Complete Planning Guide

Planning Your Full Hawaiian Journey - Adventures on Oʻahu

The Big Island gives you a profound connection to nature and history. When you're ready to switch gears, a short flight to Oʻahu opens up a world of different experiences, from modern thrills to moments of solemn reflection. After immersing yourself in the raw nature of my island, many visitors find that a few days on Oʻahu provides a perfect balance to their Hawaiian vacation.

Map of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (HVNP)

This park is the heart of the Big Island, a sacred place, and a living laboratory of geology. It can be overwhelming, so I've created a map that lays out a perfect one-day highlights tour. But first, the most important piece of advice I can give you: this park is alive and conditions change daily. Before you drive to the park, you MUST check the official NPS website for the latest eruption updates, air quality warnings, and any road or trail closures.

Expanding Your Hawaiian Adventure to Oʻahu

If you have thrill-seekers in your ohana (family), I always point them to Coral Crater Adventure Park. After hiking our rugged lava fields and ancient trails, the high-flying ziplines, off-road ATV tours, and the towering Adventure Tower are pure, high-energy fun. The park offers a variety of activities, from a 6-line zipline course through the jungle to a challenging ninja warrior-style climbing wall.

Pearl Harbor - Essential Historical Context

No trip to Hawaiʻi is truly complete without understanding its place in world history. A visit to Pearl Harbor on Oʻahu is a powerful and moving experience that deserves a full day of your itinerary. The grounds are a national memorial, a place of solemn remembrance for the events of December 7, 1941, that brought the United States into World War II.

Seeing the USS Arizona Memorial, a beautiful white structure floating above the sunken battleship, is a moment that stays with you forever. You can also walk the surrender deck of the Battleship Missouri, where the war officially ended, and explore the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. It's a story of sacrifice, resilience, and peace that every visitor to our islands should experience firsthand.