Hawaii Tours: Every Way to Experience the Islands
There is no single right way to see Hawaii, and that is the point of this page. You can island-hop between four very different islands, snorkel reefs and swim with marine life, soar over waterfalls by helicopter, drive legendary coast roads, stand on the rim of a live volcano, learn to surf, or settle in for a luau as the sun goes down. Which is right for you depends on your interests, your time and which islands you are visiting. Below is a guide to the options, grouped by how travelers actually plan a trip, with a link through to a full guide on each. Wherever you start, one tip applies almost everywhere: the best boat trips, helicopter flights and popular drives sell out days or weeks ahead, so booking early makes the biggest difference to your trip.
Choosing Your Island
Hawaii is not one destination but several, and each island has its own character. Oahu is the most visited, home to Honolulu, Waikiki and Pearl Harbor, and the easiest island to tour without a car. Maui pairs resort beaches with the Road to Hana and the summit of Haleakala, and is the launch point for the best whale watching and Molokini snorkeling. Kauai, the lush “Garden Isle”, is all dramatic coastline and canyon — the Na Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon are its signatures. And the Big Island is a world of its own, with active volcanoes, black-sand beaches, coffee country and the famous manta ray night dive. Many visitors combine two islands; the guides below work whether you are staying put or island-hopping.
On and Under the Water
The ocean is the heart of a Hawaii trip. Most visitors start with snorkeling, and on Maui the top boat trip is the Molokini Crater snorkel, a sunken volcanic crater with crystal-clear water. Certified divers can go deeper on a scuba diving tour, while the Big Island’s manta ray night snorkel is one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters anywhere. For more marine life, swim with wild dolphins, or come in winter for whale watching, when humpbacks fill the channels off Maui. To get out on the water under your own steam, try kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding; to sit back and sail, book a boat or sailing tour or a sunset dinner cruise. For a thrill, go parasailing high above the coast; to stay dry while still going under, a submarine tour descends to the reef without getting wet; and no trip to Oahu is complete without a surf lesson on the gentle waves of Waikiki.
Seeing Hawaii from the Air
Some of Hawaii’s most spectacular scenery — hidden waterfalls, sea cliffs, erupting craters — can only be seen from above. A helicopter tour is the classic way to do it, hovering over the Na Pali Coast on Kauai or the volcanoes of the Big Island. For a longer reach and a lower price, a small plane air tour covers more ground, and is a good way to see several landscapes or even more than one island in a single flight.
Adventure on Land
Back on solid ground, the islands are a playground. Fly through the forest canopy on a zipline tour, churn up the backcountry on an ATV or UTV ride, or explore at a gentler pace: a guided hike reaches waterfalls, craters and coastlines on foot, and a horseback ride takes you through ranch country and along the coast, Hawaii’s paniolo (cowboy) heritage still very much alive.
The Landmarks and Great Drives
Every island has its must-see sights. On Oahu, a circle island tour loops the whole coast in a day, Pearl Harbor is a moving half-day of living history, and Diamond Head rewards a short climb with the classic view over Waikiki. On Maui, the Road to Hana is one of the world’s great drives, and sunrise from the summit of Haleakala is unforgettable. The Big Island’s Hawaii Volcanoes National Park lets you walk among craters and lava fields, while Kauai’s Na Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon — the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” — are its scenic crown jewels. To chase the islands’ famous cascades, a dedicated waterfall tour is the surest way to find the best of them. And if you would rather tour at your own pace in Honolulu, a hop-on hop-off bus links the main sights with a single ticket.
Culture, Food and the Farms
To understand Hawaii beyond the beach, start with a luau or cultural show — a feast of local food, music and hula that is the quintessential Hawaiian evening. Taste the islands by day on a food tour, sampling everything from poke to plate lunch and shave ice. And get out into the countryside with a farm and plantation tour, or, on the Big Island, a Kona coffee farm tour, where you can see, smell and taste one of the few coffees grown on American soil.
Choosing How to Tour
However you like to travel, there is a format that suits you. A private tour gives you your own guide and a tailored itinerary, ideal for families and anyone who wants to set the pace, while a small group tour is sociable, better value and keeps the numbers low. Travelling with children? A family tour keeps the day engaging for all ages. And to round off any day, a sunset or evening tour catches the islands at their most beautiful hour, whether from a clifftop, a catamaran or a beachside luau.
Not Sure Where to Start?
A few pointers. First-time visitors to Oahu should pair Pearl Harbor with a circle island tour and a first surf lesson at Waikiki. On Maui, the essential trio is the Road to Hana, a Molokini snorkel and sunrise on Haleakala — with whale watching if you visit in winter. On Kauai, see the Na Pali Coast by boat or helicopter and drive up to Waimea Canyon. And on the Big Island, walk the volcanoes and book the manta ray night snorkel. Whichever island you choose, book the popular boat trips, flights and drives well ahead — they are the first things to sell out.