Let’s be honest—everyone does the beaches and luaus thing in Hawaii. You’ve seen the postcards, the pineapple drinks, the drone shots of surfers riding glassy curls at sunset. Cute. Classic. Predictable. But what if your island itinerary leaned a little more…intergalactic? Feline-infested? Tubular in a very literal sense?
Buckle your aloha belts, curious traveler—we’re diving into the quirkiest, most wonderfully WTF-worthy corners of the Aloha State. Aliens? Check. Cat colonies? Absolutely. A bathroom with a better view than your hotel room? Oh, honey, yes. Let’s go weird in paradise.
👽 Raëlian UFO Peace Park (Pāhoa, Hawaiʻi Island)
Out-of-this-world meets out-of-left-field.
Ever wanted to make contact with an extraterrestrial civilization and see a peacock in the same hour? Welcome to the UFO Peace Park, a pint-sized “galactic embassy” built by Raëlians—yes, that UFO religion that says aliens engineered humans like high-stakes Sims.
Nestled in the lava-laced wilds of Pāhoa, this place looks like a cross between a cosmic shrine and your stoner cousin’s dream garden: metallic alien busts, geometric stone circles, and actual peacocks that strut like they own the galaxy.
Entry? Free.
Vibe? Cult-meets-Kauaʻi Comic-Con.
Pro Tip: Hit Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park after—you’re already in the weird neighborhood.
😻 Lāna‘i Cat Sanctuary (“Fur Seasons,” Lāna‘i City)
Where whiskers rule and your allergies go to die.
Imagine a place where over 600 rescue cats roam freely across four acres of kitty nirvana. Now imagine it’s in the middle of Lāna‘i. Now imagine they named it the “Fur Seasons” and you’re just a guest in their furry feline kingdom.
Created to save native seabirds from feral feline chaos, this sanctuary offers daily visiting hours where you can cuddle, coo, and potentially be chosen as “the one” by a particularly clingy tabby.
Open daily 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Cost: Donations + devotion.
Warning: You will consider canceling your flight home to become a full-time cat whisperer.
🦴 Lucoral Museum (Waikīkī, O‘ahu)
Jurassic Park, but make it a garage sale.
Tucked behind a nondescript garage on Kuhio Avenue lies a delightful mashup of geology, family legacy, and black coral bling. The Lucoral Museum isn’t huge, but what it lacks in square footage, it makes up for in vibes.
Dino eggs? Check. Gemstones the size of your dog? Yep. A 2,000-pound chunk of rose quartz? Naturally. If you’re lucky, Flora Lu herself might pop out to drop some serious geo-knowledge.
Free on weekdays.
Secret handshake: Just ring the bell. No, seriously.
🍻 Home of the Brave Brewseum & Wiki Waki Woo Speakeasy (Honolulu, O‘ahu)
WWII nostalgia meets tiki tipsiness.
History class, but fun—and tipsy. Start with the Brewseum’s treasure trove of WWII memorabilia (hello, vintage pin-up posters and war bonds), then slip through the hidden entrance to the Wiki Waki Woo, a secret tiki bar serving cocktails with more backstory than your ex.
Order a “Victory Ale,” raise a glass to the Greatest Generation, and bask in the boozy buzz of patriotism.
Open evenings, Thu–Sat.
Book ahead if you like your education with a twist of lime.
🌊 Mountain Tubing Adventure (Līhue, Kaua‘i)
Indiana Jones meets lazy river.
This isn’t your resort pool float. You’ll be cruising on an inner tube through 19th-century sugar cane irrigation tunnels—carved into actual jungle—on land now owned by tech billionaire Steve Case (because of course it is).
It’s part history, part nature thrill ride, and 100% wet. Pro tip: You’ll need to book early. Like, weeks early. And kids under a certain height get left behind (sorry, Shorty).
Tours sell out fast.
Dress code: Swimsuit chic meets spelunking realness.
⏰ Tsunami Clock of Doom (Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island)
Tick, tock, trauma o’clock.
One look at this frozen clock on Kamehameha Avenue and you’ll know: something gnarly went down at 1:04 a.m. That something? The 1960 tsunami that leveled Hilo and left this timepiece eternally stuck at the moment disaster struck.
It’s haunting. It’s historic. It’s a killer photo op (pun not intended, but we’re rolling with it). Pair it with a stop at the Pacific Tsunami Museum next door—still hanging in there, like a soggy but noble time capsule.
Totally free.
A moment of silence? Highly encouraged.
Bonus: 🚽 World’s Most Scenic Urinal (Kealakekua, Hawaiʻi Island)
Bathroom break, but make it majestic.
Perched inside the old Kona Hotel is a urinal with a panoramic view of the Pacific so jaw-dropping, it’s inspired photographers, gigglers, and confused tourists alike. Originally a cheeky marketing stunt, it has transcended its porcelain destiny.
Ladies: no exclusion here. Ask the front desk, take a peek, get the shot. Just, uh, don’t linger too long. Someone might need to go.
Etiquette tip: Snap fast. Flush faster. Brag forever.
