Your Guide to Choosing Which Hawaiian Island to Visit
There are four main Hawaiian islands you are likely contemplating between – The Big Island, Oahu (Honolulu), Maui, and Kauai. These are all stunning islands in their own right but do differ from one another. Depending on whether you are looking for a more lively island scene or a peaceful beach vacation will shape which island you may want to pick for your vacation. I visit Hawaii each year as it’s my favorite destination in the world – there is a wonderful Hawaiian culture present on all these islands, there are stunning beaches and nature everywhere, and the air just smells so fresh. Keep on reading to help decide which Hawaiian island you’ll want to visit:
Island Overviews
Oahu
Oahu is the heart of Hawaii, with Honolulu being the capital and largest city across the Hawaiian islands. You’ll get to experience iconic attractions Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbor, and Diamond Head. It’s an ideal island for those that are seeking lively shopping and nightlife, accessible adventure, and culture. You’ll find skyscrapers in Oahu, designer shops, and a lot of public transportation options which you won’t find on any of the other islands.
Maui
Maui is famous for its luxurious resorts, white sand beaches, top snorkeling spots, and the beautiful Road to Hana. The island is great for couples and families – giving something for everyone to do and enjoy. There is a lot of stunning nature to explore here and great activities to embark on whether it’s a snorkeling tour, horseback riding, helicopter rides, etc. This is my personal favorite for how slow-paced and beautiful the island is.
The Big Island
The Big Island is arguably the most unique of the islands, with activate volcanoes, black and green sand beaches, a world-class stargazing observatory, nighttime manta ray snorkeling, and more. If you are looking for more unique adventures and landscapes, the island of Hawaii is a great pick. It is also the most affordable of the islands, especially if you are looking to stay in a nice resort without paying over $1000/night. It is the largest of the islands as well so everything is a bit more spread out.
Kauai
Known as the “Garden Isle,” Kauai is a true paradise. It has the lushest rainforests, waterfalls, and cliffs. The Na Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon are must-sees for those who love nature and are looking for jaw-dropping scenery. The island has some incredible hiking and feels the most like a sanctuary with it being the least visited island (only ~12% of Hawaiian visitors each year). It does rain a lot however which is something to consider if you are looking for a sunny, beach vacation each day.
Key Factors to Consider
Weather
Top Pick: The Big Island, Oahu, and Maui
Hawaii overall has phenomenal weather year-round with mostly sunny skies, temperature in the 80s Fahrenheit, and nice tropical winds to keep it from feeling too hot. The only island which stands out from the rest is Kauai which is one of the rainiest spots in the U.S. It rains typically every day here for a few hours as showers pass through. This leads to really lush land and rainbows but something to consider if you want a fully sunny vacation.
Activities and Adventures
Top Pick: All
Each Hawaiian island have INCREDIBLE activities you can embark on, all unique to the islands own history and landscape. There is truly no island that has necessarily better activities than the other, it just really depends what your passionate about doing while on your trip. These are some of the key activities for each to help pick which Hawaiian island you should visit:
- Oahu: Surfing, visiting key historic spots like Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head, the Zoo, Dole Pineapple Farms, Shopping & Dining
- Maui: Snorkeling, horseback riding, the stunning 47-mile Road to Hana that has over 15 waterfalls and stunning views, and watching the sunrise at Haleakalā summit.
- Big Island: More land-focused adventures like visiting Volcanoes National Park and stargazing at Mauna Kea Observatory. Note that beaches on the Big Island are more rocky and black-sand beaches than the other islands which make them less swimmable.
- Kauai: Stunning nature with key activities being hiking, kayaking in the Wailua River, and helicopter tours of the Na Pali Coast.
Crowds and Liveliness
Top Pick: Oahu
Oahu is by far the liveliest island with the most shopping and vibrant nightlight in Waikiki. If you are looking for a more bustling scene with restaurants, bars, and high-end shopping, I would definitely pick Oahu over the other islands. On the other hand, the other islands are so peaceful and quiet at night in most parts. It’s more of a daytime adventure place with visitors waking up early and then going to bed on the earlier side.
Scenery and Nature
Top Pick: Maui and Kauai
The best nature would be a tie between Maui and Kauai in my opinion. Maui has the best beaches by far with stunning white sand, crystal clear blue water, and the calmest waves. Maui also has the Road to Hana which is some of the most stunning views and landscaping in the world. Kauai is also incredible for nature with some of the most incredible water falls and rainforest landscapes because of all the rain. The island is so lush and green at every turn. I find Oahu to specifically fall short on this list as the skyscrapers and industrialized cities take away from the nature and feeling of escape that many appreciate when visiting Hawaii.
Price
Top Pick: The Big Island and Oahu
Oahu and the Big Island offer the most variety for affordable or mid-range priced accommodations and activities/dining. Reversely, Maui and Kauai are both on the more expensive side especially if you are planning to stay in a resort property and many activities. If you are looking to go to one of these two but on a tighter budget, I recommend looking into Air BnBs which are often condos that also include full amenities, cleaning services, and a hotel-like lobby if you are in beach resort areas.
Family-Friendly Options
Top Pick: Oahu and Maui
Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island are all very kid-friendly (purposefully excluding Kauai here) so it comes down to what kind of family activities you are looking to do while on the trip. For a lot of kid-friendly activities like the zoo, easy access to key beaches, and more kid focused hotels like the Disney resort, Oahu will be the best pick. I find that Maui is excellent for families staying at resorts that want fun kid-friendly pools along with adult options, calm beaches with very gentle waves, and doing water activities like snorkeling. Finally, the Big Island will be the best choice if you are looking for more family group adventures like exploring volcanos and stargazing.
My Overall Top Pick
Of all the islands, I am very biased towards Maui. Most travelers that have visited multiple islands will also likely say that Maui is their favorite island as it has some of the best beaches, nature, and weather without being too crowded. It also has a very slow-paced and relaxed energy, especially when compared to Oahu. With day trips like the Road to Hana, snorkeling at Molokini Crater, and the sunrise at Haleakalā Summit, some of my favorite life memories have taken place on Maui. If you end up booking your trip to Maui, checkout my Maui articles below:
I also recently visited The Big Island for the first time in November so my guide to the top 7 activities to do when visiting there is here. Whichever island you decide on, you really can’t go wrong with a trip to Hawaii. It will be filled with beautiful scenery, wonderful beach days, fun activities, and a tropical drink in hand no matter what!
