Do NOT Do These 7 Touristy Things In Hawaii. Do This Instead.
By Megan Shute|Published November 10, 2015
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
When visiting Hawaii – whether you are from the mainland, or simply exploring a neighbor island – you might want to avoid what many would call “tourist traps.” You know, the attractions the guide books boast about, but are actually just overrun with so many tourists that you don’t enjoy yourself as much as if, say, you were to visit a lesser known attraction? Here are some alternatives to Hawaii’s major tourist attractions.
(Do I really need to clarify that these seven major tourist attractions are still amazing and worth the visit? While these tourist-infested attractions are worth the hype, there are often hidden gems nearby that are way cooler, and you probably haven’t heard about them from every one of your co-workers who has gone on a Hawaii vacation.)
Ka’anapali is one of Maui’s most stunning beaches, but for a more memorable beach experience, head down the road to Hanakao’o Beach Park, a beautiful 4.8-acre oasis with a canoe clubhouse, lifeguards on duty, and picnic area.
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2) Instead of hiking Oahu’s Diamond Head State Monument....
Diamond Head is overrated: crowded, noisy, and full of too many people to really enjoy the journey – or the view from the top. Though Koko Head is brutal (think more than 1,000 railway steps to the summit), the view is just as stunning, and if you get up early enough, it is one of the best spots on the island to view the sunrise.
Located just north of Wailua Falls, Opaekaa is another Kauai waterfall that you can simply drive to. The falls are modest in height, but after periods of heavy rain, the flow is simply remarkable. Opaekaa translates to "rolling shrimp" in Hawaiian, supposedly named because the stream was full of shrimp at one point.
4) Instead of visiting the Big Island’s Punalu’u black sand beach...
Instead of visiting the popular Punalu’u black sand beach near the Big Island’s south point, visit neighboring Papakolea Beach, a green sand beach. While both are cool to see, Papakolea is one of only four green sand beaches in the entire world!
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5) Instead of visiting the Waimea Canyon Lookout...
Plan instead to spend an entire morning hiking in the neighboring Koke’e State Park. You will experience amazing views of Waimea Canyon, and Kalaulau Valley, pictured above. You’ll get a workout in, and you won’t have any tourists photo bombing that gorgeous shot.
The USS Arizona is a breathtaking piece of American history, and it is entirely worth the trip, but I can guarantee you will enjoy exploring the USS Battleship Missouri more. And you won’t need to get to Pearl Harbor by 7 a.m. to reserve those free Arizona tickets.
7) Instead of marveling at Hawaii's beauty at the Waipio Valley lookout...
Waipio Valley is said to be one of the most gorgeous spots on the Big Island – and it definitely is, but if you don’t plan on adventuring past the lookout point, Polulu Valley Lookout, on the other side of the Pu’u O Umi Natural Area Reserve, offers some pretty stellar views as well, as well as access to a stunning black sand beach via steep hiking trail.
Now you might have noticed that I said nothing about two of Hawaii’s biggest attractions: Mauna Kea, and Mount Haleakala. That’s because there are no alternatives to these two breathtaking summits, and they should be a must on any Big Island or Maui vacation to do list, respectively.
Which is your favorite of these lesser-known attractions? What would you add to this list?
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