6 Things to Do on Your First Trip to Hawaii

If you're traveling to Hawaii on a golf vacation, schedule some time on Maui, so you can play the courses at Kaanapali, Kapalua and Wailea. These courses each offer different experiences, but as a whole, have spectacular views. The Kaanapali and Kapalua courses have many holes right on the ocean. On Oahu, KoOlau is known as the toughest course in United States and it doesn't disappoint. The Princeville courses on Kauai are challenging and beautiful.

Kaanapali Golf Club
2530 Kekaa Dr.
Lahaina, HI
(808) 661-3271
www.kaanapaliresort.com

Kapalua Golf Club
300 Kapalua Dr.
Lahaina, HI
(808) 669-8044
www.kapaluamaui.com

Wailea Golf Club
100 Wailea Golf Club Dr.
Wailea, HI
(808) 875-7540
www.waileagolf.com

KoOlau
45-550 Kionaole Rd.
Kaneohe, HI
(808) 236-4653
www.koolaugolfclub.com

Princeville Golf Club
P.O. Box 223040
Princeville, HI 96722
(808) 826-5070
www.princeville.com

No visit to Hawaii is complete without going to see Pearl Harbor, site of the USS Arizona Memorial. One of the most emotionally moving monuments in the United States, the Arizona rests just below the water's surface, where it was sunk by the Japanese during World War II. A small boat takes visitors to the monument, where you'll see the names of all of the sailors who were on the Arizona are inscribed on a marble wall. The USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and USS Missouri, where General MacArthur accepted the Japanese surrender that ended WW II, are also open for tours.

USS Arizona Memorial
1 Arizona Memorial Dr.
Honolulu, HI
(808) 422-0561
www.nps.gov/usar

USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park
11 Arizona Memorial Dr.
Honolulu, HI
(808) 423-1341
www.bowfin.org

USS Missouri and Battleship Missouri Memorial
11 Arizona Memorial Dr.
Honolulu, HI
(808) 423-2263
www.ussmissouri.com

Hawaii has excellent snorkeling, and you can snorkel right off the beach in many places. But the two best spots are at Hanauma Bay on Oahu and the Molokini reef off the coast of Maui. At Hanauma Bay, you'll feel like you're swimming in an aquarium. More than 400 species of fish inhabit its calm waters. Entry requires a nominal fee, and it can get crowded. To get to Molokini, you must take a boat from one of the Maui harbors; plenty line the docks in Lahaina. The reef is a marine preserve.

Hanauma Bay
(808) 396-4229

One of the few places in the world you can see active volcanoes is on the Big Island. The Kilauea Caldron last erupted in 1984, and hot, orange lava continues to flow. Kilauea is part of Volcanoes National Park, which also includes the Earth's largest volcano in terms of area covered, Mauna Loa. Drive the Chain of Craters Road, walk through a lava tube or hike in the rain forest.

Volcanoes National Park
P.O. Box 52
Hawaii National Park, HI 96718
(808) 985-6000
www.nps.gov/havo

Surfing lessons are available at resorts across the state, including hotels in Waikiki, along the North Shore (Oahu) and the Kona Coast (Hawaii). Even if you're not quite ready to get on a board, don't miss the stunning swells on the North Shore of Oahu, home to the famed Banzai Pipeline. If you're visiting Oahu in the winter, check the local paper for information about surfing events.

Hawaii offers all kinds of hiking, from the well-traveled path up Diamond Head crater in Honolulu to the challenging and beautiful NaPali Coast on Kauai. The Diamond Head hike takes about an hour, and you'll be rewarded with sweeping views of Honolulu. On Kauai, the NaPali Coast trail begins at Kee Beach and should be undertaken only by well-prepared hikers. The moderate-difficult Kalalau Trail goes 11 miles into the lush forest and has secret beaches, beautiful flora and fauna and stunning waterfalls. For a day hike, bring a picnic to enjoy at the Hanakapiai Valley (about 1.5 miles in) and then head back.