Beaches plus
Hawaii is a beach destination, yes, but it is much more. Even several visits covering all the larger islands may still not be enough time for a inquisitive visitor to experience all the things that are of interest.
In more than a decade of ratings, Hawaii has always ranked above all destinations worldwide on the satisfaction index, meaning the percentage of visitors who report they had a great vacation.
To attain such a high rating, Hawaii has to receive the highest-possible ratings from all personality types — and it does because it has great attractions for everyone.

About Hawaii
It helps to know more about each of the state’s most important islands. Each has its unique personality, weather and attractions, as follows:
• Oahu, the main island, contrasts its hustle bustle, great shopping and fabulous dining enjoyed in the capital city, Honolulu, with the open spaces on the windward side, which includes Sunset Beach, often called the surfing capital of the world.
• Hawaii, the largest island of the archipelago, is known simply as the Big Island. It has two volcanic mountains, each nearly 14,000 feet tall. Mauna Loa covers half the island, while Mauna Kea is called the white mountain because it is snow-capped in winter and visitors can ski. Kilauea is the Big Island’s active volcano on Mauna Kea which periodically enlarges the island with new flows.
• Maui, a favorite for many, probably fits Hawaii’s stereotypical image more than any other island because of its concentrated collection of luxury beach hotels at Ka’anapali and Wailea. Maui gets the most positive traveler references because of its incredible beaches and the backdrop of beautiful hills and valleys.
• Kauai is called the garden island because of the lush growth of colorful native flowers and fruits.
• Molokai and Lanai offer seclusion at isolated luxury resorts for those who really want to get away from it all. 
Crime is not a worry, even in Honolulu, the largest city. Also, you will notice the absence of graffiti. Hawaii envelopes you in a sense of peace and serenity and immediately makes you feel relaxed and comfortable. Nearly everyone mentions the consistent sunshine and comfortable temperatures, along with the aloha spirit of its residents.
However, Hawaii could not achieve its top-rated status on weather and hospitality alone. Its strength lies in offering a greater variety of things to do for all travelers — regardless of age or personality type — than other destinations.
There is one thing though: Skip the luaus at hotels and other places. These commercial re-creations of native Hawaiian festivities lack authenticity.

• Dive into water sports, literally. Go scuba diving or snorkeling, or try spearfishing being certain to abide by any restrictions that may apply in the area where you propose to fish.

• Rent a Jeep, ATV or scooter and tour the islands on your own. Don’t set a rigid schedule because you’ll want to explore at your own pace.

• Hike into Maui’s Haleakala Canyon, a volcanic mountain with several secondary craters and a 10,000-foot slide into the Pacific at its far end. You could do what some other tourists do: Each morning, they start their ascent at around 3:30 to view spectacular sunrises.

• Go for a tandem skydive over Oahu’s North Shore. This daring adventure begins at Dillingham Airfield.

• Venture out on a horse or hike in places away from busy crowds. Most islands have stables. You’ll experience Kauai’s lush beauty (“South Pacific” and “Jurassic Park” were filmed here) or Maui’s own sense of isolation and inner peace.

• Become a botanist for a couple of days. Hawaii has lost more native plants and species from centuries of human settlement, followed by commercial development and tourism, than any other place in the world. But it’s still a rich place for biodiversity. Visit a state park for brochures or log on to Hawaii’s Web site (www.gohawaii.com) for information.

• Take a tandem bicycle ride down Mauna Kea on the Big Island — easy as pie because you start at the top and coast to the bottom. Recognize that the speeds you and your partner can attain can be a bit frightening.

• Go windsurfing or parasailing on any island.

• With a permit from the Hawaii Department of Health, you can visit the former leper colony of Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai. The town, part of the Kalaupapa National Historical Park, is still inhabited by survivors of the leper colony although they are no longer confined to the town. Victims of the much-feared disease were isolated until1969.

• Time your visit right, and you can ski on Mauna Kea.

• Snorkel at Hanauma Bay on Oahu. It is a short drive from Waikiki. You’ll be swimming with an incredible number of colorful fish in a shallow bay. The fish want to be fed and some will give a nudge or a mild bite if you don’t comply!

• On Maui, leave the fancy resorts to see beautiful sugar cane and pineapple fields in valleys surrounded by stunning steep, lush mountains.
Or, get out to have a look at Kauai, Hawaii’s garden island; it has lots of open space with native vegetation and colorful commercial flower fields.

• Hike inside Diamond Head, the inactive volcano that forms the picturesque backdrop to most photos of Waikiki. It offers great views of Waikiki and Honolulu from its 761-foot summit.

• Sail a catamaran or go kayaking in the waters of any island.

• See Hawaii by helicopter! You’ll marvel at its lushness, many valleys and steep canyons, and at how much open land still exists. During spring rains on Kauai, helicopters from Lihue and Princeville go inside the craters where you are surrounded by 360-degree waterfalls.

• Get married on a beach in Hawaii. Don’t bring shoes.

• Trek around Kilauea, part of a national park on the Big Island. You might even happen to be there when it’s active. If the National Park Service doesn’t prevent access at that time, you can walk right up to hot lava flows.

• Visit the unique town of Waimea on the Big Island. At a 4,000-foot altitude, it’s always cool, with abundant lush greenery. It has an odd, midwestern-town feeling.

• Or visit a different Waimea — Waimea Canyon, on Kauai. It is a series of gorges carved into the slopes of Mount Waialeale.

• Take advantage of the variety of dining and entertainment in Honolulu. Entertainment ranges from native Hawaiian to reggae, from jazz to live theater and headliners — in addition to symphony, ballet, opera and more.

• Take a drive around the Big Island. It presents contrasts of rolling brown hills and lush areas with tropical waterfalls, macadamia plantations and beaches of white sands or black volcanic pumice.

• Play golf. Hawaii abounds in incredibly beautiful golf courses, often at water’s edge with dramatic views. Top-rated courses include Wailea Golf Club (Maui), Ka’anapali Golf Club (formerly Royal Lahaina Golf Club, on Maui), Mauna Kea Golf Course (Big Island), Kona Country Club (Big Island), Poipu Bay Golf Course (Kauai) and Makaha Resort and Golf Club (Oahu).
But don’t overlook top-rated public courses, also beautiful — and less costly. On Oahu there are Ewa Villages Golf Club, Ala Wai Golf Course, Hawaii Kai and New Ewa Beach Golf Club.

• See Hawaii from a cruise ship. In a week, you can get a quick look at several islands and ideas for your next visit.

• Take in the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. It presents a fine overview of Hawaii’s history from the arrival of the Polynesians to the growth and power of the Bishop family (now remembered for its philanthropic activities to support native Hawaiians).

• Hawaii is a shopper’s paradise with unique gifts that reflect native Hawaiian influences, including Hawaiian shirts, luau dresses and art objects. Devote time to Ala Moana, the massive open-air shopping mall in Honolulu with many specialty shops. Even shops in hotels can offer great variety.

• Visit Iolani Palace in Honolulu. Built in 1882, it served the last two Hawaiian monarchs, King Kalakaua and Queen Lili’uokalani. Note the huge banyan tree, an island landmark.

• Visit the grave of Charles Lindbergh, the first man to fly solo across the Atlantic, in 1927. He is buried in the churchyard cemetery in Kipahulu, Maui.

• Tour the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor (operated by the National Park Service). The monument spans the mid-portion of the battleship which was sunk by the Japanese on Dec. 7, 1941.
Or, take a full-blown Pearl Harbor tour which can include the USS Arizona, and then visit the Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetery, burial grounds of U.S. military.

• Take a circle island tour of Oahu traveling by jitney bus.

• Other islands also offer tours of their back country areas. You can book most of these tours after you arrive at your hotel.