Hawaii is replete with luxury suites that beckon visitors to spend lazy days in comfort, but to get a true taste of the Islands, you have to get outdoors.
From coastal kayaking tours to hikes in the mountains, there are a plethora of adventures available across the state, and the fall, with relatively fewer rain showers and cooler temperatures, can be a great time to experience them.
Outdoor adventurers will find a host of new activities available in the Aloha State in 2017, including a new amusement park catering to family fun and recently introduced initiatives to add ecological conservation to tour programming. There's something new to experience on all of the most touristed islands.
Oahu
Fish Pond Tour: Holokai Adventures' new Heeia fishpond exploration takes participants on a guided kayak tour of the traditional Hawaiian system and technique of coastal fishing and sustainable management. After a briefing on kayak basics, the guides lead the group to fish pond sites and recount their history. Kayakers also get the opportunity to help maintain the ponds by catching predatory fish with a Hawaiian-style bamboo fishing pole. The tour ends with a barbecue lunch at Heeia State Park. $129 for adults and $109 for ages 5 to 12.
Coral Crater Adventure Park: Opened in December 2016, the family-friendly amusement park specializes in spine-tingling, adrenaline-pumping activities. There are ziplines, an all-terrain vehicle course, electric trail bikes, a climbing wall, a giant swing and more. The park also hosts regular special events, such as a nighttime campfire, s'mores and zipline experience and Zombie Apocalypse laser tag. The park can also hosts private parties, team-building events and fundraisers.
Maui and Lanai
Backroads walking tour: For visitors who want to see Hawaii's hidden natural beauty and are willing to (mildly) rough it, Backroads is now offering a walking tour that cover not one, but two islands. The hike starts on Maui's white-sand beaches, winding through the dense jungle to a captivating view of Haleakala Crater, before ending on the King's Highway. Next, trekkers cross the channel to Lanai, where they visit Hulopoe Beach and follow Koloiki Trail to secluded valleys and vistas of neighbor islands. Hikers stay in luxury properties, Hotel Wailea and Four Season Resort Lanai, and the outfitter caters to different fitness levels, allowing for adjustable itineraries depending on how much mileage your group wants to cover each day. The multiday hike starts at $4,098 per person for double occupancy.
Kauai
Kayak Na Pali Coast: See the Garden Isle's picturesque Na Pali Coast on this daylong kayak tour with Kayak Kauai. Participants, who need to be up for the 17-mile paddle and occasional rough water, head out in open kayaks with foot pedal-controlled rudders. The full day of exploring includes sea caves, shoreside waterfalls and hidden beaches. Kayakers pass the green, lush Kalalau Valley, the Honopu arches and other natural sites. Along the way, paddlers can keep an eye out for dolphins, tropical birds and monk seals. Lunch is on Milolii beach, and nice spot for swimming, and the tour concludes at Polihale State Park where the rocky cliffs run into sand dunes. The tour, available April to September, costs $240 per person, and a minimum of four people must register to go out.
Hawaii Island
Mauna Kea Sunrise: Early risers looking for an invigorating morning experience can now join this new hike from Hawaii Forest and Trail that takes trekkers up to the highest peak in the state for a sunset view. Mauna Kea reaches an elevation of 13,800 feet, and hikers will start before day break, offering the chance to take in the stars and night sky before enjoying the sunrise from the top of the volcano -- home to the world's largest collection of research telescopes. Afterward, participants are rewarded for their early morning with a breakfast at Onizuka visitors center, and the tour concludes with a guided walk through an area that is home to the endangered silversword plant. The tour lasts seven hours and costs $196.88 per person.