Spend 10 days exploring the islands of Oahu and Maui. Oahu is home to Hawaii's capital and largest city, Honolulu. You can stay in one of many hotels and resorts along Waikiki beach, and enjoy all the are has to offer, including miles of beaches and water sports, shopping, dining or relaxing at your hotel. You can also take a day trip to visit Pearl Harbor. Or get away from the tourists and relax along Oahu's north shore with a few nights at Turtle Bay Resort. Play golf, learn to surf, snorkel or sip cocktails by the pool. Midway through your trip, hop on a 20-minute flight to Maui. Kaanapali, along Maui's west coast, is where many tourists stay, and is home to Whaler's Village, an outdoor shopping and dining area with a museum depicting the area's whaling industry history. Get up early one morning and drive to the summit of Haleakala to watch the sunrise, and plan a day trip along the road to Hana on the island's east side.
Kauai is called the "garden isle" because of its lush vegetation and rain forest climate. Enjoy the scenic beach on the north shore with a few days in the sleepy surfer town of Hanalei. Also, check out the breathtaking views of the Napali coast, accessible only by boat, helicopter or intense hiking. Kauai is typically more rural than Maui or Oahu. After five days in Kauai, hop on a quick flight over to the Big Island, the youngest and largest island in the Hawaiian chain. On the Big Island, visit one of the world's most active volcanoes, Kilauea, in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Snorkel with a variety of sea life off the Kona coast, or take a horseback ride in Waimea. The Big Island is called the "Island of Adventure" because it offers so many adventurous activities to visitors.
People looking for a 10-day Hawaii trip that is off the beaten path should consider dividing their time between Molokai and Lanai, two of the main islands in Hawaii but not as frequently visited as Kauai, Oahu, Maui or the Big Island. Molokai contains no traffic lights, and no building is taller than a coconut tree, so you are truly surrounding yourself with nature. Fishing and snorkeling are popular Molokai activities. Or, if you prefer to stay on land, take a day trip to Halawa Valley, where you can hike through the 3- to 4-mile deep canyon to Mooula Falls for a quick dip in the cool, fresh water. After Molokai, catch a quick flight over to Lanai. Lanai also has no traffic lights, and has only 30 miles of paved roads. Indulge in one of the island's two Four Seasons luxury resorts, and spend some time challenging yourself on the island's two high caliber golf courses, The Challenge at Manele and The Experience at Koele. Take a day trip to Polihua Beach on the island's north side to relax in the sand and maybe see some sea turtles or humpback whales during winter months. The current is strong and dangerous though, so do not swim at Polihua Beach.
