One question consistently comes up for all visitors planning a trip to Hawaii: What is the best island to visit in Hawaii? Hawaii has 137 islands at the moment, with six of those islands suitable to stay on. Of those six islands, the four major islands make up the bulk of both residential and tourism activity: Oahu, Maui, The Big Island (Hawaii), and Kauai.
It’s worth highlighting upfront that there is no consensus best island in Hawaii overall. The four main Hawaiian Islands are all distinctly different in their qualities, making them stand out in various ways, though there is no one-size-fits-all amongst the main islands.
Across all of the different islands, you will find beautiful beaches, natural beauty, marine life, several tourist attractions, and plenty of options for outdoor activities allowing visitors to have land and water adventures and enjoy a huge variety of things.
How many islands should you visit in Hawaii?
The second big question when it comes to choosing the best Hawaiian Island for your vacation is: how many islands should you visit? While it is easy to book a cheap flight and hop across the Islands, it may not always be a practical decision.
If you can only see a little bit of each island, there is little benefit from the time and cost it takes to switch islands, especially if you have only scratched the surface of the best things to do, best places to see, and popular destinations.
Deciding on how many Hawaiian Islands to visit on your vacation is easiest to determine based on the length of your trip.
3-4 Days In Hawaii
If you have limited time in Hawaii, traveling between the islands definitely does not make sense. The airport, rental car, and check-in/check-out experience from your hotel or rental alone will take up at least a half-day, taking away valuable time from exploring an island further. Unless you have a good reason you need to visit more than one island in such a short time, it’s best to avoid this change.
5-9 Days in Hawaii
For most travelers, the best bet will be to stick to one island to enjoy the destination in more detail rather than just part of the island. However, the effort to move between islands is still more effort than it is worth if you are trying to relax, and each island will offer plenty to keep you entertained over a week.
There are two exceptions to this advice: energetic travelers who like to explore a destination all day long, from sunrise to sunset, and travelers with strong interests in specific activities.
If you are the type of traveler who wakes up early and is out and about all day packing in as much as you can on your vacation, then there can be an argument made that in 7-9 days, you could see every great place and popular spot on two islands. However, for most of us that sightsee at a typical pace, one island will still be enough.
Those who have two particular can’t-miss interests, like seeing an active volcano and visiting the North Shore of Oahu or whale watching and visiting a coffee plantation, may find it hard to resist the urge to island-hop during a shorter itinerary.
10-14 Days in Hawaii
Exploring more than one Hawaiian Island with a 10 to 14-day itinerary becomes more practical. In addition, flight times between the main islands are relatively similar, ranging from 45-55 minutes between the various airport combinations, making it easy to travel between islands over a longer itinerary.
For 10-day itineraries, it still may make for a busy itinerary traveling to two islands, though five days in each is a suitable time to explore for active travelers. However, with two weeks in Hawaii, there is plenty of time to cover more than one island, and I feel like you covered the key attractions.
15-21 Days in Hawaii
For itineraries beyond two weeks, it is realistic to visit three islands for 5-7 days each. This itinerary allows you to see all popular spots on multiple islands without feeling you have missed out on anything.
If you want to see islands more in-depth, it is still worth considering a slower itinerary with only two islands in Hawaii for up to 21 days.
How much time to visit the four main Hawaiian Islands?
Visitors rarely will visit all four major islands in one single trip. With plenty to explore on each island, and vacation times often limited for international tourists and those traveling from within the United States, a reasonable amount of time is needed to visit the four main islands.
If you plan on visiting all four major islands, you should spend a week on each island. So, for a practical itinerary, you should spend an entire month in Hawaii to comprehensively see the whole state of Hawaii.
Book Open-Jaw Tickets To and From Hawaii
A great way to save money and cut down on travel time between islands is to consider what is known as an open-jaw flight itinerary. Book your flights to arrive and depart at different airports in Hawaii, such as flying into Honolulu and returning home from Kahului Airport on Maui.
You can potentially pay the same or occasionally a lower fare. Importantly, you will avoid booking round-trip flights between islands, saving money and time. To book an open-jaw ticket, use the multiple-city search feature in your flight search.
An Overview of the Islands
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Oahu
Oahu is the most populated of Hawaii’s islands, with just over 950,000 people living on the island. Home to Honolulu, Hawaii’s capital city, the only proper big city in Hawaii, Oahu offers visitors a diverse range of attractions. In addition, it is relatively the most affordable island to visit among the main islands.
The island features the typical gorgeous beaches and natural scenery that Hawaii is famous for and has a more vibrant local culture amongst the islands. Many residents live around the state’s commercial center Honolulu, providing the state’s broadest range of dining and shopping options.
Best For
+Diverse Attractions
+History and Culture
+First-time Visitors
+Dining, Shopping, and Nightlife
Reasons to Avoid
-Most Populated & Busiest Island
-Most Developed
-Busiest Beaches
Why Visit?
Oahu offers plenty for visitors looking to get an all-around sample of what the state provides. There are plenty of great beaches to explore, the best historical attractions in the state like Pearl Harbor and the Iolani Palace, stunning natural scenery with lush jagged mountains down the center of the island, and a huge variety of things to do during a visit.
In Honolulu, on the island’s south shore, Waikiki Beach is the most popular tourist center in the state, with a long history of tourists, the legendary beach, and the hotels that line it feel like the Las Vegas strip of Hawaii.
The area is famous for its soft white sand beaches that look up to the iconic Diamond Head crater, a dormant volcano south of Waikiki. Waikiki is a perfect base for exploring Oahu, filled with dining, shopping, and important historic sites. Nearby, Hanauma Bay offers some of the state’s best snorkeling as a protected reserve that is filled with coral reefs and fish feeding off of it.
The island’s North Shore is legendary for its miles of beaches that host many professional surfing competitions on its big waves during the winter months. Surfers and non-surfers alike will appreciate the laid-back atmosphere and stunning scenery, with snorkeling coves filled with colorful fish and a handful of beaches being a great spot to see sea turtles.
The east side of the island is famous for having some of the world’s best beaches, such as Lanikai, Kailua, and Waimanalo. Thankfully, these beaches are absent of the big waves that hit the North Shore, making them the best spots for swimming and making them popular amongst local beach bums.
Further up the east coast, the Polynesian Cultural Center offers the most in-depth history of native Hawaiians and their culture amongst its six different replica Polynesian villages and daily performances and luaus. In addition, the nearby Kualoa Ranch offers horseback riding and ATV tours within the iconic valley scenery where filming for Jurassic Park and many Hollywood movies took place.
While Oahu is not the first island that comes up when searching for large Hawaiian resorts, the Ko Olina area on the west side of the island offers a handful of large resorts like the Four Seasons Oahu Resort at Ko Olina, Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club Resort, and Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa. In addition, this resort area provides an excellent option for diverse sightseeing from a resort base.
Oahu is Best Known For:
- Waikiki Beach
- Pearl Harbor Historical Sights
- North Shore Beaches
- East Coast Beaches
- Cultural and Historical Attractions
- The Best Local Food Options
- Diverse Local Shopping
Key Trip Considerations – Oahu
Accommodations: Oahu offers the broadest range of accommodation options with Waikiki’s legendary hotels, Ko Olina’s modern resorts, condominium rentals, North Shore home rentals, and the widest selection of non-resort hotels.
Getting around: Oahu has the largest rental car fleet, taxi fleet, Uber and Lyft fleets, and the most significant public transportation amongst the islands, making it the relatively most accessible and most affordable island to get around with or without a rental car.
Dining and Nightlife: With the most substantial resident population in Hawaii, Oahu’s food and drink options are the best by far. Honolulu offers an impressive range of dining options, from the more scenic high-end restaurants of Waikiki to food trucks and shopping center restaurants that provide the best versions of local dishes. In addition, Waikiki’s nightlife scene is the largest in the state and the leading destination for partygoers.
Maui
The second-largest Hawaiian island in land size and third in population size with just under 150,000 residents, Maui, known as the Valley Isle, is the most well-known resort destination amongst visitors for the many resorts lining its beaches. With a lush mountainous landscape covering the island, Maui is known for its laid-back vibe, soft sand beaches, and diverse natural attractions of volcanoes, waterfalls, valleys, and whale sightings.
Best For
+Resort Vacations
+Natural Scenery
+Family Vacations
+Condo Rentals
+Laid-back Yet Convenient Atmosphere
+Snorkeling
Reasons to Avoid
-Most Expensive Island For Hotels & Resorts
-Limited Accommodation Variety
-Less Cultural Attractions
-Limited Nightlife for a Resort Destination
Why visit Maui?
When people think of Hawaiian vacations, they typically think of a Maui-style vacation; the island features the highest number of big resorts amongst the major islands and an impressive selection of condo resorts, making Maui an ideal location for a family vacation. The resort-style vacation allows for both days relaxing by the beach and taking advantage of resort facilities and days exploring Maui’s many natural sights.
The two accommodation options cater to different budgets, with resort stays costing more and requiring dining out for all meals. However, a condo rental for a family allows significant savings by having multiple bedrooms and a kitchen for all meals.
Outside of the resorts, Maui is best known for its natural landscape. There are plenty of beaches made up of soft white sand and a few black sand beaches, with clear waters making Maui’s snorkeling arguably the best in the state. In addition, the island is home to the Haleakala National Park, which contains an active volcano and a unique moonlike landscape, and lush green valleys with waterfalls that give the island its nickname.
There are two main areas where most visitors to Maui stay, which are referred to as the West Maui and South Maui, though both are technically on the Leeward Side of Maui, which is the drier coast.
West Maui includes Kapalua, Ka’anapali, and Lahaina, which is home to resorts such as The Ritz Carlton Maui Kapalua, Montage Kapalua Bay, The Westin Nanea Villas, The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Villas, and Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, to name a few, as well as plenty of condo complexes.
South Maui includes the towns of Kihei and Wailea are lined with resorts like the Andaz Maui, the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, Fairmont Kea Lani, Four Seasons Maui, and the Wailea Beach Resort, along with additional condo complexes.
Both West and South Maui feature the island’s best beaches, including Ka’anapali Beach, Honolua Bay, Kapalua Bay, and Makena Beach State Park, the most photographed beach in Hawaii. These are only a few of the island’s dozens of fantastic beaches, many of which line the entire Leeward Side.
Beyond the beaches, the most popular attraction on Maui is the Road to Hana. Rather than a single place, the Road to Hana is a 64-mile road that wraps around the North and East Coasts of the island and is full of natural sights like gardens, forests, lava tubes, waterfalls, viewpoints, and hiking trails. Typically visitors will spend a whole day taking in the sights of the Road to Hana as the top day tour on Maui.
Due to the high number of resorts, Maui also features the highest number of tour companies offering boat trips, helicopter tours, snorkel excursions, diving tours, and a guided tour to see humpback whales, which are best during the winter.
Maui offers a balanced feel of a laid-back countryside atmosphere with all of the modern conveniences and grocery stores you would expect to find on Oahu. From a dining perspective, while the resorts have several restaurants, the island is full of great food options, with most being catered to island visitors rather than locals. In addition, a few food-truck parks serve delicious yet affordable typical Hawaiian plate lunches for budget-friendly local food.
Maui is Best Known For:
- Numerous Pristine Beaches
- The Road to Hana
- Haleakala National Park
- Waianapanapa State Park
- The Best Humpback Whale Watching
- Hawaii’s Best Snorkeling
- Luxury Resorts
Key Trip Considerations – Maui
Accommodations: Maui has the most resorts in Hawaii and great condo rental options. Home rentals are also available, though Maui is the most expensive island for house rentals, and home rentals will be pricier than better options like the Big Island of Hawaii.
Getting around: Most visitors to Maui either rent a car or stick mainly to the resort for their activities. While limited public buses are available, the time required to sightsee by bus will be inconvenient for those with limited time. However, some resorts offer shuttles to nearby towns, and Uber and Lyft can help get off an alternative without a rental car.
Food and Drink: Maui offers a combination of resort dining, interesting independent restaurants that cater to visitors, and food trucks that offer budget-friendly options. The island doesn’t have the same level of local restaurants catering to residents as Oahu, though the food scene still has plenty of standout options.
The Big Island (Hawaii)
Known as both the Big Island and the Island of Hawaii, the nickname Big Island is quite fitting given it is the largest island and has nearly twice the square mileage compared to all other Hawaiian Islands combined. With the Hawaiian Islands’ second largest population at 185,000 residents, the Big Island has a population density of about 2% of Oahu’s, giving it an unmistakable countryside vibe compared to the other main islands.
Famous for being home to the highest point in the state, with the mountain and dormant volcano Mauna Kea topping out at 13,750 ft elevation. Along with the island’s other massive mountain Mauna Loa – one of six active volcanoes in the state – the two peaks make up the island’s core, with the land running downhill from each out to the Pacific.
Best For
+Least Crowds
+Volcano Viewing
+Coffee Tours
+Home Rentals
+Countryside Living
Reasons to Avoid
-Limited Public Transportation
-Distance Between Sights
-Less Cultural Attractions
-Limited Nightlife for a Resort Destination
Why Visit the Big Island?
The appeal of the Big Island is that it offers vast and diverse landscapes, with its five active volcanos dominating the island and gradually expanding its size. With as much of a countryside vibe as you can find in Hawaii, the Big Island’s size makes everything more spread out and less crowded, with a drive around the entire island taking just under 6-hours without stops.
Visitors to the Big Island will find that it offers a similar version of the other island’s landscape, activities, and environment, just on a much larger scale. You will find fantastic beaches, surfing, snorkeling, hiking, and mountaintop views, with all of it spread out across an area that feels more country than the city when compared to an island like Oahu.
The Big Island’s most distinct attraction is the active volcanos that it is home to, with several tour options, and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which contains Kilauea Volcano and its massive lava fields that flow downhill into the ocean. Tours of the various volcanos on the Big Island are offered, from more extended hiking tours to shorter helicopter tours that provide a birds-eye-view of the craters and the active eruptions continuously.
Another unique feature of the Big Island is the diversity of its beaches. With countless white-sand beaches, the island’s most unique beaches are PunaluÊ»u Beach and its black sand, and Papakolea Green Sand Beach, which is covered by tiny algae-green stones, giving it a distinctive look amongst the island’s beaches. In addition, Pohoiki Beach is the newest black sand beach in the state, created in 2018 after the eruption of Kilauea.
While many worldwide are familiar with the renowned Kona Coffee from Hawaii, fewer are aware that it is precisely from farms around the town of Kailua-Kona on the Big Island. The town’s area offers plenty of options for tours and tastings at independent farms that produce all of the world’s Kona coffee, making an excellent stop for coffee lovers and a unique farm experience in Hawaii.
Compared to Oahu’s sizeable sprawling city of Honolulu and its suburban areas and Maui’s extensive resort areas, one unique feature of the Big Island is the small historic towns that date from the plantation era of Hawaii when the islands were primarily agricultural. Towns like Captain Cook, Hilo, Hawi, and Mountain View offer laid-back stops for food and shopping as you tour the island.
Big Island vacations provide a great combination of wide-open nature to explore with the comforts of a Hawaiian resort experience for the days that visitors are looking to relax. The island’s Leeward Side is lined with big resorts like the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, the Hilton Waikaloa, the Mauna Lani, Fairmont Orchid, and the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, amongst plenty of others. However, those who want the comfort of a resort with fewer crowds across the attractions will find the Big Island their best option.
The Big Island is Best Known For:
- Diverse Landscapes
- Volcano Tours
- Hawaii Countryside Life
- Historic Small Towns
- Kona Coffee Farm Tours
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- The Least Crowds
Key Trip Considerations – The Big Island
Accommodations: The Big Island offers typical Hawaiian Resorts, with several lining the island’s Leeward Side. With the best options and most affordable variety of home rentals, the Big Island is an excellent option for families or large groups looking for more space at an affordable price.
Getting around: Those staying at the resorts will find some shuttle services to nearby towns, and the island does offer limited bus services in terms of public transportation, though with the many attractions scattered across a large area, rental cars are essential for those looking for more than a resort vacation.
Dining and Nightlife: The Big Island is dotted with plenty of independently run local restaurants, from cheap casual spots to higher-end restaurants that offer great decor and local seafood. While the island doesn’t have the same options as Oahu or Maui, there are many delicious options for an extended vacation. Nightlight is relatively limited on the island, with bars in the small towns providing opportunities for drinks and music. There isn’t the same vibrant scene that can be found in Honolulu.
Kauai
Kauai is the fourth-largest among the Hawaiian Islands and has the fourth-largest population, with just under 75,000 residents. Known as the garden isle due to its vast landscape and the island’s diverse natural beauty, Kauai is most similar to Maui in its offerings, though with far less development, tourists, shops, restaurants, and resorts. With most of the island dedicated to conservation and agriculture, Kauai offers a laid-back and slow-paced vibe for those looking for a more relaxing island option.
Best For
+Incredible Natural Scenery
+Countryside Atmosphere
+Least Crowded Beaches
+Less Developed
Reasons to Avoid
-Smallest of Main Islands
-Fewer Sights and Attractions
-Limited Restaurants and Shopping
Why visit Kauai?
The Garden Island of Kauai differentiates itself by offering a relatively country-like atmosphere, similar to the Big Island, with incredible natural scenery and fantastic Hawaiian beaches that the state is famous for. With a handful of top resorts lining its coasts, it provides a combination of resort vacations with easy access to nature.
Top attractions on the island include the famed Na Pali Coast, which is only accessible by boat or helicopter and features four thousand foot cliffs dropping right into the sea, including tall waterfalls that return the nearly continuous rainfall in the mountains back to the ocean. In addition, the Waimea Canyon State Park is home to a massive canyon known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific due to its resemblance to the Arizona namesake. However, its lush green patches and waterfalls seem otherworldly and easy to distinguish.
Trips to Kauai are best when connecting to nature through hiking, surfing, snorkeling, kayaking, golfing, or viewing it from catamaran or helicopter tours. While these activities are enjoyed across all of Hawaii’s main islands, Kauai’s unique scenery helps enhance many of the activities.
From a beach perspective, Kauai is lined with stunning soft sand beaches around all sides of the island. With fantastic snorkeling options and stunning scenery like Hanalei Bay’s mountains that drop right into the water, Kauai’s beaches represent the islands’ natural beauty well.
From an accommodation perspective, the island offers the typical large luxury resorts found across the state, though not in the same quantity as the other islands. Hotels are not as common on Kauai, given its more country-style setting. However, there are still plenty of vacation rentals, including condominium developments, which offer an exceptional value for visitors.
Kauai is also known for its small-town lifestyle, with Lihue being the key town on the largest town on the island with just over 7,000 residents. Due to the airport, most shops and restaurants will be found in Lihue, while the rest of the island features small towns, including cute historical ones like Hanalei, Hanapepe, Koloa, and Waimea.
A trip to Kauai is best for travelers focusing on the natural scenery and relaxed vibe, with less focus on the historical sights, shopping, and nightlife scene. Kauai has plenty to make any visitor comfortable with its resorts, though it can’t compare to the tourist offerings of Maui or the big-city offerings of Honolulu.
Kauai is Best Known For:
- Natural Scenery
- Na Pali Coast
- Hawaii Countryside Life
- Outdoor Activities
- The Grand Canyon of the Pacific
- Limited Crowds
Key Trip Considerations – Kauai
Accommodations: Kauai offers several large resorts, though it lacks much larger resort areas than the other islands. With a country-style atmosphere, resorts line Kauai’s North, East, and South sides. For more affordable options, vacation rentals are another top option on Kauai, offering an excellent value for families or groups and plenty of Ocean View options on the market.
Getting around: A rental car is an essential need for a visit to Kauai. While there are public transportation options, taxis, and ride-hailing apps, the reason to visit Kauai is its stunning natural scenery, which is best accessed with your own vehicle. Those focusing their time at a resort will be able to get by without a rental car. However, you should consider the best resort package you can find across all of the islands, as you likely won’t explore the features that differentiate Kauai from the other islands without a car.
Dining and Nightlife: Kauai is laid back and relatively quiet compared to the other islands. You’ll find great local restaurants in the small towns that dot the island and resort dining at the different hotels. The nightlife scene is as laid back as the dining scene, with most bars around the island located in resorts and providing options for guests to have drinks. Kauai’s largest town, Lihue, offers a few bars frequented by Kauai locals, though the scene is quite limited compared to Honolulu’s more vibrant options.
Lanai
The smallest of the Hawaiian Islands that tourists can visit, Lanai was previously a large pineapple plantation owned by the Dole Pineapple company until 2012. At that time, Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle, purchased the land, which makes up 98% of the island.
The small island is accessible by ferry from Maui and is home to two Four Seasons hotels, making it a suitable destination for those looking to avoid the crowds. With a couple of small beaches, the Island of Lanai is worth a day trip from Maui for those looking to get off the beaten path and avoid the tourist crowds. Considering the primarily private island has no traffic lights, it’s not hard to imagine how quiet it can be, compared to Hawaii’s more popular island destinations.
Molokai
The other of the two inhabited smaller islands off of Maui that are tourist destinations in their own right; Molokai is known as the no-frills island destination in Hawaii. Small in size and population, Molokai is accessible by plane and offers a scaled-down version of the natural scenery offered on the other bigger islands.
With no large hotels to speak of, the accommodations on Molokai are limited to home rentals and small hotels, making it the least visited island by tourists. The reason to visit is to get away from it all, with the island offering fantastic deserted beaches, hiking, and natural scenery, and few tourists with whom to compete.
Dining, shopping, and essential tourist services are pretty limited, though if you are looking for more on offer, one of the other islands will be a better choice. The reason to visit Molokai is to get away from it all.
Finding the Best Hawaiian Island For Your Interests or Needs
Those traveling to Hawaii will find that different islands cater to specific interests or needs better than others. Below lists out a number of the common interests or focuses for trips to highlight which island stands out as the best option.
Best Hawaii Island for First-Timers
For your first trip to Hawaii, if you don’t have a specific interest that dictates that one island is preferred over the others and would like to experience a little bit of everything that Hawaii has to offer, Oahu will be the best choice. Those visiting for the first time will experience the stunning beaches, lush natural scenery, snorkeling, hiking, local culture, delicious local food, and Hawaii’s history all on one island.
While you really can’t go wrong choosing any of the islands for your first trip, those who don’t fall into any narrow interest category will find everything you need for a great first vacation in Oahu.
Best Hawaii Island for Honeymoons
One of the most common questions asked by those looking for the best ways to celebrate a special moment in their lives: which Hawaii island is the best for a honeymoon? There is no consensus answer to this question, as there are plenty of different styles of honeymoons that visitors can have across the islands of Hawaii.
Those looking for a luxury resort-style honeymoon will find that Maui offers the most options, with a wide range of suites and different guest rooms, depending on the preference. So if your focus is on finding a resort, Maui has the most, though there are still plenty of options on other islands.
Those looking for more than just relaxing at a resort should consider the different attractions and popular activities available on each island and then search the available resorts on the island of choice.
Best Hawaii Island for Budget Travelers
In no way is Hawaii a budget travel destination overall, compared to plenty of cheaper destinations, especially how far your budget can go in Southeast Asia or Central America; there are definitely better options for budget travel than Hawaii.
With that said, if you are set on traveling to Hawaii and looking for the most affordable way to do it, Oahu is your best bet. Depending on how tight your budget is, you can consider renting a private or shared room on Airbnb and using the public bus system to get around.
For those looking for the relatively cheaper island option, Oahu has the most affordable accommodation, transportation, and food options available due to having the most prominent residential population.
Best Hawaii Island for Families
This distinction is yet another comparison that comes quite close, with Hawaii being a perfect family vacation destination across all islands. However, if you had to choose the one island that stands slightly above the others in the quality of family vacations, Maui would be the one.
The combination of Maui’s laid-back atmosphere, natural scenery, and incredible beaches is a great starting point, with the wide selection of resorts being an excellent option for families. Maui separates itself from the pack for families needing more than one, as the island has a massive selection of condo resort rentals. Condos in Maui are a great value as they will come with a kitchen, yet they are still close to the beach and in a resort environment.
There are condo complexes across the other islands, though beachfront condos are not as easy to find, and Maui’s selection easily tops the other islands in this regard.
Best Hawaii Island for Beaches
The top reason most visit Hawaii is because the state’s beaches are some of the best in the world, and while there are stunning beaches across all of the islands, those who are looking for the best white sand and clear waters will find that Oahu and Maui are the best options.
Oahu’s North Shore, East Coast, and Waikiki stand out as the most popular beach areas, while West and South Maui are lined with incredible beaches. All beaches in Hawaii are open to the public, so even Maui’s top resort beaches aren’t restricted to non-guests, no matter where you are staying.
Oahu takes the edge between the two islands with beach accessibility, with most of its best beaches offering nearby parking. However, it’s pretty standard for the dedicated parking lots to fill up quickly each day, requiring beachgoers to park along the road.
Best Hawaii Island for Snorkeling
Hawaii is well known as one of the world’s best-snorkeling destinations, with its warm waters and coral reefs being home to a wide range of biodiversity. In addition, there are fantastic snorkeling spots across every island, meaning that you won’t need to choose your island specifically based on snorkeling if you want to include it as part of your vacation.
However, if you are looking for the top snorkeling conditions and sights in Hawaii, Maui is your best bet. Maui is home to several of Hawaii’s top snorkeling spots, and with plenty of calm shallow water snorkeling, it is excellent for first-timers. Maui is also the launching point for boat trips to nearby Molokini Crater, often regarded as the best snorkeling and diving location in Hawaii and one of the best globally.
Best Hawaii Island for Whale Watching
Each year an estimated 12,000 humpback whales make the 3,000-mile migration from the Gulf of Alaska to spend the winter months from December to May breeding, nursing the young, and enjoying the warm Hawaiian waters. These whales can grow up to 52 feet in length and weigh up to 45 tons, making for a spectacular display as they breach the water and make a huge splash.
While technically humpback whale sightings can take place across all of the main islands, Maui is hands down the best place to go. Many whales spend their winter in the shallow Auau Channel between Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, making it the surest bet for sightings during the winter months, with mid-January to March being the best time to see them.
Best Hawaii Island for Resorts
While Maui takes the prize for having the most resorts on it of all of the Hawaiian Islands and, therefore, the most extensive selection, there are a number of high-end resorts on all of the main islands, and even a Four Seasons on Lanai.
With resorts scatted across the whole state, there is no clear best island for resorts, so you should choose the island and activities you’d like to take part in, and then find the available on that island.
Best Hawaii Island for Nature
It’s tough to choose between all of the Hawaiian Islands, as the natural scenery is one of the biggest attractions for visitors. However, Kauai is the best choice for finding the best natural scenery, combined with fewer crowds. Known as the Garden Isle, Kauai offers lush forests, waterfalls, a vast canyon known as The Grand Canyon of the Pacific, and incredible mountains that drop right into the sea along the Na Pali Coast.
Best Hawaii Island for Large Groups
Every Hawaiian Island makes it easy for a large group to get together and enjoy a vacation. So there is no clear worst island for a large group, though it’s worth making two distinctions that make Oahu and the Big Island the best for a big group.
Oahu is the best island for large groups to gather from multiple locations, especially on international flights. With Honolulu offering the most flight connections amongst Hawaii’s airports, Oahu is the most accessible gathering place for a group to get together.
The Big Island is the best option for larger groups concerned with getting a large house or a few homes to be together. While all islands offer home rentals through sites like VRBO and Airbnb, the Big Island has the largest selection for the best price.
Best Hawaii Island for Luxury Hotels and Resorts
Luxury hotels and resorts are scattered across all major islands, though it’s difficult not to give Maui this title due to the concentration of luxury resorts along its Leeward side. Wailea in South Maui has more big-name resorts than whole other islands alone. The Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Andaz, Fairmont, and Waldorf Astoria are a few of the brands that you can find on Maui.
Best Hawaii Island for Partying
There is no contest. Oahu wins hands down for having the only true nightlife scene across the Hawaiian Islands. There are fun bars in some small towns that dot the islands and great places to have drinks across nearly every resort. However, Oahu is the only island supporting a vibrant nightlight scene. Honolulu has bars and clubs across the more touristy Waikiki area, with Greater Honolulu bars catering to locals.
Best Hawaii Island for a Road Trip
With beautiful drives by high viewing points, from mountain tops, through lush forests, and by incredible beaches, Hawaii is a fantastic destination to take a road trip. But which island is the best?
Arguably you could make a case for each island, with all offering similarly stunning natural scenery and effortless driving for navigating around the coastal areas of each island. However, Oahu and Maui’s Road to Hana can see tourist traffic backing up roads, with Oahu’s North Shore and Honolulu area being where a road trip could slow down.
The traffic on Oahu and Maui may make them slightly less desirable for those who prefer to spend their vacation cruising around and exploring. Nevertheless, it’s still fair to call it a draw across the four major islands because all have suitable road trip routes on the coastal roads.
Best Hawaii Island for Hiking
Every island offers incredible natural scenery and a wide range of hiking trails for advanced hikers. However, Oahu is the best option for beginners to intermediates due to its well-worn and well-maintained hiking trails. Oahu offers trails with scenic viewing points like the Diamond Head Crater hike, Koko Head incline trail, Makapuu Lighthouse hike, the Ehukai Pillbox Trail, and lush forest hikes to see waterfalls like the Manoa Falls hike or the Maunawili Falls hike. With plenty of other trails and routes, the island is excellent for those looking to get into nature but not getting too far off the grid.
Best Hawaii Island to Learn to Surf
Both Oahu and Maui offer the best opportunities to learn to surf. The islands provide several surf schools with group and private instruction due to each island’s higher tourist numbers and plenty of smaller beginner waves. Hotels and large resorts will often have connections or surf classes themselves. However, check out independent surf schools with the same boards and experience for the best pricing, cutting the convenience premium of booking through a resort.
Best Hawaii Island for The Best Weather
There is no best island for the weather when compared between the islands, but rather the best sides of the islands. Across all four major islands, there are windward sides and leeward sides. These sides refer to how the Northeast trade winds hit the islands, with the windward side being the Northeast side of the island and the leeward side being the southeast side of the island.
As the tradewinds approach Hawaii, they carry moisture, running into the mountains across the islands. The winds deposit the moisture as rain as they move over the mountains, leaving the windward sides wet and full of lush green forests. At the same time, the leeward sides stay dry and almost desert-like due to the winds moving away from the mountains and having less rain.
This effect is why most resorts are located on the leeward sides of the islands, making places like West and South Maui, Ko Olina, and Waikiki on Oahu, and the Big Island’s West Coast the popular resort destinations on the respective islands.
Best Hawaii Island for Public Transportation
Oahu is the hands-down leader of the Hawaiian Islands for public transportation. Oahu offers the best transportation options for visitors looking to skip the rental car booking with a sizeable residential population that relies on public buses. Known as TheBus, the Honolulu and Greater Oahu bus system offers plenty of routes, frequent timings, and easy ridership with the local public transportation smart card allowing riders to swipe to ride.
Best Hawaii Island for Shopping
Oahu offers the broadest selection of stores and shops, especially in and around Honolulu. From more corporate chain stores and large malls or outlets to smaller independent boutiques and decades-old stores in Honolulu’s Chinatown, Oahu is the shopping center of the state. Of course, you will still find plenty of unique local shops dotting the islands, providing great options for gifts and souvenirs. However, if you prioritize shopping during your vacation, Oahu is the island to visit.
Best Hawaii Island for Golfing
Hawaii is a golfer’s delight. Filled with lush green, palm tree-lined golf courses, for many, a round of golf in Hawaii will be one of the most memorable of their lifetime. There are courses across all of the four main islands and Lanai. Though Oahu has the highest number of courses, each island has more than enough to keep any golfer busy across a vacation.
Make sure you book your tee times ahead, as courses across the state can book out as it gets closer to your travel dates.
Best Hawaii Island for Culture and History
Each Hawaiian Island offers fascinating historical sights and places to experience local culture, though nothing comes close to Oahu for cultural experiences and historical attractions. Oahu offers the Iolani Palace, the Bishop Museum, the Polynesian Cultural Center, and Pearl Harbor, with several private museums operated onsite.
Both history buffs and casual tourists will find the most informative attractions on Hawaii’s more recent history and a better understanding of the culture of Native Hawaiians and their history on Oahu.
Best Hawaii Island for Coffee Tasting
Kona coffee is famous worldwide for its distinctive flavor that comes from the unique microclimate and volcanic soil it is grown in. One of the highest-priced coffee beans in the world, Kona coffee is often named after the town it is grown in on the Big Island’s West Coast. This fact makes the Big Island not only the best place to visit coffee farms but also the only place.
Kona coffee is available to drink and purchase across all major islands, though those hoping to visit the farms and taste it on the property will need to head to the Big Island.
Best Hawaii Island for Volcano Tours
The Big Island is hands down the best option for those looking for the best options for volcano tours. With five of the state’s six active volcanos located on the island, there are numerous tours available to see the volcanos by helicopter or ground tours that visit lava tubes and craters of dormant volcanos.
The Most Affordable Hawaiian Island to Visit
The most affordable in Hawaii is relative, as Hawaiian vacations are generally more expensive than other destinations. However, if you have decided to visit Hawaii but prefer the best bang for your buck, Oahu is the best option. The island offers the most affordable range of accommodations. Public transportation can help you get around for cheap. The dining options are vast, with plenty of delicious cheap eats available.
The Least Crowded Hawaiian Island to Visit
Of the four major islands, the Big Island is the least crowded. With its large size, it can handle sizeable tourist numbers quite well. Though Kauai receives fewer tourists( 1.4 million in 2019 compared to 1.8 million for the Big Island), the Big Island is 7.5 times the land size of Kauai, allowing a much wider area for visitors to spread out.
Get the info you need for your Hawaii vacation with these other posts as part of the Wander and Experience Hawaii Guide:
The Ultimate Hawaii Vacation Packing List: 25 Essential Items to Bring on Your Trip (2022)
