Replete with natural wonders, the Hawaiian Islands have no shortage of sightseeing adventures to offer travelers. From the rushing Akaka and Rainbow waterfalls of the windward side of the Big Island, to the 45-mile journey to Hana, Maui, to the big city scene of Waikiki, Hawaii's sightseeing opportunities are absolutely unmatched by any other state in the country. In addition to enjoying the paradisaical beaches of every imaginable color of sand, Hawaii visitors can also experience sites with considerable historical significance, such as Pearl Harbor, where the remnants of the battleship USS Arizona still lay sunken on the harbor bottom after being bombed on Dec. 7, 1941.
Inviting recreational opportunities abound in Hawaii, no matter your age and lifestyle. Whether you enjoy beachgoing, swimming, surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, hiking, golf or tennis, you will find them all available year-round in Hawaii. With an average daytime temperature hovering near 80 degrees and water temperatures about 75 degrees, Hawaii offers an outstanding climate to pursue recreational activities of all kinds. Snorkel the sunken crater at Molokini off Maui or learn to surf on Waikiki's gentle rollers. Hike caldera craters at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or see the active lava flowing into the sea.
Visitors to Hawaii are often shocked by the high food prices, especially in the supermarkets. If you are cooking at home, make a shopping trip to a big warehouse store to stock up to save. Peruse the farmers markets for locally grown produce. Buy coffee and macadamia nuts direct from numerous estates along the Kona Coast. Excellent Pacific Rim cuisine is offered at all the resort properties. As for dining out cheaply, ask the locals for tips about good, inexpensive places to eat. Because they live with high prices every day, most locals know where to find all the dining bargains.
Choices of lodging on all islands accommodate visitors in an enormous variety of styles. On Oahu, Waikiki's millions of visitors stay right downtown in myriad hotels, including boutique lodging and lovingly restored vintage hotels right on the beach. The elegant Moana Surfrider, built in 1901, and the recognizable Deco-era Royal Hawaiian Hotel are on the high-end properties. Local chains such as Aqua or Outrigger also offer selections ranging from upscale to value. On the Big Island of Hawaii, stay at the Holualoa Inn, a publishing mogul's restored getaway mansion on 30 acres of coffee. Get adventurous and stay at Skye's Volcano Treehouse, a genuine forest tree house into the branches of five living ohia trees, using recycled, salvaged materials inside and out.
