Hawaii: Which Island?

One of the biggest choices a traveler to Hawai' i will make is which island(s) to visit. There is no pat or easy answer as every island has its unique charms and attractions.

Oahu is the most popular Hawaiian island. The fame of Waikiki, large selection of budget hotels and many direct flights to Honolulu make it an easy choice for many. In and around Honolulu are numerous educational and enjoyable activities like the USS Arizona Memorial, the Bishop Museum, Hanauma Bay, etc. Honolulu is a major city and has things all American cities have including first-class restaurants, hotels and shopping. But Oahu offers much more than just Honolulu. The scenic windward (east) coast has many attractive beaches and is a favorite for those who prefer vacation homes to hotels. Oahu's north shore, famous for epic winter surfing also has miles of sandy beaches that are calm during the summer. This part of the island is much quieter than the bustling Honolulu area 1 hour away.

At the other end of the spectrum are the least populated islands like Molokai andLanai. Molokai was recently rated highly by National Geographic Traveler as an ecologically sound destination, but you won't find many typical tourist attractions here.  The former leper colony of Father Damien is a frequently visited site.  On Lana' i you won't find a single stoplight, and with a population of only 3000 you also will not find many people.  That doesn't mean you can't be pampered, because there are two Four Seasons resorts there, Manele Bay at the beach, and Lodge at Koele in the upcountry hills.  There is also the small Hotel Lanai and a few B&B's in Lanai City.  It is a place to relax, but there is still many things to do including hiking, exploring the island's remote spots with a 4x4 Jeep, snorkeling/diving, sport clay shooting, horseback riding and golfing the two world class courses designed by Jack Nicklaus (Challenge at Manele) and Greg Norman (Experience at Koele).  Lanai City is quaint town with some shops, art galleries and a few restaurants (but not a chain store around).

Maui is the second most popular island, probably due to its wide variety of wonderful beaches and great micro-climate. Maui also caters to the tourist trade with snorkeling tours, diving expeditions, a train ride, helicopter flights, etc. Maui also has a large complement of golf courses and resort amenities like tennis. It is also home to the signature "Road to Hana", a winding road filled with one-lane bridges, waterfalls, and plantations that hark back to the days of old Hawaii.  A drive up toHaleakala is always a highlight.  The resorts are concentrated in two areas, Ka'anapalli in the west and Wailea/Kihei in the south. 

Kauai has become increasingly popular in recent years, but it is one of the smaller islands. It still offers many tourist amenities like the above mentioned helicopter rides, snorkeling trips, etc.  It is the most lush and green island.  It does tend to get a little more rain than some of the other islands, but that is what helps make it so beautiful. 

The Big Island (the Island of Hawaii) has a character of its own. It does not have the long, curving beaches like Kaua' i or the nightlife of Maui and its sheer size makes traveling to its various destinations a little more of a day trip. Perhaps its greatest attraction is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, located on the southern tip. HVNP is a special park, with long hikes and trips through rain forests and lava flows. When one is fortunate enough to see the lava flowing (as it has been pretty continually since 1984), it is truly remarkable. The lava flows tend to seep underground into tubes, and can usually not be easily viewed. The Big Island has many beautiful beaches on the Kohala coast ( Hapuna, for example) as well as golf courses ( Mauna Kea's classic par three over the ocean is an oft-copied beauty) and also offers helicopter rides, snorkeling boats, hiking, horseback riding and luaus.

Whichever island you visit, you will not be disappointed and just be hungry to go back to Hawaii to see more. A general rule of thumb is to spend at least 1 week on any island, and only visit a second island if you have more time than that. Each island has much to explore. The following web site offers a fun quiz where they recommend an island based on your answers: Discover your favorite Island in 24 questions