Oftentimes, most college students at BYU-Hawaii only get to see what Oahu has to offer: from famous surfing to beautiful beaches, sprawling mountain ranges, and a unique city life. Island hopping around the Hawaiian islands is an option to see more.
But if you want to island hop, which island should you see and what is there to see?“All islands are different in ways we don’t realize until we visit,” said Taylor Cooper, a sophomore from Utah studying graphic design. The most common way to travel between the islands is by plane, and a round-trip is never more than $200.
Renting a car is suggested if you want to see more in the day. Tsz Ki Ng, a freshman in finance from Hong Kong said she wants to go to the Big Island. “I want to look around and go to the shopping mall and I want to see the volcano.”What you see when you go to: THE BIG ISLANDThe Big Island is filled with adventures for the active lifestyle.
Volcanoes National Park is the biggest national park on the island, and visitors can look into an active crater (at night it glows because of the lava). In addition, the island provides for hiking, biking, camping, and walking through lava tubes, according to the National Park Service website.
There are also plenty of hikes outside the national park and waterfalls to see on the east coast. You can also go up to Mauna Kea and watch the sunset. The Big Island also is full of places great for snorkeling, scuba diving, and going on boats to see dolphins, whales, manta rays, and more. There aren’t many sandy beaches; they are mostly rocky.
There are black sand beaches, as well as one of the four green sand beaches in the world. What you see when you go to: MAUIMaui is home to Haleakalā Park, a place strong in Hawaiian culture but also perfect for an adventurous backpacking trip for those who wish to see epic volcanic scenery or a beautiful coast (swimming not recommended), according to National Park Service.
Maui also offers a scenic windy drive out to the town of Hana, cascading waterfalls, a black sand beach, and beautiful lookouts. Ultimately, one will end up in Hana, where there are the Seven Sacred Pools, according to travel.usnews.com.
There are famous and beautiful beaches (including a red sand beach), and Iao Valley State Park, filled with jagged mountains and the Iao Needle. If you want some swimming time outside of the beach, there is Waianapanapa Caves with fresh water instead of salty sea, says U.S. News.
What you see when you go to: LANAIVisitors can use the ferry to go to Lanai from Maui. Lanai has hotels and spas that are perfect for a tourist, but also has a museum celebrating the heritage of Lanai.
If you rent a four-wheel drive vehicle, you can go and explore Keahiakawelo (Garden of the Gods). Pu’u Pehe is a rock central to a Hawaiian legend of two lovers, and is only a short hike away from Four Seasons Resort, according to gohawaii.com.
There are beaches to stop and sunbathe, places to hike and bike, or you can drive around and see the beauty of one of Hawaii’s smaller islands. What to see when you go to: MOLOKA’IBeautiful white sand beaches ring Moloka’i, where you can relax and play in the sun.
You can also snorkel and scuba dive, or rent a kayak and explore the south shore of Moloka’i. The south shore has the longest continuous fringing reef in Hawaii, and is full of fish, sea turtles, and gentle manta rays.
On the east end of Molokai there is the lush Halawa Valley, where there are large waterfalls and vibrant farms. Also, don’t miss out on the fishponds; most were built 700-800 years ago, according to GoHawaii.comWhat to see when you go to: KAUAIKauai is the oldest inhabited Hawaiian island, and has a lot to offer for the adventure-seeking island hopper.
The Napali Coast can be accessed by the 11-mile Kalalau Trail, kayak, boat, or helicopter. Near the end of the road that delivers you to the edge of the Coast is one of several botanical gardens to visit, the Limahuli Garden. Waimea Canyon State Park is named the Grand Canyon of the Pacific and is not a place to miss when you visit.
There are also beautiful waterfalls such as Wailua and Kipu Falls, wildlife refuges, and gorgeous views of the Pacific, according to abouttravel.com. Lydell Lawrence, a junior from Laie studying international cultural studies who has island hopped, said, “Kauai is the best because it is so laid back. It’s slow, slower than Laie, but it is the entire island.”