Hawaii Travel Guide

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Hawaii overflows with natural beauty. Piercing the surface of the Pacific from the ocean floor, the Hawaiian Islands are garlanded with soft sand beaches and dramatic volcanic cliffs. Long days of sunshine and fairly mild year-round temperatures make this an all-season destination, and the islands' offerings—from urban Honolulu on Oahu to the luxury resorts of Maui to the natural wonders of Kauai and the Big Island—appeal to all kinds of visitors. Less-developed Lanai and Molokai are quieter, but all the islands are rich in Hawaiian culture.

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Sarah Fields Photography / Shutterstock 1/129Beautiful Na Pali Coastline on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

Jason McCartney / Shutterstock 2/129Wailua Falls, Kauai, Hawaii

cleanfotos / Shutterstock 3/129poipu beach park on the island of Kauai, Hawaii.

Steve Heap / Shutterstock 4/129Tips of surfboards at Lumahai beach in Kauai Hawaii on a sandy shore by the ocean.

tropicdreams / Shutterstock 5/129tropical exotic secluded beach in haena kauai hawaii.

Sebastien Burel / Shutterstock 6/129Nawiliwili beach in Kauai, Hawaii;

Bennymarty | Dreamstime.com 7/129Aerial view of tropical Manawaiopuna Falls also called Jurassic Park Falls in Kauai, Hawaii, USA. .

YinYang/iStockphoto 8/129Sunset Surfer at sunset on Resort Beach of Kauai Hawaii

(c) Americanspirit | Dreamstime.com 9/129A sailboat launched on the beach in Kauai, Hawaii.

YinYang/iStockphoto 10/129Underwater Scene of Colorful Reef Fishes in Kauai Hawaii

Joe West / Shutterstock 11/129Polihua Beach - Island of Lanai - Hawaii (Island of Maui on Horizon).

Joe West / Shutterstock 12/129Lahaina Harbor - Maui, Hawaii;

Mike Brake / Shutterstock 13/129Footprints On The Beach, Kepuhi Beach Molokai Hawaii.

Peter Guttman/PeterGuttman.com 14/129Backpacker, Maui, Hawaii

Hiroyuki Saita / Shutterstock 15/129Beach goers enjoying a typical beautiful day on Maui, Hawaii.

Pierre Leclerc / Shutterstock 16/129Haleakala Crater, Haleakala National Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA

idreamphoto / Shutterstock 17/129Tropical beach in makena cove with palm tree and waves in south maui, hawaii.

(c) Rrxxuu | Dreamstime.com 18/129Waianapanapa State Park

(c) Svecchiotti | Dreamstime.com 19/129The lovely and quiet Puamana Beach in west Maui in the Hawaiian Islands.

(c) Love2pic | Dreamstime.com 20/129Maui beach, Napili Bay moss covered rocks, ocean view.

Sheri Armstrong / Shutterstock 21/129Japanese Garden in Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens.

iofoto / Shutterstock 22/129Landscape of Poli-Poli, Upcountry Maui, Hawaii, USA.

(c) Chrishowey | Dreamstime.com 23/129Waikiki beach and diamond head crater on Oahu, Hawaii.

Bryan Busovicki / Shutterstock 24/129Iolani Palace in Honolulu, Hawaii. The only royal palace in the United States.

Lindasj22 / Shutterstock 25/129US flags flying beside the Battleship Missouri in Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii with 4 sailors walking on deck.

lauraslens / Shutterstock 26/129Mokulua Island Lanikai Oahu Hawaii.

Eddy Galeotti/Shutterstock 27/129HONOLULU, HAWAII - SEPTEMBER 7, 2013: Surfboards lined up in the rack at famous Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. Oahu, Hawaii.

TanArt / Shutterstock 28/129Hanauma Bay in Oahu, Hawaii. Formed in a volcanic crater

Marc Turcan / Shutterstock 29/129Hawaii Big Island beach.

Radoslaw Lecyk / Shutterstock 30/129Japanese garden in Hilo, Hawaii.

By Eli Duke from Portland, OR, USA [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons 31/129Hawaii / Big Island: Kapoho Tide Pools

Kushch Dmitry / Shutterstock 32/129Jungle, Big Island, Hawaii, USA

Andre Nantel / Shutterstock 33/129The Gemini and UK Infrared Observatories atop the Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii Big Island.

Bonita R. Cheshier / Shutterstock 34/129Young woman sits on the lava rocks of Anaehoomalu Bay on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. She is watching a green sea turtle that is basking in the sunlight and resting.

Ocean Image Photography / Shutterstock 35/129The Ki’i guard the Temple of Hale o Keawe at Place of Refuge in Kona Hawaii.

SYLVIO MICHEL / Shutterstock 36/129Kekaha Kai State Park.

David Lousick / Shutterstock 37/129Turtles on Black Sand Beach on the Big Island in Hawaii.

Marisa Estivill / Shutterstock 38/129Views of the sea and black lava rocks of recent eruptions of Kilauea from Kalapana for sunset, Puna district, Big island, Hawaii.

SergiyN/Shutterstock 39/129Scenic view of Honolulu city, Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach at night; Hawaii, USA; Shutterstock ID 148974455; Project/Title: Photo Database Top 200; Downloader: Jennifer Romains

Mfron | Dreamstime.com 40/129Beautiful view of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States.

Jerryway | Dreamstime.com 41/129Shot in Oahu near Makapuu Point, Hawaii in late summer of 2009

TanArt / Shutterstock 42/129Hanauma Bay in Oahu, Hawaii. Formed in a volcanic crater

(c) Phillipgray | Dreamstime.com 43/129Body boarding waves at Sandy Beach Hawaii.

lauraslens / Shutterstock 44/129Mokulua Island Lanikai Oahu Hawaii.

spirit of america / Shutterstock 45/129This is the north shore of the island of Oahu.

(c) Kraskoff | Dreamstime.com 46/129Waimea Falls, Waimea Valley, Oahu, Hawaii

Shane Myers Photography / Shutterstock 47/129Sunset from above Waimea Bay on Oahu, Hawaii's North Shore.

Vacclav / Shutterstock 48/129KONA, HAWAII - Surfer's restaurant in Kona on Big Island on September 6, 2011 in Kona, USA. Kona is the center of commerce and of the tourist industry on West Hawaii.

(c) Cecoffman | Dreamstime.com 49/129Hulihe'e Palace in Kailua on Hawaii's Big Island

Vlad Turchenko / Shutterstock 50/129Kealakekua Bay, Big Island aerial shot, Hawaii.

Andreas Koeberl / Shutterstock 51/129Star observatory in Hawaii at night with Milky Way.

SYLVIO MICHEL / Shutterstock 52/129Kekaha Kai State Park.

Radoslaw Lecyk / Shutterstock 53/129Japanese garden in Hilo, Hawaii.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawaii/341446772/">Trip</a> by Ryan Ozawa<br /> 54/129Family trip to the Big Island for New Year's. The 'Imiloa Astronomy Center

(c) Bonniemarie | Dreamstime.com 55/129Vivid red, waxy leaves, and tall erect white and yellow spadex, this Anthurium thrives in the shade of ferns on the Big Island of Hawaii at the Panaewa Rain Forest Zoo.

Marisa Estivill / Shutterstock 57/129Views of the sea and black lava rocks of recent eruptions of Kilauea from Kalapana for sunset, Puna district, Big island, Hawaii.

Andrews71 | Dreamstime.com 58/129Dole Pineapple headquarter in Oahu, Hawaii. Picture taken in september 2011.

(c) Dleena | Dreamstime.com 59/129Seashore of Hawaii's beautiful tropical beach at Kahala.

Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) / Linda Ching 60/129Lanikuhonua, Ko Olina, Island of Oahu.

Nantela | Dreamstime.com 61/129A pod of wild Spinner Dolphins observed on the West coast of Oahu.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/5184335467/">S6300128</a> by b b 62/129White Plains beach

Aimin Tang / iStockphoto 63/129Downtown, Honolulu

(c) Jewhyte | Dreamstime.com 64/129Downtown Honolulu Skyline with modern office towers dominating the landscape.

Sarah Fields Photography / Shutterstock 65/129Beautiful Na Pali Coastline on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

(c) Nainoac | Dreamstime.com 66/129Sunset on Kalalau beach Kauai.

Joel Carillet/iStockphoto 67/129Hikers on the famous Kalalau Trail on the north shore of Kauai. The 11-mile trail that leads from Ke'e Beach to Kalalau Beach on the Na Pali coast.

wolfso / Shutterstock 68/129Coconut Coast Kauai, Hawaii;

cleanfotos / Shutterstock 69/129poipu beach park on the island of Kauai, Hawaii.

(c) Mfron | Dreamstime.com 70/129Beautiful view of Nawiliwili, Kauai Island, Hawaii, USA.

By Daderot. [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons 71/129Allerton Garden, Kauai, Hawaii - Lawai Bay.

Peter Guttman/PeterGuttman.com 72/129Waimea Canyon, Kauai, Hawaii

(c) Nstanev | Dreamstime.com 73/129Beautiful Kalalau Valley in Kauai, Hawaii Islands.

Nickolay Stanev / Shutterstock 74/129View of the Napali coast from Polihale beach in Kauai, Hawaii Islands.

cecoffman / Shutterstock 75/129Waimea Hills.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/seafan/4757673251/">Anna Ranch, Kamuela, Hawaii 189/365</a> by Jen R<br /> 76/129Anna Ranch, Kamuela, Hawaii 189/365. A historic landmark with beautiful gardens.

(c) Nopow | Dreamstime.com 77/129Empty Hapuna Beach in Hawaii on a beautiful day

(c) Cecoffman | Dreamstime.com 78/129Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site on Hawaii's Big Island.

By AlaskaDave [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons 79/129The view of the Ka'u coastline from HVNP. Looking southwest towards Na'alehu.

Marty Wakat / Shutterstock 80/129Horses at South Point graving around a wind blown tree.

David Lousick / Shutterstock 81/129Turtles on Black Sand Beach on the Big Island in Hawaii.

Andre Nantel / Shutterstock 82/129The Gemini and UK Infrared Observatories atop the Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii Big Island.

Pavel Tvrdy/Shutterstock 83/129Observatory dome at the peak of Mauna Kea volcano, Hawaii. Telescope structure on volcano top above the main cloud layert.

kuma / Shutterstock 84/129"kohala coast" of Big island.

(c) Dmitriko | Dreamstime.com 85/129Short surf wave at Mauna Kea beach, Big Island, Hawaii.

Bonita R. Cheshier / Shutterstock 86/129Young woman sits on the lava rocks of Anaehoomalu Bay on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. She is watching a green sea turtle that is basking in the sunlight and resting.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/upsand/240289512/">Captain Cook's Monument</a> by <br /> 87/129Captain Cook's Monument, Big Island, Hawaii

(c) Cecoffman | Dreamstime.com 88/129A parrotfish navigates the coral in Hawaii's Kealakekua Bay.

Ivan_Sabo / Shutterstock 89/129Big Beach, Makena Beach State Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Max Earey / Shutterstock 90/129Windsurfing at Hookipa Beach Park Maui Hawaii.

Mike Brake / Shutterstock 91/129Hookipa Beach, Hookipa Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Pierre Leclerc / Shutterstock 93/129Haleakala Crater, Haleakala National Park, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Bryan Busovicki / Shutterstock 94/129Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.

© Peter Guttman/PeterGuttman.com 95/129A volcanologist enters a glowing methane gas death zone where slow moving pahoehoe lava speads across the landscape and heads to the Pacific, exploding trees in its path. Hawaii Volcanos National Park

Rradams | Dreamstime.com 96/129Picture of USS Arizona Memorial located at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii.

(c) Matejh | Dreamstime.com 97/129HONOLULU, HAWAII - JUNE 22: USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center at Pearl Harbor. The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/danramarch/6157458445/in/photolist-ao7zSD-8vBVWt-8vEXjo-8vEXvJ-8uVTTM-8vBVPR-8uYX7w-8vBW8g-5mQHBd-8vBWgB-8vBW7x-8vEXuA-8vBW9D-8vBW22-4zrXoE-8vBVJ2-5mxwMc-8vBWbc-q5FUPJ-8uYX9q-8vBWdB-5mBMt3-5mBMyw-8vBWhi-8uVpXv

Joe West / Shutterstock 99/129Lahaina Harbor - Maui, Hawaii;

Ritu Manoj Jethani / Shutterstock 100/129MAUI, HI - DECEMBER 28: At the Westin Kaanapali on December 28, 2012. The Westin is a luxury hotel and time share condominium resort at Kaanapali in Maui, Hawaii,;

idreamphoto / Shutterstock 101/129long exposure photo of kapalua bay and palm trees.

(c) Svecchiotti | Dreamstime.com 102/129Oheo Gulch and the Sacred Pools, captured on the island of Maui in the Hawaiian Islands.

(c) Demerzel21 | Dreamstime.com 104/129Mokuaikaua Church in Kona is the oldest Christian church in the Hawaiian Islands.

Ocean Image Photography / Shutterstock 105/129The Ki’i guard the Temple of Hale o Keawe at Place of Refuge in Kona Hawaii.

Steveheap | Dreamstime.com 106/129Famous mile long tunnel of Eucalyptus trees along Maluhia Road to Koloa Town, Kauai Hawaii.

Nina B / Shutterstock 107/129mahaulepu beach, poipu, kauai.

Nstanev | Dreamstime.com 108/129Taro fields in beautiful Hanalei Valley, Kauai.

Steve Heap / Shutterstock 109/129Rising sun illuminates the peaks of Na Pali mountains over the calm bay and Hanalei Pier in long exposure photo.

Joel Carillet/iStockphoto 110/129Late afternoon scene at Hanalei Bay in Kauai.

(c) Raycan | Dreamstime.com 111/129Hanalei Bay Beach in Kauai, Hawaii. A public beach where people go to swim and surf.

Pcivello | Dreamstime.com 112/129Wide angle panoramic view of the Kalalau Valley on the Na Pali Coast of Kauai, Hawaii. Taken from the Pu'u O Kila Lookout. Photo has white billowy clouds and a deep blue ocean in the background. Landscape shot, green foliage in foreground. cliffs in partia

MNStudio | Dreamstime.com 113/129Hanakapiai beach as one of checkpoints of Kalalau trail of Napali coast, Kauai, Hawaii.

MNStudio | Dreamstime.com 114/129Beautiful aerial view of spectacular Na Pali coast, Kauai, Hawaii.

Steveheap | Dreamstime.com 115/129Awa`awapuhi trail from Koke'e State Park to Na Pali coast ends at Nualolo Valley overlooking Pacific ocean in Kauai, Hawaii, USA.

(c) Deedeedixon | Dreamstime.com 116/129Dolphin pod with one dolphin jumping out of the water on Na Pali Coast.

Jeff Whyte / Shutterstock 117/129OAHU, HI - JUNE 22 -The Rainbow Tower at the Hawaiian Hilton Village on Waikiki beach on June 22, 2013. The Hawaiian Hilton Village is very popular with families traveling to Hawaii.; Shutterstock ID 187974494; Project/Title: 20 Best Places to Celebrate Ne

Joakim Lloyd Raboff / Shutterstock 118/129On the beach of Waikiki with Diamond Head Volcano in the background.

Eddy Galeotti/Shutterstock 119/129HONOLULU, HAWAII - SEPTEMBER 7, 2013: Surfboards lined up in the rack at famous Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. Oahu, Hawaii.

(c) Jewhyte | Dreamstime.com 120/129Famous Waikiki Beach on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

Nalukai | Dreamstime.com 121/129Photo of surfer Chris Gagnon riding a longboard while surfing at Waikiki Beach in Hawaii.

Marisa Estivill / Shutterstock 122/129View of tall waterfall in Waipio Valley, Big Island, Hawaii.

Radoslaw Lecyk / Shutterstock 123/129View of Waipio Valley, Big Island, Hawaii.

Marisa Estivill / Shutterstock 124/129View of the coast and lush vegetation in Waianapanapa State park, Maui island, Hawaii, USA.

(c) Rrxxuu | Dreamstime.com 125/129Waianapanapa State Park

(c) Radekdrewek | Dreamstime.com 126/129Waikiki Beach with Diamond Head Crater in the Background in Honolulu on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A.

(c) Sgoodwin4813 | Dreamstime.com 127/129Rim of Diamondhead Crater, Waikiki Beach and all of Honolulu in the distance from the top of the trail.

(c) Dubphoto | Dreamstime.com 128/129A view of Ala Moana from the park-lands point, situated on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.

(c) Brodogg1313 | Dreamstime.com 129/129HONOLULU, HI - FEBUARY 25: People explore the Hawaiian Hall Exhibit at the Bishop Musuem taken Febuary 25, 2012 Honolulu, Hawaii.