In an effort to attract more Millennials to the Aloha State, the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau has released recommendations for fun adventures on four destinations throughout the Hawaiian Islands that are great for the experiential traveler.
Hanalei Town in Kauai
Visitors can immerse themselves in Hawaii's heritage by going on a taro farm tour and attending ukulele concerts in this charming small town. And Millennials will especially want to take home genuine made-in-Kauai carvings from rare, native woods.
Upcountry Maui
Considered the heartland of the island of Maui, Upcountry Maui is more rolling hills and misty mountains than sandy beaches and swaying palms. It's also where the paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) culture lives on in rustic outposts.
Oahu’s North Shore
Renowned as a surfing mecca (waves can reach up to 30 feet in winter), the North Shore is also an eat-like-a-local paradise with food trucks turning out everything from shrimp plates to loco moco. For dessert, the HVCB recommends hot malasadas or rainbow-hued shave ice.
The Island of Hawaii’s Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Although this UNESCO World Heritage Site is more "on the radar" than the other HVCB picks, it's far from ordinary. The landscape, walk-in lava tube and drive-in volcano are all Instagram-ready. So is the view of Kilauea's molten hot lava flowing into the sea.
Flights Could Attract More Millennials
The timing of the HVCB's preparation for more Millennials to the Hawaii Islands is not random. Many Hawaii travel specialists Travel Agent spoke with recently believe an influx of new flights to Hawaii will drive down air fares, attracting more Millennials to the Aloha State in 2018.
On December 14, Virgin America launched nonstop daily flights between San Francisco and Kona, Hawaii Island. On Dec, 19, Honolulu welcomed the inaugural flight of air carrier Scoot from Singapore, which will includes a stopover in Osaka, Japan, as part of the route. Hawaii is Scoot’s first U.S. destination, with flights being offered four days weekly.
On Dec. 20, United Airlines expanded its capacity to Hawaii by 20 percent overall, adding more nonstop flights to the neighbor islands from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Denver. Finally, on December 21, Delta Air Lines began nonstop daily service from Seattle to Lihue, Kauai.
Southwest Airlines is also moving into the Hawaii market as the carrier announced plans back in October to begin selling tickets in 2018 for service to Hawaii.
Visit www.hvcb.org
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