Explore downtown Honolulu, hang out in hip-again Waikiki, or hike the verdant Kalalau Trail; all with your trusted travel companion. How to choose the best Hawaiian island for your trip. Lonely Planet. The best Hawaiian island for culture, adventure, natural wonders.
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Share this story:. Maui USA Region. View more. Kaanapli Beach has a resort community feel to it, with various hotels, resorts, and condos that are all within walking distance of one another. The beach is spectacular, offering tons of activities such as snorkeling, surfing, and swimming, and Whalers Village shopping center is within close proximity as well. Lahaina is set back from the beach in a city-like area and is a fun, active town to visit. The south side of Maui includes the towns of Kihei and Wailea.
With the resorts and hotels more spread out than Kaanapali, this side tends to be quieter and have more of a relaxed beach atmosphere. With portable restrooms and picnic tables, this is a great family beach location , so pack a picnic and spend the day along this gorgeous coastline. On this side you can also indulge in divine cuisines, authentic luaus, and the Maui Ocean Center Aquarium.
You can also enjoy free hula shows at the Lahaina Cannery Mall and visit the giant Banyan tree, a park-like setting fun for kids and mid-afternoon activities.
The windy road to Hana carves around mountains with dramatic cliffs that drop into the ocean and lush rainforests alive with vibrancy. Here you will also find black sand beaches, Haleakala National Park, and cascading waterfalls, all sights to be had while visiting Maui.
Without many hotels or resorts, these areas act more as sightseeing and point of interest locations than actual vacation destinations. But with interesting and unique places like Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Enchanting Floral Gardens of Kula, pineapple canneries of Haiku, cemeteries, small restaurants, and rolling fertile hillsides with misty mountains, these high elevation areas still provide amazing scenery and unforgettable experiences.
With incredibly diverse landscapes from molten lava rivers to snow-capped mountains to beautiful rainforests and black sand beaches, this island is a place of wonder and excitement. On the sunny west side of the Big Island you will find Kona , a bustling place of activity home to historic villages, shops, dining, nightlife, and beaches.
The beaches here are sheltered and calm, creating perfect places for tranquil swimming and snorkeling. Along the Kona coast you will discover the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park that highlights Hawaiian fishponds, native wildlife, and sacred temples.
You will also find the famous Kona Coffee Plantations here, so have fun on a guided tour or explore on your own. Hilo and Puna is where you will find tropical rainforests, flowing falls, and blooming gardens.
It often goes overlooked for first-time visitors to Hawaii. However, those who have been there and have experienced its incredible otherworldly beauty, rarely regret their decision. Many fall in love with Kauai and return year-after-year.
While Kauai has little in terms of nightlife, it has won over nature lovers time and time again. Spend a week enjoying the quiet wonders of small island living and return feeling like a whole new and much more relaxed and rejuvenated person. Kauai is good for the soul, plain and simple. With 5 volcanoes and a an area larger than that of all the other major Hawaiian Islands combined, make sure you have plenty of time to explore the best of the Big Island!
Land lovers and everyone else, actually will enjoy the chance to see active lava flows in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park , the green sand beach of Papakolea one of only four in the world , hiking in Waipio Valley , and enjoying incredible stargazing clarity from Mauna Kea Volcano. The reality could not be further from the truth, as there are plenty of non-developed parts of the island chain, including large ranches, farms, miles of wild coastline and untamed landscapes, and an abundance of verdant valleys bursting with waterfalls.
Having been to all the major islands, we admit we have our own personal favorite. However, please know that each island truly is spectacular, and one is most certainly not "better" than another.
That said, here we'll objectively tell you about the major islands in the Hawaiian chain so you can pick the island that's just right for you.
Take the handy 'Which Island to visit Quiz ' below and read our companion article, Selecting the Best Hawaiian Island , to find the best Hawaiian island for you. To get started, let's first review each major island and its highlights. The oldest and northernmost island in the Hawaiian Island chain is graced with dramatic, natural beauty.
In our opinion, Kauai represents the most iconic view of Hawaii - lush surroundings, verdant valley, an abundance of waterfalls and rainbows. This island is probably the most "rural" of the main Hawaiian Islands. Check out our Kauai Regions guide to learn more about the different parts of Kauai. There is one main airport that services Kauai, in Lihue. Be sure to read our article on Where to Stay on Kauai to help you select the perfect location.
Home to the Hawaii state capitol of Honolulu and the majority of Hawaii's population, Oahu is a vibrant mix of natural and cultural wonders with the entertainment and amenities of the 21st century. Check out the waves on the famous North Shore , relive American history at the memorials and museums of Pearl Harbor , or soak up the sun and take a surfing lesson on Waikiki Beach.
Oahu is truly a hot-spot for Hawaii activities, tours, shopping, surfing, nightlife, and dining. The island is the most developed of the major islands, and it'll feel like it - it's busy here, and unlike some areas of Hawaii, there's more hustle and bustle around the clock.
But don't worry, there's plenty of natural Oahu to visit, too, including some amazing trails, incredible overlooks, and plenty of stunning coastal views to go around. Check out our Oahu Regions guide to learn more about the different parts of Oahu. There is primarily one main airport that services Oahu, and it's located in Honolulu.
Most of Oahu's accommodations are located in Waikiki, but there are other lodging gems scattered around the island. Be sure to check out our Where to Stay on Oahu article for more information.
The second-largest island is home to what some believe are the best beaches in the world. Wake up early to catch the sunrise at Haleakala , stroll through historic Lahaina town, or drive the majestic Road to Hana for spectacular scenery. There's a reason many repeat visitors to Hawaii joyfully say, "Maui no ka oi" - which translates to "Maui is the best. Honestly, Maui makes a great island to visit for first-time visitors, and it's probably why more people who take our quiz below are given the suggestion of Maui than any other island.
Check out our Maui Regions guide to learn more about the different parts of Maui. The main airport on Maui is in Kahului. Many of the best accommodations are on the West coastline in Lahaina or Ka'anapali or along the south shore within Kihei and Wailea. Be sure to check out our Where to Stay on Maui article for more information. Larger than all of the other islands combined, the island of Hawaii, also known as Big Island, encompasses most of the world's climate zones - from white sand beaches to snow-capped mountains.
See waterfalls , rainforests, and botanical gardens near Hilo; explore the historic PuuKohola Heiau , north of Kona; or view Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The sheer size of the Big Island of Hawaii also gives it a 'rural' feel, much like Kauai has, but so much larger! Plus, the island's diversity is truly astounding; there's nothing else quite like it; Hawaii Island is as eclectic as they come; from lush and verdant rainforests to barren black lava fields that stretch for miles.
Two airports service the Big Island, one in Kailua-Kona on the west side of the island and the other in Hilo on the east side. Most visitors will fly into Kona's airport, as most accommodations are located on the western side of the island.
Don't forget to read our Where to Stay on the Big Island to get an overview of all the major accommodation locations on the island. As noted, selecting the right island is no easy task for many visitors. It can be a confusing and even frustrating job, and that's probably the last thing anyone wants when planning a trip to Hawaii.
Simply read and answer the questions below- each of your answers will earn a set number of points which will be tallied at the end. Make sure to answer all of the questions to ensure an accurate score.
And we assure you that, at this point, you'll be much better off visiting one of the major four. Volcanoes Coming to see how the islands were formed? While every island has reminders of how it was formed, it's certainly a lot harder to distinguish the volcanoes on some islands than others.
But all of the four islands have volcanic remnants to be seen. Love and Romance Whether it's your honeymoon or just a romantic trip for you and your significant other, you couldn't have selected a much better choice than Hawaii.
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