8 Most Eccentric Towns in Hawaii
Hawaii is composed of the islands of Hawaiʻi, Maui, Kahoʻolawe, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi, Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, and Niʻihau. Tourists from far and wide flock to these islands for the beaches, the tropical atmosphere, the surfing, and the compelling Polynesian culture. These eccentric Hawaiian towns are excellent destinations for their unique qualities and cultures.
Hale’iwa, O'ahu
Hale’iwa, a resplendent town an hour away from the city of Waikīkī on the island of O'ahu, combines the words Hale, meaning “house,” and iwa, meaning “Frigatebird.” Birds and tourists alike love Hale’iwa’s magnificent beaches and shorelines. Notable locations include the ‘Ehukai Beach Park, known as Banzai Pipeline for its surfable waves, and Waimea Bay.
Take selfies and groupies at the historic Rainbow Bridge spanning the Anahulu River. Another historic landmark in Hale’iwa is the abandoned landing field airport at the Pua'ena Point, which the US military once used during World War II.
Hōlualoa, Hawaii Island
On the Big Island in Hawaii, Hōlualoa encourages locals and newcomers to many exhilarating experiences. It would be wise to drink a coffee in the morning on your journey to the volcanic mountains of Kona, where a coffee-making enterprise brews in the towns of Hōlualoa, Kailua Village (Kailua-Kona), and Keauhou. Mauka Meadows is a fine example of the many coffee bean farms in the Kona Coffee Belt built on the slopes of the dormant Hualalai volcano, one of the five islands that formed Hawaii. November is a particularly special month for coffee lovers as the townsfolk celebrate Kona coffee and their heritage with the Hōlualoa Village Coffee & Art Stroll.
These same mountains also encourage travelers and townsfolk to go sledding down the slopes on wooden sleds. However, you can also opt to go on foot and explore scenic areas around town, such as the Honuaʻula Forest Reserve and the Pu'u Wa'awa'a Forest Reserve. There are dozens more activities and attractions for you to see and do in the energetic and coffee-filled town of Hōlualoa, so feel thrilled and enthusiastic for more savory delights in this eccentric town.
Makawao, Maui
The town of Makawao prospers on the island of Maui, a place where Hawaiian cowboys, locally called paniolo, have worked and roamed the region since the 19th century. The paniolo often wrangles long-horned bulls and Maui alpacas across the Haleakalā volcano. Although the Fourth of July is typically the day Americans celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Makawao instead hosts the largest paniolo competition known as the Makawao Rodeo. A number of artisans’ workshops, such as the Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center and Hot Island Glass, teach townsfolk and visitors alike techniques like glassblowing. Meanwhile, panoramic destinations such as the Kula Botanical Garden, the Ko'olau Forest Reserve, the Twin Falls Maui Waterfall, and the Jungle Zipline Maui-HI have remained unparalleled opportunities for adventures around the eccentric town of Makawao.
Lānaʻi City, Lānaʻi
Lānaʻi City is the main community on the island of Lānaʻi. Deriving its name roughly from a Hawaiian phrase meaning “Conquest Day,” Lānaʻi City has conquered the pineapple economy by having the largest pineapple plantation in the US. The town also happens to be built on an extinct volcano called Lanaihale, and in the past, it served as a royal retreat for King Kamehameha I. Travelers can visit his regal estates, such as the 15th-century Hawaiian village at Kaunolu and a ceremonial and religious structure called a heiau.
Meanwhile, the 18th-century Luahiwa petroglyphs at the Palawai Basin continue to astound and baffle visitors with their enigmatic drawings and details. Those interested in the present can explore the Japanese-themed Lanai Bamboo Garden Retreat or Keahiakawelo, the Garden of the Gods. Better yet, you can adore the rescued cats of the Lanai Cat Sanctuary or aid in the sanctuary’s rehabilitation efforts. In any case, you will absolutely love all that there is to experience from the island town of Lānaʻi City.
Honokaʻa, Hawaii Island
Honokaʻa, about an hour from Hōlualoa, is a paragon of the typical beachside wonders and surfing expenditures Hawaii is known for. The Hamakua Coast attracts thousands of surfers and beachgoers with its pristine sands and tubular waves. Likewise, regions such as the Waipi'o Valley, the Kohala Watershed Forest Reserve, and the Pu'u O Umi Natural Area Reserve—the latter sheltering most of the animal species located on the Big Island—have enchanted newcomers with their untamed and dynamic landscapes. More of Honokaʻa’s beachside or mainland wilderness can be accessible through the Hilo Forest Reserve (Humu‘Ula Sector and Laupāhoehoe Sector), the Kalōpā State Recreation Area, and the Hāmākua Forest Reserve. Lastly, the Honoka'a People's Theatre entertains everyone from every age just as the humble retreats and resorts of the Waipiʻo Wayside Bed & Breakfast and Hamakua Sanctuary welcome visitors with their splendid accommodations.
Pāʻia, Maui
Surfers, windsurfers, and kite surfers should definitely head to the town of Pāʻia on Maui. Where big enough waves lap Baldwin Beach Park, Pāʻia Secret Beach, and Ho’okipa Beach, Pāʻia is a perfect destination for the most athletic of beachgoers and individuals eager to try out a new seafaring sport. Kaulahao Beach, on the other hand, gives visitors access to Mantokuji Bay and Ku’au Bay, which are filled with coral reefs for scuba diving.
Although it is absolutely relaxing to go to the beach, Pāʻia’s other approach to holistic integrity includes the Great Paia Lha Bab Peace Stupa at the Maui Dharma Center. This place pays homage to the late Venerable Lama Tenzin, who was the first full-time resident and spiritual director of the Center. There is also the village of Haiku, once a filming site for the classic movie Rainbow Bridge starring Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, and the Sacred Garden of Maliko, which travelers can visit before or after their adventures at the beach. Ultimately, you will not regret your peaceful and epic experiences in the small town of Pāʻia.
Hāna, Maui
Hāna has been lauded for being the “Real Hawaii” due to its remoteness and the mythologies surrounding the town. The Road to Hāna, beginning from the town of Kahului, is one of the few ways to reach this isolated town in Maui, but it will provide a 52-mile tour of the stunning forest regions surrounding Hāna such as the Sunbathe at Waiʻānapanapa State Park, the Hāna Lava Tube, Hāna Beach Park or Hāmoa Beach, the Hāna Forest Reserve, and Waioka Pond (Venus Pool).
On Koki Beach, explorers will find unique rock formations shrouded in local Hawaiian mythology. It is said that these formations were a result of the battle between the fire goddess Pele and the ocean goddess Namakaokaha'i. Furthermore, the hills of Ka'uiki are one of the few places untouched by passing clouds due to the mythic hero Maui and other Hawaiian deities. Visitors can feel more of Hāna’s spiritual and folkloric connections at the largest Hawaiian temple or heiau, the Hale Piʻilani. You can also head to the Kahanu Garden, one of five National Tropical Botanical Gardens in Hawaii, or see the Cultural Center and Museum exhibits. Either way, you will not forget your adventures in the eccentric town of Hāna.
Waimea, Hawaii Island
Waimea is another exquisite town where Hawaiian cowboys or paniolos have prospered in their trade. Also known as Kamuela, meaning “reddish water” as an allusion to the red clay soil in the region, Waimea exhibits its cultural and continual ties to the paniolo culture at the Parker Ranch, one of the oldest paniolo ranches in Hawaii since 1815. One of the largest Hereford cattle ranches in the US also happens to be grazing in Waimea, and these animals have been under King Kamehameha the First’s protection due to the kapu or royal taboo on the killing of the cattle. The Kamuela Museum contextualizes much of the kapu that King Kamehameha the First proclaimed, and it is the largest private museum in Hawaii with the rarest collection of traditional Hawaiian artifacts there. Aside from history, Waimea is renowned for its access to the Mauna Kea Observatories at Mauna Kea and the waters down at Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area, the Waipiʻo Valley, and Pololu Valley. You can reach any of these areas on a horse or ATV.
Hawaii is an island state teeming with legends and natural phenomena. Whether it was created when the great hero Maui pulled the Pacific islands from the ocean’s depths, a battle between Pele and Namakaokaha'I, or factual and natural volcanic formations and growths, Hawaii is nevertheless a perfect vacation destination that everyone ought to visit for the new year. In particular, explore some of the most eccentric towns in Hawaii, such as the surfing capitals of the land like Pāʻia and Honokaʻa, or scenic locations like Makawao and Waimea. At the end of your vacation, you will not forget your exhilarating and rewarding adventures in the most eccentric towns in Hawaii.
