Akaka Falls State Park
A short rainforest loop trail leads to one of Hawaii's most spectacular waterfalls plunging 442 feet into a lush gorge on the Big Island.
State park8 place-specific finds
Home / Park guides / Tropical U.S.
Regional outdoor-learning catalog
Tropical U.S. park learning for kids
The catalog includes 21 places across 1 states or territories in this region. Families can investigate volcanoes, coral reefs, tropical forests, island ecology, and Pacific or Caribbean history through park-specific observations, discussion, field notes, and shared trip planning.
21 catalog parks176 specific finds2 public printable examples
Plan from the managing agency: catalog descriptions support learning, not live visitor logistics. Check current closures, access, reservations, weather, wildlife rules, and permitted routes before every visit.
HI (21)
Diamond Head State Monument
An iconic volcanic crater on the edge of Waikiki that you can hike to the top of for amazing views of Honolulu and the Pacific Ocean. The trail goes through a tunnel and up old military bunkers!
State park8 place-specific finds
Haleakala National Park
A massive shield volcano on Maui that rises over 10,000 feet above sea level. The enormous summit crater looks like the surface of the moon and is famous for spectacular sunrises above the clouds.
National park9 place-specific finds
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Home to two of the world's most active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa. You can walk through lava tubes, see steam vents, and watch the earth being built right before your eyes!
National park10 place-specific finds
Iao Valley State Monument
A lush green valley in the West Maui Mountains featuring the famous Iao Needle, a moss-covered rock pinnacle that rises 1,200 feet from the valley floor like a giant green thumb.
State park8 place-specific finds
Kalaupapa National Historical Park
A remote peninsula on Molokai surrounded by the world's tallest sea cliffs, with a powerful history of the leprosy settlement that became a place of courage and compassion.
National park8 place-specific finds
Keahiakawelo (Garden of the Gods)
An otherworldly landscape of wind-sculpted red rock towers and boulders on the island of Lanai that looks more like Mars than Hawaii. Best visited at sunset when the rocks glow fiery red.
Local park8 place-specific finds
Koke'e State Park
A cool mountain wilderness high above Waimea Canyon on Kauai with misty forests, rare native birds, and trails leading to stunning lookouts over the Na Pali Coast and Kalalau Valley.
State park9 place-specific finds
Kualoa Regional Park & Ranch
A stunning valley on Oahu where Jurassic Park was filmed, with dramatic green mountains, secret beaches, and ancient Hawaiian fishponds.
Local park8 place-specific finds
Lahaina Historic District
A former whaling capital and Hawaiian royal seat on West Maui's coast, with the largest banyan tree in the United States, historic buildings, and rich Hawaiian and missionary history.
Local park8 place-specific finds
Lydgate Beach Park & Kamalani Playground
A family-friendly beach park on Kauai's east side with protected lava rock swimming pools, an enormous wooden playground, and an ancient Hawaiian heiau (temple) right on the shore.
Local park8 place-specific finds
Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail
A paved trail along Oahu's dramatic southeastern coast where you can spot humpback whales in winter and see a historic red-capped lighthouse on the cliff.
Local park8 place-specific finds
Makena State Park (Big Beach)
One of Maui's largest undeveloped beaches with a third of a mile of golden sand backed by a volcanic cinder cone called Pu'u Olai that you can climb for incredible views.
State park8 place-specific finds
Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park
Towering emerald sea cliffs reaching 4,000 feet along Kauai's rugged northwest shore. This remote coastline can only be reached by hiking, boat, or helicopter and feels like a lost world.
State park9 place-specific finds
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
The memorial honoring the 2,403 Americans who lost their lives during the surprise attack on December 7, 1941. You can visit the USS Arizona Memorial built right over the sunken battleship.
National park8 place-specific finds
Poipu Beach Park
A crescent-shaped beach on Kauai's sunny south shore famous for monk seal sightings, sea turtles, and a natural wading pool perfect for kids. Often ranked one of America's best beaches.
Local park8 place-specific finds
Pololu Valley Lookout
A remote black sand beach at the end of the road on the Big Island's Kohala Coast, reached by a steep trail down into a lush valley.
State park8 place-specific finds
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park
An ancient Hawaiian "place of refuge" on the Big Island where people who broke kapu (sacred laws) could find safety. The park has carved wooden ki'i (tiki) guardian statues and a restored royal compound.
National park9 place-specific finds
Wai'anapanapa State Park
A stunning black sand beach on Maui's Hana coast surrounded by lava caves, sea arches, blowholes, and a freshwater cave pool steeped in Hawaiian legend.
State park8 place-specific finds
Waimea Canyon State Park
Known as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific," this massive canyon on Kauai stretches 14 miles long and over 3,600 feet deep with layers of colorful red and green rock and waterfalls.
State park9 place-specific finds
Waipio Valley
A breathtaking mile-wide valley on the Big Island with 2,000-foot cliffs, a black sand beach, and the tallest waterfall in Hawaii. Ancient Hawaiians called it the "Valley of the Kings."
State park9 place-specific finds
Use a regional catalog without turning it into a checklist race
Let the child heart places that create real curiosity, compare two landscapes or histories, and choose one attainable family visit. At the park, use three to five observations for younger children and a field note or evidence-backed explanation for older children. Missing an item is a reason to ask a question, never a reason to approach wildlife or leave an allowed route.
Try the family wishlist demonstration · See the complete outdoor-learning model