So it is your first Hawaii vacation? And you are trying to decide which Hawaiian island to visit?

Which Hawaiian island should I visit? This is a question I get asked very frequently from friends, acquaintances and people visiting my website. And my answer always begins with “depends what you want to do and see.”

The activities and things to do and see, the scenery and even the climate is different on each island. In other words, each island is quite unique.

Visiting Oahu

The majority of Hawaii travelers visit Oahu and particularly Waikiki – the most touristy area of the island. Even though Waikiki does have its charm, it is certainly not for everybody. So don’t jump to the conclusion that if everybody goes there you should too.

Waikiki offers plenty of entertainment options, such as restaurants, bars, shops, night shows and other cultural performances, Hawaiian luaus, and a tropical beach with nice views to Diamond Head (a popular landmark). Also, many tours are being offered that head out from Waikiki, including sailing, catamaran and dinner cruises. Waikiki certainly is one of the most photographed locations in Hawaii. It has been featured in many popular movies, as well as on wall calendars and postcards.

Since Waikiki is so popular, it is a bustling place and quite noisy and crowded. You will see visitors, local residents and homeless people all over the place. So if you a looking for tranquility in Hawaii, you will have a hard time finding it here. Also, hotels and resorts have relatively small grounds; many are in high-rise buildings with small or no outside areas. 

If you enjoy the hustle and bustle of Waikiki with its many entertainment options and lively atmosphere, but would still like to visit some quieter areas of the island, the east or north shore is the place to go. You can take the public bus or rent a car and explore these areas, or you can also look for accommodation outside of Waikiki. There are not many hotels on the east and north shore of Oahu, but there are many vacation rentals located on pristine beaches that are suitable for a relaxing vacation.

Oahu has some great white-sand beaches with excellent swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, bodyboarding and surfing conditions. So if you are into watersports, you will find plenty of opportunities on Oahu.

Visiting Maui

Looking for some relaxation mixed with a little action in a tropical setting? If the answer is yes, it sounds like you should plan a trip to Maui!

Kaanapali on Maui is what I consider Maui’s Waikiki – here you will find many restaurants and shops, night entertainment, a pristine beach, tropical surroundings and many accommodation options. Even though Kaanapali is the most popular tourist area on Maui and it reminds me it a way of Waikiki, it is still different from Waikiki in many ways. Hotels in Kaanapali are bigger with larger and lusher grounds. It is a typical resort community, while Waikiki on Oahu is a mixture of a big city and hotels.

If you stay in Kaanapali, you can easily get to Lahaina, which is located a few miles south, which has even more restaurants and shops. Also, you can take a ferry and visit two other Hawaiian islands – Molokai (1.5 hours one way) and Lanai (40 minutes one way). Taking a ferry to visit another Hawaiian island is possible only from Maui. Both ferries to Molokai and Lanai depart from Lahaina Harbor, which is located 10-15 minutes from Kaanapali.

Lahaina is also a very attractive boutique town with plenty of restaurants and shops, many of which are located oceanfront. However, the accommodation options here are rather limited, and there is no good swimming beach. Lahaina is one of the best places in Hawaii to see whales in the winter.

Other good areas on Maui to stay at are Kapalua, Wailea and Makena. Many hotels and resorts in these towns offer luxurious accommodations and services to their guests. Kihei has affordable and moderately priced accommodations, and Hana has one luxurious resort in a very isolated and remote location.

Visiting Kauai

Kauai’s natural beauty attracts visitors from around the world. Many consider Kauai the most beautiful island because of its lush vegetation. Kauai is a great vacation destination for travelers who want to spend most of their time doing outdoor adventures, such as hiking, biking, sailing, zip lining, etc.

Kauai’s north shore (Hanalei and Princeville) is ideal for nature lovers. This is the lushest and greenest part of the island, where you can enjoy beautiful beaches, world-class golf, tropical flora and fauna and spectacular views to mountains with cascading waterfalls. The shopping and dining options are limited here, so if that’s important for you, you may want to consider the east or south shore as your destination.

The most dining and shopping opportunities on Kauai can be found in Kapaa and Wailua. There are many hotels and condos (from budget to luxurious) in the area as well.

The most popular vacation destination on Kauai is along the south shore (Poipu and Koloa). Accommodations here are more expensive compared to the east and north shore.

There are a few good accommodation options on the west coast of Kauai (Waimea), but I would not recommend this area as a first Hawaii vacation choice unless you want to spend most of your time hiking Waimea Canyon. The west coast is also rather barren, a complete contrast to the island’s north shore.

Visiting the Big Island

The Big Island of Hawaii is a home to one of the most popular Hawaii attractions – Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This is where you can see active lava flows and volcanic craters.

The most popular tourist area on the Big Island is the west shore – Kailua-Kona, Waikoloa and the Kohala Coast. Most of the hotel and resort accommodations here are upscale. There are a few good swimming and snorkeling beaches here, as well as many other scenic black sand beaches. This side of the island offers a nice mixture of outdoor adventures and activities and a tranquil vacation.

Visiting Lanai

Looking for a really relaxing vacation in Hawaii, away from all kinds of city noise and crowds? You can find that on Lanai. This small Hawaiian island is home to two 5-star luxury resorts and one moderately priced hotel (and a handful of vacation rentals). Outdoor activities that are being offered here include golf and horseback riding.

Visiting Molokai

Just like on Lanai, you can enjoy a peaceful and relaxing vacation on Molokai, with no noise and disturbances surrounding you. Molokai has one hotel and a few vacation rental options. Few people choose Molokai as their first-time Hawaii vacation destination because shopping and services here are very limited. But if you don’t plan on doing much besides hiking and exploring in peaceful surroundings, then this island is a good place to visit.