Best of Hawaii: Our Favorite Things to Do on Oahu, Maui & the Big Island
One of our family’s biggest travel goals is to take our kids to all 50 states, and Hawaii has been one of the trickiest states to check off the list! Coming from the East Coast, getting there requires a long flight, a bigger travel budget, and a lot more advance planning than one of our typical family road trips—but we finally made it happen.
After planning this trip for what felt like FOREVER, we packed as much as possible into roughly 12 days exploring the Big Island (Hawaiʻi), Oahu, and Maui, excluding our travel days. We booked our flights through Southwest Airlines, flew into Honolulu first, and then island-hopped to the Big Island and Maui. Along the way, our family experienced volcanoes, waterfalls, hiking trails, Hawaiian history and culture, black-sand beaches, snorkeling, movie locations, incredible sunsets, and plenty of good food.
With so many amazing things to do in Hawaii, narrowing everything we experienced down to a “best of” list wasn’t easy! Instead of simply compiling Hawaii’s most popular tourist attractions, this guide features places our family personally visited and experiences we actually did. These are the Hawaii attractions, beaches, hikes, tours, food stops, hidden gems, and natural wonders that stood out most to us—and the ones we’d recommend to other families trying to decide what is worth fitting into a Hawaii vacation.
We traveled with our kids and packed our itinerary pretty full, so you’ll also find firsthand tips throughout this guide about reservations, family-friendly activities, free things to do, sightseeing passes, self-guided tours, and ways we saved money in Hawaii.
Best Things to Do on the Big Island of Hawaii
The Big Island of Hawaii delivered some of the most unique experiences of our entire trip. This was the island for dramatic natural wonders: an erupting volcano, black-sand beaches, Hawaiian green sea turtles, incredible stargazing, rugged coastlines, and the southernmost point in the United States.
Best Natural Phenomenon – Kīlauea Volcano Eruption
We lucked out and actually saw Kīlauea erupt during our visit—definitely one of those once-in-a-lifetime family travel moments we’ll never forget! Kīlauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and its current summit eruption has been occurring episodically, which means seeing active lava requires a combination of good timing and good luck.
This is just ONE of the many incredible things to experience inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. We also loved exploring the park along Chain of Craters Road, where the landscape changes dramatically as you travel from lush rainforest through volcanic terrain toward the coast.
We used a Shaka Guide Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park audio tour during our drive. The GPS-based guide narrated our route and shared Hawaiian history, stories, facts, and information about upcoming stops. For our family, this was a great alternative to a traditional guided tour because we could explore at our own pace while still learning about what we were seeing.
Important: Never plan a Hawaii vacation around the assumption that Kīlauea will be erupting on a particular day. Volcano conditions can change quickly. Check the U.S. Geological Survey Kīlauea updates and National Park Service conditions before your visit.
Best Turtle Beach – Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach
If seeing Hawaiian sea turtles is on your Hawaii bucket list, Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach is one of the best places to add to a Big Island road trip. Located along the southeastern coast of the island, Punaluʻu is famous for its beautiful black volcanic sand and the Hawaiian green sea turtles, or honu, that frequently rest along the shoreline.
We were fortunate to see turtles during our visit, which made Punaluʻu one of our kids’ favorite wildlife stops on the Big Island. Seeing green sea turtles against the jet-black sand was even more impressive in person than it looked in photos.
Punaluʻu Beach is free to visit and doesn’t require an entrance reservation. Remember that Hawaiian sea turtles are protected wildlife, so always give them plenty of space and never touch, feed, chase, or crowd them.
We found Punaluʻu especially easy to combine with Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Paradise Meadows Orchard & Bee Farm, and Ka Lae/South Point for a full day of exploring this part of the Big Island.
Best Stargazing – Mauna Kea
For an unforgettable night under the stars, Mauna Kea was our pick for the best stargazing experience in Hawaii. Its elevation, dark skies, dry climate, and relatively low light pollution have made Mauna Kea internationally important for astronomy.
Our family didn’t need to drive all the way to the summit to have an amazing experience. Visitors can stop at the Maunakea Visitor Information Station, located about 9,200 feet above sea level, where the sky after dark can be absolutely incredible.
One thing we weren’t prepared for until planning this experience was just how cold it can get at that elevation after sunset. Bring warm layers even though you’re vacationing in Hawaii!
The summit reaches nearly 14,000 feet and involves additional altitude, vehicle, age, weather, and safety considerations, so research current access requirements before attempting to drive farther up the mountain. Conditions can change quickly.
Best Sunset Beach – Pebble Beach (Kaohe Beach)
One of our favorite Big Island sunsets came from a place that felt much farther off the tourist trail: Pebble Beach, also known as Kaohe Beach, along the Kona Coast.
The beach is known for its dark lava pebbles, rugged coastline, and wide-open views across the Pacific. During our visit, it was considerably quieter than many of Hawaii’s better-known sunset spots, which gave our family a peaceful place to sit and watch the sky change colors over the ocean.
There is no admission fee or reservation required, but getting there involves a steep drive through the Kona Paradise community. Take your time coming down—and remember that you’ll have to drive back up afterward! The rocky shoreline and potentially strong surf also mean this isn’t a beach where we’d automatically recommend jumping into the water just because the scenery looks inviting.
If you’re looking for a quieter place to watch a Big Island sunset, this was one of our favorite hidden gems.
Best Food Tour – Paradise Meadows Orchard & Bee Farm
One of the tastiest—and most budget-friendly—stops on our Big Island itinerary was Paradise Meadows Orchard & Bee Farm near South Point.
This family-run farm offers a free self-guided farm experience and complimentary tastings. During our visit, we sampled Hawaiian macadamia nuts, honey, coffee, chocolate, and other locally produced treats while exploring the tropical property.
Our kids also enjoyed seeing the plants and animals around the farm, and the store was a great place to pick up edible souvenirs and gifts. There was no admission fee when we visited, although after all those samples, walking out without buying something may be the real challenge!
We especially recommend adding Paradise Meadows to an itinerary that also includes Ka Lae/South Point and Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach. Combining attractions that are located near one another helped us see much more of Hawaii without constantly backtracking.
Best “End of the U.S.” – Ka Lae / South Point
How often can you say you’ve stood at the southernmost point in the entire United States?
Ka Lae, also known as South Point, sits at the southern tip of the Big Island. Between the windswept coastline, dramatic cliffs, intense blue water, and seemingly endless Pacific views, it really does feel like you’ve reached the edge of the country.
Ka Lae is also culturally and historically significant and was an important area for early Polynesian settlement in Hawaii, so there’s more to this stop than simply checking a geographical landmark off your list.
It’s free to visit and doesn’t require a reservation. We paired it with Paradise Meadows and Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach, which made for a fun South Point road trip day.
Best Things to Do on Oahu with Kids
Oahu gave our family the biggest mix of traditional sightseeing, Hawaiian and Polynesian culture, history, outdoor adventures, and organized attractions. Since we wanted to see a lot in a short period of time, this was also where advance planning—and our Go City Oahu pass—made the biggest difference.
Best Tour – Kualoa Ranch Movie Sites & Ranch Tour
I agonized over which Kualoa Ranch tour to book! Search online and you’ll find plenty of opinions about which Kualoa tour is best. After spending much of a day there, though, our biggest takeaway was that the ranch offers several very different experiences, so the “best” one really depends on your family’s interests, budget, schedule, desired activity level, and willingness to get dirty.
Some options focus on movie locations, while others incorporate UTVs, e-bikes, horseback riding, ziplining, or more adventurous terrain.
We chose the Movie Sites & Ranch Tour because we had booked another Kualoa experience earlier that day and still had other places we wanted to visit on Oahu. The open-air vehicle gave us plenty of opportunities to enjoy the scenery and take photos as we traveled through the ranch.
Our family got to see filming locations, explore a World War II bunker, pose with movie props, take photos with the gorgeous mountains and ocean behind us, and stop at the Kong: Skull Island boneyard.
One of our favorite photos from the entire Hawaii trip came courtesy of our guide, who used a toy dinosaur to make it look like our family was being attacked in Jurassic Park. It’s those little touches that made the tour so memorable for us.
Best Budget Luau – Aloha Kai Luau
For many first-time Hawaii visitors, attending a Hawaiian luau is near the top of the vacation bucket list. We wanted to experience one without spending a huge portion of our family travel budget on a single evening.
We purchased a Go City Oahu All-Inclusive Pass and planned several attraction-heavy days around it. At the time of our trip, our pass allowed us to choose a luau, and we selected the Aloha Kai Luau at Sea Life Park because its location worked well with our itinerary and gave us the opportunity to spend some time at Sea Life Park beforehand.
Our luau package included drinks, an all-you-can-eat buffet and dessert, leis, and pre-show cultural activities. What really stood out to us was the setting: the ocean backdrop with the surrounding Oahu scenery was beautiful.
I’m also going to be candid because that’s part of what we want these guides to provide. The food was not the highlight for us, and the setup was more casual than some of Hawaii’s luxury luaus, with simple tables and chairs. But for our family, the overall experience and value made it a worthwhile budget-friendly option.
Go City attractions and inclusions can change, so check the current Oahu pass details before purchasing rather than assuming that the exact package we used will always be available.
Best Cultural Experience – Polynesian Cultural Center
Before our visit, we’d seen the Polynesian Cultural Center described as almost a theme park for Polynesian culture. Once we experienced it ourselves, we understood the comparison—but the educational component was what made it especially memorable for our family.
The center features island villages representing cultures from across Polynesia, with demonstrations, performances, music, dancing, games, hands-on activities, storytelling, and opportunities to learn how traditions differ throughout the Pacific.
Rather than simply walking through exhibits, our kids were able to see traditions demonstrated by people sharing the stories, music, customs, and skills associated with these cultures. That made this one of the experiences from our Hawaii trip that sparked the most conversation afterward.
We also booked the evening HĀ: Breath of Life show, and it was phenomenal. The production combines storytelling, music, special effects, cultural dancing, and dramatic fire knife performances. Photos and videos weren’t permitted during the show when we attended, so this was one of those experiences we simply had to put our phones away and enjoy.
At the time of our trip, admission to the Polynesian Cultural Center was included with the Go City Oahu pass we purchased, while the evening show required a separate upgrade. Check current pass benefits and reservation requirements when planning your own trip.
Best Historical Experience – Pearl Harbor
No trip to Oahu felt complete to us without visiting Pearl Harbor, our pick for the best historical experience of the trip.
There is much more to see at Pearl Harbor than we initially realized. We explored the visitor center and learned more about the events surrounding the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and the people whose lives were affected by it.
We especially recommend the Pearl Harbor National Memorial audio tour narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis. Having the narration, historical context, survivor stories, and explanations in our ears while physically standing at the site made the experience much more meaningful than simply walking through on our own.
Our Go City Oahu pass also gave us access to several additional Pearl Harbor-area attractions during our trip, including experiences associated with the Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.
The USS Arizona Memorial program itself is free, but reservation procedures and availability should be checked before your visit. Pearl Harbor is one place where we recommend planning ahead rather than arriving without an itinerary, especially if you want to see several of the historic sites in one day.
Best Hike – Diamond Head
For iconic views without committing most of a day to a hike, Diamond Head State Monument was our family’s pick for the best hike in Hawaii.
The approximately 1.6-mile round-trip trail climbs from the crater floor toward the summit of Lēʻahi, gaining roughly 560 feet in elevation along the way. Don’t let the relatively short distance fool you: there are switchbacks, stairs, steep sections, and a tunnel.
Our reward was a fantastic panoramic view over Waikiki, Honolulu, and the Pacific Ocean. For families who enjoy being active but don’t necessarily want a half-day backcountry hike, we thought Diamond Head delivered a lot of payoff for the amount of time it required.
Non-Hawaiʻi residents need advance reservations for Diamond Head, and parking and entry are handled through the state’s reservation system. Popular time slots can sell out, so this is an attraction we’d reserve before arriving in Oahu. We also recommend going earlier in the day, bringing plenty of water, and using sunscreen—the trail is exposed and can get hot.
Best Cheap Eats – North Shore Tacos
Some of the best vacation discoveries aren’t attractions you spend weeks researching—they’re the little places you stumble across while trying to make your itinerary work.
I found North Shore Tacos on the map while searching for somewhere quick to eat between Kualoa Ranch and the Polynesian Cultural Center. It had rave reviews, was conveniently located along our route, and turned out to be exactly what we needed.
The casual quick-service format meant we could get a flavorful meal without losing a huge chunk of sightseeing time at a sit-down restaurant. When you’re trying to pack as much as we were into Oahu, that’s a bigger benefit than it might sound!
It ended up being one of those little itinerary wins that I’d absolutely recommend to another family traveling the same route.
Best Cruise – Kualoa Ranch Ocean Voyage
The Kualoa Ranch Ocean Voyage was one of the biggest surprises of our Hawaii vacation and ultimately became one of our most memorable experiences on Oahu.
At the time of our trip, the Ocean Voyage was another attraction available through the Go City Oahu pass we purchased. The experience includes traveling across the historic Moliʻi fishpond before boarding a catamaran for a cruise on beautiful Kāneʻohe Bay.
The scenery was spectacular, with views of Oahu’s green mountains, coastline, and surrounding islands—but what made the experience especially memorable for us was the crew. They pointed out sights, offered to take family photos, and made the entire outing feel fun and personal.
And then there was our favorite “crew member”: Hatchi, a long-haired dachshund who served as our adorable onboard lifeguard!
Between the scenery, the crew, the photos they took for us, and Hatchi cruising right along with everyone, this was one of those experiences we weren’t necessarily expecting to become a trip favorite—but it absolutely did.
Best Things to Do on Maui with Kids
Maui was where Hawaii’s natural beauty really took center stage for us. Our time here included everything from the volcanic summit of Haleakalā to tropical rainforest, waterfalls, bamboo forests, snorkeling, the Road to Hana, and some incredible sunset experiences.
Best National Park – Haleakalā National Park
Of all the national parks we experienced in Hawaii, Haleakalā National Park was our family’s favorite because of the incredible variety of landscapes and activities packed into a single park.
You can go from the otherworldly volcanic scenery surrounding the approximately 10,023-foot Haleakalā summit to rainforest, bamboo forests, waterfalls, and the tropical coastline of the park’s Kīpahulu District.
Some of our favorite experiences included visiting the Haleakalā Visitor Center, taking in the summit views, exploring the volcanic landscape, seeing the beautiful Pools of ʻOheʻo—often called the Seven Sacred Pools—and hiking the Pīpīwai Trail toward Waimoku Falls.
It’s almost hard to believe that the summit and lush Kīpahulu coastline are part of the same national park. That’s exactly why Haleakalā earned our family’s vote for the best national park in Hawaii: within one park you can experience mountains, volcanic landscapes, rainforest, waterfalls, hiking trails, sweeping viewpoints, and tropical scenery.
A park entrance fee or valid federal recreation pass is required. If you plan to enter the Summit District for sunrise between 3:00 and 7:00 a.m., an additional advance sunrise reservation is required. You do not need that sunrise reservation simply to visit later in the day or to explore the Kīpahulu District.
Best Waterfall – Waimoku Falls via the Pīpīwai Trail
One of the most incredible waterfalls we saw anywhere in Hawaii was Waimoku Falls, a roughly 400-foot waterfall tucked inside the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park.
Getting there is a big part of what made this experience so memorable for us. The approximately 4-mile round-trip Pīpīwai Trail takes you past tropical vegetation, waterfalls, an enormous banyan tree, and one of the most beautiful bamboo forests we encountered during the entire trip.
The trail begins near the Kīpahulu Visitor Center along the Road to Hana and near the Pools of ʻOheʻo, so we were able to combine several spectacular Maui sights into the same portion of our itinerary.
Because the trail is inside Haleakalā National Park, you’ll need to pay the park entrance fee or present an accepted pass. You do not need a Haleakalā sunrise reservation to hike the Pīpīwai Trail. Always check current trail conditions and closures before hiking, particularly after periods of heavy rain.
Best Driving Tour – Road to Hana
The legendary Road to Hana absolutely lived up to the hype and was our pick for the best driving tour in Hawaii.
The biggest thing to understand before driving it is that the journey itself is the attraction. The winding road takes you through lush rainforest and past waterfalls, beaches, scenic overlooks, roadside food stands, gardens, hiking opportunities, and dozens of places where you’ll be tempted to stop.
Instead of constantly trying to read maps and research each stop while we were driving, we used the Shaka Guide Road to Hana audio tour. Because the guide works with GPS, it automatically told us about approaching sights while sharing Hawaiian history, stories, legends, and practical information.
For our family, it made the drive much easier and helped us discover stops we might otherwise have passed right by. It also allowed us to explore independently rather than following a fixed group-tour schedule.
Our biggest advice? Start early, download your tour and maps before you leave, give yourself the entire day, and accept that you probably won’t see everything. Trying to check off every possible Road to Hana stop would take away from what makes the experience so special.
Best Snorkel Spot – Kapalua Bay Beach
Of all the places we snorkeled during our Hawaii vacation, Kapalua Bay Beach offered our favorite combination of beautiful scenery, straightforward beach access, and shore snorkeling.
The crescent-shaped bay is partially protected by rocky points on either side, which can sometimes create calmer conditions than more exposed stretches of coastline. We could walk directly into the water from the beach and look for colorful tropical fish and marine life without booking a separate snorkeling excursion.
The beach itself is gorgeous too, with golden sand, clear water, palms, and classic Maui scenery. Beach access is free, although parking can be limited, so getting there earlier in the day can make things easier.
Ocean conditions in Hawaii can change quickly, so always evaluate conditions before entering the water. A spot that was calm during our visit won’t necessarily be calm during yours.
Best Sunset Ceremony – Puʻu Kekaʻa at the Sheraton Maui
One of the most memorable ways we watched the sun go down in Maui was at Puʻu Kekaʻa, commonly known as Black Rock, in front of the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa at Kāʻanapali Beach.
Each evening, the resort hosts a cliff diving ceremony connected to stories about Maui chief Kahekili and Puʻu Kekaʻa. As sunset approaches, the diver lights torches along the cliff before making a dramatic jump into the ocean.
The combination of Hawaiian storytelling, tiki torches, ocean views, the cliff, and the glowing Maui sunset made this feel like much more than simply finding a place to watch the sun go down.
We loved that you don’t have to be an overnight guest at the Sheraton to watch from the public beach. If you’d like a good viewing spot, arrive before sunset rather than walking up at the last minute.
Best Dessert – Island Cream Co.
If your family loves ice cream, put Island Cream Co. on your Maui food list. It has developed a devoted following and offers a huge assortment of rotating flavors, which created one problem for our family: how do you possibly choose just one?
Our solution was the six-scoop sampler to share, and that’s exactly what we’d recommend. It allowed us to try several flavors without everyone having to commit to one giant serving.
Lots of Hawaii visitors rave about the famous Hula Pie at Duke’s, but here’s another fun idea: make your own Hula Pie-inspired combination at Island Cream Co. We paired macadamia ice cream with hot fudge and a cookie topping, then still had additional sampler scoops available to try other flavors.
For our family, that combination of variety, sharing, and creating our own dessert is exactly why Island Cream Co. earned our Best Dessert pick. 🙂
Best Hawaii Souvenir Shopping – ABC Stores
You can’t visit Hawaii without making at least one—or realistically, MANY—stops at an ABC Store!
They became our family’s go-to for souvenirs, Hawaiian snacks, drinks, sunscreen, beach necessities, and the inevitable last-minute vacation item somebody forgot to pack.
They’re especially useful if you’re bringing home gifts for friends, family, coworkers, or your kids’ friends because you can find things like Hawaiian coffee, macadamia nuts, chocolates, T-shirts, mugs, snacks, and other small souvenirs without having to devote an entire afternoon to shopping.
We found ourselves popping into ABC Stores throughout our trip, which is why they earned our pick for best souvenir shopping in Hawaii: convenient, easy, and practically an attraction of their own by the end of the vacation!
Tips for Saving Money on a Hawaii Family Vacation
There’s no getting around it: a family vacation to Hawaii can get expensive quickly. Because we were flying all the way from the East Coast and wanted to experience three islands, I spent a lot of time looking for ways to stretch our budget without sacrificing the activities that mattered most to us.
One of the best deals available to families is the federal Every Kid Outdoors program. If you’re traveling with an eligible U.S. fourth grader, your child can complete the program requirements and receive a FREE fourth-grade federal recreation pass. The pass can cover entrance or standard amenity fees for the child and accompanying family members at participating federal recreation sites, including National Park Service locations. That can make it especially useful on a Hawaii trip that includes places such as Haleakalā National Park and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The pass doesn’t cover every possible activity or special-use fee, so review the current program rules before your trip.
On Oahu, one of our biggest money savers was the Go City Oahu All-Inclusive Pass. We intentionally grouped several of our more expensive Oahu attractions into three very busy sightseeing days so we could get as much value as possible from the passes. During our trip, we used Go City for experiences that included the Polynesian Cultural Center, Aloha Kai Luau, Kualoa Ranch Ocean Voyage, and Pearl Harbor-area attractions, among others.
My advice is not to buy a sightseeing pass and then decide what you want to do. Do the opposite. Make a list of the attractions your family genuinely wants to visit, calculate what those tickets would cost individually, and then compare that total with the current pass price and inclusions. Some attractions also require advance reservations even when admission is covered by a sightseeing pass. Go City changes its lineup periodically, so always verify current attractions and reservation instructions before purchasing.
We also kept costs down by mixing our paid tours and attractions with Hawaii’s abundance of free or inexpensive experiences. Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach, Ka Lae, beaches, shore snorkeling, sunsets, scenic drives, and many hiking and sightseeing stops gave us some of our favorite memories without another large attraction fee.
Our Shaka Guide GPS audio tours were another good value for us. We used them for the Road to Hana and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. They gave us narration, history, stories, directions, and sightseeing recommendations while still allowing our family to travel independently instead of paying for multiple seats on a traditional guided tour.
Other simple savings added up too: we carried reusable water bottles and snacks, mixed quick-service restaurants with more expensive meals, grouped attractions geographically to reduce unnecessary driving, and bought many snacks, drinks, beach necessities, and souvenirs outside of resort gift shops.
Hawaii was never going to be one of our least-expensive family vacations, but planning our attraction days strategically and mixing splurge experiences with free adventures saved us hundreds of dollars while still allowing us to experience many of the things we’d traveled all that way to see.
Our Final Thoughts on Visiting Hawaii with Kids
After years of talking about taking our kids to Hawaii, this trip absolutely lived up to the anticipation. What surprised our family most was just how different the Big Island, Oahu, and Maui felt from one another.
The Big Island gave us volcanoes, black-sand beaches, Hawaiian green sea turtles, stargazing, rugged coastlines, and some of the most dramatic natural experiences of our trip. Oahu delivered history, Hawaiian and Polynesian culture, iconic attractions, movie locations, family-friendly tours, and some of our best organized experiences. And Maui wowed us with waterfalls, snorkeling, the Road to Hana, bamboo forests, sunsets, and the dramatically different landscapes within Haleakalā National Park.
Visiting all three islands gave our family a much broader appreciation for how diverse Hawaii really is.
Most importantly, this Best of Hawaii family travel guide isn’t meant to declare that these are the only worthwhile things to do in Hawaii. These are the places we personally visited, the experiences our family actually tried, and the attractions that stood out most after packing as much as we could into roughly 12 days.
We hope sharing exactly what we loved—as well as the practical lessons we learned about reservations, sightseeing passes, planning, and saving money—helps make your own Hawaii family vacation a little easier to plan, more affordable, and just as memorable.
And with Hawaii finally checked off our family’s quest to visit all 50 states, the only question now is: which state should we tackle next?
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