Hawaii, the 50th state in the USA, will undoubtedly be on most travel bucket lists for years to come. This exotic archipelago state is famously known as the “Paradise of the Pacific.” If you want to do more than just hit the tourist spots though, here are 25 unbelievable hidden gems in Hawaii.
25 Unbelievable Hidden Gems in Hawaii
1. The Bamboo Forest, Maui
The Bamboo Forest is located along the Pipiwai Trail in Haleakala National Park on the Road to Hana on the island of Maui. The trail is roughly four miles in length but will take you to both the Waimoku Falls and Makahiku Falls. The forest is densely packed with trees that provide visitors with both shade and atmosphere.
Here insects whirl and clack and birds twitter. For safety reasons, avoid swimming at the top or bottom of the falls. Nevertheless, it’s a fantastic scene seen only by those willing to make the hike.
2. Kawela Bay, Oahu
Kawela Bay is a secluded beach nestled near Oahu’s northern tip. The area is protected by the North Shore Community Land Trust in accordance with the wishes of local residents. As this goes to press, it remains relatively undeveloped despite previously proposed development plans.
It is highlighted by unique banyan trees and has even appeared in such feature films as The Hunger Games: Catching Fires and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. It’s a great place to reconnect with nature and avoid crowds. Here you can picnic, paddleboard, and swim if you don’t mind access to few facilities.
3. The Kalalau Trail, Kauai
The well-known Kalalau Trail is an 11-mile-long trail that leads along the striking Na Pali Coast on the island of Kauai. It is a challenging, remote, rugged yet exceptionally beautiful trail. In fact, hiking parts of this trail requires a permit, and going with a guide is recommended. You will discover a number of superb waterfalls and sublime beaches such as the somewhat secluded and cozy Kalalau Beach, a.k.a. the Secret Beach. You are only allowed to camp along this trail in two places. There are composting toilets, but no seating areas, or potable water.
4. The Sanju Pagoda, Oahu
You will find this three-level structure on the isle of Oahu in Honolulu Memorial Park. It is a large replica of the revered Minami Hoke-ji Temple located in Nara, Japan. The building stands 119 feet high and features fine Japanese designs.
The structure is built out of concrete, not wood. It is also in the official National Register of Historic Places. It dates back to 1966 and is actually one of the tallest temples in the country, perhaps even the world. Currently unsafe to enter, but you can still appreciate it from the outside.
5. Raëlian UFO Peace Park, Big Island
The distinctive Raëlian UFO Peace Park is a unique sculpture park located in Pahoa on the Big Island of Hawaii. Here you’ll see several different sculptures and a model of an unusual galactic embassy the Raelian UFO religious group wants to build there. The Raelian religion, founded by Claude “Ral” Vorilhon, believes life here was created by aliens known as the Elohim. The main sculpture is a large nude woman with the official Raelian symbol on her chest. There are also sculptures of chameleons, native birds, peacocks, and a sea turtle too.
6. Keahiakawelo, Lanai
Also called the Garden of the Gods, Keahiakawelo, also known as the Garden of the Gods, is a group of noteworthy natural rock formations on Lanai. Here the reddish, arid earth is dotted with various shapes and sizes of boulders. It’s speculated that previous visitors created these tiny towers and designs.
Local legend warns that visitors who tamper with these stones risk the wrath of ancient gods. Others note that two men from Lanai and Molokai were competing to see who could keep a fire burning the longest. Their efforts to win created this place.
7. Harold L. Lyon Arboretum, Oahu
This hidden gem in Honolulu is actually named after the ex-director of the Hawaii Sugar Planters’ Association who also studied plant diseases. Tourists typically come to this area to see the Manoa Falls and often ignore this fertile, lush garden. Thus, this is a great place to get off the beaten path especially if you are at all interested in plants and nature. The arboretum includes 12 gardens and seven miles of trails to explore and a variety of tropical flora and rare and endangered species of Hawaiian plants. Don’t miss Aihualama Falls!
8. Glass Beach, Kauai
Glass Beach is in Eleele on the island of Kauai. It’s both unusual and unique and worth the detour off the typical tourist trail. It’s admittedly not the place for fun with beach blanket Barbie, but there’s something visually attractive about the rounded, smooth pieces of multi-colored glass that are strewn across the basalt rocks here. These pretty pebble-like pieces of glass accumulated on this beach are the result of the ebb and flow of ocean waves smoothing and removing the sharp edges of broken bottles and other glass discarded in the area.
9. The Kaumana Lava Tubes, Big Island
Close to Hilo, the intriguing Kaumana Lava Tubes are a comparatively unknown hidden gem on the popular Big Island. These tubes are the result of hot volcanic lava forcefully flowing through the earth. Travel writers report that the tubes here are actually more natural and authentic than other more commercialized tubes elsewhere. The tubes can be explored, but there are no official guides here, so you are solely responsible for your own safety. If you want to deeply explore these caverns, you’ll need a flashlight. Watch the slippery, jagged rocks!
10. The Coco Palms Resort, Kauai
If you appreciate history and tradition, visit the famous Coco Palms Resort in Wailua. This resort was the first resort on the entire island. It opened back in the 1950s and played host to such famous folks as Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. This once pricey and opulent place was the preferred playground for the day’s rich and famous. In 1992 it was trashed by Hurricane Iniki and more recently damaged by a fire. Now ruined, the building’s shell has yet to be razed because the demolition plans remain in legal limbo due to disputes over land ownership.
11. A Hawaii Volcano Treehouse Rental, Big Island
If you still haven’t booked a place to stay, consider a Hawaii Volcano Treehouse rental, conveniently close to the popular Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. These rental tree houses tower 20 feet high and are an exceptional way to get in touch with nature while also spending time in a memorable setting that can be either family-friendly or romantic. These rustic tree houses are mainly built of wood, are eco-friendly, and are built in the trees with branches close to the structures. Amenities include a bathroom, comfortable beds, wooden furnishings, and a canopied skywalk.
12. The Island Of Niihau
Niihau spans an area of less than 70 square miles and is a privately-owned island purchased from the then-Kingdom of Hawaii in 1864. Estimates of the population vary from 30 or 40 to 300. This island has no WiFi, poor TV reception, no electricity other than that generated by solar power, and no running water.
Rain catchments are used to supply locals with water. If the water supply becomes low, residents relocate ‘til it rains again. The only way to visit this “Forbidden Island” is to take a beach tour or hunting expedition.
13. The Kukaniloko Birthing Stones, Oahu
While typical tourists tend to drive right by them, the Kukaniloko Birthing Stones on Oahu, near Wahiawa, Hawaii are hidden gems. They mark a significant historical site. These stones might look as if they were arranged haphazardly, but they commemorate major battles and royal births as well.
Ancient islanders once thought the stones also designated this place to be where the isle’s natural forces were the strongest. This place was considered sacred. It not only served as a ritualistic birthplace for future chieftains but was also thought to be astronomically significant too.
14. The Dunes, Kauai
Travel back through the mists of time to this peculiar prehistoric landscape of odd stone sand dunes. Yes, here hidden by the cliffs close to Koloa, you will actually see stone sand dunes. Indeed, originally made of sand, these dunes went through the process of lithification.
In other words, over time the sand dunes were compacted by pressure, lost their porosity, and turned to stone. Today, they present an olden, otherworldly, striking sand-colored contrast to the blue of the sea. Hike here or rent a 4WD vehicle as the road here is in pretty bad shape!
15. The Waimanu Valley, Big Island
The Waimanu Valley is a hidden gem and Hamakua Coast’s largest valley. Tourists avoid it because the journey there includes a nine-mile hike. The Muliwai Trail takes you by splashing cascades and picturesque streams.
The path can become quite slick so be sure to pack trekking poles with your other hiking equipment. You should also reserve a camping spot in advance. The black sandy beaches are perfect for sunbathing and the crystal-clear water is good for swimming. The views are stunning with a lush valley on one side and water on the other.
16. The Makauwahi Cave, Kauai
The Makauwahi Cave is an under-visited hidden gem. It is also one of the island’s largest caves. The cave covers the subjects of archeology, history, and, of course, nature.
Here you’ll discover fascinating fossils that’ll give you a glimpse into the island’s past. Like some ancient diary, the cave’s layers tell a tale of Kauai’s history. Explore this sinkhole, formed from the inward collapse of a fantastic fossilized sand dune.
Study plant and animal fossils that were here before man. Visit Mahaulepu Beach too. It was a shooting location for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
17. Ching’s Pond, Maui
Also popularly known as the Blue Sapphire Pools, Ching’s Pond is hidden from the road. This is a popular, local hangout and while it is quiet on weekdays, it is often crowded on the weekends. The bubbly Palauhulu Stream gently flows through here beneath a bridge.
Below that bridge, you will spot some striking sapphire pools. It’s so pretty you’d almost think fairies and nymphs live here. There are but two hiking trails to reach this spot. The less challenging trail is marked by a big tree just 50 feet from the bridge.
18. The Kau Desert, Big Island
Hawaii’s Big Island is home to the expansive Kau Desert. This lunar-like landscape includes a natural floor of gravel, sand, and volcanic ash dotted with boulders and solidified lava. The desolate landscape is almost completely devoid of wildlife and green plants.
The rain that does fall on this torrid terrain is generally too acidic to be beneficial. The water droplets in the air mix with the sulfur dioxide from the various volcanic vents here to create toxic rain. Hikers who plan on braving this place should remember that if the volcanoes are too active, the trails may be closed.
19. The Vintage Cave Club, Oahu
The critically-acclaimed Vintage Cave Club is said to be one of the most luxurious (albeit costly) restaurants in the state. While it’s not exactly a “hidden” gem, it makes the cost to dine here at this exclusive, and stylish restaurant keeps many tourists away. Still, if you win the lottery and want to spoil yourself, this is one place to do it.
It offers distinctive dishes made with fresh, local ingredients. The restaurant includes a well-stocked bar and wine cellar, and walls adorned with artwork by Picasso, Anton Molnar, and others.
20. Lanai Cat Sanctuary, Lanai
“What’s new pussycat?” If you like cuddly cats, the Lanai Cat Sanctuary is the purr-fect place for you. Here you will find 500 former furry feline strays that have finally found a home at this 25,000-foot furball refuge.
Opened in 2009, this serval sanctuary was founded to rescue and protect unwanted cats and provide them with a safe place to live. By protecting pussies, the sanctuary also aids in the survival of another animal, the ua’u bird. You can come here, play with the local lynxes, lend a paw, and even make a donation.
21. The Pineapple Garden Maze, Oahu
Visit the famous Dole Pineapple Plantation and lose yourself in the popular Pineapple Garden Maze. Those in the know report that this is the largest plant maze on the planet. This pineapple puzzle features 14,000 plants, spans an area of two acres, and includes two and a half miles’ worth of paths. Naturally, some paths lead nowhere, and others are intentionally designed to mislead and confuse people trying to make it through the maze. There’s more than one way out, though, so don’t stress about being lost in the labyrinth forever.
22. The Hindu Himalayan Academy, Kauai
A visit to the Hindu Himalayan Academy might make you feel like you’re in some foreign land like Tibet or Nepal. Ah, but rather than the majestic Himalayan Mountains, the academy is in the heart of a tropical landscape. This memorable monastery was founded by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. It is a peaceful place where Western ways and Polynesian costumes merge with assorted Eastern religions. This sanctuary serves as both a “global outreach” and a Hindu education center that follows the teachings of numerous gurus from southern India and Sri Lanka.
23. Shangri La, Oahu
In this case, the literary-inspired name Shangri La concerns a “hidden” collection of interesting Islamic art that focuses on Hinduism and Islam. Philanthropist Doris Duke is the founder of this collection found outside of Honolulu. Shangri La was once Duke’s official Hawaiian hideaway.
She designed it inspired by her international travels. Here you can see embroideries, paintings, and sculptures that she collected from various places over a number of years. The building overlooks the ocean. It includes an Iranian-style pavilion and a big saltwater pool too.
24. The Blue Room, Kauai
The Blue Room in Hawaii is another amazing natural wonder here in Hawaii. You’ll find this hidden gem in the beautiful Waikapalae wet cave situated in Kauai. The Blue Room is “hidden” in the back of a cavern entrance and is thus named because it shines with a shade of deep blue when the level of the water is high enough.
Remember, if you visit, do not get into the water. There are “germ risks.” If you feel like swimming, Ke’e Beach, an exceptional swimming beach, is but a brief stroll away.
25. The Liljestrand House, Oahu
Historic Liljestrand House was constructed over half a century ago. The Liljestrand couple’s former residence remains an extraordinary example of American-Russian architect, Vladimir Ossipoff’s modernist work. Currently listed on the noteworthy National Register of Historic Places, this hidden gem is now owned by the American-Chinese couple’s children.
The couple is quite proud of their parents’ former dream house here in Hawaii. They’ll even show you the clothing their parents wore back in the 1930s. If you would like to visit this home, call and request an appointment to see it in advance.
