The 50th State’s four primary islands offer unique Hawaii tour experiences that are distinctive to the Island on which they take place. Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island (Hawaii’s Big Island) offer signature experiences representative of each Island’s geography, history, and character. Enjoying one of these unique, experiential tours provides a quick, meaningful understanding of each Island’s individuality, personality, and charm.
Unique Oahu Tours
A visit to the Island of Oahu isn’t complete without a trip to Oahu’s rugged north shore. Far from cosmopolitan Waikiki, unique Hawaii tours take you to a quiet countryside featuring miles of farmland, quaint surfer towns, and some of the most beautiful beaches on Earth. Oahu’s north shore is famous for its massive winter waves that attract the best surfers to compete in World championship tournaments each February. Iconic surf breaks include the Banzai Pipeline, Waimea Bay, and Sunset Beach. Taking a guided tour is the best way to deal with traffic congestion, which often develops when thousands of spectators converge to witness experienced surfers conquer waves resembling moving mountains. During summer, the giant waves become flat ocean conditions conducive to exploring tidal pools, snorkeling, and swimming in vivid, deep-blue waters. With its collection of local art galleries, boutique shops, and island restaurants, life is laid-back on Oahu’s north shore.
Tours begin at YMCA Camp Erdman, where you can hike, participate in environmental restoration projects, and enjoy lunch in an exclusive private beach setting. Then, your journey takes you to the famous Haleiwa Town, originally a town for pineapple and sugarcane plantation workers that evolved into a surfer’s paradise, offering a wide array of boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants in various styles and price ranges. Visiting Haleiwa requires indulging in one of its most popular treats – Hawaiian shaved ice, a fresh and fruity island way to beat the heat. Although there are multiple stands, Matsumoto’s Shave Ice is the most legendary name in the business. The customer lines that form outside attest to this accolade. Your tour activities continue with a kayak or paddleboarding experience in the North Shore’s Anahulu River.
Unique Maui Tours
The “Magic Isle” is one of Hawaii’s best-known islands because it features many experiences, from glittering resorts to lush valleys and a broad selection of beaches.
One of the most unique Maui tours is the Heavenly Hana tour. Hana is sometimes called the town where time has stopped. Separated from the rest of the Island by the Hana Highway, a narrow oceanfront road consisting of 600 curves and 59 one-lane bridges, Hana Town is a picturesque country village whose lifestyle is preserved by its remote location and idyllic island beauty. The road to Hana carries you through bamboo forests, waterfalls, and dramatic ocean views.
Be prepared to be up early for your unique Maui tour to Hana, as the road takes a few hours to travel in both directions. The journey is the attraction, while your experienced tour driver allows you to gaze out the window at breathtaking sites, including Kaumahina State Wayside Park, Ho’okipa Lookout, and the stunning waterfalls at Puaa Kai. Along the way, you can stop at roadside stands selling coconut water, tropical fruits, banana bread, and more.
Unique Hawaii Island Tours
Hawaii Island is most famous for its active volcano, expansive ranch land, and lush jungle environment that supports a robust tropical flower industry. But Kona Coffee is the Big Island’s largest luxury export, with coffee enthusiasts around the globe coveting its distinctive flavor made possible by the Island’s rich, red, volcanic soil. Unique Hawaii Island tours also cover the many historical sites spread throughout the coffee-growing region.
Your Historic Kona tour will include learning about the fascinating history of Kailua-Kona. A visit to Puuhonua O Honaunau Historical Park will reveal a sacred Hawaiian village of refuge. Guests marvel at the views of Kealekekua Bay before visiting the monument to Captain Cook’s first landing on the islands. The Painted Church is a delightful work of art created by Belgian missionaries. And, of course, your unique Hawaii tour features a comprehensive visit to the Kona coffee factory.
Kona Coffee tours take you through the detailed process of hand-picking, drying, and carefully roasting quality beans to create freshly brewed coffee best enjoyed in luxurious island surroundings. Some of the Kona district’s more extensive coffee operations include Greenwell Farms and Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation. Most are set high on hills allowing you to enjoy your Kona coffee samples with a dramatic ocean view.
Unique Kauai Tours
Kauai is the oldest Island in the primary Hawaiian chain and is considered the most photogenic by many when they envision the ultimate tropical paradise. So it makes sense that so many blockbuster movies have been filmed on “The Garden Isle” over the decades. Most first-time visitors stay in the sunny, southern Poipu Resort or conveniently located condominium resorts that line Kauai’s eastern island coast. Regardless of where you stay, unique Hawaii tours can take you around the perimeter of the Island. Much of the interior is only accessible by foot or helicopter. Guided tours can take you from the majestic Na Pali Cliffs high on Kauai’s north shore to the East side’s picturesque lighthouses and beaches all the way south to sunny Poipu as well as Waimea Valley, which was dubbed “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” by famed writer Mark Twain.
Unique Kauai tours immerse you in cinema, taking you to multiple sights you will recognize from your favorite Hollywood hit films. Filming locations include classics dating back to “South Pacific,” Elvis’ “Blue Hawaii,” blockbusters like “Jurassic Park,” and many other romantic hit comedies and dramas known worldwide. The 1970s television series Fantasy Island features breathtaking views of Wailua Falls in its opening credits. Surprisingly, these falls are somewhat hidden but conveniently located near Lihue Town, the center of daily life on Kauai for residents and visitors alike. Your guides will also share behind-the-scenes stories and trivia about the many interesting details that went into making these popular movies and television programs.
Book your unique Hawaii tours and activities today to experience each Hawaiian Island’s distinctive selection of natural beauty, history, and culture.
