Whether you simply live in Hawaii – or worse, work at an establishment inundated with tourists from across the world – sometimes you just need an escape. While Hawaii’s most popular tourist destinations are visited for a reason, sometimes you want to get away from it all. Luckily, there are a few hidden beaches, hikes and destinations found across the Hawaiian Islands that have yet to become popular among tourists. Without further ado, here are 13 of the least touristy destinations you’ll find in Hawaii. We think these less touristy places in Hawaii are truly magical and need to be on your upcoming bucket list!

1. Kahana Bay Beach, Oahu
Kahana Bay Beach Park, 52-222 Kamehameha Hwy, Hauula, HI 96717, USA
Megan Shute/OnlyInYourState.com
Though Kahana Bay Beach Park is found off the highway, the remote location on Oahu's northern windward coast makes this a secluded spot perfect for a beach day. Surrounded by the stunning Ko'olau Mountains, this stretch of sand is backed by ironwood trees and you will find an ancient Hawaiian fishpond on the south side of the bay. On the overcast day I stopped by Kahana a few weeks ago, I was one of only a handful of people on the large sandy beach. Easily one of the best places to visit in Hawaii.
2. Makawao Forest, Maui
Makawao Forest Reserve Mountain Biking Trails, Haiku, HI 96708, USA
Ewen Roberts/Flickr
We’ve talked about Maui’s brilliant Redwood trail, and the enchanting Bamboo forest, but the gorgeous Makawao Forest offers some incredible hiking on the Kahakapao Trail where you will see wild Koa, young Redwood trees, Raspberry bushes, Eucalyptus varieties, and fragrant Ginger plants. Located in upcountry Maui at a high elevation, the forest is a little colder than most of the island, bringing a welcome refuge from Hawaii’s typical weather. One of the less touristy places in Hawaii, this area is a must-see.
3. Kaiwi Shoreline Trail, Oahu
Kaiwi Shoreline Trail, Honolulu, HI 96825, USA
Patricia Barden/Flickr
Instead of heading to the paved Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail, veer right at the trailhead and take the dirt path that leads down to Alan Davis Beach Park, Kaho‘ohaihai Inlet, Pele's Chair, and beyond. The trail is approximately 2.5 miles long round trip, and will surely leave you feeling at peace with the world. This is a great Hawaii non tourist area.
4. Waimea Beach, Kauai
Waimea Bay Beach, North Shore, HI 96712, USA
Clement Faydi/Flickr
Kauai’s secluded Waimea Beach is, quite simply, the stuff dreams are made of. The rare black sand beach is located on Kauai’s relatively undeveloped western shore and will absolutely enchant you. Though most focus on the beach’s incredibly rich black sand, I am absolutely head over heels for the picturesque Waimea Pier, the embodiment of Old Hawaii. The pier was once an important location for whaling ships that came into port during the 19th century, and while the pier isn’t original, you will still find people using the pier for fishing and crabbing. Waimea Beach is one of our favorite less touristy places in Hawaii.
5. Ching’s Pond, Maui
Palauhulu Stream, Hawaii, USA
Bruce Irschick/Flickr
Combine vibrant sapphire pools with some stellar spots for cliff jumping, and you’ve got one of Maui’s local hangouts. This picturesque spot can be found past mile marker 16 on the Hana Highway, below the bridge that crosses Palauhulu Stream. This great non touristy area in Hawaii is the perfect place for a cool dip.
6. Honolulu Museum of Art’s Spalding House, Oahu
Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA), 900 S Beretania St, Honolulu, HI 96814, USA
Kelly G./Yelp
Located in the Makiki Heights neighborhood of Oahu sits the Spalding House, a satellite museum of the Honolulu Museum of Art that sits on 3.2 picturesque acres and features a variety of modern art, including David Hockney's L'Enfant et les sortilèges, a permanent installation that showcases work done for the stage performance of the famous opera. Luckily for us, most tourists don't go to art museums on a beach vacation. This is one of the best places to visit on Hawaii if you want to avoid the crowds!

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7. Kamehame Beach, Hawaii Island
Kamehame Beach, Hawaii 96777, USA
Daniela/Flickr
Situated on Hawaii Island's southeastern coast, Kamehame Beach is one of the country's foremost nesting sites for the Hawksbill turtle and honu. The beach is an official turtle-breeding site, so the only guaranteed access is through volunteering with a turtle-monitoring program. A great spot to disappear, in this less touristy area in Hawaii.
8. Kaneana Cave, Oahu
Kaneana Cave (Makua Cave), Farrington Highway, Waianae, HI, USA
Ken Lund/Flickr
Nearly 100 feet high and 450 feet deep, Kaneana Cave is said to be the place where the shark man was said to leave his victims until he was ready to eat them. The cave is dark and wet, so bring sturdy shoes and a flashlight. Various small tunnels that lead from the main cavern have not been explored, mapped, or maintained, so it is imperative that you not enter. One of the best places to visit in Hawaii, this cave has tons of fascinating history.
9. McBryde Garden, Kauai
McBryde Garden, 4425 Lawai Rd, Koloa, HI 96756, USA
Owen and Aki/Flickr
McBryde Garden, Kauai Located near Allerton Gardens on the southern shore of Kauai, the McBryde Garden is operated by National Tropical Botanical Gardens and encompasses 252 acres, including the largest ex situ collection of native Hawaiian flora in the world. It's often overshadowed by its famous neighbor, which is why you won't find too many tourists. This less touristy place in Hawaii is a great place to soak in Hawaii’s natural surroundings.
10. Papohaku Beach, Molokai
P?p?haku Beach, Hawaii 96770, USA
Patrick McNally/Flickr
You will be surprised to find very few people on this stunning beach, which is the longest white sand beach throughout the Hawaiian Islands. It is one of two beach parks that allow camping on Molokai, and the swimming can be extremely dangerous unless the ocean is completely flat and calm. On one of the least touristy islands in Hawaii, this is the perfect place for solitude.
11. Judd Trail, Oahu
Judd Trail, Honolulu, HI 96817, USA
Eric Tessmer/Flickr
Found near Oahu’s Pali Highway in the Nu’uanu neighborhood is the Judd Memorial Trail, a magical slice of forest paradise that awaits your arrival. With surprises around every turn, the entire family is sure to fall in love with this one-mile hike that is home to one of the best swimming holes on the island — and a local hangout. We love Judd Trail, definitely located in a Hawaii non tourist area.
12. Kohala Mountain Road, Hawaii Island
Kohala Mountain Road, Kohala Mountain Rd, Waimea, HI, USA
Megan Shute/OnlyInYourState.com
Meandering across the northern tip of Hawaii Island from Waimea to Hawi, Kohala Mountain Road will transport you to another place. Known locally as "The High Road," this scenic road measures in at just under 20 miles - and is positively stunning the entire way, passing by rolling hillsides, ranchlands, and some pretty jaw-dropping vistas. Despite the stupendous views and wide open spaces, this mountain road is rarely crowded, and full of magnificent pull offs to stop for either a secluded picnic or a quick photograph. We love this less touristy place in Hawaii because of the views!
13. Wahiawa Botanical Garden, Oahu
Megan Shute/OnlyInYourState.com
Found in the center of Oahu, you’ll feel as though you’ve entered the pages of a fairy tale at the picturesque Wahiawa Botanical Garden. The hidden destination is a magical slice of paradise home to a variety of stunning plants and several meandering walking paths perfect for an afternoon stroll. Found on a high plateau in central Oahu between the Waianae and Ko’olau mountain ranges, this enchanting 27-acre botanical garden features everything from taro to native Hawaiian ferns — and everything in between. This gorgeous place is one of the best places to visit in Hawaii.

Have you visited any of these less touristy places in Hawaii? What did you think? Was it amazing? Are there any others ones that we should add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!

Love exploring Hawaii, regardless of whether tourists know about it? Check out these 15 tourist destinations locals love. We think you’ll love them, too!

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More to Explore

Less Touristy Places in Hawaii

Megan McDonald | July 29, 2022

How much coastline does Hawaii have?

Hawaii has plenty of gorgeous coastline, considering it’s made up of a series of beautiful small islands. Combined together, you’ll find over 750 miles of jaw droppingly beautiful coastline to explore. That includes cliffs that fall into the ocean below, miles of sandy beaches, and more. If you love the beach, you’ll love the Hawaiian islands!

Which Hawaiian island has the most tourists?

Oahu easily outshines the other islands in terms of visitors. Oahu sees over 4.7 million visitors annually. Visitors primarily stay in Honolulu and visit Pearl Harbor. They also spend a good portion of their visit enjoying Waikiki Beach. You’ll see thousands of tourists at each of those spots every day.

Which island is the least touristy in the Hawaiian islands?

Lanai Island is considered the least touristy of all of the Hawaiian islands, having only a couple of small places to stay when you visit. It’s a great place to go if you love solitude and staying away from crowds.

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