One question we’re asked frequently is which island to visit. That comes second only how to find Hawaii deals. Our best advice on Hawaii deals is part of The Cheapest Time to Fly to Hawaii, a series of always up to date posts that have been read over 1 million times.
For those of you who are frequent visitors to Hawaii, you know that it all boils down to a personal choice since each island is truly unique. On each you’ll find island spirit and aloha. It is indeed hard to imagine not having a great vacation no matter which island you choose.
We’ve just updated our thoughts on this subject, including some issues on one island you should be aware of. We look forward to hearing yours.
Choosing The Right Hawaiian Islands
Oahu
A good pick for a Hawaii vacation when looking for value, city, nightlife, history and activities.
In Honolulu you’ll generally find better Hawaii deals on airfare and accommodations here too. Maui is a close second in that regard.
Eighty percent of Hawaii’s population reside on Oahu so there’s an abundance of energy. Not to mention great shopping, major museums in addition to entertainment and dining options galore. Plus Pearl Harbor. 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 around, and it can be bad.
Our favorite noodle shop is here called Jimbo, for its family feel. We also love Marukame Udon. Beat of Hawaii recommends Sans Souci Beach and Ala Moana Beach Park in Waikiki.
Maui
A Maui vacation is a good choice for travelers wanting a mix of action and rural life but on a budget.
On a Maui vacation you’ll find secluded Hana and upcountry Haleakala National Park in addition to great resort areas spread across the island. Reasonable flights (second best only to Oahu). Nightlife. Major world class resorts. Incredible black, red and white sand beaches. Plus art town Paia.
Kauai
For resorts, great beaches, spectacular scenery plus added peace and quiet.
You may pay a little more for airfare but there are many nonstop flights from the mainland with more cheap flights to Hawaii coming soon. Kauai is great for the adventure traveler while still offering enough shopping, activities and beaches to keep any traveler happy.
Kauai is rustic and rural, with features including iconic Hanalei Bay, Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Parks, waterfalls, and the resorts of Poipu Beach.
Big Island
The only island with a live volcano, some of the best snorkeling and one of the most varied landscapes.
Big Island is huge in comparison with all the other Hawaiian Islands so there’s plenty of room to explore. The unusual landscape is carved by recent and still active Kilauea Volcano. It has beautiful Rainbow Falls, the ancient Mookini Heiau, elegant resorts, fantastic water activities, superb beaches and fish ponds of the Kohala coast. Fascinating and historic Hilo is both always changing yet iconic, and definitely worth a visit. So too is Mauna Kea where is even skiing in winter.
The Big Island has both a distinctly wet and tropical side (Hilo) and sunny dry side (Kona), so take your pick.
Lanai or Molokai
For return visitors to Hawaii who want to step back in time, and who like adventure, the outdoors and are not into crowds, traffic or city life. We suggest you consider Lanai or Molokai (which can also be accessed by ferry from Maui).
Lanai offers two world-class resorts with a third one coming, and renowned golf. There are major construction projects impacting Lanai:
- The beachfront Manele Bay Resort has been closed since June for a $75 million renovation. It was originally scheduled to be open this month. That was rescheduled for opening on February 1, 2016.
- The Lodge at Koele and its golf course has been closed since January 2015. It is currently being used to house construction workers. A date for reopening has not yet been set.
Molokai highlights include a visit to the prior leper colony at Kalaupapa, some of Hawaii’s most incredible beaches, and the Coffees of Hawaii Molokai plantation.
Neither Molokai nor Lanai has mainland direct flights so you’ll pay somewhat more for the quiet life. Molokai no longer has any major resorts and accommodations are in smaller venues. The Island of Lanai and Island Air are under new ownership by billionaire Larry Ellison. Hawaiian Airlines flies to both islands in addition to other smaller airlines.
Want to See Them All?
We reviewed two all-Hawaii cruises, both of which were fantastic. First, an adventure-style Hawaii cruise of the Islands. Second, NCL’s Pride of America 7 night inter-island cruise.
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Great breakdown of the different islands. They all have a unique experience and special things to offer!
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
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.
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.
I think Kauai is the most romantic. It’s the Garden Isle. It has so many flowers, palm trees and huge plants everywhere along the roads. Of course I have seen all these on the other islands too, but Kauai I feel has the most romantic vibe especially with close proximity to the river and the waterfalls. Fantasy Island was filmed in Kauai! Elvis filmed Blue Hawaii in Kauai! Maui to me is probably the best mix for the most variety. I felt it was very peaceful. The Big Island is adventurous! I loved seeing the diverse lava rock, fern forest and desert landscapes there. Oahu of course is more modern because of Honolulu but it also has a unique charm. So yes anywhere can be romantic in Hawaii.
answer for Marsha – Maui .
If you were betting people, when would you bet the best time to book a flight from Phoenix to Kahulhi is. I have experienced that early (like now) isn’t recommended, but how long do I wait for the best chance at a price in the $300’s?
Thank You!
Hi Gary,
Best advice on seasonal timing is contained here: https://beatofhawaii.com/the-cheapest-time-to-fly-to-hawaii-is-coming-soon/.
You aren’t going to get into the $300’s for that route. Best off season prices will be in the $400’s.
Aloha.
Kauaii = completely shuts down after 6 PM
Oahu = very unfriendly natives mess with you in the surf and mess with your car on land. think “go home” written in wax on your windshield. only smog in the islands.
Molokaii = does not shut down after 6 PM, it is always shut down!
Maui = usually a nice place, but i think Joni was thinking about Maui when she wrote “they paved paradise and put up a parking lot”.
Big Island = only place i know to experience “vog” , terrain looks very much like a brownie, beaches are a little short of sand…
So Bill – where do you go for a vacation ?
There is no wrong island. Period. I’m happy on any, but my favorite is Maui and some of the reasons are captured in your comment. But, let’s not forget some great places to rent via VRBO in the Haiku area.
All of the islands are wonderful! We like to go to the timeshare on Kauai & when our time is up have reservations on another island for 3 or 4 days. It’s long enough to see a little & make a quick comparison! This way we have a better idea of where we prefer to spend our time. On The Big Island we prefer Hilo over Kona as we live in a dry climate in the States. One should never miss Pearl Harbor, on our first trip it was our first stop after dropping off our bags at the hotel, VERY, VERY MOVING as was the MIGHTY MO.!!!
As they say Welcome to Paradise!!
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.
Excellent descriptions, Ed. I completely agree with how you described each island.
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.
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.