Maui was just voted the best island in Hawaii. Again. Travel + Leisure’s annual World’s Best Awards placed it at the top of the list for 2025, followed by Hawaii Island, Kauai, Oahu, and Lanai.
Seen the headlines? Here’s our take on Europe’s Hawaii.
The rankings came from thousands of readers who rated islands based on natural beauty, activities, food, people, and overall experience. And yet, for many travelers we hear from, this list doesn’t reflect how Hawaii travel feels right now—especially when it comes to Maui.
What the rankings show.
Every island on the list earned high praise from Travel + Leisure voters, with Maui, Big Island, and Kauai all receiving “Super Hall of Fame” status. Oahu and Lanai followed closely behind with “Hall of Fame” recognition. Honolulu also made a surprise appearance in the Top 10 U.S. Cities category, ranking sixth overall.
The voting window ran from October 21, 2024 through February 24, 2025. That means readers were reflecting on relatively recent travel experiences. It also suggests that many still associate Maui with the kind of trip they’ve always loved, despite the visible changes on the ground.
Maui loyalty splits the room.
Maui still delivers on beauty and landscape. No one disputes that. But some visitors say they now carry questions with them that weren’t there before. That uncertainty has become part of the travel decision.
We’ve read hundreds of comments from readers who still stand firmly by Maui. Some say they’ve returned since the fires to support recovery efforts. Others describe their recent visits as among the most meaningful yet. One reader shared, “We don’t come for politics. We come for the beaches, the restaurants, and the people we’ve gotten to know over decades. That hasn’t changed.”
At the same time, a different group of longtime visitors has been quietly pulling away. Many describe their last trips to Maui as emotionally complicated. One commenter noted, “It felt like we were intruding. Everything was more expensive, more restricted, and more tense.” For them, the decision to skip Maui isn’t about giving up on it—it’s about choosing a vacation that doesn’t feel conflicted.
This divide played out clearly in reaction to Maui backs off rental ban as tourism stalls out. Some readers applauded the pause and expressed relief that their plans had been spared. Others expressed frustration with the uncertainty and said they’d already rerouted their trips elsewhere.
Real Hawaii visitors are voting with their itineraries.
Search interest and reader engagement suggest a slow but steady pivot away from Maui toward Hawaii Island and Kauai. Our coverage of which Hawaiian island is best continues to draw heavy traffic, especially among returning visitors who say they’re looking for something that feels simpler or more welcoming.
Hawaii Island has become a popular choice for travelers drawn to lava fields, black sand beaches, and a sense of openness. Kauai remains a top choice for those prioritizing nature, peace, and simplicity. Both islands offer a different rhythm, and in 2025, that alone is a selling point.
Oahu, too, is being reconsidered by some travelers who previously dismissed it as too busy. Our story on Waikiki’s global complaint ranking revealed a more complex picture. Despite the crowds, many visitors praised its predictability, walkability, and consistent beach access. For some, that stability outweighs the charm of less-developed islands now facing more friction.
What rankings can’t capture.
Travel awards tend to measure satisfaction, but not necessarily tension. And tension is something many Hawaii travelers are grappling with this year. The rising cost of accommodations, flights, car rentals, resort fees, and meals has changed the equation for many. It’s not that people don’t want to come—it’s that they’re being asked to give more, emotionally and financially, for the same trip.
One longtime visitor wrote, “It’s not just about what we pay. It’s about how we’re treated when we arrive.” Others echoed that it’s harder to plan the spontaneous, warm, and open Hawaii experience they used to count on. Booking systems, permits, closures, and rules add to the planning fatigue, especially on islands where infrastructure is already stretched thin.
What travelers want now.
If you strip away branding, rankings, and nostalgia, a few key themes consistently emerge. Travelers want ease. They want clarity. And they want to feel that their presence is appreciated, or at least accepted, by the communities they visit.
For some, Maui still delivers all of that. The beaches are stunning, the sunsets are the same, and the memories run deep. For others, the trip has become more complicated than they hoped. That doesn’t mean they won’t come back—it means they might need a break.
None of this takes away from Maui’s place in the rankings. The island remains iconic for all the right reasons. But as traveler priorities shift and more people speak honestly about their experiences, lists like these may feel increasingly disconnected from what’s actually happening on the ground.
The best island in Hawaii isn’t just about views or resorts anymore. For many visitors, it’s about finding a place where they still feel comfortable, welcome, and relaxed. And that may not be the island they’ve always chosen.
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My Daughter & I just visited Kauai (my first visit) & it was awesome. The accommodations, food & shopping were the best. I will definitely go back & recommend to everyone.
If you’re feeling conflicted or have that underlying second guess of maybe I should pick elsewhere, just follow your gut instinct. Remember, Maui isn’t going anywhere and will always be there in the future. Try something new in the meantime. Maui and its people are still healing (some people still haven’t reached “healing” stage too, think about that). “But its been almost 2 years!” Yes. And still healing. Its better to go somewhere where you feel 100% good about. You will feel much better about your choice and money spent.
I ❤️🌈 Hawaii
Can’t wait to go this Winter
It is Paradise as far as I am
Concerned. Weather is always good. Waikiki is
Probably the Most Famous
Beach in the World.
Just love it.
Is this some sort of paid promotion by the tourism board? Oahu is way overpriced and the hotels would rather lose money then lower prices. Waikiki is a commercialized zone that looks no different than any gentrified place in the US. The service has gone down since 2019. The locals too seem less Aloha. I have a different perspective about Oahu. I look like a local and have family on the island. I have been dozens of times and 3 times since 2019. The leadership are only serving the corporate machine and could care less about the citizens. How did an outsider who barely has any longevity on the island become Governor? Just do you due diligence and look into his background.. says it all..
Each island has it’s theme. Big Island – lava and volcano, Oahu -the gathering place, kauai- garden island, Maui -valley isle, Molakai-friendly isle. IMO look at Oahu as the main gate (HNL) arrival point similar to Disneyland and the other island are becoming a Park Pass extension or a more expensive theme park hop pass. One gradually more expensive than another. Maybe one has to ask how much money can you afford to throw away?
I guess the bigger question is. What island is Hawaii steering tourist’s away from versus not welcoming a path to another island? IMO just a tourist’s not welcome attitude.
Best Island? Oahu of course! My home island.
“There’s no place like…”
For many years Maui was the most popular island in the world, not just in Hawaii.
Lahaina was for many years the most popular town in Hawaii.
The loss of Lahaina town and lives shocked the travel world.
Now Maui fans are seeing the slow restoration process and returning to their charming tropical paradise for all the reasons that once made Maui the most popular island in the world.
With the re-opening of Sale Pepe Italian restaurant and Lahaina Shores Beach Resort we are planning our next two week stay!
Depends on what you are looking for? Nightlife or not. Public transit or not. Shopping everywhere or not. Oahu has all this but other islands offer things like privacy, isolation, without the convenience of the big city. IMO I’m a person who likes to do things after dark so sitting in a hotel room or hotel bar may get old pretty fast. Someone else may feel very satisfied in hearing the birds sing and watch the trees blow in the scope of their outside deck. Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. It boils down to the difference between Convenience, Entertainment, and Relaxation/Isolation.
I retired to Maui 11 years ago from California. If I had it to do over again, I would still choose Maui. The fire was devastating, and I became very ill with asthma (never had it before).
With that said, this is still the most awesome place I ‘ve ever been, after visiting more than 100 countries worldwide, plus the other islands.
I love it here.
Decision, decisions????
You captured our feelings perfectly about visiting Maui since the fire. Still a wonderful place, but the traditional Hawaiian hospitality has suffered along with the suffering of the folks in Lahaina. We have loved our visits over the years in Maui, but have felt ‘conflicted’ since the fire disaster.
The best island is the one you are standing on… why complicate life more than it already is?
Dan,
I absolutely agree with your comment as I love all of the Hawaiian Islands for different reasons for each. Wherever I am on each island it’s just awesome.
AZKeoni