Island escape
In the North Pacific, there’s a welcoming, tropical paradise. This Eden has long, sandy beaches, lush rainforests, and active volcanoes. Say aloha to magical Hawaii.
Words: Andrew Rasch
Intoxicating natural beauty, traditional music and customs, and a fusion of food from many lands – it’s hard to know what to do first when you hit Hawaii’s sunny shores. Hawaii – the 50th US state – is an archipelago of eight major islands, but only six are open to tourists and locals. Stretching about 2400km from north to south and situated 3200km south-west of the US mainland, Hawaii is only 10 flying hours from Australia. Each island offers something unique. So, come with us and tour three of Hawaii’s most popular islands.
O’ahu
If bustling cities, surfing and historic landmarks are your thing, O’ahu is your place. This is Hawaii’s most populated island and home to the state’s capital city, Honolulu.
You’re spoilt for choice of beaches on O’ahu but start with the world-famous Waikiki Beach, on Honolulu’s south shore. Whether you’re a veteran or novice surfer, Waikiki’s long-lasting wave break is the perfect place to test your skills. For beginner surfers, head to Kahu Surf School for private lessons and you’ll be ‘hanging ten’ in no time. If you’re more a watcher than a doer, head to the other side of the island and check out a North Shore surf competition like the Vans Pipe Masters. Watch the pros tackle giant, gravity-defying walls of seawater as they showcase their high-performance surfing skills.
O’ahu also features a memorial to a tragic chapter of the country’s history – the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.
The Pearl Harbor National Memorial commemorates the 2300 service members and civilians who died in the attack that led to the US joining World War II. Explore the grounds, take the Ford Island Bus Tour to visit the USS Utah and USS Oklahoma memorials and take a virtual reality tour of the USS Arizona before it was attacked.
Before you leave O’ahu, visit the Elvis Presley statue at Blaisdell Centre in Honolulu, built to honour the first concert broadcast worldwide via satellite in 1973 – Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii.
Pearl Harbor.
Lunch in Kahului.
Maui
Known as a romantic destination for honeymooners, Maui also has plenty to offer families. The Hana Highway – also known as the Road to Hana – along the north-east coastline, is an unmissable part of this beautiful island. Wind your way through lush green cliffs and valleys, flooding waterfalls, and lookouts with uninterrupted ocean views. Think of it as Hawaii’s version of The Great Ocean Road, although only about half as long. See the sights at your own pace in a hire car but allow up to three days if you plan to stop along the way. You can also hop aboard a guided tour bus from Valley Isle Excursions and let someone else negotiate the 600 curves while you soak up the stunning spectacle.
Haleakalā National Park, or ‘house of the sun’ in Hawaiian, is another must-see destination. Sitting about 3000m above sea level, this park lies atop a dormant volcano crater, and the landscape ranges from rocky red, desert-like areas to thriving green forests and streams. Set an early alarm for a sunrise many consider the most spectacular on earth. You’ll never forget gazing at the sun as it pokes through a sea of clouds and mist-covered mountains to create what Mark Twain called “the most sublime spectacle I have ever witnessed.”
Hawai'i
The Island of Hawai’i (also known as the Big Island) is where you’ll find one of nature’s most awesome phenomena – an active volcano. The Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park comprises Mauna Loa, the world’s largest shield volcano (named for their gentle slopes and shield-like shape) and Kīlauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Lava flow is never guaranteed but both have had sporadic eruptions in recent decades.
Mauna Loa last erupted in 2022 (for the first time since 1984) and Kīlauea in September 2024. Witnessing a red river of lava flowing into a steaming, hissing ocean is a once-in-a-lifetime sight. But even without eruptions, you’ll be among stunning natural delights, from lava tubes and deserts to searing craters and ancient rainforests. Bring your walking shoes because you’re in for a hiking treat.
Thanks to the volcanoes, the Big Island is also home to the spectacular Punalu’u Black Sand Beach Park. Although not the best swimming beach in Hawaii, you can walk on a striking blanket of black basalt sand, created by lava that explodes as it reaches the ocean and cools.
Grab a picnic basket and sip a mocktail under the grove of coconut palms on the shore and then snorkel in the bay’s crystalclear water. You may even swim near Hawaii’s official fish, the reef triggerfish, also known as humuhumunukunukuapua‘a (don’t ask us to pronounce it).
Green sea turtle, Kialua-Kona.
If you’re lucky, you may see a green sea turtle or two basking in the sand, or a rare hawksbill turtle shuffling up the beach to lay her eggs.
Before you leave the Big Island, be sure to visit Hawaii’s highest peak, Mauna Kea. At 4km high, it’s the world’s tallest mountain when measured from its base on the floor of the Pacific Ocean. Its summit is dotted with a dozen world-class observatories for spectacular stargazing, and you’ll also see lava rock, alpine tundra and evidence of an ice cap from 11,000 years ago.
Hawaii, how we love you. A hui hou kākou (until we meet again).
Relax in paradise
Enjoy Hawaii on one of these three tours with Viva Holidays.
Waikiki in style: Stay six nights at Ka La’i Waikiki Beach and take a nine-hour Ultimate Pearl Harbor Experience tour.
Discover Maui: Stay four nights at Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa and enjoy a waterfall helicopter tour.
Uncover the Big Island: Stay four nights at Royal Kona Resort and visit the stunning Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.
IMAGES: Getty; Hawaii Tourism Authority/Tor Johnson, Vincent Lim, Tommy Lundberg, Kuni Nakai, Ben Ono.
