16 Days in Hawaii

This itinerary is well suited for travellers seeking to go beyond a beach holiday when visiting Hawaii. While beach time is included, it is definitely not the focus of this itinerary - the focus is much more on hiking and exploring beautiful natural wonders. This itinerary can be completed year-round. However, when visiting Kauai, keep in mind that the north shore of the island is rainier at certain times of the year. 

If you're looking for a more laid back vacation, this itinerary could be modified by cutting out an island altogether so as to spend more time on each of the other two islands.

Key Interests: Hiking; Nature; Landscapes; Beach; Relaxation

Kauai

The odd thing about Kauai is that there are no roads that circle the island, and the airport is located in between the main points of interest on the island. This means that you will inevitably be doing some backtracking. I recommend splitting your accommodation time in Kauai between the north and south of the island, concentrating on the sights in each area while you are there, so that you can reduce your daily driving times. 

DAY 1: Fly into Kauai. If you're like us, you'll be arriving very late at night and this day will essentially be a travel day to Hawaii. Stay on the north shore of the island, in either Hanalei or Princeville. Hanalei has much more of a local vibe, while Princeville is a planned community with manicured lawns and a large assortment of condo-style rental accommodation. Stay in Hanalei if you can - it's magical. 

DAY 2: Explore the north shore beaches of Kauai. Split your day between Hanalei Beach and Tunnels Beach (bring your snorkelling gear for this latter beach). Make reservations for dinner at Bar Acuda, a tapas and wine bar in Hanalei with a wonderful ambiance. 

DAY 3: You've adjusted to the time difference, it's now time to tackle your first hike of the trip, the first part of the Kalalau trail! The Kalalau trail leads from Ke’e Beach to Kalalau Beach along the Na Pali Coast, one of the most stunning areas in all of Hawaii. Completing the entirety of the trail requires camping overnight. For those less inclined, you can still get a great taste of the trail and admire amazing panoramas by hiking to Hanakāpīʻai Beach (4 miles/6.4 kms round trip) or up to Hanakāpīʻai Falls (8 miles/12.9 kms round trip). This is a full-day hike - start early to avoid the crowds. On your return, rinse off the sweat and exhaustion from the day at Ke'e Beach. Watch the sunset overlooking Hanalei Bay from the bar at the St Regis hotel - the views of the bay from here are spectacular. 

DAY 4: If you happen to be visiting the north shore on a Saturday, start your day by visiting Hanalei's farmers' market. Every Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to noon, a large grassy lawn off Malolo Road hosts dozens of local producers and artisans. Then, head to Kilauea Point Wildlife Refuge to observe seabirds and other Hawaiian wildlife, along with beautiful coastal views. Finish off your north shore adventure with dinner in Hanalei.

DAY 5: It's time to head south! But not without first enjoying some of the east coast of Kauai. Book a kayak trip with Wailua Kayak (a 4.5 hour adventure), to paddle up the Wailua River and then enjoy a short hike to a waterfall at which you can swim and picnic. Grab a quick lunch at one of the many food trucks in Kapa'a and then continue heading south until you reach Poipu. Depending on your arrival time, you may have time to fit in a late afternoon surf lesson with Kauai Surf School located directly on Poipu Beach. If you're looking for a casual dinner that you can take to-go, possibly back to the beach, check out Da Crack, for surprisingly delicious Mexican eats.

DAY 6: Visit yet another Kauai gem: the spectacular Waimea Canyon, stopping at the numerous viewpoints along the way. Make sure to keep driving past the canyon until you reach the end of the road: the Kalalau Lookout awaits. On your return journey to Poipu, visit a coffee estate, the Kauai Coffee Company, or, if visiting on a Wednesday, check out the Kauai Culinary Market at The Shops at Kukuiula in Poipu (although the setting is not nearly as magical as in Hanalei, the food options are great). If you'd like a romantic way to end your Kauai vacation, visit the Grand Hyatt Kauai for sunset drinks on their patio overlooking the sea.

Maui

Maui is one of the more popular Hawaiian islands, and it has been for some time. There are several very developed "tourist" areas on the island. We stayed in Wailea, in south Maui, where several luxury resorts are located. This area is closer than Kaanapali, another popular resort area, to Maui's top attractions, including Haleakalā National Park and the Road to Hana. Staying here will cut down on your driving time on Days 8 and 10.

DAY 7: Take a morning internal flight from Kauai to Maui. Spend the day relaxing by the pool and/or beach at your hotel in Maui. We stayed at Hotel Wailea, a phenomenal luxury boutique hotel. 

DAY 8: Spend the morning hanging out at your hotel pool and/or beach. In the early afternoon, start making your way slowly up Haleakalā National Park, with the goal to reach the summit at sunset. You can also spend some time hiking in the crater up at the summit in the late afternoon. The views from the summit are fantastic, and the crowds will be much better than at sunrise. Once the sun has set, head down the mountain to settle into your late dinner reservations at Mama's Fish House. 

DAY 9: Midway through your trip, enjoy a relaxing day by the pool and/or beach at your hotel in Maui.

DAY 10: It's an early morning wake-up to enjoy the Road to Hana. The Road to Hana can be incredibly crowded, so it's best to get an early start. The journey is very much the destination here - take your time down the winding roads, appreciating the views and stopping regularly to soak it all in. Enjoy lunch in Hana and then continue until you reach the start of the Pipiwai Trail (4 miles/6.4 kms round trip), which happens to be on the backside of Haleakalā National Park. The trail leads to beautiful waterfalls and towering bamboo forests and should not be missed. Then, unlike the 1000s of other tourists who will at this point turn around and retrace their steps, continue along the Pillani highway. While this stretch of road is rougher than the Road to Hana (it is easily passible in an ordinary car - just go slowly in the rougher areas), you will get to experience a stunning side of Maui and Haleakalā that few experience. Enjoy your final dinner in Maui in Wailea. 

Hawaii (the Big Island)

It's called the Big Island for a reason. All other Hawaiian islands combined are still smaller than this one island. The diversity of landscapes, climate zones and elevation in this one place is truly mind-boggling. 

DAY 11: Fly from Maui to Kona, on the western coast of the Big Island. Spend the day slowly traveling to Volcanoes National Park in the south of the island. Stop at Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park for some Hawaiian history and then at Punaluu Beach to enjoy black volcanic sand. Sleep in the rainforest town of Volcano.

DAY 12: Spend the day exploring Volcanoes National Park. The Kilauea Iki Trail is a great first hike to enjoy in the park. Its an easy 4 mile/6.4 kms roundtrip hike that allows you to descend to the bottom of a solidified lava lake. After your hike, check out the Thurston lava tube. Then visit the Kilauea Caldera and Jaggar Museum, first during the day and again at night to catch a glimpse of the glowing lava in the caldera. Sleep in Volcano.

DAY 13: Spend another day exploring Volcanoes National Park. Check out the End of Chain of Craters Road for some beautiful ocean views, taking in the stunning drive along the way, then the Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs Trail (1.4 miles/2.4 kms roundtrip) to discover Hawaiian petroglyphs and finally Devastation Trail (1 mile/1.6 kms roundtrip) to see life returning to a once lava-destroyed area. Check the National Park Service's website to see whether there are any active flows during your visit that are worth hiking to at night - a unique experience. Sleep in Volcano.

DAY 14: Drive north along the eastern coast of Hawaii until you reach Hilo, the largest town on the island of Hawaii. It's an interesting place to stretch your legs to get a feel for "real" Hawaii. Continue driving north and don't miss the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, a stunning botanical garden by the ocean. Continue driving north until you reach Akaka Falls State Park to enjoy the beautiful falls. Then, enjoy the view of the Waipio Valley from the lookout. If you have extra time, hiking into the valley is well worth it. Head west toward the Kohala Coast and stay there for the final nights of your trip.

DAY 15: Spend the day enjoying the beaches of the Kohala Coast. Hapuna Beach, Mauna Kea Beach and Waialea Beach are all great options. In the early evening, drive up to the Mauna Kea summit to enjoy some stargazing.

DAY 16: Your last day in Hawaii! Enjoy some final time at the beach before heading to the Kona airport to catch your flight home. If you're looking for something low-key to do during the day, the Kona Brewing Co offers a nice patio for lounging and beer sampling.