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Skip the luau: Today's Hawaii is all about adventure. And why not? Deep rainforests, hidden waterfalls, and rocky coastline are the pieces to your tropical adventure puzzle. Add in island-hopping deals galore, and it's easier than ever to explore the entire state. So take the umbrella
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| 1. Hike Diamond Head on Oahu
 Hawaii is all about scenic views, and this is the granddaddy. It's hard to find a more spectacular 360-degree panoramic view of Honolulu and Waikiki Beach than the one from the summit of Mount Leahi, or, as it's locally known, Diamond Head. Continue -->
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 Monster waves. Huge wipeouts. Hawaii is, of course, America's surfing Mecca, and the North Shore of Oahu is the state's Holy Grail. Seven miles northeast of Haleiwa is a wide stretch of beach along Kamehameha Highway that includes parks like Sunset Beach, Ehukai Beach, and Pupukea Beach. And in winter, the really big surf rolls in.
The hottest place to board? Just west of Ehukai Beach Park; here you'll find the much celebrated Banzai Pipeline, a spot where the shallow water and coral shelf combine to create powerful tubular waves that resemble pipes, thus giving the place its name. When the surf is calm, this stretch of beach can be good for swimming. But if the surf's up, beware! The Pipeline at full strength is unforgiving, even for the pros. Continue -->
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3. Walk the Na Pali Coast on Kauai
 It's the Hawaii of dreams: The Na Pali Coast on Kauai serves up lush rainforest valleys, cascading waterfalls, towering peaks, pristine beaches, and rugged coastline. Best of all, there's a trail that runs through it all.
The 11-mile Kalalau Trail begins at the terminus of Kuhio Highway nopage.htm56 at Haena State Park on Kauai's North Shore and passes through five valleys, winding its way along towering sea cliffs, isolated beaches, and old Hawaiian ruins. Midway through, you'll find a campground (but with no facilities—carry water and supplies).
The trail ends at Kalalau Beach, and the return is along the same route. This is a difficult trail, with some stretches passing over rocky terrain and through rushing streams.
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4. Bike Down Maui's Haleakala
 Super views with the wind rushing through your hair: Take on Maui's greatest bicycle adventure, the 38-mile Summit to the Sea ride, from the 10,023-foot summit of Mount Haleakala (House of the Sun) to the beach at Paia town. And hold the effort: On this ride, you have only 400 yards of real pedaling, then you coast the rest. Along the way, you can't miss views of the West Maui Mountains, the central isthmus of Maui, and upcountry ranch lands.
Several bike tour outfitters offer this ride, including bike and all equipment, with side trips to other upcountry Maui attractions and sites.
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5. Explore Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island
 Welcome to the only place in the U.S. where you can walk up to a volcanic eruption and see a living lava flow. True, you'll have to hike over rough lava rock terrain to get top this spot in Volcanoes National Park, but the payoff is spectacular views of fiery lava entering the ocean, exploding into great billowing plumes of steam, sulfuric gases, and volcanic pumice. Fifteen miles southeast of the visitors' center, the park's Chain of Craters Road terminates at a point where lava flows have cut the coastal road. In this wild, mostly flat coastal area, visitors witness lava flows from Kilauea Volcano entering the ocean.
The flows are often via underground lava tubes with occasional surface breakouts. The lava flows change constantly, entering the ocean at various points or meandering atop solidified lava flows.
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6. Get Away to Midway
 This place is for the birds! Located 1,100 miles northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands, Midway Atoll was the site of the Battle of Midway in June 1942. But now this former naval base is a national wildlife refuge and home to some 2 million birds, including 400,000 pairs of Laysan albatross (the "gooney bird"). You'll also find endangered animals like the Hawaiian monk seal, the Hawaiian green sea turtle, and spinner dolphins. And the lagoons and coral reefs teem with marine life, so snorkeling and scuba diving are tops here. Hiking is easy on the flat island, and bicycles let guests explore and discover on their own.
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7. Hike and Bike Lanai
 See Lanai like few people do: The Munro Trail is a 10.5-mile off-road vehicle route that'll challenge any hiker or biker. You'll follow the mountain ridges through high-country forests and swirling misty clouds while passing over 3,370-foot Lana'ihale, the highest peak on the island. You'll take in some spectacular views of valleys, gulches, the Palawai Basin, and old pineapple plantation fields. Just watch out: At the higher elevations, the cooling trade winds can be quite gusty. And the narrow, winding gravel/dirt road is no piece of cake: It can be rutted, muddy, and impassable during wet weather. Along the way, keep an eye out for deer, wild turkeys, and other game birds.
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8. Ride Mules on Molokai
 It's no Grand Canyon, but the Molokai Mule Ride to Kalaupapa National Historic Park is a spectacular and unique adventure. Ride a sure-footed mule down some of the highest sea cliffs in the world to the isolated former leper colony at Kalaupapa.
Discover and explore the place where Father Damien de Veuster, a hero of Hawaiian history, labored among the outcast lepers in the late 19th century until he succumbed to the disease. The ride up and down the rugged 1,700-foot cliff trail provides spectacular views of Kalaupapa and Molokai's north coast. Hikers can do this trail, too, but it's strenuous, with many steep switchbacks.
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9. Hike Oahu's Windward Coast
 Get away from the crowds and go hike Oahu: The Maunawili Trail is a nine-mile route that reaches into some fairly untouched areas of Oahu's windward eastern side. Following the base of the Ko'olau Mountain Range, the trail has some steep rises, but it's mostly level walking through rainforest and open grassy areas.
The reward will be beautiful views of east Oahu's coastal areas, mountains, ridges, sheer cliffs, and valleys. Start from the Pali Highway nopage.htm61 side and hike about an hour in, then turn back. (You could continue—the trail stretches clear to the southeast coast of Oahu.) Take Pali Highway to Nu'uanu Pali State Wayside and follow Old Pali Road at right of lookout to the trailhead. There is also trail access just east of the Pali Tunnels at a scenic pullout on a sharp turn on the way down to Kailua.
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10. Kayak the Big Island
 The phrase "Flumin Da Ditch" may have no meaning in the 48 states, but on the Big Island, these words will get you into one of Hawaii's best kayaking adventures. It's a three-mile, three-hour kayak cruise through the old Kohala Irrigation Ditch built in 1905 for the sugar plantations of the North Kohala District.
You'll cruise the ditch, tunnels, and flumes through open rainforest and mountain pastures, and get fantastic panoramic views along the way. The cruise needs to be done with a kayak outfitter/guide service, as access to the ditch is over private land and permits are required.
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