Walk along the edge of the golf course near the Ritz for an eyeful of these evocative volcanic formations. Hundreds of years ago, gusts sweeping from the ocean forced lava to harden skyward, forming jagged, gray rocks, creating a forbidding landscape almost out of a J.R.R. Tolkien story. Along the coastal trail, you’ll also find a replica Chartres labyrinth fashioned from white stones, punctuated by green grass growing between them, and that’s not all: enjoy views of Molokai, check out green sea turtles, and hopefully spot some whales if you visit during mating season. Oh, and the coastal lookout is adjacent to the Honokahua Burial Site, so please be respectful of the ancient Hawaiian grounds nearby.

Nestled at the edge of a little bluff, this two-story beach shack overlooks clear turquoise waters of Namalu Bay, with unobstructed views of the Pacific and glimpses of Molokai and Lanai in the horizon. Initially a facility for Honolua pineapple plantation managers in the 1940s, the little seaside cottage was recently purchased by the Kapalua Resort and is now available for one-day rentals, where you can spend the day snorkeling and swimming in the protected waters until you’ve had your fill of your own personal paradise.

Take in some history at this little-known archaeological site, home to the islands’ largest limestone cave and possibly the richest fossil site in the entire Pacific. Thousands of years ago, this once-fossilized sand dune collapsed, forming a natural sinkhole, and a 10,000-year-old diary of weather patterns, animal fossils, and pre-human plant life preserved within the cave’s layers. After tackling a bumpy dirt road, take in panoramic views of the Mahaulepu Beach, where Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed. Then curl yourself into a ball and squeeze through the cave’s mouth, which opens into a spacious open-air amphitheater where you can relish its geological glory.

Although this tropical rainforest has been open to the public for the last 43 years, many locals and tourists forgo this lush, educational garden trail for the popular Manoa Falls hike nearby instead. Named after the Minnesota-born plant pathologist and former director of the Hawaii Sugar Planters’ Association, the 194-acre research site and cultural resource now has over 5,000 tropical and sub-tropical plants throughout its grounds, including rare and endangered native Hawaiian plants. Visitors can explore 12 verdant gardens and seven miles of hiking trails, with the main trailhead leading to the not-too-crowded Aihualama Falls.