Waikiki Beach is one of Hawaii's most famous attractions.
Against a backdrop of world-famous beaches, lush gardens, romantic sunsets and a welcoming climate and people, Hawaii offers a plethora of attractions that educate and entertain. Among the most historical, educational and somber are Pearl Harbor's Arizona Memorial and Iolani Palace. As for attractions in Hawaii that are high on the fun scale, you have many from which to choose.
Oahu
The most visited of the Hawaiian Islands, Oahu hosts some of the state's most well-known attractions. Waikiki Beach with its nightlife, beach bars, surfing, cruises and other sights and activities, is an attraction in itself.
At the Polynesian Cultural Center near the North Shore, visit Polynesian villages where natives (students from nearby Brigham Young University) lead games and craft activities. There's also a canoe pageant, luau and dinner show.
Sea Life Park on the Shore Shore features penguins, dolphin encounters and more at one of the locations where Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore made a big splash in "50 First Dates." Make your own big splash at Wet 'n' Wild near Honolulu. The 25-acre water park offers rides for every age, from raging river rides to kiddie slides, as well as entertainment and relaxation.
Maui
For marine life fun, visit the state-of-the art marine life attraction, the Maui Ocean Center. Walk through a 750,000 gallon aquarium via an acrylic tunnel where hundreds of fish swim past you. Exhibits include sharks, sea turtles and a petting aquarium. From December through April, view Hawaii's humpback whales from the deck.
Other fun attractions include Lahaina, an historical whaling town that features a fun nightlife and harbor, Halaekala National Park with its volcanic terrain and sunrise-viewing and the "Heavenly Road to Hana," the two-lane road with twists and turns as notorious as its lush scenery is famous.
Big Island (Hawaii Island)
The Big Island, with a land mass larger than the sum of all of Hawaii's islands, is an island of geographic contrasts, as are its attractions.
The island's main attraction, Hawaii Volcano National Park, features one of the world's most active volcanoes, Kilauea. View lava from a helicopter or boat tour or, depending on conditions, from the Kalapana Lava Viewing Area outside the park.
Mauna Kea, snow-capped in the winter, rises towards the other end of the island. Take a tour to the astronomy center, hot cocoa and jackets included, and get a sunset view from above the clouds.
Other attractions include Parker Ranch, where paniolo (Hawaiian cowboys) guide horseback rides, and Kailua-Kona, a pretty, seaside tourist town with shops, art galleries and a harbor with all sorts of cruises.
Kauai
The smallest of Hawaii's four main islands, Kauai is a nature lover's paradise. One of the main attractions is the Na Pali ("the cliffs" in Hawaiian) Coast. The green, fluted cliffs tower hundreds of feet above turquoise and blue waters waters on Kauai's North Shore. Families hike the first two miles of the Kalalau Trail, but beyond that gets pretty strenuous. Various boat and helicopter tours offer fun tours of the Na Pali.
Another scenic wonder lies near the south end of the island: Waimea Canyon. With its Southwestern-like terrain, the canyon was dubbed by Mark Twain "Grand Canyon of the Pacific." Kauai is also a favorite filming location, and movie tours take you to the sites of famous scenes from "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and more.
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