There are so many tours and activities to choose from in Hawaii that it can be hard to know which ones are actually worth fitting into your trip. Living here, I know that some of the best experiences are the ones that let you see a side of the islands you might not be able to experience on your own, whether that’s getting out on the water, exploring a remote coastline, visiting a volcano, or learning more about Hawaii’s history and culture.
I’m not trying to list every tour available. Instead, I’ve put together a smaller collection of experiences across Kauaʻi, Maui, Oʻahu, and the Big Island that I think are genuinely worth considering. My goal is to help you spend less time sorting through endless options and more time choosing the experiences that make sense for your trip.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. I only include tours and activities that I believe could be useful or enjoyable for Hawaii visitors.
Kauaʻi Tours & Activities
Kauaʻi is one of the best islands for tours that take you beyond what you can easily reach by car. Much of the island’s most dramatic scenery is along the Nāpali Coast, deep in the interior, or tucked into areas that are easier to explore with a guide. Boat tours, helicopter flights, and guided river adventures can give you a completely different view of the Garden Isle.
Nā Pali Coast Power Catamaran
Seeing the Nāpali Coast from the water is one of those experiences that really shows you just how dramatic Kauaʻi is. The cliffs, deep valleys, waterfalls, and stretches of coastline that are difficult or impossible to reach by road look completely different from offshore. A power catamaran is a great choice if you want to cover a good amount of coastline while still having time to enjoy the views and take photos.
This is the kind of tour I would recommend for visitors who want one memorable ocean experience on Kauaʻi, especially if seeing the Nāpali Coast is high on their list.
Waterfall Safari Helicopter Tour
Kauaʻi is especially impressive from the air because so much of the island’s interior is rugged, mountainous, and difficult to reach from the road. A helicopter tour gives you a chance to see deep valleys, waterfalls, ridgelines, and other parts of the island that most visitors would never be able to see from the ground.
If a helicopter flight is on your Hawaii wish list, Kauaʻi is one of the islands where it can really add something different to your trip. It is a good option for visitors who want to see a lot of the island’s scenery in a relatively short amount of time.
Wailua River Kayak & Secret Falls
The Wailua River is one of the most peaceful places to experience Kauaʻi from the water. This guided adventure combines kayaking with a hike through the lush Wailua River Valley to reach Secret Falls, giving you a chance to enjoy both the river and the island’s tropical interior in one outing.
This is a great fit for visitors who want something more active than a sightseeing tour but still want plenty of time to take in the scenery. It is a fun way to experience a different side of Kauaʻi, especially if you enjoy kayaking, hiking, and being outdoors.
Koloa Zipline
Kauaʻi’s lush scenery makes ziplining especially fun, and this Kōloa adventure gives you a completely different way to experience the island. The course includes eight ziplines through the South Shore landscape, with long runs that give you plenty of time to enjoy the views instead of feeling like the experience is over in a few seconds.
I like this option for visitors who want to add some adventure to their Kauaʻi trip without committing an entire day to an excursion. It is especially good for families, couples, or anyone who wants something active and memorable between days at the beach and sightseeing.
Kauaʻi Guided Shore Snorkel in Poʻipū
Snorkeling from shore in Poʻipū is a great option if you want to spend time in the water without committing to a longer boat trip. This guided experience lets you explore Kauaʻi’s underwater scenery while having someone there to help with equipment, safety, and finding the best areas to snorkel.
I like this option for visitors who want a shorter, more relaxed ocean activity or who may feel more comfortable snorkeling from shore than from a boat. It can also be a nice choice if you want to leave plenty of time in the day for the beach, sightseeing, or exploring the South Shore.
Luau Ka Hikina
A luau can be a fun way to spend an evening on Kauaʻi, especially if it is your first trip to Hawaii and you want to experience Hawaiian and Polynesian music, dance, food, and storytelling all in one place. Luau Ka Hikina includes dinner and a lei greeting, followed by an evening show featuring performances from across Polynesia.
This works especially well for visitors who want to include a luau in their Kauaʻi itinerary without giving up most of the day. Since the experience is around three hours, you can still spend the daytime at the beach or sightseeing and make the luau your evening activity.
Maui Tours & Activities
Maui has a great mix of experiences, from scenic drives and snorkeling trips to sunrise views above the clouds and time on the water. Some activities are easier and more enjoyable with a tour, especially when transportation, reservations, or equipment are involved. If you are trying to decide what is worth prioritizing, these are some of the Maui experiences I would consider most worthwhile for visitors.
Small-Group Road to Hāna
The Road to Hāna is one of Maui’s most famous drives, but it can also be a long day if you are trying to navigate the winding road, find stops, and watch traffic at the same time. A small-group tour lets you enjoy the waterfalls, tropical scenery, coastal views, and stops along the route without having to worry about doing the driving yourself.
This is especially worth considering if no one in your group wants to spend the day behind the wheel. Having a local guide also means you can learn more about the areas you are passing through instead of simply driving from stop to stop.
Majestic Haleakalā Sunrise
Watching the sunrise from Haleakalā is one of Maui’s most memorable experiences, but it also requires a very early start and advance planning. A guided sunrise tour takes care of the transportation and reservation details, so you can focus on the experience instead of driving up the mountain in the dark.
This is a good choice for visitors who want to see Haleakalā at sunrise but would rather not handle the early morning drive themselves. The views from above the clouds can be incredible, and having a guide can make the whole morning feel much easier.
Two-Hour Molokini Snorkel
Molokini Crater is one of Maui’s best-known snorkeling spots, and getting there by boat lets you experience clear offshore water and marine life that you would not normally see from the beach. This shorter snorkeling trip is a good way to visit Molokini without turning it into an all-day excursion.
This works especially well for visitors who want to fit snorkeling into a busy Maui itinerary while still leaving plenty of time for the beach, sightseeing, or another activity later in the day.
Maui Eco-Raft Whale Watching
During Maui’s winter whale season, seeing humpback whales from the water can be one of the highlights of a trip. This smaller raft-style tour keeps you closer to the water than you would be on a large sightseeing boat, giving the experience a more intimate feel while you search for whales and other marine life offshore.
This is a great fit for visitors who want the focus of the trip to be wildlife rather than a larger cruise experience. The two-hour length also makes it easy to fit into a Maui itinerary without taking up most of the day.
Te Au Moana Luau
A luau can be a memorable way to spend an evening on Maui, and Te Au Moana combines dinner with music, dance, and storytelling inspired by Hawaii and Polynesia. It takes place at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort, making it especially convenient if you are staying in South Maui.
For visitors who want to include a luau in their Maui trip, this is a strong choice for an evening activity after a day at the beach or sightseeing. The setting in Wailea also gives you a chance to enjoy one of Maui’s most beautiful resort areas before the show begins.
Maui Jungle Zipline
Ziplining through Maui’s tropical landscape is a fun way to add something more adventurous to your trip. This jungle course takes you through lush scenery and gives you a chance to experience a side of Maui that feels completely different from the beaches, scenic drives, and ocean activities.
This is a great fit for visitors who want an active experience without using up an entire day. It also adds some nice variety to a Maui itinerary, especially if you already have snorkeling, sightseeing, or a luau planned.
Oʻahu Tours & Activities
Oʻahu has a little bit of everything, from historic sites and cultural experiences to mountain scenery, beaches, and outdoor adventures. Because there is so much to see around the island, a good tour can be especially helpful when you want to cover several stops without spending your whole day figuring out directions, parking, and timing.
Pearl Harbor & Honolulu City Tour
Pearl Harbor is one of the most important historic sites on Oʻahu, and a guided tour can make visiting much easier by taking care of transportation and helping you understand the history behind the places you are seeing. This tour also includes highlights around Honolulu, so you can experience more than Pearl Harbor in a single outing.
This works especially well for first-time visitors who want to learn about Oʻahu’s history while also seeing some of Honolulu’s major landmarks without having to plan each stop separately.
Kualoa Ranch UTV Raptor Tour
Kualoa Ranch is one of those places on Oʻahu where the scenery feels completely different from Honolulu and Waikīkī. This guided UTV tour takes you through the ranch’s valleys and mountain landscapes, giving you a fun way to explore areas you would not normally be able to access on your own.
This is a great choice for visitors who want a little adventure while still getting plenty of incredible scenery along the way. It is especially fun if you are traveling with family or friends and want an activity that feels more hands-on than a traditional sightseeing tour.
Kualoa Ranch Movie Sites Tour
Kualoa Ranch has been used as a filming location for some of the most recognizable movies and television shows made in Hawaii. This guided tour takes you through parts of the ranch where productions such as Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, Godzilla, and Hawaii Five-0 were filmed, while also giving you beautiful views of Kualoa’s valleys and mountains.
This is a fun choice for movie fans, but you do not have to be a huge film buff to enjoy it. The scenery alone makes the ride worthwhile, and it is a more relaxed way to experience Kualoa Ranch if you would rather sightsee than drive a UTV.
Oʻahu North Shore Zipline
The North Shore is known for its beaches and surf, but there is plenty to experience away from the coastline too. This eight-line zipline adventure takes you above the North Shore landscape, giving you a completely different view of the area while adding some adventure to your day.
This is a fun choice for visitors who want something active and exciting between beach days and sightseeing. At around two and a half hours, it is also easy to pair with other North Shore stops without using up the entire day.
Waikīkī Turtle Canyon Snorkel Adventure
Turtle Canyon is one of the most popular snorkeling areas just offshore from Waikīkī, and taking a boat out makes it easy to reach the reef without having to plan a full-day excursion. The area is known for Hawaiian green sea turtles, along with tropical fish and other marine life that you may spot while snorkeling.
This works especially well for visitors staying in Waikīkī who want an ocean experience that is close by and easy to fit into their schedule. At around two hours, you can snorkel in the morning and still have most of the day left for the beach, shopping, or sightseeing around Oʻahu.
Toa Luau at Waimea Valley
Waimea Valley is already a beautiful place to visit on Oʻahu’s North Shore, and Toa Luau gives you a chance to experience the valley along with an evening of Polynesian food, music, dance, and cultural demonstrations. The setting surrounded by tropical gardens helps make this feel different from a luau held at a large resort.
This is a strong choice for visitors who want their luau to be part of a larger North Shore experience. You can spend time exploring Waimea Valley and then enjoy the luau, making it easy to combine sightseeing and an evening activity in the same area.
Big Island Tours & Activities
The Big Island offers some of Hawaii’s most unique experiences, from active volcanic landscapes and high-elevation stargazing to nighttime encounters with manta rays. Because the island is so large and many of its major attractions are spread far apart, guided tours can be especially helpful when you want to see more without spending the whole day worrying about driving, timing, and logistics.
Manta Ray Night Snorkel
Seeing manta rays at night is one of the Big Island’s most unique ocean experiences. These graceful animals come close to the surface to feed on plankton attracted by underwater lights, giving snorkelers a chance to watch them glide through the water from surprisingly close range.
This is a great choice for visitors looking for something completely different from a daytime beach or snorkeling trip. Since the experience takes place after dark, it can also fit nicely into a day when you already have sightseeing or beach time planned.
Big Island Volcanoes & Waterfalls Day Tour
The Big Island is incredibly diverse, and a full-day tour is one of the easiest ways to experience several of its landscapes without spending the entire day figuring out routes and timing. This type of tour combines volcanic scenery with waterfalls and other scenic stops, giving you a chance to see how dramatically the island changes as you travel from one area to another.
This works especially well for first-time visitors who want to experience more than one side of the island in a single day. It can also be a good choice if you would rather enjoy the scenery and learn about the places you are visiting instead of handling a long day of driving yourself.
Mauna Kea Summit & Stargazing
Mauna Kea offers one of the most extraordinary landscapes on the Big Island, with views that feel completely different from the beaches and tropical scenery at lower elevations. A guided summit and stargazing tour lets you experience the mountain around sunset and then stay after dark to see the night sky from one of the world’s best locations for astronomy.
This is especially worthwhile for visitors who want an experience that feels truly unique to the Big Island. Having a guide also makes the high-elevation trip easier to manage, while giving you more time to enjoy the sunset, learn about Mauna Kea, and take in the stars once darkness falls.
Big Island Waterfall Zipline Adventure
This Big Island zipline experience combines adventure with some of the island’s lush waterfall scenery, giving you a completely different way to explore the landscape. The course includes multiple ziplines along with a suspension bridge, making it feel like more than just a quick zipline stop.
This is a strong choice for visitors who want an active experience away from the beach and volcano areas. It also works well for travelers who want something adventurous without committing an entire day to one activity.
Captain Cook Snorkel at Kealakekua Bay
Kealakekua Bay is one of the Big Island’s best-known snorkeling areas, with clear water, colorful reef life, and a beautiful stretch of coastline that is easiest to reach by boat. This power catamaran tour takes you out to the bay for snorkeling and includes lunch, giving you time to enjoy the water without having to plan the trip on your own.
This is a good fit for visitors who want a daytime ocean experience that feels different from the manta ray night snorkel. The four-hour length also gives you plenty of time on the water while still leaving part of the day open for other plans.