America,  Destinations,  Hawaii,  US

Hawaii – Top things to do in 3 weeks

Kauai (4 days – 7.7 to 11.7)

https://goo.gl/maps/ytE4LeT7m6YAaF6g9

  • Na Pali Coast State Park ·· (https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/kauai/napali-coast-state-wilderness-park/)
    • By boat or plane
      • North Shore’s Caves
    • Kalalau Trail (11 miles. Starts in Ha’ena State Park and finishes in Kalalau Valley – 2-3days for the whole tour, you can do part of it)
  • Koke’e State Park (Booked out)
    • Kalalau Lookout – Views of the Napali Coast
    • Puu o Kila Lookout
  • Spouting Horn Blowhole
  • Waimea Canyon – Grand Canyon of the Pacific (https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/kauai/regions/west-side/waimea-canyon)
    • Fern Grotto
    • Captain Cook’s Landing
    • Fort Elizabeth State Park
    • Holo Holo Ku Heaiu (sacred)
  • Botanical Gardens
    • Princeville Botanical Gardens ·
    • Allerton Garden ··
    • Limahuli Garde ·
    • Na ‘Aina Kai Botanical Gardens ··
  • Beach
    • Ke’e Beach (chicken beach) ··
    • Tunnels Beach (snorkeling) ···
    • Hanalei Bay (snorkel) ··
    • Larsen’s Beach ··
    • Mahaulepu Beach ··
    • Po’ipu – Turtles and seals ···
    • Lydgate Beach Park (kids)
    • Polihale State Park (romantic but strong current no to swim)
    • Shipwreck’s Beach (strong waves)
  • Wailua Falls ···
  • Kilauea Lighthouse
  • Nounou Mountain aka ‘The Sleeping Giant’ – a 3.5mile hike
  • Hanalei Bay and Hanalei Valley Lookout
    • Hanalei city
    • Hanalei Farmers Market
  • Opaekaa Falls
  • Queen’s Bath
  • Coffee plantation (https://www.kauaicoffee.com/visit-the-kauai-coffee-estate/) · ??
  • Kayak at Wailua River State Park
  • Maliuhi Road Tree Tunnel
  • Waioli Huiia Church
  • Kamokila Hawaiian Village
  • Kauai Museum
  • Luau

Transport

Shuttle bus: https://www.polyad.com/tour/north-shore-shuttle-kauai/
Car rental: www.discounthawaiicarrental.com

Oahu (6 – 11.7 – 16.7)

https://goo.gl/maps/nab9dJXQ9vAG5mmh6

  • Beach
    • Waikiki beach ·
    • Lanikai Beach ···
    • Pupukea Beach Park ··
    • Kailua Beach Park ··
    •  Turtles
      • Laniakea Beach ···
      • Aweoweo Beach Park ···
      • Turtle Canyon – By kayak or boat ···
    • Secret Beach ···
  • Honolulu
    • Downtown Honolulu ··
      • Aloha Tower
    • Diamond Head Crater – Panoramic views from Honolulu ···
    • Iolani Palace Honolulu – Hawaii’s Monarchy
    • Cage shark diving
    • Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay – Go early as there is a lot of people ···
    • Shark’s Cove – Summer only, sharks possible ··
  • Waimea Bay Beach Park – Rock jumping ··
  •  Waimea Valley & Waimea Falls ·
    • Jungle with a Botanical garden, 1mile hike to the waterfall and lagoon
  • Manoa Falls and Lyon Arboretum ·
  • Laie Falls ·
  • Luau on Oahu ··
  • The Mokes – Kayak to an offshore island to see Oahu
  •  Hike:
    • Stairway to heaven ···
    • The Mānoa Falls Trail ···
    • Koko Crater Trail (2miles, short) ··
    • Lanikai Pillbox hike (short good sunrise) ··
    • Makapuʻu Lookout and Lighthouse hike ··
    • Tantalus Lookout in Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Park – Nice views of Honolulu ·
    • Kaneʻohe and Kualoa Regional Park – Great views from Mokoliʻi – The best place to kayak to the island as it’s quiet ··
    • Kuli’ou’ou Ridge Trail ··
    • Nuʻuanu pali lookout ·
    • Kahana Bay state park? ·
  • Waterfalls at Ko’olau mountain range ···
  • Pearl Harbor
    • USS Arizona Memorial
    • USS Battleship Missouri
    • USS Bowfin Submarine
    • Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
  • Byodo-In Temple – Japanese temple
  • Polynesian Cultural Center
  • Bishop Museum and Planetarium
  • Honolulu Museum of Art
  • Punchbowl – Memorial
  • Dole plantation (pineapple)
  • Kualoa Ranch – Jurassic park film – Movie Tour $54
    • https://hawaiitravelwithkids.com/oahu-activities-kualoa-ranch-movie-tour-review/
  • Go Swimming with Dolphins –
      • https://hawaiitravelwithkids.com/where-to-swim-with-dolphins-on-oahu-dolphin-quest-review/

Maui (6 – 23.7 to 28.7) 

https://goo.gl/maps/NstaRqzygwKggp2L8

  • Haleakala National Park ···
    • Haleakala Crater sunrise
  • Lūʻau massive feast ·
  • Little beach
  • Drive or Ride the Hana Road (4h drive) ··
    • Ke’anae
    • Kaumahina State Park
    • Ho’okipa Beach Park – Awesome for surfing- One of the best in the world
    • Waikani Falls
    • Town of Hana
    • Waimoku Falls
    • Oheo Gulch at Kipahulu
    • Hana Tropical Gardens
  • Iao Valley State Monument ··
    • Iao Needle
  • Lahaina and Ka’anapali Beach ·
  • Lahaina Banyan Court Park ·
  • Scuba Diving and Snorkeling
    • Honolua Bay – Nortwest ··
    • Molokini crater – Dolphins and turtles ···
    • Makena beach – Turtles
  • Nakalele Blowhole ??
  • Waianapanapa State Park ···
    • Paiola Bay – Black lava beach
    • Hike: Ke Ala Loa O Maui/Piilani Trail – Great views from Haleakala and Hana Coast
  • Wailea
    • Polo Beach ·
    • Ulua Beach Park sunset ···
    • La Perouse Bay – Dolphins ···
    • Golf
  • Makena Beach aka Big Beach ···
    • Undeveloped beach
  • Visit Lanai Island
    • 9miles west of Maui – Maui-Lanai Passenger Ferry – Departs from Lahaina
    • Hulopoe Beach Park perfect for swimming
    • Hike
      • Puu Pehe
      • Kanepuu Preserve
      • The Munro Trai (highest point)
  • Maui Pineapple Tours
  • Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm
  • Ultimate Air Trampoline Park (if raining)
  • Ziplining
  • Scape room
Maui-Bus-Public-Transit-System
Maui-Bus-Public-Transit-System

Hawaii – The big island (7 – 16.7 – 23.7)

https://goo.gl/maps/8cGGo52724caTrBt6

  • Hawaii Volcanoes National Park ···
    • Kilauea Iki Crater hike (5.2km 182m high)
    • Chain of Craters Road
    • Hōlei Sea Arch
    • Jaggar Museum
    • Sunset at the Steam Vents in Kilauea visitor center at sunset
    • Kalapana Lava Viewing Area – See lava closed up
  • Mauna Kea summit – Telescope and stargazing ··
    • Alternatively Mauna Loa telescopes
    • Mauna Kea Beach (top rated beach, 10am full)
  • Falls
    • Akaka Falls State Park ··
    • Rainbow Falls ··
    • Kailuka River Falls
    • Umauma Falls
    • Peepee Falls at the Boiling Pots
  • Waipi’o Valley – 4×4 needed to go down to the waterfall, difficult drive *
    • Waipi’o Valley Lookout – easy to reach with the car
  • Tropical Botanical Gardens – 18$ *
  • Snorkeling at Captain Cook Monument & Kealakekua Bay – Dolphins in the morning ***
    • Hiking + Kayak
      • 6.1 kilometers round trip – 400m elevation
      • 15-30min by kayak to the monument
      • -> Don’t stand in the coral, snorkel needed, suncream coral friendly
    • Boat tour – Easiest way to get to the bay. Most last 3 hours to half a day, and include snacks, gear, and education!
  • Two Step snorkeling ***
  • Beaches
    • Punalu’u beach – Black sand beach with turtles ***
    • Pohoiki black sand beach **
    • Papakōlea Green Sand Beach – Only 4 in the world (sand is protected, don’t take) ***
      • 1h walk – Best at golden hour
    • 49 Black Sand Beach
    • Manini’owali Beach (Kua Bay) – Turtles ***
    • Swim on Coconut Island coast (Hilo)
    • Manta ray night dive/snorkel
    • Kehena Black Sand Beach – Sunday drum circles ***
    • Hapuna Beach
    • Magic Sands Beach
  • Hike:
    • Pololu Valley – Lookout black sand beach hike **
      • Easy hike – best pictures in the middle
    • Green Sand Beach at South Point
    • Lava Trees State Park in Puna
      • Petrified trees
    • Onomea Bay Trail
      • very short
    • Humu’ula trail?
  • Hula performance
  • Hilo’s scenic forest roads
  • Pepeekeo Scenic Drive
  • Hot pond – Careful, not hygienic. Don’t go with open wounds
  • See lava (you can do it by yourself)
  • Sunrise or sunset lava glow
  • Lava tubes some free some paying ***
    • Thurston lava tube
    • Kaumana Caves
    • Nāhuku
    • https://www.lovebigisland.com/activities-to-do/lava-tubes/
  • Lower East Rift Zone ***
  • Lava viewpoints:
    • https://www.lovebigisland.com/big-island-lava-viewing/
  • Puna hippy village *
  • Hilo
  • Kona
  • Pu’uhonua O Hōnaunau historical sight **
  • Puʻukoholā Heiau *

Links

https://www.gohawaii.com/

Food

Ululani’s Hawaiian Shaved Ice
Hawaiian Coffee / Kona coffee (volcanic coffee)
Malasadas – Portuguese donought
Bowl of Poke
Kalua Pig
Golden Ale – Big wave – Kona Brewing Company
Macadamias
Loco Moco

https://www.hawaii-guide.com/maui/sights
https://www.hawaii-guide.com/oahu/sights
https://www.hawaii-guide.com/kauai/sights
https://www.hawaii-guide.com/big-island/sights

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