Hawaii is the United States’ only tropical state — an archipelago of eight main islands in the central Pacific, each with a distinct character, landscape, and experience. The combination of volcanic landscapes, world-class beaches, Polynesian culture, exceptional surfing, and accessibility for American visitors (no passport required, no jet lag for West Coast travellers) makes it one of the world’s most complete travel destinations. These are its 15 most extraordinary places.

Hawaii tropical beach with volcanic landscape at sunset
Hawaii’s unique combination of tropical beaches and volcanic landscapes exists nowhere else on earth

1. Waimea Canyon, Kauai

Waimea Canyon on Kauai — the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” — is a 16km-long, 1km-deep red-rock canyon carved by erosion and volcanic activity. The viewpoints along the canyon road offer one of Hawaii’s most dramatic landscapes. The adjacent Kalalau Valley, accessible by the Napali Coast trail or helicopter, is one of the most remote and beautiful places in the United States.

Surfing on Hawaii's Waikiki Beach with blue ocean
Waikiki Beach on Oahu — where Hawaiian surfing culture meets the Pacific’s most famous shoreline

2. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island contains two of the world’s most active volcanoes — Kilauea and Mauna Loa. The Kilauea caldera, the Chain of Craters road descending to the coast, and the lava tube walk at Thurston Lava Tube provide access to one of earth’s most dynamic geological systems. When conditions allow, lava flowing into the ocean — creating a billowing plume of steam where molten rock meets the Pacific — is one of the world’s most extraordinary natural spectacles.

Volcanic lava flows in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Active lava flows in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — earth building itself in real time

3-15. The Best of Hawaii by Island

Oahu: Waikiki Beach (Hawaii’s most famous shoreline), Diamond Head crater hike (city views from an extinct volcano), Pearl Harbor (the USS Arizona Memorial), the North Shore (Banzai Pipeline surf break, winter waves to 10 metres). Maui: Road to Hana (one of the world’s great scenic drives — 64km of coastline, rainforest, and waterfalls), Haleakala crater (sunrise above the clouds at 3,055 metres), Wailea beaches (Hawaii’s finest luxury beach strip). Kauai: Napali Coast (17km of knife-edge ridges and sea cliffs accessible only by boat, helicopter, or an 11-mile trail), Hanalei Bay (a crescent of green hills and calm water that inspired numerous songs and films). Big Island: Mauna Kea summit (the world’s best stargazing from 4,200 metres, above 40% of the earth’s atmosphere), South Point (the southernmost point in the United States, with green sand beach below), Kohala Coast (ancient Hawaiian fishponds and petroglyphs).

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