After our honeymoon, the first major vacation that David and I took was to Hawaii. We spent a ton of time researching what island we wanted to visit, and we ended up deciding on Kauai.

It was perfect. In fact, it was so perfect that we joked we would never vacation anywhere else. Of course, we have been a few other places since! But Hawaii felt like home from the first time we stepped foot there. So we decided to return to the islands last summer. We saw three more islands, and of course, we returned to Kauai for round two!

We decided to return to the islands last summer. We saw three more islands, and of course, we returned to Kauai for round two!

Honolulu, Oahu

Honolulu is Hawaii’s main hub. If you’re visiting the islands, you’ll fly in here and perhaps even spend a few days. Some people spend their entire Hawaiin vacations in Waikiki, and it’s beautiful, but there is so much more to see in Hawaii. Don’t limit yourself!

If you’re staying in Waikiki, head over to the Side Street Inn. David discovered this spot on the recommendation of a high school football coach, and it has absolutely amazing fried rice and fried chicken — among many, many other options. From there, jump in your car and start driving. Head up to the Pearl Harbor Historic Site, which is just past the airport and has a very moving museum and very beautiful grounds.

Continue up to the North Shore. Depending on the season, you can see some massive waves. Stop off at Surf N Salsa, which is in a park of food trucks and has incredible tacos. And if you’re feeling really adventurous from there, loop around the entire island, making stops at Ahupua’a ‘O Kahana State Park and Lanikai Beach, which might be the best beach on the island.

Kahului, Maui

We only had one day in Maui, and we decided to spend it driving the Road to Hana. It’s a great way to spend a day in Maui, but make sure you’re going in prepared. The roads are windy and there are a lot of blind curves, so be prepared to drive carefully. Also make sure to bring water, sunscreen, towels and a change of clothes because you’re going to want to stop to swim.

The best stops along the route: Twin Falls, although only experienced climbers should try to take on the second waterfalls. Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees are fascinating and beautiful and worth a few photos. Waianapanapa State Park is better known as the Black Sand Beach, and it was my favorite spot on the trip. Soft black and sand and warm water for swimming. Finally, keep driving past the end of the road and visit Haleakala National Park. Some of it was closed when we were there, but there are amazing trails, and the Pools of ‘Ohe’o aren’t a can’t-miss destination if they’re open.

Rather than turning back around, David and I continued the loop. And that night, we saw the most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen in my entire life! It was pure magic!

Hilo and Kona, Hawaii

Hilo and Kona are both on the Big Island, which we think is a very underrated destination. The best thing to do in Hilo is to visit Volcanoes National Park. There are countless trails and sights to see in the park, and it’s a great opportunity to knock another National Park off your checklist. (David loves the National Parks, and some of our favorite travel memories have been from exploring them.)

In Kona, we had the absolute best breakfast of our lives at 808 Grindz Café. It’s a little spot in a strip mall, but the pancakes (with macadamia nut syrup!) and bacon fried rice were amazing. And then we went swimming with the dolphins in Kealakekua Bay. That alone would be worth it, but we got super lucky on the morning we went out. The captain took us a little farther off shore, and we actually go to swim with some pilot whales too. It was a truly incredible experience!

Nawiliwili, Kauai

Kauai is our absolute favorite island. There is so much to see and do here that it’s hard to summarize in just a paragraph or two. Ideally, you’d want to spend a week or more here so that you can take a cruise along the Napali Coast and drive up to Waimea Canyon. If you meet some local friends with a boat, you can even go see the Kipu Kai shoreline, which was the beach in The Descendants. Another adventure we really loved were the ATV tours at Kipu Ranch.

But most importantly: If you go to Kauai, you absolutely must take a doors-off helicopter tour. There are multiple companies that offer this excursion, and it’s absolutely life-changing. You see the Napali Coast and then venture inland where there are so many waterfalls that officials can’t even keep track. You’ll feel like you’re in Jurassic Park, in part because much of the movie was filmed on the island. It’s expensive, but David and I always tell people: It’s the best money we’ve ever spent on vacation. I’ve recommended it to three other friends who’ve gone and also said the same!