As most people know, Hawaii is an island chain. Most people vacation on the islands of Oahu and Maui. If you decide to visit multiple islands on your trip - rest assured each island holds its own unique treasures. In order to "island hop," you will either need to take a cruise ship or book a flight. Flights can range from $100 - $300 round trip.
Here is a little information about each island:
Oahu
Probably the most visited of all the Hawaiian islands. Oahu has the largest cities and most well known beaches of the islands. With that being said, if you are looking for an experience in Hawaii that is less "touristy" and more "true Hawaii," I wouldn't visit Oahu. I was not impressed. It felt like any big city with pretty beaches. I felt like Honolulu was very crowded and a little dirty. Waikiki was pretty but there are much prettier beaches in Hawaii. If you are visiting Oahu - there will be plenty of fun things to do. Here are some of the cities, beaches and other destinations that can be found on Oahu:
- Honolulu - the most well known Hawaiian City
- Waikiki - one of the most well known Hawaiian beaches
- USS Arizona Memorial
- The Polynesian Cultural Center
- North Shore of Oahu (some of the best surfing in the world)
Maui
- Road to Hana - scenic route along the east coast passing black sand beaches and waterfalls
- Lahaina - popular Maui city for tourists
- Haleakala National Park - home to the dormant volcano Haleakala
Kauai
Known as the "garden isle," Kauai is the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. It is only 562 square miles. Certain areas on Kauai are among the wettest on earth with an average yearly rainfall of 460 inches. Chickens can be seen running free on much of the island. Some of the most popular destinations include:
- Waimea Canyon State Park - one of the world's most scenic canyons
- Kapa'a - largest city in Kauai
- Na Pali Coast - center for wild recreation including kayaking
- Lihu'e - city on the southeast coast
Molokai
Previously an area used to quarantine people with Hansen's Disease (leprosy), Molokai is now viewed as a sacred place by Roman Catholics. This is one of only two sites in the US where a Roman Catholic Saint resided; and the only single site in which two Saints resided (both Saint Damien and Saint Marianne resided in the Kalaupapa Colony caring for the patients with Hansen's Disease). Not a big tourist destination.
Lana'i
The smallest of the publicly accessible Hawaiian Islands and known as "Pineapple Island." Most of the island requires a 4 wheel drive vehicle to get around and there are no traffic lights on the entire island. Bill Gates was married on Lanai. Some of the tourist destinations of Lanai:
- Lana'i City - the only notable town
- Shipwreck Beach - you can see the remains of a shipwrecked WWII vessel
Hawai'i (Also known as the Big Island)
Hawaii Island is my favorite island and the island I have lived on for the last year. This is the biggest of the islands at 4028 square miles. It is also the southern most point in the United States. There is so much to do and see on Hawaii Island. Hawaii Island is comprised of 5 volcanoes
- Kohala - extinct
- Mauna Kea - dormant
- Hualalai - active but currently dormant
- Mauna Loa - active
- Kilauea - active and has been erupting since 1983
Hawaii Island is home to some of the world's most amazing telescopes and astronomy programs as well as the largest cattle ranch in the US (175,000 acres). If all you want to do on your vacation is sit on a white sand beach and sip pina coladas - Hawaii Island may not be your best bet. But if you're looking for an amazing adventure with some beautiful scenery, interesting beaches, and sights you'll see no where else in the world - Hawaii Island is where you should consider touring. (Hawaii Island is also considerably less expensive than Oahu or Maui.) Some of the sights I'd highly recommend on Hawaii Island can be seen in my next blog. There's just too much to include on this page. You'll also see some pictures of my adventures.
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