Things to do — Hawaii

In Oahu over 5 days: Waikiki — 3 km beach, swimming, paddle, surf lesson at Waikiki Beach Boys ($80-100/hour, beginner-perfect beach), shopping International Marketplace + Royal Hawaiian Center, sunset from Outrigger Reef Beach. Pearl Harbor (45 min west, minimum half day) — USS Arizona Memorial (free + $1 booking, ferry from Visitor Center, floating monument above the sunken battleship of December 7, 1941 sheltering 1,102 sailors, deeply moving), USS Missouri Battleship ($35, ship where Japan signed surrender September 2, 1945, WWII end), USS Bowfin Submarine ($25), Aviation Museum ($30). Combo Pass $90. Diamond Head (1h round trip hike, $5, panoramic view of Waikiki and Honolulu). Hanauma Bay (Snorkel paradise, $25 mandatory 2-day-ahead booking, closed Tuesday). North Shore (1h30 north) — champion surf Pipeline, Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach (winter 5-10 m waves, summer calm beaches), hippie Haleiwa village, shrimp trucks (Giovanni's). Lanikai and Kailua (windward coast 30 min east) — 2 of America's most beautiful beaches (fine white sand, calm turquoise water, kayaks to Mokulua Islands). Polynesian Cultural Center (Laie, 1h north, $65-100, most authentic Oahu luau, 6 recreated Polynesian villages — Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Maori, Fiji, Tonga). Iolani Palace (downtown, $25, only US royal palace, Hawaiian kings' residence 1882-1893).

In Maui over 5 days: Road to Hana — full day (10-12h), 84 km Kahului → Hana via 600 curves, 56 one-lane bridges. Iconic stops: Twin Falls, Garden of Eden Arboretum, Honomanu Bay, Keanae Peninsula (taro, lava arch), Pua'aka'a Falls, Hanawi Falls, Wailua Falls, Wai'anapanapa State Park (Pa'iloa black beach, mangroves, lava tubes), Hana village, Oheo Gulch and Seven Sacred Pools Pipiwai Trail bamboo grove, Charles Lindbergh's grave (continuation 1h30 further). Haleakala — summit sunrise 3,055 m (mandatory $1.50 booking via nps.gov, car required, hotel departure 3-4am to arrive 5:45 before dawn, -5 to 5°C so fleece and hat, unforgettable experience), Sliding Sands crater hike 6-15 km. Beaches: Kaanapali Beach (West Maui, 3 km, resorts), Wailea Beach (South Maui, chicer), Big Beach (Makena, wild), Honolua Bay (winter snorkelling), Hookipa Beach (windsurf, sea turtles at sunset). Molokini Crater (underwater crater between Maui and Kahoolawe, exceptional snorkelling 100+ fish species, half day $100-150). Lahaina (reconstruction underway after August 2023 fire, former historic waterfront, 150-year-old 25 m banyan tree). Lavania Falls Hike or Iao Valley (tropical forest and rock spire). Whale excursion (December-April, $80-120 half day). Luau: Old Lahaina Luau (most authentic Maui, $130-180, 3-month-ahead booking).

In Big Island (Hawaii) over 4-5 days: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (UNESCO 1987, $30/vehicle for 7 days) — Kilauea Crater and caldera, Crater Rim Drive by car (partly closed depending on recent volcanic activity — check nps.gov/havo), Thurston Lava Tube (free lava tunnel), Kilauea Iki Trail (6 km 1959 crater, incredible hike), Volcano House (historic 1846 lodge with crater view, $200-350/night, restaurant), if ongoing eruption visible lava flow at night (sometimes spectacular). Mauna Kea — visitor centre 2,800 m, summit 4,207 m (road impossible for standard 2WD rental vehicles, require 4x4, or guided excursion $200-280 with dinner and unforgettable astronomical observation, public telescope at 9,000 ft altitude — the planet's highest astronomical observation). Kona (west coast) — Captain Cook Monument (snorkelling Kealakekua Bay where Cook was killed 1779), Kona coffee plantation (free Greenwell Farms or UCC Hawaii visits), Pu'uhonua o Honaunau (sacred historical sanctuary). Hilo (east coast) — Rainbow Falls (free), Akaka Falls (state park $5, 130 m waterfall), Liliuokalani Gardens (Japanese), Hilo Farmers Market (Wednesday-Saturday). Multicoloured beaches: Punaluu Black Sand Beach (green turtles), Papakolea Green Sand Beach (green olivine sand, 4 km hike or 4x4 shuttle $20), Hapuna Beach (white sand, one of the world's most beautiful beaches per several rankings). Waipio Valley (north coast lookout, sacred 600 m deep valley, descent only on foot or 4x4 guide).

In Kauai over 4-5 days: Na Pali Coast (NW coast car-inaccessible) — 3 options: Kalalau Trail hike (35 km 2-3 day bivouac, mandatory permit, experienced only) or 18 km day hike (Kalalau Beach u-turn at Hanakapiai), boat (catamaran 5-7h, $130-200, snorkelling, dolphins), helicopter (Jack Harter, Blue Hawaiian, $350-450/person 1h, panoramic coast + Waimea Canyon flight, unforgettable). Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park (west coast, 20 km panoramic road drive, Pu'u Hinahina Lookout, Kalalau Lookout, Pihea Trail viewpoints). Hanalei Bay (north coast, 3 km crescent beach, Bali Hai mountains behind — The Descendants film landscape). Princeville (north coast resorts) and Poipu (south coast resorts). Wailua River (kayak or Fern Grotto boat, Wailua Falls). Allerton Garden and McBryde Garden (National Tropical Botanical Garden, $50). Spouting Horn (Poipu sea geyser).