8 Of The Most Captivating Small Towns In Hawaii
Ask anyone for their dream destination and vacation spot, and many of them might likely choose Hawaii 鈥� for a number of good reasons. Besides the soothing tropical climate, the dynamic jungle and mountain landscapes, the beaches, and historic sites, such as Pearl Harbor, visitors will likely also be mesmerized by the most captivating small towns in Hawaii. So whichever small town you visit in the islands of Hawai驶i, Maui, Kaho驶olawe, L膩na驶i, Moloka驶i, O驶ahu, Kaua驶i, and Ni驶ihau, you will undoubtedly be captivated by the historical, natural, and cultural charms of Hawaii鈥檚 small towns. Find out for yourself why Hawaii is one of the most talked-about destinations in all of the US.
Hale鈥檌wa, Oahu
About an hour away from the city of Waikiki on Oahu, the beloved small town of Hale鈥檌wa is a perfect nesting ground for tourists and frigatebirds alike. Indeed, Hale鈥檌wa combines the words Hale meaning 鈥渉ouse鈥� and iwa meaning 鈥渇rigatebird鈥� due to the abundance of the species on Oahu鈥檚 North Shore. But aside from the avian activity, Hale鈥檌wa is renowned for its beautiful beachside amenities as best seen in the 鈥楨hukai Beach Park (aka the Banzai Pipeline), Sunset Beach, and Waimea Bay.
If you are an animal enthusiast, then you will definitely fall in love with the many species of female turtles that deposit thousands of their eggs into Laniakea Beach鈥檚 sand. One can also admire the sugarcane plantations of the Waialua Sugar Mill or cross the historic Rainbow Bridge spanning the Anahulu River. Most of all, you can admire the remains of a former landing field airport from 海角社区 War II at the Pua'ena Point. Hale鈥檌wa may be a home for frigatebirds, but for you it can be a beautiful destination spot in your memorable vacation throughout Hawaii鈥檚 captivating small towns.
Holualoa, Hawaii Island
On the Big Island of Hawaii lies the resplendent town of Holualoa, where people used to sled down steep mountain slopes with only wooden sleds. Holualoa encourages and energizes people on new adventures. Speaking of energizing, Holualoa is, much like its neighbors Keauhou and Kailua Village (Kailua-Kona), a renowned producer of the state-famous Kona coffee, whose beans can be found all over the volcanic mountainsides of Hualalai volcano, one of the five volcanos that made Hawaii. Among these coffee orchards and farms that you can explore is Mauka Meadows, one of dozens of coffee farms along the Kona Coffee Belt. Once you are sufficiently awake for exploration, you might want to traipse through the bewildering terrains of the Honua驶ula Forest Reserve and the Pu'u Wa'awa'a Forest Reserve, or you can always wait for November to attend the town鈥檚 annual celebration: the Holualoa Village Coffee & Art Stroll.
Makawao, Maui
Paniolo statue. Editorial credit: Sandra Foyt / Shutterstock.com
Makawao has endured as the cultural and historic epicenter of Upcountry Maui on the island named after the mythic hero Maui. Where Hawaiian cowboys known locally as paniolo continue to roam since the 19th century and where artisans鈥� workshops like the Hui No鈥檈au Visual Arts Center and Hot Island Glass provide insightful teachings on techniques like glassblowing, you will be mesmerized by Makawao鈥檚 stunning simplicities and beautiful landscapes. One can admire the aforementioned paniolo wrangling long-horned bulls and Maui alpacas across the Haleakal膩 volcano, and even attend the largest paniolo competition known as the Makawao Rodeo around the Fourth of July holiday. And if you are a lover of the outdoors, you will certainly be enamored by the Kula Botanical Garden, the thick jungles of Ko'olau Forest Reserve, the Twin Falls Maui Waterfall, and an exhilarating trip through the air at the Jungle Zipline Maui-HI.
Lanai City, Lanai
As the primary community the island of Lanai, Lanai City encapsulates the diverse wonders and surprises on an island named in part from the Hawaiian phrase for 鈥渄ay of the conquest.鈥� Whether you are learning all about the extinct volcano L膩na驶ihale, which created the island, or what once was the largest pineapple plantation in the US, Lanai City, leaves visitors feeling rejuvenated and relaxed after a delightful vacation in this amazing small town on its cute little island.
In the far past, the island of Lanai was once a royal retreat for King Kamehameha the First. Much of his vacation estates, such as the 15th-century Hawaiian village at Kaunolu and a ceremonial and religious structure called a heiau, continue to fascinate tourists and locals alike. More remnants of the past can be seen in the 18th-century Luahiwa petroglyphs at the Palawai Basin. Among the more modern allures you can cherish are the Lanai Bamboo Garden Retreat, the rescued cats at the Lanai Cat Sanctuary, and Keahiakawelo, the rock-strewn Garden of the Gods.
Honoka驶a, Hawaii Island
If the main reasons one travels to Hawaii are for surfing and for beaches, then visitors should definitely seek out the magnificent small town of Honoka驶a. Only an hour away from Holualoa, Honoka驶a鈥檚 Hamakua Coast has seen thousands of surfers and beachgoers lounging about beneath the sun. The Honoka驶a People鈥檚 Theatre entertains newcomers with all sorts of films, classes, concerts, and educational events. The lush biomes and habitats surrounding Honoka鈥檃, especially Waipi'o Valley, the Kohala Forest Reserve, and the Pu'u O Umi Natural Area Reserve, shelter some of the most enduring animal species on the Big Island. More bounties of nature can be enjoyed at either the Hilo Forest Reserve, the Kal艒p膩 State Recreation Area, or the H膩m膩kua Forest Reserve.
Paia, Hawaii
Paia, the windsurfing capital of the 海角社区, will have you soaring and bobbing over the rhythmic tides splashing on Ho鈥檕kipa Beach. One can either become a windsurfer and a professional kite surfer or simply be dazzled by their display of mastery over the waves and winds from the Pacific Ocean. Other beaches aside from Ho鈥檕kipa Beach include Kaulahao Beach 鈥� which connects to the waters of Mantokuji Bay and Ku鈥檃u Bay 鈥� Baldwin Beach Park, and Paia Secret Beach (clothing optional). There is also the Great Paia Lha Bab Peace Stupa at the Maui Dharma Center, which the late Venerable Lama Tenzin, the center's first full-time resident spiritual director, once supervised. More spiritual relaxation can be gained at the village of Haiku, where Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin reportedly stayed during the production of "Rainbow Bridge," and the nearby Sacred Garden of Maliko.
Hana, Maui
Many people proclaim that the town of Hana on Maui is the 鈥淩eal Hawaii鈥� because of its isolation from outside influences. In order to reach this remote town deep in Maui鈥檚 untamed wildlands, one will have to take the Road to Hana which goes through 52 miles of Maui鈥檚 rural landscapes starting from the community of Kahului. Once you do reach Hana, you will definitely be amazed by the unique rock formations at Koki Beach that were supposedly created by the conflicts between the fire and volcano goddess Pele and the ocean goddess Namakaokaha'i. The hills of Ka'uiki Head, likewise, are a place of mythic importance.
Speaking of spirits and Hawaiian myths, one might be interested in the largest Hawaiian temple, a heiau, known as Pi'ilanihale. Travelers might also enjoy seeing the Kahanu Garden, one of five National Tropical Botanical Gardens in Hawaii, as well as scenic tours through Sunbathe at Wai驶膩napanapa State Park, the Hana Lava Tube, H膩na Bay Beach Park or Hamoa Beach, the Hana Forest Reserve, and Waioka Pond (sometimes called the Venus Pool). And if you are curious to know more about Hana鈥檚 true history and cultural attitudes, you can always see the exhibits at the Hana Cultural Center and Museum.
Waimea, Hawaii Island
Cattle grazing in the Waimea countryside.
Waimea, meaning 鈥渞eddish water鈥� due to the red clay soil in the region, is the cultural nexus of the Big Island鈥檚 paniolo culture. With a deep history of ranching at the Parker Ranch which has been around since the year 1847, Waimea has protected one of the largest Hereford cattle ranches in the US. For centuries, Waimea practiced King Kamehameha the First鈥檚 kapu or royal taboo on the killing of the cattle by first protecting them from outside harm. For fun and games, one can go skiing down Mauna Kea, watching the stars from the Mauna Kea Observatories, wading about at the Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area, or the black sand beaches at the Waipi驶o and Pololu valleys. There are also opportunities for you to ride an ATV or a horse as you proceed in your leisurely journey through Waimea.
According to some of the myths of Polynesian culture, either the great hero Maui pulled the Pacific islands like Hawaii from the ocean鈥檚 depths or Hawaii was formed between volcanic battles between the god-sisters Pele and N膩maka. Even though, in truth, Hawaii was formed by natural volcanic processes, you will nonetheless be dazzled by each of these eight most captivating small towns In Hawaii. From the non-Wild West cowboys of Hawaii and delicious Kona coffee to the enticing surf and natrual wonders, visitors continue to create lasting memories in the beautiful island state of Hawaii.
