10 Reasons to go on Honeymoon to Hawaii

Hawaii, a tropical paradise seen over and over in film, TV and adverts should easily make an ideal Honeymoon destination right? Well, look beyond the surfer dudes and the hula girls for just a moment and you’ll find somewhere with so many stunning natural attractions and activities it’s an ideal choice for any couple. We picked Hawaii as our wedding and honeymoon spot back in 2014 and discovered so much more than we bargained for. Here are our top 10 Reasons to go on Honeymoon to Hawaii from that dream trip…

1. HIKE THE NAPALI COST
This 22 mile round trip is sometimes called the ‘most incredible hike’ in America and it’s very easy to see why. The trail is almost hidden away on the north west coast of Kauai island where the terrain is far too wild for any roads to pass through.

There’s a fantastic feeling of heading into the unknown as you reach the end of the main road close to Tunnels beach and follow the signs along to the start of the trail. It clings to the rugged cliffs for 11 miles and when you get to the far end you’ll need to turn around and enjoy it all over again!

The remote coastline of hidden beaches, towering cliffs and spooky caves doubled up as the location for Jurassic Park. It certainly felt like we’d spot a dinosaur around the next bend as we trekked the first couple of miles here on the morning of our Hawaii beach wedding back in 2014.

2. WAIMEA CANYON
Also on Kauai island is the immense Waimea Canyon, often referred to as the ‘Grand Canyon of the Pacific’. It’s approximately 10 miles (16 km) long and up to 3,000 feet (900 m) deep with two lookouts, the Puu ka Pele and Puu Hinahina providing breathtaking views.

It’s often very misty from the viewing spots so make sure you take some hiking boots and get stuck into one of the various trails into the canyon. By getting just a little lower down than the road we found some clear views across this stunning natural wonder.

3. MAGNIFICENT MAUNA KEA
Standing 4,207 m (13,802 ft) above sea level, in the center of the Big Island, Mauna Kea is home to one of the world’s top astronomical observatories. There are a collection of telescopes funded by 11 different countries up here due to the perfect viewing conditions above the clouds.

Even if you’re not into stargazing so much, it still makes a very romantic trip up high to see a spectacular sunset. It’s breathtaking in all senses of the word, as the air is a lot thinner on top of Mauna Kea then at sea level!

4. VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK AND LAVA FLOWS
If you want to get things a little hot on your Hawaiian honeymoon then head over to the expansive Volcanoes National Park. Depending on the level of activity you might catch a live eruption, lava flow or even see red hot magma dropping down into the ocean below.

It’s best to head to the Kīlauea Visitor Center first to get the lowdown on how Pele is behaving and plan your time around the local geological activity. You can take a boat trip to the ocean lava flow, a helicopter ride over the park or walk right up to some live lava action with a trained park guide.

5. OUTDOOR SHOWERS
There’s nothing quite like taking a shower surrounded by tropical plants and exotic nature sounds. Well, luckily for you Hawaii is the top spot to do just that!

At a few of the fantastic Airbnb rentals we stayed at an outdoor shower was the order of the day. It’s one of our top memories from our Hawaii honeymoon and something we’ve yet to experience anywhere else.

6. SO MANY AMAZING BEACHES
When you ask someone for their idea of Hawaiian life, we’re pretty sure that beaches will feature heavily. So, it was great to find that the beach life and surfing culture from the movies and postcards rings true in real life.

It’s hard to choose but if you forced us to we’d say definitely don’t miss Hookipa Beach near Lower Paia (Maui) for the surfing dudes, Anini Beach (Kauai) for pure chilling and Hapuna Beach (Big Island) for swimming.

7. THE JAW DROPPING ROAD TO HANA
This is a romantic road of epic beauty on the popular island of Maui. Grab your rental car and take it easy as you twist and turn along the 64 miles of the Hana Highway.

Be sure to take your time and stop plenty of times along the way to see some of the tranquil waterfalls and beaches en route. There are also a scattering of roadside huts selling all kinds of local snacks if you get a little peckish along the way.

8. SUNRISE AT HALEAKALA
Although you might want to enjoy some lengthy lie ins on your honeymoon, we’d urge you to make an exception just once. Watching the sun break over the horizon on top of Haleakala as we huddled close to each other for warmth was something we’ll never forget.

So, set the alarm for a couple of hours before sunrise and enjoy the quiet drive 10,023 feet (3,055 m) up to the summit known as the ‘House of the Sun’. Since 2017 you’ll need to book in to enjoy the sunrise due to increased visitor numbers so, it’s best to check in advance to avoid disappointment.

9. DIAMOND HEAD TRAIL
If you’re staying in the lively capital city of Honolulu for a couple of days then check out the nearby trail at Diamond Head. It’s easy to reach from the downtown area and it makes a nice break from the traffic and shoppers.

The trail takes around 1 to 2 hours to complete and takes you around the rim of this large volcanic tuff cone with great views across to Waikīkī.

10. THE ALOHA VIBE
We couldn’t finish this list without mentioning the friendly and welcoming vibe we encountered across the Hawaiian islands. Often perpetuated as a cheesy myth in adverts and films, we found that there is a definite warmth in Hawaii which extends beyond the tropical climate.

If you choose Hawaii as a honeymoon destination too, then we’re sure that you’ll come away with a little Aloha in your hearts just like we did.

Where did you honeymoon?

Written by Charlie & Kristina from Maptrotting
Hi, we’re Charlie and Kristina. We love travel and started our travel blog Maptrotting.com to inspire you to Experience Your Planet! During a 2 week trip to Cuba in 2015 we had an honest chat on the beach one night and decided to change our lifestyle to one of travel. We soon realised it wasn’t just the rum talking and made a plan to quit London and set off on a lifetime of travel and adventure. Come and say hello on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube