The experts’ guide to planning a trip to Hawaii

Hikers can’t go wrong on any island, but the lush North Shore of Kauai, barren lava beds of Maui’s Haleakala National Park and the Big Island’s waterfall laden Waipio Valley are Herron’s top picks.

If surfing is too demanding, a company called LightSUP Hawaii has sunset paddleboard tours to spot manta rays off the Big Island. “After the sun sets, your paddleboard lights up revealing the sea life below through the ‘window’ in your board,” says Herron, who refers to the experience as “magical.”

Adventurers:

Tandem ziplining, kayaking, night diving and helicopter tours will appeal to thrill-seekers who want to see Hawaii from the perspective of the land, sea and sky.

Kids as young as five can tube down the canals of Kauai’s old sugar plantations. Families can also charter a crewed catamaran through Trilogy Excursions for a day of swimming, whale watching and “snuba” diving, a cross between diving and snorkeling, said Herron.    

The finer things:

One of the biggest draws to Lanai is its hotels — there are but three. A full day of pampering at the spa at the new Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort is the ultimate luxury indulgence. The hotel is one of Herron’s favorites, along with the Big Island’s Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.

Frangipane agreed with those choices, adding in Maui’s Fairmont Kea Lani, which is opening Nov. 1, and the Halekulani near Waikiki Beach.