Top 5 things to do - Hawaii
We fell in love with Hawaii! Honestly, it’s the most peaceful, serene place I have ever been! There are beautiful views at every turn! The beaches are amazing, beautiful, diverse and the wildlife is everywhere! Sea Turtles, resting on the beaches, whales on the horizon flapping their tails and sandy toes! Have I sold you yet? If this trip isn’t on your list, add it now because you can’t miss this!
On our trip we visited the big island and Maui. Regardless of which Hawaiian island you plan to visit, these five should be at the top of your list!
1. Drive the Island! The islands have mini ecosystems sprinkled around including rainforests on the west coast (rainy), lava fields on the east coast (dry), and the north/south shores are grasslands and cliffs (semi-dry). The drive is beautiful and if you grab the HAWAII TRAVEL GUIDE, it highlights all the good spots to stop along the way! Do yourself a favor and rent a car! If you don’t you risk getting stuck! Lyft/Uber aren’t super reliable there and a taxi fare can cost as much as a day car rental in some cases!
2. Get out on the water! We did a private charter where we rode along the coast and saw the beautiful shoreline, caves, whales and then snorkeled at Captain Cook! It was honestly amazing to see the island from the water, a totally different perspective! We also did the manta snorkel and although it was a fun experience, the mantas didn’t come (they say it happens, but rarely). Pro tip: book the boat excursions early in your trip, they will allow you to reschedule for weather or manta no-show! Kona Snorkel Tours hosted us on both excursions, and they were a family favorite!
3. Zipline through the Rainforest! This was amazing! Zipping through the canopy was such a stunning viewpoint. Our Botanical World Adventures zipline tour (Hilo) consisted of 8 zip lines and a suspension bridge, each of which offered a unique view of the rainforest, rivers, and waterfalls! You'll hike through the rainforest from one line to the next, in total it takes about two hours. Our wonderful tour guides made the whole experience! They were super knowledgeable about both the rainforest and the lines! Safety always came first! We learned about the native plants and even got to sample some of the fruit! Their spirited personalities really made the tour memorable! I would highly recommend Botanical World if you’re on the big Island!
4. Visit one or both National Parks! Haleakala National Park is located on Maui and is known for its sunrise, however, it’s also a great spot to catch the sunset! Note that you will need a reservation for the sunrise, and they book up, its free but snag your reservation through the National Park Service early! Volcanoes National Park is located on the big island of Hawaii. As the title let’s on, its known for its volcanoes, some of which are still active! Go to either to the Kilauea Overlook or walk the Old Crater Rim Drive (park at the Devastation Trail head) when its dark and you might just see some lava! Such an amazing sight!
5. The Beaches are so amazing and so different! So do some research before you go! Some are safe for swimming, some are not. Most have some form of lava rock. Some have red sand, some have green, some have black, and some have white. If your along the northwest coast, you may see whales (during season) on the horizon! OR a sleepy sea turtle may crawl right up onto the beach for a rest! Whichever beach you choose; they are all stunning in their own way!
We loved our time here, so much so were already planning a return trip! SO, what are you waiting for?! If you are looking for ways to score cheap airfare for your Hawaiian adventures check out The 5 secrets that will get you FREE flights!
