7 Best Towns In Hawaii For A Two-Day Recharge
The Pacific island state of Hawaii is hardly obscure as a destination to relax and recharge. Yet this chain of eight islands, also called the Aloha State and a part of the Union since 1959, has many smaller towns that go overlooked amid its large-scale tourism and points of interest. Many of these lesser-frequented addresses offer a wealth of exciting things to see and do, while their accommodations can be more affordable than other hotels or resorts that charge top dollar. For a look at Hawaii beyond its cities and crowds, towns like the ones below should provide inspiration for a trip to the tropics soon.
Hawaiian Acres
On the east side of the state's island of Hawaii, also called the "Big Island," Hawaiian Acres beckons visitors to its rural, volcanic geography — a perfect spot for a weekend recharge. Once called Tropic Estates, the town now welcomes visitors to its laid-back sites of natural and man-built wonder. For example, the town's famous Kazumura Cave is the world's largest lava tunnel, extending more than 40 miles. Visitors can go deep underground to experience this unique geological formation.
Above ground, the Hilo Coffee Mill offers fresh brew, and beans by the bag. Wyatt's Place, a local eatery, awaits just down the street. And for a pleasant place to stay, and a further way to get away from it all, book a room at Moho B&B, a simple bed and breakfast, with a patio and surroundings of lush green forest.
Hilo
Just north of Hawaiian Acres, the town of Hilo offers oceanside views and a surprising number of museums. With its own airport, the town provides convenient access for those who may want to be able to come, and leave again, without the hassle of a commute. The Hilo Bayfront Beach makes for the Hawaiian sandy scenes of many vacationers' dreams, while the Wailuku River pours into the ocean nearby, completing the postcard-pretty scene.
In town, the Lyman Museum presents precious stones and other artifacts to residents and visitors, and the Imiloa Astronomy Center does double duty as a place to study the stars and learn from its exhibits on Hawaiian history. The Pacific Tsunami Museum offers lessons on the big-wave phenomenon like no other place in Hawaii or the United States. For a quiet accommodation that is pure Big Island, the Hilo Bay Oceanfront Bed and Breakfast provides water views in a homey, well-furnished setting.
Iroquois Point
On the island of Oahu — home of the majority of the state's inhabitants, and the state capital, Honolulu — the town of Iriquois Point blends beach scenes and history. The town sits on the south side of the island, across from Pearl Harbor, famous as a US naval base, the site of a 1941 attack by the Japanese air force, which pushed the United States to join World War II. The town lies just across the harbor from the Daniel Inouye International Airport, creating another point of convenient travel access.
Iriquois Point is mostly residential, but that may be just what a traveler seeks for some rest by the ocean. The D'lish at the Beach restaurant serves up tacos and other, unfussy street food that is just right for a relaxing day out. Moody's Ohana prepares Hawaiian staples by the water. For a travel option that combines motion and rest, Hawaii Van Camp, based right here in Iroquois Point, rents out camper vans and campsite space from the same beachside office.
Kailua
At Oahu's opposite end, the coastal town of Kailua delivers a small-town feel with all the beach vibes a vacationer could want. Kalam Beach Park faces Kailua Bay and the wide-open Pacific Ocean beyond. In town, the Manoa Chocolate and Wine Bar serves up some of Hawaii's best tastes, often with grown-in-Hawaii products. The site also offers a chocolate factory tour. For local beer, the Lanikai Brewing Company focuses on locally sourced ingredients, too. And to spend a night or two, the Papaya Paradise Bed and Breakfast sits in town yet offers access to Kailua Beach Park as well as the town's ocean waterfront.
Pukalani
From the heart of Maui, a small island next to the Big Island, the town of Pukalani boasts an eclectic mix of interesting places. As part of "Upcountry Maui," the high-elevation region is known. Travelers here can stare in awe at the volcanic peaks and valleys of the surrounding Heleakala region. The area is a popular choice for road tripping. As a quiet residential town off the tourist trail, hotels in Pukalani are few, but the nearby Hale Hookipa Inn Makawao, two miles east of here, offers three-star accommodations.
The Pukalani Country Club maintains manicured greens for golf fans of all skill levels. Families traveling with children will enjoy Surfing Goat Dairy, south of town, which invites visitors to come pet the goats, taste real Hawaiian goat cheese, and even sign up for an "evening chore and milking tour," according to the dairy's website. Visitors to Maui also rave about Haleakala National Park, a short drive away, which combines 10,000-foot volcanic peaks with the chance to see rare and endangered bird species.
Schofield Barracks
Back on Oahu, next to Wheeler Army Airfield, Schofield Barracks is home to the military base and community called US Army Garrison Hawaii. The town is close to the Schofield-Waikane Trail, which is popular with hikers from Oahu and farther afield. The 14-mile trail is for intermediate and advanced hikers only, according to the Garrison website.
In town, the Tropic Lightning Museum illuminates the stories of the local military presence, whose history goes back more than a century, and well before Hawaiian statehood. Active types will enjoy a workout at green spaces like Weyand Field or a visit to the Schofield Bowling Center next door. In the same neighborhood, the Inn at Scholfield rents affordable digs to military and civilian guests.
Wailua
On the smaller island of Kauai, the town of Wailua offers breathtaking natural beauty. The scenes at Wailua Falls, an easily accessible natural wonder, have drawn visitors for generations. The site is famous for its morning rainbows, formed when the light of the rising sun hits the waterfall's mist. Hikers seek out Wailua's Sleeping Giant East trail, a modest, two-mile trail that affords sweeping views of the Pacific below. Those who want to sink their toes in the sand can do so at Wailua Beach and Lae Nani Beach, both at the town's eastern edge.
For a place to stay, Plantation Hale Suites offers brightly lit rooms, a pool, and walking distance to Lae Nani.
A Memorable Hawaii Visit Awaits in Its Small Towns
As places like these show, Hawaii's smaller towns make a serious offer when it comes to a vacation of relaxation. For Big Island destinations like Hawaiian Acres and Hilo, one-of-a-kind attractions like lava tunnels and unique museums provide a deeply Hawaiian experience. Pukalani brings together golfing and goat farms in Upcountry Maui — a combination sure to satisfy families and those looking for something different. Natural beauty awaits at Scholfield Barracks and Wailua, where hiking trails, waterfalls, and other outdoor gems have delighted travelers willing to make the journey. Whatever a traveler's tastes, small-town Hawaii offers interesting possibilities beyond the state's better-known points of interest.
