The most popular activity on each Hawaiian island is not a mystery to anyone who works a concierge desk: guests on O’ahu ask about Pearl Harbor, Maui visitors ask about the Road to Hana, Kaua’i is all about the Nāpali Coast, and on Hawai’i Island everyone wants the volcano.
At Blue Hawaiian Concierge, those four requests dominate our bookings year after year, and the depth of our catalog reflects it. We carry 12 different Pearl Harbor tours on O’ahu alone and 19 separate Nāpali Coast boat trips on Kaua’i, because that is where the demand is.
Here is the activity our guests book most on each island, what it actually includes, and the honest caveats we share at the desk before anyone pays.
Key Takeaways
- O’ahu’s most-booked activity through Blue Hawaiian Concierge is Pearl Harbor.
- Maui’s top request is the Road to Hana; Kaua’i’s is a Nāpali Coast boat tour.
- Hawai’i Island guests book volcano tours to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park most.
- Each island’s signature activity runs 4 to 11 hours, so plan a full day.
O’ahu: Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor is the most popular activity we book on O’ahu, and the island’s own numbers back that up: it is O’ahu’s top visitor destination, with museums, galleries, and exhibits on the events of December 7, 1941.
Demand runs deep enough that Blue Hawaiian Concierge carries 12 distinct Pearl Harbor tours, from half-day memorial visits to full experiences with city tours and lunch included.
A solid starting point is the Salute To Pearl Harbor tour, with Waikīkī hotel pickups at 7:30am or 9:45am and returns at 12:45pm or 2:30pm. You visit the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, its artifacts and multimedia exhibits, then ride the shuttle boat to the USS Arizona Memorial.
One caveat we always give in person: while the Arizona Memorial dock is under repair, capacity is reduced and tickets to the Memorial cannot be guaranteed. The Navy can suspend boat operations at any time, and standby placement does not come with a refund.
Practical rules to know: a government-issued ID is required, large bags and iPad cases are not allowed through security, bag storage runs $6.00 per bag, and shirts and shoes are required on the Memorial itself.
Maui: The Road to Hana
On Maui, nothing gets requested at the Blue Hawaiian Concierge desk more than the Road to Hana, voted one of the most scenic drives in the USA with its 617 hairpin turns and 54 one-lane bridges.
We recommend doing it as a guided tour rather than a self-drive, and the Road To Hana Adventure is the classic version: a 9.5-hour day that runs daily, with westside pickups at 6:00am, southside at 6:20am, and central Maui at 6:45am.
The route covers historic Pa’ia Town, Ho’okipa Beach, the Ke’anae Peninsula, freshwater swimming at Pua’a Ka’a State Wayside Park, and Wai’anapanapa State Park’s black sand beach, lava tube, and sea arches.
Lunch is included, farm to table by Hana Farms, with choices like BBQ beef, kalua pork, lemongrass ginger chicken, and a vegetarian jackfruit chili. The vans stock bottled water, local juice, snacks, and even umbrellas.
Concierge tip: if anyone in your group gets carsick, take motion sickness medicine one hour before the tour starts, not when the turns begin. Pack a swimsuit and water shoes in case time and weather allow a waterfall swim.
Kaua’i: A Nāpali Coast Boat Tour
The Nāpali Coast is why most guests come to Kaua’i, 15 miles of towering sea cliffs best seen by boat and air, and Nāpali boat trips are our most-booked Kaua’i category at Blue Hawaiian Concierge. We list 19 separate Nāpali Coast boat tours, more than any other activity type on the island.
Our morning pick is the Na Pali Coast Morning Catamaran Tour, a 4-to-4.5-hour trip on an 18-passenger power catamaran that can slip into sea caves when conditions permit.
Morning departures matter here: the operator states plainly that morning tours offer calmer seas and lighter winds, which is also prime time for spotting dolphins.
Snorkel gear, cold drinks, fresh-cut fruit, snacks, and one dry bag per person are included, and there are two freshwater showers on board. Wear your swimsuit under your clothes, because there is no changing on board, and expect to go barefoot on deck.
Read the restrictions before booking this one. It is a high-speed power catamaran, so no guests with head, neck, back, or major joint conditions, no history of heart attack or stroke, no pregnant travelers, and no children under 4.
Hawai’i Island: A Volcano Tour
On Hawai’i Island, volcano tours to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park are the most popular booking at Blue Hawaiian Concierge, and our catalog carries seven distinct volcano-themed tours to meet that demand, from short guided hikes to full-day expeditions.
The big one is the Evening Volcano Tour, an approximately 11-hour day from 9am to 8pm with Kona and Waikoloa departures. It pairs the park’s highlights, including the Kilauea Visitor Center, Sulphur Banks, and Keanakako’i Crater, with stops at a Kona coffee farm, Punalu’u Bake Shop, and Punalu’u Black Sand Beach.
Fair warning from the desk: the page describes a strenuous hike across uneven, steep, rocky terrain, so this is not a stroll.
Short on time or traveling with kids? The 3 Hour Volcanoes National Park Hike runs daily, covers four miles in and around the main crater of Kilauea, and sets its minimum at an active 7-year-old.
The volcano’s closest competition on this island is the manta ray night snorkel, which National Geographic has named one of the top 10 things to do in your lifetime. Our guide to the best Hawai’i activities covers it in detail.
How to Plan Around These Four Bookings
Because these are each island’s most popular activity, they behave like it: departures fill ahead of time, and the best pickup slots go first. Blue Hawaiian Concierge recommends reserving your island’s signature day before you fly, then fitting beach days around it.
Schedule them early in your stay, too. If weather forces a Nāpali boat cancellation or the Navy limits Arizona Memorial access, an early booking leaves room to try again later in the trip.
Mind the clock on either side of these long days. The Road to Hana and the Evening Volcano Tour both start with pickups before 7am and run 9 to 11 hours, so do not stack a luau on the same night.
Season matters on the water. Winter visitors on Maui and Kaua’i can pair their boat days with humpback season; our Maui whale watching guide covers the December through April window.
Conclusion
The most popular activity on each Hawaiian island, by booking volume at our desk, comes down to four signatures: Pearl Harbor on O’ahu, the Road to Hana on Maui, a Nāpali Coast boat tour on Kaua’i, and a volcano tour on Hawai’i Island.
They share one trait: they are all long, full days that sell out ahead of time, so book them early in your planning and schedule rest days around them.
Want your island’s signature day locked in before the departures fill? Book your Hawai’i activities with Blue Hawaiian Concierge and our concierge team will set the whole day up for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular activity on O’ahu?
The most popular activity on O’ahu is visiting Pearl Harbor, the island’s top visitor destination, and it is the most-booked O’ahu activity at Blue Hawaiian Concierge, which carries 12 distinct Pearl Harbor tours. Guests should know that while the Arizona Memorial dock is under repair, Memorial tickets cannot be guaranteed, and a government-issued ID is required for entry.
What is the most popular activity on Maui?
The most popular activity on Maui is the Road to Hana, voted one of the most scenic drives in the USA with 617 hairpin turns and 54 one-lane bridges. The guided Road To Hana Adventure booked through Blue Hawaiian Concierge runs 9.5 hours daily with hotel pickups starting at 6:00am and includes a farm-to-table lunch by Hana Farms.
What is the most popular activity on Kaua’i?
The most popular activity on Kaua’i is a Nāpali Coast boat tour, and it is the deepest category in the Blue Hawaiian Concierge catalog, with 19 separate Nāpali boat trips. Morning departures like the Na Pali Coast Morning Catamaran Tour get calmer seas and lighter winds, and the 4-to-4.5-hour trip includes snorkel gear, snacks, and a dry bag per person.
What is the most popular activity on the Big Island of Hawai’i?
The most popular activity on the Big Island is a volcano tour to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, and Blue Hawaiian Concierge carries seven distinct volcano tours to match that demand. Options range from the 3-hour, four-mile Kilauea crater hike, open to kids as young as an active 7-year-old, to the 11-hour Evening Volcano Tour from Kona and Waikoloa.
What is the most popular activity in Hawaii overall?
The most popular activity in Hawaii overall varies by island, but helicopter tours hold the number one spot on the printed activity sheets Blue Hawaiian Concierge shares with guests for O’ahu, Kaua’i, and Hawai’i Island. Each island still has its own signature booking: Pearl Harbor, the Road to Hana, the Nāpali Coast, and the volcano.