Golf
Hawaii is America's golf paradise with hundreds of courses including many world-class golf courses developed by the top golf course designers in the world including Robert Trent Jones, Jr., Jack Nicholas, Greg Norman and Arnold Palmer.
Hawaii is also the home to several PGA, Champions Tour and LPGA golf tournaments each year. If you're in Hawaii in January or February, you'll have the opportunity to see the professionals up close.
Golf is popular, and expensive, in Hawaii, especially at the resorts. Greens fees including shoes and club rentals average around $100 although discounts are available, especially if you are staying at the resort.
Be sure to make your tee time well in advance. On most courses, for a reasonable fee, your non-playing spouse or guest can ride along with you and appreciate the beauty of Hawaii. Be sure to check out our profile of Kauai's golf courses.
Hiking
Opportunities abound in Hawaii for those who enjoy hiking. There are quite a few excellent books about hiking in Hawaii. Be sure to check out our Top 10 Hawaii Hiking Books.
Hiking on Kauai is one of the best ways to see parts of the island unseen from the roadways. Hikes in the Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park, to the Russian Fort Elizabeth, to Wailua Falls and along the Halemanu-Kokee Trail are very popular.
Maui offers the hiker numerous choices including hikes in the Iao Valley State Park, through the Waihe'e Valley Rainforest, in the crater of Haleakala and along the Waikamoi Ridge Trail along the road to Hana.
The most popular hikes on Oahu are those to the top of Diamond Head and the hike to Manoa Falls. There are, however, many, less popular hiking trails available.
When hiking in Hawaii it is advisable to bring along a rain poncho, sunscreen, mosquito repellent as well as an ample supply of drinking water. The trails can often be slippery, so be careful.
Land Activities
Hawaii offers many opportunities for folks who want to get away from the beach and appreciate the beauty of the islands. There are numerous land activities available on each island which we cover in detail on our page of What to See and Do in Hawaii.
There is so much natural beauty to experience in Hawaii and most of it is free or near free. The easiest way for a visitor to explore Hawaii is to rent a car and drive. You can drive completely around each of the islands a day or two, but it's more advisable to select a specific itinerary or destination and devote the better part of day to that.
On Kauai a drive to the Waimea Canyon, the Grand Canyon of the Pacific offers vistas like you'll only see elsewhere in the American West.
On Oahu, a drive to the scenic North Shore, especially when the waves are high and the surfers are out in numbers is particularly exciting. A drive along Oahu's Southeast Shore and Windward Coast makes for a fun day trip.
On Maui there are so many possibilities. You can drive around West Maui's rugged north shore, drive along the Road to Hana and Beyond. A visit to Upcountry Maui is so much fun. Of course, a drive to the summit of Haleakala is a must.
The Big Island of Hawaii offers numerous opportunities for day trips. Consider a visit to the Waipio Valley where you can ride horseback in a valley surrounded by a thousand foot cliffs, streaming waterfalls and a large black sand beach. Explore the amazing wonder of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. How about a horseback ride on historic Parker Ranch, one of the largest privately owned ranches in the United States? Take a late afternoon trip along the saddle road and to the summit of Mauna Kea to watch the sunset and see the stars shine more brightly than you have ever seen them.
Water Activities
Sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, snuba or just plain swimming, Hawaii has it all.
Many tour operators on all of the islands offer combined sailing/snorkeling or sailing/swimming cruises. One of my favorites is Teralani Sailing Adventures in West Maui. If you time your visit for November to March, you may also get to see some of Hawaii's winter visitors, the humpback whales. In fact, why not take a whale watching cruise and see these mammoth creatures close-up? The Pacific Whale Foundation offers great whale watches on Maui.
While each of the islands offers excellent water activities, Maui is perhaps best known for its excellent swimming beaches and superb snorkeling opportunities. A snorkle cruise to Molokini Atoll, off the coast of Maui, is one of the most popular choices.
On Oahu, Haunama Bay remains the most popular spot for snorkeling and snuba (a variation between scuba diving and snorkeling).
There is nothing more relaxing, and more breathtaking, than a sunset sail in paradise such as the one on the Outrigger Catamaran from Waikiki Beach.
Many of the free publications available at the airports or on most street corners offer special discounts or even two-for-one specials on may water activities. Be careful, however, that the offer is not tied into a time-share presentation.
