What is the Best Island to Visit in Hawai’i?

Hawaiʻi’s archipelago is a diverse paradise consisting of 137 islands, islets, and shoals, with eight primary islands capturing most travelers’ attention. However, only six of these islands welcome visitors. Kahoʻolawe remains restricted, while Niʻihau—famously known as the Forbidden Isle—has been privately owned since 1864, effectively closing it to tourism. This means travelers must choose from the remaining six distinctive islands, each offering a unique experience tailored to different interests. Which is the best? That depends on what you want to get out of your travels! The Hawaiʻian Islands are incredibly varied, ranging from wildlife-rich landscapes and pristine beaches to vibrant urban environments. Today at Civitatis, we’re discussing the best island to visit in Hawai’i. Whether you’re an adventure seeker, nature lover, or culture enthusiast, there’s an island for you!

1. Oʻahu – Home to Honolulu (and so much more!)

Oʻahu is the most populated and most visited of the islands, with nearly a million people calling it home. On your visit to Hawaiʻi, you’ll almost certainly arrive on this island, home to the city of Honolulu and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Unlike the other islands, Oʻahu offers a unique blend of breathtaking natural beauty and vibrant city life. While its stunning landscapes—ranging from lush mountains to pristine beaches—capture the essence of paradise, O’ahu also shines as the home of Honolulu, a bustling cultural and cosmopolitan hub. For an unforgettable experience, the best way to get a sense of this island is on this O’ahu helicopter tour, which will give you an idea of the sheer diversity of this island.

Honolulu

There’s genuinely so much to check out in the city. Visit the Polynesian Cultural Center and the Bishop Museum to gain an insight into Hawaiʻi’s fascinating culture and heritage. Discover its royal past at the ‘Iolani Palace, once the seat of the Hawaiʻian monarchy. Some of these attractions (and many others) are included as part of the Go City: O’ahu All-Inclusive Pass.

The most popular area of the city for tourists is probably Waikiki, which you can check out on this Waikiki walking tour. This area is home to a number of Hawaiʻi’s most popular beaches, including Queen’s Beach and Waikiki Beach. There, you’ll find the sculpture of Duke Kahanamoku—the founder of modern surfing.

Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor ranks as one of Hawaiʻi’s most popular tourist attractions, drawing millions of visitors annually. Travelers from around the world flock to this historic site to explore the USS Arizona Memorial and learn about the pivotal moment in World War II history. See it as part of this Pearl Harbour + USS Arizona Memorial tour, which includes an audio guide narrated by actress Jamie Lee Curtis, providing a fascinating background of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the aftereffects, and Pearl Harbor today. Alternatively, see it as part of this Pearl Harbour + Honolulu tour, which includes a comprehensive tour of the city and this historic site.

Outside of Honolulu

O’ahu also has bucketloads of incredible nature outside of the city. If you’re in the mood to breathe fresh air and get your blood pumping, check out this Waimea Waterfall hiking tour, which will bring you from the bustling city to fresh, tropical waters. For a more complete experience of the island’s landscapes, go on this Sunrise Tour of O’ahu, which brings you all around O’ahu, to some of the most picturesque points on the island.

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2. Hawaiʻi Island – For Volcanoes and Waterfalls

Also known as the Big Island, Hawaiʻi Island is the largest (and youngest) of the bunch, and is also the only island where you can see lava, at Volcanoes National Park! On this Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park tour, you’ll see a number of Hawai’i’s most breathtaking volcanoes, including Halema’uma’u and Kilauea, the most active volcano on the island, which erupted most recently in 2018.

As a result of the island’s volcanic activity, this island also features a number of black sand beaches. The best of these beaches is Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach, which has jet-black sand and palm trees as well as Hawai’ian Green Sea Turtles (known as honu) wandering in the sand. Punalu’u isn’t ideal for swimming or snorkeling, but there are other beaches for that! Some of the best spots include Pawai Bay, Kealakekua Bay, and Kona, which you can see on this Big Island snorkeling tour.

However, our favorite thing to do on Hawai’i Island is to stargaze at the Mauna Kea volcano. Also a great spot to catch a sunrise/sunset, this volcano is the highest point on the island. Go stargazing at Mauna Kea Volcano to see the stars with no light pollution, from the very top of the crater. You’ll also have access to a professional telescope, and grab some photos with a DSLR camera.

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3. Maui – Everything You Want from a ‘Hawai’i Vacation’

Maui offers the quintessential Hawai’ian paradise, offering pristine beaches, lush landscapes, and vibrant culture. From the legendary Road to Hana scenic drive to the breathtaking sunrise at Haleakala National Park, the island delivers postcard-perfect experiences.

For a comprehensive experience of the island, we recommend you check out this Maui Island Tour, which goes across the island from east to west, hitting all of the main points from the Iao Valley to the Haleakala Visitor Center to Haleakala National Park.

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4. Kauaʻi – For Hiking

The “Garden Isle” of Kauaʻi offers a raw, untamed Hawai’ian landscape, with geological wonders shaped by millennia of volcanic activity—indeed, this is the oldest of the islands. For hikers, Kauaʻi is perfect, with trails weaving through the Waimea Canyon‘s rust-colored depths and along the knife-edge ridges of the Na Pali Coast. Its ancient terrain supports lush rainforests and dramatic cliffs that have remained largely unchanged for thousands of years.

For us, the main highlight of Kauaʻi is Waimea Canyon, known as the ‘Grand Canyon of the Pacific’. See it for yourself on this Waimea Canyon & Kōkeʻe State Park day trip, during which you’ll make stops at the most picturesque viewpoints in the canyon, and also visit Kōkeʻe State Park, where you’ll enjoy a short hike through lush landscape.

If you’re a movie buff, you might recognize parts of this island from the big screen! In Jurassic Park, the island features as ‘Isla Nublar’, the very place where the dinosaurs were brought back to life! The Opaekaa Waterfall was also featured in the 1961 film Blue Hawaii starring Elvis Presley. The Kilauea Lighthouse on the other hand served as inspiration for a scene in Lilo & Stitch. Visit these filming locations and more on this Kaua’i movie tour!

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5. Molokaʻi – The ‘Friendly Isle’

The quiet island of Moloka’i is next on our list. The ‘Friendly Isle’ is just off of the east of O’ahu, and isn’t exactly a tourist hotspot. In fact, over the years, this island has largely rejected attempts at commercialized tourism from large companies. However, the people of Moloka’i are friendly to regular tourists. This island features stunning landscapes, including lush valleys, pristine beaches, and dramatic sea cliffs. Enjoy these landscapes with a visit to Kalaupapa National Historical Park, a hike in the Molokaʻi Forest Reserve, and sunbathing on the island’s beaches Or, see the beauty of this island from the sky on this Moloka’i helicopter ride from Maui!

6. Lānaʻi – Hawai’i’s Luxury Isle

Another lesser-visited island in Hawai’i, Lānaʻi is the smallest inhabited island in Hawai’i and is home to only around 3,000 residents. Once the world’s largest pineapple plantation,the island now boasts a mix of luxury resorts, rugged landscapes (with great hiking trails), and secluded beaches. One such beach which we highly recommend is Shipwreck beach, named for being the site of various wrecks over the years, most notably the old Navy fuel barge, YOGN-42, which remains just off the coast.

With its crystal clear waters and marine biodiversity, Lānaʻi is also a terrific spot to enjoy snorkelling & dolphin watching. On this activity starting from Maui, you’ll be able to admire the gorgeous coral reefs and fish which lie beneath the waters. What’s more, you’ll sail out to the coastal cliffs of Lānaʻi, where you’ll (hopefully) have the chance to see some spinner, spotted, or bottlenose dolphins, and possibly whales!

Island Hopping in Hawaii

If you’re only staying in Hawaii for a short period of time, really there’s plenty to do on any one island for a few days. However, if you’re staying for a bit longer (more than 10 days or so), you might consider doing a bit of island hopping to get the most out of your Hawaii experience.

Traveling Between Islands

Most island-hoppers will grab a flight to travel between islands, but ferries and guided day trips are also popular options. Flights are generally good value (often under 100$), and the time spent in the air is short (less than an hour). However, it’s important to keep in mind that once you’ve sorted out your hotel checkout, travel to the airport, rental car, security, etc. the whole process can take 5-6 hours door to door—or even more if you can’t get a direct flight.

Day trips from Hawaii Island

A quick and easy way to get a taste of a few different islands is by going on guided day trips. The advantage of doing such a day trip is that you don’t need to worry about the travel plans or itinerary—it’s all sorted! If you base yourself on O’ahu, you can check out this day trip to Maui, or this day trip to Kauai.

Well, there you have it! Regardless of which island you visit, you’re in for a terrific time. However, you might just find that some are better suited to you than others, so plan carefully! If you’re planning a trip and are looking for more inspiration, check out more tours & experiences in Hawai’i with Civitatis.