Hawaii Travel Guide
Imagine yourself on a gorgeous beach with the sun on your face and a tropical drink in your hand. Hawaii has this and so much more waiting for you! You can experience a piece of Hawaiian culture at a Lu’ua, surf the blue waters, watch lava flow, and hike a variety of landscapes, including a crater.
Maui
Sliding Sands Trail and Halemau’u Trail Loop | Stats, Photos & Tips
In Haleakala National Park, you can combine two very unique trails into one big day hike. The Sliding Sands Trail, which is one of the most popular trails in the park, starts on the rim of Haleakala and ends on the crater floor. To finish the hike, you can retrace your steps back up the […]
Pīpīwai Trail: A Step-By-Step Guide to One of Maui’s Best Hikes
On just one hike, you can see several waterfalls, an enormous Banyan tree, and hike through a bamboo forest. The Pīpīwai Trail is a relatively short hike that is located in Haleakala National Park on the Road to Hana. In this guide, we cover everything you need to know to hike the Pīpīwai Trail. Pīpīwai […]
Maui Itinerary: Best Way to Spend 1 Day to 1 Week in Maui
If you are planning your Maui itinerary, there is an overwhelming amount of information to process…both on the internet and in guidebooks. We want to simplify that for you. In this guide, we share with you Maui’s top experiences, how to organize them day-by-day, and then how to put this all together to create your […]
Maui Bucket List: 20 Best Things to Do in Maui, Hawaii
Maui, with its scenic drives, beautiful beaches, and water sports, is a top destination for tourists in Hawaii. In just one place, you can snorkel with sea turtles, learn to surf, visit a national park, watch the sunrise above the clouds, go wine tasting, attend a luau, rappel down a waterfall, and relax on the […]
Best Way to Drive the Road to Hana & is It Worth It?
The Road to Hana is often listed as one of the best things to do in Maui. This scenic drive attracts hundreds of visitors a day…but is the Road to Hana really worth it? As you plan your trip to Hawaii, you will read other posts and guides that rave about how wonderful the Road […]
13 Amazing Things to Do in Haleakala National Park
Haleakala National Park is named for Haleakala, the massive volcano that forms the eastern part of Maui. Watching the sunrise above the clouds and hiking into the crater are two of the best things to do in Haleakala National Park, but there is more to this park than visiting the summit of a volcano. You […]
The Big Island
How to Hike the Kīlauea Iki Trail in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
The Kīlauea Iki Trail is a great experience to add to your Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park to-do list. On this relatively short hike, walk through a rainforest, cross a solidified lava lake, and gaze out at the crater from the rim. You also have the option to add on the Thurston Lava Tube. This hike […]
Top 10 Things to Do in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is home to two of the world’s most active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kīlauea. If you get lucky with your timing, you can catch Kīlauea in action, as molten lava oozes up from below the Earth’s crust, creating brand new land. But there is more to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park than […]
Kauai
20 Best Things to Do in Kauai, Hawaii
Kauai, also called the “Garden Isle,” is our favorite of the Hawaiian Islands. With its waterfalls, beautiful beaches, tropical resorts, and stunning coastlines, Kauai is pure paradise. In this guide, we cover the best things to do in Kauai with tips to have the best experience. Best Things to Do in Kauai Here are the […]
Doors Off Helicopter Tour of Kauai: Everything You Need to Know
A doors off helicopter tour of Kauai is a thrilling experience. To see this gorgeous island from the sky is one of the best experiences to have in Kauai, if not all of Hawaii. On a helicopter tour of Kauai, you will fly over countless waterfalls, peer down at beaches and small towns on the […]
How to Hike the Nu’alolo Trail and Awa’awapuhi Trail Loop | Kauai, Hawaii
Located in Kokee State Park in Kauai, the Nu’alolo Trail and the Awa’awapuhi Trail are two separate trails that head out along the ridgelines of the Na Pali Coast. From the endpoint of each of these trails, you get spectacular views of the coastline. You can hike each trail separately or combine them into one […]
Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail: Map, Photos, & Is It Worth It?
The Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail is a 2-mile coastal trail on south Kauai. It’s easy to get to, easy to walk, and offers beautiful views of the coastline along its entire distance. To make it even more worthwhile, there are a few places you can add on to the trail. I first learned of this walk […]
Oahu
Best Way to Visit Pearl Harbor: On Your Own & With a Tour
Pearl Harbor is the location of the surprise attack on the United States by Japan on December 7, 1941. Today, it remains an active military base but it is also a collection of four historical sites. You can visit the USS Arizona Memorial, tour Battleship Missouri, visit the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, and go aboard […]
Diamond Head Summit Trail, Oahu | Things to Know Before You Go
The Diamond Head Summit Trail in Oahu is one of Hawaii’s most popular hikes. This short, steep trail takes hikers up to a spectacular viewpoint of Waikiki Beach. We have hiked a lot of trails around the world and this was the most crowded, congested trail we have seen yet. If you are looking for […]
Top Experiences in Hawaii
Beaches. Surfing, snorkeling, paddleboarding, spotting sea turtles and seals, or laying back and enjoying the sand and the sun are all fun ways to experience Hawaii’s beautiful and diverse beaches.
Haleakala National Park. This park has many trails, including the Sliding Sands Loop, the combination of the Sliding Sands Trail and the Halemau’au Trail that forms an 11-mile point-to-point hike that provides ever changing views of the Haleakala crater.
Maui Lu’au. Dine on traditional Hawaiian foods, enjoy the live music, and go on a cultural and historical journey as you watch the hula dancers dance to the beat of the Hawaiian drums for an unforgettable experience.
Pearl Harbor. You can visit the USS Arizona Memorial, tour Battleship Missouri, visit the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, and go aboard the USS Bowfin submarine.
Kauai Helicopter Ride. Fly over countless waterfalls, peer down at beaches and small towns on the island, soar over Waimea Canyon, and the best part, fly along the stunning Na Pali Coast for a thrilling way to see Hawaii’s stunning landscapes.
Waimea Canyon State Park. Hike the canyon trail or drive to viewpoints of what is known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.
Kokee State Park. View Kalalau Valley and hike trails such as the Awa’awapuhi Trail and Nua’lolo Trail to cliffs overlooking the Na Pali Coast.
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. See lava flow from Kīlauea volcano, hike over a solidified lava lake on the Kīlauea Iki Trail, walk through Thurston Lava Tube, and drive along the edge of a crater all in one national park.
Wai’anapanapa State Park. Along with its beautiful black sand beach, you can also crawl into a sea cave, hike along the dramatic coastline, and see if you can spot the sea arch.
Best Time to Visit Hawaii
Visiting Hawaii anytime from April to September will have more moderate temperatures and weather, with the earlier months near April having temperatures near the 60s and getting warmer toward the high 80s as the summer months go on.
While traveling to Hawaii during the late spring and summer helps to avoid the heavy rain season, rain is always a possibility since Hawaii is in the tropics. It can also be colder if you plan on hiking mountains and to volcano summits, so a pair of long sleeves, pants, or a light jacket might be needed.
Hawaii tends to have more visitors during March and around July, so the months from October through February may be better for traveling for cheaper rates and avoiding crowds in popular areas.
USA Travel Ideas
Here are more ideas of things to see and do in the USA.
20 Epic Day Hikes in the National Parks (USA)
With 63 national parks and thousands of miles of hiking trails, your options are endless for exploring the American national parks. We narrowed down the list for you to 20 of the best day hikes in the national parks, 20 amazing ways to explore this beautiful country. Hike to the tallest peaks, through massive canyons, […]
20 Fun, Short Hikes in the National Parks
One of the best ways to experience the national parks is from a hiking trail. Hike to amazing viewpoints, deep into the forests, through scenic canyons, and to hidden lakes and waterfalls. Along the way, you have a better chance of spotting wildlife and potentially leaving the crowds behind. Here are 20 fun, short hikes […]
Best National Parks in the USA: 15 Amazing Parks for Your Bucket List
Stretching from the South Pacific, across the United States and into the Caribbean, are 63 national parks. These national treasures are filled with scenic drives, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, wildlife, historic sites, and endless opportunities for adventure. In this guide, we cover 15 of the best national parks in the USA and what […]
Best USA Road Trips: 18 Ideas for Your Next Big Adventure
One of the best ways to explore the USA is on a good old-fashioned road trip. Cruise along Route 66, road trip through the Florida Keys, explore the American Southwest, or even drive from coast to coast. In this guide, we share 18 of the best USA road trips…18 great ideas for your next big […]
Ultimate US National Parks List for 2025 (+ Printable Checklist)
The US national parks are one of this country’s best ideas…land set aside for the preservation of the natural world and the enjoyment of the people. Every few years, another park gets added and the US national parks list grows a little longer. Over the past 150 years, 63 national parks have been created in […]
US National Parks
The Ultimate Guide to the 63 US National Parks
The US National Parks make an excellent travel destination, whether you are planning a cross-country road trip or a weekend getaway. In our guide to the national parks, get detailed trip planning information, advice on which parks to visit by season, and itineraries to help simplify your travel planning process.