jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Been there twice; going again next year. Photo ops abound.

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

Everyone..except one curmudgeon?, says the same thing....Go..Go..Go! If you can afford to stay and take your time, you can see everything. Hawaii is beautiful, unique, welcoming. Everyone has their go to places and must see and do activities. When planning my recent trip, I reached out to everyone here for suggestions. There is no doubt that my trip was so great as a result of the help and feedback received here. My wife said that 'you did a great job planning this trip!' I'm still editing and culling my photos.
I am also 'reading' in your post that going 'unaccompanied' is something of a concern--not safety. You might want to reach out to see if you can find any 'locals' or clubs on the islands that you can join for excursions. I am not suggesting tours. The only tours that we took were.....helicopter in Hawaii (me only..awesome!) and the 'tour' on the Missouri. Everything else was planned and self-guided.
Hawaii is exceptional. Do not miss this opportunity.

Indylp

Kauai nuff said !!

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DIRTY HARRY Loc: Hartland, Michigan

Because you've never been there and it's totally unlike anything you've seen on any of your travels.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Lots to see and photograph. Spend a day at Pearl Harbor and then you will realize your trip was worth it.

Machinedoc Loc: Yorktown Heights, NY

You should go! No doubt about it! If you don't want to spend 11 hours on a plane, don't go non-stop - stop in L.A. or S.F. for a day or two on both ends of the trip. If you take a helicopter tour of Kauai, do it on one without doors - not to be missed. Do it!

Arca

Woodworkerman,

I have been to the state five times and only visited four of the seven major islands. I suggest the book 'Hawaii For Dummies' as it goes through a list of pros and cons of each of the islands, depending on what your interests are, golf, swimming, hiking, fishing, whale watching, diving, family oriented or not, etc. Absolutely go, but take sunscreen as it is the southernmost point of the U.S. and is closest to the equator. Even me, as an Arizonan had to watch out for sunburn. You will have a great time.

One thing for an example, that Hawaii has but Florida does not have is 'Polynesian culture'. The seafood is extraordinary, the ritual fire dances at luau's is mesmerizing for its beauty and danger. I do not work for their Chamber of Commerce, but I encourage you to go.

Arca

ferg

Lots of reasons. I suggest you try the Big Island and take a hello tour. Lots to photograph including active volcano and snow capped mountain.

Maui is nice and Mount Holeakala is great for sunrise and sunset.

Kauai is green and lush.

Oahu is great for brief stop to view Arizona memorial but Honolulu is like about any large city with traffic and people. Oh yes, Waikiki beach and Diamond Head.
You need to go!

Unclehoss

USS Arizona Memorial, USS Missouri Museum....

Katydid Loc: Davis, CA

Yes! Let me just add that the tour of Pearl Harbor brought tears to my eyes.

finnmap Loc: N Illinois

Been twice, planning a third. Highlights - Road to Hana, whale watching, Haleakala for sunrise (tho I believe you need a reservation to get in cuz so many people go there, chk with park service), Kauai is beautiful. I would recommend a week each o two different islands, each island has it's own unique charms.

Chan Garrett

YES! By all means, go. I, too, live in Florida (east coast.) and have visited Hawaii three or four times. Each island has it's own charm. My last visit was to the "big island." Hard to beat an active volcano, lush vegetation, Rugged mountains, and spectacular waterfalls. Each side of the island is different.

BlackRipleyDog

My father was there while in the Army in '41. He said he was an 18 year old living in paradise. At least until December 7th.

vicksart Loc: Novato, CA -earthquake country

Definitely - GO. Lots of photo ops on all of the islands and if you're looking for variety, visit the Big Island. Depending on the time of year, crowds visiting equal lots of traffic on perimeter roads. Most of the larger islands have direct flights from the mainland.

CaptainBobBrown

Since we live on the 'Big Island' of Hawaii we are biased but we picked it from the 5 major islands of Hawaii as the place to build our home for retirement because the island is big enough to have most of the major ecological zones of the world from Arctic to tropic spread over an area the size of Connecticut along with population centers such as Kailua-Kona and Hilo, not too big, not too small as well as the most diverse and interesting mix of cultures you'll find anywhere. Scenery is as varied as you'd expect in such a place as well. For us it was a pilgrimage to go to the top of Mauna Kea and see the world's largest collection of astronomical observatories, watch the sunset over the cloud layer a mile below you as the telescopes 'wake up' for their nightly observing runs. Florida doesn't have the kinds of coastal views we have on any of the Hawaiian islands which are as rugged and dramatic as anything along the Oregon coast because the volcanic terrain has been cut into jagged knife edges by the constant erosion from the northeast trades.
Then we have the largest (but rapidly disappearing) collection of endemic plants and tropical birds to be found anywhere on earth. If you're into bird photography take a day long tour through the Ohia rain forests at 6500 feet on Mauna Kea with an expert like Jack Jeffrey to see some of the rarest birds in the world. I could go on and on but to miss Hawaii or Alaska is to miss some of the grandest spots in the world.