Kauai is the winner 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. Kauai tends to not be as popular as islands like Maui and Oahu so you can fully enjoy what the island offers.
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.
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 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.
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.
Hawaii is a stunning location with plenty of fun things to do, no matter which island you visit. If you're in the market for a beachy, relaxing vacation, you may want to head to Maui. Otherwise, consider Honolulu for its abundance of hotels, things to do and plentiful flight connections to other U.S. cities.
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.
Perhaps more than any of the other islands, Kauai is known for its natural beauty and its dramatic, beautiful sites. These include Waimea Canyon, the Coconut Coast and much more. You'll find gorgeous mountains and waterfalls, white sand beaches, sugarcane fields, and beachside cliffs such as those on the Na Pali coast.
The second-biggest island in the chain, much of Maui's appeal comes from its natural landscape and biodiversity, including its two massive volcanoes, whale watching and marine ecosystems, and remote, undeveloped parts of its island, like Hana.
Kauai is the winner
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. Kauai tends to not be as popular as islands like Maui and Oahu so you can fully enjoy what the island offers.
The short answer: Go to Maui if you want to be pampered at a resort with all the amenities. Book Oahu if you want to see Pearl Harbor and the famous Waikiki Beach. Visit Big Island if you want to hike Volcanos National Park (and maybe see flowing lava). Head to Kauai if you want to experience wild, untamed Hawaii.
Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian islands. It is home to many natural splendors including outstanding beaches, volcanoes, and waterfalls. It also has to some of the most luxurious accommodations from boutique hotels to all-inclusive resorts.
April thru June and mid-August thru mid-September are Hawaii's "low seasons," and airfares are lower then. No matter what time of year you travel, you may be able to score better deals if you travel midweek.
How many days are enough in Hawaii? While you might never want to leave Hawaii, usually people plan to stay 7-10 days during their vacation to Hawaii. That gives enough time to get over jet lag, participate in a few scheduled activities, explore the Hawaiian island a bit, and have time to relax and unwind.
Luxury Stays in Lanaʻi, The Most Exclusive Island in Hawaiʻi.
Big Island has better hikes and more outdoor activities, but the consensus is that Maui has better beaches. Big Island has rocky, volcanic shores, and by comparison, Maui has lots of beautiful beaches with soft, white sand.
Oahu is the cheapest Hawaiian island to visit, with a total cost of $2,625. A Ko Olina Resort lagoon on Oahu. Maui is the most expensive island to visit, coming in nearly $1,000 more expensive, with a total cost of $3,600.
Your vacation to Hawaii is getting more expensive. Visitors are spending more on hotels, food, transportation and recreation expenses now than they did pre-pandemic, due to an increase in demand and supply issues.
There's no doubt about it: Kauai is an expensive place to live. In fact, it's one of the more expensive Hawaiian Islands to live on. A lot of the cost is driven by Kauai's housing prices, which can be the highest in Hawaii.
Best of Both Worlds – Kauai is the perfect destination for all kinds of travelers. If you have a family, there are plenty of kid-friendly activities and beaches. Looking for a romantic spot to dine or watch the sunset? There is no better place than our tropical beaches and flavorful island cuisine.
While living expenses are typically more expensive than on most of the Mainland and elsewhere, Kauai homeowners are free of many other expenses that clutter the daily lives of non-islanders.
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.
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.
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.