"They are all great"
When I was planning my first trip to the Hawaiian islands, I wondered which Hawaiian island was the best, which one I should travel to first and which part of the island I should stay on. The most common answer I got was that they are all great and even though there are differences, you can’t go wrong with any choice you make. After traveling to Hawaii multiple times, I did find that to be true.
In our previous blog post, we described the reasons to visit Hawaii. In that we talk about the weather, beaches, activities, geography and culture that you can find on all the islands. These are all great features that you will find on all the islands and you will enjoy them no matter which island you travel to.
That being said, I understand if that is not the answer you were looking for. In fact, due to the dissimilarities between these islands, one of them is now my favorite. There’s a good chance that one of them will be your favorite too. So, if so many important aspects of a beach vacation is not what significantly differentiates the islands from each other, what does?
What makes each island stand out
- Oahu
- Oahu is called the “Gathering Place”. Honolulu, the state capital, has dining, nightlife, shopping and other big city characteristics and at the same time has world class beaches, hiking trails etc. For instance, you can be on the world class Waikiki beach one moment and after a short ride be in the middle of Honolulu downtown with its shopping, bars, nightlife etc. This is not something you can do in any of the other Hawaiian islands.
- Pearl Harbor National Memorial, part of the National Park Service, is another site that sets Oahu apart. Here you can get a glimpse into the beginning of World War II history. The highlight for most is the 30 mins tour that includes a boat shuttle to the USS Arizona Memorial.
- Oahu is also known internationally for its surf. There are surf competitions held at the Banzai Pipeline in the North shore. This is where you find the perfect barreling waves during the winter months.
- Some call the Kanehoe Sandbar as Oahu’s best kept secret. What is magical and unique about this place is that this wide and long sandbar is about a mile away from the shore and so is surrounded by deep waters. During low tide you can even stand on its white sands and snorkel with the fishes.
- Another noteworthy thing to do is hike the Koko crater, Olomana and the Diamond head trails. The sweeping views of the entire island makes these hikes special.
- Maui
- Maui is called “The Valley Isle”. This is because most of the island is under 200 feet and each side has mountains.
- The volcanic crater at Haleakala National Park is a must see. The crater is at over 10,000 ft over sea level and you get amazing views of the island often from above the clouds. What is most breath taking is the multi colored cinder cones inside the crater. This park holds more unique and endangered species than any other US National Park.
- Besides visiting the crater, my favorite thing is to take the Road to Hana … and I don’t mean get to Hana and back. In this case it is truly about the journey and not just the destination. You get to see waterfalls and swim in its pools, you get to hike the forest, visit gardens and ofcourse stop at the beaches to see the turtles and other marine life.
- The red sands of Kaihalulu beach is a must stop destination if you are on the island. It’s not just a hint of red or a little patch of red sand, its the entire beach, sea cliff and all deep red. You have to go see it for yourself to believe how stunning this spot is.
- Big Island
- The Big Island is called the “The Orchid Isle”. But we’ll get to the reason for its name in a bit.
- Big Island, or the island of Hawaii, is the largest and youngest island. It is bigger than all the other Hawaiian islands put together. And it is still growing. That is because the volcano is still erupting and lava is flowing. For many this is the top reason they come to the island and are moved by it. Mauna Kea is also the tallest mountain in the world as measured from floor to summit. Its just that the floor is deep under sea level.
- But it is not the only thing unique about the island. There are 5 colors of sand beaches including black and green. You can find 10 of the 14 climatic zones on this one island.
- The Big Island also has the best snorkeling and exposure to marine life. Its night dive with Manta Rays is world famous.
- Another thing that the big island is known for is the Iron Man race that happens every year in October.
- Oh and the soil is so fertile and the temperature perfect for Orchids to grow naturally in the tropical forests of this island. The island is also somewhat known for its coffee, but its world famous for its Macadamia nut production.
- Kauai
- Kauai is called “The Garden Isle”. Parts of the island also gets one of the highest amount of rainfall in the world. This forms the cliffs that make the Na Pali coast one of the most picturesque sights in the world.
- Besides the Na Pali coast, Waimea Canyon is a natural marvel that is called “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific”.
- Kauai is also one of the smallest, least developed and visited Hawaiian islands. This will appeal to those who want more of the pristine beaches or trails that aren’t crowded. Some of the best spots are hard to get to, which in turn limits the crowds and nature is largely untouched.
So which one is right for you?
Are you the kind who likes adventures or do you like to stay put so you can soak in the environment and the culture? Do you enjoy more when you have a lot of people around you or do lean more towards being a loner? Do you find peace and tranquility living in nature or do the bugs and being exposed to the elements bother you? It’s aspects like these that will make you differentiate the islands from each other.
If you are one who loves beaches but need some “party time” in the city as well. I always recommend Oahu to them. I know some people want to vacation somewhere exotic but can’t be far from a well equipped hospital because of pre-existing medical conditions. For them also Oahu is a safe bet.
If you are looking to spend most of your time on the beach next to your hotel and not go too far away from your hotel, maybe with an exception for an excursion or two, Maui might be the best option. It has some of the best beachfront hotel options.
If you are looking for more rural setting with fewer people, both Big Island and Kauai would serve well. Kauai is more picturesque and those who are into photography or more serious hiking, Kauai is better.
For those who are looking for a lot of activities or have things like seeing flowing lava or swimming with mantas on their bucket list, Big Island is the obvious choice. If you are intending to spend more than a couple of weeks on an island, since Big Island is much larger than others, there is more ground to cover here.
Finally, it might also be worth considering splitting your trip if it’s more than a week and either cover two islands or two sides of a single island. If it’s less than a week, it would be better to stick with one island so you can truly explore what these wonderful islands have to offer.
Hopefully this helps you decide which island you would want to go to first. Please leave a comment about other factors you consider important while choosing . Also, if you have not looked into our beach house and you would like to see if this vacation rental could be right for you, please click here to learn more.