10 Ways to Explore Hawaii

Helicopter tours of Hawaii have been lighting up the Instagram accounts of travel influencers for years. Using small, lightweight choppers (and a sturdy seatbelt), you can enjoy an outstanding aerial view of Hawaii’s mountainous terrain and gorgeous shorelines with nothing between you and the landscape but a few thousand feet of fresh air. If that seems a little risky for you, there are plenty of tours that use more luxurious aircraft that actually have doors.

You can arrange helicopter tours of most of the Hawaiian islands, though the most common options fly around Oahu, Kauai, Maui and Big Island. Departure points include Kapolei, Lanai, Kona, Hilo and Waimea-Kohala airports and they typically last about an hour. Most companies have years of experience and unblemished safety records.

A light aircraft provides the stunning bird’s-eye view you would get from a helicopter tour, but with added speed and fuel efficiency to allow you to see more in a single trip. Flying from any of the major islands, you can climb above the clouds, around volcanoes, over historic landmarks and along the shorelines. You can even go in an ultralight aircraft (basically a hang glider with an engine) and get the sensation of the wind in your hair.

For those who are brave enough, a particularly exciting way of seeing the landscape is to fall towards it at about 120 mph. You obviously can't do this on just any aeroplane tour – you'll have to book a proper skydiving tour. However, the experience is significantly more memorable than any regular tour and the view is just as amazing.

The sailing around Hawaii is fantastic, with routinely calm seas and steady breezes. The famous trade winds that first brought Polynesian settlers and then crews from around the world seeking rest and resupply now bring pleasure to sailors for much the same reasons. The easy conditions give you more opportunity to marvel at the oceangoing wildlife and striking coastlines.

You don’t have to be an expert sailor yourself to enjoy this activity in Hawaii. There are many companies offering tours and charters. Head to any marina and you’ll find their offices close by. Many include stops for snorkelling as well as some cocktails and Hawaiian appetisers to make things a little more romantic, too.

Powered boat tours are a great way to enjoy the beautiful waters around Hawaii while still keeping somewhat close to a schedule. Winds can be unreliable, but engines are somewhat less so, making them the better choice if you want to go island-hopping. They also take less skill and experience to safely operate close to shore, meaning you can get closer to the places where molten lava is spilling into the sea.

There are different types of boats available for tours in Hawaii, including glass-bottomed, party boats, luxury cruisers and even powerboats for those looking for a few thrills along the way. As an added advantage, powered boat tours tend to be cheaper than sailing tours.

Off-road tours in Hawaii take you into the wild, jungle-covered landscapes of the main islands for an up-close look. There’s a choice of vehicles available, from trucks and jeeps to buggies and quad bikes, all fitted with beefy all-terrain tyres to handle the loose earth and mud of the countryside.

This approach to exploring Hawaii can often bring unique sights and discoveries. Experienced guides can tell you about anything from the archipelago’s unique plants to how the striking landscapes were formed. Along the way, you might see hidden waterfalls and streams, as well as epic mountaintop vistas.

Hawaii is considered one of the world’s top destinations for scuba diving in the world, thanks to fantastic sea conditions and amazing sights to see. Around the best dive sites, visibility is generally over 60 ft, so you won’t struggle to see them, either. If you’re new to diving, the wide array of excellent schools to choose from make this a great place to get qualified.

There is no best island for diving – each offers something different. The variety of dive sites to choose from is fantastic, ranging from WWII-era ship and aircraft wrecks to stunning reefs and sea caves. You can expect to spot dolphins, whales, seals, sharks, turtles, and a dizzying array of fish under the waves, too.

Kayaking combines a great way to see Hawaii’s rugged shoreline up close with a fantastic upper-body workout. Of course, being self-powered, you tend to see less than you would from a bigger boat, but kayaking tours give you a more personal connection to the scenery you’re exploring, making it less like you’re seeing it from a tour bus.

You can kayak along the coast of any of the Hawaiian islands, but only Big Island lets you kayak under the island. A ditch originally drilled through the Kohala canyons over a century ago to move water now offers a unique adventure for kayakers. Along the course of the tour, not all of which is underground, you can also see waterfalls, explore caves, and enjoy impressive scenery.

All of Hawaii's islands are fantastic places to go hiking, though Oahu is considered the best. There's more to see, from stunning waterfalls to the famous Diamond Head Trail on the outskirts of Honolulu. Trails are available for all skill levels, too.

It’s worth noting that hiking in Hawaii isn’t just a case of putting some shoes on and heading out. A lot of the stunning natural scenery is protected land and requires you to buy an entry permit. It’s essential to bring plenty of water with you as the humid tropical climate is very draining. Most trailheads have water fountains where you can refill your bottles.

Driving around Hawaii is the easiest and tamest way of experiencing the state’s famously stunning scenery. Certainly, the places you can see from the road are very well known and highly photographed, but that doesn’t stop them from being jaw-droppingly amazing. With well-maintained tarmac, you don’t need to be an expert off-roader. As long as you can read a map or just programme a GPS, you can get around on your own.

The most famous road in Hawaii is undoubtedly the Hana Highway along the northern coast of Maui, and for good reason. It’s a fairly leisurely drive with a pretty low speed limit, but the 52-mile stretch of highway is surrounded by beautiful scenery. Other great choices include the Waimea Canyon Drive on Kauai, Volcanoes National Park on Big Island, and Diamond Head Road on Oahu.

If you want to see a good amount of Hawaii on a budget, a great option is by bus. Four of the main islands have a bus service that can take you to the main towns and villages – Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Big Island. However, there is currently no public bus service on Lanai or Molokai. Also, the islands have neither train nor tram services.

It’s worth noting that public transport is intended primarily as a means of moving people from 1 place to another as efficiently as possible, not for enjoying the views along the way. You can’t ask the driver to stop if you take photos of the pretty scenery. However, if you can’t drive or are travelling on a budget that can’t fit the cost of a rental car, it is a viable way of exploring Hawaii.