There is nothing better than Aloha life, and the incredible opportunities and experiences that come with living in the Hawaiian Islands. Whether you’ve lived in Hawaii for years, just moved to the Aloha State, or are simply visiting on vacation, there are some activities so uniquely Hawaiian that you have to experience them for yourself. While you can do some of these 29 things elsewhere in America, there is no better place to experience these magical activities than in Hawaii.
- Swim with sea turtles and other sea life.
Shawn/Flickr
- Wake up early to catch the sunrise over the Pacific Ocean.
Christian Arballo/Flickr
- Witness the beauty that is a Hawaiian sunset.
Joe Parks/Flickr
- Learn to surf – or at least take a surfing lesson.
Daniel Ramirez/Flickr
- Conquer a hike you weren’t quite sure you could manage.
Kevin Nelson/Flickr
- Hit up a local farmer’s market.
Blueant808/Flickr
- Experience the magic that is a true Hawaiian luau.
Joe Parks/Flickr
- Splurge and take an exhilarating zip lining tour through the rainforest.
Michael Kwan/Flickr
- Drink cocktails on the beach, with sand between your toes. Bonus points if you’re drinking from a pineapple.
Sarah Ackerman/Flickr
- See for yourself why Waimea Canyon is called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.
Paul Bica/Flickr
- Watch the monstrous waves on Oahu’s north shore.
Steven Worster/Flickr
- Hike to one of many beautiful, serene waterfalls across the islands.
Joe Parks/Flickr
- Go stand up paddle boarding (SUP).
Steve Worster/Flickr
- Enjoy Hawaii’s favorite treat: shave ice.
Joey Rozier/Flickr
- Explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Neal Wellons/Flickr
- Participate in a game of golf at one of Hawaii’s award-winning courses.
Mike Wooldridge/Flickr
- Watch whales frolicking off the coast.
Warren Antiola/Flickr
- Visit the stunning black-sand beaches of Hawaii Island.
Michael Kreeger/Flickr
- Treat yourself to one of life’s greatest pleasures – a massage near the ocean.
Sam Cox/Flickr
- Walk the halls of the United States only royal palace – Honolulu’s Iolani Palace.
Scotsman in Hawaii/Flickr
- Take a horseback riding tour.
Libby/Flickr
- Hang out in Hawaiian tide pools and pretend you’re a mermaid.
Adam Kawasawa/Flickr
- Drink a cup of real Kona coffee.
Chris Cooper/Flickr
- Take a drive – we suggest Maui’s Hana Highway or Hawaii Island’s Saddle Road.
Carl Raether/Flickr
- Go camping on the beach.
Mark Goebel/Flickr
- Go island hopping as often as possible.
Ben K/Flickr
- Fill up on spam musubi, loco moco, and other Hawaiian favorites.
Kim Love/Flickr
- View the islands from an entirely different angle – via helicopter tour or skydiving excursion.
Tyler S. Miller/Flickr
- Take as many photographs as possible, because we all know a picture is worth 1,000 words.
Jessie Hodge/Flickr
Tell us, how many of these experiences have you had? What other uniquely Hawaiian experiences would you add to this list?
Shawn/Flickr
Christian Arballo/Flickr
Joe Parks/Flickr
Daniel Ramirez/Flickr
Kevin Nelson/Flickr
Blueant808/Flickr
Michael Kwan/Flickr
Sarah Ackerman/Flickr
Paul Bica/Flickr
Steven Worster/Flickr
Steve Worster/Flickr
Joey Rozier/Flickr
Neal Wellons/Flickr
Mike Wooldridge/Flickr
Warren Antiola/Flickr
Michael Kreeger/Flickr
Sam Cox/Flickr
Scotsman in Hawaii/Flickr
Libby/Flickr
Adam Kawasawa/Flickr
Chris Cooper/Flickr
Carl Raether/Flickr
Mark Goebel/Flickr
Ben K/Flickr
Kim Love/Flickr
Tyler S. Miller/Flickr
Jessie Hodge/Flickr
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