Poll your family, friends and neighbors about their dream vacation. The majority will likely choose Hawaii as their top location—and they’re in good company. The Hawaiian Islands were identified by Travel Styles USA as the No. 1 aspirational destination for North American travelers.
This group includes enthusiastic travelers who have long-dreamed about a trip to the Hawaiian Islands. In fact, they’ve set a goal to visit the destination in their lifetime. These bucket list travelers desire a high level of service, favor accommodations with an authentic sense of place, and seek exclusive, hands-on experiences.
Only-In-Hawaii Experiences
Bucket list travelers will certainly want to include Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on their Hawaii Island itinerary to tour Mauna Loa, which last erupted in 1984, and Kilauea, which has been continuously erupting since 1983. The island’s third active volcano, Loihi, is currently underwater just off the coast.
Adventurers can hike Haleakala National Park—which boasts Maui’s highest peak—explore the misty rainforest on the Puu Oo Trail and tour the many breathtaking waterfalls across the Hawaiian Islands, either on foot or by helicopter.
History lovers can visit the only royal estate on American soil—Iolani Palace in Downtown Honolulu is one of the destination’s numerous cultural gems. It served as the official residence of the Hawaiian Kingdom’s final two monarchs—King Kalakaua and his sister and successor, Queen Liliuokalani—from 1882 to 1893.
The Hawaiian Islands are also the birthplace of modern surfing, the hula and the exclusive home of the aloha spirit. Translated literally, aloha means “the joyful sharing of life energy in the present,” but it’s really so much more than that. Aloha isn’t something to explain. It’s something that can only be experienced with a visit to the Hawaiian Islands. It’s also, very likely, one of the reasons the Hawaiian Islands boast an impressive 98 percent customer satisfaction rating.
Of course, this is merely a sampling of the attributes that make Hawaii so unique and so appealing to the bucket list traveler. The best way to discover it all is by participating in the Official Hawaii Destination Specialist Program. This comprehensive online learning resource is free to travel professionals and can be accessed any time at agents.gohawaii.com.
