21 Hidden Gems in Hawaii: Underrated Things to Do the Crowds Miss

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As a guy from the Midwest, I fell in love with Hawaii because of these places and moments. These are the reasons why we visit Hawaii multiple times a year.

My 21 underrated, hidden gems are more than things to do. These are my favorite times to visit, historic towns, and special experiences. Try adding two or three of these to your Hawaii itinerary. 

When you share your opinion, rank them too. I find these 21 underrated things unique, magical, a good deal, and just plain awesome in the middle of the Pacific.

#	Hidden Gem	Island	Cost
1	Whale songs while snorkeling	All islands, in whale season	Free
2	Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach	Big Island	Free
3	Local food (plate lunch, poke, shave ice)	All islands	$15 to $20 a plate
4	Tantalus Lookout at sunset	Oʻahu	Free
5	Small-group tours with local guides	All islands	$150+
6	Kūhiō Highway past Hanalei	Kauaʻi	Free (Hāʻena reservation)
7	4-Mile Scenic Drive, Hāmākua Coast	Big Island	Free
8	Windward Oʻahu and Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden	Oʻahu	Free
9	Hulopoe Beach	Lānaʻi (ferry from Maui)	Free beach, paid ferry
10	Botanical gardens	All islands	Low cost
11	Free hula shows	Oʻahu, Maui	Free
12	Hyatt resorts on points	Maui, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu	Points
13	Museums and national historical parks	Oʻahu, Big Island, Maui	Free to paid
14	Farm tours	All islands	Paid tour
15	Stargazing	Big Island, Maui	Free to paid
16	Historic plantation towns	Big Island, Maui, Kauaʻi, Lānaʻi	Free
17	Traveling in the shoulder seasons	All islands	Saves money
18	Lānaʻi Cat Sanctuary	Lānaʻi	Donation
19	Papakōlea Green Sand Beach	Big Island	Free (tough hike)
20	Kaʻū coffee	Big Island	Varies
21	Kāʻanapali Beach	Maui	Free

Underrated Things to Do in Hawaii Video!

Why read about underrated Hawaii when you can also watch them in action!

Click to watch our video below, where we tour Hawaii and share our favorite hidden gems and underrated spots.

1. Whale Songs

Know before you go: You can hear humpback whale songs while swimming underwater in Hawaii during whale season, from December through March. You will hear them the most on Maui, during the peak months of January and February.

This is the most magical thing to do in Hawaii. I’ve tried it in other states with humpback whale migrations, but it hasn’t worked. 

You can hear whale songs while snorkeling in Hawaii from December through March. Stick your head in the water, go still, and listen to their songs. It is beautiful. You can do this from any of Maui’s many beaches. The whales are mostly clustered in the Au‘au Channel, between Maui and Lana‘i.

On a Maui Whale Watching Tour, they will put a hydrophone in the water to listen. This is great, but nothing beats doing it yourself. Or snorkeling and being serenaded. Hawaii is magical.

2. Punalu’u Black Sand Beach

Know before you go: Punaluʻu is on the Big Island’s southeast coast, about an hour from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Free parking, lifeguard on duty, rough surf. Best as a stop on a volcano day.

Hawaii has beaches with gold, white, red, green, and black sand. We enjoy beaches so much that we had fun ranking the 24 best beaches in Hawaii.

Wai’anapanapa State Park’s black sand beach on Maui gets a lot of press, so much that a reservation is required to visit the state park and the beach. 

For us, our favorite black sand beach is the underrated Punalu’u beach near the southern tip of the Big Island. 

Click for directions to Punalu’u black sand beach.

The black sand is midnight, moonless-night black. Palm trees line the beach, and parking is nearby. It is never crowded, and a lifeguard is also on duty.

We stop here on the way to and from Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park.

The drawback of this beach is the rough surf, which makes it not an excellent place for swimming. Talk to the lifeguard before you go out. If in doubt, don’t go out.

Watch our video below for an itinerary day out, near Volcanoes National Park, where we make a stop at Punalu’u Beach.

3. Local Food in Hawaii

Know before you go: The best local Hawaii food is found at counter-service restaurants. From Hawaiian dishes like poi and kalua pork to more contemporary, plantation-style dishes like chicken katsu and mac salad, you will find delicious local grindz on all the islands. Expect to pay $15-$20 per plate.

Yes, there are numerous Oahu food vloggers on YouTube. Guy Fieri has done numerous Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives episodes in Hawaii. Yet, the Hawaii food scene remains underrated!

These tiny islands have so much good food. You can find it all in Hawaii, from fun foods like Spam and eggs to James Beard Award-winning restaurants.

Hawaii has numerous “only-in-Hawaii” foods that make a vacation here delicious.

• Loco moco
• Shave ice
• Saimin 
• Plate lunch: a meat like chicken katsu, a scoop of rice, and a scoop of mac salad.
• Poke
• Lomi lomi salmon
• Hawaiian food: kalua pork, lau lau, poi, etc

Hawaiian foods include kalua pork and lau lau. Contemporary Hawaii food originates from immigrants who came to work the plantations. They infused their cultural foods to make the plate lunch, saimin, and shave ice that we enjoy today.

Come out here to eat, and you won’t be disappointed. 

Where to Find Local Hawaii Food

Here are some of our favorite spots to find local grindz in Hawaii. These aren’t all hidden spots, but they won’t let you down! Grab our Hawaiian Island Shortlists for our favorite places to eat on each island.

Maui Local Spots:

• Da Kitchen in Kihei has loco moco, chicken katsu, fish tempura
• Huli Huli Chicken and Ribs serves grilled, rotisserie chicken, cooked huli huli style, which is Hawaiian for “to turn”
• Tiffany’s Maui is in Wailuku. Tiffany’s is owned by celebrity local chef Sheldon Simeon. He serves up local Hawaii dishes like poke, saimin, butterfish, and mahi

See our Maui Food Truck Parks for more local grindz, like plate lunches.

Oahu Local Spots:

• Helena’s Hawaiian Food in Honolulu for kalua pork, lomi salmon, and poke
• Highway Inn for traditional Hawaiian food: chicken lau lau, kalua pig sliders, poke, and a large loco moco menu

Kauai Local Spots:

• Hamura’s Saimin in Lihue for saimin in a charming setting. Watch the ladies make it in front of you.
• Smiley’s Local Grindz in Lihue for chicken katsu, pork lau lau, loco moco, butter shrimp
• Shave Ice! Kauai has some of the best local shave ice stands. See our list of our 5 Favorite Kauai Shave Ice Spots

Big Island Local Spots:

• Reel Aloha Poke in Kona coffee country for fresh-caught poke
• Brode da Mouth Grindz in Kona for Hawaiian and Filipino food: furikake chicken, kalua pork, and adobo

When I lived on Oahu, our industrial park had a great lineup of food trucks. It was trouble, as I’d get a plate lunch almost every day. They aren’t the healthiest, but they are delicious and filling!

4. Tantalus Lookout for Sunset

Know before you go: Tantalus Lookout is an ideal sunset spot. Located in Pu’u Ulakaa State Park, about 25 minutes from Waikiki. Arrive early for a parking spot, and parking is paid.

Our daughter was just a baby, so Erica stayed in our Waikiki hotel while I took my son out for sunset. We drove up to Tantalus Lookout; click for directions. 

Located 25 minutes outside of Waikiki, Tantalus Lookout in Pu’u Ulakaa State Park (translates to rolling sweet potato) is the place to go for sunset in Honolulu. If you get bored of Waikiki Beach sunsets (you won’t!), head up to Tantalus.

This is underrated but not a secret. Get there 30 minutes before sunset to find parking. The viewpoint overlooking Honolulu, from Diamond Head to Ewa, is a short walk away. 

You can skip the crowds by attending the Experience Nutridge Luau. It is an intimate luau with a great sunset view, as it is located in the state park. It is one of our favorite Oahu luaus. 

Tantalus Lookout for sunset also made our list of unique things to do on Oahu. Watch our video for unique, hidden gems around Honolulu.

5. Tours with Local Guides

Know before you go: Hiring a local guide will enrich your Hawaii vacation. From a circle island tour to a snorkeling tour, a local experience will be worth the money. The best tours sell out a month or so in advance.

I promise that I’m not trying to sell you a tour! We were hardcore DIY travelers in our twenties and thirties. We avoided guided tours, and boy, did we miss out! 

Now in our forties, we appreciate the knowledge and stories about Hawaii that local guides share. 

While we prefer small group tours, those with fewer than 14 people, we won’t say no to a tour. A tour is a great way to support local businesses, as tour guides and tour operators live on the islands. You have to be a local to stay competitive and run the operation.

Here are some of our favorite and underrated Hawaii tours.

• Oahu circle island tours are popular but advertised as tourist attractions. We find them to be an efficient way to see Oahu. This tour is operated by a Hawaiian and a US veteran.
• Go on an adventure! Mahina Hawaii will take you snorkeling, SUP, kayaking, surfing, hiking, a waterfall swim, and whatever else you want to do. It is a great way to experience Hawaii (specifically Oahu). 
• This tour is pricey, but it is the most authentic Hawaii experience on Oahu: Hawaiian Waikiki Catamaran Sail. Sail offshore Waikiki in a Polynesian canoe while you learn Hawaiian, a bit of hula, pound poi, and so much more.
• We kayaked the Wailua River on Kauai and went swimming in a waterfall. This tour was memorable for us. Check it out here: Secret Waterfall and Kayak Tour.

More Hawaii Tours! Go on at least one tour when you visit Hawaii! See all our favorite Hawaii tours here. We have done a lot of tours, and we have more to check out!

6. Kuhio Highway on Kauai’s North Shore

Know before you go: The most scenic part of the Kuhio Highway is on Kauai’s North Shore, past the historic town of Hanalei. Enjoy the cliff views, secluded beaches, one-lane bridges, and the Limahuli Botanical Garden. At the end of the road, you need a reservation to enter Ha’ena State Park.

Here is another scenic drive that is a hidden gem in Hawaii. Kauai has one road around the island, except for the Napali Wilderness Area. Most of the road is the Kuhio Highway (the road changes names in parts, especially on the south shore). 

People talk about the Kauai things to do off this route, but miss that this journey is similar to Maui’s Road to Hana. 

The end of the Kuhio Highway is a Road to Hana experience. It is not as curvy or scary, but it is beautiful, with tucked-in beach coves, one-lane bridges, stops like the Maniniholo Dry Cave, and famous beaches like Ha’ena Beach.

Enjoy the bridges and charming homes lining this part of the Kuhio Highway after Hanalei Town.

At the end of the Kuhio Highway is Ha’ena State Park, home to Ke’e Beach. Non-residents must reserve a spot to enter the park.

7. 4-Mile Scenic Drive on the Big Island

Know before you go: The 4-Mile Scenic Drive is on the Hamakua Coast in East Hawaii, off Highway 19. You can access it by driving north from Hilo. Look for the old signs makai (ocean-side) of the highway.

Here are the four prettiest drives in Hawaii:

• The Road to Hana
• The next item on my Underrated Hawaii list
• The Mamalahoa Highway
• The 4-Mile Scenic Drive 

There are a lot of Big Island waterfalls on this drive and in this area. You can also visit Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens and walk down to Onomea Bay.

We are big fans of the Hamakua Coast in general. Our Big Island Wayfinder Itinerary includes a day of exploring it. Save your time and grab our itinerary to enjoy hidden gems like the 4-Mile Scenic Drive.

8. Windward Oahu is Underrated

Know before you go: Windward Oahu is located about 45 minutes from Waikiki, over the Ko‘olau Mountains. From Kailua to Laie, you can drive the coast for beaches and local food spots. This is also home to the Jurassic Valley.

Windward Oahu, the area over the mountains from Honolulu, is well known. Travel writers quickly highlight Lanikai Beach and Kailua Beach, two of Oahu’s best beaches.

Or, folks drive through Windward Oahu to the Polynesian Cultural Center or Kualoa Ranch.

I enjoy this area for its beaches and popular sites, but I think the cliffs and jungle are underrated. Stop at a roadside stand, hike, or even play golf under the pali (cliffs) to take in the area’s natural beauty. 

One of the shield volcanoes that formed Oahu has its heavily eroded caldera in Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden (click for directions). The gardens’ entrance went viral on Instagram with influencers because it was so pretty. But everyone forgot to mention that Windward Oahu looks like that from many viewpoints.

9. Hulopoe Beach on Lanai

Know before you go: Hulopoe Beach is located on the south coast of Lana‘i, a 10-minute walk from the Manele Small Boat Harbor where the ferry drops off. No parking or entrance fee, no lifeguard on duty, but it has showers and toilet facilities.

We were at Kahuku Farms on Oahu’s North Shore when we ran into some viewers of our YouTube channel. They were a wonderful family with teenagers. They shared that their son’s favorite spot in Hawaii was Hulopoe Beach on Lanai. It was his special spot. Their story made me realize how amazing that beach is.

Our family also has wonderful memories of that beach. We spent a February day there swimming, snorkeling, doing short hikes, and playing in the keiki tide pool. It is a gem of a beach on Lanai. 

The Four Seasons Lanai sits above the far side of the beach. Locals use the beach, but since Lanai has the smallest population of the settled islands, it isn’t a busy beach. 

Consider taking the ferry from Maui to Lanai for a day trip. We answer the question: Is Lanai Worth a Day Trip?

Download our Free Lanai Wayfinder Itinerary. Our sample itinerary will help you decide to purchase our larger Hawaiian Island Wayfinder Itineraries. Lanai is our Costco free sample person.

We hope Hulopoe Beach matches your expectations of this underrated Hawaii beach. 

10. Botanical Gardens in Hawaii

Know before you go: Each Hawaiian Island has numerous botanical gardens with endemic and invasive plant species. Parking is free, and entrance fees are $10 to $65 in 2026. Reservations are rarely required.

It is no surprise that Hawaii has some amazing botanical gardens. They are low-cost to enter and never hard to get tickets for. These are the ultimate underrated Hawaii things to do that are available on every island.

We enjoy learning about native Hawaiian plants, walking in the gardens, and being alone. Our kids love them, too, as they can run around and play in the taro field streams.

If you’re into bird watching, a botanical garden is the place to visit!

Here are some of my favorite botanical gardens.

• Limahuli Garden on Kauai (a Hanalei Thing to Do)
• Allerton Garden on Kauai
• Waimea Valley on Oahu includes a waterfall swim, and they are home to the Toa Luau
• Maui Nui Botanical Garden is good with their app (a Thing to Do in Kahului)
• Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden on Oahu (shown in Underrated Hawaii #8) is gorgeous with the pali (cliffs) behind it. We stayed the night here as part of our Oahu Camping Guide.

11. Free Hula Shows

Know before you go: Oahu has the most free hula shows in Hawaii. You can find hula shows on Maui, Big Island, and Kauai at shopping centers.

Hawaii luaus are legendary, and many folks consider them a can’t-miss Hawaii activity. We are all about luaus, which is why we have a Favorite Hawaii Luaus list and numerous videos on them.

A luau can cost over $180 per person on Oahu and over $225 per person on Maui as of October 2026.

Not enough people are talking about the many free hula shows on the Hawaiian Islands. These don’t include food, drink, or fire knife dancing, but they all include wonderful hula and Polynesian dances. MCs will make you laugh, and the performers are the best in the industry. 

Because Waikiki hosts so many shows, Oahu has the most free hula shows. Look to the shopping centers for weekly shows on Maui and the other islands.

Here is a list of free hula shows on Oahu and Maui:

• The Royal Hawaiian Center has daily hula and mele performances.
• Ala Moana Center, a large mall on the Ewa Side of Waikiki, has daily free hula shows at 3 PM on Center Stage. See the Ala Moana Center Events Calendar.
• The Kuhio Hula Mound on Waikiki Beach has shows on Saturday, 6:30 – 7:30 PM
• House Without a Key at the Halekulani has a hula show with their happy hour every night. 
• The Shops at Wailea on Maui has a hula performance twice a week. 

12. Hyatt Properties with Points

Know before you go: Using travel reward points in Hawaii is a great way to save money. In our opinion, the most efficient use of points is with Hyatt hotels in Hawaii.

I’m throwing you a curveball with this underrated Hawaii item, but I promise it makes sense!

Hyatt properties in Hawaii are excellent places to stay, and you can get free rooms with reward points.

Here’s why it’s underrated: Hyatt’s redemption rate. Most other hotel brands with Hawaii locations charge 60,000+ points per night, but not Hyatt. One of these hotels will run you around 12,000-35,000 points per night as of October 2026 – an absolute steal in our book.

We share how to get a free night or more in our Hyatt Hotels in Hawaii & How to Book Free Nights.

We have recently stayed at these Hyatt resorts using points.

• Hana Maui Resort on the Road to Hana
• Grand Hyatt Kauai

We also used credit card rewards for discounts and other resort perks, as shown in our Kauai resort review video below.

Here are helpful resources on using points in Hawaii:

• Where to Stay in Hawaii on Points: 31 Top Hotels
• A Beginner’s Guide to Hawaii on Points
• The Best Credit Cards for Hawaii Travel

These 21 Underrated Hawaii items are not the same as our 12 Things You Can Only Do in Hawaii. Both are lists. Both are unique.

We will also blow your mind with our 59 Best Things to Do in Hawaii.

13. Hawaii’s Museums and National Historical Parks

Know before you go: Hawaii’s museums and national parks are hidden gems few people visit. No reservations are required, and the Historic National Parks have no entrance fees, but parking is paid. You will find the most museums in Honolulu.

Hawaii rarely makes museum lists. As a result, Oahu’s museums are hidden gems. Where else in America can you learn Polynesian history in such authentic detail? Hawaii is the only state with palaces. ‘Iolani Palace had plumbing and electricity before the White House.

I recommend visiting these underrated Hawaii museums. 

• Bishop Museum in Honolulu
• Shangri-La Museum in Honolulu
• Queen Emma’s Summer Palace above Honolulu
• Maui Historical Society

While Hawaii’s National Parks attract thousands of visitors a day, the National Historical Parks are overlooked. They are easily accessible, free to enter, and provide context and understanding of the native Hawaiian culture. 

My three favorite National Historical Parks (full list for Hawaii is here) are on the Big Island.

• Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau
• Kaloko-Honokohau
• Puʻukoholā Heiau

14. Hawaii Farm Tours

Know before you go: Hawaii farm tours offer a local experience and are available on every island. From bee to cacao farms, let a local farmer share their skill. Reservations are required; book a week in advance, and farm tours can range from $50 to $150 in 2026.

We love a farm tour in Hawaii. We have done dozens on all the islands. These underrated tours are a way to get off the beaten path. 

Enjoy local farmers telling their stories, growing native and tropical plants, and sharing their homes and land with you. They truly respect the land (malama ‘aina). 

Visit a farm for true farm-to-fork dinners (like Common Ground Kauai) and souvenirs you can’t find anywhere else in Hawaii.

Explore our favorite farm tours below, as these are perfect Hawaii honeymoon things to do.

• 18 Best Maui Farm Tours
• 11 Big Island Farm Tours
• Oahu Farm Tour: Cacao and Honey Tour

Talking about underrated Hawaii, watch our rarely-visited Maui for two excellent farm tours and a day out on Maui.

15. Stargazing in Hawaii

Know before you go: Hawaii has clear, dark skies for stargazing. Stargazing tours are offered at sea level and at higher elevations, like on Haleakala and Mauna Kea. Book two weeks in advance for a stargazing tour.

Every night when we lived on Maui, our family would finish dinner and go for a walk. Our dog Hattie appreciated the walk. We would appreciate all the stars in the sky.

Hawaii is world-famous for stargazing, which is why there are observatories on Haleakala and Mauna Kea. Dark skies (no light pollution) make it easy to view the Milky Way. 

Get a bit out of Honolulu or up on the slopes of the West Maui Mountains, and you will see more stars than you ever have.

It took us years to book a stargazing tour in Hawaii. Now, they are an underrated Hawaii experience. You don’t have to go to the top of a volcano for good viewing. Oceanside viewing is a wonderful experience. 

Enjoy our full guide to Stargazing in Hawaii.

Here are the stargazing tours we have done and ones we recommend.

• Mauna Kea DIY Stargazing
• Mauna Kea Stargazing Tour with Photos
• Stargazing on Maui: Tours and DIY Advice
• Big Island Stargazing Tour near the Beach

16. Hawaii’s Best Historic Towns

Know before you go: Historic plantation towns from the late 19th century offer plantation architecture, local shops, and festivals. Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island have the most preserved towns. Parking is usually free or costs a small fee in a public lot.

Hawaii differs from the other 49 states for several reasons. 

• Polynesians discovered the islands over 800 years ago through brilliant navigation and a lust for adventure.
• It was originally the Kingdom of Hawaii before a US-supported coup.
• The state is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
• Sugar and pineapple plantations brought Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Filipino, and other workers to the islands, creating a unique blend of cultures.

That last bullet point shaped Hawaii’s current culture and architecture. The plantation towns are charming and unlike any other cities in America. The turn-of-the-century homes and front streets reflect a lost time of plantation life. 

Visit these historic towns for local shopping, local grindz (food), and a leisurely day out. Escape the Waikiki and Ka’anapali resort areas by visiting one of these underrated Hawaii towns.

• Holualoa is my favorite! On the Big Island, it offers art studios and coffee shops tucked into Kona coffee farms. Then, you can take one of our favorite Kona coffee farm tours.
• Makawao is a paniolo (cowboy) town. Upon the slopes of Haleakala on Maui, Baldwin Avenue is home to charming shops and restaurants. 
• Koloa Town (Kauai) was the original plantation town in Hawaii and is home to the first sugar plantation. We come for the shave ice and food trucks. 
• Hanapepe is a gem on Kauai. The town feels a bit worn, but we enjoy visiting for the new food trucks popping up, the Hanapepe swinging bridge, and the art galleries. It is a great stop on your South Shore Kauai day. Hanapepe was built by Japanese who left the plantations to set up their own economy and local, inclusive town.
• Dole built Lanai City as part of the largest pineapple plantation in the world. Located in the center of Lanai, the planned community is built around a town square with a new bowling alley. We love to take day trips to Lanai from Maui for breakfast at Blue Ginger Cafe, poke at Richards Market, and fun at Hulopoe Beach. Enjoy our 22 Things to Do on Lanai.

Some of these historic towns, in an effort to preserve Hawaii’s history and legacy, also include Hawaiian hales (houses) and heiaus (temples) in town or nearby. Visiting a historic town is one way to experience an authentic trip to Hawaii. 

No malls, big stores, strip malls, or traffic will greet you in these historic Hawaii towns. 

17. Hawaii in the Shoulder Seasons

Know before you go: Hawaii’s shoulder seasons run from late September to Thanksgiving and from April to May. Expect the lowest prices and fewest crowds during these times.

School and work schedules can be a bummer for your Hawaii vacation schedule. The best time to visit Hawaii is when school is in session.

Hawaii’s shoulder seasons are late September to Thanksgiving and April and May. The fall and spring shoulder seasons experience fewer crowds and excellent weather. Because of supply and demand, lower visitor counts mean lower prices for rental cars, flights, and hotel rooms.

Hawaii is in the tropics, so the weather hardly changes throughout the year. But the shoulder seasons are one of my underrated Hawaii items because they fall within the Hawaii summer. Hawaii has two seasons per NOAA.

The shoulder seasons fall at the beginning and end of summer, so you will find cooler days than in July and August. You can also skip Hawaii’s winter, which is the wet season.

We book our trips during these months. If there is a long weekend or time off from school, we will squeeze in a trip to Hawaii. Then we can make more Hawaii videos, like the one below on the best and worst times to visit Hawaii.

18 through 21 are my hidden gems that didn’t make the top of the charts. 

I am writing this out of fear of the cat lovers who are passionate about visiting the Lanai Cat Sanctuary. 

18. Lanai Cat Sanctuary

Know before you go: The Lanai Cat Sanctuary is located on the southern coast of Lanai, a 10-minute drive from Lanai City. Open daily from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, no reservation is required; there is no admission fee, but a donation is recommended.

Lanai Cat Sanctuary on the Island of Lanai accepts donations to visit their shelter of hundreds of stray cats. You’ll need a shuttle, taxi, or rental car to get there. This is Lanai’s #1 tourist attraction.

19. Papakolea Beach: Green Sand Beach

Know before you go: The Papakolea Green Sand Beach is located at the southern tip of the Big Island. Parking and entrance are free. The trail is long and windy with no facilities. Locals offer rides for a fee. The trail passes a sacred heiau. Stay on the trail and off the heiau.

Papakolea Beach is the only green sand beach in Hawaii. This is underrated and overrated at the same time. First, a green sand beach is very cool to see.

It is overrated because the long, windy hike is tough and causes erosion. Plus, the hike passes Hawaiian temples that Hawaiians don’t appreciate being trodden on. It’s a mixed bag to visit.

20. Kaʻū Coffee Beats Kona Coffee

Know before you go: Kaʻū coffee is grown in the Kaʻū District of the Big Island’s southern tip. Visit this area for coffee shops and coffee plantations to taste the local coffee.

Kaʻū Coffee is coffee grown in the Kaʻū District of the Big Island (southern tip). In our opinion, the coffee is delicious and rivals Kona coffee. Just wait, you will see Kaʻū coffee on the top shelf soon.

21. Ka’anapali Beach on Maui

Know before you go: Ka’anapali Beach is located in West Maui, just north of Lahaina Town. The beach is over a mile long and is lined with resorts and vacation rentals. Public parking lots have limited space. We recommend parking at Whalers Village Shopping Center.

Ka’anapali Beach is a long stretch of beach at the Ka’anapali Beach Resorts. It is a popular place to swim, but folks take it for granted.

This beach is gorgeous, great for walking and snorkeling, and a lovely place to visit. You don’t have to drive from your resort for a world-class Hawaii beach on Maui.

Hidden Gems in Hawaii FAQ

All of Our Best of Hidden Hawaii

Seventeen plus four honorable mentions equals 21 hidden gems worth sharing. Our Hawaii Wayfinder Itineraries have more underrated, amazing things to do. 

You don’t need to spend hours piecing together how to visit Hawaii’s best sites—we already did that for you! 

Download our Wayfinder Itinerary, and your planning will be over. Click here to learn more: Hawaii Wayfinder Itineraries. 

Thanks for staying with me as we worked our way to #1 on the Underrated Hawaii charts.

Please email me (our email is on our About page) to share your underrated Hawaii location or moment. 

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