10 Bucket-List Hawaiʻi Experiences for 2025
Anyone traveling to the Islands this year should bookmark these activities for an unforgettable trip.
From stargazing on the tallest mountain in Hawaiʻi to staying at an exclusive, adults-only resort, the Islands offer unforgettable experiences. For anyone planning a trip to the Islands in 2025, these activities and excursions are worth adding to your bucket list.
1. Hike in Haleakalā National Park, Maui
Photo: Jerry Maeda
Venturing to the highest point on the Valley Isle, just over 10,000 feet up, is a must-do activity for many travelers to Maui. But it only becomes more extraordinary as you start exploring Haleakalā National Park. There are more than 30 miles of trails in the summit district, ranging from 10-minute strolls to overnight backpacking trips. With various paths through native forests or epic hikes into the dormant shield volcano, hikers can choose their own adventure. And it’s an otherworldly experience trekking through the volcanic desert.
READ MORE: Hikers Find Beauty and Solitude on Haleakalā’s Backcountry Trails
2. Trek to the summit of Mount Kaʻala, Oʻahu
Photo: Noah Lang/noahlangphotography.com
With its arduous and sometimes perilous trail, summiting 4,025 feet to the tallest peak on Oʻahu is a grand feat and memorable experience. For some avid hikers, 4,000 feet isn’t intimidating; but to reach the summit of Mount Kaʻala, you must complete a steep 6.8-mile out-and-back trail through slippery terrain and areas that includes rock scrambling. Hikers are not only rewarded with incredible views of Oʻahu’s Leeward Side, but also witness nearly untouched, endemic ecosystems. As hikers ascend to the top of the Waiʻanae Mountains, they get a glimpse into the island’s natural history. Over hundreds of thousands of years, wind and rain have sculpted these magnificent mountains, which have been the setting in ancient Hawaiian legends for centuries.
READ MORE: We Hiked the Tallest Peak on Oʻahu
3. Drive the Road to Hāna, Maui
Photo: Getty Images
The 52-mile drive along Hāna Highway—which starts in Kahului and ends in Hāna—is a popular excursion on Maui. The scenic road weaves through tropical forests and passes cascading waterfalls, making this journey worth adding to your bucket list. As you cross 620 bends and make your way over plenty of one-lane bridges, you’ll also come across farm stands with some of the best banana bread on the island. Once in Hāna you can walk along the black-sand beach in Waiʻānapanapa State Park (you need reservations), shop for goods at Hasegawa General Store and hike to Fagan’s Cross for views of the charming town.
READ MORE: Your Checklist to Driving the Road to Hāna
4. Run in the Honolulu Marathon, Oʻahu
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Every December tens of thousands participate in the Honolulu Marathon, the fourth largest marathon in the U.S. following the New York, Chicago and Boston races. But unlike the top three marathons in the country, runners don’t need to qualify. There is also no time limit, allowing everyone the opportunity to finish. So, if you’re going to run 26.2 miles, you might as well run in paradise!
If you’re looking to start with a much shorter distance or need to warm-up for the marathon, the Kalākaua Merrie Mile is the day before and is a fun one-mile race in Waikīkī. Runners can also participate in the Start to Park 10K to experience the excitement of the Honolulu Marathon—which includes fireworks!—but this race is only a little more than 6 miles.
5. Stay at Sensei Lānaʻi, Lānaʻi
Photo: Courtesy of Sensei Lānaʻi, A Four Seasons Resort
Lānaʻi is the smallest inhabited island in Hawaiʻi, spanning 17 miles long and 13 miles wide with just over 3,00 residents. The serene island is also home to one of the most exclusive and innovative wellness resorts in Hawaiʻi. Sensei Lānaʻi, A Four Seasons Resort is a unique, adults-only wellness treat that incorporates science and technology to help its guests create healthier habits and more meaningful lives. Unlike many luxury resorts in Hawaiʻi, this one isn’t perched on a golden beach or boasts trendy vacay experiences. This getaway is nestled among the mountains and a thick forest of Cook pine trees. Here, guests will find activities prioritizing simple, intentional practice like hiking along nearby Koloiki Ridge or recharging in one of the resort’s 1,000-square-foot spa hale (home). The hale are outfitted with infrared saunas, steam showers, ofuro baths, outdoor rain showers and soaking tubs. The resort also offers yoga, meditation, and customized one-on-one sessions with nutritionists and fitness experts.
READ MORE: Your Glimpse Into this Exclusive Wellness Resort
6. Spend the Day at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Hawaiʻi Island
Hikers walk along the restored Kīlauea Iki trail in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Photo: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park/Janice Wei
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on Hawaiʻi Island encompasses 335,259 acres, which is about 523 square miles (the island of Oʻahu is 597 square miles). So, travelers can spend a day (or multiple) exploring this massive park. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is well-known thanks to Kīlauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Kīlauea started erupting again on Dec. 23, 2024, in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. The park also includes Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active subaerial volcano. Mauna Loa’s eruption made headlines in 2022 after it had been dormant for nearly 40 years. The eruption only lasted 12 days but travelers flocked to see the historical event. But even if there is no active volcano to witness, there is plenty to do in this national park. With its unique environments, park visitors can explore rugged lava fields, lava tubes and craters, and rainforests. Many travelers check out Halemaʻuʻmaʻu Crater, hike the rainforest-covered Devastation Trail and explore the steamy Haʻakulamanu (Sulphur Banks).
READ MORE: How to See Kīʻauea’s Current Eruption
7. Stargaze atop Mauna Kea, Hawaiʻi Island
Photo: Getty Images/ Lorraine Boogich
From hiking in Haleakalā National Park to summiting Mount Kaʻala, venturing to the top of any mountain is clearly a favorite activity in the Islands—and that’s especially true on Hawaiʻi Island. Measuring from base to peak, Mauna Kea is nearly 33,500 feet, making it the tallest mountain on the planet. From sea level, it’s 13,796 feet to the summit. Like Haleakalā, standing at the top of Mauna Kea on Hawaiʻi Island is an otherworldly experience. Above the clouds, you can spot the island’s other volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Hualālai. As the sun dips below the horizon, Mauna Kea becomes an incredible place to witness planets and stars light up the night sky.
8. See Hanalei Bay, Kauaʻi
Photo: Getty Images/M.M. Sweet
Hanalei Bay is a must-see for anyone traveling to Kauaʻi—especially beach lovers. This crescent-shaped beach is one of the island’s gems, and yet never too crowded. Stetching close to two miles long, Hanalei Bay provides plenty of sand for beach goers to lay out their towels and soak in the views of the verdant mountains and the historic Hanalei Pier. If you’re adventurous, you can jump off the pier into the warm and typically calm waters. The beautiful beach is a great place for families to swim and bask in the sun.
READ MORE: Why Hanalei is One of Hawaiʻi’s Best Towns
9. Go Whale Watching, Maui
Photo: Getty Images
One of the best reasons to travel to Hawaiʻi in the winter months is to witness the return of the humpback whales. Every year, between 8,000 to 12,000 humpback whales migrate from Alaska to Hawaiʻi. They complete a six-week voyage to the Islands’ shallow, warm waters to mate and raise their young. Known as koholā in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), the whales never fail to impress beach-goers as they breach or slap their tails. While humpback whales can be spotted from any of the Hawaiian Islands, Maui is considered one of the best places in the world to see these giant creatures. You can just lay out a towel at a beach in Māʻalaea, Kāʻanapali, Kīhei and Wailea and often spot a whale or two. But one of the best ways to understand the significance of these creatures is to embark on a whale-watching tour. Witnessing these creatures—which weigh between 55,000 to 66,000 pounds—flap their tails and breach is an unforgettable experience.
READ MORE: Our Tips for Whale Watching in Hawaiʻi
10. Visit a Local Cat Sanctuary, Lānaʻi
Photo: Great Went
The Lānaʻi Cat Sanctuary is home to more than 650 cats, making it paradise for feline friends and cat lovers alike. Established in 2004, the sanctuary’s mission is to help control the island’s wild cat populations. Over the course of two decades, the sanctuary has interestingly become a top visitor attraction on the small island of Lānaʻi. Visitors are welcome to meet the cats, adopt or sponsor them, and volunteer.
READ MORE: One of the Most Popular Tourist Attractions on Lānaʻi is a Cat Sanctuary
