The Ultimate Hawaii Vacation Bucket List

Hawaii's cuisine is just as diverse as the rest of its culture, and the flavors embody the very best parts of Hawaii's history. It's a true melting pot, and one such popular dish where this shines through is poke, a bowl of raw fish mixed with sauce, spices and fresh toppings. You'll find poke everywhere, from roadside food trucks to fine dining venues, each with their own twist. Get it tangy, spicy, sweet or all three — the options are endless.

One thing I learned repeatedly after many trips visiting the islands of Hawaii is that you must save plenty of room in your suitcase to bring back bags of macadamia nuts. It is one of my favorite things to do in Maui, they spice the macadamias in ways you might not have thought possible. While piping hot roasted macadamia nuts are delicious by themselves, commit to sampling the flavored varieties for the ultimate experience. Start with the savory, then move to the sweet. Sweet Maui onion macadamias with a pinch of sea salt are my first love, though the honey roasted variety is a close second.

The rich volcanic soil of Hawaii and cool slopes of its mountains create an environment prime for coffee growing. Grab a cup of coffee made from Hawaiian coffee beans whenever possible, and pick up a bag to take home. Both Kauai and the island of Hawaii are famed for growing coffee beans that create a full-bodied flavor.

As you drive past the coffee farms and all the beauty Hawaii has to offer, you'll undoubtedly notice a number of colorful stands. Take a chance and pull over, as they're probably selling something tasty, like shaved ice, which is a scoop of snow drizzled in syrup that melts in your mouth as soon as it hits your tongue. One of the best parts of these little stands is that you'll likely get into conversation with the vendor. Ask a few questions about their life in Hawaii — you might be surprised by what you learn, and perhaps even more surprised by what you may have in common.

With the thunder of drumbeats, flashes of fire and costumes that emphasize every dramatic movement, the performances at the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu will make your heart race from the comfort of your seat. The center represents South Pacific island nations and offers sight into traditional Polynesian and Melanesian dance, music, food, craft and culture.

Between thrilling dances and presentations, you'll learn about the meaning behind Maori and Marquesan tattoos, Hawaiian hula, Tongan architecture, how to climb a coconut tree, the art of traditional fishing and how to throw a spear. It's an interactive experience that'll have you working up an appetite. Thankfully, you can hit the buffet at the luau.

A land of fire and ice, the island of Hawaii is one of earth's wildest landscapes. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is where you can witness land being created firsthand from the active volcanoes of Kilauea and Mauna Loa. The lands of the park are sacred and feature heavily in Hawaiian mythology as the park is home to Pele, a deity devoted to creation and destruction. Conditions change from day to day; you might see plume from the volcanic crater puffing steam into the sky like a cloud factory on one visit, and lava flowing into the sea during the next. At night, gaze into a pit of molten lava for otherworldly amber hues. The park also hosts a range of hiking paths, like the Kilauea Iki trail that traverses over a solidified lava lake. It's a blazing contrast to Hawaii's dormant and often snow-capped volcano of Mauna Kea.

Haleakala National Park is a must add to your Maui bucket list as it is home to a dormant shield volcano like no other. According to Hawaiian mythology, Maui, the Hawaiian deity, placed the entirety of the sun inside of the Haleakala volcano. Take a day trip to this park for an ideal hiking and bird-watching. At night, the park's dark skies offer an opportunity to stargaze.