a hiker overlooking Kalalau beach on the Kalalau Trail
a humpback whale breeching off the coast of Maui, Hawaii
lava flowing in to the ocean at Volcanoes National Park at Kalapana, Hawaii
a waterfall in Waimea Canyon, Hawaii
a man surfing through a big wave in Oahu, Hawaii
a couple riding along the beach at Kalaupapa National Historic Park
a diver and manta ray, Kona, Hawaii
Hawaiian food plates from a restaurant in Honolulu, Oahu
a car traveling along the cliffs of Road to Hana, Hawaii
royal furniture and artifacts in Iolani Palace, a four-story Italian Renaissance palace built in 1882 downtown Honolulu
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Hike the Legendary Na Pali Coast, Kauai
Considered the state’s best backpacking route, the 22-mile round-trip Kalalau Trail cuts through the famed Na Pali Coast, an unspoiled wonderland where fluted cliffs and lush valleys crash abruptly into the blue Pacific. Originally built in the mid-1800s, the trail has narrow switchbacks, sheer drop-offs, and alarming, cliff-grabbing turns. Needless to say, only the brave and experienced need apply. After traversing five valleys, the path ends—as if the bounty for your trouble—at the golden sands of Kalalau Beach. Here, pitch a tent under the jungle canopy, then shower under the valley’s legendary beachside waterfall. Isolated and inspired, don’t be surprised if bidding "aloha" to the modern world comes to mind. Though state permits allow only five nights total (including time spent at Hanakoa, a campsite six miles from the trailhead) that doesn’t stop some wanderlust souls, including those who prefer the fashion sense of Adam and Eve, from making it their mission to avoid regular sweeps by officials.
Photograph by Steve Ogle, Getty Images

Top 10 Things to Do in Hawaii

See the top ten picks for things to do in the Aloha state.

BySheila Sarhangi
June 13, 2014

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