6 Life-Changing Things To Do On Your Next Hawaiian Vacation

Where else can you swim with dolphins and hike through a jungle in the same day?!

1. You can hike through a bamboo forest to a 400-foot waterfall.

Haleakala National Park is the home of the Pipiwai trail, which features a three-mile hike through jaw-dropping bamboo forest, all the way to the 400-foot-tall Waimoku Falls. You don't want to miss this adventure!

2. You can snorkel like you've never snorkeled before.

You might have been snorkeling before, but there's no snorkel quite like a snorkeling in Hawaii. Take a quick morning catamaran ride to Molokini, a small crescent-shaped island that's also a Marine Life Conservation District. The reef-filled waters are home to more than 250 marine species!

3. You can go to a very recognizable prehistoric island.

Remember that really famous movie about that island of dinosaurs? And remember that one scene where the helicopter flew through the mountains on that island? That was filmed on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, and you can charter that exact helicopter ride. They even blast the movie's theme music through the helicopter's loudspeakers for you!

4. You can watch the sunrise from the top of Mount Haleakala.

Hawaii isn't just sunshine and beaches. You'll need a winter coat to journey to the 10,023-foot summit of Haleakala on the island of Maui. It's a treacherous drive up the mountain, but it's worth it for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

5. You can visit a humpback whale nursery.

Between January and March, more than 10,000 humpback whales arrive off the coast of Maui to mate, give birth, and raise their cute little humpback calves. This is the only place in the US where this happens!

6. You can do absolutely nothing.

There's plenty to do in Hawaii, but it's also the best place in the world to do absolutely nothing. You can just sit here all day with a delicious tropical cocktail, soak up some sun, and stare at the most beautiful ocean you've ever seen. Now that's a day well-spent!

Images via Getty Images

If you're in the mood for a Hawaiian vacation, then you're in luck. Southwest has brand-new routes from California to Hawaii, so book your flights to Honolulu, Maui, Kona, Kauai, and Hilo right now!