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Hawaii Travel Guide
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Hawaii travel offers a huge variety of possibilities from absorbing the active beach life of Waikiki, to pampering yourself in one of the mega golf and spa resorts in secluded sweeping beach locations, to enjoying the outstanding scenic attractions by road, to exploring the rich wilderness by foot, kayak, horse or bicycle. Hawaii has something for everyone.
Hawaii Islands is a chain of over 100 islands in the empty north pacific ocean some 2000 miles off the west coast of North America. Only six of these offer tourist accommodation, and all others, except Niihau off Kauai, are uninhabited. Most of these uninhabited islands lie in a chain extending to the north west and are tiny coral atolls.
Oahu - the gathering place
Oahu, the main island of Hawaii, is dominated by Waikiki Beach and neighbouring Honolulu City. With a fantastic swimming beach with good boogy boarding and surfing for beginners, Waikiki has plenty of high rise hotels and a lively beach atmosphere. Elsewhere, the island has some of Hawaii's best golf courses, massive surf along the north shore, and good sightseeing including The Culturtal Centre, Haunamua Bay and Waimea.
Waikiki Beach - action, activities and people watching
Kailua Town - golf courses, mountain scenery and wind-surfing
North Shore - premier surf destination and adventure park
Makaha - sweeping beaches, golf courses and surf
... detailed Oahu Travel Guide
Waikiki Beach Accommodation Options
Kauai - the garden island
Kauai, a thirty minute flight north of Oahu, is the regions eco centre with fantastic coastal scenery and hiking along the wild Na Pali coast, the dramatic Waimea Canyon and two lovely beach resort areas in Poipu and Hanalei.
Hanalei Bay / Princeville - spectacular coastline, trails and beaches
Kapaa / Lihue Town - long wild beaches and family style resorts
Poipu Beach - premier resort destination with golf courses and surfing
... detailed Kauai Travel Guide
Kauai Accommodation Options
Maui - the glamour island
Maui is dominated by the large beach resorts around the seaside town of Lahaina and Kihei with championship golf courses and shopping. It also has great sightseeing, especially the Halakula Volcano landscape as well as being the best spot for whale watching.
West Maui - cove beaches, Lahaina town shops and lots of resorts
Kihei & Wailea - tourist town and adjacent upmarket golf resorts
Hana Town - the tropical coast with unusual red and black sands
North Coast - surfing and wind-surfing
... detailed Maui Travel Guide
Maui Accommodation Options
Hawaii - the big island
The Big Island, the furthest south from Oahu being a fifty minute flight from Honolulu, has wild dramatic volcanic scenery, lava flows, black sand beaches and the soaring snow-capped Moana Kua.
Kailua-Kona - the main tourist centre, small beaches and activities
Kohala - miles of secluded sweeping beaches and golf resorts
Waipio - explore this remote region with spectacular scenery
Hilo Town - the tropical rainforest with a few isolated beaches
South Coast - black beaches and lava fields
... detailed Big Island Travel Guide
Big Island Accommodation Options
Other Islands
Lanai Island - remote and wild landscapes. good scuba diving
Molokai Island - traditional Hawaiian life and culture
Lanai Accommodation Options
Molokai Accommodation Options
There are at least hourly flights (6am to 7pm) from Honolulu Airport on Oahu to Kauai in the north (35 mins), Maui to the south (35 mins) and to the Big Island further south (55 mins). Flights to Molokai and Lanai depart several times a day (35 mins). There are some flights connecting Maui and the Big Island, otherwise all connections go through Oahu.
Sightseeing is most dramatic on Kauai, followed closely by the Big Island with its active volcano and dramatic waterfalls. Discerning travellers and those seeking adventure should also head to Kauai, followed by the Big Island. If you are after a Hawaii beach holiday, Waikiki Beach on Oahu has the liveliest atmosphere with lots of water activities, followed by Kihei Beach on Maui. For luxury beach resorts, Wailua and Kaanapali on Maui and the Kohala Coast on the Big Island have the nicest beaches, whilst the most dramatic beaches are on Kauai. For fine dining and bars, there is no better place than Old Lahaina Town on Maui with the added attraction of its art galleries. Golf holidays are excellent on all islands, with Oahu having the greatest variety of courses. Surfing is at its best in the winter months, particularly on the north shore of Oahu whilst the best scuba diving and whale watching is on Maui. The Big Island has the best game fishing and most impressive and interesting archaeological sites as well as the fascinating Volcano National Park.
Tourism peaks in the winter months from November to March - this is when mainland Americans, in particular retires, take their extended winter break. In these months, accommodation can be booked well in advance. Winter is also the peak season for surfing and whale watching making the north shore of Oahu and Maui popular destinations. The summer months are drier and slightly warmer (about 30C), the seas and surf are calmer and this is the Hawaii holiday season popular with families. The low seasons when hotel prices are most likely to be discounted is between April-May and September-October.
Readers may also be interested in the following destinations:
Cook Islands Travel Guide
Fiji Travel Guide
Samoa Travel Guide
Tonga Travel Guide
Tahiti Travel Guide
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