About to embark on your first visit to the Hawaiian Islands? Choosing which experiences can get a bit overwhelming. While adventures such as exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, watching the sunrise at Haleakala National Park, visiting Pearl Harbor, or sailing the Napali Coast are all truly must-do Hawaii activities depending on the island you're traveling to, don't let your adventuring stop with just these. Below are a number of even more thrilling, unexpected and remarkable experiences to incorporate into your first-ever-Hawaii-visit itinerary.

Island of Hawaii - The ever-changing landscapes of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park should be on every visitor's bucket list, given their 150 miles of park hiking trails exploring volcanic craters, lava deserts, rainforests, early Hawaiian petroglyph fields and two of the world's most active volcanoes: Maunaloa, which last erupted in 1984, and Kilauea, which erupted near continuously from 1983 through 2018. Suggest clients interested in learning about Native Hawaiian culture, customs, beliefs and practices visit Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, which for centuries served as a place of refuge for Hawaiians breaking sacred law, or fleeing death or harm. Should clients inquire about activities allowing them to give back to the aina (land), suggest an outing with Hawaiian Legacy Tours, where participants offset their carbon footprint by helping restore an upland native koa forest.

Maui - Sunrise at Haleakala National Park from the summit of its massive namesake volcano is a breathtaking experience and absolute must-do for first-time Maui visitors. Be sure to book reservations in advance though, as only a limited number of tickets are offered each day. On your way to the park, also visit the charming upcountry town of Makawao nestled on the slopes of Haleakala to explore its eclectic shops, boutiques and art galleries. Nature enthusiasts won't want to miss a visit to Iao Valley State Park, just outside of Wailuku town, for views of the towering emerald peaks of the West Maui mountains, verdant stream-cut Iao Valley and the nature-created lava tower Kukaemoku (aka Iao Needle). The valley holds great historical significance as the site of the Battle of Kepaniwai, where the army of Kamehameha the Great, in its quest to unite the Hawaiian Islands under their leader's rule, clashed with the army of Maui chief Kalanikupule in 1790.

Oahu - Hard to miss overlooking Waikiki, Leahi (aka Diamond Head State Monument) is likely Oahu's most iconic natural landmark, featuring an ever-popular summit hike finishing with stunning 360 views of the island's southeastern tip. After hiking Leahi, suggest you trek the Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail on the island's east side, with its spectacular views of offshore islets and the island of Molokai in the distance. The trail is also great for spotting offshore kohola (humpback whales) during the winter season, when thousands of them arrive in the Islands from the chilly North Pacific before returning in the spring. Should you wish to marvel at the whales up-close, suggest a whale-watch cruise on the Majestic by Atlantis Cruises. Another Oahu must-do is a visit to the museums and memorials of the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites collection. While many visit only the USS Arizona Memorial, the harbor's World War II historical sites also include the Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum and USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park.

Kauai - There's a reason many first-time visitors make sure their time on Kauai includes a Napali Coast sail or boat tour. Ocean tours of the 16-mile coast offer passengers unsurpassed sea-level views of Napali's breathtaking natural beauty, towering ridges and emerald valleys. With Kauai home to the only navigable rivers in the Hawaiian Islands, you can also enjoy a boating adventure on the Wailua River, which weaves alongside gorgeous waterfalls and lush rainforest landscapes on island's east side. And every Kauai visitor should set aside time to relax and enjoy one (or more) of the island's many lovely beaches - among them Poipu Beach Park, which offers crystal-clear waters and an appealing reef for snorkeling.

To book your Hawaiian experience call Tyus Tours & Travel at 866-547-5362 or visit www.tyustours.com.

Hawaii's diverse natural scenery, warm tropical climate, abundance of public beaches, oceanic surroundings, and active volcanoes make it a popular destination for tourists, surfers, biologists, and volcanologists alike. Due to its mid-Pacific location, Hawaii has many North American and Asian influences along with its own vibrant native culture. Hawaii has over a million permanent residents along with many visitors and U.S. military personnel. Its capital is Honolulu on the island of O'ahu.

Hawaii's climate is typical for the tropics, although temperatures and humidity tend to be a bit less extreme due to near-constant trade winds from the east. Summer highs are usually in the upper 80s °F, (around 31 °C) during the day and mid 70s, (around 24 °C) at night. Winter day temperatures are usually in the low to mid 80s, (around 28 °C) and (at low elevation) seldom dipping below the mid 60s (18 °C) at night. Snow, not usually associated with the tropics, falls at 4,205 metres (13,796 ft) on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island in some winter months. Snow rarely falls on Haleakala. Mount Wai?ale?ale, on Kaua?i, has the second highest average annual rainfall on Earth, about 460 inches (11,684.0 mm). Most of Hawaii has only two seasons: the dry season from May to October, and the wet season from October to April.

Hawaii is one of four states, besides the original thirteen, that were independent prior to becoming part of the United States

The Kingdom of Hawaii was sovereign from 1810 until 1893 when the monarchy was overthrown by resident American (and some European) businessmen. It was an independent republic from 1894 until 1898, when it was annexed by the United States as a territory, becoming a state in 1959.

Read more about Hawaii on Wikipedia