The Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau (HVCB) is kicking off 2026 with the new Hawaii Stays With You campaign, which invites travel advisors to be partners in curating meaningful, transformative journeys that connect visitors with the Aloha State’s people, places, history, customs, traditions and way of life on a deeper level.
“When visitors choose experiences grounded in Hawaii’s values and guided by local perspectives, our hope is that they come to understand that our culture is dynamic and alive,” said Aaron Sala, president and CEO of the HVCB. “Our intention is that their experience here imprints upon them, and then, without even realizing it, Hawaii has changed their world.”
We asked HVCB’s executive directors for recommendations on things to see and do on their home islands that are sure to make an indelible impression on clients.
Kauai Picks: Napali Coast, Waimea Canyon, Kilohana Plantation Railway
Sue Kanoho, managing director, Island Chapters; executive director, Kauai Visitors Bureau
Two must-do experiences “stay with you” when travelers visit Kauai. The first is a boat trip along the Napali Coast, where clients can cruise close to emerald-green cliffs jutting 4,000 feet from the ocean. The second is an air tour, which reveals spectacular views of Waimea Canyon, waterfalls, beaches, valleys and mountains that can only be seen from above.
Landing at 400-foot Manawaiopuna Falls is part of a tour exclusively offered by Island Helicopters Kauai.
Credit: 2025 Island Helicopters KauaiThe Kilohana Plantation Railway is a fun train ride for visitors of all ages. They’ll learn about the history of Kilohana, which was established in 1896 and once operated as a cattle ranch and sugar plantation. Groves of banana, longan, mango, atemoya, cashew and noni (Indian mulberry) trees border the 2.5-mile rail track, and children are always excited to feed the pigs, goats, sheep and donkey at the end of the tour.
Reserve time to browse within Kilohana’s 16,000-square-foot Tudor-style mansion, which was built in 1936. It now houses shops, art galleries and The Plantation House by Gaylords, one of Kauai’s best restaurants. I always enjoy the quick-fried brie, drizzled with honey and truffle oil and served with grapes, macadamia nuts and a baguette. For dessert, it has to be banana cream pie, which has a toasted coconut crust and a topping of whipped cream and caramel sauce.
Around Oahu: Cultural Sites, Honolulu Museum of Art, Manoa Chocolate
Noelani Schilling-Wheeler, executive director, Oahu Visitors Bureau
Bishop Museum, Iolani Palace, Queen Emma Summer Palace and the Hawaiian Mission Houses bring the stories of the Hawaiian kingdom to vivid life. Whenever I can, I head to Iolani Palace’s grounds at noon on Fridays for a free concert by the Royal Hawaiian Band, which King Kamehameha III founded in 1836. The program changes every week and always gives me a midday boost.
Art aficionados won’t want to miss the Honolulu Museum of Art, which features special exhibitions year-round and a permanent collection of works from around the globe. Every Friday, the museum stays open until 9 p.m. for programming that might include talks, live music, demonstrations and workshops.
The Honolulu Museum of Art features a permanent collection of art from India among its offerings.
Credit: 2025 Honolulu Museum of ArtHawaii is the only [U.S.] state that grows cacao, and Manoa Chocolate’s farm tour explains how that fruit is transformed into the world’s favorite sweet. Tastings of bars flavored with banana, coconut, passion fruit, mango and more are a highlight.
No itinerary is complete without Kualoa Ranch, which provides a breathtaking backdrop for outdoor adventures, including ziplining, horseback rides, catamaran cruises and UTV and electric bike tours. If some areas look familiar, that’s not a surprise; Kualoa has appeared in numerous movies and television shows, including “Jurassic Park” and “Hawaii Five-O."
Maui Recommendations: Hale Hoikeike, Standout Dining, Volunteer Opportunities
Sherry Duong, executive director, Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau
A beloved attraction is Hale Hoikeike, caretaker of an incredible collection of kapa [also known as tapa, a textile made from bark], feather lei, wooden calabashes, stone poi pounders and other artifacts that were used prior to Western contact. The museum aims to be a community gathering place that brings Hawaiian history and traditions to life through special programs and events. I attended a Lei Day workshop this past May, and it was fun and exhilarating to craft a beautiful keepsake from flowers and ferns picked just steps away.
Among Maui’s exceptional restaurants is Seascape at the Maui Ocean Center, which offers fabulous views of Maalaea Bay and Harbor and an innovative menu that celebrates Hawaii’s bounty. Savor [seasonal dishes such as] truffle kalo (taro) fries, Molokai venison potstickers and entrees made with fish caught that morning in Maui waters. For dessert, I can never pass up the mocha ulu (breadfruit) pie.
Seascape restaurant offers beautiful views of Maalaea Harbor.
Credit: 2025 SeascapeMy staff and I recently spent a day with Kaehu, a nonprofit that’s restoring a coastal area once filled with fishponds, taro patches, and native plants and wildlife. We cleared overgrowth, removed invasive plant species and planted native vegetation along Kaehu Bay. Visitors can also volunteer to experience firsthand, as we did, how this sacred place connects people with the aina (land).
Hawaii Island Highlights: Volcanoes, Nighttime Snorkeling, Culinary Traditions
Scott Pauli, executive director, Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is my island’s top attraction — 354,000-plus acres of constant change. Kilauea Volcano has gone through numerous eruptive phases since 1983, reshaping a geographical wonderland that ranges from stark desert to lush rainforest.
Dating back to 1790-1791, Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site on the Kohala Coast was one of Hawaii’s last major temples to be built. A walk-through is especially dramatic at sunset, and during winter, the entire coastline is a prime spot for whale watching.
Anelakai Adventures’ uses canoes powered by paddles for its tours.
Credit: 2025 Ali Gollestani.Anelakai Adventures offers nighttime snorkeling tours featuring close encounters with manta rays, whose wingspans can exceed 25 feet. It gets a thumbs-up for its eco-friendly practices, including use of canoes powered by paddles, not engines.
I recently learned about traditional cooking practices at Imu Mea Ai. My group spent hours preparing a Hawaiian feast, from harvesting wood and rocks to wrapping taro and pork in ti leaves. Chicken, fish, sweet potatoes, carrots, cabbage, mushrooms, onions and kulolo (pudding made with taro, brown sugar and coconut milk) also went into a pit for steaming between layers of damp burlap sacks and banana stumps and leaves. Later, we enjoyed the delicious meal and the camaraderie — aloha — which is what I believe truly stays with visitors.
