Hawaii Volcanoes Route: Maui, Kauai & Big Island Places

Explore Hawaii's volcanic wonders across Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island, spanning. This route connects iconic peaks including Haleakala and Kilauea volcanoes, dramatic coastal formations like Pololu Valley, and Oahu's famous Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach landmarks.

Mode
Places
Start
Maui
End
Makapuu Cliffs
Stops
10
Video author
travmap
Updated

Stops on this route

  1. Maui — Two volcanoes, with younger Haleakala still holding its shape.
  2. Kauai — Pacific island where life originates along torrential rain falls.
  3. Big Island — Largest active volcano on Earth by volume, holds five volcanoes in total.
  4. Kilauea Volcano — Molten lava erupts at nearly 1,000° C, consuming roads and communities.
  5. Haleakala Volcano — Younger volcano on Maui that still holds its shape.
  6. Pololu Valley — Steep trail between 2,000 ft cliffs leading to black sand beach and surf.
  7. Oahu — Island where nearly a million people live.
  8. Diamond Head — Volcanic tuff cone formed 300,000 years ago, rises at edge of Honolulu.
  9. Waikiki Beach — Stretches 1.5 miles, most visited beach in Hawaii.
  10. Makapuu Cliffs — Cliffs where paragliders launch, riding thermals with ridge line and sea below.

Useful for your trip

Timing
Visit Haleakala summit at dawn to watch light pour across the crater floor from above the clouds.
Tip
Wimoku Falls trail moves through bamboo so dense the sky disappears; be prepared for limited visibility.
Tip
More than 70% of Kauai is only reachable on foot; there is no road to the Napali coast cliffs.
Timing
Mount Waialeale on Kauai averages more than 373 inches of rain each year; plan indoor activities accordingly.
Tip
Kilauea lighthouse on Kauai was built in 1913 and sits 180 feet above the Pacific on a narrow peninsula.
Tip
Big Island's Pololu Valley trail is steep and ends at a black sand beach with surf too rough to swim in.
Timing
Visit Rainbow Falls on clear mornings to see rainbows in the water as the Hawaiians called it.
Tip
Waikiki Beach is the most visited beach in Hawaii, drawing over 4 million people a year to its calm break.
Transport
Highways on Oahu cut through mountains via tunnels; when exiting, the Windward coast opens below with valleys and ocean views.

Video on this route

Wonders of the United States | Jaw Dropping Places You May Never See! | Travel Video 4K

More routes nearby

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