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

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