8 of the best · Hawaiʻi, USA
Hawaiʻi Outdoors: Hanauma Bay, the National Parks and the Wild Coasts
Hanauma Bay and Kapiʻolani Park, the Lyon Arboretum and Kaʻena Point on Oʻahu; Haleakalā, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, the Nāpali Coast and Waimea Canyon on the neighbour islands.
Our 8 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated November 2026
What's onThis week in Hawaiʻi
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Three Hawaiʻi moments we keep going back to: Diamond Head at opening time, sunset on the terrace of House Without a Key, and a morning at Pearl Harbor.
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Reservations required
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
The marine preserve in a volcanic bay east of Honolulu, for snorkelling.
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Kīlauea and Mauna Loa
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Two of the world’s most active volcanoes, from sea level to 13,680 feet.
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Sunrise by permit
Haleakalā National Park
Maui’s summit crater; watching the sunrise needs a permit.
The full list: Parks, A–Z
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More areas 2
On Oʻahu 4
Bays, gardens and the wild tip.
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Reservations required
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
The marine preserve in a volcanic bay east of Honolulu, for snorkelling.
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The island’s far tip
Kaʻena Point State Park
The wild western tip of Oʻahu, its natural area reserve and sea birds.
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6,000 taxa, 200 acres
Lyon Arboretum
The University of Hawaiʻi’s arboretum at the head of Mānoa Valley.
On the neighbour islands 4
The national and state parks.
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Sunrise by permit
Haleakalā National Park
Maui’s summit crater; watching the sunrise needs a permit.
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Kīlauea and Mauna Loa
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Two of the world’s most active volcanoes, from sea level to 13,680 feet.
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Cliffs of the north shore
Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park
The cliffs of Kauaʻi’s north shore, reached by the Kalalau trail from Hāʻena.
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