Things to see and do in Hawaii

Attractions in Hawaii

Aloha Tower Marketplace

Shop or dine at the Aloha Tower Marketplace (www.alohatower.com), an attractive and modern waterfront development in Honolulu. It is one of the major attractions in the area, with shopping plazas, restaurants, and pavement entertainers.

Charter a boat

Sail the tropical waters surrounding Hawaii on a skippered or bareboat charter, or crew on one of the America's Cup yachts berthed in Lahaina Harbour, Maui (www.sailmaui.com/).

Circle Island Tour

Take a full-day Circle Island Tour around Oahu, offered by several different agencies. Possible attractions en route include Waimea Falls Park (www.waimeavalley.net), Pearl Harbor, the Polynesian Cultural Centre (www.polynesia.com), Sea Life Park (www.sealifeparkhawaii.com) where you can swim with the dolphins, the Waialua Coffee Visitors' Center (www.waialuaestate.com) constructed on a former plantation, and Sunset Beach.

Fishing

Go deep-sea fishing off the Kona coast of Hawaii's Big Island.

Hanauma Bay

Snorkel and feed the tropical fish in Hanauma Bay (www.hanaumabay-hawaii.com), 10 miles east of Waikiki. Or swim with green sea turtles off the coast of Maui.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Explore the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (www.nps.gov/havo), one of the world's natural wonders. At 4,103m (13,677ft), Mauna Loa is the largest single mountain mass in the world, while at 1,200m (4,000ft), the still-active Kilauea's steaming vents and frequent eruptions provide an unusual (and safe) spectator sport. The volcano is continuously erupting, and lava can be seen hissing into the ocean. 

Hawaii by helicopter

An island helicopter flight (www.helicopters-kauai.com) is the perfect way to view pristine forests, plunging waterfalls and verdant valleys.

Hawaiian luau festival

Join in the festivities of a Hawaiian luau. A whole roast pig is ceremoniously removed from a hot stone cooking pit and served with traditional Hawaiian fare, followed by a Polynesian pageant of authentic hula dancing.

Honolulu Academy of Arts

View the fine collection of Asian art at the Honolulu Museum of Art (http://honolulumuseum.org).

Honolulu Zoo

Visit the Honolulu Zoo (www.honoluluzoo.org), home to over 1,230 mammals, birds and reptiles. The zoo is part of Queen Kapiolani Park, where the Honolulu Marathon is concluded annually. The entire 120-hectare (300-acre) park was created by King David Kalakaua in the 1870s and is listed on the state's Historic Register.

Lanai Island

Delight in the spectacular natural attractions of Lanai Island (www.lanaicity.com), including the dramatic Kaiolohia, also known as Shipwreck Beach, which sports petroglyph rock carvings, and the mystical Garden of the Gods north of Lanai City.

Maui's Ka'eleku Caverns

Discover a weird and wonderful collection of rock forms in Maui's Ka'eleku Caverns (www.mauicave.com), located beneath the Hana Rainforest, where you can take a self-guided tour through this astonishing lavascape.

Molokai Island

On Molokai (www.molokai-hawaii.com) there are endless options for adventure. Visitors love to explore the quaint and colourful shops of the harbour town of Kaunakakai, horseback ride the spectacular coastline, take mule-drawn tours of coffee plantations, or hike the trails to Moaula Falls.

Na Pali Coast

Hike the rugged and beautiful Na Pali Coast on Kauai, and explore secluded coves and idyllic sandy beaches.

Waikiki Beach

Relax on Waikiki Beach, Oahu, probably the most famous sunning and surfing beach in the world. Learn to surf, parasail, or ride the waves on a surf outrigger or catamaran. If watersports aren’t your style, simply laze on the shining sand and people-watch in this tropical paradise.

War memorials

Tour Honolulu’s National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, also known as Punchbowl, a memorial and cemetery for US military veterans (https://www.cem.va.gov/). Visit Pearl Harbor (www.pearlharbormemorial.com) and the USS Arizona Memorial (www.nps.gov/usar), the scene of Japan's surprise attack that brought the USA into WWII. Free boat tours take visitors to the memorial, which spans the wreck of the Battleship Arizona where 1,177 sailors and marines lost their lives.

Wet 'n' Wild Hawaii

Visit Wet'n' Wild Hawaii (www.wetnwildhawaii.com) on the leeward coast of Oahu to enjoy fun for all the family. The 12-hectare (30-acre) water park has waterslides, wave and river rafting pools, a play area, a food court, a video game arcade plus a swimming pool, hot tub, and bar for adults.

Whale watching

Take a whale-watching cruise to Lanai from December to April. Once known as the 'Pineapple Isle,' Lanai is the perfect place for whale watching, as humpback whales make the waters around the island their winter breeding and calving grounds.

Tourist offices

Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau

Hawaii Tourism Authority