ʻIao Valley State Monument is the place to be if you like the tropical flora of Hawaii. Take a walk on the ʻIao Needle Lookout Trail and Ethnobotanical Loop learn about the plants that Hawaiians broug
The United States’ only royal residence, ‘Iolani Palace harkens us back to the luxurious times enjoyed by King Kalakaua and his sister and successor, Queen Liliuokalani. ‘Iolani Palace, built in 1882,
Situated on the edge of Hanama’ulu Bay near the Lihu’e Airport, Ahukini State Recreational Pier offers not only beautiful scenery, but also a terrific fishing. Aside from pole fishing, crab netting is
One of the wettest areas of Oahu (averaging nearly 300 inches per year in parts of the valley), Ahupuaʻa O Kahana State Park is one of only a few publicly owned ahupuaʻa making it a great location to
Aiea Bay State Recreation Area provides views of Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial. Enjoy the park by bringing your lunch and using the picnic areas.
The Pearl Harbor Bike Path runs through the pa
Following the ʻAkaka Falls Loop Trail (.4 mile loop), people can see both the Kahuna and ‘Akaka Falls (422 feet high) along with beautiful lush plants and trees.
Diamond Head is a volcanic cone on the Hawaiian island of Oahu and is the most popular Hawaii State Park. Hawaiians call it Lēʻahi (brow of the tuna) in reference to the formation’s ridgeline, which r
Haʻena State Park, which is about an hour drive from Lihue, boasts of beautiful beaches, hiking trails and 4,000 year old caves.
The combination of relatively calm waters in July and August, along wit
Halekiʻi-Pihana Heiau State Monument is a 10 acre park containing two important heiau (religious sites) near the mouth of the ʻIao Stream in Wailuku. Halekiʻi and Pihana were associated with important
Located on Hawaii’s Big Island, the Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area is a popular destination spot, counted as among the best beaches in the world. Hapuna Beach was named the Best Beach in America b
The Hulihe‘e Palace, located in Kailua-Kona, was once a summer vacation home for Hawaiian royalty, today Hulihe‘e Palace is a museum showcasing the impressive residence, along with furniture and artif
The westernmost tip of Oahu, Kaʻena Point, some ancient Hawaiian folklore thought that Kaʻena Point was the “jumping-off” point for souls leaving this world. Kaʻena Point State Park has an abundance o
Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline has great views of the Oahu coastline and the Makapuʻu Lighthouse. The Makapuʻu Lighthouse Trail is two miles (round trip). There’s no restrooms or water available, so com
The Kalopa State Recreation Area, located approximately 40 miles northwest of Hilo, is a state park featuring an arboretum of native trees. The park is 2,000 feet high and a number of rare plants can
The main attraction of Keaiwa Heiau State Recreation Area is Keaiwa Heiau, a temple that native Hawaiians would visit to be healed. Through prayers and herbs, the kahuna would help sick and injured pe
Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park is an important site in Hawaii’s history as the location where the first extensive contact between Hawaiians and Westerners took place with the arrival of Captain
Kekaha Kai State Park, formerly known as Kona Coast State Park, is a beach park located along the north Kona coast. Sunbathing, swimming and snorkeling are common activities.
The main beach areas are
Still a work in progress, Kiholo State Park Reserve is undergoing conceptual planning for future public use. Kiholo State Park Reserve is a lava-covered coastal park with bays, lava flows, and vast op
Kohala Historical Sites State Monument, located in North Kohala, is home to two important historical sites, Mo’okini Heiau and Kamehameha the Great’s birthplace.
A National Historic Landmark, Mo’okini
Just north of Waimea Canyon State Park, Koke’e State Park is a great park for hiking.
There are seven major hiking trails in Koke’e State Park:
Alakai Swamp Trail
Awaʻawapuhi Trail
Kawaikoi Stream Tr
Scenic views of the ocean lapping against the rocky coast and the offshore seabird sanctuary await visitors to Laʻie Point State Wayside.
For the extremely adventurous, a bucket list opportunity await
Lapakahi State Historical Park is a large area of ruins from an ancient Hawaiian fishing village in North Kohala. Visitors can learn about traditional Hawaiian culture through the partially restored r
Lava Tree State Monument features a forest of lava trees – lava molds of the tree trunks that were formed when a lava flow swept through the forested area in 1790.
The Lava Trees Loop Trail is a .7 mi
MacKenzie State Recreation Area offers a wild volcanic coastline in an ironwood grove. Spend the day at MacKenzie State Recreation Area fishing, picnicking, or hiking the Old Hawaiian coastal trail.
Located in Makena (south of Wailea), Makena State Park comprises of 165 acres and is composed of two beaches and Puʻu Olai, a 360 feet tall dormant volcanic cinder cone in the center of the park. Ther
Malaekahana State Recreation Area is a great place for families to enjoy the beach and water activities. Most of the time, the currents are calm (outside of winter) enough to swim and bodyboard in the
Surrounded by Manuka Forest Reserve, Manuka State Wayside Park is 13.4 acres with an arboretum. The park features Manuka Nature Trail, a two mile nature hike through the adjacent Manuka Natural Area R
Napali Coast is a 16 mile (26 km) coastline stretching from the remote and wild Polihale Beach on the west to Kee Beach on the north shore of Kauai. It is one of the world’s most scenic coastlines of
Located five miles from Honolulu, Nuʻuanu Pali State Wayside provides awesome views of Kaneʻohe, Kailua, Mokoliʻi Island and the coastal fishpond at Kualoa Point from 1,200 feet high.
The wind is extr
The 233-acre Palaʻau State Park is home to Kaule O Nanahoa (the phallus of Nanahoa), a sacred site which was renown for increasing fertility.
A path through the ironwood forest leads to Kalaupapa Look
While it’s more challenging to access than many other beaches, Polihale State Park is a great location if you’re looking for a place with less people. The beach is accessed via rough, five mile road.
Once a dense forest of Koa, mamane, and ʻohiʻa lehua the Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area is composed of 10 acres of the Kula Forest Reserve. When the park was established many of the native tree
Conveniently located close to downtown Honolulu, Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Wayside provides a beautiful, panoramic view of southern Oahu from Diamond Head to Pearl Harbor.
The ‘Ualaka’a Loop Trail offers a
Located on Oahu’s North Shore, Puʻu O Mahuka Heiau is the largest heiau (religious site) on the island. Situated within the 4 acre Puʻu O Mahuka Heiau State Historic Site park, this was more than a re
Queen Emma Summer Palace, or Hanaiakamalama, was the summer retreat for Queen Emma of Hawaii during 1857-1885. Queen Emma Summer Palace is a now a historic landmark (added to the National Register of
Located southeast of Waimea, Russian Fort Elizabeth is a National Historic Landmark. The park is home to the last remaining Russian fort on the Hawaiian islands, built in 1817 by the Russian-American
Located in Honolulu, Sand Island State Recreation Area offers an urban park where you can camp, stroll on a walking path, fish or bodyboard.
While shoreline camping is allowed (weekends only), some ma
Located in Kailua, Ulupo Heiau is an ancient site that served as a religious site where native Hawaiians likely came for bountiful harvests, and then success in war. The stone platform of Ulupo Heiau
Located near the Wahiawa Reservoir, Waʻahila Ridge State Recreation Area, is a great place for fishing and picnicking.
There’s a boat ramp, but boating is only allowed for fishing purposes.
Wahiawa Freshwater State Recreation Area has hiking with picturesque views of the Manoa and Palolo Valleys. The Waʻahila Ridge Trail is 2.4 miles and runs through a forest with ironwood and guava tree
Waiʻanapanapa State Park, located at the end of Waiʻanapanapa Road off Hana Highway, features some of the most unique sights you’ll ever see. As home to one Maui’s volcanic-sand beaches, you’ll have t
Wailoa River State Recreation Area offers visitors a peaceful place for walking, quiet relaxation, picnicking, and boat fishing.
The Wailoa Arts & Cultural Center, founded in 1967, has free admission,
Wailua River State Park consists mainly of the lush Wailua River Valley and the Wailua River, which is the only navigable river in Hawaii. Visitors can take boat tours to see the rainforest.
Two sceni
Wailuku River State Park boasts two main attractions: Boiling Pots and Rainbow Falls.
Boiling Pots is a succession of big pools connected by underground flow or cascades and whose waters roll and bubb
Waimea Canyon, located in Waimea, Hawaii is dubbed the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” The moniker, falsely attributed to literalist Mark Twain, became popular after American explorer John Wesley Powel
This once busy harbor is now home of the Waimea State Recreation Pier. The park, which is a good place for pole fishing and crabbing, is about six miles north of Waimea.
