America?s fiftieth state is a beautiful chain of islands, with gorgeous scenery and friendly people around every corner. If you go to Hawaii on vacation, you could do just fine without any defined agenda and just drift around. But if you really want to get the most out of your stay in the Aloha State, you?ll want to do some homework before you go. Hence this article ? a list of the most entertaining Hawaii activities, with a special focus on “bang for your buck.” So grab your lei and let?s get going!
Sightseeing Tours: Hawaii is famous for its natural beauty, with tropical rainforests, active volcanoes and gorgeous shorelines to explore. So, naturally, the first item on our list of Hawaii activities is taking a sightseeing tour. These tours can be taken in a number of ways ? on foot, by private car, or bus. I personally prefer walking tours, but you should go with what you feel physically capable of doing. Whatever you pick, it?s the best way to get acquainted with the island.
Submarine Tours: If you spend your Hawaii time above the water, you?re missing half of the story. The crystalline beauty of the Pacific Ocean is one of the major selling points of a Hawaiian vacation. There?s a few ways to get down under the sea, but for my money the best one is taking a submarine tour. This isn?t any ?Hunt For Red October? business ? these passenger submarines are open, clean, and safe, and there?s no better way to get face-to-face with a tropical fish. These tours are available on most of the islands except Kauai.
Staying in the water for a minute, there is one Hawaii activity that you can?t do in any other state in the Union ? swimming with the dolphins. Yes, those cheery undersea mammals love to romp in the surf with humans, and at Oahu?s Sealife Park, you can frolic with trained bottlenose dolphins and even jet through the ocean with one pushing each of your feet!
And, of course, no list of Hawaii activities would be complete without a luau. This traditional Hawaiian party features Polynesian food and native dancing. There are a number of commercial parties on each of the islands that are geared to tourists, but be forewarned that many are simply excuses to squeeze souvenir money out of unwitting travelers. I?m a big fan of authenticity, so I recommend you avoid the package deals and try to get in good with a Hawaiian resident and finagle an invitation to the real thing. The food will be better and you won?t have hucksters breathing down your neck.
I hope this article has been helpful in planning your Hawaiian vacation. Aloha!