Hawaii's spectacular beaches ranks among the best free attractions in the islands. The volcanic origin, remote location, varying ages and tropical latitudes have created beaches of almost every color, texture and description, with green, white, black, red, pebble, and salt and pepper beaches.
Some are easily accessible, such as Waikiki or Ka'anapali on Maui, while others are far more remote, like Waipio or Makalawena on the Big Island. You'll never encounter an entrance fee at Hawaii beaches, aside from those that are part of national parks.
On Dec. 7, 1941, the U.S. fleet docked at Pearl Harbor was decimated by the infamous surprise attack of Japanese bombers. More than 1,100 men lost their lives that fateful day. Today, the memorial is hallowed ground and marks the war graves of these sailors, situated over the sunken battleship USS Arizona.
While free, the memorial offers a limited number of passes daily, so smart visitors arrive early to secure a place in line. There's a visitor's center as well as numerous shops, a cafe and museums. You are shown a short documentary tribute and taken by Navy skiff to the elegantly simple yet highly solemn memorial.
On the southeast rift zone of the Big Island of Hawaii, visitors can witness live lava flows entering the ocean, per conditions and access permitting. The startling sight of slow-moving lava flows gently making their way down the pali (cliff) or through a tube system to the sea is a primal wonder no visitor can forget. As of January 2011, two eruption sites were active: one inside the park at the summit caldera, Halemaumau Crater, and the other outside the park boundaries near the former subdivision of Kalapana.
Iconic Diamond Head Crater on the east end of Honolulu is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world. Once thought to contain diamonds, the crater was misnamed, but the charming name stuck. Framing the glittering cosmopolitan city on the edge of Waikiki beach, Diamond Head is a 750-foot dormant crater that offers visitors an easy 30-minute hike with lighted walkways, handicapped facilities, picnic tables and restrooms. The view from the top is spectacular.
