“What is Hawaii known for?” is a question with many answers. One could point to its sugar-sand beaches perfect for sunbathing and surfing. A little further offshore, Hawaii is renowned for glass-clear waters perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving. There’s plenty of beauty inland as well. With fiery volcanoes, tropical jungles, and dramatic waterfalls, this is a dream for nature-lovers to explore.
One answer to the question of what Hawaii is famous for must surely be its food, which combines elements of Polynesian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, and Filipino cuisines. Dishes tend to lean heavily on the incredible local seafood and produce grown on the islands.
Here are just a few of the things that Hawaii is known for all over the world.
Volcanoes
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The Hawaiian archipelago was born from the violence of tectonic shifts, as jets of magma burst through the floor of the Pacific Ocean. Of the 15 volcanoes that once erupted here, there are still six active ones—four of which can be found on the Big Island. Scientists closely monitor all of these to ensure that everyone in the area stays safe.
For visitors, Hawaii offers the rare opportunity to safely see lava flows up close. At Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, you can safely explore the slopes of two active volcanoes. Mauna Loa is the most enormous shield volcano on the planet and stands at an imposing 13,679 feet above sea level.
Kīlauea
Kīlauea is another mighty shield volcano with a magma plumbing system that extends nearly 40 miles beneath the Earth’s surface. It’s not hard to see why this space was long thought to be the home of the volcanic goddess Pele. It’s a truly awe-inspiring, often humbling sight to stand steps from red-hot lava.
Note that due to the ever-changing nature of volcanoes, certain parts of the park are sometimes closed for safety reasons. Be sure to check conditions and restrictions ahead of time.
Surfing
Waikiki Beach, Honolulu
Nowadays, surfing is all over the globe, but it was invented in Polynesia most likely around the 12th century, if not earlier. The term heʻe nalu in Hawaiian literally translates as “wave sliding” and once had important religious connotations. For generations, Hawaiian kings and members of the upper-class rode the waves.
Although early colonizers attempted to do away with surfing, Native Hawaiians kept the tradition alive. In 1907, when he visited Waikiki Beach, author Jack London would call it “A Royal Sport.” It was around this time that interest grew among outsiders and word of the sport spread.
A key driving figure in surfing’s popularity was Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku, often simply referred to as Duke. Handsome, charismatic, and immensely gifted, the Native Hawaiian champion surfer rose to international stardom. He picked up five Olympic medals for the sport in three separate games. To this day, his legacy is a point of pride for many Hawaiians.
Kālua Pig
Kālua pig
Whether it’s whole hog barbecue in North Carolina or babi guling in Bali, plenty of cultures around the world have discovered the joys of slow-roasting whole pigs. In the case of kālua pig, the whole animal is cooked inside a large pit oven called an imu.
There are several techniques here that result in particularly tender, evenly cooked meat. First, the pork is salted and the body cavity is filled with hot stones, which heat it from the inside. Cooks then cover the pig in banana or ti leaves, then seal it with soil. As it smolders for hours, the ti leaves perfume the meat.
Given the amount of work and equipment required to make it, kālua pig is generally reserved for large celebratory feasts. It’s typically the star of a traditional lūʻau, accompanied by all sorts of sides.
Diamond Head Crater
Diamond Head Crater, Oahu
Hiking into Diamond Head Crater on Oahu is truly a remarkable experience. Although the hike is less than two miles, it’s on the more strenuous side and may be challenging for some travelers. Nevertheless, the views of both the volcanic crater, the skyline of Honolulu, and the crashing waves of the ocean make this more than worth the effort. The total hike takes around three hours and it’s almost unbearably scenic the entire route.
This crater, which is approximately 3,500 feet in diameter, is the result of a volcanic explosion some 300,000 years ago. Scientists believe that the subterranean magma hit the ocean and the resulting steam ripped the surrounding landscape apart.
Poke
Poke
Even if it’s your first visit to Hawaii, the chances are high that you’ve tried some version of poke before. The dish has become a staple all over the continental United States, but most versions served at chain restaurants are a pale imitation. Globs of sauces, ruffles of kale, and under-ripe avocados buried in garnishes are a far cry from where this dish started.
Poke in Hawaii tends to err on the minimalist side, with an emphasis on top-quality fish. The presentations tend to be similar, but the flavors are often far superior.
It’s fitting, given that poke started off as a fairly simple Polynesian dish of freshly caught reef fish seasoned with sea salt, seaweed, and crunchy chopped kukui nuts. As Hawaii’s population demographics evolved in the 20th century, so did poke. Modern-day renditions often incorporate nori, soy sauce, and other Japanese ingredients.
Waterfalls
Akaka Falls
Hawaii has some dazzling natural waterfalls. Some are challenging to get to, while others are relatively accessible to travelers. Not far from Hilo, you’ll find Akaka Falls State Park, home to both Kahuna Falls and Akaka Falls. The latter plummets more than 400 feet into a stunning gorge. It’s also accessible on a relatively short hike suitable for most levels, making this a popular choice.
Meanwhile, in nearby Wailuku River State Park, visitors will find the striking Rainbow Falls. These 80-foot-tall falls span a diameter of nearly 100 feet. True to their name, this cascade has a tendency to capture prismatic light.
Deep-Sea Fishing
Deep-sea fishing in Hawaii
If you’ve ever fantasized about telling your friends back home that your catch was this big, you’ve come to the right place. It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced fisherman or a complete amateur—deep-sea fishing in Hawaii is a blast. That’s because there are more than 400 species to catch out here, including large, trophy-worthy specimens.
Embark on a deep-sea fishing adventure off the coast of Kailua Kona and you may find yourself reeling in a Pacific blue marlin. These prized big game fish can reach sizes of up to 12 feet in length and 2,000 pounds in weight. Kona is also an especially good place to catch sailfish, black marlin, and wahoo. Mahi-mahi—the Hawaiian favorite they often say was so nice they named it twice—and tuna are also common here.
Snorkeling
Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa
No dive certification? No problem. While there are plenty of opportunities for scuba-diving in Hawaii, you need no special training or equipment to see incredible marine life here. Hawksbill sea turtles often swim lazily through the waters here. Parrotfish, yellow tangs, damselfish, common longnose butterfish, and other colorful species of fish are often easy to spot.
The most famous reef inhabitant here is known in part for its lengthy Hawaiian moniker: humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa. Also called a reef triggerfish, these brightly hued fish have been known to defend their territory against much larger animals. Luckily, they’re not particularly dangerous to humans.
Sea urchin
While snorkeling around Hawaii is generally very safe, there are a few species to keep a watchful eye out for. Several types of sea urchins dwell in these waters, so it’s important to caution especially young swimmers to watch where they step.
Moray eels are beautiful, but it’s important to give them a wide berth. If these eels feel threatened, they have a nasty, powerful bite that can do real harm. Keep an eye out for them hiding in holes in the coral reefs near the ocean floor.
Box jellyfish
Box jellyfish, which are one of the more venomous species of jellyfish, can cause painful stings, even though they’re generally not fatal. Fortunately, lifeguards in Hawaii are all trained in how to clean and care for jellyfish stings. Because jellyfish are closely monitored, beaches tend to close if any are in the area.
Many travelers are nervous about snorkeling near sharks, but the truth is, these creatures rarely bother humans. Hawaii has roughly 40 species of sharks, including hammerheads, blacktip sharks, and whitetip reef sharks.
Kona Coffee
Kona coffee
Hawaii boasts some of the finest coffee beans in the world, but only a relatively small number of people ever have the privilege of tasting them. That’s because true Kona coffee beans are exceedingly rare. Part of that has to do with the fact that they’re grown exclusively by small farms and meticulously harvested by hand. Only the ripest, unblemished coffee cherries will do here.
The other factor is that the entire area for growing Kona coffee is smaller than the metropolitan areas of many major cities. The Kona Coffee Belt is 30 miles long and just two to three miles wide. In this narrow slice of the land, the conditions are exactly right for growing coffee beans. Once brewed, Kona coffee makes for an exceptionally smooth, well-balanced cup with minimal bitterness.
Read: Best Souvenirs From Hawaii
Plate Lunches
Plate lunch
For Hawaiians, few meals are as nostalgic as an old-school plate lunch. This combination of a protein with several sides originated in the 1800s as a hearty lunch for plantation workers. Because many of the workers were coming from Japan, China, and the Philippines, plate lunches often featured rice and perhaps pickles.
Over the years, the plate lunch has continued to evolve to suit Hawaii’s increasingly multicultural population. Lomi-lomi salmon, teriyaki chicken, char siu, or Chinese roast pork, and loco moco, a hamburger steak doused in gravy and topped with a fried egg, are all common mains. Side dishes range from chow fun to macaroni salad to kimchi.
Lūʻau
Lūʻau
What is Hawaii famous for? One of the most important cultural celebrations is the lūʻau. The history of the lūʻau dates back to the early 19th century, when King Kamehameha II broke with tradition and opted to have a feast with men and women together. The phrase was first used in 1856 to describe a lavish royal wedding feast. Today, the term can be used to describe just about any celebration, including weddings and birthdays.
For most visitors, however, a lūʻau is a feast that celebrates traditional Hawaiian culture and foods. Hula dancing is common here, along with live music. A whole roasted kālua pig is often the star of the show here. You can also expect a serious spread including popular Hawaiian dishes like lau lau, which is steamed, stuffed taro leaves, and huli-huli chicken.
One essential item is poi, a starchy side that exists in many iterations throughout much of Polynesia. Traditionally, poi is made by pounding taro corms by hand to form a slightly sticky, pale lavender-hued paste. It has a mild flavor with a slight tang from fermentation that makes it the perfect accompaniment to rich, savory meats and seafood. It’s best eaten with your fingers.
Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach
The Hawaiian islands have hundreds of sandy beaches, but none are as famous or culturally significant as Waikiki Beach, one of Honolulu’s best beaches. If this stunning white-sand beach seems almost too good to be true, that might be because it’s largely man-made. Today, the beach encompasses two whole miles, all with shallow waters for wading and swimming.
Waikiki Beach is often credited as the birthplace of modern surf culture, not to mention a favored celebrity haunt. Everyone from Elvis to Frank Sinatra has gotten tan on this shoreline. If you happen to surf or boogie board, this is an iconic place to do so. If riding the waves is less your speed, however, there’s still plenty to do in the area here. Waikiki Beach has great snorkeling options, as well as plenty of buzzy restaurants and bars nearby.
Read: Why a Cruise Is the Best Way to See Hawaii
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