When you reach Hawaii, you’ll know you’ve landed in Paradise on Earth. The smell of the fresh flowers in the air, sapphire seas, emerald valleys, the halos of rainbow arches, the expanse of the blue sea and the warm hug of the sun bombard your senses with their breathtaking beauty. But of course as many things vie for your attention, there are these 10 things that you must see and do in Hawaii without which you wouldn’t have done justice to this fairyland.
•    Kilauea Volcano on Big Island: Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. While hiking on it, you’ll find vents’ spewing steam, walk-through lava tubes and layers of lava solidifying as new land is being formed. It has been continuously flowing since it’s eruption in 1983.
•    A Chopper tour of the Kauai Island: A Helicopter ride in Kauai is definitely a must do. It offers an amazing Ariel view of the majestic mountains reaching for the sky. 80% of the island is inaccessible by foot, and it’s thankfully so as the helicopter ride gives you a feast for the eyes like nowhere else.
•    Beaches in Hawaii: Hawaii boasts some of the loveliest beaches in the world. Relax on the beach and let the azure sky and the sapphire sea overwhelm and intoxicate you.
•    Go whale-watching: The warm and shallow waters around Hawaii are a breeding ground for the humpback whales in winter when they leave their rich Alaskan feeding grounds to mate in the Hawaiian waters. There are cruises available that will take you to watch these massive and gentle creatures frolicking and mating.
•    Snorkeling in Molokini: Molokini is the most popular snorkeling site in all of Hawaii. It boasts of the clearest waters with visibility between 80 and 200 feet and plenty of fish. The only way to get to Molokini is by boat and there are plenty of boats of all price ranges that are available. If you don’t want to get into the water hire a glass bottomed boast so that you can stay dry and still enjoy the sight of pretty fish.
•    Bike down Maui’s Haleakala Mountain: Haleakala, more than 3000 feet above sea level and 20000 feet under water, is one of the largest mountains in the world and a dormant volcano. The mountain is dense, and you can go right up and see into the crater. The crater is some 3,000 feet deep, seven miles long, and overwhelms you by it’s sheer size. Haleakala has been deemed as a National Park, preserved to maintain all the living creatures that surround the historic volcano.
•    Waimea Canyon on Kauai: It’s dubbed as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” by Mark Twain. The canyon was formed by a deep incision of the Waimea River arising from the extreme rainfall on the island’s central peak, Mount Waiale. The canyon is one mile wide, 10 miles long, and over 3,600 feet in depth. The play of light and shadow throughout the day on the colored layers of rock is marvelous.
•    Play golf: Hawaii has more than 80 golf courses, with locations ranging from upcountry rainforests to Coral Sea cliffs and sandy beaches with most of the island courses providing a constant backdrop of the Pacific.
•    Attend Polynesian Luau: The luau is synonymous with a Hawaii feast. Luaus are an interesting way to know more about the food and culture of the Hawaiian Islands. In the Polynesian Luau women dress up in skirts and tops made of grass, men paint their faces colorfully, fire dancers lit up the place and traditional music is played to give a glimpse of the exotic, South Pacific-style celebration.
•    Shopping and Dining in Waikiki: Go and splurge on island shopping. Pick up shirts dyed with Hawaiian red dirt, macadamia nut cookies, coffee, custom jewelry, furniture, surfboards, tropical flowers, and fine art and gifts handcrafted of wood, ceramics, fabric, or glass. You get very good variety of cuisine, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, European, and American. Pick up exotic fruits, vegetables, herbs, seafood, and also Hawaiian grown chocolate.