Oahu - The Gathering Place Oahu is the most visited of all the Hawaiian islands, at nearly 4.7 million visitors annually. Oahu is primarily defined by the state capital of Honolulu, as well as Pearl Harbor and the famous beach known as Waikiki. These areas attract tourists by the thousands daily.
Kauai is the winner
In our opinion, Kauai takes the throne as the prettiest Hawaiian island. It has a variety of views and terrain to see. Rocky coastlines, beautiful beaches, lush jungles, and mountains and valleys. There is so much to see and do.
Among the Hawaiian Islands, Molokai is known as the Friendly Isle, and those who live there would consider it the best island to live on by far. With many longtime families and few visitors living on remote Molokai, it is one of the most secluded Hawaiian Islands.
The second-most-visited island in the state and also its second largest, Maui is home to the famed Road to Hana, Haleakala National Park and the best whale watching anywhere in Hawaii during the winter months. For many travelers, a vacation on Maui is the best of both worlds.
Molokai is the least visited island of Hawaii. With about 65,000 visitors, the island attracts only a fraction of all the tourists that visit the island group each year. The island is more rural and doesn't have resorts.
Niihau, also known as the Forbidden Isle, is a beautiful small island in Hawaii spread across 180 sq km. The island is off-limits to outsiders and only the Robinson family, their relatives, invited guests, government officials and US Navy personnel are allowed here.
For most travelers visiting Hawaii for the first time, the Big Island of Hawaii should be the winner because it offers the most diverse experiences. But before you book a flight here, make sure this is really the best island for you.
1. Hawaii—“The Big Island” Also known as “The Big Island,” Hawaii Island is over 4,000 square miles and encompasses 63 percent of the Hawaiian archipelago's combined landmass and is the largest island in the United States.
Kauai is best-known as “the Garden Isle” thanks to its lush green landscape that stands out among the Hawaiian Islands. But “the Laid-Back Isle” is a fitting name too, as the pace of life just feels much slower here than you'll find on other major islands.
Kauai is considered the best Hawaiian Island to visit usually. The island has tons of natural beauty and even has the nickname the 'garden isle'.
Due to the abundance of hotels, activities, tours, and attractions, Oahu is the cheapest Hawaiian island to visit. Between the competitive prices and myriad of things to do, those looking for a budget vacation to Hawaii will find that Oahu is exactly what they've been searching for.
Which Hawaiian island is the safest to live on? If you're just looking at the sheer number of incidents on each island, Kauai is the safest island to live on.
If you're looking to hole up at your hotel for the entire vacation, pick Maui and its sprawling oceanfront resorts. But if you're looking for adventure, to really experience the Hawaiian Islands and make the most of your well-earned vacation, Oʻahu should be your choice.
While Maui is more developed as a tourist destination and offers generally drier weather, Kauai is the perfect option if you want to visit a rugged and authentic Hawaiian island that won't ever feel overly crowded, even in the summer months.
Lana'i is one of the most inaccessible islands in the state, which contributes to its signature raw, natural beauty and quiet atmosphere. Getting there will require an inter-island flight from select local airlines or a ferry from the Lahaina side of Maui.
Oahu will be the most expensive Hawaiian island on a price per square foot basis but the size of homes and lots will be much smaller than the other islands.
If you're after a cosmopolitan vibrancy, Waikiki is one of the best places to stay in Hawaii. There's a lot more to choose from beyond this famous beach, with the island of Oahu presenting plenty of accommodation options too. If luxury is the priority, Maui gives you five-star resorts with a laidback feel.
Maui, known also as “The Valley Isle,” is the second largest Hawaiian island. The island beloved for its world-famous beaches, the sacred ʻĪao Valley, views of migrating humpback whales (during winter months), farm-to-table cuisine and the magnificent sunrise and sunset from Haleakalā.
With 227 miles of shoreline, Oahu is the best Hawaiian Island for beaches. Oahu has the best beaches in Hawaii due to Oahu's many protected bays, reefs surrounding the island, gold-sand beaches, and calm waters year-round.
While many vacations are five to seven days long, we recommend staying for at least 10 days to enjoy your Hawaiian vacation. The time change is difficult to adjust to at first and takes about 3 days to get fully acclimated. So, allowing a couple days to get over the jet lag is important.
The should seasons in general from mid-September to Thanksgiving and April through May are the best times to visit Hawaii for a well-priced trip and good weather. Whatever month you choose for your Hawaii vacation, you won't regret it. December may sound bad but a December trip to Hawaii will still be memorable.
Of the four easily-accessible Hawaiian Islands, Kauai is the most remote and also receives the fewest tourists. If you're looking to get away from daily life, Kauai will probably feel the least connected from the mainland and have the lowest number of other visitors.
The island first earned its “forbidden” status in the 1930s, when the Robinsons completely cut off visits to Niihau to protect inhabitants from new diseases, including measles and, later, polio.
Generally speaking, the best Hawaiian island to visit without a car is Oahu. This is because the bus system goes throughout much of the island and it's convenient enough to take the Oahu bus to different places, and there's also a bus from the Honolulu airport.