17 Underrated Hawaii Locations, Activities, and Food

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The internet is full of opinions, and this article on underrated Hawaii will be no exception. As a guy from the Midwest, these places and moments made me fall in love with Hawaii. These are the reasons why we visit Hawaii multiple times a year.

My 17 underrated Hawaii gems are more than things to do. These are my favorite times to visit, historic towns, and special experiences. Try to put two or three of these items on your Hawaii itinerary. 

I’m doing this countdown style! When one shares their opinion, they might as well rank them too. I find these 17 things unique, magical, a good deal, and just plain awesome about these islands in the middle of the Pacific.

Each island has its distinct personality with unique and underrated characteristics. If you haven’t decided which Hawaiian island to visit, we’ll help you choose! Our Cheat Sheets are a great way to get an overview of each. Then dive into what makes them unique with our travel guides:
– Big Island Travel Guide
– Maui Travel Guide
– Oahu Travel Guide
– Kauai Travel Guide

Underrated Hawaii Video!

Why read about underrated Hawaii when you can also watch them in action! Click to watch our video below ,where we give you a tour of Hawaii and show you our favorite underrated things about Hawaii.

17. Hawaii in the Shoulder Seasons

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. Thanks to supply and demand, the lower visitor counts result in 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 are in the Hawaii summer (Hawaii has two seasons per NOAA), yet are the cooler times of year. And, you can skip Hawaii’s winter. 

You can visit outside the hot months of July and August, while enjoying the lack of rain like July and August.

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. 

16. Hawaii’s Best Historic Towns

Hawaii is unlike the other 49 states for multiple 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, Koreans, Portuguese, Filipinos, and others to the islands, creating a unique blend of cultures.

That last bullet point shaped the current culture and architecture of Hawaii. 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! Located on the Big Island, it offers art studios and coffee shops tucked into the 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. 

15. Stargazing in Hawaii

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, hence the 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. 

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

14. Hawaii Farm Tours

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.

13. Hawaii’s Museums and National Historical Parks

Hawaii rarely makes any lists for museums. Hence, the museums on Oahu are underrated. Where else can you learn Polynesian history in such authentic detail in America? Hawaii is the only state with palaces. The 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

12. Hyatt Properties with Points

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 25,000-35,000 points per night – 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 stayed in these resorts by booking with points.

• Hana Maui Resort on the Road to Hana
• Grand Hyatt Kauai
• Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki

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 17 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.

11. Free Hula Shows

Hawaii luaus are legendary, and many folks consider them a can’t-miss Hawaii activity. We are all about luaus, hence our Favorite Hawaii Luaus list and numerous videos on them.

A luau can be expensive at over $180 per person on Oahu and over $225 per person on Maui. 

Not enough people are discussing the numerous 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. They have MCs who will make you laugh and performers who are the best in the industry. 

Thanks to Waikiki hosting numerous 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.
• The Kuhio Hula Mound on Waikiki Beach has shows in the morning and at night, like Experience Kilohana.
• 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. 

10. Botanical Gardens in Hawaii

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.

9. Hulopoe Beach on Lanai

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. 

8. Windward Oahu is Underrated

Windward Oahu, the area over the mountains from Honolulu, is a well-known spot. Traveler writers are quick to share Lanikai Beach and Kailua Beach, two of the best beaches on Oahu.

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 feel the beauty of the cliffs and jungle is underrated. Stop at a roadside stand, hike, or even play golf under the pali (cliffs) to take in the natural beauty of this area. 

One of the shield volcanoes that formed Oahu has its heavily eroded caldera in Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden (click for directions). The entrance to the gardens 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.

7. 4-Mile Scenic Drive on the Big Island

The 4-Mile Scenic Drive is located in East Hawaii on the Hamakua Coast, off Highway 19. You can access it when you drive north from Hilo. Look for the old signs makai (oceanside) 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.

6. Kuhio Highway on Kauai’s North Shore

Here is another scenic drive that is an example of underrated 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 fail to mention how 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 for the tucked-in beach coves, one-lane bridges, stops like the Maniniholo Dry Cave, and famous beaches like Ha’ena Beach.

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

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5. Tours with Local Guides

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 less 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!

4. Tantalus Lookout for Sunset

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.

3. Local Food in Hawaii

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!

There is so much good food on these tiny islands. You can find it all in Hawaii, from fun things to eat 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
• Poke
• Mac salad
• Hawaiian food: kalua pork, lomi lomi salmon, poi, etc

These foods come from the plantation workers. They mixed and matched their lunches to create fusion dishes that are uniquely Hawaiian. Come out here to eat and you won’t be disappointed. 

2. Punalu’u Black Sand Beach

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 there is parking near it. It is never crowded, and there is also a lifeguard 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.

1. Whale Songs

This is the most magical thing to do in Hawaii. I’ve tried to do it in other states with a humpback whale migration, but it has not worked. 

You can hear whale songs while snorkeling in Hawaii during the December through mid-April whale season. Stick your head in the water, go still, and listen to their songs. It is beautiful.

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

Underrated Hawaii Honorable Mentions

Here is my quick list of underrated Hawaii items in this opinion piece 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. 

• Lanai Cat Sanctuary on the Island of Lanai takes donations to visit their shelter of hundreds of stray cats. A shuttle, taxi, or rental car is required to get there. This is the #1 tourist attraction on Lanai.
• 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 hike in the wind is tough and is causing erosion. Plus, the hike passes Hawaiian temples that Hawaiians don’t appreciate being tread on. It makes for a mixed bag to visit.
• Kua Coffee is coffee grown in the Kua District of the Big Island (southern tip). The coffee is delicious and rivals Kona coffee in our opinion. Just wait, you will see Kua coffee have its day on the top shelf soon.
• 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.

All of Our Best of Underrated Hawaii

Seventeen plus four honorable mentions equals 21 hidden gems that needed to be shared. Our Hawaii Wayfinder Itineraries have more underrated, amazing things to do. 

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

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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