Volcanoes and Sacred Forests: The Side of Hawaii You Don’t Want to Miss

The third season of The White Lotus has finally landed, and this time the lucky guests (or are they?) are headed to Thailand for more sun, scandal and secrets. The anticipation of season 3 got us rewatching the previous seasons as we waited, throwing it all the way back to the series’ escapades in Maui, Hawaii during season 1. Set (and filmed) at a five-star resort on Maui Island, this is a far cry from the real side of Hawaii and all the incredible experiences it has to offer.

As we traveled down The White Lotus memory lane, we started thinking about places to visit in Hawaii beyond beachside cocktails and poolside spas. Welcome to Real Hawaii with Insight Vacations, taking you off-grid and showing you a more authentic side to the islands on our Hawaii tour, seeing it in premium style – avoiding murder mysteries, of course.

Can’t get enough of The White Lotus? Explore our White Lotus inspired tours!

Best places to visit in Hawaii 

Discover the best places to visit in Hawaii with Insight Vacations – and you can experience all of them on our Hawaii with Oahu & Maui tour.

Visit the Hawaiian Legacy Forest in Oahu 

One of the best things to do in Oahu, you’ll join an eco-tour with one of our knowledgeable Local Experts to the Hawaiian Legacy Forest on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. The forest is part of a non-profit organization that works to preserve sustainable native Hawaiian forests, protect Hawaii’s endangered species, and sequester carbon.  

You’ll partake in the sacred planting ceremony of a native tree, helping contribute to the forest’s aim of planting 1.3 million native trees (they’re already at the half way mark). After your hard work, you’ll be treated to a sustainably sourced al fresco picnic while enjoying views of the Legacy Forest.  

Visit a Working Pineapple Farm in Maui 

One of the most delicious things to do in Maui, not only will you taste some of the best pineapple of your life (some say the Maui Gold pineapple is the sweetest in the world) when you visit one of the last working Hawaiian pineapple farms, but with your Local Expert you’ll discover the impact these plantations had on the islands, with Hawaii once producing over 80% of the world’s pineapple supply. 

Lunch at Maui’s original farm-to-table restaurant 

Don’t be fooled by the name – Hali’imaile General Store is one of Maui’s best restaurants, run by one of Hawaii’s most heralded chefs, Beverly Gannon. This is a restaurant that was doing farm-to-table dining before it was even a ‘thing’, featuring locally-sourced produce, seafood and meats since 1988. On the menu you’ll find a blend of Asian and Hawaiian influences paired with modern preparations.

Discover the Kona Joe Coffee Plantation 

Elevate your morning cuppa Joe at one of the most caffeinated places to visit in Hawaii with your Local Expert. Owned by Joe and his wife Deepa, Kona Joe produces the most progressive Kona Coffee on the islands, growing their coffee beans like wine grapes. You’ll see the native plants, fruits and organic coffee fields as you walk around the plantation, learning how the coffee is harvested and processed. Of course, you’ll end your experience with a tasting with one of the best views on the island overlooking the Pacific Ocean. 

Visit Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park 

Our list of things to do in Hawaii couldn’t be without a visit to the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and designated International Biosphere Reserve. Discover the incredible geology of the islands at the park, which protects some of the most unique geological, biological and cherished cultural environments in the world and encompasses the summits of two of the world’s most active volcanoes: Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. Feel the heat of the volcano itself at the Kīlauea Visitor Center, where you can see the steam vents in action.

See the Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific 

One of the most historical places to visit in Hawaii, the Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific honors all those who served in the US Armed Forces and lost their lives during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Its setting is a dramatic natural wonder, with the ‘punchbowl’ a crater formed nearly 100,000 years ago during a period of volcanic activity. Over 13,000 soldiers and sailors who died during World War II would be laid to rest in the Punchbowl. 

The best places to visit in Hawaii stretch far beyond the beaches you’ve seen in pictures – come and see them for yourself on an Insight Vacations Hawaii with Oahu & Maui tour!