If you’re wondering what is the best island to visit in Hawaii, it completely depends on what kind of vacation you’re looking for.
You honestly can’t go wrong with any of the Hawaiian islands, but this guide will point out a few things to consider when deciding which island to visit.
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What is the Best Island to Visit in Hawaii?
Table of Contents
- Oahu: The best island for first time visitors
- Maui: The best island for relaxing
- Kauai: The best island for outdoor enthusiasts
- Big Island: The best island to see an active volcano
The Hawaiian Islands consist of 137 islands.
The 8 largest islands are: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Hawaii (referred to as the “Big Island”), Kahoolawe, Lanai, Molokai, and Niihau.
However, not all of the islands are open to visitors. Of the 8 islands, the most popular ones to visit are Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island.
Each of the islands is unique in its own way. Keep reading to discover the pros and cons of each of the four main islands so that you can better determine which island would be the best fit for your vacation.
Oahu: The best island for first time visitors
Oahu is often recommended as the best island to visit for your first trip to Hawaii.
Pros of visiting Oahu
Oahu offers a little bit of everything with the most attractions available out of all of the islands.
Oahu is home to Honolulu, Hawaii’s state capital. The bustling city life offers a diverse food scene, upscale shopping, affordable hotels, and Waikiki’s world-famous urban beach.
Pearl Harbor is also located near Honolulu where visitors can tour the site and take a moment to remember the somber events that took place on December 7, 1941.
Other main tourist attractions near Honolulu include hiking to the summit of the Diamond Head Crater and snorkeling at Hanauma Bay.
If you’re looking for a more laid-back vibe, head to the North Shore.
Here you’ll discover world-class surf beaches, fresh food served from local food trucks, cultural experiences at the Polynesian Cultural Center, and the cutest surf town of Haleiwa.
And if it’s raining on the North Shore, head to the west coast where it’s always sunny at Ko Olina Lagoons!
Other Oahu highlights include fun adventures at Kualoa Ranch, beautiful hiking trails, delicious food, and plenty of hidden gems.
Flights to Oahu are generally cheaper than the other islands as well.
Click to read all of our Oahu Travel Guides.
Cons of visiting Oahu
Oahu is the most visited of all the islands and gets a bad rap for being too touristy and commercialized.
Honolulu, like most big cities, is a little more rundown and is experiencing an increasingly growing homeless population.
Accommodations are also very limited on the North Shore.
There are vacation rentals (that book up fast), but Turtle Bay Resort and the Courtyard Marriott in Laie are the only hotels on the North Shore.
Maui: The best island for relaxing
If you’re looking for a relaxing beach vacation, Maui is the place to go!
Pros of visiting Maui
Maui is often the first choice for couples or families looking for a relaxing resort stay.
It offers the most miles of swimmable beaches out of all of the Hawaiian Islands.
It also boasts some of the best resorts along its west coast near Kaanapali and Wailea.
If you’re looking to get out and explore, Maui is home to the breathtaking Road to Hana.
Here you will find black sand beaches, red sand beaches, and more waterfalls than you can count!
Maui also has the most accessible waterfalls. Some can be reached by hikes, but many can be found just off the side of the road while driving on the Road to Hana.
If you enjoy snorkeling, Maui offers some of the best snorkeling in all of Hawaii at Molokini Crater.
For a unique experience, you can also drive to the top of the Haleakala Crater to watch the sunrise above the clouds.
The West Maui Mountains are also a bit of a hidden gem with a rugged coastline, hidden waterfalls, a dense rainforest, and a scattering of local villages.
Click to read all of our Maui Travel Guides.
Cons of visiting Maui
Maui doesn’t cater as much to the budget traveler as resort prices are generally higher in Maui than on the other islands.
You also won’t find any big cities, just smaller little towns. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does mean you won’t find much nightlife if that’s what you’re looking for.
There also isn’t any public transportation like on Oahu, so you’ll need to rent a car.
Maui doesn’t have as many attractions as the other islands, but there is still plenty to do.
Kauai: The best island for outdoor enthusiasts
There is no shortage of outdoor adventures and beauty when it comes to Kauai!
Pros of visiting Kauai
Kauai is known as the Garden Isle and is often considered the most beautiful of all the Hawaiian islands.
It is less developed than the other islands and you’ll find a wild untouched beauty.
All of the Hawaiian islands have a windward side and a leeward side.
The windward side receives more rainfall and is where you’ll find the dense rainforests. The leeward side is drier and generally not as scenic.
However, even Kauai’s leeward side is stunning with the breathtaking Waimea Canyon.
On the windward side of Kauai, you’ll find the Na Pali Coast, which is recognized as one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Kauai is also filled with gorgeous beaches, great hiking trails, and a variety of outdoor adventures.
A few of the most popular adventure tours include helicopter and boat tours along the Na Pali Coast, zip lining, ATV tours, snorkeling, kayaking, and more. It really is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream!
Click to read all of our Kauai travel guides.
Cons of visiting Kauai
Kauai is the least developed of all the islands and the infrastructure doesn’t necessarily cater to a lot of tourists.
There is only one road around the island, so if it gets washed out then you could be stranded, which has happened to us.
While there are still plenty of beaches on Kauai, there aren’t nearly as many accessible beaches as there are on the other islands.
While Kauai is generally the greenest of all the islands, it is also the rainiest. It is even home to Mt. Waialeale, the wettest place on earth.
Big Island: The best island to see an active volcano
One unique feature that sets the Big Island apart from the other islands is that it’s the only island where you can see an active lava flow.
Pros of visiting the Big Island
The Big Island is home to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park where you’ll find two active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Kilauea last erupted in 2018 and Mauna Loa erupted as recently as 2022.
Visitors can see lava bubbling in the Kilauea Caldera, hike the Kilauea Iki Trail across what was once a lake of molten lava, explore an ancient lava tube, and walk through a field of active steam vents.
The Big Island is also one of the most ecologically diverse places on earth.
Here you will find 4 out of the 5 major climate zones. You may even experience snow at the summit of Mauna Kea, along with some of the best stargazing in the world!
If you’re looking to experience lush rainforests, beautiful waterfalls, and a taste of old Hawaii, then head to Hilo.
And if sunshine, sandy beaches, and modern conveniences are more your thing, then book a resort in Kona.
You can also go cliff diving at the southernmost point of the US and visit a picturesque black sand beach at South Point.
Another advantage of visiting the Big Island is that it is the least visited of all the islands, so you won’t run into as many crowds.
Click to read all of our Big Island guides.
Cons of visiting the Big Island
As its name suggests, the Big Island is indeed BIG!
It takes quite a bit longer to travel around the island, so you’ll need to plan accordingly.
The Big Island also feels more barren than the other islands and doesn’t necessarily make the best first impression.
However, there is definitely beauty to be found, but you just have to look a little harder and drive a little further.
You also won’t find as many sandy beaches as the other islands since much of the coast line consists of lava rock.
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I hope this guide will help you decide what is the best island in Hawaii to visit for your vacation. Each island holds a little slice of paradise and you are bound to fall in love with whatever island you decide to visit!
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