Are you considering Hawaii as your next vacation destination? Good choice: this tropical paradise has something to appeal to everyone and is bursting with unearthly natural beauty.
But with eight main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, each with something different, deciding where to spend holidays in Hawai’i might be difficult. You could be debating whether to explore one of the less-traveled outlying islands or hang about Honolulu, the relaxed capital.
Let’s investigate the four Hawaiian islands should visit: O’ahu, Maui, the Island of Hawai’i, and Kauai, to help you choose which one would be ideal for your vacation.
O’ahu – Hawaiian Islands Should Visit
Often referred to as the “Heart of Hawai’i,” O’ahu is Hawaii’s most often visited island. O’ahu, home to Honolulu’s state capital (where most visitors choose to stay) and the island’s principal international airport, is an ideal location for first-time visitors.
Furthermore, O’ahu offers a wide range of lodging, entertainment, and attractions, so you never get bored when holidaying here.
O’ahu has enough to see and do, whether your taste is for an action-packed adventure or a laid-back tropical escape. O’ahu, with 180 km of coastline, features some of Hawaii’s most famous beaches, including Waikiki Beach and the North Shore. If you have ever wanted to learn to surf, O’ahu is the location. Visit Pearl Harbor to consider the terrible consequences of war, and climb Diamond Head for amazing views over Honolulu. Among other O’ahu must-dos are shopping at Ala Moana Center, snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, interacting with Hawai’ian culture at the Polynesian Cultural Centre, and spiking your adrenaline at Kualoa Ranch.
Regarding lodging, O’ahu provides something to fit every type of visitor; most resorts in the Waikiki region have a wealth of dining, drinking, and shopping choices. See our O’ahu holidays right here.
Maui – Hawaiian Islands Should Visit
On the island of Maui, five-star luxury seamlessly blends with the rugged natural beauty. Reached in an easy forty-minute flight from Honolulu, Maui, sometimes nicknamed “The Valley Isle,” is the second most visited Hawaiian island. Unsurprisingly, Conde Nast Traveler readers have chosen Maui as the “Best Island in the United States” for more than 20 years, citing its black-sand beaches, farm-to-table cuisine, and verdant rainforest settings.
Maui presents a wide range of events and attractions to fit any type of visitor, so a stay on the island will undoubtedly be bursting with excitement.
Photograph Hawaii’s most beautiful black-sand beach at Waianapanapa State Park or snorkel amid vivid fish and marine life at Molokini Crater, an extinct volcano caldera just off the coast of Maui. Driving the 83-kilometer picturesque road to Hana, which winds through some of the most amazing natural sites on the island, is the finest way to find Maui. Other well-liked pursuits on Maui include whale viewing in the Auau Channel, visiting the holy Iao Valley State Park, golfing at Wailea Golf Club, and sunrise viewing atop Mount Haleakala.
Most Maui visitors choose to stay in the Kaanapali or Wailea districts, both of which abound with luxury beachside resorts. See our Maui holidays right here.
Island of Hawaii
Visit the Island of Hawai’i to get a sense of what the island was like prior to the major tourism attraction designation. Hawai’i, also known as the “Big Island,” is the youngest and largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago. The Big Island, just a 50-minute flight from Honolulu, is well worth including on your Hawai’i trip as one of the most environmentally diverse locations on Earth.
Holiday on the Big Island offers many activities. It is home to some of Hawaii’s most amazing natural beauties and ancient sites. Visit Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park; it is the only island where you can get close to an active volcano.
You can stroll across a solidified lava lake, traverse lava tubes, and, if lucky, see Kilauea’s lava flow! Visit one of Kona’s numerous coffee farms; the Big Island is the only place in the United States where commercial coffee cultivation takes place. On the Island of Hawai’i, other well-liked activities include stargazing on the summit of Mauna Kea, horseback riding across the Waipio Valley, and turtle spotting at Punaluu Black Sand Beach. Snorkeling with manta rays is another example. There’s a reason why people sometimes refer to Big Island as “Hawaii’s Island of Adventure.”
Two significant communities on the Big Island that visitors often swarm to are Kona and Hilo, both of which present a different view of the island. See our Island of Hawai’i celebrations right here.
Kauki – Hawaiian Islands Should Visit
If you want to explore Hawai’i in a unique way, make Kauai a priority on your bucket list. Often referred to as the “Garden Isle,” Kauai is the oldest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, accessible from Honolulu within a forty-minute flight. The island develops just 10% of its territory, leaving the rest covered in verdant valleys adorned with craggy cliffs and cascading waterfalls. Kauai embodies the essence of Hawai’i vacation fantasies, offering a relaxed atmosphere and a vibrant local culture!
There are plenty of activities around Kauai, regardless of the type of holiday you’re hoping for. Remember that some of Kauai’s most famous sites are only reachable by sea or air; fly over the breathtaking Waimea Canyon, sometimes known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” or arrange a beautiful cruise around the revered sea cliffs of the Napali Coast. Additional Kauai must-dos include kayaking on the Wailua River, looking for Hawaiian monk seals at Poipu Beach Park, hiking to Wailua Falls, and ziplining across the rainforest on some of Hawaii’s longest courses.
Remember, Kauai is among the rainiest places on Earth; for sunny conditions (and more dining and retail options), be sure to stay on the South Shore. See our Kauai holidays right here.
