Island Hopping in Hawaii: 4 Islands, a Lifetime of Lasting Experiences

Start your tour on Oahu, home to the islands’ most populous city and state capital, Honolulu. This vibrant metropolis brims with historic sites, cultural activities, culinary delights and an abundance of nightlife hot spots.

Enjoy the world-famous Waikiki Beach, water recreation and Friday night fireworks. Take an ukulele lesson at Waikiki Beach Walk and search for handmade souvenirs to take home. Tour the open-air International Market Place for shopping, dining and special events, including concerts and the nightly torch lighting.

Indulge in creative regional cuisine featuring locally sourced beef, seafood and produce. Expect to find Pacific Rim fine dining alongside cafes serving Kona coffee and quick bites. Try M.A.C. 24/7 Restaurant and Bar for colossal pancakes in addition to island specialties like an ahi poke stack, kalbi steak salad and moonfish tacos.

Venture beyond Waikiki to hike at Diamond Head State Monument, known as Le’ahi. It’s a challenging 1.3-kilometer hike to go 170 meters from the trailhead to the volcano’s crater rim, but the view is worth every step. Take in ocean and city views, and see old bunkers from the early 1900s.

For more outdoor thrills, head to Coral Crater Adventure Park. Family activities include ziplines, ATV off-road tours, climbing walls and the Zombie Apocalypse simulation.

On the state’s largest island, Hawaii Island, you’ll find beautiful beaches, restaurants and shopping, but the real draw is the incredible scenery and the volcanoes.

In Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, see the natural wonder of active volcanoes Kilauea and Mauna Loa, the largest in the world. Inside the Halema‘uma‘u Crater, the lake of red-orange molten lava can be seen safely from an observation deck about 1.6 kilometers away at the Jaggar Museum. On a hiking tour – there are more than 240 kilometers of trails – walk in a field void of anything but black lava, see steam escaping from craters and explore the Thurston Lava Tube in a lush tropical forest.

Find more remnants of volcanic activity at Waikoloa Beach Resort Golf, where two course layouts incorporate large lava fields. Pay attention to fickle and fierce Pacific Ocean winds that can blow the best shots off target.

For more beautiful landscapes, and a bit of a history lesson, stroll the grounds, ponds, pagodas and monuments in Liliuokalani Park & Gardens. More than 100 years ago, the garden was created as a tribute to Japanese immigrants who worked in sugar cane fields. Best of all, admission is free to the tranquil 12-hectare park on the banks of Hilo Bay.

Tour beautiful Kauai by air, land or water and see why it’s known as The Garden Island. The Kauai Wildlife Refuge Eco Tour by helicopter is a great way to learn island history and see canyons, forests, craters and waterfalls. You might recognize some of the landscape from famous films like “Jurassic World,” “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “South Pacific.”

By foot or horseback, follow a trail along a coastal bluff for views of the rocky cliffs and blue waters. Go ziplining through the treetops, and ride an ATV to a remote waterfall, then reward yourself with a refreshing swim and picnic.

Stay in the water, and go kayaking on a jungle safari, tubing on a mountain stream, rafting on an expedition along the coast or join a sightseeing sunset cruise in the ocean. Take surfing lessons, or try stand-up paddleboarding.

Wake up extra early one day to immerse yourself in Hawaiian culture at Wailua Beach. Visitors are welcome to attend the sunrise ceremonies at a sacred site. Join in the chanting and learn about the lore of an old temple’s ruins.

End your island-hopping tour with a stop on Maui to soak up the beauty of the legendary coastline and mountain vistas.

Head straight to the west side of the island to book a day trip on a catamaran or motor boat headed to Molokini Crater, a federal marine conservation area and bird sanctuary about four kilometers off the coast. During whale season from December through April, keep your eyes peeled for humpback whales. The uninhabited volcanic atoll is perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving up to 110 meters down. Expect to see sharks, dolphins, rays, eels and colorful tropical fish.

Back on land, explore the island with a trip along the Road to Hana. Stop by Haleakala National Park to see volcanic landscapes and Hawaiian geese, Waianapanapa State Park for its black-sand beach and Iao Valley State Park to take in the 366-meter Iao Needle rock formation.

Don’t leave without touring Lahaina, an 1800s-era whaling village listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Though rich in culture, the town has become a hot spot filled with galleries, boutiques, restaurants and nightlife. Stroll the Front Street harbor, find the huge and beloved banyan tree planted in 1873 in the town square, and watch traditional Polynesian dancers at a luau.