The Atlas Obscura Guide To Hawaii

95 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Hawaii

Updated September 30, 2026

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Black Sand Beach

Hawaii

Punalu'u Black Sand Beach

This black shoreline is made up of exploded lava particles.

Hana, Hawaii

Hana Lava Tube

A tunnel of hardened lava along Maui’s famous Road to Hana.

Mauna Kea Observatory

Hilo, Hawaii

Mauna Kea

Earth's tallest volcano is sacred to Native Hawaiians, and home to a dozen world-class observatories.

Akaka Falls

Pepeekeo, Hawaii

'Akaka Falls

These picturesque Hawaiian falls are home to a rare species of fish that uses a special sucker to climb up cliffs.

Pāhoa, Hawaii

Big Island Lava Flow

Watch the newest land on the planet form before your eyes.

Lanai Cat Sanctuary

Lanai City, Hawaii

Lanai Cat Sanctuary

The island of Lanai in Hawai'i is a paradise for cats and cat lovers.

The green sand on Papakōlea.

Naalehu, Hawaii

Papakōlea Beach

A beach made of semi-precious green sand on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi.

See All 95 Things To Do in Hawaii

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Hawaii

Honolulu, Hawaii

Nisshodo Candy Store

This mom-and-pop Japanese sweets shop has been serving cloud-light mochi for almost a century.

Captain Cook, Hawaii

Kona Coffee Living History Farm

Try your hand at old-fashioned coffee growing at this museum devoted to one of the world's most coveted beans.

Kapa'a, Hawaii

Pineapple Dump Pier

A local pineapple cannery once dumped pineapple trimmings off of this pier, with sometimes smelly results.

See all 4 Places to Eat in Hawaii

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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

8 Watery Wonders in Hawaiʻi, Without Setting Foot in the Ocean

Yes, we know, Hawaiʻi is surrounded by water—the state is a watery wonder in and of itself. But the ocean is only the beginning. The volcanic islands' dramatic topography, unpredictable coastlines, and high rainfall mean that water in and around the Paradise of the Pacific cavorts in all sorts of stunning ways: waterfalls, blowholes, pools, and more. (Plus rainbows. Lots and lots of rainbows.) And you can enjoy all of these natural showstoppers without having to get your feet wet.

Explore Hawaii

Volcanoes 12

Geology 11

Nature 11

Natural Wonders 7

Water 7

Islands 7

World War Ii 7

Indigenous 6

Animals 6

Geological Oddities 6

Ecosystems 6

Military 6

Architectural Oddities 5

Museums 5

Beaches 5

Architecture 5

Petroglyphs 4

Cemeteries 4

Military History 4

Colonialism 4

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Stories About Hawaii

Kīlauea Won't Stop Erupting

In this episode of Untold Earth, learn what lessons one of the most active and accessible volcanoes on Earth can teach us about our planet's past, present, and future.

by Atlas Obscura

December 4, 2025

Ripples in the land are remnants of the field walls that once held rows of native sugarcane and sweet potatoes.

Unearthing the Mysteries of Hawai'i's Ancient Agriculture

At the Kōhala Field System, researchers are rediscovering lost ancestral knowledge.

by Sarah Lohman, Atlas Obscura

Don’t forget the cherry on top.

Midcentury America's Most Scandalous Salad

According to Betty Crocker, Candle Salad was even “better than a real candle.”

by Diana Hubbell, Atlas Obscura

February 24, 2025

A Pond in Hawaii Has Turned a Shocking Pink

Scientists try to figure out why the water dramatically changed color over one weekend.

by Hannah Seo, Atlas Obscura

November 15, 2023

Podcast: Pā‘ula‘ula / Russian Fort Elizabeth

What do Russians have to do with this Indigenous Hawaiian fort?

by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura

Hawai'i Tackles Invasive Little Fire Ants With Vigilance, Slingshots, and Gooey 'Sputter'

Across the archipelago, scientists and citizens are uniting against the tiny terrors, deploying an arsenal of creative weapons.

by Ashley Stimpson, Atlas Obscura

December 14, 2022

From inter-island diplomacy to broken treaties, this fort has witnessed the machinations of Hawaiians, Russians, and Americans.

Excavating the Hawaiian History of Kaua‘i’s ‘Russian’ Fort

A rich local history has long been overshadowed by a few months under a Russian flag.

by Sarah Durn, Atlas Obscura

November 30, 2021

Hawaiʻi has excellent conditions for frequent, intense, long-lasting rainbows.

Why Hawaiʻi Is Perfect for Rainbows

According to one scientist, geography and weather make it the “Rainbow Capital of the World.”

by Luna Shyr, Atlas Obscura

Lists Featuring Hawaii

Red Seabeach

The otherworldly landscape of Padar Island.

Black Sand Beach

10 Unique Beaches From Around the World

From bright red grass to stranded shipwrecks, these beaches are anything but ordinary.

Including Driftwood Beach, Red Beach , and Padar Island