Whether you live in Hawaii — or worse, work at an establishment inundated with tourists from across the world — sometimes you just need an escape. While Hawaii’s most popular tourist destinations are visited for a reason, sometimes you want to get away from it all. If you're looking for some much-needed peace and quiet, you can head to any of these awe-inspiring but quiet places in Hawaii for some respite.
1. Byodo-In Temple
Located within the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park in Kaneohe, the Byodo-In Temple is a half-size-scale replica of a famous temple in Kyoto, Japan that is more than 950 years old and a United Nations World Heritage Site. The Hawaii replica, however, is less than 100 years old. The shrine was dedicated in 1968 to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants in Hawaii, and couldn’t be located in a more picturesque setting. You won’t find a better spot to reflect, relax, and take in Hawaii’s natural beauty and history anywhere else on the island.
2. Pololu Valley Beach
Often bypassed for other lookout points on the Big Island is Pololu Valley, perhaps due to the fact that you must drive to the end of Highway 270 to reach this picturesque location. If you do make the drive out here, don’t settle for the views from the lookout — definitely take the time to hike the Awini Trail that leads down to the stunning black sand beach. The half-hour hike is steep at times, but the views — and the destination —are well worth it. This is one of those incredible beaches in Hawaii you'll never forget. Ever.
3. Kahekili Highway
Meandering along Maui’s northwestern coast, Kahekili Highway, also known as County Route 240, is notoriously narrow and winding. Far less traveled than most highways on Hawaii, Kahekili Highway stretches between Honokohau and Waihe'e, serves as the back door to west Maui, and is home to such points of interest as Honokohau Bay, Nakalele Blowhole, and Kahakuloa Head. It is also easily one of the most narrow roads in Hawaii, and it is an absolute must-visit for anyone who loves long, winding drives along the coast.
4. Garden of the Gods
Also known as Keahiakawelo, this otherworldly rock garden at the end of Polihua Road is located 45 minutes from Lanai City on a dirt path only advised for vehicles with four-wheel drive. Garden of the Gods can only be described as barren: the land is vacant of trees, shrubs, flowers, or grass, and perhaps reminiscent of something you’d find on another planet. What you will find, here, however, are countless boulders and rock towers scattered across the rich, red dirt — some as tall as six feet in height. On a clear day, visitors can see the islands of Molokai and Oahu.
5. Mount Tantalus Lookout
This two-lane, ten-mile loop features a series of steep inclines, hairpin turns and blind corners that challenge even the most skilled drivers in the smallest cars you can find. The views of Honolulu from the Tantalus Lookout are well worth the slightly nerve-wracking drive — on a clear day, you can see everything from Diamond Head and Waikiki to the east and Honolulu International Airport and Pearl Harbor to the west. Go during the week for the most peaceful setting possible.
6. Polihale Beach
Found at the end of a long dirt road off Kuamuali’i Highway on the island of Kauai, Polihale Beach is not only the largest stretch of sand in the state but one of the most remote and underrated beaches as well. Known for its seven-mile-long — and 300 feet wide — stretch of pristine sand, and hot, cloudless days, Polihale is also the most western publicly accessible areas in Hawaii. The wild and beautiful beach is often overlooked for more accessible beaches despite the fact that it is one of the most idyllic camping spots in all of Hawaii.
7. Kula Botanical Garden
Created in 1968 as a native Hawaiian plant reserve by Warren McCord, Kula Botanical Garden is Maui’s first public garden, and is positively enchanting, to say the least. Featuring both tropical plants and native Hawaiian flora, the Kula Botanical Garden is unlike any garden you’ll find on the United States’ mainland. Covering approximately eight acres of hilly terrain at approximately 3,300 feet above sea level, this breathtaking secret garden is home to several paved paths meandering through the garden, perfect for exploring.
8. Kahana Bay Beach Park
Though Kahana Bay Beach Park is found off the highway, the remote location on Oahu's northern windward coast makes this a secluded spot perfect for a beach day. Surrounded by the stunning Ko'olau Mountains, this stretch of sand is backed by ironwood trees and you will find an ancient Hawaiian fishpond on the south side of the bay.
9. Mo'omomi Preserve
Located on the isolated northeast corner of Molokai, the sprawling, 921-acre Mo'omomi Preserve protects one of the state’s last intact coastal regions, a holdover from an ancient era. Steady and strong northeast trade winds have shaped the linear sand dunes, which measure in at nearly a mile long and hundreds of feet wide. It is within these seemingly barren dunes that native grasses and shrubs flourish. In fact, here you will find more rare coastal species than any other single location in the main Hawaiian Islands.
10. Liliuokalani Park and Garden
Located in the heart of Hilo — Hawaii’s oldest city — near Coconut Island on the breathtaking Banyan Drive, is Liliuokalani Park and Gardens, a positively enchanting slice of waterfront paradise. The meandering path that winds its way through this charming park will easily transport you to Japan and is perfect for a relaxing stroll. Featuring the largest Edo-style garden outside of Japan, this 24-acre park and garden was named after Hawaii’s last reigning monarch, Queen Liliuokalani, and was dedicated in 1917 as a tribute to Hawaii’s first Japanese immigrants who worked in the sugarcane fields.
11. Kaena Pount
This untamed state park encompasses the rugged and wild coastline of the northwestern tip of Oahu and is full of natural beauty and hidden gems, including heart-shaped rocks, tide pools, stunning cliff faces, and a natural reserve area created to protect nesting albatrosses, Hawaiian monk seals, and the fragile native vegetation. In fact, this beautiful natural oasis is so remote, you can only reach the point on foot — there was once a road here, but it is no longer accessible, meaning you’ll have to walk. You can walk to the point from the leeward coast, which begins at Kaena Beach State Park, or from the north via a trailhead at the end of Farrington Highway. Either way, you’ll find plenty of peace and quiet, especially if you visit on a weekday morning.
Which of these destinations is your favorite? Tell us your thoughts in the comments! For more incredible spots to get away from it all, these secluded places in Hawaii have it all.
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