The 16 Best Outdoor Adventures in Hawaii: Land and Sea

Enjoy a bird’s eye view of Hawaii’s natural beauty on a zip-lining tour. To participate in this activity, you’ll get into a harness that’s attached to a pulley system and glide along a steel cable high up in the air. Hawaii offers fast, thrilling zip-lining opportunities, as well as slower, more relaxed options for beginners.

Kauai is considered by many to be the best island for zip-lining in Hawaii because it gives you panoramic views of forests, farms, and the Pacific Ocean. Kauai is also the site of famous movie locations, including those found in “Jurassic Park” and “Pirates of the Caribbean,” which you can check out from your cable in the sky.

Get closer to nature on an ATV. All-terrain vehicles can take you to remote corners of the islands where cars aren’t permitted. Book an ATV tour and you’ll drive your own off-road vehicle into pristine landscapes.

Check out the Jurassic Park Gate Trail on the island of Kauai. Located in the Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve, this trail takes you 12 miles, out and back, through lush tropical forest areas and over gurgling streams. You’ll spot the many native plant and animal species that live in the reserve, as well as the site for which the trail is named — the Jurassic Park gate, left from the filming of the blockbuster movie.

Explore the islands in a truly unforgettable way and go horseback riding. For an island-western adventure, visit Pi’iholo Ranch on Maui. Here, Hawaiian cowboys known as “paniolos” will host you on a horseback guided tour while teaching you about Hawaiian cowboy culture.

Looking for a more tropical experience? Book a horseback riding tour in Haleakalā National Park. The park is home to a dormant volcano and active wildlife (including the endangered Hawaiian geese). Plus, it houses various water attractions including freshwater pools and waterfalls, all within the charming canopies of a bamboo forest.

Discover some of Hawaii’s (literally) hottest spots and hike amongst the volcanos. Volcanoes National Park on the island of Hawaii is home to two active volcanoes and has over 100 miles of trails you can hike around these openings in the earth’s crust. Each stretch of trail offers a unique natural treasure, from lava tubes to rainforests and desert areas.

We strongly recommend going with a guide, because there are some hazards you’ll need to be aware of. Depending on where you go in the park, there can be slippery edges, extreme weather, and piping-hot steam vents in the ground.

The sunrises in Hawaii are definitely something to write home about. Locals could list dozens of spots from which to catch the sun rising. And, with a rental car, you’ll have the freedom to explore them all, driving to a different lookout point each morning.

If you only have time for a few and you’re on Oahu, go behind Waikiki’s Hilton Hawaiian village. You’ll watch the sunrise against the backdrop of Diamond Head, an extinct volcanic crater and one of Hawaii’s most recognized landmarks. Be sure to arrive about 45 minutes before sunrise, to catch the famous “blue hour” — a twilight hour when the sun’s blue wavelengths come in strong, turning the sky into a vibrant blue hue.

Looking for laid-back things to do outside in Hawaii? Discover the region’s rich ecology by taking a farm tour. The Big Island offers several opportunities to explore farms, so make a day of it in your rental car by traveling from one agricultural site to the next.

Learn about honey production and enjoy a honey tasting at Big Island Bees. Play with baby goats at the Honomu Goat Farm, which has a dedicated baby goat play yard. See how chocolate begins as cacao and ends as a sweet, tasty treat at Honokaa Chocolate Farm.

Take a mini road trip while you’re in Hawaii and travel the Road to Hana (also known as the Hana Highway). This 64.4-mile stretch of road comprises Routes 36 and 360, connecting Kahului and Hana on the eastern coast of Maui. When deciding what type of rental car to get, consider a convertible if you plan on traveling the Road to Hana so you can ride in style and enjoy the wind in your hair the whole way.

There are several idyllic places to pull over along the way. If you start your trip in Kahului, Twin Falls is one of the first spots you’ll hit. These waterfalls are easily accessible via a short hike from the highway. Almost at the halfway point, you’ll encounter the Garden of Eden Arboretum, home to a 100-year-old mango tree, bamboo trees, and additional waterfalls. Watch pro-level surfers at Ho’okipa Lookout, where massive waves attract some of the most ambitious boarders.

Hit the trails on a mountain bike! If hiking moves too slowly for you, rent a set of wheels. For diverse and expansive views, travel the Haleakala Maui Skyline Trail. From it, you’ll be able to see the Big Island, as well as several smaller islands like the volcanic island of Kaho’olawe and Lanai.

If you’re on the Big Island, bike Kohala Mountain Road, which takes you through pastures with views of the coast. Whichever island you visit, you’ll find that most trails that are hiker-friendly are also biker-friendly.

Gaze at some of the most magical creatures and go whale watching in Hawaii. While you can view these marine mammals from the shore, the best way to get up close is to take a whale-watching boat tour. You can find companies offering tours across the islands, however, Maui is the ideal spot from which to launch. In fact, the Maui Nui Basin is the official Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale Sanctuary because of its popularity amongst these beautiful animals.

Mid-December is when you can expect daily whale sightings. However, they begin to migrate into Hawaii around mid-fall and remain through mid-March, giving you a large window of time to go whale watching.

See aquatic life up close with a snorkeling trip. There are plenty of places to go snorkeling around Hawaii, so whichever island you stay on, you should easily find a company that will take you out on the water. If you’re in Maui, snorkel at BlackRock Beach, on the northwest part of the Island. The clear waters here make it easy to spot butterflyfish, turtles, and diverse ecosystems. Download the Maui Snorkeling Guide app to find snorkeling spot info, including driving directions and parking information, making it easy to visit several areas in your car.

Staying on Kauai? Head over to Salt Pond Beach Park, a family-friendly area with three calm pools encircled by a coral reef. This is also a terrific place to spot sea turtles. If you’re staying on the Big Island, head to the Kona side and snorkel Kealakekua Bay. The Bay is home to marine life rarely seen in other parts of Hawaii, including angelfish and lizardfish.

The ideal time to snorkel depends on where you take the plunge. However, if you want the opportunity to visit all of these sites on the same trip, September is a terrific month to snorkel at any of them. That’s when you can expect clear, calm, and warm waters across the islands.

Surf’s up! If you’ve always wanted to learn how to surf, Hawaii has several beaches with calm waves that are ideal for beginners. The island of Oahu is the mecca for surf schools. Waikiki Beach in the city of Honolulu (on Oahu) is known for its shallow waters and gentle waves. White Plains Beach on the west side of the island also has mild waves and sandy shores to rest on between catching waves. On the north shore you’ll find Castles, which offers a wide area that’s ideal for beginners, but also sees some bigger waves for more advanced surfers.

Summer is the best time of year to surf in Hawaii. That’s when the waters are calmest, and visibility is best. Pro tip: when picking up your rental car at Honolulu Airport, get one with a roof rack that can accommodate a surfboard if you plan on renting one for the entirety of your stay.

If you’d rather glide over the water than get in it, try parasailing. Parasailing involves being attached to a parachute-like apparatus known as a parasail wing and being towed behind a boat, high up in the air over the ocean. It’s a relaxing way to take in views of the land and water, and a great alternative for those who aren’t comfortable with water sports.

Summer is the ideal time to parasail because the skies are clear, the weather is warm, and there are reliable winds. Consider taking off in the early morning, before boat traffic picks up — that’s when you’ll have the best chance of spotting marine life.

Daredevils looking to spike their adrenaline can book a shark diving trip. Shark diving is what it sounds like — you’ll have an unforgettable experience swimming with sharks. However, there are several ways to do this, including cage diving (being inside a cage while sharks swim around you) and free diving (cage-free interactions with sharks). So you can choose what level of thrill you’re most comfortable with.

There are companies offering shark diving tours on most islands, including Kaui, Maui, Oahu, and the Big Island. You might spot a variety of sharks, depending on where you dive. Oahu is known for Galapagos and sandbar sharks, while Maui is known for its population of whitetip reef and tiger sharks. If you’d like to stay near shore, summer and fall are the ideal times to spot sharks in shallow waters.

Consider floating for a relaxing experience on the waves. Just plan a visit to Kauai’s waterways, where you can hop on a mountain tube, sit back, and let the water take you on a historic tour.

Here, you’ll find a series of canals and tunnels, part of a ditch system made for a now-defunct sugar plantation. The waterways begin at Mount Wai’ale’ale (the highest point on the island) and weave their way down to Līhuʻe, the commercial center of the island. They’re known for their slow, gentle waters, and will take you past idyllic and remote sites.

You can choose from many boat excursions around the islands, ranging from relaxed to educational. Book a romantic sunset cruise out of Waikiki. Enjoy dinner and a show with one of the many boat tour companies on Kauai, often complete with a buffet and live entertainment. See marine life from a new vantage point on a glass-bottom boat tour. Take the Expeditions Lanai Passenger Ferry between Maui and Lanai to island hop.

Get in a workout and some sun rays with a day of paddleboarding. Paddleboards resemble surfboards, but instead of surfing waves on them, you stand, kneel, or lie on them, while using a paddle to push yourself around on the water.

You’ll want to do this activity on days when the water is calm, and there are plenty of places to enjoy it in Hawaii. Diamond Head Beach Park in Honolulu has mild waves and gives you stunning views of the southern point of Oahu. If you’re on the Big Island, head to Kealakekua Bay, a protected marine sanctuary where you can explore ancient temples and lava cliffs.