HawaiiWow!
   Things to do on vacation in Hawaii
              There's lots more to Hawaii than sun, sand and surf
Photo courtesy of Piiholo Ranch
Lessons for:
  • Surfing
  • Windsurfing
  • Kitesurfing
  • Stand-up Paddling
  • Surf Kayak
  • Where they are . . .
    • Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson
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    When most people think of taking a vacation in Hawaii, they think of palm 
    trees! beaches! ocean! warm weather! hula! grass skirts! water!  After that, they don't have much of a clue about what else there is.

    Or maybe you're already there and you've planted your buns on the beach, 
    but don't know what to do next.  ("I guess we could look at the brochures in 
    the hotel or ask that guy at the desk.") 

    Or perhaps you've been to Hawaii a bunch of times, but you keep doing the 
    same things on every vacation. 

    Hawaii has some of the most amazing things to do in the world. That's why, Kiki, you need to see more than Waikiki, such as our list of 101 things to do.  

    Besides, you don't want to be like those folks who get back home to Jersey or Wickenham or Pastramionrye, and then realize they missed out on doing something really cool during their vacation in Hawaii.  

    If your time in Hawaii is short, and you're basically a beach-goer who just wants to add in a few extra vacation activities, then you probably want the Essential Hawaii.  That's Pearl Harbor, the Polynesian Cultural Center and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.  With those three tours, you are taking trips back in time to . . . one of America's most significant historical events . . . . . the culture of Hawaii and other Pacific islands . . . the geological formation of the islands, which is continuing today as new lava flows into the sea.

    Looking for a romantic getaway?  There's no better place than Hawaii for romance.  You can surprise and impress your sweetie by arranging to be met at the Honolulu airport with a lei greeting.   And while other vacationers are hailing taxis, you and your other (how significant is all up to you) can ride in style in a limousine of your choice from a Town Car to a party bus or a stretched-out Hummer in which you can hum "Blue Hawaii." Afterward, take time to relax at a spa package that includes pedicure, manicure, facial and massage.  Then take a sunset dinner cruise along the Hawaiian coast.  

    What's that?  You want to learn how to catch a wave?      No prob, Bob.  Hawaii is a great place to take lessons for surfing and other watery sports.  We're talking about lessons for windsurfing, kitesurfing, surf kayak and the newest in-thing in water activities -- stand-up paddling.  

    What's under the water?  Want to take a peek?  There are  plenty of ways to do that in Hawaii.  Take a ride in a glassbottom boat to see what's happening. Or go under the waves in a submarine.  If you want to get wet,  there's always snorkeling and scuba. With Sea Trek or breathing bubbles, you can go inside an aquarium reef tank to feed the fish or drive yourself below the surface of Maunalua Bay on an underwater scooter.  

    Are you a thrill-seeker?  If so, you might try parasailing.  If 
    you've done that, then you can zipline to your heart's content 
    on Maui, Kauai or Hawaii (say those three names real fast 
    three times).  Want to blast across the water? Then grab a 
    jet ski or take a ride in the wild Honolulu Screamer jet boat.  
    But in some ways the topper of all is the ancient Hawaiian 
    sport of  mountain surfing.  

    If you are a nature enthusiast, you'll be thrilled with the animal encounters in Hawaii.  You can get in the water with dolphins, sting rays and manta rays.  If you're not the scary type, you can even get into a shark cage in the ocean to watch Mr. Shark swim right up to you.  Want a vacation activity that is a little tamer?  Try birdwatching to see how many native and introduced Hawaiian species you can bag during your vacation.

    For those who want to experience Hawaiian sportfishing, you can take a boat out to try your luck for Mahi Mahi, Marlin, Wahoo, Spearfish or Reef Fish.  Of if you like to stay up late, go shark fishing at night.  

    Okay, let's get off the water and on to the land for our next activities.  There are packages for horseback riding on private ranches, including the Parker Ranch, which used to be the largest cattle ranch in the United States.  That's hard to believe, isn't it, but Hawaii has been running beeves for more than a century and a half.  

    Like to take a hike?  Hiking in Hawaii is not like hiking in the other states. Okay, you're right; hiking is hiking. But what we're talking about is that the climate changes from tropical to "topical" (the top of a mountain; we made that up) and from the bareness of lava fields to beaches and rainforests . . . all within a short drive, not the hundreds or thousands of miles you have to travel on the U.S. mainland to find something different.  

    Plus, whatever else you are interested in, you can probably find a hiking tour package that features it, whether it is birds, stars, history, waterfalls, snorkeling, ziplines or walking inside a lava tube.  

    If you want to ride your own while sightseeing in Hawaii,you can take bicycle tours, rent a moped, roam Hawaii's back trails on an ATV (all-terrain vehicle), or go off-road with Hummers, Jeeps and other 4x4s.

    There are less-strenuous sporting activities.  An example is golf on some fine Hawaiian courses -- Coral Creek, Hawaii Prince, Ko Olina and Wailele.  Not into golf?  Then take the whole family mountain tubing down irrigation ditches dug by hand back in the old days on a Kauai sugar cane plantation. 

    There probably are times when you wish you could fly above it all.  For a bird's-eye view of Hawaii, there are a number of ways to fly.  Take an airplane tour or a helicopter tour of Oahu, the Big Island, Maui or Kauai.  Imagine seeing Diamond Head from up above and then flying over tropical forests and waterfalls.  For something special, you can take a glider tour over northern Oahu.  There's a seaplane tour that takes off from a lagoon to fly over sites that include Pearl Harbor and locations for movies like "Jurassic Park."  

    Like to try a  different way of touring in Hawaii? Then go for some fun tours like a Duck tour, a wagon tour or even a ghost tour.

    For really snazzy vacation pictures to amaze your friends, hie your hiney off the usual white and beige beaches and plop down for photos on black sand beaches, Green Sand Beach and Red Sand Beach.  The last two are rare in the world, and it takes some real effort on your part to get to them.  Sorry, no tours. 

    What about other islands?  Aside from the tourist islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Hawaii (often known for clarity's sake as the Big Island), there are several other major islands where visitors historically were not encouraged to go or even were prohibited from entering -- Lanai, Kahoolawe and Niihau.  Plus, Hawaii is the only state in the union that has a county, Kalawao on Molokai, that state law will not let you (yes, you) enter without authorization.  This next place isn't an island, but it wouldn't seem out of place in outer space.  Take a tour of an area that looks like a sci-fi fan's dream of Mars or Jupiter, Haleakala.  

    What, you thought we forgot about grass skirts and hula, Lola?  You can    luau until you drop, since there are so many packages, whether you attend one at a hotel, at the Polynesian Cultural Center or one that is run by a family.  Luau productions range from the more traditional to extravagant story telling productions, with food that runs the gamut from traditional Hawaiian dishes to modern steaks. 

    (For more info on activities in bold, see the selection boxes above left) 

    When you're ready to kick up your own heels and don't really know where to go, you can take a nightlife tour package that takes the guesswork out of what places are hot at the moment.  It also helps to ride in a limousine because nobody gets stuck being the designated driver (which is not much fun).  

    You can pack as many 16 old or brand new friends into a limo or party bus. For those who are in charge of arranging a bachelor or bachelorette activity, this can take all the thinking and planning hassle off your hands.  Not bad.

    Looking for a dinner and a show? You can choose what floats your boat, from magic to impressions to an emphasis on Polynesia.  In fact, one show is performed on the world's largest catamaran. 

    But if what really floats your boat is sailing, there are plenty of tours to choose from.  Sail out on a racing catamaran while sipping on a drink.  Sail to a secluded beach for snorkeling, volleyball or just tanning in the Hawaiian sun.  Go up the coastline while snacking on a pupu platter.

    Movie and TV tours.  Who doesn't want to see where famous movies were filmed?  Hawaii has been the setting or backdrop for some big movies, including "Jurassic Park," "Godzilla," "50 First Dates," "Pearl Harbor" (well, duh), "South Pacific," "Blue Hawaii," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," and TV's"Lost,"  plus many more.

    Other attractions.  There's nothing as symbolic of Hawaii as Diamondhead, and you can hike to the summit for incredible views of Oahu.  For kids who are tired of sightseeing and learning stuff, there's Sea Life Park and Wet'n'Wild Hawaii.  Or cruise the Wailua Riveron Kauai to Fern Grotto where the ferns grow upside down.    

    All aboard.  Who would think of trains in Hawaii?  Well, 5 million visitors have choo-chooed on the steam-driven Sugar Cane Train on Maui, where if the season is right you might look out the window and see whales (no, they're not land whales).  

    So, there you have it, reasons to do something besides lie on the beach at Waikiki or to stop doing the same old things.  You can play on the ocean waves, go underwater, catch waves in a number of different ways, see Hawaii from the clouds, talk to the animals, explore the countryside, take a trip back in time, catch a show and seek out the unusual. Hawaii is waiting. 
    Amazing things about Hawaii that most people don't know
    (c)
    For info on activities in bold, see the boxes on the left