Which Is The Best Island To Visit In Hawaii?

Aloha. I love Hawaii, it’s one of my favorite places to visit! If you’ve been there then there’a a pretty good chance you love it too. And you may already know which island is your favorite (I’ll share mine at the end of this post!). If you haven’t been to Hawaii yet it can be hard to choose which island to go to. Here is an overview of the Hawaiian Islands. I hope it helps you decide which is the best island to visit in Hawaii. 

Hawaii has 4 main islands that you can visit: Hawaii (often called the Big Island), Maui, Oahu, and Kauai. There are the lesser known islands of Molokai and Lanai that you can visit too. All of the Hawaiian Islands are incredible places to vacation. But each has it’s own unique appeal. So let’s talk about each of these 5 islands and why you might choose them for your Hawaiian vacation.

The Big Island

The Big Island is the largest Hawaiian island and has a real laid back vibe. The island itself has a little bit of everything. The west shore is the dry side of the island and is known for its plethora of coffee farms. Kona coffee boasts some of the finest coffee beans in the world. Coffee lovers will want to come here! You can also find several macadamia nut and chocolate farms on this side of the island.

Geology lovers may think that the Big Island is the best island to visit in Hawaii because of its volcanoes. The Big Island is home to Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park where you can see actual lava! There are many other cool things to see besides lava. There are tons of hiking trails, craters, and viewpoints to see. Plus there are petroglyph sites and sea arches created by lava tubes! It really is a unique place to see!

The east side of the island is the wet side, meaning beautiful lush jungles, farms, botanical gardens. Everything wants to grow over here! The Hilo farmers market is a real treat if you are a foodie like me. 

The southern part of the island is much more rugged. This is where you will find breathtaking views of ocean cliffs, and black sand beaches. And more dense rainforests full of exotic plants.

The majority of the beaches on the big island were formed by lava so can be really rocky. You’ll find a few white sand beaches, but there aren’t many here. If white sandy beaches are important to you, then this may not be the best island for you to visit in Hawaii.

If the Big Island sounds like your kind of island, then you should check out the 11 Best Things To Do On The Big Island Of Hawaii . 

Maui

Maui has a lot to offer as far as tropical islands go! You can’t go wrong with a trip to Maui. The scenery is beautiful and the water is nice. If you really want some good beach time then you may think that Maui is the best island to visit in Hawaii. Maui has a lot of nice beaches and is well liked by snorkelers. You can also often find sea turtles chilling on the beach or floating in the waves. 

Maui is a surfers paradise. It boasts some of the best waves on the islands and there is often a surfing competition happening on the island. If you are a surfer then you probably already know about the amazing surfing in Maui! 

Here you will find the famous Hana Highway. Driving the Hana Highway is unlike any other drive in the world. Not only are the views spectacular but the drive itself is… an adventure in itself. Let’s just say that thrill seekers would really enjoy this special route. There are many unique beaches along the Hana Highway including red sand and green sand beaches. If you like variety in your beaches then you may want to check out Maui.

If you are a foodie then you will love Maui. There are organic farms everywhere and locals even have small produce stands in their driveways. Most of the houses grow tropical fare such as avocado, papaya, starfruit, bananas, and coconut. You can stop all over the island and pick up some fresh fruit for really cheap! 

Maui has some really beautiful ruins you can visit, as well as botanical gardens. There is some good hiking, some sacred pools, and even a volcano to see. There really is a little bit of everything on this Hawaiian Island!

Oahu

Oahu is the most developed of the islands. The impressive city of Honolulu sits on Oahu. If you like city life, then Oahu might be the best island to visit in Hawaii. Honolulu is well known among foodies due to its amazing restaurant scene. If you like to eat out on vacation then you may want to check out Oahu. 

Oahu is also where the nightlife is in Hawaii. On the other islands it is really hard to find anywhere that stays open late. So if nightlife is your thing when you travel then you would probably find Oahu to be the best island to visit in Hawaii.

History buffs may think that Oahu is the best island to visit in Hawaii. Here you can visit several historical sites including the famous Pearl Harbor. This makes Oahu a very popular destination for many tourists.

Oahu has some of the most stunning beaches in all of Hawaii. Beach lovers will love the beaches here, as long as they don’t mind the crowds. Oahu is the most popular Hawaiian island to visit and has more of a party vibe than the other islands. If you want solitude then you may want to look elsewhere.

Oahu attracts a lot of surfers, and with good reason. The north shore is known to have great surfing year round. If you want to surf on your Hawaiian vacation then Oahu is the place to go.

Kauai

Kauai is known as the Garden Isle of Hawaii. This island gets more rain than the other islands and is therefore much more lush. The landscape has a jungle vibe, and parts of Jurassic Park were even filmed there. There are several beautiful botanical gardens to see there. If you are a plant lover then Kauai might be the best island to visit in Hawaii.

Kauai has some of the best sailing in the world. If you like to get out on the water then look no further. The Na Pali coast is a world famous sailing route that is a must do for any seafaring person. 

If you like sandy beaches and snorkeling in coral reef then Kauai may be for you. There are many beaches with incredible snorkeling in Kauai. And because Kauai is smaller and less developed, you can find quiet stretches of beaches around the island. 

Geologists may think Kauai is the best island to visit in Hawaii because of the Waimea Canyon. Waimea Canyon is a like mini Grand Canyon that provides a plethora of unique hiking and viewing areas. 

Hikers and backpackers love Kauai. Kauai is home to some of the most well known hikes in the area, and many of these hikes include beautiful waterfalls. Backpackers come from all over the world to hike the famous Kalalau trail. This is a challenging 22 mile trail that follows the rugged Na Pali coast. If you are looking to do some hiking on your Hawaiian vacation then Kauai is one of the best places to go. 

Read more about the Top 10 Things To Do In Kauai. 

Molokai

Molokai is a small, and very quiet island. It is largely untouched by the tourist industry and is known as the Friendly Isle. The locals are very welcoming to anyone looking for an authentic Hawaiian experience! If you want a quiet remote vacation then this may be the best Hawaiian island for you to visit.

Molokai boasts an impressively untouched landscape and is an ideal vacation spot for outdoor enthusiasts. You can find some of the highest cliffs in the world here. And there are even some pristine beaches to lounge on. This is the place to go to escape the crowds and find some solitude. 

Part of Molokai’s charm is that it’s not touristy. But that also means there isn’t a lot on the island. If you want to see the sights, or have some variety in activities you may want to consider one of the other islands.

Lanai

Lanai is another small island but unlike Molokai, it has a tourist presence. You can find most things you can find on the bigger islands and even luxury options if that’s your thing. 

There are plenty of remote areas to explore if you stay on Lanai and are looking for peace and quiet. 

The beaches here are beautiful and the snorkeling is good. But don’t mind the crowds if you visit this tiny island. It is a popular day trip thanks to the short ferry ride from Maui. 

Which Is My Favorite Island To Visit In Hawaii?

All of the islands are great and I am happy to visit any one of them. Who wouldn’t want to take a trip to a tropical paradise? But my favorite island is Kauai. In fact, I love it so much I will be headed back there soon! Kauai appeals to me because I love the laid back vibe, the lush plant life, and so much more. I really feel like I can slow down and have a truly special soul filled adventure!  

You can read m ore about the islands at Go Hawaii. Go Hawaii is a great resource for those looking to visit Hawaii. I check you their site often when planning a trip to Hawaii. Mahalo!