16 Epic Adventures Every Hawaii Local Must Take Before They Die

Accessible via State Route 550 through Waimea Canyon State Park, Koke'e State Park sprawls over 4,300 acres of mountainous terrain. The park contains approximately 45 miles of hiking trails along majestic canyon rims, through native Hawaiian forests, and across enchanting swamplands .Click here for more information.

Tucked away off of Oahu’s Pali Highway in the lush Nu’uanu Valley, is a magnificent natural oasis that will certainly offer a welcome respite from the stresses of daily life. While the trail to Lulumahu Falls can be difficult to follow at times, making it easy to get lost, there are three major points of interest: a beautiful bamboo forest, the Nu’uanu Resevoir and surrounding field, and the actual waterfall. Click here for more information.

Found just miles from downtown Hilo, in a relatively small park without any formal supervision, open 24 hours a day, Kaumana Caves may be relatively unknown, but that doesn't mean it's not worth the trip. The incredible formation was created during a 1881 lava flow from Mauna Loa, and is, in fact, a 25-mile long lava tube. Click here for more information.

Located just 2.5 miles off the shores of Maui's Makena State Park is Molokini, all that remains of an ancient cinder cone that last erupted more than 230,000 years ago. Divers and snorkelers from around the world flock to this beautiful islet to experience its crystal clear waters and plethora of vibrant sea life. Because Molokini is rock, and not soil, there is nothing to wash into the water and inhibit visibility. In fact, you can often see more than 150 feet into the ocean. Click here for more information.

Just five miles from the heart of Waikiki, in the heart of Oahu’s lush Manoa Valley is the Lyon Arboretum. While this beautiful arboretum has been open to the public for more than 40 years, many locals and tourists alike opt for the more popular Manoa Falls, but this picturesque rainforest should not be overlooked. Within the arboretum, you’ll find trails, waterfalls, and even a haunted seismograph station. Click here for more information.

Deep in the heart of Kauai is the epic Weeping Wall, a collection of stunning waterfalls cascading down Mount Waialeale, one of the wettest spots on earth. Mount Waialeale stretches more than 5,000 feet into the sky, and is covered in brilliant hues of emerald green. Mount Waialeale is the second wettest spot on earth, receiving a staggering 450 inches of rain each year, and is almost always shrouded in clouds. Click here for more information.

The land that the beach encompasses and the area surrounding it simply didn’t exist twenty years ago. In 1990, a lava flow from Kilauea reached the shoreline at Kalapana and destroyed the entire community, as well as the neighboring subdivisions of Kaimu and Royal Gardens. The lava flowed into the ocean for several months, filling the bay and creating new acreage on the shoreline. Since then, the relentless waves have crashed against the shore, slowly breaking the large lava rocks into small grains of sand over time, and creating the New Kaimu Beach. Click here for more information.

Located just south of the West Maui Forest Reserve and near Wailuku is Iao Valley State Park, a lush, 4,000-acre valley with miles of hiking trails, stunning vistas, and the famous Iao Needle. The fern covered lava formation rising 1,200 feet from the valley’s floor was formed from millennia of erosion of the softer rock surrounding the peak, and is deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture. Click here for more information.

This little-known archaeological site is home to Kauai’s largest limestone cave that was formed when the once fossilized sand dune collapsed. After you squeeze through the mouth of the cave, you will be rewarded with stunning views of a spacious open-air amphitheater. Click here for more information.

Skyline Eco-Adventures Akaka Falls Zipline is the only zipline tour across Hawaii where you are able to soar through the sky above a 250-foot waterfall, not to mention some other pretty stunning views. Click here for more information.

The Kaneohe sandbar, located in the middle of Kaneohe Bay surrounded by the striking Ko’olau mountains, features crystalline turquoise waters, fine white sand, and plenty of fun. At high tide, you can comfortably stand waist-deep in the water, while at low tide, the sand is completely exposed. Click here for more information.

Just 27 square miles short of equaling the entire size of Oahu, Mount Haleakala is a gentle giant – a dormant volcano that has inspired those who make the journey to its summit for centuries. Translating to "House of the Sun," Haleakala rises more than 10,000 feet above sea level, comprises 75 percent of Maui Island, and is home to desert-like conditions, rainforests, and everything in between. Click here for more information.

A once-in-a-lifetime experience, the magnificent Papakolea Green Sand Beach is located on Hawaii Island’s southern shore, near Ka Lae, the southernmost point in the United States. This green sand beach so unique that you will only find a few other spots with similar iconic green sand on the planet. Click here for more information.

As you are driving along Maui’s Hana Highway from the north, the first notable attraction you will discover is this picturesque string of waterfalls, most commonly known as Twin Falls. Reminiscent of a fantasy world, this gorgeous spot features two absolutely dreamy waterfalls and a pool below, perfect for a quick swim. Click here for more information.

This untamed state park encompasses the rugged and wild coastline of the northwestern tip of Oahu, and is full of natural beauty and hidden gems, including heart shaped rocks, tide pools, stunning cliff faces, and a natural reserve area created to protect nesting albatrosses, Hawaiian monk seals, and the fragile native vegetation. This beautiful natural oasis is so remote, you can only reach the point on foot - there was once a road here, but it is no longer accessible, meaning you’ll have to walk. Click here for more information.

There are very few places on this planet where you can watch flowing lava in person, and even fewer where you can walk right up to it. Kalapana, on Hawaii Island’s southern shore, is the safest and easiest to access. Not only might you see flowing lava, but you’ll be walking along the youngest land you’ve ever set foot on - which is pretty unbelievable, if you ask me. Click here for more information.