Your No-Nonsense Guide to Hawaii’s National Parks

First, the straight talk

Plenty of folks say they want to “hit all of Hawaii’s National Parks,” then realize they’re signing up for a true multi-island mission. It’s still worth it. You’ll weave volcanoes, heiau, fishponds, and hard history into a single trip that actually teaches you something about this place. You’ll also face real-world hurdles: flight timing, sunrise permits, closed sites, and one park that’s only reachable by plane with strict age limits. If you plan smart—and give each island 3–4 full days—you can absolutely do this.

What counts as “the eight” (and what doesn’t)

Hawaii’s National Parks official list and locations:

• Haleakalā National Park (Maui)

• Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (Hawaiʻi Island)

• Kalaupapa National Historical Park (Molokaʻi)

• Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park (Hawaiʻi Island)

• Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park (Hawaiʻi Island)

• Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site (Hawaiʻi Island)

• Honouliuli National Historic Site (Oʻahu)

• Pearl Harbor National Memorial (Oʻahu). National Park Service

Here’s what’s not Hawaii’s National Parks list: Mālaekahana Beach. It’s a State Recreation Area managed by Hawaiʻi DLNR, not the NPS. Still a lovely, culturally important shoreline—just not an NPS unit. Hawaii DLNR

There’s also the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail on Hawaiʻi Island—a 175-mile cultural corridor with walkable segments tucked inside four of the Big Island’s NPS sites. If you’re trying to “see it all,” you’ll touch Ala Kahakai naturally while visiting those parks. National Park Service+1

The reality of access, permits, and tickets (don’t wing this)

• Haleakalā sunrise: A vehicle reservation is required for 3:00–7:00 a.m. entries. Inventory drops 60 days out, with a small batch two days before. There’s a $1 reservation fee per vehicle (separate from the entry fee). No, you can’t grab one at the gate. Recreation.gov

• Pearl Harbor: The visitor center is free; the USS Arizona Memorial program is also free but reservations are recommended due to demand. National Park Service

• Honouliuli NHS (Oʻahu): The site itself isn’t open to the public yet (no public road access). If you want to learn and pay respects now, visit the Honouliuli Education Center at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi in Honolulu. National Park Service+1

• Kalaupapa (Molokaʻi): Entry is tightly controlled. Visitors must be 16+, require permission, and—right now—the practical way in is by air, on park-authorized guided tours that have just resumed. Plan early; seats are limited. National Park Service+2Forbes+2

• Hawaiʻi Volcanoes: Eruptions start and stop. Conditions change quickly; check the park alerts and USGS updates before you drive hours for “lava” that may have paused. National Park Service+1

Island-by-island game plan (quick view)

• Oʻahu (3–4 full days): Pearl Harbor; Honouliuli learning via JCCH; rest of the time for culture, food, and a circle-island day. National Park Service+1

• Hawaiʻi Island (5–7 full days): Volcanoes; Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau; Kaloko-Honokōhau; Puʻukoholā Heiau; and one Ala Kahakai segment. Spread between Kona and Hilo if you can. National Park Service+1

• Maui (3–4 full days): Haleakalā (sunrise or sunset plus crater hiking or Hosmer Grove), plus Upcountry and beach time. Recreation.gov

• Molokaʻi (1 very full day): Kalaupapa tour via small aircraft. No “maybe.” You either book it or you don’t go. National Park Service

Oʻahu: Pearl Harbor and how to handle Honouliuli

Pearl Harbor National Memorial deserves an early morning. Grab USS Arizona program reservations ahead of time and plan 3–4 hours minimum. If you want to add Battleship Missouri, Aviation Museum, or the Submarine Museum, block more time. The museums aren’t NPS units, but they round out the story. National Park Service

Honouliuli is where many Japanese Americans in Hawaiʻi were incarcerated during WWII. The site remains closed while the NPS advances planning. Until it opens, the Honouliuli Education Center at JCCH is the move; it’s thoughtful, grounded, and accessible in town. Pair Pearl Harbor in the morning with JCCH in the afternoon, then decompress over a respectful dinner. National Park Service+1

Hawaiʻi Island: four park units, one trail network, and serious variety

You’ll cover Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau (a place of refuge), Kaloko-Honokōhau (fishpond engineering and coastal ecosystems), Puʻukoholā Heiau (unification-era history), and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes (dynamic geology). The trail segments of Ala Kahakai link much of this; you’ll walk it without even trying. National Park Service+3National Park Service+3National Park Service+3

• Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau: Start at the Royal Grounds, keep voices low, and skip beach chairs or drones—this is sacred space. Families love this stop because the interpretation is clear and the shoreline is stunning. National Park Service

• Kaloko-Honokōhau: Learn how Hawaiians built and sustained life on harsh lava through fishpond design. Turtles rest here—give them space. The visitor center hours are limited, so time your visit. National Park Service

• Puʻukoholā Heiau: Walk the grounds, absorb the story of Kamehameha I’s temple, and keep an eye on posted hours, which shift seasonally. National Park Service

• Hawaiʻi Volcanoes: Check park alerts and USGS updates on the morning you go; plan a daytime loop (Kīlauea Iki, Devastation Trail, Chain of Craters Road) and, if conditions allow, a nighttime return for glow. Don’t count on lava just because you saw a viral video last week. National Park Service+1

Maui: Haleakalā without the rookie mistakes

You can do sunrise or sunset; both are incredible. If sunrise appeals, set alarms, layer up like you’re going skiing (it’s 10,023 feet), and secure that vehicle reservation early. If you’ve got kids who melt at 3 a.m., sunset is easier and less crowded. Either way, respect alpine trails—thin air means you’ll feel those inclines, fast. Recreation.gov

Molokaʻi: Kalaupapa, done the right way

This is sacred ground with living residents and a painful history. The only appropriate way for general visitors is on the authorized guided tour; plan on flying in and out the same day. The trail down the cliffs isn’t your back-up plan; it remains off the table for casual access. Seats are limited and ages 16+ only. If that doesn’t fit your group, accept it and adjust—forcing this stop isn’t respectful. National Park Service+2National Park Service+2

A realistic 16–18 day route that hits everything

• Days 1–4 – Oʻahu
  Day 1: Land, breathe, local plate lunch, easy beach walk.
  Day 2: Pearl Harbor (AM), lunch in town, Honouliuli Education Center (PM).
  Day 3: Circle-island day (don’t overschedule—traffic’s real).
  Day 4: Buffer morning + fly to Hawaiʻi Island (KOA). National Park Service+1

• Days 5–10 – Hawaiʻi Island
  Day 5: Kaloko-Honokōhau + Ala Kahakai segment.
  Day 6: Puʻukoholā Heiau + Kohala cultural stops.
  Day 7: Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau + South Kona coffee stop.
  Day 8: Transfer to Hilo side (or base in Volcano village).
  Day 9: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes (full day).
  Day 10: Second park window for conditions or rest day. National Park Service+3National Park Service+3National Park Service+3

• Days 11–14 – Maui
  Day 11: Fly KOA/ITO → OGG; Upcountry lunch.
  Day 12: Haleakalā sunrise (if you scored the reservation) + short crater walk.
  Day 13: Recovery beach day; shave ice bribe for the early wake-up crew.
  Day 14: Road-to-Hāna slice or Iao/West Maui (keep it sane). Recreation.gov

• Day 15 – Molokaʻi
  Same-day flight to Kalaupapa tour; respect the space; back to Maui. If seats aren’t available on your dates, swap Oʻahu or Big Island days earlier in the trip to widen your window. National Park Service

• Days 16–18 – Flex
  Add cushion for weather, airline reshuffles, or a second Volcanoes night visit. If your group runs out of steam, drop Hāna or a non-park day—not the core park windows.

Timing, flights, and cars (the unsexy parts that make or break this)

• Interisland flights connect everything; there’s no public ferry to Molokaʻi. Keep layovers tight but realistic; 60–90 minutes is safer if you’re wrangling kids and car seats.

• Rental cars: Book early on every island. You’ll want wheels for all four islands on this plan.

• Altitude & weather: Haleakalā is cold and windy at all hours; Big Island’s high country can be chilly; Volcanoes can swing from sun to rain fast; vog happens.

How much time at each park?

• Pearl Harbor: 3–4 hours for the memorial and museums at the visitor center; longer if you add Ford Island sites. Reservations recommended for the USS Arizona program. National Park Service

• Honouliuli (learning stop): 60–90 minutes at the JCCH Education Center. Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii

• Kaloko-Honokōhau: 1.5–3 hours; go gentle on heat of day. National Park Service

• Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau: 2–3 hours if you linger with the ranger talks. National Park Service

• Puʻukoholā Heiau: 60–90 minutes; bring water and sun protection. National Park Service

• Hawaiʻi Volcanoes: One full day minimum; two is better if conditions are active. Check alerts before you commit the drive. National Park Service

• Haleakalā: Sunrise or sunset block + 2–4 hours; secure that vehicle reservation for sunrise. Recreation.gov

• Kalaupapa: The tour is an all-day commitment including flights. Ages 16+ only. National Park Service

Fees, passes, and little costs that surprise people

• Park entry: Haleakalā and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes charge standard NPS entry fees; consider the America the Beautiful pass if you’re a frequent park traveler.

• Haleakalā sunrise: Separate $1 vehicle reservation fee on Recreation.gov; entry fee still applies. Recreation.gov

• Pearl Harbor: Visitor center is fee-free; USS Arizona still needs a reservation for the boat program because demand spikes. National Park Service

• Kalaupapa: Expect a premium price for the authorized small-plane tour; space is limited and permits are handled through the tour operator in coordination with NPS/DOH requirements. National Park Service

Don’t miss these on-the-ground tips

• Culture first: Heiau and royal grounds aren’t “photo ops.” Speak softly, dress respectfully, and stay off rock walls and burials.

• Wildlife space: Honu (sea turtles) and monk seals haul out on beaches. Give them distance.

• Early and late light: Beat parking crunches at Volcanoes and find calmer conditions at Haleakalā.

• Eat like you’re here: In Kona, pair Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau with a South Kona coffee farm. On Oʻahu, hit a plate-lunch spot near Pearl Harbor before you cross town for JCCH.

• Keep slack in the plan: Weather and airline schedules won’t care about your spreadsheet. Build buffer days.

Sample packing list (park-specific)

• Layers (Haleakalā & Volcanoes): puffy, beanie, gloves

• Sun gear: hat, reef-safe sunscreen

• Footwear: closed-toe hikers or sturdy sneakers

• Car stuff: phone mount, charging cable

• Respect kit: patience, humility, reusable water bottle

Final word and invitation

Yes, this is a big trip. It’s also one of the most meaningful ways to meet Hawaiʻi—across islands, landscapes, and histories. If you want this dialed for first-timers without the rookie mistakes—tight flight pairs, confirmed sunrise permits, the right Volcanoes window, and a realistic Kalaupapa plan—I’ll map it day-by-day and build the air, hotel, car, and activities around your pace. No fluff, just a clean plan that works.

P.S. If you saw an old list with Mālaekahana on it, now you know why it shouldn’t be counted in your NPS tally.