Whether you’re planning a vacation to the Hawaiian Islands, live here and want to experience all our beautiful state has to offer, or are visiting a neighboring island, there are some tours that simply cannot be beaten. From helicopter and boat tours to historic landmark tours, these 13 unforgettable tours are so worth the expense – and the sometimes extensive planning.
- Kualoa Ranch Movie Sites Tour
Anthony_goto/Flickr Kualoa Ranch has played host to a variety of film and television productions throughout the years, and the best way to see the filming locations and set remains is to take a movie sites tour through the ranch. Movies filmed at Kualoa include 50 First Dates, Jurassic Park, Soul Surfer, Along Came Polly, The Hunger Games, Godzilla, and George of the Jungle, as well as several television shows.
- Big Island Helicopter Tour
Bruce Irving/Flickr Witnessing the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands from land is great - but those views are magnified when flying above the islands.
- Na Pali Coast Boat Tours
Robert Occhialini/Flickr A trip to Kauai isn’t complete without a tour of the fabled Na Pali Coast, and one of the best ways to experience the natural beauty of this area is to hop on a boat tour.
- Honolulu Architectural Walking Tour
Teemu008/Flickr Honolulu is home to some of the most unique architecture in the country, and the best way to learn about the fascinating buildings that occupy our capital is by taking a walking tour. They take place on Saturday mornings, and are lead by an architect, architectural historian, or a member of the American Institute of Architects.
- Maui’s Hana Highway Tour
Intiaz Rahim/Flickr Don’t want to experience the thrill of driving Maui’s Road to Hana on your own? Book a guided tour so you can experience all the beauty - without the stress of driving yourself.
- Manta Ray Night Snorkel Tour
Big Island Divers/Facebook For a wild adventure, head to Honokohau Harbor to embark on a night time scuba dive cruise with Big Island Divers. Opt for the two tank charters, where you will enjoy a twilight reef dive before watching the sunset and taking to the water again - where the boat’s dive lights will attract plankton and feeding manta rays.
- Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Tour
Tropical Farms Macadamia Nuts/Facebook Did you know that the macadamia isn’t native to Hawaii, but was introduced to the islands in 1881 as a windbreak for sugarcane fields? This is just one of the facts you will learn on this farm tour in windward Oahu. Plus, the scenery is pretty gorgeous!
- Secret Falls Kayak Tour
Christopher/Flickr Known to locals and visitors as Secret Falls, this is a popular day adventure on Kauai’s east side. The trailhead is located up the Wailua River, so you will need to either book a guided tour or rent kayaks or canoes. Once you reach the trail, it is a muddy, and often slippery, 45-minute hike to the falls, but it is worth every second. And the journey is half the fun, right?
- Atlantis Submarine Tour
Atlantis Submarines Waikiki/Facebook To experience the beautiful Pacific Ocean from below the surface, head to Atlantis Submarines Waikiki for an absolutely unforgettable underwater adventure and an up-close experience with sea life.
- Kona Coffee Farm Tours at Greenwell Farms
Greenwell Farms/Facebook If you’re as obsessed with coffee as I am, you’ll love learning about your favorite beverage at a coffee farm tour. Greenwell Farms is the most famous, but there are coffee farms across the Hawaiian Islands - from Kona to Kauai.
- Molokini Snorkeling Tour
Aftab Uzzaman/Flickr For some of the best snorkeling in the world, head to Molokini, a crescent-shaped volcanic crater off the coast of Maui. Kai Kanani Sailing Charters’ two-or-four-hour Molokini snorkeling cruises cannot be beat, but there are various charters that will take you to this magical setting.
- Pearl Harbor Historical Sites Tour
Prayitno/Flickr From the breathtaking USS Arizona Memorial to the USS Battleship Missouri, a floating naval history museum, Pearl Harbor’s historic sites are definitely worth the tour - especially if you don’t have base access.
- Mount Haleakala Sunrise Bike Tour
Jessie Hodge/Flickr Witness a stunning sunrise from the summit of Mount Haleakala and then head down to 6,700 feet above sea level for the ride of a lifetime - a 26 mile journey down the mountain, through upcountry Maui, and ending at Paia Beach Park.
How many of these 13 tours have you completed? What other Hawaiian tours would you add to this list? While you’re here, don’t forget to check out these 15 tourist activities locals love.
Anthony_goto/Flickr
Kualoa Ranch has played host to a variety of film and television productions throughout the years, and the best way to see the filming locations and set remains is to take a movie sites tour through the ranch. Movies filmed at Kualoa include 50 First Dates, Jurassic Park, Soul Surfer, Along Came Polly, The Hunger Games, Godzilla, and George of the Jungle, as well as several television shows.
Bruce Irving/Flickr
Witnessing the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands from land is great - but those views are magnified when flying above the islands.
Robert Occhialini/Flickr
A trip to Kauai isn’t complete without a tour of the fabled Na Pali Coast, and one of the best ways to experience the natural beauty of this area is to hop on a boat tour.
Teemu008/Flickr
Honolulu is home to some of the most unique architecture in the country, and the best way to learn about the fascinating buildings that occupy our capital is by taking a walking tour. They take place on Saturday mornings, and are lead by an architect, architectural historian, or a member of the American Institute of Architects.
Intiaz Rahim/Flickr
Don’t want to experience the thrill of driving Maui’s Road to Hana on your own? Book a guided tour so you can experience all the beauty - without the stress of driving yourself.
Big Island Divers/Facebook
For a wild adventure, head to Honokohau Harbor to embark on a night time scuba dive cruise with Big Island Divers. Opt for the two tank charters, where you will enjoy a twilight reef dive before watching the sunset and taking to the water again - where the boat’s dive lights will attract plankton and feeding manta rays.
Tropical Farms Macadamia Nuts/Facebook
Did you know that the macadamia isn’t native to Hawaii, but was introduced to the islands in 1881 as a windbreak for sugarcane fields? This is just one of the facts you will learn on this farm tour in windward Oahu. Plus, the scenery is pretty gorgeous!
Christopher/Flickr
Known to locals and visitors as Secret Falls, this is a popular day adventure on Kauai’s east side. The trailhead is located up the Wailua River, so you will need to either book a guided tour or rent kayaks or canoes. Once you reach the trail, it is a muddy, and often slippery, 45-minute hike to the falls, but it is worth every second. And the journey is half the fun, right?
Atlantis Submarines Waikiki/Facebook
To experience the beautiful Pacific Ocean from below the surface, head to Atlantis Submarines Waikiki for an absolutely unforgettable underwater adventure and an up-close experience with sea life.
Greenwell Farms/Facebook
If you’re as obsessed with coffee as I am, you’ll love learning about your favorite beverage at a coffee farm tour. Greenwell Farms is the most famous, but there are coffee farms across the Hawaiian Islands - from Kona to Kauai.
Aftab Uzzaman/Flickr
For some of the best snorkeling in the world, head to Molokini, a crescent-shaped volcanic crater off the coast of Maui. Kai Kanani Sailing Charters’ two-or-four-hour Molokini snorkeling cruises cannot be beat, but there are various charters that will take you to this magical setting.
Prayitno/Flickr
From the breathtaking USS Arizona Memorial to the USS Battleship Missouri, a floating naval history museum, Pearl Harbor’s historic sites are definitely worth the tour - especially if you don’t have base access.
Jessie Hodge/Flickr
Witness a stunning sunrise from the summit of Mount Haleakala and then head down to 6,700 feet above sea level for the ride of a lifetime - a 26 mile journey down the mountain, through upcountry Maui, and ending at Paia Beach Park.
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