Visit these tourist destinations in Hawaii to experience life like a local.

Editor's note: Travelers are strongly advised to research any COVID-19-related local government regulations, guidelines, and safety precautions before setting out, as well as to evaluate their comfort levels and health status.

When you live on an island, visitors frequently inquire: If you live in a tourist area, where do you travel? Do you find living on an island boring?

Las Vegas, which is affectionately referred to as "the ninth island" due to the high number of locals who visit (about one in 10 residents travel to Vegas annually), is the answer to the first question for many Hawaii residents. They move to Sin City in search of a Hawaiian community where the cost of living is lower. Due in part to the state's location midway between Asia and the US mainland, other popular destinations include Japan, China, Thailand, and the west coast of North America. Of course, many people are drawn away from the islands by activities not available there, such as cold-weather excursions in Alaska and Canada and explorations of Petra's ancient ruins in Jordan.

In response to the second query, I often say that maybe you are dull if you are bored in Hawaii. The Hawaiian Islands are after all endowed with some of the most amazing natural resources on the planet, ideal weather, a rich history and culture, and one (wonderful) food. Every island presents a unique experience. Therefore, we enjoy staying home and consider ourselves "fortunate we live in Hawaii," as the slogan goes. Here are seven places in Hawaii that are popular with locals.

Mountainous Maui

One of my favorite experiences from all of my international travels is going to Haleakala National Park. Even though it happened fifteen years ago, I can still clearly remember weaving our way to the top and into the stars. We waited in quiet as we shivered at the top; the vista was too lovely for even whispering. I had to wonder whether we had landed in heaven as the sun peaked through the clouds to show a sea of cotton-like clouds.

More than 75% of Maui is taken up by the 30,000-acre national park, which is home to several rare and endemic species and is centered around the 10,023-foot dormant Haleakala volcano. For many islanders and visitors, a trip to Haleakala is not just memorable but frequently spiritual as well. Haleakala, which in Hawaiian means "House of the Sun," is a holy site where early kahuna po'o (high priests) would meditate and gain knowledge. Native Hawaiians still hold it in high regard as a place with deep cultural significance and significance for Hawaiian identity.

Debbie Nakanelua-Richards, director of community and cultural relations at Hawaiian Airlines, suggests stopping by Upcountry Farmers Market in Makawao if you're in Upcountry Maui (the rural region on the Haleakala side of the island) on a Saturday. You can buy locally produced goods here, such as fresh-cut flowers, honey, grab-and-go meals, clothing, and tropical fruits. Grammy-winning Hawaiian singer-songwriter Kalani Pea advises spending some time at Ali'i Kula Lavender farm since that's where he likes to lounge on the lanai or in the gazebo while surrounded by lavender blossoms and compose music.

Hawaii Windward

On an island, getting away from the city doesn't require traveling very far. Makapu'u Point, which is 15 miles east of Honolulu, the state capital of Hawaii, marks the start of Oahu's windward coast, which continues up to Kahana Bay. Since Honolulu has a population of about 340,000, it is the ideal place for a day excursion. There are countless opportunities for trekking and beach hopping along the eastern coastline due to the abundance of paths and beaches, as well as the lava tubes, blowholes, surf breaks, and stunning coastal scenery. Families frequently stroll the paved Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail, and skilled bodyboarders and surfers frequent Sandy Beach and Makapu'u Beach (also nicknamed Broke Neck Beach for its treacherous conditions).

Sherwoods is his family's favorite beach, according to Kui Wright, head bartender at the Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai Bar in Waikiki. When we drive home from the beach, there are always people selling some sort of local food on the side of the road: shave ice, Lau Lau (a Hawaiian dish typically made of salted butterfish and pork wrapped in taro leaves), and my favorite, malasadas (Portuguese donuts). The sand is soft, the waves are never too big, and the backdrop of the Ko'olau mountains is amazing.

Lanikai Beach, which consistently ranks as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Kailua Beach (famous for windsurfers and kayakers), and Kualoa Ranch, a 4,000-acre private reserve that Nakanelua-Richards claims is a local favorite for zip lining, horseback riding, and taking in the breathtaking and storied 'ina (land).

Oahu's North Shore

The famed North Shore of Hawaii is another location adored by locals and tourists alike and is only a short distance from Honolulu. Professional surfers gather and compete here from all over the world. However, Koa Rothman, a native of the North Shore, a competitive big wave surfer, and the cofounder of The Sunrise Shack, asserts that while his hometown is well-known for its surf scene and the enormous swells that arrive in the winter, anyone can enjoy it. He claims that there are four miles of stunning white-sand beaches where you can comfortably observe the waves and surfers. Surf competitions are frequently held at Pipeline, a surf break off Ehukai Beach Park, and Sunset Beach is a favored spot for, you guessed it, watching the sunset. One of the most scenic locations is Waimea Bay Beach Park, which is where the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational will take place.

City dwellers on Oahu and people from nearby islands also travel to the North Shore to unwind and settle into a slower pace of life. Locals adore the gorgeous rainforest backdrop and holy cultural significance of Waimea Valley, where you can go on picnics, take part in cultural programs, or cool off in the freshwater pool close to Waimea Falls, according to Nakanelua-Richards.

Kauai South Shore

Although Mount Waialeale, one of the wettest places on Earth, is just 20 minutes south of Kauai's South Shore, another fantastic (and drier) vacation for Hawaii residents, Kauai is known as the "Garden Isle" and is about 97% covered with vegetation. This part of Kauai gets more sunshine and is a favorite among swimmers, snorkelers, and visitors to the Poipu Beach resort.

The executive chef at Red Salt restaurant at the Ko'a Kea Hotel & Resort, Noelani Planas, a native of Kauai, claims that the South Shore boasts some of the nicest sunsets. She suggests watching the sunset at Baby Beach, a protected cove just west of Poipu Beach, where you'll find "calm, ankle-deep waters, perfect for families with babies — hence the name — and small children," as well as at the Sunset Wall, a locals-only hangout at Koloa Landing, which is down the street from Ko'a Kea Hotel & Resort. Chef Planas also advises visitors to head a little further afield to Salt Pond Beach Park for a tranquil sunset experience in a protected lagoon with clear water.

(Of course, if you're in Kauai, there is much more to see. For experienced hikers, the 22-mile Kalalau Trail on the Na Pali Coast is a must-do, and a trip to Waimea Canyon, frequently referred to as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific," to enjoy the striking colors and rock formations is a must.)

Lanai

The island of Lanai is where Hawaii residents go when they want to get back in touch with the land and their culture or go home. Cooking Hawaiian Style TV host and cohost of the It's a Hawaii Thing podcast Lanai Tabura adds, "It's one of those places where you can still feel the aloha vibe." Tabura presently lives in Honolulu, but he and his three brothers were born and reared on the island of Lanai, and they frequently travel back to see their mother and the locals. "Not only because of its beauty, but because of the people," Tabura said. Despite being the smallest populated island in Hawaii, Lanai, according to Tabura, has a lot to offer. The Lanaihale walk, Maunalei Gulch, Keahiakawelo (also known as the Garden of the Gods), and Pu'u Pehe (also known as Sweetheart Rock), which bears the name of a sad mo'olelo, are some of his favorite places (legend).

Anela Evans, a Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner at the Four Seasons Resort Lanai, was drawn back home by the island as well. Evans, who was born and raised on Lanai, briefly left her home island before going back. It's like going back in time when you visit Lanai, she says. "Life moves at a slower pace. The people have a warmth about them and exude aloha. Archaeological and cultural sites, like Kaunolu (an ancient fishing village), remain intact and leave you in awe of the skill and tenacity of ancient Hawaiians. You really can't understand what Lanai is like unless you set foot on the island. It is unique in every meaning of the word.

Island of Hawaii's Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Over a million people visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park each year, drawn by the appeal of the area's volcanic activity and unearthly scenery. The 335,259-acre park and its two active volcanoes are visited by more than just visitors; they also have cultural value for the Hawaiian people.

Cineaste Vince Keala Lucero calls it "one of the most amazing sites I've experienced." "As a Native Hawaiian and hula practitioner, it's a place that's very sacred to me because Halema'uma'u Crater is known as the home of Pele, the goddess who created this 'ina (land). Over the past ten years, it's been amazing to feel the steam vents up close, see smoke billowing miles into the sky, and witness her natural fireworks.

Peter Merriman, the chef, and proprietor of Merriman's Hawaii, a restaurant chain that specializes in offering Hawaii regional cuisine with locally produced ingredients, claims that Waimea is yet another neighborhood favorite. He claims that the Big Island's paniolo (cowboy) settlement of Waimea is special. In 1988, Chef Merriman launched his first iconic upcountry restaurant here, and he still feels that this region, with its rolling green meadows, livestock, and ranches, is "unlike any other in Hawaii." He asserts that a trip to paniolo country is incomplete without a horseback riding excursion at Kahua Ranch. This ranch, which was recently highlighted on Philip Rosenthal's worldwide food and travel program, Somebody Feed Phil, is the source of the lamb used in Merriman's restaurants. To learn more about Waimea and the function of paniolo in Hawaii, he also advises going to Parker Ranch and the museum at the Paniolo Heritage Center.

Molokai

Locals who prefer uncomplicated island luxuries to big resorts and high-rise structures adore Molokai. This little island in Maui County, which is about 10 miles wide and less than 40 miles long, has resisted industrial expansion and preserved its natural beauty. Uninhabited beaches, the tallest sea cliffs in the world, and Kalaupapa National Historical Park—where former Hansen's disease patients were isolated and are now a testament to strength and resiliency—can all be found here. About 7,000 people live on Molokai, most of whom are Native Hawaiians who uphold the Hawaiian language, customs, and folklore of this unique place.

For anyone traveling to Molokai, the Kalaupapa Lookout is a must-see. Miki'ala Pescaia, a Molokai-born Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner and interpretive park ranger at Kalaupapa National Historical Park, describes the lookout's location as "sitting on the edge of a 2,000-foot cliff where you can see the expansive Pacific Ocean with Kalaupapa peninsula sprawled before you." "The birds-eye perspective is unique when you read the engaging tale panels there and picture what life was like previously and now," says the author of the book. "In the winter, you can catch humpback whales going past, and sometimes hear the sound of their tail slap echo up the cliff."

Additionally, Pescaia adores the west side of the island's Papohaku Beach. This three-mile stretch of white sand beach, according to her, "is never busy, and sometimes you're the only person there." "A visit to this beach is a stunning and humbling experience," the residents say. "Winter north swells produce severe waves, and locals advise against swimming then, but the summers are calmer, and you can catch the final sight of sun rays at sunset."