One frequent question we’re asked is which island to visit. For those of you who are frequent visitors to Hawaii, you know it comes down to a personal choice since each island is unique.
I’ve put together my thoughts on the subject and look forward to hearing yours.
Oahu is a good pick for travelers looking for value, city, nightlife and activities.
You’ll find better deals on airfare and accommodations here too. Eighty percent of Hawaii’s population reside on Oahu so there’s plenty of energy. Not to mention shopping, major museums plus entertainment and dining options. If the city gets too much for you, just drive to the other side of Oahu where it’s more relaxed. On the downside there’s traffic getting there.
Maui is a good choice for travelers wanting a mix of action and rural life but on a budget.
You’ll find secluded Hana and upcountry Haleakala National Park. Reasonable flights (second best only to Oahu). Nightlife. Major resorts. Great black, red and white sand beaches.
Big Island and Kauai offer resorts, great beaches, spectacular scenery plus quiet.
You may pay a little more for airfare but both islands have many nonstop flights from the mainland. Both are great for the adventure traveler who isn’t looking at getting away from it all. There’s still shopping and activities to keep any traveler happy.
For return visitors to Hawaii who like adventure, the outdoors and are not into crowds, traffic or city life, consider Lanai or Molokai (which can also be day trips by ferry from Maui).
Lanai offers two world-class resorts and golf while Molokai features smaller accommodations. Both islands are a step back in time. Molokai highlights include a visit to the prior leper colony at Kalaupapa, incredible beaches, and the Coffees of Hawaii Molokai plantation. Neither island has mainland direct flights so you’ll pay somewhat more for the quiet life.
Subscribe to our email updates.
Colleen (1 year ago)
Enjoyed your piece, Rob.
Our first visit to Hawaii was to the island of Maui in 2004. One adjective that I thought everyone used to describe Maui was ROMANTIC. But, after thinking a bit, that could describe ALL the islands. What could me more romantic than a tropical island?
Maui was our introduction to the islands. We loved the fact that you could ‘get away from people’ or be with people – the choice was yours. Great beaches, food, weather, scenery, people. It was probably our most memorable trip – no doubt because if was our FIRST trip. We never, ever dreamed we would make multiple trips to Hawaii in our lifetime.
Next and subsequent trips have been to the Big Island. We have visited the Big Island 3 times. Talk about contrast. Some are put off by the ‘moon like’ landscape – but we love the diversity of this huge island. It really does have it all.
If you want the ‘tropical’ Hawaii, it only requires a drive to Hilo. We were surprised on our last trip to see CACTUS!! We felt like we were in Arizona. So, be sure to get out and explore this diverse island. See the upcountry, the different colored sand beaches, etc.
We love the fact that you can feel almost as though you have the island to yourself at certain times of the year (non holiday, etc.) We were fortunate enough to be able to walk out to see the the red hot molten lava rolling into the ocean in 2005. How often does one view creation? Don’t think that is allowed any longer. If you cannot get near the lava flows – then see it from a helicopter – but see it you must!
We have hopes of visiting the other islands yet. I am sure they all hold wonderful surprises.
Wish we had known about the Mookini Heiau sooner, We drove out to see the Wind Farm up there near the airport – Now we have something else to look forward to seeing on our next visit.
Robert from NYC (1 year ago)
As always, thanks for this info. Your site is by far the best in terms of info on the islands. I actually fall into that last category and am making my first visits to Lana’i and Moloka’i….how much time would you suggest I spend on each island. Would 2 days in Lana’i and 1 day in Moloka’i be enough. Mahalo.
Yasmin Vatter (1 year ago)
You forgot to mention these facts about the Big Island:
1. Clearest water= best diving both day and manta night diving
2. Mauna Kea: where else can you surf in the morning and throw snowballs in the afternoon, on an island? (seasonal)
3. Waimea, Hawi, the hot ponds at Pahoa, Queens Baths
4. Hapuna Beach, Kua Bay, Kiholo, surfing Lymans, Banyans
5. Kona sunshine, Kona Coffee, Kona Chocolate, Kona Aloha
Mike B (1 year ago)
As always Beat of Hawaii has done a wonderful job of evaluating the different islands. Bottom line, you can’t go wrong with any of the Hawaiian Islands. And……you probably should visit each of them but give yourself plenty of time to get a feel for each one.
Kaua’i is our favorite – but don’t tell everyone, we would like to see it kept from gettling too crowded…..LOL.
Each island has it’s own personality but each also boasts many of the same Aloha Amenities such as unequaled hospitality and the island spirit. You really need to visit each one and decide which fits YOU the best. You won’t regret going to any of the Hawaiian Islands.
Chris (1 year ago)
I think Kauai IS getting away from it all, or almost all. I know Moloka’i or Lana’i would be better choices but compared to the life in Honolulu, on Maui, and in, especially Kona on Hawaii, Kauai is very quiet. With the economy as bad as it has been, there was no traffic on Kauai in 2009 and 2010. It was peaceful and not many people around. That is my favorite island. I also have really enjoyed Maui, but it is much more expensive to stay on Maui than on Kauai–accommodations, car rental, food, etc.
Ed (1 year ago)
My take on the islands is Oahu is where everything is that people identify with Hawaii. Extinct volcanoes, famous beaches, big waves and of course, Pearl Harbor. And while you can still get away from it all, it holds an air of sophistication that the other islands don’t have.
Maui is more rustic and artistic. People in Maui are more “salt of the earth” types. Places like Paia and Hana are close knit and very artistic. And while places like Lahaina up the level of sophistication, Maui is still much more laid back than Oahu. And also, this is the island where all the TV and Movie stars have their homes.
Kaui. Talk about laid back! And beauty? It’s no wonder it’s called the “Garden Isle”. Upon arrival to the island and driving to our resort in Princeville, the only word I could utter was “wow!” Everywhere you turned, you gazed upon a magnificent wonder of nature. Kaui is also the more native of the major islands (never been to Molokai so can’t comment to that) The people on this island seem to have a more honest connection to the island than the others. On Kauai, it’s more about the “oneness” with the island than it is the accumulation of stuff we tend to follow on the mainland. If you visit this island, you can’t leave until you’ve visited what Mark Twain called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific! It’s hard to believe what you are seeing when you visit this geological wonder!
Hawaii, the Big Island. This is where you can watch the earth get born. This island is very much opposites! On one side you have dry and sunny conditions and on the other side, you have a tropical rain forest. Rain fall on this island can increase 50% from one side to the other! And right in the middle of it all, an alien landscape that can only be described as a “moon-scape”. On the big island, you can hear the earth breath from deep holes in the earth’s crust. you can walk among prehistoric forests and ancient lava-tubes and run your hands over ancient petroglyphs. The big island is to the visitor what Kauai is to the local. This is the island where anybody can feel like they are part of the island. While the big island is the youngest in the chain, it seems to be the youngest when it comes to tourism. Unlike the other islands, this island doesn’t feel over-run by vacationers, and so you may enjoy this island the most if you want to get away from the “vacationer’s” hawaii.