Have you ever been to Hawaii? Well, whether you have or haven’t, you can envision the beautiful golden beaches with soft, warm sand and ubiquitous seashells. As you are lying down on your towel, you may be drinking a piña colada. From here, you can view the light-blue ocean ahead where children are splashing and others are sailing. Most would define this moment as paradise. They are not wrong, but what if there was something else to make it better? Many would say there is nothing that could improve their getaway, but that is where the National Park Service comes in.

If you did not know, there are 59 national parks across the United States. Each park is unique and extraordinary. In 2015, the National Park Service recorded over 307 million visitors to these 59 parks. However, two of the least visited parks are located on the islands of Hawaii. Haleakalā National Park is located on the island of Maui, and Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is located on the island of Hawai’i. Though they are on different islands, they are both easily accessibly by boat or flight. If you visit Hawaii and want to experience more than the traditional beach, visiting either of these national parks will leave you with unforgettable memories.

Established in 1916, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park became the 10th national park. The park embodies two of the most famous active volcanoes: Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. Kīlauea is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. Mauna Loa, on the other hand, is the most massive subaerial volcano on the planet! There are two great things to do in this park: Hawai’i Chain of Craters Drive and Kīlauea Craters Trail. If you are not big into hiking, the Hawai’i Chain of Craters Drive is perfect for you. This 22-mile drive brings you from the top of Kīlauea to the Pacific Ocean. It is amazing to see how the lava erupts from the volcano and travels down to the ocean to form new land. If you would like, you can walk through a lava tube and see petroglyphs in the magma.

On the other hand, if you are up for a more serious hike, the Kīlauea Craters Trail is perfect for you. Ultimately, you will be safely crossing a 4-mile isolated crater with lava flowing around you. It's best to leave your car by Thurston Lava Tube. From here, you will begin the 8.5-mile journey through the actual Kilauea pit crater. Be warned, you will be walking beside vast areas of liquid, hot magma. However, on your way, you will be able to absorb the beauty of the Halema'uma'u crater-within-a-crater. These trips will take you away from the populated beaches into the uninhabited world of volcanoes.

Haleakalā National Park, instituted in 1961, was initially part of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park in 1916, but was converted into a separate park. The most famous activity in Haleakalā is to observe either the sunrise or sunset from the summit of the park. You will see the bright orange, red, and yellow colors flood the cloudy skies in and out of the volcano. Nonetheless, if you are a hiker, there are plenty of great treks to complete. If you are experienced in hiking, you will love the Sliding Sands Trail. You can either hike 5.6 miles round-trip to Kapalaoa Cabin, or 10.4 miles round-trip to Paliku Cabin. I recommend hiking down the Keoneheehee Trail down and the Halemau’u Trail back up due to their elevation changes of 2800 feet. On this hike, you can witness the massiveness of the volcano itself. On the contrary, if you are an inexperienced hiker, you can walk through the Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area. Here, you can stroll through a completely different ecosystem of rainforest. You can see redwood trees, plum trees and Hawaiian flora and fauna. Walks can range from 0.7 to 1.4 miles round-trip, and will leave you speechless.

In the popular PBS series “The National Parks,” Ken Burns expresses that national parks are America’s best idea. I couldn’t agree more. Furthermore, I believe these parks are must-sees in Hawaii that will take you away from the crowded beaches and present you with one-of-a-kind panoramas.