Islands of Utopia

No matter what the term “paradise” means to you, chances are you can find a piece of it on one of Hawaii’s islands. With near-perfect weather year round (it rarely spikes above 90 or dips below 60, except for in high elevations), white and black sand beaches, swaying palm trees, a native population that welcomes visitors with open arms, and activities that range from being pampered in a five-star spa to hiking into live volcanoes, this is not your typical tropical playground.

I was always under the impression that Hawaii was made up of six islands, but there are actually eight: Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and the Big Island of Hawaii. The two you likely are unfamiliar with are Niihau and Kahoolawe. Known as “the Forbidden Island,” Niihau has no roads, hotels, or restaurants, and its 250 residents mainly live without electricity. Public access is extremely limited, but there are some helicopter landings at uninhabited sites throughout the island’s 69 square miles. The island of Kahoolawe is blowing up—literally. The U.S. Navy and Air Force once used the island as a target, and are still in the midst of cleaning up shells. No one is allowed to step foot there without permission.

The other six islands certainly are worthy of exploration. From quaint plantation villages to thriving metropolises, whatever your pleasure, the islands of Hawaii can satisfy. Being that only a few miles separate all of the islands, inter-island flights rarely take more than a half-hour, and if you turn up at the airports without a ticket, chances are you can still snag a seat. Since it can be hard to see it all, we compiled a navigational guide that will help you go beyond the mainstream destinations and discover the hidden luxuries that abound in this chain of paradise.

OAHU

Why Visit: The Island of Oahu is known as “the gathering place” for good reason. The international airport in the state capital of Honolulu is the largest in the State of Hawaii, and it likely will serve as the jumping-off point for your Oloha adventures. Honolulu itself, home to one of the priciest zip codes in all of the U.S., is an historic village worthy of perusing, but the real allure of the island lies in its natural, artistic, and historical wonders.

Where to Stay: Kahala Hotel & Resort is one of Hawaii’s only five-star properties.

Halekulani’s suites elevate Oahu hospitality to a new level; The Orchid Suite even features the first Steinway & Sons Model M in-room hotel home theater, and guests have access to a Sea of Life Wellness Program from the award-winning SpaHalekulani.

Must See: Pearl Harbor. An important part of American history, Pearl Harbor offers many different tours and memorials to honor the events of WWII.

Nature: Diamond Head State Monument. This designated Natural Landmark is one of the most recognized destinations in all of Hawaii. The 350-acre crater was formed during a volcanic explosion some 300,000 years ago; today, its historic hiking trail (roughly eight-tenths of a mile each way) offers some of the most picturesque coastal vistas on the island. We also recommend hiking into the Koolau Mountains above Kaneohe Bay to take in the beauty of one of Hawaii’s famous waterfalls. Also worth a visit: the Lyon Arboretum and Botanical Garden, located in the only tropical rainforest in the U.S.

Adventure: Surfing. If you plan on hanging 10 while in Hawaii, Waikiki is where you want to take your first lesson. The waves are not as gnarly as they can be on some of the other islands, or on Oahu’s North Shore, which is home to Waimea Bay, the Banzai Pipeline, and Sunset Beach.

Pampering: SpaHalekulani. The multiple-award-winning Halekulani is part of the Leading Hotels of the World, and is home to a spa that combines the healing traditions of the Pacific Islands, including Samoa, Tonga, and Tahiti, for an out-of-this-world experience that earned it the Mobil Four-Star rating, the highest the guide offers.

Off the Beaten Path: Art Walks in Honolulu. The arts community in Honolulu is making strides in becoming a cultural destination, and weekly events highlight these advances. If your vacation falls on the first Friday or second Saturday of any month, plan on spending it in Honolulu, when downtown venues, from art galleries to tattoo parlors, throw open their doors and entice visitors and locals alike with live music and entertainment, and free bites and libations. On Fridays, check out the Downtown-Chinatown Gallery Walk, a self-guided tour of local galleries and studios. During Third Thursdays, the locals come out to celebrate their thriving community and continue their work to transform the historic village into a haven for the arts. We recommend you show your support.

Hawaii’s Big Island

Why Visit: Known as the “Island of Adventure,” the Big Island lives up to its name, with 11 different climate zones. While many associate white-sand beaches and swaying palm trees with Hawaii, this island also features a snow-capped Mauna Kea, the world’s tallest mountain when measured from the ocean floor, as well as rain forests and arid deserts. As with all of the islands that make up Hawaii, this island was created as volcanoes spewed forth lava under the sea, eventually breaking through to fresh air. The Kilauea volcano continues to erupt, meaning that the Big Island is only getting bigger.

Where to Stay: Kona Village Resort features Polynesian-style bungalows, complete with thatched roofs, tucked amongst black lava, gardens, and black and white sand beaches.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is featuring a new Big Island Farm to FSRH Table, during which a resort chef accompanies guests to a farm, where they harvest crops that the chef whips into a picnic lunch.

Must See: The Kilauea Volcano. There are three active volcanoes on Hawaii’s islands, but the one you will want to visit is Kilauea. The name itself means spewing, which is apropos, as it has been continuously erupting since 1983. This is possibly the world’s most active volcano, setting loose up to 650,000 cubic yards of lava daily, and one of the only places on the planet where you can come face-to-face with nature’s fury. The volcano is accessible via an 18-mile drive along Chain of Craters Road, which is dotted with scenic stops and hikes. If you want to get a more unique perspective, book a luxury helicopter tour, where you may have the opportunity to see lava flowing down towards the beaches from a bird’s-eye perspective.

Nature: Big Island Grand Fire & Falls. KapohoKine Adventures and Paradise Helicopters new excursion starts with a road trip to the east side of the island with stops at Rainbow Falls and Onomea Bay where participants get to dive in for a waterfall swim. After a Hawaiian barbeque with flowing Champagne and local brew, hop onto a helicopter for a flight to Kilauea volcano.

Adventure: Daring visitors can even ski on Mauna Kea during the winter months, but it’s not recommended due to the high altitude, extreme conditions, and short season. But even if you left your skis at home, still plan a nighttime trip to the mountain for some unparalleled stargazing at any of the international observatories.

Pampering: The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii. This recipient of the AAA Five Diamond Award is located on the Kohala Coast of the island. The crowning jewel of the property is the outdoor Spa Without Walls, complete with eight outdoor waterfall huts.

Off the Beaten Path: Dolphin Trainer. Dolphin Quest has a unique “Trainer for a Day” program, where guests can spend a day observing and helping the trainer with his or her duties. To emerse yourself in the field, opt for the “Trainer for the Week,” where you get to participate in what can be considered one of the world’s best jobs.

MAUI

Why Visit: It’s known as the magical isle. For the 15th time, it was named the “Best Island in the World” by readers of Conde Nast Traveler, and beat out Bora Bora as the “Best Pacific Island” in the same poll. The reasons are as abundant as the unique activities: the sunrise over the rim of the world’s largest dormant volcano, working cowboys, whale watching, twilight cliff-diving ceremonies, Haleakala Crater, the old whaling town of Lahaina, the road to Hana, natural pools and waterfalls, diving in a volcanic crater…need we go on?

Where to Stay: Tried-and-true luxury brands Four Seasons (Resort Maui at Wailea), Ritz-Carlton (Kapulua) and Fairmont (Kea Lani) fly their flags on the island, as does the Waldorf Astoria Collection (Grand Wailea).

Must See: Humpback Whale Watching. Maui is one of the best places in the world to see these magnificent creatures, as more than 3,500 whales head to the warm waters each winter. There are certain vistas throughout the island where you can spot the gentle monsters from shore, but we recommend booking a charter departing from Maalaea and Lahaina Harbors.

Nature: Deep in the rainforest—but worth the hike—lie the Pools of Oheo, where dozens of pools have been carved into lava rock basins by streams cascading down from the Haleakala volcano. From the pools, adventurists can follow hiking trails to the Waimoku Falls, a beautiful spout of water falling 400 feet from a lava rock wall.

Adventure: Two-and-a-half miles off of Maui’s southern coast is Molokini, a partially sunken crescent-shaped volcanic crater that is known as one of the best snorkel and dive sites in the entire world. The volcanic remnants shield the underwater playground from turbulent waters, making it the ideal home for more than 250 different species of fish, including the famed Humuhumunukunukuapua.

Pampering: Golf is a type of pampering for many an enthusiast, and Maui is home to a number of championship courses. The Kapalua Resort is where you will find two of the best: The Bay and The Plantation, which is home to the PGA TOUR SBS Championship each January.

MOLOKAI

Why Visit: While once a leper colony, today, Molokai is an idyllic escape from the rigors of every day life. The island doesn’t even have so much as a stoplight, so don’t come here if you are banking on luxurious resorts filled with modern comforts. But for those who want to shed their BlackBerries and get back to “the way things were—island style,” this is where you want to lay your weary head.

Where to Stay: With a tagline of “The Last Authentic Hawaiian Vacation Experience,” Hotel Molokai was fashioned after a Polynesian village with an aloha spirit in mind. It’s also one of the only hotels on the island, so if Molokai is your over-night destination, book one of the oceanfront, open-air bungalows now.

Must See: While the island boasts the highest sea cliffs in the world as well as the tallest waterfall in Hawaii, we would be remiss to not direct your attention to Kalaupapa National Historical Park. It was once an exile settlement for people suffering from Hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy. Its location at the base of the highest sea cliffs in the world helped serve as a natural boundary for the isolation of those infected by the disease. Today, the original buildings of the colony are preserved within the park in order to continue to tell the stories of Hawaii’s rich history.

Nature: Halawa Beach Park is home to one of the most secluded beaches in all of Hawaii, sometimes not seeing more than one visitor per day.

Adventure: Near the summit of Molokai’s highest mountain sits Kamakou Preserve, which is home to some 250 plants—219 of which can be found no where else on earth. The rainforest is alive with vibrant birds and insects that are also unique to the area. But getting there is not easy; each month, there is only one guided hike, during which Nature Conservancy staff and volunteers lead travelers along a narrow and somewhat daunting boardwalk.

Off the Beaten Path: Under the waters off the coast of the south side of Molokai lies Hawaii’s longest barrier reef, yet, due to rough sea conditions, divers rarely visit the site. Intermediate or advanced scuba divers can head underwater if conditions permit, where they’ll be rewarded by sightings of rare species of fish and coral.

LANAI

Why Visit: Dole Company purchased 98 percent of this island back in the 1920s, and it subsequently became the world’s largest pineapple plantation. Today, the fruit industry has moved on, and in its wake left a charming town that is virtually untouched by modern luxuries (read: only 30 miles of paved roads on the whole island, with many of the attractions only reachable via four-wheel-drive vehicles).

Where to Stay: The Four Seasons. Both of the island’s two resorts happen to be Four Seasons: Lanai at Manele Bay and The Lodge at Koele, which is tucked away in the secluded highlands. The Four Seasons Manele Bay enjoys a cliff-side perch that affords views of Hulopoe Bay and neighboring islands Maui, Molokai and Kahoolawe. Guests can take surfing and paddle boarding lessons from a local surf champion, or try their hand at the island’s Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, where they enjoy special privileges. The Challenge at Manele is carved out of ancient lava fields, with ocean views from every hole. This is one of the most difficult golf courses in the world, as three of the holes sit on seaside cliffs, making it also one of the most picturesque.

Must See: The large Hulopoe Bay is a protected marine preserve and considered one of the best diving spots in the world. Divers and snorkelers will be delighted to find hundreds of species of marine life, including butterfly fish and tangs. Water-bound creatures delight even those that stick to the shore; playful Spinner dolphins are known to dance and flip out of the water extremely close to the coastline.

Nature: Also worth a visit on Lanai is the mysterious rock garden of Keahiakawelo, also known as the Garden of the Gods. The rugged landscape is dotted with mysterious rock towers that are the source of many local legends.

Adventure: On the northwest side of the island, a unique experience awaits: Shipwreck Beach. Known to natives as Kaiolohia, this beach is home to a view of the rusting hull of a World War II Liberty Ship, which was marooned on a reef. The beach is only accessible by four-wheel drive vehicles but is worth the effort.

Pampering: With Hawaiian-themed treatments like the Ali’i banana coconut scrub and the lava-stone massage, and opportunities to custom blend your own perfume after a scent analysis and prêt-à-porter fragrance consultation, the spa at the Four Seasons Lanai at Manele Bay is a must.

Off the Beaten Path: It’s all off the beaten path on Lanai.

KAUAI

Why Visit: This was where Jurassic Park was filmed, and the natural landscape is unmatched across the globe. The island was formed about six million years ago, making it one of the oldest islands in the chain, and the flora and fauna have remained virtually untouched by the modern development.

Where to Stay: Princeville Resort. Located on the North Shore, Princeville is set amidst the island’s signature verdant green cliffs. It is home to two of Hawaii’s championship golf courses, as well as a day spa that puts even the weariest traveler in the Aloha mindset.

Don’t Miss: Fern Grotto. Today one of the island’s biggest attractions, Fern Grotto once was accessible only to Hawaiian royalty. It is a natural lava-rock grotto on the Wailua River that is abundant with hanging ferns. The unique setting acts as a natural amphitheater, and musicians are always on hand playing soothing local tunes. Wailua is the only navigable river in all of Hawaii, so take advantage by getting into a kayak or canoe and exploring the jungle.

Nature: Waimea Canyon. Described by Mark Twain as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, Waimea is roughly 10 miles long, one mile wide, and 3,600 feet deep. The walls of the ravine showcase the various volcanic eruptions that took place over the ages, and various scenic lookouts, which can be reached by easy to intermediate hikes, offer unprecedented vistas of the rugged Hawaiian landscape.

Adventure: Horseback Riding. While the island offers many different ways to saddle up, we recommend checking out Princeville Ranch, one of Hawaii’s oldest cattle ranches, owned and operated by a fifth-generation kama’aina island family. The ranch offers four different rides, including one that will take you to a tropical forest where you will discover an 80-foot waterfall. For the more adventurous, opt for the Paniolo Cattle Drive Ride, where you have the opportunity to play Hawaiian cowboy.