Megan Shute for Only In Your State on 18 reasons Hawaiʻi is paradise. Join us on one of our volcano tours to safely visit an active volcano in comfort and luxury for an amazing bucket list experience.
With stunning natural scenery — from crystalline turquoise waters and fine white sand to towering, verdant mountain peaks — as well as a unique culture, tropical weather, and so, so much more, Hawaiʻi is an absolute paradise. Everyone dreams of visiting Hawaiʻi, and it isn’t necessarily hard to convince anyone that a trip — or even a move — to the Aloha state is worth every second, but here are 18 things that make Hawaiʻi so special.
1. Living Aloha
2. The Beaches
When you live in, or visit, Hawaiʻi, you are never very far from a good beach.
3. The Climate
While there are merits to having four distinct seasons, it is also pretty nice to never have to worry about the weather, because it is always approximately 70 to 90 degrees.
4. Slippahs
That’s what Hawaiʻians call flip-flops, and unless you are hiking up a mountain, they are the only shoes you will ever need.
5. Hiking
Speaking of hiking, Hawaiʻi is a hiker’s dream, with numerous trails of differing lengths, elevation and views — because running on a treadmill is boring.
6. Eternal Sunshine
While it does rain quite frequently in Hawaiʻi, all you need to do is either wait ten minutes, or drive to the other side of the island to experience sun, or rain. Plus, rainbows!
7. Kona Coffee
Need I say more? I will anyways, because Kona coffee is famous across the world, and it is grown right in our backyards.
8. Water Sports
In Hawaiʻi, we have it all — kayaking, surfing, fishing, SUP, snorkeling, scuba, etc.
9. Iolani Palace
Once home to King Kamehameha, Iolani is the only royal palace on U.S. soil, and that’s pretty cool.
10. Volcanoes
Each state has their own unique terrain and even natural disasters, but nothing is more beautiful than a visit to one of Hawaiʻi’s volcanoes — especially Volcano National Park on the Big Island.
11. We have snow, too.
Yes, you read that right. Snow is possible on the summits of Hawaiʻi’s three tallest volcanoes, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and Haleakala.
12. Pearl Harbor
An incredibly humbling experience, the historic sites at Pear Harbor give you a true glimpse of WWII history.
13) Luaus
A truly unique Hawaiʻian experience.
14. Sea Life
Whether you are snorkeling at the famous Haunauma Bay or cage diving with sharks, incredible experiences in the Pacific Ocean are just a step away.
15. Island Hopping
We may not get to take road trips, but we can always hop on a quick flight to a neighboring island for a weekend getaway.
16. H-3
The H-3 highway cuts through the Ko’olau Mountains on Oahu and is positively surreal.
17. Locally Grown Fruit
There is absolutely nothing better than fresh pineapple from the Dole Plantation, or a trip to your neighborhood farmer’s market.
18. Film Culture
Whether you are a local, a transplant, or simply like visiting the Aloha State for a yearly vacation, Hawaiʻi is an absolute paradise for adrenaline junkies and beach bums alike.
