Which Island Fits Your Trip?
Each Hawaiian island has its own character, with different landscapes, communities and ways to spend a visit. This Hawaiian Islands guide compares the six islands most visitors consider, whether you’re planning a first Hawaiʻi trip or adding another island to time on Maui.
Choose the pace and experiences that matter to you, then allow enough time to enjoy them. An extra island also means another transfer, with airport or harbor time, transport and accommodation to arrange.
Explore locations with our Maui and neighboring-island maps, including the Oʻahu island guide and Lānaʻi island guide.
Hawaiian Islands Guide: Start With the Kind of Trip You Want
- Kauaʻi: Dramatic green landscapes, coastal scenery and a slower itinerary.
- Oʻahu: Honolulu and Waikīkī, historic sites, dining and a wider city experience.
- Hawaiʻi Island: Volcano country, very different climates and longer driving distances.
- Maui: A mix of beaches, farm visits, mountain scenery and guided activities.
- Lānaʻi: A quieter day trip or stay, with advance planning for ground transport.
- Molokaʻi: A community-centered visit where thoughtful planning and respectful access matter.
Kauaʻi: The Garden Isle
When most people picture Hawaii, images of Kauai come to mind. Rugged landscapes of colorful mountainous walls against deep blue water, desolate waterfalls in tropical settings, and picturesque sunsets along sweeping white sand bays are just a few of the draws of this magnificent island.
If you’ve come to Hawaii to relax, Kauai is the place for you. Take a sailing tour along the Na Pali Coastline, explore the local eateries and live music in Hanalei Bay, and witness the colorful landscapes of Waimea Canyon.
Oʻahu: The Gathering Place
For a mix of city life, beaches and historic sites, Oahu certainly knows how to draw a crowd.
Often referred to as ‘The Gathering Place’, the most populous Hawaiian island provides an excellent mixture of historical attractions, nightlife, surf breaks, and cultural activities.
If Pearl Harbor is on your list, compare the available historic Pearl Harbor Tours, and check which sites each itinerary includes. The USS Arizona Memorial and Battleship Missouri are separate visitor experiences. Make the most of your day by combining your Pearl Harbor tour with a guided visit to cultural sites like ‘Iolani Palace and Kawaiahao Church, famed landscapes like Diamond Head Lookout and Waimea Bay, and city highlights like Chinatown and Downtown Honolulu. Check the exact package for transport, admission, meeting points and guided portions before booking. A tour title alone doesn’t tell you which reservations are included.
See more of Hawaii’s roots during a tour of the Polynesian Cultural Center, and don’t skip the opportunity to watch surfers take on waves on the famous north shore, particularly during winter months. Tour the gorgeous Kualoa Ranch, go for a scenic hike, take a surf lesson at Waikiki Beach, and make sure to enjoy ono grinds from the island’s top food trucks, gastro pubs or local bakeries.
If you can handle the crowds, it’s definitely worth the trip.
Hawaiʻi Island: The Big Island
Larger than all other Hawaiian Islands combined, the Big Island boasts some of the most unique attractions in the Aloha State.
Travelers drawn to land exploration can visit Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park for volcanic landscapes, hiking trails and the chance to learn about a changing environment. Lava viewing depends on the eruption and conditions; it isn’t guaranteed on a park visit. One of the easiest and best ways to visit from both Hilo or Kona Town is on a Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Tour.
The Big Island is also home to Papakōlea, known for its green sand, as well as manta rays, who come to feed on the plankton drawn to the underwater lights off the Kona coast.
Whether you’re interested in stargazing or exploring the coast, the Big Island offers remarkable opportunities to experience different landscapes. Maunakea summit access requires preparation for altitude and weather. Don’t plan a Waipiʻo Valley hike or drive from an old guide: confirm current access restrictions first.
Maui: The Valley Isle
They say ‘Maui No Ka Oi’, and it’s hard to disagree. Although we may be biased, Maui is the ideal mix of culture, convenience, and nature in the Hawaiian Islands.
With excellent opportunities for snorkeling, spending time at a variety of beaches, hiking to waterfalls in the lush rainforest, surfing, and enjoying world-class meals with unbeatable views, Maui is the perfect escape for those looking to explore, relax, and experience Hawaii.
While there are hundreds of exciting activities, some of our favorite recommendations are driving the Road to Hana, watching sunrise at the summit of Haleakalā with the required advance reservation, enjoying a scenic sunset cocktail cruise (which doubles as a whale watching cruise from December to April), taking in the scenery at ʻĪao Valley, and enjoying a perfect beach day at Makena’s Big Beach.
Choose from cozy, romantic accommodations with panoramic views in Upcountry, remote bungalows on the Hana Coast, or go for gold at one of the beachfront five-star resorts in Wailea or Ka’anapali. Whichever you choose, you’re sure to be left wanting more.
Discover sea cliffs rising out of the cobalt sea, lush unexplored rainforest valleys, coral reefs sparkling through crystalline waters, and feast your eyes on waterfalls few have seen.
Lānaʻi: The Pineapple Isle
Reached by ferry from Māʻalaea Harbor on Maui, Lanai offers a quieter pace than its larger neighbors.
Travelers seeking a remote experience should head to Lanai for a different kind of Hawaiian vacation, away from the large group tours and crowded beaches.
Compare accommodation options such as Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi, Sensei Lānaʻi and Hotel Lānaʻi, and take time to see gorgeous sites such as Sweetheart Rock, Garden of the Gods, Shipwreck Beach and Hulopo’e Bay, where the bay’s scenery is part of the appeal. Watch wildlife from a responsible distance and never enter the water to approach resting dolphins.
Molokaʻi: The Friendly Isle
With its own community and rhythm, Molokai invites a slower visit centered on respect for the people who live here.
Molokaʻi has a quieter visitor scene than Maui or Oʻahu. Plan accommodation, flights and local transport ahead, and check access before setting out for a remote place.
Kalaupapa National Historical Park preserves the history of people forcibly isolated because of Hansen’s disease. It isn’t a place to visit spontaneously. Check the National Park Service for current guided-tour and permit availability; don’t rely on old mule-ride or trail-access listings. Elsewhere on Molokaʻi, choose legal public access and respect private land and community guidance.
Before You Add Another Island to Your Maui Trip
Decide whether you want a day trip or a stay of several nights. Most interisland travel requires a flight; the Expeditions ferry connects Māʻalaea on Maui with Mānele on Lānaʻi. Reserve both directions and arrange transport beyond the harbor before leaving Maui.
For sunrise at Haleakalā, private vehicles need an advance reservation to enter the Summit District between 3 and 7 a.m., as well as park admission. Read the park’s current sunrise guidance. ʻĪao Valley and Waiʻānapanapa have their own visitor reservation arrangements, so check the particular place rather than assuming one booking covers the island.
At Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, check current conditions and legal viewing areas before driving out. For Kalaupapa, confirm permits and whether guided visits are operating before arranging travel. Old itineraries aren’t a substitute for present access.
On Maui, support open local businesses and follow posted restrictions around Lahaina. Leave recovery sites and residents’ privacy out of sightseeing photography. Our support local Maui guide offers ways to make thoughtful choices during your stay.
Images retained from the original Hawaiian Islands Guide. Photography was originally credited to Hawaii Web Group staff, permission holders and licensed purchases. Please contact the site before reusing any image.
