Hawaii : Which Island to Choose ?

by

May 7, 2026

HAWAII

KAUAI – BIG ISLAND – OAHU – MAUI

Hawaii is made up of four main islands, and each one has its own feel, scenery, and personality. Traveling between them is really easy, short flights of about 30 to 50 minutes, and usually not very expensive.

KAUAI

The postcard island

Things to do: Na Pali Coast, Kalalau Trail, Waimea Canyon, Hanalei Bay, Poipu Beach

🌋 BIG ISLAND

The unique one: Volcanoes National Park

Things to do: Black sand beaches, manta ray night snorkel, Mauna Kea sunset point, Mauna Loa lava (if you’re lucky, like we were during the 2022 eruption)

🏄 OAHU

The main island

Things to do: Diamond Head, North Shore, Pearl Harbor, Kualoa Ranch (Jurassic Park movie location)

🌿 MAUI

The chill one

Things to do: Road to Hana, Haleakala sunset, Wailea beaches, Hookipa Beach

🏆 My Ranking

All four islands are stunning, honestly. But if you ask me :

Kauai, my absolute favourite with the Na Pali Coast
Big Island, if you want to see active volcanoes
Oahu, perfect for first timers, gives you a big picture of Hawaii, with a lot of things to do
Maui, beautiful and chill, but less to do compared to the other islands, perfect if you want to stay in a resort and relax

📅 How Long to Spend

Ideally one week per island with the connection flights, but if you are short on time, here is what I recommend :

6 days Kauai
4 days Oahu
3 days Maui
5 days Big Island

Very short on time ? Focus on Kauai or Big Island and 2 days in Oahu.

🌤️ Best Time to Go

Hawaii is beautiful all year round, but here is what to keep in mind.

Winter (December to March) Kauai and Maui can be rainy and unpredictable. Stick to :

Oahu
Big Island

Summer (June to September) All islands are at their best. Perfect time for :

Kauai
Maui
Oahu
Big Island

April, May, October and November are shoulder seasons, fewer crowds and good weather on most islands. A great option if you want to avoid peak season prices !

I’ve been twice. My first trip in December I focused on Oahu and Big Island, more weather-reliable in winter. My second trip was in August, I did Kauai and Maui. I had very good weather conditions both times.

🚗 Do You Need a Car ?

Yes, on every island.

Except maybe Oahu where you can get by without one, but even there a car gives you so much more freedom.

Book in advance, rental cars sell out fast in Hawaii especially in summer.

I recommend Turo, a cheaper and very easy alternative to traditional rental companies.

💰 Budget

Hawaii is a very expensive destination. Food is very pricey, even if you do your own groceries and cook. Airbnb is the best accommodation option, great value and you do not have to eat at the restaurant every day. Activities are also costly. Do not try to do Hawaii on the cheap, you simply can’t.

<

>