Hawai‘i is the focus in the latest round of best-of lists in USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards.
The awards aim to rank the 10 best in several areas of travel and lifestyle.
You can vote now for Best Family Attraction in Hawai‘i, Best Hawai‘i Cruise; Best Lū‘au in Hawai‘i, Best Resort in Hawai‘i, Best Restaurant in Hawai‘i and Best Tour Company in Hawai‘i. The nominees in each category were chosen with the help of a panel of experts.
Polls for each competition close at 6 a.m. local time on Monday, July 13. Winners, which are determined by votes, will be announced on July 22.
Here's who made the short lists:
Best Family Attraction (vote here)
- Ahi Lele Fire Show, Kīlauea
- Bishop Museum, Honolulu
- Cirque du Soleil ‘Auana, Honolulu
- Gunstock Ranch, Kahuku
- Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai‘i Island
- Hawai‘i Zipline Tours, Honomū
- Honolulu Zoo
- Kona Sea Salt, Kailua-Kona
- Kualoa Roach, Kāne‘ohe
- Lāna‘i Cat Sanctuary, Lāna‘i City
- Lydgate Farms, Kapa‘a
- Maui Ku‘ia Estate, Lahaina
- Maui Ocean Center, the Aquarium of Hawai‘i, Wailuku
- Outrigger Canoe Surfing with Waikīkī Beach Services, Honolulu
- Paniolo BBQ Dinner, Kamuela
- Pearl Harbor National Memorial, Honolulu
- Polynesian Cultural Center, Lā‘ie
- Smith's Kaua‘i, Kapa‘a
- Sweet Land Farm, Waialua
- Wai Kai, ‘Ewa Beach
Best Hawai‘i Cruise (vote here)
- 14-day Hawai‘i from Los Angeles on Carnival Legend, Carnival Cruise Line
- 16-day Hawai‘i from Seattle on Carnival Legend, Carnival Cruise Line
- 16-day Hawaiian Islands from Los Angeles on Emerald Princess, Princess Cruises
- Alaska and Hawai‘i: Kaua‘i and Kona on Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Cruise Line
- Circle Hawai‘i on Zaandam, Holland America Line
- Glaciers & Volcanoes on Oceania Riviera, Oceania Cruises
- Hawai‘i Cruise from Vancouver on Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Cruises
- Hawai‘i Cruise on Anthem of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International
- Hawai‘i from Los Angeles on Carnival Radiance, Carnival Cruise Line
- Hawai‘i from Seattle on Carnival Spirit, Carnival Cruise Line
- Hawai‘i: Inter-island on Norwegian Pride of America, Norwegian Cruise Line
- Hawaiian Islands on Ruby Princess, Princess Cruises
- Hawaiian Seascapes Cruise on Safari Explorer, UnCruise Adventures
- Idyllic Pacific Wonders on Oceania Vista, Oceania Cruises
- Polynesian Playgrounds on Oceania Riviera, Oceania Cruises
- Shores of Kamehameha on Seven Seas Splendor, Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- South Pacific Passage on Oceania Riviera, Oceania Cruises
Best Lū‘au (vote here)
- Ahaaina, a Royal Hawaiian Lū‘au, Honolulu
- Ali‘i Lū‘au at the Polynesian Cultural Center, Lā‘ie
- ‘Auli‘i Lū‘au, Kōloa
- Chief's Lū‘au, Kapolei
- Drums of the Pacific Lū‘au, Lahaina
- The Feast at Mōkapu Lū‘au at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, Wailea
- Germaine's Lū‘au, Kapolei
- Hawai‘iloa Lū‘au at Fairmont Orchard, Kamuela
- Island Breeze Lū‘au, Kailua-Kona
- Ka Wa‘a — a Lū‘au on O‘ahu at Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa, Kapolei
- Kaula Lū‘au at Ocean's Edge at Ko Olina, Kapolei
- Legends of Hawai‘i Lū‘au at Hilton Waikoloa Village, Waikoloa Village
- The Lū‘au at Grand Wailea, Wailea
- Lū‘au Kalamakū at Kilohana Plantation, Līhu‘e
- Old Lahaina Lū‘au, Lahaina
- Paniolo, a Hawaiian Cowboy Lū‘au at The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay
- Tales of the Kapa Moe Lū‘au at The Ritz-Carlton Maui
- Te Au Moana at Wailea Beach Resort, Wailea
- Waikīkī Starlight Lū‘au at Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu
- Wailele Lū‘au at the Westin Maui Resort and Spa, Lahaina
Best Resort (vote here)
- 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, Princeville
- Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort
- Fairmont Orchid, Waimea
- Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa, Kōloa
- Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, Wailea
- Hana-Maui Resort, Hana
- Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort
- Hilton Waikoloa Village
- Ko‘a Kea Resort, Kōloa
- Kōloa Landing Resort at Po‘ipū, Autograph Collection, Kōloa
- The Lodge at Kukui‘ula, Kōloa
- Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, Waimea
- The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
- The Royal Hawaiian, Honolulu
- Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows, Lahaina
- The Royal Sonesta Kaua‘i Resort Līhu‘e
- Sensei Lāna‘i, a Four Seasons Resort, Lāna‘i City
- Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, Lahaina
- Wailea Beach Resort — Marriott, Maui
- The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kā‘anapali
Best Restaurant (vote here)
- Adela's Country Eatery, Kāne‘ohe
- Avalon Gastropub, Kīlauea
- Basalt, Honolulu
- Faria, Kailua
- Fête, Honolulu
- Giovedi, Honolulu
- Honolulu Bistro, Honolulu
- Koast, Wailea
- La Spezia, Kōloa
- Lineage, Wailea
- Living Foods, Kōloa
- Marlow, Pukalani
- Michel's Honolulu
- Moon and Turtle, Hilo
- The Pig and The Lady, Honolulu
- Poke for the People, Hale‘iwa
- Sale Pepe Pizzeria e Cucina, Lahaina
- SingSing Thai Street Food, Honolulu
- The Terrace Hanalei, Hanalei
- Tiffany's Restaurant & Bar, Wailuku
Best Tour Company (vote here)
- Ali‘i Kaua‘i Air Tours & Charters
- Atlantis Submarines, Hawai‘i Island, Maui and O‘ahu
- Blue Dolphin Charters, Kaua‘i
- Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, Hawai‘i Island, Kaua‘i, Maui and O‘ahu
- E Noa Tours, O‘ahu
- Fair Wind Cruises, Hawai‘i Island
- Hawai‘i Forest & Trail, Hawai‘i Island
- Hawai‘i Ocean Sports, Waikoloa
- Holo Holo Charters, Kaua‘i
- Island Helicopters Kaua‘i
- Kailani Tours Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Island
- Kayak Wailua, Kapa‘a
- Kona Boys, Hawai‘i Island
- Manta Ray Advocates, Hawai‘i Island
- Maui Pacific Tours, Wailea
- North Shore Charters, Kaua‘i
- PacWhale Eco-Adventures by Pacific Whale Foundation, Wailuku
- Redline Rafting, Maui
- The Umauma Experience, Hawai‘i Island
- Valley Isle Excursions, Maui
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Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
