymooners, retirees, and local youth. Not for the motion sickness-prone, the highway is comprised of 612 curves and scores of narrow passes, limited visibility sections, and steep inclines. Perhaps that's why the Tedeschi Winery, where wine enthusiasts can enjoy such delights as pineapple and tropical fruit wines, is at the end of the journey.

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Category: Natural Pool / Swimming Hole
Hawaii, United States
Hana Highway, Maui, HI US

Oheo Gulch, the Seven Sacred Pools, the Pools at Oheo—whatever you call them, they are breathtakingly beautiful and a not-to-be-missed Maui attraction. Oheo Gulch sits just off of mile marker 42 on Highway 31 (the Hana Highway), overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Such a mesmerizing location, you can swim through the cool waters of the Seven Sacred Pools and pretend to be Na-maka-o-kaha'I, the Hawaiian deity known as the goddess of the water and the sea. Despite its nickname, this water attraction is actually made up of 24 separate pools of water. Locals love the Gulch and consider it to be a sacred location, so be sure to respect the location and its place in Hawaiian culture. Otherwise, Pele, the beautiful yet violent Hawaiian volcano goddess, may pay you a visit!

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Category: Nature Park
Kihei, Hawaii, United States
Kihei, HI US

Leaving Ahihi-Kinau, visitors sometimes find themselves with lobster-red sunburned backs and mainland-pale fronts. Why? Because a visit to this ultimate snorkeling destination often encourages long periods of time spent face down, taking in the magical world that lies beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean. The gentle waters and sheltered location make it an ideal destination to bring even the smallest keiki (children) for their first marine encounters. As a lava rock and coral-rich nature preserve, it acts as natural home to a colorful array of fish, eels, and even the occasional small shark. It’s almost like swimming in a fully stocked aquarium, only better!

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Category: State Park
Hawaii, United States
Waianapanapa State Park, Maui, HI US

Waianapanapa State Park is a place where even the most imaginative of minds can get carried away. Legends abound, medieval looking black sand beaches enchant, and children giggle mischievously from the wooded hiking trails. Campers, picnickers, hikers, SCUBA divers, walkers, and photographers roam the park leisurely, feasting their eyes on incomparable ocean views and the flora and fauna only found in Hawaii. A special treat waits for those who hike to the Waianapanapa Cave—a slightly inland ocean cave buffered by an earthen wall. Legend has it that the invidious and angry Chief Kaakea killed his wife, Popoalaea, in the cave when he found her there, in hiding, after he had accused her of being unfaithful. From time-to-time, the cave’s waters turn red due to the presence of tiny red shrimp. Legend, however, holds that the water turns red from the blood spilled when Popoalaea was slain by her jealous husband.

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ShelleySealeReviews: 2
Posts: 0
Watching Wildlife Responsibly in Hawaii
09/17/2009
Rating
97%
Hawaii
As the most remote island on earth, Hawaii is home to many endangered and threatened animal and plant species. Because of this, its ecosystem is very unique and delicately balanced. Fortunately, the people of Hawaii seem keenly intent on preserving this as much as possible, and the Big Island is one of the places where eco-tourism is most visible. You can experience its wonders in an eco-friendly way by interacting with the wildlife responsibly. Green sea turtles, humpback whales and Hawaiian monk seals are endangered species and fines for harassment are hefty. Don’t walk or stand on coral. Corals are made of tiny living animals, which can be injured or killed when you step on them. It is also illegal to harm or harass wild dolphins. Avoid feeding fish or other wildlife. Feeding wildlife alters their natural behaviors and can upset the natural balance of the reef or the ocean environment.Most of all, take the time to learn about Hawaii’s environment, and to appreciate that many of its plants, birds, animals and marine organisms are endemic, or found only in Hawaii. Do your best to take only pictures and leave only the smallest traces of your visit, to help protect this fragile and unique gem of a tropical paradise for future generations to enjoy.
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