10 Best Places To Go On Vacation In Hawaii

places to vacation in hawaii
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Grace 
Updated
| 4 min read

When you hear Hawaii, palm trees, beach shores with crystal clear waters and bright blue skies would surely surface in your imagination. Well, this picture is not all you can get from Hawaii because more to these beach experiences, is an experience awaiting you to discover. And the experience is about the rawness and trueness of nature that will be presented in the form of cliffs and mountains that you will see in Hawaii. Hike through these trails to discover more of the different sides of the island and read on to find out more about the best places to go on a vacation in Hawaii.

1. Kaanapali Beach


The sun, sand and sea are calling out for you over at Kaanapali Beach, which is home to many resorts that share the beach and Kaanapali Beach hotel is one of such. Unlike the other beaches you probably might frequent, this beach’s surface is not all flat, so you’ll be in for a little adventure as you trudge through some uneven beach surfaces - some narrow, some steep. After a leisurely stroll along the beach’s long stretch, you can decide if you’d like to go for some underwater snorkeling where the fresh, blue waters bring you deeper into the marine world that lies beneath the crystal clear waters.

Kaanapali Beach

Address: Off Hwy 30, Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761

Website: Kaanapali Beach

Opening hours: Open all day

Price: Free admission but a guided jet ride starts off from 103 USD

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2. Honolulu

Waikiki, Honolulu Panorama (16191692896)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Edmund Garman used under CC BY 2.0

Honolulu certainly lives up to being the capital of Hawaii, where things get lively and not too boisterous. When you are in the vicinity, it is the Hawaiian dream to visit the beach; the iconic imagery of white sand with blue waters and high palm trees against a blue sky would definitely remind you of checking out the Hawaiian beach. Besides visiting the beach, the history geek in you might want to visit Pearl Harbour or the national memorial.

Honolulu

Address: National Park Service, Pearl Harbor National Memorial, 1845 Wasp Blvd. Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818

Website: Pearl Harbour National Memorial

Opening hours: 7am - 5pm (daily)

Price: Admission is free

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3. Haleakala National Park


The Haleakala National Park brings you close to the rawness of nature, like how untouched and beautiful the volcanic landscape is. There are actually many things to do at this national park, of which catching a sunrise or sunset seems like the must-do thing over at this national park. Nothing heals the tired soul who is often caught up in the busyness of life like how a sunset and sunrise can do. However, if you want to catch the sunrise, you will have to register beforehand.

Haleakala National Park

Address: Kula, Maui, HI 96790

Website: Haleakala National Park

Opening hours: Open all day

Price: Individual passes: 12 USD, motorcycles: 20 USD, private vehicles: 25 USD

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4. Hulopoe Bay

Lava Flows at Hulopoe Bay Lanai Hawaii 3
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user https://www.flick... used under CC BY 2.0

The Hulopoe Bay is part of the Four Seasons Resort Lanai and it has been duped to be one of the most pristine beaches you can possibly find. It has been said that over at the Hulopoe Bay, the waters are ideal for water activities such as for snorkeling and swimming. You might not have known, but the Hulopoe Bay boasts of having tide pools that are carved out of volcanic rocks and the team at Hulopoe Bay makes sure this area is safe and well-protected. The adjacent Hulopoe Beach Park is the best place for you to take a break from all the swimming and at this park, you can hold a barbecue party or a picnic because there are barbecue grills provided.

Hulopoe Bay

Address: Hawaii 96763, USA

Website: Hulopoe Bay

Opening hours: Open all day

Price: Admission is free

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5. Hapuna Beach


Being named as one of the more popular beaches in Hawaii, Hapuna Beach has been said to be an ideal place for its calm waters that makes it good for snorkeling. The beach has a lifeguard on duty always, thus making it a safe beach to hang out. When out in the sun becomes too much and it calls for a break, head over to their in-house cafe called the Three Frogs Cafe where they have a wide selection of sides, mains and sweets that will provide a good pitstop and shelter from all the water activities.

Hapuna Beach

Address: Old Puako Road, Puako, Island of Hawaii, HI 96743

Website: Hapuna Beach

Opening hours: 7am - 8pm (daily)

Price: Admission is free

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6. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - lava fields
Source: Photo by Flickr user Harshil Shah used under CC BY-ND 2.0

Being said to be home to the world’s two most active volcanoes, the Mauna Loa and Kīlauea, it is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit this National Park. Mauna Loa is massive in size and stands tall at 17,000 meters (55,774 feet) above the depressed sea floor. The preservation of this place is the culmination of many years of hard work by the park rangers and many other professionals, and when you are there, be sure to get to know more about the rich history behind the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park which somehow has contributed to the origins of Hawaii.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Address: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, HI 96718, USA

Website: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Opening hours: Open all day

Price: 15 USD per pedestrian walk-in or cyclist, 20 USD per motorcycle, 25 USD per vehicle

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7. Waimea Canyon


The Waimea Canyon State Park, which is known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, is one of the most Instagrammable spots you can possibly find in Hawaii. Being said to have rocks that take the color of Red because of the erosion of the canyon’s red soil, it is no wonder the rocks are red at some parts of the state park.

Waimea Canyon

Address: Waimea Canyon Dr, Waimea, HI 96796, USA

Website: Waimea Canyon

Opening hours: Open all day

Price: Admission is free

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8. Sandy Beach


Over at Sandy Beach, it is said to be an ideal place for surfers or those who carry the love for water sports. It is akin to a paradise for body surfers. The choppy waves and unpredictable wave situation makes the surf a challenging one and is one good reason why many still come back to this beach. Check out the page to find out more on different bodysurfing competitions being held at the beach!

Sandy Beach

Address: Honolulu, HI 96825, USA

Website: Sandy Beach

Opening hours: Open all day

Price: Admission is free

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9. Na Pali Coast

Na Pali Coast Kauai Hawaii (32406276598)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user dronepicr used under CC BY 2.0

Na Pali Coast is the home to mother nature, everything you see here - from the scenery that greets you from the top, the rough cliffs against the skyline - every moment you spend at the top is worth the experience of the climb. There is a Kalalau Trail which is an 11-mile (17.7 km) hike, and though this might seem like a long treacherous hike, what greets you at the end of it is worth every bit of energy to finish it.

Na Pali Coast

Address: Kapaʻa, HI 96746, USA

Website: Na Pali Coast

Opening hours: Open all day

Price: Admission is free

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10. Oahu's North Shore


Being said to have the reputation of being the ‘Mecca’ where all who love the sea will come visit, this place is all you can dream of if you like waves that can be gentle yet glassy at times. It has been said that the best time to go surfing is between November and February.

Oahu's North Shore

Address: North Shore, Oahu, HI 96712

Website: Oahu’s North Shore

Opening hours: 12am - 12pm (daily)

Price: Admission is free

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Lots to do in Hawaii

Mahai'ula beach Big island Hawaii (31337973857)
Source: Photo by user dronepicr used under CC BY 2.0

If you are thinking of where to visit while on a vacation in Hawaii, there is so much to do besides windsurfing, although it is one of the best places to have a windsurfing game or two. Besides these windsurfing experiences, there is a whole list of activities to do which include visiting the various national parks. So what are you waiting for? Head down now for a unique experience in Hawaii.

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Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Linguist by day but an all-day wanderluster - if there exists such word. She dreams of living in a house surrounded by lush palm trees and an ocean at her doorstep. Having a love-hate relationship...Read more

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