WHAT TO DO
'Iolani Palace, S. King and Richards sts., is the only official royal residence in the United States. The structure was completed in 1882 by King David Kalākaua, nicknamed the Merrie Monarch for his fondness of socializing and his cultural patronage.
The 76-acre park includes a reef-protected beach with lifeguards, tennis courts and shaded picnic areas. While this generally is a safe area for swimming, tidal changes and winds can create strong currents.
Atlantis Navatek Cruises, departing Pier 6, offers sightseeing cruises with a meal and entertainment.
The company offers 1-hour narrated underwater voyages during which passengers can see exotic fish, colorful sea gardens, coral formations and marine animals through large viewing portholes. Whale-watch cruises also are offered December through April.
The ship, also known as “Mighty Mo,” is a veteran of World War II as well as the Korean and Gulf wars. Visitors can explore the decks of this ship launched in 1944 and decommissioned in 1998 and observe its armaments. Particularly stirring is a walk on the Surrender Deck, where, on Sept. 2, 1945, Japan signed the official act of surrender ending World War II.
Bishop Museum and Planetarium, 1525 Bernice St., is Hawai‘i's state museum of natural and cultural history. Founded in 1889, it is known for its extensive array of cultural artifacts, geological study of the Pacific Basin and natural history collections.
A replica of an 11th-century Buddhist temple in Uji, Japan, the temple is a religious and cultural center for the local Buddhist population. On the grounds are a 3-ton brass peace bell (said to clear the mind of impurity or bring good luck), a statue of a 9-foot tall Buddha perched atop a lotus flower and thousands of koi in a 2-acre reflection pond.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, 1184 Bishop St., was built in 1843 on the site of Hawai‘i's first Catholic mission, founded in 1827. It is one of the oldest cathedrals in the United States and site of the ordination of Blessed Damien.
Diamond Head State Monument encompasses a 760-foot-high volcanic crater. The name derives from the volcanic crystals that 19th-century sailors mistook for diamonds.
Dole Plantation features exhibits about the history of pineapple farming techniques and the industry's impact on Hawai‘i’s economy. The Plantation Garden Tour offers a close-up look at tropical crops such as coffee and cacao.
Foster Botanical Garden, 50 N. Vineyard Blvd., is 14 acres containing rare trees, palms, orchids and other tropical plants from throughout the world. The garden was begun in 1853 and many original trees still flourish.
Hānauma Bay Nature Preserve is in a remnant of a volcanic crater notched into the shore below Koko Head. The bay is a popular scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming and picnicking spot.
Hawai'i Maritime Center is next to Aloha Tower Festival Marketplace at Pier 7 in Honolulu Harbor, off Nimitz Hwy. Aloha Tower offers views of the harbor and city from its observation balcony. About 50 historical and maritime exhibits are presented.
Hawai'i State Art Museum (HiSAM) is in the No. 1 Capitol District Building at 250 S. Hotel St. The museum features 12,000 square feet of exhibit space in three galleries and showcases works of art by Aloha State artists.
Hawai'i State Capitol reflects many Hawaiian elements. The sunken legislative chambers in the 1969 structure rise to an open crown, resembling a volcano. Reflecting pools symbolize the ocean, and fluted concrete columns suggest palm trees.
On a 50-acre site below the former O‘ahu Sugar Mill, this outdoor museum features 25 restored and replica early 20th-century buildings. Furnishings, artifacts, clothing and artwork reflect the multi-ethnic plantation workers—Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Native Hawaiian, Okinawan, Portuguese and Puerto Rican.
Hawaiian Railway Society is an open-air museum that preserves the island’s railroad heritage. Static displays of historic rolling stock include steam and diesel locomotives, passenger cars, boxcars and flatcars.
Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park is a 25-acre water park that features water slides, a lazy river and a children's recreation area.
Honolulu Academy of Arts is considered the cultural center of Hawai‘i. Opening onto a series of garden courts, the galleries house a permanent collection of Asian and Western art. The Kress Collection of Italian Renaissance paintings is of particular interest.
Honolulu Memorial encompasses Courts of the Missing that lists the names of 28,778 service personnel missing in action from World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The landscaped memorial also includes a Court of Honor and two galleries with 10-foot war maps.
This 42-acre zoo is home to 1,000 animals representing 234 species. At the African Savanna exhibits, visitors peer at its jungle inhabitants through foliage, as if in the wild. Other zoo features include children's environmental education programs, a petting zoo, campouts and twilight walks.
These pilot-narrated flights aboard either a 4- or 6-passenger seaplane offer spectacular views of the island of O‘ahu.
Kayaking, windsurfing and other small-craft sailing are popular, as is swimming, at this wide, fine sandy beach with shaded picnic areas. Windsurfing equipment rentals and lessons are available.
Enjoy sailboards, kayaking, and other summer activities and recreation.
Among the 155-acre park's offerings are an aquarium, recreational facilities, an outdoor bandstand and picnic sites. The Royal Hawaiian Band gives concerts at the bandstand Sundays at 2.
Kawaiaha'o Church was built 1836-42 and is Honolulu's oldest church. Noted for its choir, this coral-block building served as the royal chapel of the Hawaiian rulers for nearly 20 years. Within the courtyard is the Mausoleum of King Lunalilo.
Kewalo Basin is the home port of charter fishing boats, sightseeing boats and the sampan fishing fleet.
King Kamehameha's Statue is a replica of the statue that was placed in the Kohala district of Hawai‘i Island after the original was recovered from the sea. On the Friday prior to King Kamehameha I Day, the statue is draped with 13-foot fresh flower lei in memory of the monarch.
The garden occupies a basin within its namesake crater and contains a 2-mile trail through its collection of cactuses, succulents, plumeria, bougainvillea, palms and other plants from around the world.
Koko Head embraces about 1,200 acres of rugged lava coastline, scenic Hanauma Bay, and two prominent volcanic landmarks: 646-foot Koko Head and 1,200-foot Koko Crater. A roadside pullout on SR 72 overlooks Hālona Blowhole, where incoming breakers sometimes create a spouting geyser. Picnicking is permitted.
Kualoa Ranch & Activity Club has been a working ranch since 1850 and a number of motion pictures have been filmed here, including “Jurassic Park,” “Pearl Harbor,” and “50 First Dates.” The television series “Lost” also has been filmed on the premises.
Lā'ie Hawai'i Temple, 55-600 Naniloa Loop, is approached through formal terraced gardens with reflecting pools. Visitors may not enter the temple, but the grounds and visitor center contain exhibits and audiovisual presentations.
Lyon Arboretum is at 3860 Mānoa Rd., about 2.5 mi. n.w. of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa's main campus. Though not located on campus, it is affiliated with the university and contains native Hawaiian, Polynesian and economically important tropical plants.
Magic of Polynesia, in the Waikīkī Beachcomber Hotel, is a magic show that combines illusions and special effects with Polynesian dancing. Dinner is available with the show.
The Hale La'au wood-frame house was shipped around Cape Horn from Boston in 1820. The 1831 Chamberlain House was built of coral blocks as a home and storehouse.
Tours for one or two passengers lasting 15, 20 and 30 minutes offer spectacular views of O‘ahu's North Shore via sailplanes. Whale sightings are common December through April.
Opened in 1949, the military cemetery contains nearly 40,000 graves arranged in concentric circles on the floor of the crater of an extinct volcano. Aptly, the Punchbowl was once called Pūowaina—Hill of Sacrifice.
Nu'uanu Pali State Wayside offers a dramatic panorama of windward O‘ahu's valleys and coastline. This windy 1,200-foot-high gap, flanked by cliffs that rise 2,000 to 3,000 feet, was the scene of Kamehameha the Great's decisive victory in the conquest of O‘ahu.
The 42,000-square-foot Hangar 37 houses a museum containing World War II aircraft and artifacts from the Pacific. Highlights include film footage of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor; a Japanese Zero diorama; and a B-25B, Grumman Wildcat and Stearman N2S-3. Flight simulators are available.
Pacific Skydiving Center departs from Dillingham Airfield on SR 930.
The 42-acre center preserves and shares the heritage of the South Seas region: Fiji, Hawai‘i, the Marquesas Islands, New Zealand and its Maori culture, Samoa, Tahiti and Tonga. Customs, arts, crafts and sports can be observed in village exhibition areas. IMAX Polynesia Theater presents a film dealing with ocean life and its importance to Polynesia.
Pu'u Ualaka'a State Wayside, off Round Top Dr. on Makiki Round Top, is a vantage point from which nearly one-third of O‘ahu can be seen.
Queen Emma Summer Palace was the mid-19th-century summer retreat of Kamehameha IV, Queen Emma and their son. It contains Victorian and Hawaiian artifacts and memorabilia of Hawai`i's royalty.
Pathways wind among varieties of hibiscus and other tropical flowering plants. Kahuna stones guard the blossoms against pickers. In the 14th century Tahitian kahunas arrived and offered spiritual healing to Hawaiians. When they returned to Hawai‘i they left their powers in stones for healing and health purposes.
Round Top-Tantalus Drive, beginning at the end of Makiki St., circles Round Top Mountain and provides views of Mānoa Valley and the thickly forested slopes of Mount Tantalus.
Royal Mausoleum State Monument is the burial site of Hawaiian royalty, including members of the Kamehameha and Kalākaua dynasties. Guided tours are available by advance reservation.
Sea Life Park offers marine mammal shows and exhibits. A 15,000-gallon exhibition tank lets visitors swim with manta rays, sea turtles and a white-tipped shark.
Established in the windward O‘ahu rain forest, this 700-acre garden estate encompasses lush valleys and plateaus. A guided 1-mile walking tour explores landscaped gardens, fruit orchards and tropical foliage.
Doris Duke was heir to the American Tobacco and Duke Energy fortunes and creator of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Her Middle Eastern-inspired home, set on 5 acres with a stunning ocean view, was completed in 1938.
Scenic sailplane tours of the island lasting 10 minutes up to 1 hour are offered for one or two passengers. With the right weather conditions, it is possible to see most of the island on the longer flights.
Soto Zen Buddhist Temple is a temple of East Indian design noted for its ornate altar.
St. Andrew's Cathedral (Episcopal) was founded by King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma. Construction began in 1862. Stone was brought from England, and the cathedral is said to be the only example of French Gothic-style architecture in Hawai‘i.
Star of Honolulu is a 1,500-passenger ship that cruises the O‘ahu coastline in search of wildlife sightings; whale sightings are guaranteed mid-December through April 30.
The Contemporary Museum, 2411 Makiki Heights Dr., features changing and permanent exhibitions of contemporary art. The museum is within a 3.5-acre Oriental and sculpture garden.
The 320 acres of landscaped grounds offer more than 560 varieties of tropical trees and plants, including the rare sausage tree. Maps and information about plants and art are available at the campus center.
The 25th Infantry Division, nicknamed Tropic Lightning in the mid-1940s while fighting in the Philippines, has fought in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and both Gulf wars. The unit also has participated in various international peacekeeping missions.
U.S. Army Museum of Hawai'i portrays the role of the U.S. Army in Hawai‘i and Hawai‘i's contribution to national defense.
Hibiscus, subtropical vines, herbs, plumeria, a subtropical fruit orchard, a children's garden and a hedge maze are some of the 30-acre garden's highlights.
The offshore memorial is a white concrete and steel structure that spans the 106 by 608-foot hull of the sunken USS Arizona. Most of the 1,177 killed on the Arizona during the attack on Dec. 7, 1941, are entombed in the sunken hull.
USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park commemorates those who served in the “silent service.” The park centerpiece is the 1,500-ton USS Bowfin, also known as the “Pearl Harbor Avenger.” Launched in 1942, this Balao class submarine could remain submerged for 24 hours. A museum traces the history of submarine design.
Wahiawā Botanical Gardens consists of 27 acres of tropical conifers, sub-tropical palms, tree ferns, epiphytes, aroids, gingers, heliconias, palms and many varieties of native plants.
Waikīkī Aquarium was founded in 1904 and exhibits more than 420 species of Pacific marine life, including chambered nautiluses, giant clams, endangered Hawaiian monk seals, sharks and reef fish. Visitors may touch sea creatures at an outdoor living coral ecosystem display.
'Īao Needle, in ‘Īao Valley State Park, is a rock formation blanketed with vegetation and rising more than 1,200 feet above the floor of ‘Īao Valley.
'Īao Valley, 4 mi. w., is traversed by a winding road. In this densely forested cul-de-sac, whose walls are almost a mile high, Kamehameha I trapped and destroyed the defending army of the Maui king.
Air Maui Helicopter Tours, at Kahului Heliport, Hangar 110, offers several narrated tours over the island of Maui. Passengers may glimpse waterfalls, rain forests and valleys as well as the West Maui Mountains and Haleakalā Crater.
Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum is next to the 1901 Pu‘unēnē Mill. The museum documents the significance of the sugar industry in the islands.
Ali'i Kula Lavenderis just e. off SR 37 (Kula Hwy.) on SR 377 (Kekaulike Ave.), then .5 mi. e. to 1100 Waipoli Rd. (On Waipoli Rd., pass the cattle guard and follow signs to parking area). The garden includes more than 45 lavender varieties.
Atlantis Submarines departs from Lahaina Harbor (Pier 18). The company offers 1-hour narrated underwater voyages during which passengers can see exotic fish, colorful sea gardens, coral formations and marine animals through large viewing portholes.
Bailey House Museum was built in 1833 as the Wailuku Female Seminary. Pre-contact Hawaiian artifacts, missionary-era furnishings and paintings by Edward Bailey are displayed.
Banyan Tree Park, next to Old Lahaina Courthouse across from Lahaina Harbor, marks the center of town. Planted in 1873 by the sheriff of the town, this 60-foot tree is the largest on the islands.
Blue Hawaiian Helicopters departs from Kahului Airport. Helicopter tours, ranging from 30- to 90-minute flights, provide views of Maui. Mountains, valleys, waterfalls and cliffs are visible.
Enchanting Floral Gardens features 2,000 varieties of plants, flowers, trees and herbs on 8 acres. Noteworthy are such exotic plants and fruit as the king protea, orchids and red and blue jade vines.
Flowers, trees, waterfalls and peacocks can be seen in this 27-acre garden. The purpose of this garden is to restore natural ecosystems and promote Hawai‘i's indigenous species, but exotic plants from the South Pacific and various rain forests also are presented.
Haleakalā Summit District covers a major portion of Haleakalā National Park. Haleakalā is an enormous volcano 10,023 feet above sea level. Streams eroded deep valleys into its flanks during a long period of volcanic inactivity.
Hāna Bay Beach is a small black-sand public swimming area with picnic facilities and a pavilion.
Hāna Cultural Center contains photographs, tools and other artifacts illustrating local history. A replica of a Hawaiian living compound is composed of cooking, sleeping, meeting and canoe huts. The site also includes one of the oldest historical buildings in Maui, currently being used as the Hāna District Courthouse.
This road winds through brushy ravines, bamboo forests, hamlets and fishing settlements, past gorges and waterfalls. Points of interest along the highway are listed in milepost order.
More than 30 exhibits in an interactive nature museum showcase Hawaiian culture and natural history. Aquariums and touch pools feature native marine life, and a glass solarium looks out onto ‘Īao Valley.
Two-thirds of the North Pacific humpback whale population migrates from Alaska to Hawaiian waters from October through April to calve, nurse and breed. The sanctuary also is home to an array of marine animals, corals and plants, some of which are not found anywhere else on Earth.
Hike Mauideparts from a central site in Kahului and provides pick-up service at hotels and condominiums.
This octagonal church, built in 1894 by Father James Beissel and his largely Portuguese parishioners, features an ornate hand-carved wooden altar and stations of the cross built in Austria and installed in 1897.
Hosmer Grove, just northwest of Park Headquarters Visitor Center in Haleakalā National Park, was the site of an experimental planting of temperate-climate trees around 1910. A half-mile nature trail points out the differences between introduced vegetation and rare native plants. This also is an excellent area for bird-watching.
Plants from the Pacific Islands are featured on 472 acres. The garden is said to have the largest known collection of breadfruit cultivars, a chief South Pacific food source.
Kalahaku Overlook, at an elevation of 9,324 feet and 2 mi. below the Haleakalā Visitor Center in Haleakalā National Park, affords panoramas of the valley's cinder cones.
Protected by a rock wall, some rare ‘āhinahina (silverswords) grow just below the parking area.
Kanahā Beach Parkis .2 mi. n. of Kahului Airport. Calm, protected, warm waters and light onshore winds make this beach a popular windsurfing and fishing spot.
Kanahā Pond Wildlife Sanctuary provides an observation booth for viewing migratory ducks, endangered Hawaiian coots and stilts, and other birds.
This is a quiet beach with restrooms and outdoor showers. Picnicking is permitted.
Kawilinau, near the valley's center in Haleakalā National Park, is 65 feet deep and may be visited during an all-day hike. The head of the Sliding Sands Trail is at Haleakalā Visitor Center on the valley rim.
Kepaniwai Park, 870 ‘Īao Valley Rd., contains the Heritage Gardens, a group of pavilions built as tributes to the ethnic groups who settled the island.
This cultural landscape offers streamside trails and views of the east Maui coast’s rain forest. The rain forest region receives more than 300 inches of rain annually. Swimming in the cool ‘Ohe‘o Stream is popular (weather permitting).
Kula Botanical Garden, SR 377 (Kekaulike Ave.) just n. of Waipoli Rd., has paved paths that wind through 8 acres of tropical and semitropical plantings and alongside a stream and a koi pond. The reception center provides excellent views of the island.
The Lahaina Cruise Co., which departs from Lahaina Harbor, offers whale-watch trips. The 2-hour excursions include expert narration.
Lahaina Jodo Mission, off Front St. at 12 Ala Moana St., features a large Buddha statue as well as a three-tiered pagoda, temple and sacred bell. Visitors are not permitted inside the shrines.
Maui Classic Chartersdeparts from Mā‘alaea Harbor, off SR 30. Five-hour morning and 3.5-hour afternoon snorkeling trips aboard Four Winds II, a glass-bottom catamaran, and Maui Magic are offered.
Maui Downhill Haleakalā Bike Safarisprovides pick-up service at hotels and condominiums.
Plantation workers give walking tours of the pineapple fields, explaining the growing and harvesting cycle. Visitors can pick a pineapple to take with them.
Maui Mountain Cruisers, 381-C Baldwin Ave., offers van pick-up service at area hotels.
Maui Ocean Center is a state-of-the-art aquarium and marine center. Living coral, colorful tropical reef fish, large open ocean and game fish, sharks, green sea turtles, stingrays, eels and sea jellies are some of the indigenous marine life displayed. The Open Ocean Exhibit consists of an acrylic tunnel that takes visitors through a 750,000-gallon tank, giving the illusion of being under the sea. The Marine Mammal Discovery Center features interactive learning stations as well as life-size models of humpback whales, monk seals and dolphins.
Maui Tropical Plantation offers 40-minute narrated tram tours of its 60 acres. Guides describe how sugarcane, bananas, macadamia nuts and other products contribute to the state's economy. Indoor agricultural exhibits also are presented.
Old Lahaina Lū'au, in Lahaina Cannery Mall, offers visitors an introduction to Hawaiian history and culture through traditional food, music and dance.
Pacific Whale Foundation tours depart from Mā‘alaea Harbor; check-in is at the foundation's store at the Harbor Shops at Mā‘alaea. Whale-watch tours offer the opportunity to see humpback whales that migrate here in winter and spring.
A 5-hour snorkel cruise takes passengers to the Molokini crater for snorkeling and then to Keawala‘i (Turtle Town) where green sea turtles often nest.
The Silversword Loop, accessed by a 4.7-mi. hike from the park road on the Halemau‘u Trail in Haleakalā National Park, encircles an area covered with unique ‘āhinahina (silverswords).
Spirit of Lahaina, departing Slip 4 at Lahaina Harbor, offers a Whale-watch Eco-adventure cruise and a sunset dinner cruise.
Sugar Cane Trainis on SR 30. This authentic 1890s narrow-gauge sugarcane railroad travels between Lahaina and Pu‘ukoli‘i, providing a panoramic view of the ocean, Lāna‘i, Moloka‘i and the Kā‘anapali resort area.
Sunshine Helicopters, departing from Kahului Heliport #107, offers narrated helicopter tours of the Maui coastline, Haleakalā's vast moonlike crater, the Hāna rain forest, the ‘Ohe‘o Gulch and coastline waterfalls.
Twenty-minute casual tours provide an overview of the dairy farm. Visitors can learn about the goats and how they are milked and view the cheesemaking area.
The Wo Hing Museum was built in 1912 and was the fraternal meeting hall for the Chinese Wo Hing Society. The restored house exhibits rare Chinese artifacts and memorabilia from the turn of the 20th century, when many Chinese emigrants lived and worked in Lahaina.
Volcano Air Tours depart Kapalua West Maui Airport. These 2-hour tours aboard 9-passenger, twin-engine airplanes fly over the spectacular scenery of Maui and Hawai‘i Island.
The small Honokalani Black Sand Beach is composed of small, smooth lava pebbles. Self-guiding tours of a small sea arch, sea caves, blowholes and seaside lava tubes within the park are available.
Wailua Falls, 8 mi. s. on Hwy. 31, drops 200 feet into Wailua Gulch and is most impressive in morning sunlight. The water comes from Haleakalā to a grove of kukui, also known as candlenut trees.
Guests on a guided tour travel through a secret corridor into Annabelle's Parlor, where the ghost and pianist Annabelle plays song requests during a three-course meal.
Allerton Garden once was part of the private estate of a Chicago businessman. Before that, it was a retreat for Hawai‘i's Queen Emma. Guided tours weave through tropical foliage, past fountains, sculptures and gazebos.
Blue Dolphin Charters departs from SR 50 s. (toward the ocean) on SR 541 at the Port Allen Harbor Marina Center. Various sightseeing, scuba and snorkel trips are offered.
Kaua‘i's natural features, including Hanapēpē Valley, Waimea Canyon, Nā Pali Coast and Mount Wai‘ale‘ale, are seen on this 50- to 55-minute flight.
Canyon Lookout, at the 3,400-foot level in Waimea Canyon State Park, affords the best view of the 10-mile series of gorges cut into Alaka‘i Plateau.
Capt. Andy's Sailing Adventures departs from SR 50 s. (toward the ocean) on SR 541 at the Port Allen Harbor Marina Center. Various sightseeing, sailing, rafting and snorkel trips are offered.
It is said that the fire goddess Pele's search for a new home ended in her digging the Waikapalae and Waikanaloa wet caves. A path along the shoreline leads to the site of a Hawaiian hula heiau (temple). Kē‘ē Beach is a popular snorkeling spot.
Forty-five minute tours showcase such sights on Kaua‘i as Hanapēpē Valley, Waimea Canyon, Nā Pali Cliffs, Kalalau Valley, Hanalei Valley and Mount Wai‘ale‘ale. Music and narration about the island's history, myths and legends are included.
Kalapakī Beach, 2 mi. e. on SR 51 at SR 58, at the left of the harbor, is a popular family spot and good for swimming, windsurfing, boogie boarding and surfing.
Kaua'i Backcountry Adventures features recreation, summer activities, sightseeing tours, rafting and canoeing. Tours depart from 3-4131 Kūhiō Hwy. Other activities are offered.
Kaua'i Coffee Plantation Visitor Center is w. on SR 50 then s. on SR 540, following signs to 870 Halewili Rd. With more than 3,100 acres in production, this is reputed to be Hawai‘i's largest coffee plantation. Visitors can walk through the orchard and in the visitor center they can sample the final products and watch two video presentations detailing how coffee beans are harvested and processed. Allow 30 minutes minimum.
Kaua'i Museum, 4428 Rice St., is a two-building complex with exhibits about the history of Kaua‘i. Among the displays are photographs, more than 1,000 stone implements and tools, textiles and works of art. A 30-minute videotape presents an aerial view of the island.
Kayak Kaua'i features summer activities, sightseeing tours, rafting and canoeing.
The lighthouse was built in 1913 and was in use until 1976. A visitor center showcases the structure's history and lighthouse keepers.
A former sugar plantation, the 35-acre estate boasts a restored 16,000-square-foot Tudor-style mansion as well as guest cottages and gardens. A 20-minute carriage ride around the grounds features a carriage pulled by a Clydesdale.
This small, picturesque waterfall gets its name, which means “rolling shrimp,” from the shrimp that lay eggs in the many rocky pools at the base of the cascade.
Kōke'e Natural History Museum, 15 mi. n. on SR 550 in Kōke‘e State Park, contains exhibits pertaining to plants and geologic phenomena as well as stone artifacts found on Kaua‘i.
Kōke'e State Park is 15 mi. n. on SR 550, a narrow, winding road requiring cautious driving. In a rugged mountainous region, the area is rough and primitive; hiking should not be attempted without proper preparation.
Kukuiolono Park and Golf Course offers Japanese gardens, panoramic ocean and mountain views as well as a collection of legendary stones reputedly gathered and arranged by the menehune people. The park was part of the estate of sugar magnate Walter McBryde, who is buried near the 8th hole of the public golf course.
This conservation garden offers a close look at native foliage and ancient terraces. The garden lies in a valley surrounded by green cliffs eroded by wind and rain.
Lumaha'i Beach is a small beach along Hanalei Bay where Mitzi Gaynor sudsed her way through “I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair” in “South Pacific”; it is among the most photographed spots in the islands.
A 15-minute tram ride transports visitors to the tropical garden for a 1-mile self-guiding tour. Highlights include a research facility, a stream and the Canoe Garden.
Alexandra Moir, wife of Kōloa Sugar Plantation manager Hector Moir, began planting her garden after her marriage in 1930. By 1948 it was known internationally as one of the world's best cactus and succulent gardens.
This once-private 240-acre estate is a marvelous tapestry of 12 gardens and wild areas sprinkled with more than 90 life-size, representational, and sometimes whimsical, bronze sculptures.
Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park includes the coastal area from Hā‘ena to Miloli‘i Valley as well as the Nu‘alolo and Kalalau valley regions, all with small beaches at the base of lava cliffs. Archeological sites of Nu‘alolo Kai's and Nā Pali's early settlers are along the park's rugged hiking trails. In the mid-1500s Keawe, great-grandfather of Kamehameha the Great, ruled the Kona District. It is a 2-mile hike to Hanakāpī‘ai Valley and Beach. Day use permits are required on Kalalau Trail beyond Hanakāpī‘ai Valley.
Nāwiliwili Harbor is the island's chief port. The harbor and the nearby airport make Līhu‘e a transportation and tour center. The harbor can accommodate oceangoing freighters, and at the water's edge is a huge bulk sugar plant from which raw sugar is shipped directly to the mainland for refining.
Princeville Ranch Stables features horse farms & riding stables, summer activities and sightseeing tours on horseback.
Activities include horse farms & riding stables and sightseeing tours on horseback.
Sleeping Giant is a mountain formation resembling a sleeping giant. Several legends and myths are connected to this site.
The 90-minute narrated trip, via the only navigable river in the islands, includes Hawaiian entertainment and passes banks covered with pandanus and hau trees and pili grass, once used for houses.
A fenced overlook provides viewing of the spout, which is formed when water from incoming waves rushes under a lava shelf and bursts through a small surface opening. A nearby blowhole emits a weird groan that local legend attributes to the hissing of a large lizard trapped within the lava tube.
Founded in 1841, this is the oldest Catholic church on Kaua‘i. Its purpose was to serve the mission founded by Father Robert Arsenius Walsh, who received 17 acres of land from King Kamehameha III in 1843. Visitors can view the historic church, original chapel, old rectories and grottoes.
St. Sylvester's Roman Catholic Church employs unusual architectural styles. The octagonal church, which seats 150, is made of lava rock and wood; its design is similar to that of a theater in the round.
Narrated tours lasting 45-55 minutes reveal some of the island’s most scenic views, including Waimea Canyon, Wailua Falls, Mount Wailaleale and the Nā Pali Coast. Note: Due to decompression-related sickness, it is recommended that passengers wait 12-24 hours after scuba diving before flying; the amount of time is dependent on particular dive factors. Ask about possible policies regarding minimum wait time between scuba diving and flying; weight restrictions; weather, cancellation and refund policies; and the minimum and maximum number of passengers for flights.
In ancient times Hawaiian chiefs would dive from the cliff into the pool to prove their courage. Only those of royal blood were considered sufficiently courageous and powerful to perform this feat.
Wailua River State Park, along the banks of the Wailua River off Kūhiō Hwy. (SR 56), contains two waterfalls and several park areas with terrain varying from beach to mountain.
At marked pullouts the rim overlooks the colorful canyon and Ni‘ihau Island. The serpentine lower portion of the highway—Waimea Canyon Drive—requires cautious driving.
'Akaka Falls State Park is 3.6 mi. s.w. at the end of ‘Akaka Falls Rd. (SR 220). The park is noted for two waterfalls, one of which drops 442 feet into Kolekole Stream. So dense is the tropical vegetation that the sunlight is muted. A nearly half-mile paved path, strenuous at points, winds amid varied flora. Allow 30 minutes minimum.
The relationship between Hawaiian culture and the universe is showcased through a variety of displays and interactive exhibits, which are written in both English and Hawaiian.
Ahu'ena Heiau, on the grounds of the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel near the Kailua Pier, is a temple reconstructed by King Kamehameha 1812-13.
This 12-acre garden represents the area's vegetation zones that existed before Capt. Cook arrived in 1779. A portion of the grounds is dedicated to preserving remnants of the Kona Field System, an agricultural system in which crop fields were separated by stone boundaries. Native plants as well as plants introduced by the Polynesians can be seen.
The facility honors the state's first astronaut, who perished along with the other six astronauts aboard the space shuttle Challenger in 1986. A bronze sculpture and personal belongings showcase Onizuka's life.
The company offers 1-hour narrated underwater voyages during which passengers can see exotic fish, colorful sea gardens, coral formations and marine animals through large viewing portholes.
Big Island Air departs from the commuter terminal at Kona International Airport at 73-103 U‘u St. Circle tours of Hawai‘i Island last 1.5 hours and include such sights as Kīlauea Volcano, ancient Hawaiian settlements, rain forests, valleys and waterfalls.
Blue Hawaiian Helicopters departs from Hilo International Airport. The 45- to 50- minute Circle of Fire plus Waterfalls Tour features active volcanic areas, lava flows and black sand beaches.
Blue Hawaiian Helicopters departs from Waikoloa Heliport. Helicopter tours provide views of sea cliffs, valleys, waterfalls and volcanic areas. Passengers hear music and the pilot's narration via stereo headphones.
Body Glove Cruises depart from the Kailua Pier at jct. Palani Rd. and Ali‘i Dr. Humpback whales migrate to this area every year, and naturalists explain their behavior during a 3-hour whale-watch tour.
Boiling Pots is about 2 mi. w. of Waiānuenue (also known as Rainbow Falls) via Waiānuenue Ave. at the end of Pe‘epe‘e Falls Dr. in Wailuku River State Recreation Area. As the Wailuku River passes over ancient pool-like lava caves, the water seems to boil. The pools may be viewed from an overlook area; there is no trail access. Allow 30 minutes minimum.
Captain Cook Monument, across Kealakekua Bay, is a 27-foot obelisk erected in 1874 near the spot where Capt. James Cook was killed. The spot is marked by a submerged plaque that can be seen through the water, but it is accessible only by boat.
Chain of Craters Road extends 18 mi. from Crater Rim Dr. at 4,091-foot Kīlauea Summit to the coastal district within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Ancient petroglyphs can be found at the end of the three-quarter-mile Pu‘u Loa (Hill of Long Life) Trail, but visitors should not disturb them or take rubbings in order to help preserve them.
Crater Rim Drive makes an 11-mi. circuit around Kīlauea Caldera within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park past lava flows, rain forests and craters.
Daifukuji Soto Mission, 79-7241 Mamalahoa Hwy., is a historic Zen Buddhist temple with two ornate altars. Photography is permitted.
Fair Wind, 6 mi. s. of Kailua-Kona at Keauhou Bay Pier off Ali‘i Dr., offers sightseeing and snorkeling cruises aboard the Fair Wind II, a catamaran equipped with a water slide and freshwater showers. Cruises visit Captain Cook Monument. Snorkel gear and instruction are provided.
Built circa 1875 by H.N. Greenwell, the restored general store is reputed to be one of the oldest buildings in the area. Interpreters in period costume and shelves lined with reproduction goods reflect the lives of late-19th-century Kona residents.
Hawai'i Forest & Trail has various departure points. Each of the eight available half- or full-day ecotours is led by an interpretive guide. Guests are provided with necessary special gear.
This nature preserve protects the fragile ecosystem of a tropical rain forest and is a refuge to birds and giant sea turtles. A self-guiding tour follows trails through the 20-acre garden that contains flowers, fruit trees, waterfalls, meandering streams, a lily pond and rugged ocean coast.
Hulihe'e Palace, 75-5718 Ali‘i Dr., was built in 1838. The palace was a favorite retreat for Hawaiian royal families.
The beach, with an offshore reef, is known for good snorkeling conditions with a large variety of fish in the area. Note: When there is high surf, rip currents are very present.
Kailua Bay Charter Co. Inc. offers glass-bottom boat cruises departing from the Kailua Pier at jct. Palani Rd. and Ali‘i Dr. across from King Kamehameha Beach Hotel; parking is available at the hotel.
Kaūmana Caves, 4.5 mi. s.w. on Saddle Rd. (SR 200) at 1568 Kaūmana Dr., are lava tubes formed by the Mauna Loa eruption of 1881. During its activity this flow came closer to Hilo than during any other on record.
Kīlauea Visitor Center, on Crater Rim Dr. within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, is the park headquarters and provides literature and displays describing the park and its facilities.
Kīlauea's 4,091-foot summit is a broad, shallow depression paved with recent lava flows. This caldera is 400 feet deep, 2.5 miles across at its widest point and covers 2,600 acres.
Guided 4-hour sightseeing trips depart daily. Kings' Trail Rides & Tack Shop, .5 mi. s. at SR 11 Milepost 111
A kīpuka is an island of older soil and vegetation surrounded by more recent lava flows. A 1-mile trail loops through this old-growth forest.
Tours of this 7-acre farm reveal what life was like for the Japanese coffee farmers who lived and worked on the land during the early 20th century. Visitors can see the fields as well as the original farmhouse, wash house, bathhouse, mills and outbuildings.
Lapakahi State Historical Park features remnants of a coastal settlement inhabited at least 600 years ago.
The park is on a picturesque peninsula bounded by a spectacular seacoast. There is a monument commemorating the victims of the 1946 tsunami.
The museum depicts life when railroads were in operation, 1860s-1950, through photos and memorabilia. The railway mainly transported sugar but was also for passenger travel. One room dedicated to sugar plantations shows how sugar was harvested and transported.
Around 1790, an eruption from Kīlauea Volcano engulfed a grove of ‘ōhi‘a trees in lava. The moisture in the tree trunks chilled and hardened the lava into a rigid shell where each tree stood. The flow of lava then ceased, and the molten portions drained away, leaving the tree molds.
Lili'uokalani Gardens, 49 Banyan Dr., is a Japanese-style garden covering about 20 acres. A bridge crosses to Coconut Island, which has a pavilion and picnic area.
The Mission House, completed in 1839, was built for David and Sarah Lyman, a missionary family from New England. Support timbers came from local forests; puddle-glass windowpanes were shipped from the mainland.
Mauna Loa, adjoining Kīlauea to the west and reached via Mauna Loa Rd. within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, is the world's most massive volcano. The summit rises about 56,000 feet above its base and stands 13,679 feet above sea level.
Visitors view the operation from outside balcony windows, where a taped narrative describes the phases of production. Samples of macadamia nuts and chocolate are available.
Mauna Loa Road branches off SR 11 opposite Kīlauea Caldera within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and reaches an elevation of 6,600 feet. A short turnoff leads to molds of trees formed when lava made a shell around the trunks. A trail at the end of the road passes through mountain parkland and, above 10,000 feet, enters barren lava fields.
Moku'aikaua Church was established in 1820 and is the oldest and first founded Christian church in Hawai‘i. The building's stark architectural style reflects the austerity of the New England missionaries.
Mokulele Flight Services departs from the commuter terminal of Kona International Airport at 73-350 U‘u St. Tours of Hawai‘i Island from a twin-engine plane last 1.5 hours. Scenic views include Captain Cook Monument, South Point, Hilo Bay, Pu‘u‘O‘o Vent (an active volcano), waterfalls and valleys over Hamakua Coast, green and black sand beaches and Parker Ranch's grasslands. Note: Due to decompression-related sickness, it is recommended that passengers wait 12-24 hours after scuba diving before flying; the amount of time is dependent on particular dive factors.
Displays, wall panels, interactive exhibits and a 2,500-gallon saltwater aquarium showcase the culture, history and ecology of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, which extend for thousands of miles from Kaua‘i, the state's westernmost island.
Na'alapa Stables departs from Waipi‘o Valley Artworks at 48-5416 Kukuihaele Rd.
The Pinao Stone was an entrance pillar of Pinao Temple. The Naha Stone was used as a test of fitness for royalty—reputedly only chiefs of Naha rank were able to move it.
Painted Church was built in 1899 and continues to hold services. Flamboyant murals depict Biblical stories and painted palm fronds and stars adorn the ceiling and upper walls. The first priests, using ordinary house paints, created a way of visually teaching the congregation. If services are in progress visitors should wait until their conclusion to enter. Allow 30 minutes minimum.
This 12-acre site is the nation's only natural rain forest zoo. Among the 75 animal species that call the zoo home are a white Bengal tiger, water buffalo, two-toed sloths and iguanas.
Puuopelu, built in 1862, is a century-old mansion and was once the home of Parker Ranch owner Richard Smart. It houses antique furnishings and an extensive art collection. Mana Hale is the reconstructed koa wood home of John Palmer Parker, Parker Ranch's founder.
Parker Ranch Museum, in the Parker Ranch Visitor Center at jct. SRs 19 and 190, has artifacts and displays depicting operations of the ranch since its inception.
Pu'ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site, at 62-3601 Kawaihae Rd., was dedicated in 1791 with human sacrifices to Kukailimoku, Kamehameha's family's war god.
This 15-acre garden offers designed displays of tropical trees, flowers, shrubs and panoramas of the ocean and mountains. While an aviary houses exotic birds, larger-than-life sculptures of insects and animals dot the landscape.
Punalu'u Beach Park, 5 mi. s.w. off SR 11, is a fishing cove with a beach of gleaming crystalline black sand formed when boiling lava hit the cool ocean water. Wave action has pulverized the lava.
Four-hour morning and 3-hour afternoon tours on six- and 12-passenger rigid hull inflatable rafts include snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay, which is the site of the Captain Cook Monument, and up-close exploration of sea caves and lava tubes.
Built in 1931 by Father Evarist Gielen, the building is adorned with stained-glass windows and colorful religious paintings. Due to a lava flow, the church was moved from Kalapana to its current location in 1990.
Sunshine Helicopters, departing from Hilo International Airport, offers narrated 50-minute helicopter tours of waterfalls and active volcano and lava fields.
Sunshine Helicopters departs from Hapuna Heliport at the nearby Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel; hotel pick-up and return is available from all major resorts in the Waikoloa and Kohala Coast area.
The Pololū Valley lies e. along the coast, with precipitous scenic gorges extending from the coast to Kohala Mountain's 5,480-foot summit.
Thomas A. Jaggar Museum is a geological museum dedicated to seismology and volcanology. Of interest are several working seismographs and tilt meters that depict earthquakes as they occur.
Thurston Lava Tube is on the east side of Crater Rim Dr. within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. This is an easy 15-minute loop self-guiding walk that starts in the ‘ōhi‘a forest, passes through this impressive lava tube and then enters a fern grove.
Volcano Art Center Gallery, near the Kīlauea Visitor Center within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, is in the historic 1877 Volcano House Hotel. The gallery features fine arts and crafts by Hawai‘i artists.
Waiānuenue, off Waiānuenue Ave. on Rainbow Dr., has been nicknamed Rainbow Falls. In the morning a rainbow often appears in the mist around the falls.
Waipi'o Valley Shuttle and Tours, SR 240 to Waipi‘o Lookout, offers 90-minute guided tours of the Waipi‘o Valley. A four-wheel drive vehicle takes visitors through streams and ponds and past waterfalls, native flora and, sometimes, wild horses.
Featured on the 275-acre grounds are the Rainbow Gardens, the Rainforest Walk, an arboretum, a stream, a children's maze and the triple-tiered Umauma Falls.
