Hawaii is incredibly beautiful, but I honestly don’t recommend visiting in June because...
Hawaii: A Tropical Paradise of Volcanoes, Waves, and Hula
1. Must-Visit Attractions: A Symphony of Volcanoes, Beaches, and Cultural Landmarks
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: The Earth’s Heartbeat and Lava Wonders
Kīlauea Volcano: Hike the Thurston Lava Tube to explore a natural cave formed by an eruption 500 years ago; join a lava stargazing tour (~$150/person) at night to witness the red glow of lava meeting the ocean under a starry sky.
Volcano Crater Overlook: Stand on the platform outside the Jagger Museum to feel the sulfur fumes rolling from the crater. Wear a windproof jacket and rent a gas mask (available at park shops).
Waikīkī Beach: A Surfer’s Paradise and Sunset Feast
Surfing for Beginners: Try Ty Gurney Surf School ($120/2 hours), rent a longboard for shallow-water practice with a 1:3 instructor ratio, and wear waterproof sunscreen to prevent rashes.
Diamond Head Sunset: Summit before 17:00 ($5 entry) for a panoramic view of Waikīkī’s coastline as the sunset paints the clouds pink and purple. Afterward, dine on coconut shrimp at Duke’s Restaurant.
Pearl Harbor: Memories of History and Tears
USS Arizona Memorial: Book free tickets on the official site one month in advance. Take a boat to the sunken ship, where oil still seeps like black teardrops, and listen to survivor recordings recounting the 1941 attack.
USS Missouri Battleship: Tour the ship and touch the surrender deck where WWII ended. Wear comfortable shoes and a hat for the scorching deck.
Nāpali Coast: Jurassic Cliffs and Emerald Seas
Helicopter Tour: Blue Hawaiian ($300/person) flies over razor-sharp cliffs, waterfalls, and heart-shaped bays. Wear bright colors for better photos.
Kalalau Trail: A challenging 11-mile round-trip hike (permit required) leading to the secluded Kalalau Beach. Pack at least 3 liters of water and energy bars.
2. Deep Experiences: Culture, Adventure, and Cuisine Collide
Polynesian Cultural Center: Hula and Tribal Celebrations
Lūʻau Feast: $120/person includes fire knife dancing, traditional fire-making, roasted pork, poi (taro paste), and hula lessons. Wear flip-flops for sitting on the ground.
Handicraft Workshops: Learn to weave coconut leaf hats or carve wood, and take home a Hawaiian lei ($10) as a souvenir.
Maui’s Hana Highway: A 620-Curve Road Trip Epic
Classic Route: Start in Kahului, stop at Waiʻānapanapa State Park’s black sand beach and Twin Falls. Pack motion sickness meds and rent a Jeep for style.
Hidden Gems: Try coconut ice cream ($8) and handmade soap ($15) in Hana Town. Avoid crowds by leaving before 7 AM.
Big Island Night Dive: Dancing with Manta Rays
Kona Coast Night Dive: $150/person includes a headlamp dive to watch 5-meter-wide manta rays glide overhead. A 1:1 instructor ensures safety; wear a 3mm wetsuit for warmth.
Eco-Tip: Don’t touch the rays—their skin is sensitive. Use reef-safe sunscreen (oxybenzone harms coral).
3. Food Guide: Poke Bowls, Macadamia Nuts, and Tropical Cocktails
Poke Bowl: The Ultimate Evolution of Raw Fish
Ono Seafood: $12/bowl with ahi tuna, seaweed, avocado, and spicy mayo. Perfect for a beach picnic.
Maguro Brothers: Creative flavors like mango salmon or spicy edamame with purple rice (~$15/person).
Hawaiian Specialties: Lūʻau Pork and Loco Moco
Helena’s Hawaiian Food: $25/person for kalua pig (12-hour slow-roasted pork) and laulau (meat wrapped in taro leaves). Cash only.
Rainbow Drive-In: $10 for loco moco (hamburger patty, fried egg, and gravy over rice) with mac salad (potato salad).
Tropical Cocktails: Mai Tai and Blue Hawaiʻi
Duke’s Waikīkī: $15 for a Mai Tai (white rum + orange liqueur) on the patio with surf views and garlic bread.
Lava Lava Beach Club: $18 for a Blue Hawaiʻi (blue curaçao + coconut milk) with live music. Barefoot-friendly!
4. Transport & Accommodation: Island-Hopping Survival Guide
Inter-Island Flights: Hawaiian Airlines ($80–150/one-way); 40 minutes from Oʻahu to Maui/Big Island. Book one month ahead.
Ferry: Maui to Lānaʻi ($30/person, once daily). Pack seasickness pills.
Lodging Picks
Luxury: The Royal Hawaiian, Waikīkī ($500+/night, beachfront) or Four Seasons Maui ($800+/night, private white sand).
Budget: Waikīkī Beachside Hostel ($50/bed, breakfast included) or Volcano House ($200/night, crater views).
Family-Friendly: Hilton Waikoloa Village (Big Island, $400+/night, waterslides) or Aulani Disney Resort (Oʻahu, $600+/night, Mickey-themed pools).
5. Pitfall Avoidance: Lessons Learned the Hard Way
Tickets & Tours: Book lava tours with licensed operators (e.g., Forest Adventures). Helicopter tours must be FAA-certified.
Pearl Harbor: The USS Arizona is free, but the USS Missouri and Pacific Aviation Museum cost extra ($30/person).
Shopping Tips: ABC Stores for cheap sunscreen/snacks. Buy black pearls from trusted shops like Roberta’s (with GIA certs).
Avoid fake “Kona coffee”—look for “100% Kona Coffee” labels. Blends are cheaper but inferior.
Other Tips: Rent a car with full coverage (rocky roads!). Parking costs $1–5/hour (some beaches are free).
Respect local culture: Don’t touch heads (even kids’), remove shoes in temples, and tip hula dancers ($1–5).
6. Seasonal Highlights: Whales, Surf, and Volcanic Romance
Whale Season (Dec–Apr): Maui’s Lahaina offers boat tours ($60/person) to see humpback whales breaching.
Big Wave Season (Jun–Sep): Watch pros tackle Oʻahu’s North Shore Pipeline, the “world’s deadliest wave.”
Year-Round Volcano Action: Check USGS updates for Kīlauea’s eruptions.
Epilogue
Hawaii is the lava meeting the sea under a starry sky at Volcanoes National Park, the thrill of surfing Waikīkī at sunset, the solemnity of Pearl Harbor, and the wild beauty of Nāpali’s cliffs. It’s the fresh burst of a poke bowl and the smoky feast of a lūʻau. With this guide, let Hawaii’s volcanoes and waves carry you into a dream where tropics and culture collide—because here, even the breeze carries the scent of plumeria.
The whole family accompanied my parents to Hawaii, and Pearl Harbor was of course an important part of the tour. It included a lot of content, with the focus on the Arizona and Missouri battleship memorials. It was raining at the time, so the tour of the upper deck of the Missouri was temporarily cancelled, and I was disappointed that I didn't see the combat command cabin. The local climate is really good when it is sunny, but when it rains, it is fast and heavy like a bucket of water. You must bring sunscreen and an umbrella when you go out.
The famous Pearl Harbor incident is a place worth visiting. Because Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on them in retaliation, which also led to Japan signing a ceasefire agreement in advance during World War II, indirectly saving our country. Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to say that the Pearl Harbor incident was the biggest turning point in World War II. History will not be forgotten.
Pearl Harbor is definitely the most unique attraction on Oahu (other beaches have alternatives on other islands). There are four museums in Pearl Harbor. Except for the Arizona Memorial, which requires advance reservations, tickets for the others can be purchased on site (you can also plan to buy a Go City pass). Visit the Arizona Memorial, Bowfin Submarine Memorial, take the shuttle bus to the Missouri Memorial, and the Aviation Museum in order. You can spend a whole day slowly. The spacious interior of the Bowfin submarine launched in 1942, the 9 main guns of the Missouri launched in 1944, the active Arleigh Burke-class destroyer moored in the military port next to the Pearl Harbor Memorial, the F14, F15, and F16 fighters of the Aviation Museum, and the repair workshop of the Aviation Museum that still has bullet holes from Japanese machine guns are impressive. I came back and rewatched the classic old movie Tiger Tiger Tiger again, and found that many scenes were shot on site. It was really worth the trip!
Pearl Harbor is so beautiful, Pearl Harbor in the Pacific is the main hub of transportation, Hawaii is east from the west coast of the United States, west from Japan, southwest to the islands, north to Alaska and the Bering Strait, all between 2,000 nautical miles and 3,000 nautical miles, across the Pacific South to North, Hawaii is the middle station.
Pearl Harbor is on the west side of Honolulu Airport, and there is a bus at the airport, which is very convenient. The Arizona Memorial Hall is free to visit, but the number of visitors per day is limited. You can book a tour volume online, but each ticket will be charged $1.5 handling fee. The free ticket is available on-site from 7:00 a.m. Because Pearl Harbor is still a military base, so it is not allowed to bring bags when visiting. To store the bags in the storage room, each bag is $5, cameras, mobile phones, wallets can be brought in, if there are many pieces of debris, you can ask for transparent plastic bags to be packed, and carry them into the park. First, I watched a documentary about Pearl Harbor in the theater, and then took a boat around the Arizona Memorial Hall. Because there were cracks in the parking area, I was not allowed to board the memorial hall now, and I could only look far on the ship. Looking at the port area, you can also see other ships and submarines moored here, which is full of blessings.
First stop to the United States: Pearl Harbor. It is located in the southwest of Oahu, Hawaii, is the largest natural seaport in Hawaii, surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing the sea. Historically known for war, it is known that the Japanese launched a military raid on Pearl Harbor during World War II, resulting in heavy American casualties, and the Pacific war. The attack eventually involved the United States in World War II. These history is now on display at Pearl Harbor, where the US government has designated Pearl Harbor as a patriotic education base, and the tour guides in the scenic area are volunteer volunteers, many of whom are disabled veterans.
December 7th marks the 76th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Traveling to Hawaii, we will visit Pearl Harbor. The Pearl Harbor Memorial Hall consists of two parts: the port's showroom and the memorial at sea. There is also a cinema in the port's showroom, which has been released for decades every half an hour, and the number of audiences should be the world's first historical documentary. When watching the film, no smoking, snacks, no noise, and maintain solemnity and solemnity. The order was maintained by the American sailors, as the entire Pearl Harbor memorial was managed by the military. Visitors waited in line to enter the cinema to watch the movie. The entrance to the cinema was in the gallery of the port, and the exit of the cinema went straight to the dock behind the gallery. Pay attention to tourists wearing wreaths around their necks, and the guide said that they were relatives or friends of the victims of Pearl Harbor. Since Japan's victory in Pearl Harbor, it has become a miracle in the history of war, especially in the history of naval warfare, and has been paid attention and research by military experts. At the entrance of the gallery was a collection of documents about the Pearl Harbor incident. A retired civilian general signed and sold his books.