Hawaii highlights and tips for Big Island, Maui & Oahu

Today we’re taking you to the other side of the world, to Hawaii, to be exact. From our home, it’s 11,700 kilometers as the crow flies to this chain of islands. Crazy, right? That’s really far away! Here, we can expect stunningly beautiful beaches, lively cities, a wealth of culture, breathtaking nature with mountains, volcanoes, and bays, as well as plenty of Aloha spirit. Our travel reporters Anne and Matze traveled to the Big Island, Maui, and Oahu and share their favorite Hawaiian highlights and sights with us. We guarantee you a large portion of wanderlust with this article. Read at your own risk!

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Hawaii Highlights for the Big Island
- 1. The coastal town of Kailua-Kona
- 2. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- 3. Off to Mauna Kea
- 4. Ahalanui Park in Pahoa
- 5. Beaches in Hawaii
- 6. Flight with Mokulele Airlines
Hawaii Highlights for Maui
- 1. Santa Claus at Polo Beach
- 2. Former whaling town of Lahaina
- 3. Surfer’s paradise Paia
- 4. Road to Hana on Maui
- 5. Tip: GyPSy Guide
- 6. Haleakala Crater on Maui
- 7. Nakalele Point
- 8. Heart Shaped Rock
Hawaii Highlights for Oahu
- 1. Waikiki Beach & Kalakaua Avenue
- 2. Diamond Head Crater
- 3. View from Koko Head
- 4. Street Art in Honolulu
- 5. Pearl Harbor
- 6. Mermaid Caves
- 7. North Shore & Haleiwa
- 8. Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail
- 9. Lanikai Pillbox Trail
- 10. Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden
- 11. Beaches on Oahu
Conclusion of our Hawaii trip

Hawaii. In the middle of the Pacific lies a chain of islands that triggers longings and wanderlust in some people. We visited them. You expect paradisiacal beaches, women dancing hula, and plenty of Aloha spirit. And that’s exactly how it is. Not to forget: the beer with the most beautiful bottle designs also comes from Hawaii.

We visited the Big Island, Maui, and Oahu. Each island is a highlight in its own right and different. With each island, the landscape became greener and the streets busier. But somehow, it felt just right every time. In the following report, we reveal our most beautiful Hawaii highlights.

Hawaii Highlights for the Big Island

1. The coastal town of Kailua-Kona

Our first stop was the coastal town of Kailua-Kona. Most people only know the place as the home of the Ironman Hawaii. You’re regularly reminded of this while strolling around. Kona even has a few highlights of its own. A small oasis of peace amidst the hustle and bustle is the Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area. This is Kona’s old airport.

Hawaii-Highlights-Kona-Old-Airport-Beach-Big-Island

This has been converted into a park, similar to Tempelhof Airport in Berlin. There’s a long sandy beach here, where you can have a lovely picnic or enjoy the sunset in peace. At the southern entrance, there’s another beach with a few small tide pools and ponds. A good place to watch surfers.

2. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is absolutely impressive. It is located in the southeast of the island. There are two roads within the national park. These allow you to explore everything in a one-day trip: the so-called Crater Rim Drive and the Chain of Craters Road. It’s best to start at the Kilauea Visitor Center. There you can also get all the important information about closed areas, road conditions, safety instructions, areas where you can see molten lava, and other special features.

The first stop is the Kilauea Lookout, where you can look into the crater. Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. In 2017, there was still an active lava lake in the crater, the flickering of which was clearly visible, especially in the dark, even from Mauna Kea. After the 2018 eruption, the lava flows drained from the volcano.

The two roads mentioned above lead past many places worth seeing, such as lava tubes, a sea arch, or other old lava flows. We were there in December 2017, so much may have changed after the 2018 eruption. However, the national park’s website provides a lot of advance information to help you plan your stay.

Tours to the volcano:

From Kona: Volcano hike with wine tasting and BBQ dinner*
Big Island: Evening tour to the volcano with stargazing*
From Kona and Waikoloa: Individual discovery tour to the volcano*

3. Off to Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea is particularly suitable for a unique view of the Big Island and a beautiful spot for stargazing. It’s the highest mountain in Hawaii, and at 10,200 meters (33,200 feet) when measured from the sea floor, it’s also the highest mountain on Earth. Mauna Kea is an inactive volcano, but is considered dormant. At 2,800 meters (9,200 feet) is the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy. Here, we immediately noticed the altitude, which means you should take things a little easier.

While we started off in shorts and flip-flops, we had to put on long pants and a thicker jacket in the parking lot at around 5-8°C. If you don’t have a 4WD vehicle, the parking lot is the end of the line. From a small elevation, you can enjoy the view and the sunset. When the sun goes down, you can really stargaze.

Great care is taken here to reduce light pollution, so you can really see a lot of stars. Telescopes are also set up in front of the building, and you can look through them with the help of the staff. They will explain various stars or the telescope itself. The lines in front of the telescopes are correspondingly long, but the wait is worth it. Book a tour here*.

If you actually want to go to the summit of Mauna Kea, the Visitor Information Station, located right next to the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy, is a good place to get current weather and safety information before continuing on. Due to the altitude and the lower oxygen levels, you should also take a short time to acclimatize. In winter, the summit road is often closed due to ice and snow, so you should check in advance before planning a summit climb.

4. Ahalanui Park in Pahoa

An absolute highlight for us was the visit to the Warm Ponds in Ahalanui Park in Pahoa. Before the volcanic eruption in 2018, there was a beautiful facility here with ample parking and a picnic area. The natural pools were heated by the underground lava flows. When we visited, it was a rainy day and therefore a welcome change to warm up.

Unfortunately, the facility has now been destroyed by lava. An alternative to these warm pools is the Pohoki Warm Springs in Isaac Hale Beach Park. The volcanic eruption created a new black beach and four new natural thermal pools here.

5. Beaches in Hawaii

Hawaii is all about one thing: beaches. These are all public, meaning even the most expensive hotels or private properties in prime locations must grant beach access and even public parking to everyone else. In some residential areas or hotels, the barriers and security personnel can be a bit discouraging. But if you politely say you want to go to the beach, it’s usually not a problem. There are restrooms and showers on almost all beaches.

6. Flight with Mokulele Airlines

A special highlight and the culmination of our stay on the Big Island was the flight with Mokulele Airlines from Kona Airport to Kihei on Maui. Even the shuttle driver from the rental car company had to find out where to drop us off. The luggage is placed on a cart; there are no boarding passes; you are called. And so it happened. The plane landed; it was a propeller plane. Then the two pilots came with an A4 sheet of paper, called us by our first names, and assigned us our seats.

We were lucky; depending on how you look at it, we sat in seats 1A and 1B. None of us are actually afraid of flying, but sitting in a propeller plane with five rows of seats directly behind the pilot is a whole different story. After a short, standard safety briefing, we were off. We took off. The two pilots didn’t close the curtain between the cockpit and the cabin, so we were practically co-pilots. That was a bit crazy.

They told us: The weather conditions are excellent, we can do a bit of sightseeing, we’ll fly the more scenic route. Well, and so it happened that on Maui we flew directly over the crater of Haleakala. It’s a truly impressive view. The flight with Mokulele Airlines was not only inexpensive, but also a total experience in every respect.

Hawaiian Highlights for Maui

After arriving on Maui, we first went to our Airbnb* and picked up our rental car*. It’s also worth booking a 4WD for Maui, especially if you want to do the “Road to Hana.” In the following section, we’ll reveal our absolute highlights on Maui. Have fun browsing and trying them out!

1. Santa Claus at Polo Beach

Since we were in Hawaii over Christmas, we naturally didn’t want to miss Santa’s arrival. So we headed to Polo Beach (Wailea) and enjoyed a little day at the beach. Then, finally, the outrigger with Santa and his helpers appeared in the waves. He paddled to the beach, where his wife greeted him. Now Santa was ready for photos.

The whole thing was, of course, more of a family spectacle and intended for the little ones, but it was still quite fun. Polo Beach itself is a very beautiful sandy beach and perfect for bodyboarding and relaxing. Since the beach is right in front of the Fairmont Kea Lani Resort, the northern section can get quite crowded. The southern section is usually emptier. When Santa Claus arrived, however, it was packed everywhere, which was to be expected and therefore totally okay.

2. Former Whaling Town of Lahaina

The former whaling town of Lahaina is also worth a visit. It’s a cultural hotspot with many cute little shops and art galleries, as well as restaurants. Lahaina’s Front Street is lined with many old buildings that invite you to stroll. Banyan Tree Park is home to Maui’s oldest living banyan tree. Due to its age, the tree is naturally enormous. Unfortunately, relaxing underneath it isn’t ideal because the birdsong in the tree is incredibly loud.

Whale tours and other excursions:

From Lahaina Harbor on Maui: 2-hour whale watching tour*
Maui: Snorkeling & sailing adventure with buffet lunch*
Maui: Boat trip to Lanai with dolphins & snorkeling*

3. Surfer’s paradise Paia

Paia is a real little surfer town. Paia is located below the airport on the way to Hana. As Berliners, we would describe Paia as a beautiful little hipster town. Here, too, there are many art galleries and many cute shops and boutiques that invite you to shop or stroll. The houses are often painted in pastel colors. This gives the place a very special charm.

Particularly worth mentioning are the many excellent fish restaurants; we just couldn’t stop eating. Right next door is Ho’okipa Beach, a beautiful, long sandy beach where you see many surfers and windsurfers, especially in winter, as the waves are particularly high there. Spring and summer are better for swimming and snorkeling.

4. Road to Hana on Maui

The absolute highlight of our stay on Maui was the “Road to Hana” tour. It’s basically a 100-km drive from the airport to the small town of Hana. On the way there, you drive over more than 50 bridges and around 600 hairpin bends. It feels like you could stop around every bend and look at something, be it a waterfall, a beach, a tide pool, or simply a breathtaking view.

5. Tip: GyPSy Guide

We downloaded the GyPSy Guide app for our personal Road to Hana. It costs around €5, but you can use it offline. It works via your phone’s GPS signal. This app replaces a professional tour guide on the route and gives tips on what to see and where, where to stop, and what to look out for. We even included a few insider tips. There were a few spots where you had to walk a bit to get to the destination, and we were alone there despite the late hour (e.g., at Waioka Pond, also known as Venus Pool).

For this reason alone, the investment in this app is worthwhile. On the way back (from Hana to Kahului), the app tells a lot about Hawaii’s history, so it definitely won’t be boring. Despite everything, you should do a bit of research beforehand to find out what you definitely want to see, because there’s simply not enough time or a one-day trip to see all of them.

Tours for the Road of Hana:

Maui: Road to Hāna with Breakfast and Lunch*
From Maui: Small Group Road to Hana with a Local*
Road to Hana, Eco-Friendly Tour with Pick-up in Maui*

We were on the road on December 25th in the hope that it would be less crowded, as the Americans celebrate Christmas here. We set off early in the morning to be there before everyone else. Choosing our personal highlights along the route isn’t easy. The highway itself is the highlight; there is so much to see, so many viewpoints, waterfalls, and much more, that it is really difficult for us to decide. Therefore, we would like to quote the GyPSy Guide app at this point:

The Road to Hana is like life itself. The highlight isn’t the destination, it is all about the stuff you do along the road.

Excerpt from the GyPSy app

6. Haleakala Crater on Maui

After flying over the Haleakala Crater, we naturally wanted to enjoy the view from above. Most people want to see the sunrise from here. These days, you need a reservation, which you have to book in advance. We didn’t do this because we find sunsets much more beautiful, and getting up so early isn’t our thing.

The drive to the summit parking lot takes about one and a half to two hours and is considerably greener than the drive to the summit of Mauna Kea. Haleakala National Park is part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (on the Big Island). One ticket is valid for three days and allows you to visit all the national parks belonging to Volcanoes National Park. These include, for example, Haleakala National Park and the park on the Kipahulu coastal section of the Road to Hana. If the visibility is good, you can see as far as the Big Island or the rest of Maui and the island of Molokai.

We definitely needed warm clothes here again. The drive up, the view, and the sunset were truly breathtaking. Of course, there’s more to do here than just watch the sun rise or set. There are many hiking trails and paths through and along the crater. However, since we had already flown over, we didn’t want to miss out on this unique memory, especially since we had also planned a visit to the beach or two.

7. Nakalele Point

On our last day on Maui, we wanted to go to Nakalele Point and see the Nakalele Blowhole and the Heart Shaped Rock. Both natural wonders are opposite each other and are located in the very north of Maui. From the parking lot, a sandy, rocky trail leads down to the water. You should be especially careful, as it can be very dangerous in bad weather conditions and high surf.

Once you get to the bottom, you can immediately see the Blowhole. It’s great fun to watch the water shoot through the hole, and some people get soaking wet because they misjudged the distance. On sunny days, like the day we visited, the spray is a welcome relief, as the trail down is completely sheltered from the wind and you really sweat a lot.

8. Heart Shaped Rock

Right next door is the so-called Heart Shaped Rock. It’s a hole in a rock shaped like a heart. Since we assumed it was a giant heart in a large rock in the middle of the ocean, we were surprised to find that we could easily stand next to it and take a photo. So, once again, it’s all a matter of perspective.

Nevertheless, the rock is pretty amazing. On the way back to the parking lot, we had to take a short break. While enjoying the view, we were incredibly lucky and saw a large whale just jumping around. Fascinated by this natural spectacle, we unfortunately couldn’t capture it on camera.

Hawaii Highlights for Oahu

Oahu is probably the most famous and most populous island in Hawaii. It is home to the capital, Honolulu. Some people warned us beforehand, and you often read online, that Honolulu is quite disappointing. But for us, that’s a matter of attitude. Admittedly, you really have to like it to find it beautiful. But for us, the combination of beach and city was simply perfect.

1. Waikiki Beach & Kalakaua Avenue

The beach promenade next to Waikiki Beach is particularly worth mentioning. It’s definitely not suitable for a quiet day at the beach, but we think it’s definitely worth seeing. A stroll along Kalakaua Avenue offers quite a few highlights, and you can tick off this very touristy part of Honolulu. For example, there’s the bronze statue of Duke Kahanamoku.

He was the founder of modern surfing and is considered a hero by the Hawaiians. Right next door is Kuhio Beach. The free Kuhio Beach Hula Show takes place here three days a week and lasts about an hour. The performers tell a lot about the history and culture of Hawaii and, of course, about the hula. Book your surfing adventure here*.

If you continue along Kalakaua Avenue toward the Hilton Hotel, there’s a lot to see. For example, you’ll pass the Nalu Storage. Everyone has probably seen this beach entrance before, as it’s lined with surfboards. Walking past it isn’t a particularly special experience, but somehow you can feel the Hawaiian spirit here in a special way. As you continue walking, you’ll pass many well-known and traditional luxury hotels. Some of them have a special history in Hawaii. These include, for example, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, which stands out with its pink facade.

As a tourist hotspot, you’ll naturally find many shops selling well-known luxury brands, as well as small boutiques. Upon arriving at the Hilton Hotel, you’ll immediately feel like you’re in Hawaii Five 0. This is where the premieres always take place. Another highlight is the Friday fireworks display. Every Friday, there’s a 10-minute fireworks display, which can be seen clearly from both Waikiki Beach and Ala Moana Beach. Ala Moana Beach Park is also ideal for an afternoon at the beach. This is about a half-hour walk north of Waikiki Beach. However, it’s much quieter here than Waikiki Beach.

2. Diamond Head Crater

From Waikiki Beach, you can also see the famous Diamond Head. Climbing the crater is really worth it, as you’ll be rewarded with incredible views over Honolulu. However, you should set off as early as possible, as it can get very crowded otherwise. But that’s probably true of every tourist attraction. The walk up is relatively easy, but the view is simply outstanding. Book the hike here*.

3. View from Koko Head

You get a similarly cool view from Koko Head. However, the trail there is “a little” more difficult, and you should definitely pack plenty of water and sunscreen, as there is virtually no shade. Several bunkers were built on top of the crater during World War II. To transport supplies up, railroad tracks were simply built onto the mountain. The ties have been preserved to this day and show us the way up. There are only (!) 1,048 railroad ties.

This hike is definitely not for those with a fear of heights, as the climb is quite steep and there is a kind of bridge with no solid ground beneath the tracks. But once you reach the top, you are rewarded with an incredibly magnificent view of Honolulu’s east coast. It’s a little depressing when you keep taking breaks and the joggers who overtook you 20 minutes ago are already coming towards you again.

4. Street Art in Honolulu

Honolulu doesn’t just have hiking, beaches, and views to offer; it’s also a big city. In the Kakaako district between Waikiki and Downtown Honolulu, around Cooke Street, for example, there’s a lot of street art to admire. It’s really quiet here, so you can take photos of the works of art in peace. Many streets feature a variety of works of art, even in places you wouldn’t expect.

There’s a backyard lined with painted garage doors. Behind one gate, for example, is a car repair shop. There’s an app that shows the exact locations of the various “murals” (street art) and provides additional information about the artist. It’s called the Pow Wow Hawaii Mural Guide.

Since we were in Hawaii over Christmas, we were able to enjoy the Honolulu City Lights. Huge Christmas lights and decorations are set up on King Street. So if you’ve always wanted to see Santa Claus in a Hawaiian shirt and shorts, you shouldn’t miss this.

Almost everyone knows the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square in New York. Parallel to the ball drop, the Pineapple Drop takes place on New Year’s Eve at the Mililani Mall. Everything is just a little different in Hawaii. At the turn of the year, people gather on Oahu at Waikiki Beach to watch the main fireworks display. Fireworks are prohibited in Hawaii.

5. Pearl Harbor

The next must-do on Oahu is definitely a visit to Pearl Harbor. The memorial commemorates the events of December 7, 1941. You can, for example, see the sunken USS Arizona, or learn all about the history, the attack, and the aftermath in the individual museums and exhibitions. A visit that will definitely stay with you. Book a tour here*.

6. Mermaid Caves

A little insider tip and also rarely visited are definitely the Mermaid Caves. They are located next to Nanakuli Beach Park, and you do have to search for them a bit. To the left of the beach, it gets a bit rocky, and then you’re in the right place. You do have to look for the “holes” in the ground. You can carefully jump into a particularly large hole and end up in a small cave, which is perfect for taking photos. There are two ways out: climb back the same way or, like the locals, let yourself be washed out to sea.

7. North Shore & Haleiwa

The North Shore and the town of Haleiwa are definitely worth a trip. The North Shore is known as a surfing area, especially in winter, with meter-high waves and frequent surfing competitions. Only pros should go into the water, but you can also spend the day watching others surf. The largest town in this area is Haleiwa, essentially a street and a harbor.

Many shops and restaurants are housed in old plantation buildings here, which naturally adds to the charm. In addition to the many surf shops—obviously a surfing hotspot—and food trucks, there are also many art galleries. Haleiwa is also nowhere near as crowded and busy as Waikiki, so it’s a great place to stroll and relax. There’s a cool tour here*.

8. Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail

We really wanted to do a ridge trail. The “Stairway to Heaven” is world-famous for its spectacular views and features in many photos. However, hiking them is illegal because they’re somewhat run-down, and the authorities consider the risk of injury too high. Anyone caught can expect a fine of at least $1,000. You can do it, but you don’t have to.

Since Hawaii isn’t the cheapest travel destination, we decided against it and looked for a different route, the Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail. You start in a residential area and hike about 7.5 km round trip. The first part is pretty relaxed. At some point, however, it gets steeper, and in some places you have to climb the mountain using stairs and ropes.

The destination is a small observation deck with a bench that offers a beautiful view of Honolulu, Kailua, and Waimanalo. You can also see Koko Head, Diamond Head, and the Lanikai Pillboxes. It’s definitely worth it.

9. Lanikai Pillbox Trail

A short but truly beautiful hike is the Lanikai Pillbox Trail. The trail leads up a hill directly behind Lanikai Beach. Depending on how far you walk, the walk takes about 60 to 90 minutes (round trip). The first pillbox (pillboxes are old military bunkers) can be reached after about 20 to 30 minutes. If you want, you can walk about 10 minutes to another pillbox.

From here, you have a beautiful view of Lanikai Beach and the surrounding village. The trail is quite steep at times, especially at the beginning. We inexperiencedly hiked up it in our “hiking Birkenstocks.” It was fine, but sturdy shoes would certainly have been a better choice.

10. Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden

The Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden is best known for its photo backdrop on social media. A trip to the botanical garden is definitely worth it, as the scenery is incredibly beautiful. Admission to the park is free. Since the most famous photo spot is located right on the road through the park, there is now a sign prohibiting photography for safety reasons.

11. Beaches on Oahu

Otherwise, there are countless beaches on Oahu. Depending on the length of your stay, you can easily spend every day at a different beach. Less crowded beaches include Makapuu Beach Park below the Makapuu Point Lighthouse, Sandy Beach Park in southeastern Oahu, and Ewa Beach Park in the south of the island.

Conclusion of our Hawaii trip

That was our trip to Hawaii. Looking back, we can say it was one of the best vacations we’ve ever had. Each island has its own Hawaiian highlights; there’s always something delicious to eat, discover, or see. If you prefer less touristy places, you should definitely avoid the peak travel season in August and around Christmas. Otherwise, Hawaii is highly recommended.

Hawaii Highlights – Our top attractions for Big Island, Maui and Oahu