Four uniquely distinct islands, all with a plethora of reasons to visit, makes it incredibly difficult to choose which Hawaiian island to visit. And unless you live on the West Coast of the United States, traveling to Hawaii is no short trip. Thankfully, you have us to help you narrow down which Hawaii Island is worthy of your time and money! So let’s get in to picking which Hawaiian island to visit!
HAWAIIAN ISLAND NAMES
Before jumping in to the differences and the reasons to visit each one, let’s first cover how many Hawaiian islands there are, and what their names are.
Most people are aware of the main four islands, or maybe even the four smaller islands. But what you may not know, is that Hawaii consists of over 130 islands in total! Wild right? From North to South, or West to East depending on how you’re looking at a map, the four largest islands are:
- Kaua’i
- Oahu
- Maui
- Hawai’i Island (or Big Island)
Expanding beyond that, and you have:
- Ni’ihau
- Moloka’i
- Lanai
- Kaho‘olawe
These make up the eight major Hawaiian islands. Unless you have specific intentions or plans that would take you to the latter four islands, you likely would not find yourself visiting them. So for the sake of this article, and not wasting your time, we’re going to focus on the first four Hawaiian islands: Kaua’i, Oaho, Maui and Hawai’i Island.
HOW TO PICK WHICH HAWAIIAN ISLAND TO VISIT
Since each island is different in many ways to the others, we are going to break down each Hawaiian island individually. Everyone has different expectations, plans, and preferences to how they travel and what they do. Some like to kick back and relax at an all-inclusive resort, some like to go lay at the beach, and some like to go hiking and exploring. Or maybe it’s something in between. So we’ll touch on which places have the best options for each of these.
KAUA’I ISLAND
Known as “the Garden Isle” or “Garden Island”, Kaua’i is most known for its lush greenery, tropical rainforest, and incredible coastline. Most people who prefer visiting this island, prefer it for being less crowded and touristy compared to the other islands. Which is sort of funny to say, because tourism is Kauai’s largest industry. If you are looking for a place where you can disconnect from every-day life, reconnect with nature, and relax, this is probably the island for you. Here are a few of the main things to do on Kaua’i Island.
NĀ PALI COAST STATE PARK
Doing a Google search of things to do in Kaua’i, will almost certainly result in a ton of images of the Nā Pali Coastline. The Nā Pali Coast State Park covers most of the western side of the island, and is known for its rainforest and ridged coastline. The park is quite remote, so visiting it will require one of a few things: hiking, taking a boat tour, or taking a helicopter/plane tour. Hiking is strenuous and not for the faint of heart. Boat and air tours are pricey, but in many cases, the best options as these provide you with the best views of the coastline. We opted for a boat tour through Blue Ocean Adventure Tours.
WAIMEA CANYON STATE PARK
Known as “The Grand Canyon of Hawai’i”, it’s easy to see why this would be something you’d want to visit. For $5 (for non-residents), you can visit the Waimea Canyon Overlook to view what is arguably the best view on the island. And if the if the view isn’t enough, the State Park has a couple of hiking trails that will allow you to immerse yourself more in the park and canyon: Kukui Trail which is 2.5mi / 4.0km one way and very strenuous & Iliau Nature Loop which is 0.3mi / 0.5km roundtrip and easy. No matter what you choose, you should make this a must-do if you’re visiting here.
WATERFALLS
If you are seeking out waterfalls specifically, Kaua’i is likely not the island for you, as there are quite a few more options on the other islands. That being said, if they aren’t a focal point of your travels, but you still enjoy seeing them when you can, then you definitely have options. In total, there are roughly 10 waterfalls. We opted to visit a few, and were quite happy with our choices.
- Wailua Falls
- ‘Ōpaeka’a Falls
- Waipo’o Falls
- Red Dirt Falls
- Nā Pali Coast Falls
BEACHES
When you think about disconnecting and relaxing, what comes to mind first? Probably relaxing at a beach staring at a beautiful ocean view. Am I right? If so you’re in luck. Kaua’i has a number of beaches that are perfect for just this. Here’s a few of our recommendations:
- Hanalei Bay Beach
- Pu’u Pot Beach
- Poiupu Beach
- Hā’ena Beach
QUEEN’S BATH
The last thing on our list is a place called Queen’s Bath. This is a large tide pool on the northern side of the island near Princeville. The hike to this is a bit strenuous as you literally have to hike down a barely maintained muddy trail through some forest. The trailhead is also not obvious; you have to park in a residential neighborhood and have to know where the entrance is located, otherwise you’ll completely miss it. But once you break free of the trees, and you reach the coastline, it becomes obvious why this is an amazing spot to visit.
DISCLAIMER: Please read and adhere to the signs posted. The ocean tide can rush up over the rocky area where Queen’s Bath is located, and people have died as a result of being pulled out to the ocean. Please do not end up as a hashmark on one of the signs.
Of each Hawaiian island, we’d consider Kaua’i to be the most quiet and relaxing. If you’re interested in reading more about Kaua’i, head over to our (NEARLY) 7 FREE THINGS TO DO ON KAUAI HAWAI’I article!
OAHU ISLAND
The third largest of the Hawaiian islands, Oahu has activities for everyone. Ranging from full relaxation at the beach, to hikes that will leave you exhausted for days, and everything in-between. It’s also home to the state’s capitol Honolulu, Pearl Harbor and a slew of other places to visit. This also means, it’s the most busy, crowded and touristy of all the Hawaiian islands. So if you’re looking for an island with ALL of the amenities; restaurants, shops, kid and family friendly activities, this is probably the island for you. But let’s get in to some of the best things to do so you can decide!
PEARL HARBOR
A visit to Oahu and not visiting Pearl Harbor would be kind of a shame. No matter your family heritage or culture, Pearl Harbor played a huge role in WWII and our world’s history and there is much to learn and see at this National Memorial no matter where you are from. And guess what? It’s free to visit!
KUALOA RANCH
Have you ever seen the movies Jurassic Park? 50 First Dates? Godzilla? Pearl Harbor? Kong: Skull Island? I can keep going… What do all of these have in common? Some portion of them was filmed on this incredibly beautiful ranch on Oahu: Kualoa Ranch. And guess what? You can visit and tour the ranch and even get to see some of the film areas and sets. Wanna step it up a notch? Take an ATV tour of the ranch! We were apprehensive at first, we don’t typically like doing touristy activities like this, but we absolutely loved it!
HO’OMALUHIA BOTANICAL GARDENS
One of the more laid back and relaxing things to do on the island is visit the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens. Not far from Kualoa Ranch, this large botanical garden is a perfect place to walk, explore, and enjoy the gardens, and luscious flora.
HIKES
Feeling adventurous? Hoping to maintain that beach bod you’d worked so hard to get before visiting? Well let us tell you, there is no shortage of hikes to do on this island that will KICK YOUR BUTT. In fact, there are so many places to hike on this island, there is no way we could list them all. But we will list a few of our favorites that will give you epic views of the island.
Diamond Head State Monument
- Difficulty – Easy to moderate
- Length – 1.8mi / 2.9km round trip from trailhead
Makapu’u Point Lighthouse
- Difficulty – Easy to moderate
- Length – 2mi / 3.2km round trip from trailhead
Kuli’ou’ou Ridge Trail
- Difficulty – Moderate to hard
- Length – 2.8mi / 4.5km round trip from trailhead
BEACHES
Much like the hiking trails, there are a ton of beaches on this island to enjoy. From Waikiki, Ala Moana, or Kaimana Beaches near the south. To Waimea and Turtle Beaches in the north. Or Kailua and Lanakai beaches in the east, there are SO many to choose from. Our recommendation, try out a few of them while exploring around the island. However, if we were to give one recommendation, it would be Lanakai Beach. It’s not exactly secluded, but it won’t be as crowded as those on the Waikiki side of the island.
- Lanakai Beach
- Ala Moana
- Waikiki Beach
- Kailua Beach
WAIKIKI
Honolulu and Waikiki are the largest and most populated areas of the island. These are where you will find all of the major hotels, resorts, restaurants and shopping areas. It’s also where you’ll find the most nightlife. So if you are in to those sorts of things, this is the part of the island to be on.
Of each Hawaiian island, we’d consider Oahu to be the most popular, and have the most variety of tourist activities. If you’re interested in reading more about Oahu, head over to our 8 AWESOME THINGS TO DO ON OAHU article!
MAUI ISLAND
Beautiful black sand beaches, crystal clear blue water, luscious bamboo forests, and more waterfalls than you can imagine. Maui has it all, and so much more. We may be slightly biased as we got married on this island, but we generally tell people this is our favorite island for being the most balanced. Not too crowded and touristy, but also has a ton to do. So let’s get in to it, shall we?
HALEAKALĀ NATIONAL PARK
If there is ONE thing we’d recommend doing on this island, it is to visit Haleakalā National Park. This is one of the lesser known National Parks in the U.S., but undeservingly so. This national park is based around a dormant volcano, has a bamboo forest, an epic waterfall, and so much more. But THE BEST thing to do here? Sunrise at the summit of the volcano. You are literally above the clouds at 10,000ft / 3,000m above sea level and get to watch the sun rise over the clouds. It’s absolutely magical.
The park has two entrances. One is in the center of the island, that’s where you’d go for the sunrise, and the other is on the coast near Hana. The Hana side of the park is where you’ll find the bamboo forest, waterfall and more. And if you’ve never heard of Hana, or The Road To Hana, then let’s jump in to that!
ROAD TO HANA
If you ask anyone who’s been to Maui what you should do there, they’ll likely mention The Road to Hana. The Road To Hana is a stretch of road that spans from the town of Pa’ia all the way around the eastern and southern side of the island to Wailea. It’s known for having a plethora of beautiful beaches, secluded waterfalls, and incredible views of the coastline. The road is VERY narrow, and can be quite windy. So if you get motion sickness, or don’t do well with lots of winding back and forth, plan accordingly.
ROAD TO HANA WATERFALLS
This could quite honestly be it’s own category or section, but there are over 10 different waterfalls along the Road To Hana. So if you like waterfalls, this is a MUST-DO.
Most people stop on the eastern side of the island near the Haleakalā Entrance and turn around to head back as the road becomes narrower and less safe from there to Wailea. It is a (now) paved road, and as long as you have a truck or SUV, we’d recommend going the full length. But plan for a full day!
NAKALELE BLOWHOLE
Much like the Road To Hana, the drive to the Nakalele blowhole can be quite rough, but it is quite worth it in our mind! On the northeastern side of the island, about an hours drive north from Kahului Airport (OGG), through VERY windy roads is the Nakalele blowhole. If you’ve read our (NEARLY) 7 FREE THINGS TO DO ON KAUA’I HAWAI’I you may have seen our mention of the Spouting Horn Blowhole. This is quite like that blowhole, but better in our minds. Part of the reason for that is the hike that you have to take down to the blowhole (which can be a little strenuous at points). It’s also because of the incredible view of the coastline that you get. Definitely worth visiting!
HIKE ‘IAO VALLEY
Much closer, and a much easier drive from the airport, roughly 20 minutes, is ‘Iao Valley State Monument and Park. This park is both historical and sacred, being most known for the battleground where King Kamehameha I battled with Maui’s army to unite the islands in 1790. The iconic ‘Iao Needle served as a lookout point for the armies. Much of the park and it’s cliffs were used as burial grounds for royalty. Today, you can hike a short looped trail which is just under a mile long, taking you through the park and giving you incredible views of the needle, the Maui coast and beautiful flora.
SEA TURTLES IN PA’IA
In Pa’ia, a short 15 minute drive from the airport, is Ho’okipa Beach. A quick Google search of places to find sea turtles on Maui, and you will find that Pa’ia is NOT generally listed. But, we can assure you, they’re there. There is a large group of turtles that in the evenings, come up to shore to rest on the beach.
There is a parking lot nearby, but this area also happens to be a big surf spot for the locals, so parking can fill up quickly. So you may want to get there a bit before sunset to make sure you get good parking if you wish to see the turtles.
Disclaimer: We don’t feel we NEED to say this, but just in case, if you happen to see the turtles, please DO NOT go up to them and touch them, touching them is actual illegal. And please don’t feed them.
BEACHES
There are tons of beaches all over Maui, I mean this is Hawai’i we’re talking about! So much like the other Hawaiian islands we’ve mentioned so far, there are a ton of beaches worth mentioning. Unfortunately we only have so much space. So we’ll list a few here that we think you should check out.
Our favorites? Honokalani Beach, Kaihalulu Beach and Baby Beach. Why? Honokalani Beach is a beautiful black sand beach. How often do you get to visit a black sand beach? Kaihalulu Beach is a red sand beach. How often do you get to see a red sand beach?! And Baby Beach is a lesser known and less visited beach outside of locals. So if you’re looking for a place to set up shop and relax and not be surrounding by a million people, this would be our pick.
- Honokalani Beach
- Ka’anapali Beach
- Kaihalulu Beach
- Baby Beach
- Oneloa Beach
- Pa’ia Bay Beach
- Ho’okipa Beach
Of each Hawaiian island, we would consider Maui to be the most balanced. If you’re interested in reading more about Maui, head over to our (NEARLY) 7 FREE THINGS TO DO ON MAUI HAWAI’I article!
HAWAI’I ISLAND
You probably know this island as The Big Island, but it is actually called Hawai’i Island. And if you’re anything like us, you probably don’t know a ton about it, or have it at the bottom of your list out of the four major islands. Well we’d love to change that. Because it is incredibly underrated.
Green, black and white sand beaches. Giant waterfalls and sulphur banks. Miles of hardened lava fields. Oh, and did we mention that this island has 11 of the 14 world climates present on it? It literally has it all. Hawai’i Island is one of the more remote islands in that if you are visiting, it is likely do to some specific outdoor activities. But we’ll let you decide.
HAWAI’I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Did you know there was a National Park on The Big Island? Or that Hawai’i has two National Parks? We didn’t either until we started visiting this incredible state. Giant active volcanoes, sulphur banks, steam vents, and hardened lava fields with 600 year old petroglyphs, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park has a TON to see. There are actually five volcanoes on Hawai’i Island, Kīlauea which is in the National Park, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Kohala and Hualālai. Kīlauea is said to be where the deity Pele dwells, while Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on Earth.
BEACHES
Much like Maui, if you want to visit some unique beaches, then Hawai’i Island is the place to visit! Here you’ll find not only incredible white sand beaches, but also a black sand beach AND a green sand beach. GREEN! Our favorites are Punalu’u Black Sand Beach and Papakōlea Green Sand Beach. But the hike to Papakōlea Green Sand Beach is NOT easy or for the faint of heart. But so so worth it! Head over to our (NEARLY) 7 FREE THINGS TO DO ON HAWAI’I ISLAND HAWAI’I article to read more about the hike and getting there.
- Punalu’u Black Sand Beach
- Papakōlea Green Sand Beach
- Mahai’ula Beach
- Pololū Black Sand Beach
AKAKA FALLS
Hawai’i Island may have the most climate zones of all the Hawaiian islands, but one thing it doesn’t have an abundance of is waterfalls. It does have a few though. The one we chose to visit was Akaka Falls in Akaka Falls State Park on the eastern side of the island near Hilo. In fact, every single one of the waterfalls listed below, are located on the eastern side of the island. This is due to the more temperate climate there.
- ʻAkaka falls
- Rainbow falls
- Peʻepeʻe Falls
- Umauma falls
- Kulaniapia Falls
- Hiʻilawe falls
POLOLŪ VALLEY LOOKOUT
On the northern side of the island near the town of Hawi, is the Pololū Valley Lookout. One of the best views of the Hawai’i Island coastline. And should you feel adventurous, there is somewhat of a strenuous hike down from this lookout to the Pololū Beach which is another black sand beach. But if you’re looking to visit a black sand beach specifically, we’d recommend visiting the Punalu’u Black Sand Beach as it is much more accessible.
Of each Hawaiian island, we would consider Hawai’i Island to be the most unique and diverse. If you’re interested in reading more about Hawai’i Island, head over to our (NEARLY) 7 FREE THINGS TO DO ON HAWAI’I ISLAND HAWAI’I article!
HOW TO PICK WHICH HAWAIIAN ISLAND TO VISIT
Have we only made it harder and more confusing to pick which Hawaiian island to visit? That’s ok. We to this day debate which island is our favorite. It really depends on what you’re looking for out of your trip. But if you need a little help, here’s the best we can do in summarizing or categorizing the islands:
FAMILY FRIENDLY, NIGHTLIFE, LOTS OF ACTIVITIES TO CHOOSE FROM: OAHU
QUIET, PEACEFUL AND RELAXING: KAUA’I
UNIQUE LANDSCAPES AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES: HAWAI’I ISLAND
A HEALTHY BLEND OF ALL OF THE ABOVE: MAUI
Which would you pick? If you need additional info or details on some of the islands and activities we listed above to help you choose which Hawaiian Island you want to visit… No worries! We have articles that take a deeper dive in to each one, and what each of the activities entails.
- (NEARLY) 7 FREE THINGS TO DO ON KAUA’I HAWAI’I
- 8 AWESOME THINGS TO DO ON OAHU
- (NEARLY) 7 FREE THINGS TO DO ON MAUI HAWAI’I
- (NEARLY) 7 FREE THINGS TO DO ON HAWAI’I ISLAND HAWAI’I
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Thanks for stopping by!
