BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
Being born in the Hawaiian Islands has its distinct advantages! It means that I come from a perspective of having a love for this place that none other than a local born Ohana could. However, with it, I know there is a love for island life that I know undoubtedly is shared by many of us all around the world! The Hawaiian Islands are so very special. The islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island are hands down the most beautiful places to visit out of anywhere in the world! Over many years, I have spent much time in each of them intimately and in this post, I’d like to share a few of my favorite places with you!
TOP FAVORITES TO VISIT ON KAUAI
Considered by most to be the wettest and most verdant of all the Hawaiian Islands, the island of Kauai is known as the Garden Isle. Kauai is among the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands only foreshadowed by Ni’ihau, Nihoa and the French Frigate Shoals to the North. Hawaiian Island landscapes are simply breath taking, with the Na Pali Coast and its jagged prehistoric cliffs or “pali” taking center stage. When you see it for the first time it will quite literally leave you speechless!
NA PALI COAST
With areas of the Napali Coast towering close to four thousand feet above the azure sea, the Na Pali Coast looks like something out of a Disney movie. I highly recommend that you visit by boat and by Helicopter if you have the time and resources. Both means feel very different in the way you experience this magical place as the perspective is much different! On the Ocean, you will often see dolphins playing just offshore in the deep blue waters and white sand beaches. However, you decide to spend your time in Kauai, you must make this focal point place to visit during your stay on Kauai! You won’t regret it! Be sure to ask if your boat tour guide can take you into the PUKALANI Sea Cave and get up close and personal with the many waterfalls falling into the sea!
NAPALI COAST ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN TITLED “OHANA”
KALALAU RIDGE LOOKOUT
When you visit the Na Pali Coast from the Kalalau Ridge Trail, you will pass by Waimea Canyon on your way to the Kalalau Lookout. It goes without saying that you should absolutely make the stop along the way as it is known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific and for good reason! At 18 miles in length and almost three thousand feet deep. Once you arrive at the Kalalau Trail Lookout, you will either be stuck in the fog or you will get an incredible view of the canyon below and the beautiful Pacific Ocean! If you are stuck in the clouds, give it a bit of time, often the tropical convection will allow for the conditions to rapidly change and you could get the opportunity to see the majestic view at any moment!
KALALAU TRAIL LOOKOUT ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN TITLED “KALALAU DREAMS”
HANALEI BAY
This place will remind you of what old Hawaii may have looked like a hundred years ago and if you happen to be walking the beaches here right at sunrise, you might be hard pressed to believe there’s anyone else there but you! Hanalei is magic in a bottle and a must see during your stay! When it rains here it is generally not long lasting and if you get caught out in it, just wait until right after the rain passes, you will be treated to multiple waterfalls cascading off of the sharp mountain cliffsides, rainbows and one of the most beautiful scenes you have ever seen!
HANALEI BAY ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN TITLED “HANALEI MEMORIES”
KE’E BEACH
Situated at the end of the road on the northern most part of Kauai you will find Haena State Park and finally Ke’e Beach, home to the world renown Kalalau trail, the gateway to the Na Pali Coast! Ke’e Beach is a fan favorite, so be sure to make reservations well in advance to ensure yourself the opportunity to visit this magical place! There are multiple shuttles and extremely limited parking by permit only, which fills up months in advance so be sure to plan ahead. If you are lucky enough to secure parking, be sure to look for the wildly beautiful back waves created by strong storm swells during the wintertime, the displays of light and water can be incredible!
KE’E BEACH ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN TITLED “NAPALI BLISS”
NAPALI COAST ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN TITLED “PULSE”
HONOPU SEA CAVE
The Honopu Sea Cave is a very sacred beach to the ancient Hawaiians, this place has withstood the test of time and it is not often visited. Honopu is inaccessible due to its remote location and the fact that tour companies are not licensed to allow their visitors ashore here. To this date, I am unsure that a large format camera has ever been to this enchanted place. However, you can easily see it from a water-based perspective and for those interested, here it is as seen from the freshwater stream that flows from under the giant arch, touted as the tallest sea arch in the Hawaiian Islands!
NAPALI COAST ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN TITLED “HONOPU ENCHANTMENT”
TOP PLACES TO VISIT ON MAUI
Maui is a favorite island of mine due to the diversity found here and the number of different activities available. Maui is a great mix of all of the islands with the modern convenience of the twenty first century! Also known as The Valley Isle due to the isthmus that connects its two dormant volcanoes, Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands. Maui is home to the most incredible landscapes like the Road to Hana, Haleakala National Park, Wailea, Lahaina and Makena Beach. Be sure to grab your mask and snorkel and spend a little time snorkeling in Honolua Bay, if you’re lucky, you will get to see a few Honu, sea turtles that frequent the beautiful living reefs there! Just be careful not to touch them as they are protected and be sure to wear reef safe sunscreen!
THE ROAD TO HANA
This wildly curved stretch of road from Kahului to Hana spans sixty-five miles, so be sure to give yourself the entire day to explore all of the magic along the way. There are dozens of gorgeous roadside waterfalls, beautiful jungle crested mountains dropping down into protected bays, rainbow eucalyptus tree groves, bamboo forests, and much, much more. Just make sure that you bring some insect repellent, as the mosquitoes can be a bit rough in the jungle at times.
HANA COAST ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN TITLED “A PATH TO DREAMS”
HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK
Haleakala National park is a huge park spanning much of the Southern portion of the Island. Within the park lays the Kipahulu district. This area holds some of the most impressive geology and some of the most incredible bamboo forests in the world! The sacred O’heo pools, Bamboo pathways which pass a giant Banyan Tree and the tall Waimoku Falls! Also, do not forget that on the way you will pass Wai’anapanapa state park and its majestic coastline! So be sure to stop and visit there as well.
HANA COAST ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN TITLED “RIGHT OF PASSAGE”
SECRET FALLS
There lays a quiet little piece of Hawaii that I will allow to remain a mystery here. If you should feel the desire to do some thorough research and should a local feel kind enough that day to let you in on a little secret, there is this special towering four-hundred-foot waterfall that will take your breath away! It is a bit of an adventure to get there and certainly not without its dangers, so be aware and be in excellent physical shape. Should you find its location, know your limitations and watch the weather as flash flooding can occur here at any time. IF you arrive in this place by some stroke of fortune, you will witness something of a spiritual experience, you won’t be disappointed!
MAUI ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN TITLED “SECRET FALLS”
TOP PLACES TO VISIT ON OAHU
The island of Oahu is a melting pot of all of the islands put together. Oahu is often the most visited island out of all of the Hawaiian Islands and it certainly is a great island to start off with as a first-time visitor. However, if you are looking for seclusion, peace and quiet you will need to go to the other outlying islands for that. Some of Oahu’s most well-known places to visit are the North Shore, Waikiki, Hanauma Bay, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Waimea Bay, Lanikai Beach, and be sure to get a plate lunch along with a Hawaiian shave ice while you’re there, you won’t regret it!
EAST SIDE REPRIEVE
Just past Lani Kai beach lays another old fishpond. Before you arrive at Sandys beach keep your eye open for it because you can too easily pass it up. This area is a bit tougher to access due to the fact that there are private properties along the shoreline, so you have to wade out around a few rockpiles to access this place, however at low tide there is a nice little sand bar that juts out creating a nice mid-day quiet place amongst the hustle and bustle that is Oahu!
OAHU ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN TITLED “PARADISE ISLAND”
LANIKAI BEACH
One of the most gorgeous beaches in the world, Lanikai is truly magic in a bottle! Known for its brilliant turquoise waters and white sand beaches. Lanikai embodies the lazy summer day vibes, sitting beneath a coconut tree watching the waves gentle lap the shoreline as you watch the day melt away. While there be sure to have dinner at one of the nearby local restaurants, as there are a few greats spots to eat along the road there on the Eastside.
OAHU ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN TITLED “DREAMING LANIKAI” LIMITED EDITION OF 50
KUALOA FISHPONDS
This quiet little reprieve in one that is worth the early morning visit. If you pick the right summer morning, the trade winds will stay quiet for a bit giving you the ultimate feeling of serenity. If you are patient schools of fish will swim by in the still waters. This fishpond is the one of the oldest and largest fishponds in Hawaii!
OAHU ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN TITLED “KUALOA DAWN”
THE BIG ISLAND
The largest out of all the Hawaiian Islands, the island of Hawaii is appropriately called The Big Island. Seeing as this is the Island of my birth, it is a very special place to me! Popular spots include Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Mauna Kea, Akaka falls and Waipio Valley. However, this island is so large and there are so many little hidden gems here that one could barely begin to name all of them. Being born in Hilo and raised in Kona, there are some places that I feel haven’t changed a bit in forty years and others that you can barely recognize. Yet, the big Island has done a good job of keeping much of its charm hidden from view and readily available to explore and be revealed to those who care to look.
ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN TITLED “POLOLU COAST” LIMITED EDITION OF 50
HAWAI’I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
One of the most otherworldly sights you may ever see is that of an active volcano. Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park offers visitors the chance to see not just one, but two: Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the world’s most massive shield volcano. Timing of your visit is critical as the lava flow is unpredictable and can start or stop at any time. Check out the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park website for the most up to date information on their volcanic activity.
ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN TITLED “THE PROMISE” LIMITED EDITION OF 50
THE POLOLU VALLEY
The Pololu valley is by far one of the most Iconic and beautiful places on the entire Island and there are many others as well, however this stretch of coastline is simply untouched and incredible! The sheer vertical cliffs that drop straight to the ocean are absolutely worth your time and I have long felt that spending at least a morning soaking in a new dawn there is the perfect start to anyone’s day! There is a small parking lot at the top of the road that has enough room for a few vehicles and if you arrive early should have plenty of room for you to have a spot! Hiking down the old lava dirt trail is steep and switchbacks a few times on the way down to its pristine black sand beach. It is best to wear hiking shoes if it is wet as it does get very slick and can make hiking a challenge but certainly well worth it.
OLD TOWN HILO
While this is where I was born back in 1978, I hadn’t spent much time here until I began fishing with my Dad a lot as I grew a little as we lived on the Kona side of the island. Hilo, unlike Kona is much less touristed and remains left back in time. Very nostalgic of the Hawaii I knew when I was a boy, Hilo has much remained the same place with a solid aloha vibe! I always recommend exploring the local plate lunch restaurants in town as they always have some good local food to dish up before I head off to other parts of the island to explore. Surrounded by dense jungle, it is easy to see how Hilo hasn’t been changed too much over the years by tourism. It is almost like modern times simply left Hilo alone and it continues along just fine without the outside worlds prying eyes.
ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN TITLED “GOLDEN STRAND” LIMITED EDITION OF 50
PUNA SIDE
This stretch of coastline is almost my favorite, however there are so many spots that I love it is really hard to choose. With rugged lava dropping into the sea and coconut palms swaying in the trade winds over the ocean, the Puna coastline is very reminiscent of the way Hawaii looked before the touch of man. For this reason alone, this part of the Island really speaks to me; I love how the open ocean crashes into the lava here, you can really feel the raw energy in this place!
While there are so many places on the big island to name off, I do believe in the explorer within all of us! There is always a lot that can be shared here, and I am sure that I will think of many more places in the future, however until then, keep a lot of reef friendly sunscreen on hand, lots of water and snacks, maybe some snorkeling gear and a full tank of fuel and go get yourself lost out there! It is an amazing world and while I am only speaking of getting lost figuratively, there’s so much to go and see that it should be plenty to keep you busy for a long time coming!