For people looking forward to fun and enjoyable Hawaii vacations, planning ahead is always a good idea. This type of foresight includes researching different destinations, skimming through guidebooks, mapping out locations, and determining what is the best way to spend precious hours in the islands. There are several places across the island chain that are popular in books, however, but not at all good places to go in reality. One place to skip is Poipu Beach Park on Kauai. The always crowded beach is quite popular but is nowhere close to the serene and quiet beach getaway many people look forward to. If on Kauai, Lydgate Beach is a much better alternative and has better facilities and much less people.

On Maui, the Kahului Shopping Center is a place for all visitors and tourists to avoid. The generic set of shops is desperately trying to attract non-locals although all of its stores are geared toward residents. A close by alternative is Market Street in Wailuku which not only has a greater spread of shops but also charming restaurants and a much nicer town vibe. On the Big Island, tourists typically flock to Lulu’s. However, the overpriced, deepfried establishment has nothing special and is quite similar to the overexposed Senor Frogs chain. A much better choice would be the Kona Brewery which has more live music, outdoor seating, authentic cuisine, and local beers.