Are you planning your first trip to Hawaii and wondering what are the best Hawaiian islands to visit? As someone who grew up in Hawaii (Oahu) and makes frequent trips with my husband, we get asked this question all the time. Read on for our recommendations.

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Is Hawaii part of the USA?

If you’re asking this question, don’t worry — you’re not alone. Hawaii can seem like a country of its own, so it’s not unusual for some to think it is not a part of the USA, but it is. Statehood was granted to Hawaii on August 21, 1959. It is the only state located in the Pacific Ocean and comprised of islands. In sum, American citizens do not need a passport to enter, and those visiting the USA should be able to pop down to Hawaii without a special visa or permit.

How many Hawaiian islands are there?

In case you didn’t know, the state of Hawaii is made up of 8 main islands:

Hawai’i, aka the Big Island
Maui, aka The Valley Isle
O’ahu, aka The Gathering Place
Kaua’i, aka The Garden Isle
Moloka’i, aka The Friendly Isle
Lana’i, aka The Pineapple Isle
Ni’ihau, aka The Forbidden Isle
Kaho’olawe, aka The Target Isle

The Hawaiian islands you cannot visit

Right off the bat, let’s talk about some of these islands that you straight up cannot visit. The island of Ni’ihau (or Niihau) has an interesting history, but today it is privately owned and restricted to access by its owners. There are apparently some tourist activities and even hunting safaris that can be arranged, but very few people ever visit this island. Kaho’olawe (or Kahoolawe) is the smallest of the 8 main islands. This island was used as a bombing range during Wolrd War II, which is how it earned its nickname. Today, Kahoolawe is designated by the Hawaii State Legislature as a reserve. No one inhabits the island, but volunteers make trips to help restore the island. Your ticket to Kahoolawe would be on one such volunteer trip.

Two islands with limited tourism

Lana’i (or Lanai) and Moloka’i (or Molokai) are two islands that are open to tourism, but they are relatively underdeveloped compared to the other islands. The island of Lanai has a history of being a pineapple plantation. As of 2012, 97% of the island is owned by Larry Ellison, the founder, and chairman of Oracle. With that said, there are still residents who live there and there are limited facilities such as a public school and community hospital. I had an aunt and uncle who lived there and my family would make occasional visits to Lanai when I was growing up. Today, visitors may travel to Lanai to enjoy their three golf courses, two hotels (both managed by the Four Seasons). Just be aware that the cost of accommodations, transportation, and basically everything will be higher on this island.

Similarly, the island of Molokai does not have much in the name of tourism, although it has quite a few residents who live on the island. One attraction that used to draw visitors was the Molokai Ranch. A former working ranch with tentalows (early glamping) and accommodations, Molokai Ranch was a great place for family vacations. My family traveled there several times when I was growing up, and I have fond memories of the ranch. Since shuttering in 2008, the ranch and its 53,000 acres are in a sort of limbo.

Diamond Head and Waikiki beach on Oahu, Hawaii.

So which of the 4 Hawaiian islands should you visit?

Oahu, the classic Hawaii destination

Of the remaining islands, Oahu, the Big Island, Maui, and Kauai are the main ones that attract the majority of visitors. If you have never visited Hawaii before, we recommend visiting Oahu. It’s the most populated Hawaiian island with full development and many classic spots. When you see Hawaii portrayed in pop culture, many of those iconic places are likely found on Oahu. The island is home to Waikiki, Diamond Head, the North Shore, and many other popular spots. However, vacationing on Oahu can also be unideal because it is so heavily populated with residents and other tourists. For this reason, we recommend spending half of your Hawaii vacation on Oahu, and the other half on another island.

The Big Island for lava and rugged adventure

Also known as the island of Hawaii, the Big Island earns its name because it is actually the biggest Hawaiian island in terms of landmass. In fact, this is the island with active volcanos where you can likely get a glimpse of lava. We took a helicopter tour to see flowing lava, and it was well worth the expense. Kona and Hilo are the main towns on the Big Island. There is a decent amount of infrastructure on the island, but it is not as built out and crowded as Oahu. The Big Island retains much of its ruggedness, so if you’re a fan of hiking, outdoor exploration, and off-roading, this could be the island for you. Accommodations are also the cheapest on the Big Island compared to the other islands, so it is better for budget travelers. Just bear in mind that unlike Oahu, public transportation is limited, so you will want to rent a car.

Since the Big Island is our favorite to visit, we have a number of favorite attractions and restaurants that are pinned in the map below. Feel free to use it as a trip planning resource.

Tourist sights and attractions on the Big Island of Hawaii, also known as the Island of Hawaii.

Maui, the happy middle

The second-largest Hawaiian island, Maui County includes both the main island of Maui and the smaller islands of Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe. Many people describe Maui has a happy middle between Oahu and the Big Island, and we agree. Maui is not as developed as Oahu but is more so than the Big Island. It also has quite a few tourist zones including the road to Hana, Haleakala National Park, the Iao Valley, and Lahaina. It’s a great island for first-time visitors, but also ideal for repeat visitors. We know many people who regularly travel to Maui when they need a tropical escape. Check out our Maui travel blog here.

Kauai, a natural wonder

Of the four main Hawaiian islands that attract tourism, Kauai is the most sparse when it comes to residents and tourist attractions. But it is the island with the rawest and natural tourism as it is home to the Waimea Canyon (the Grand Canyon of the Pacific) and the Na Pali (Napali) Coast State Wilderness Park. If you love to hike and are looking for the natural wonders of Hawaii, Kauai is the island to visit. Speaking of Hawaii in pop culture, Kauai was also featured in many major motion pictures including Jurassic Park, Lilo and Stitch, and many more.

Waimea Canyon, aka the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, on the island of Kauai.

Is it easy to island hop in Hawaii?

Ultimately, our recommendation is to visit at least two Hawaiian islands if you are coming for the first time. But how do you travel from one island to another? Unfortunately, the super ferry that used to travel between islands no longer exists. So the main option is to fly. Hawaiian Airlines runs daily flights between islands for a relatively low price. There are even some direct flights from the mainland to outer islands such as Kona and Kahului.

Do any cruises go to Hawaii?

A number of major cruise lines offer trips that visit most if not all of the main Hawaiian islands that are open to tourism. Most ships originate on the US mainland from port cities such as Vancouver, BC, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Some cruises are roundtrip to and from the US mainland, and others begin or terminate in Honolulu.

When should you visit Hawaii?

This is a difficult question to answer as it largely depends on what you plan to see and do in the islands. Assuming you want good weather, dry season in Hawaii is between April and October. The rainy season is from November to March. However, Hawaii is subject to climate change and unusual weather patterns like anywhere else, so it is best to check on the current weather conditions. Also, keep in mind that the weather can fluctuate based on where you are on the island. For example, the towns of Kona and Hilo are both on the Big Island, but Kona is largely arid, while Hilo is generally wet and rainy.

Humpback whales visit Hawaii during the months of November to May; they are mostly seen from January to March.

Cost-wise, flights to Hawaii are always very expensive around the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas and during school breaks (ie. spring break, winter break). We generally travel to Hawaii in April/May or September/October and find it to be a pleasant time to visit. The only time you may want to visit Hawaii in the winter is if you want to see big wave surfing on the North Shore or humpback whales.

In Conclusion

In our opinion, your ideal first time trip to Hawaii should include one week on Oahu, and one week on the Big Island (or Maui or Kauai). What do you think? Let us know in the comments below! And if you found this post helpful, please share or pin for later.

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Things to Do on the Big Island of Hawaii

There is certainly no shortage of things to do on the Big Island of Hawaii. During a recent 7 day trip, we started in Hilo, went down to Volcanoes National Park, up to Kailua-Kona, inland to Waimea stopping by Hawi, back to the coast in Waipio Valley and Honokaa, and then back to Hilo.