The Best Hawaiian Island Guide: Find Your Perfect Match

Hawaii’s tropical paradise is bursting with adventure, natural beauty and a unique cultural heritage — but choosing the best Hawaiian island to visit depends on what kind of experience you’re after.

From the dramatic volcanic landscapes of the Big Island to the peaceful tranquillity of Kauai’s Garden Isle, each island offers something uniquely different.

This guide is designed to help you choose the best island to visit in Hawaii based on your personal travel style — whether you're planning a romantic escape, a family adventure, or a golfing getaway. For each island, we’ve handpicked our favourite luxury stays, including some utterly luxurious stays at Four Seasons Resorts.

From sunrise hikes to snorkelling spots, quiet retreats to buzzing beach towns, we’ll help you find the Hawaiian isle that suits your itinerary and interests best — so you can focus on what matters most: experiencing the magic of Hawaii.

1. Oahu

Best for:

• Big city attractions

• Surfing

Home to the state capital, Honolulu, Oahu is the most developed and popular of all the Hawaiian islands. Honolulu itself is a vibrant hub of culture and entertainment on the south shore, with museums, parks, galleries and live performances throughout the year.

With options to explore the historic Pearl Harbor, hike up Diamond Head, wander through the Koko Crater Botanical Gardens and more, you’ll never be short of things to do here.

Visit Waikiki Beach for exquisite dining, chic boutiques, vibrant nightlife and some of the best beginner and intermediate surfing in Hawaii.

“Oahu is considered the birthplace of modern surfing, so if you’re serious about surf, venture north to Waimea Bay and Sunset beach for towering swells and big wave action.” — David Pointer, Senior Product Manager

Where to Stay?

The Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina is undoubtedly one of the Hawaiian Islands most exclusive hotels and is a tropical-luxe haven that looks out over beautiful beaches.

Also an exclusive pick, Halekulani Hotel is a foodie’s delight with the only Forbes Travel Guide 5-Star restaurant in Hawaii, perfect for a luxury couples’ break or honeymoon.

2. Big Island

Best for:

• Hawaiian culture
• Volcanos
• Scenic golf

Commonly known as “Big Island”, The island of Hawaii is the largest and most geologically diverse in the Hawaiian Islands. Here you’ll see immense contrasts in landscapes as bubbling volcanoes and lush rainforests fade into gentle beaches, some of which boast volcanic black sand.

If you love exploring, Big Island is perfect for you — hire a car for picturesque drives past sacred valleys, botanical gardens and lava deserts, and get a glimpse into local life in the charming towns of Hilo and Waimea.

“Whilst Big Island is most famous for the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the coffee estates are a must-visit and are often set in verdant valleys with nearby waterfalls to explore.” — David Pointer, Senior Product Manager

Where to Stay?

Both the Four Seasons Hualalai and Mauna Lani, An Auberge Resort are luxurious stays on Big Island with exceptional 18-hole golf courses to enjoy.

3. Kauai

Best for:

• Romance

• Nature

Nicknamed the Garden Isle, Kauai has some of the most dramatic scenery in all of Hawaii. Life moves at a gentle pace here, so it’s the perfect place to come if you’re looking to unplug from the busy world and revel in the island's rainforest serenity.

The Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali Coast are both stunning to see first-hand. Both provided the iconic backdrop to the Jurassic Park movies in the 1990s, although no dinosaurs are likely to ruin your peace nowadays.

“For the full Jurassic Park experience, charter a private yacht or take a scenic helicopter tour around the pristine and remote Na Pali Coast for romantic views of Hawaii’s most beautiful coastline on the Garden Island.” — David Pointer, Senior Product Manager

Where to stay?

Koa Kea Hotel & Resort is a romantic boutique hotel, perfect for a couple’s getaway to this verdant and peaceful Hawaiian island.

4.Maui

Best for:

• Sunrise hikes

• Foodies

Maui is locally known as the “Valley Isle”. Two dormant volcanoes bookend its fertile valley in Haleakala National Park: to the east, the Haleakala summit is famed for sunrise vistas — perfect for early morning hikes; to the west, the West Maui Mountains overlook lush rainforests and waterfalls. Between them runs the island’s spine and the famous road to Hana, with dozens of waterfalls to explore and a black-sand beach at Waianapanapa.

Maui also has vibrant seaside towns, Lahaina is best for art galleries and whalers’ history, whilst Paia boasts a roaring windsurfing culture. The agricultural upcountry of Makawao is especially charming, and its farms produce Maui’s famous sweet onions, goat cheese and lavender. You can even do insider farm tours here including pizza at a lava-stone oven, tours of lavender fields, and wine-tasting at local vineyards to taste it all.

Where to Stay?

Hotel Wailea Maui is an adults-only luxury hotel set within a private enclave just a five-minute drive from Wailea Beach and easy access to advent

With direct access to Wailea Beach, Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea combines sophistication and the serenity of an exotic hideaway with the family fun of a relaxed beach retreat.

5. Lanai

Best for:

• Secluded stays

• Desert views

Lanai offers refined seclusion far from the well-trodden paths of the other islands. Once a pineapple plantation, it’s now largely privately owned, with just one small town and a handful of ultra-luxury resorts. Yet beneath its understated profile lies immense appeal: rugged cliffs, hidden beaches, and forested highlands with scenic hiking trails.

Manele Bay offers the chance to tick off your bucket list experience of swimming with spinner dolphins in crystal-clear waters, whilst the windswept plateau of “Garden of the Gods”, Keahiakawelo, is best visited at sunset to see its red-hued boulders and ancient lava canyons glow in the waning sunlight.

Shipwreck Beach on Lanai's north shore is also worth the trip to see the skeletal remains of a World War II concrete barge resting on the shore reef.

Where to Stay?

The Four Seasons Resort Lanai is the perfect spot for a couple’s holiday full of special moments or a relaxing honeymoon. With a romantic setting, sumptuous spa and plenty of things to do, this is a truly luxurious Hawaiian island paradise.

Island Hopping in Hawaii

If you’ve got to the end of this travel guide and still can’t decide between two or more islands, fear not! All the Hawaiian Islands are less than an hour away from each other, so you can choose to island hop around Hawaii's major islands to avoid the fear of missing out on their many natural wonders.

If you'd like some advice on your Hawaii island hopping adventure, speak to a member of our team and we'll tailor your perfect escape.