Hawaii Itinerary: Perfect Places to Explore in 2024

Why Visit Hawaii?

If you are planning to spend time away from city life and experience the pure bliss of nature, then Hawaii should be on your bucket list. With more than 100 islands, islets, and atolls, it is among the top picks for traveling. 

The majority of the islands are inaccessible, so that is not what we will be planning. Out of the 8 big islands we will be covering four of them that will leave you awestruck. The places to visit in Hawaii include Kauai, Maui, Oahu, and the Big Island. 

With a great combination of peace, nature, and different natural beauty (Volcanoes, beaches, national parks, and hills). This trip is going to be filled with adventure activities, leisure, and a total exploration of natural beauty. 

To make the process easier for you, we have prepared an ideal itinerary of Hawaii for you where you will find the best places to visit in Hawaii while also having tips, activities, and things to consider while traveling. So without any further ado, let’s pen down all the things to do in Hawaii. 

Hawaii Places to Visit

With the best places listed down, the itinerary would be a mix-and-match based on your days of travel, preference, and style of traveling. However, with each option, we are sharing a brief about the things that can be done. So it would be easier for you to choose and include the islands in your itinerary. 

Exploring Oahu

Oahu as compared to the other islands is crowded, yet there are a few things that can elevate your traveling experience. The majority of the crowd can be seen at the Waikiki, but we would take you away from the crowd and explore nature. It offers an ideal experience for adventure seekers as well as nature lovers. 

The best thing about Oahu is the long shallow fringe reefs at the beaches. As compared to other islands in Hawaii, Oahu offers an ideal experience for snorkeling. 

Here is what you can do when in Oahu, Hawaii: 

• Spend time on the South Shore: If you are someone who wishes to have a leisure trip and experience peace and beauty, then the South Shore is the place to be. Other than this you can also experience some great activities like the Jurassic Park Tour at Kualoa Ranch and Kayaking at Kailua. 
• Explore Pearl Harbor: Visiting Oahu is incomplete without paying respect to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. Apart from its historical significance, it also comes under the important monuments of Hawaii. 
• The beautiful Honolulu: After exploring Pearl Harbor, spend some time exploring the blend of modern architecture with landscape. The famous Waikiki Beach is on the long stretch of the skyscrapers at Honolulu. 

Other than these must-visit places, there is a lot more to explore in Oahu. Based on your availability and preference you can visit and explore the following places. 

• Iolani Palace
• Foster Botanical Gardens
• Honolulu Zoo
• Diamond Head Hike
• Snorkel Hanauma Bay
• Hike Koko Head
• Lanikai Beach
• Byodo-In Temple

 Maui’s Natural Wonders

Maui is one of the best Hawaiian islands. It is a great blend of both slow and modern lifestyles. Depending on your choices, you can either spend time exploring nature or sipping cocktails in the local resorts. Here is what you can explore on the beautiful island of Hawaii: 

• South Maui Beaches: The southern side of the island hosts a great option for snorkeling and swimming. Kama’ole Beaches are some of the great options if you are staying in Kihei. While, if staying in the South Maui, then exploring the Big Beach is ideal. 
• Witness Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles Sunbathing: Makena Landing, is a great spot to witness the beautiful green sea turtles of Hawaii. However, please be a responsible traveler and maintain a healthy distance. 

• Drive through the Hana Highway: The beautiful 64-mile Hana highway is a great experience for all travelers. The highway connects east Maui to Kahului to the town of Hanna. With more than 50 bridges through the tropical foliage, some of the best stops that we recommend are: 

1. Twin Falls
2. Rainbow Eucalyptus Grove
3. Ho’okipa Beach Park
4. Maui Garden of Eden
5. Wai’anapanapa State Park

While Being in Maui for less than 3 days, these activities would be enough. For more days and exploration here is what you can do in Maui. 

• Molokini Snorkel Tour
• Snorkel Molokini Crater
• Haleakala National Park
• Ka’anapali Beach
• Honolua Bay
• Olowalu
• Makena Beach State Park
• Palauea
• Oneuli Beach

The Big Island’s Volcanoes and Beaches

Big Island is the best place to visit in Hawaii. Maui is a bit modern with its resorts, while Kauai is a bit old and underdeveloped. Big Island is a mix of both and offers great options for travelers with its black lava beaches and national parks being the major attraction.

With great beaches, National parks, and dramatic waterfalls will take you more than 7 days to explore the entire island. However, depending on the time and availability, you can plan your trip. Here is what you can do when on the Big Island: 

• Snorkel South Kona: Dedicate the first day to explore the beauty of the island and explore the water creatures. Book a full-day tour by boat and witness Hawaiin green sea turtles, manta rays, and spinner dolphins at the beautiful blue water sea. 
• Black Lava Beaches at Big Island:  A half-hour’s drive from Kona can take you to stunning beaches away from the rocky coast where you can enjoy the activities and take time to observe the beauty. Kua Bay or Manini’owali are our favorite recommendations for you. 
• Volcanoes National Park: On the way to Hilo, the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a great spot to be at. You can also visit only a few green sand beaches on the way but it takes half a day of driving. 

Apart from these mesmerizing options, there are a lot of other things that you can do when in Hawaii. So worry not, we have listed all of them below: 

• Lava Tubes 
• Steam Vents
• Akaka Falls
• Waipio Valley

Kauai, the Garden Isle

Away from all the development, Kauai Island is filled with natural habitat. For adventure seekers, hikers, and beach lovers, this would be the ideal place to spend time in Hawaii. The untouched beauty of the places makes it ideal to explore and expect the best of nature. 

Here are the places to visit in Hawaii, Kauai: 

• Kalalau Trail Hike: The 11-mile-long trail is a great option for travelers to enjoy a majestic view and the beauty of nature with every mile. However, there is a permit requirement for hikers who wish to stay at the top. It is recommended to make the reservation ahead of your plan for a hassle-free experience. 
• Enjoy Hanalei Bay: With many beaches on the south shore, the island is a treasure to adventure seekers. As most of the beaches require a little off-track traveling, this would result in offering great peaceful beaches for your trip. Some of them are named as:

1. Tunnels Beach
2. Anini Beach
3. Secret Beach
4. Queen’s Bath
5. Kilauea Lighthouse
6. Limahuli Garden

Concluding the Ideal Hawaii Itinerary

To explore Hawaii, all you need is the passion to travel and the energy to complete the itinerary of 4 islands. There is a lot to explore, which is why we have listed down all the major attractions to make it easier for you to plan and create your itinerary. Along with the major attractions, additional places are also mentioned if in case you have spare time to explore these places would be worth your time. 

Now that you know the places to travel, we hope that this blog has helped you in creating an ideal Hawaii Itinerary for your next trip. If there is anything that you still want to know or we have missed. Feel free to drop a comment. We will try and help you in every possible way. Thanks for reading!