Once you’ve visited Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, have attended a luau, and visited the USS Arizona Memorial on Oahu, there are still plenty of lesser-known unique places in Hawaii that aren’t necessarily swarming with tourists. Here are seven incredible attractions in Hawaii that are a little off the beaten path.

1. Panaewa Rainforest Zoo
Panaewa Rainforest Zoo, Hilo, HI 96720, USA
Pat McGrath/Flickr
First on the list of unique places to visit in Hawaii is the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo. The only tropical zoo in the United States, this Big Island attraction is the perfect place for a day out of the water. Visitors can encounter various rainforest animals and endangered Hawaiian animals, including a White Bengal tiger, spider monkeys, lemurs, and more than 80 other animal species. Read more about Panaewa Rainforest Zoo.
2. Pearl Harbor Historic Sites
Pearl Harbor Historic Sites Visitor Center, 1 Arizona Memorial Pl, Honolulu, HI 96818, USA
Megan Shute
Though the free USS Arizona Memorial is a wildly popular spot among visitors, there are several other historic sites within Pearl Harbor that are less crowded, and give you a different perspective. Check out the USS Battleship Missouri, which was rebuilt after the attacks on Pearl Harbor, and is now open to the public for tours and exploration. Learn more about Pearl Harbor Historic Sites.
3. Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park
Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, State Hwy 160, H?naunau, HI 96726, USA
Sawyer/Flickr
Located on the Big Island is this park, full of archaeological sites and reconstructions of an ancient Hawaiian "place of refuge." The site, once home to Hawaiian royalty and those who broke a la or defeated military, features a self-guided tour. Check out more about Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park

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4. Kilauea National Wildlife Refuge
Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, Kilauea, HI 96754, USA
Jasperdo/Flickr
Located on Kauai’s north shore is 203 acres of protected land, where the Pacific golden plover, Laysan albatross and the nene – the Hawaii state bird – live. The Kilauea lighthouse is just a short walk from the parking lot. First illuminated on May 1, 1913, it is the northernmost point of the inhabited Hawaiian Islands and a popular Hawaii attraction for lots of great reasons. Find out more about Kilauea National Wildlife Refuge.
5. Pacific Tsunami Museum
Pacific Tsunami Museum, 130 Kamehameha Ave, Hilo, HI 96720, USA
Ryan Ozawa/Flickr
Housed in a bank building that barely survived the last tsunami to hit the Big Island, is the Pacific Tsunami Museum. Though the museum is a tourist destination, staff members strive to educate Hilo’s inhabitants about tsunami preparedness. Read more about the Pacific Tsunami Museum.
6. Kalaupapa Leper Colony
Kalaupapa National Historical Park, 189 Kaiulani St, Kalaupapa, HI 96742, USA
David Holt/Flickr
Located on an isolated peninsula on the northern side of Molokai is Kalaupapa, the site of a leper colony. From 1866 to 1969, thousands of men, women and children diagnosed with leprosy were exiled to the colony by the Hawaiian government and legally declared dead. Today, visitors can travel to the colony via mule. This is definitely one of the most unique Hawaii attractions. Learn more about Kalaupapa Leper Colony.
7. Kukaniloko Birthing Stones
Kukaniloko Birth Stones, Kamehameha Hwy, Wahiawa, HI 96786, USA
Sean Munson/Flickr
The Kukaniloko Birthing Stones, found nearly 100 yards from the intersection of Whitmore Avenue and Highway 80 in Wahiawa, Oahu, have marked the site of royal births and powerful struggles for centuries. Recent research has discovered that the stones may have served an astrological purpose as well – perhaps as a sort of a Pacific Islands henge? Check out more about the Kukaniloko Birthing Stones.

Which of these places have you been to? Which is the next unique Hawaiian attraction on your must-visit list?

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Unique Places in Hawaii

Danielle Schwartz | May 30, 2022

What is the most beautiful hike in Hawaii?

There are so many beautiful hikes in Hawaii that it can be hard to choose just one as the winner! One of our favorite hikes in Hawaii is Sleeping Giant Hike in Kauai. While both options for this stunning hike are considered rather challenging, as long as you have hiking experience it will be well worth the trek to see the jaw-dropping sights on this route. You'll get to see a forest, that bright green color of the local fauna for which Hawaii is known, and, of course, the sparkling blue ocean.

What is the most well-known park in Hawaii?

The most well-known park in Hawaii is the amazing Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. This park is known as one of the most beautiful in the entire world, and it is definitely among the most memorable places you can possibly go. At 335,259 acres, it is gigantic, spanning from volcanoes to the ocean. There are actually two active volcanoes you can see at this park, making it an especially unique experience for those visiting the gorgeous state. You can hike for hours at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, so get ready for an incredible day of enjoying nature if you go here.

Can I go for a train ride in Hawaii?

Yes, you can absolutely go on a train ride in Hawaii! In fact, The Aloha State is the ideal place for a scenic ride because there are picture-perfect views everywhere. You'll want to gaze out the window at the natural beauty the whole time. Take the Hawaiian Railway Society in Oahu, Kauai Plantation Railway in Kauai, Lahaina Sugar Cane Train in Maui, or the Pineapple Express in Oahu for a special trip with your whole group that you won't forget.

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