Hilo Hawaii

In the summer my family and i are going to Hawaii for a few weeks and want to experience everything from sightseeing, sports and culture. But we are not sure what islands to visit. Island hoping seems to be the idea that we are thinking of, but which islands to visit is the question. We plan on visiting LA for a few days and going to Hawaii from there. Also as we live in Scotland and flights are long we would be spending about 17 days to 3 weeks in Hawaii. Any ideas on which islands we would really enjoy would be great.

Thank you!!

5 Responses to “Hawaiian Islands to Visit?”

1. Fatima Says:
   June 27th, 2009 at 9:31 am

   i think youll hav emore fun in LA…. tell William Wallace we said hi

2. buff1992 Says:
   June 28th, 2009 at 3:57 pm

   There are four major islands: Oahu, Maui, Big Island (aka Hawaii), and Kauai.
   The state capital, Honolulu, is on Oahu with a population of 900,000. Waikiki, the major tourist district is quite congested. Therefore, if you’re interested in shopping and want more of an urban setting, Oahu is the place to be. There are a number of hotels not located in Waikiki, though. Ihilani and the Kahala are 4-5 star places, but it’ll run you $400 a night to stay there.

   Maui is the second most popular destination. Smaller city in Kahului/Wailuku and the south area of the island is a major resort area. Lots of water sports are available and Haleakala is a 10,000+ ft mountain complete with snow at the summit.

   The Big Island offers you a similar product to Maui if you stay on the west side of the island (Kailua-Kona). In the middle and to the south are the volcanos. Kilauea is actively erupting so that is always a site to see. I wouldn’t recommend anything else on the east side of the island.

   Kauai is the smallest of the four major islands. Population of 60,000. South side also has a bunch of great resorts and the canyon. North side has some beautiful hiking trails. I’d say 3 days on Kauai is sufficient since there isn’t much due to the smaller population.

3. Synergy Says:
   June 29th, 2009 at 7:25 am

   if you really want that tropical sunshine vacation on the beach feeling, id suggest Maui or The Big Island. Since your family is staying for awhile, id suggest that you come to Oahu, and then you can take the inter-island boat called the Superferry to Maui. That way, its less difficult for you to choose =)

4. Scott N Says:
   July 1st, 2009 at 1:00 pm

   Each island has their own charm, and you are coming so far it would be a shame to miss any of them. Unless you want to just relax on the beach and enjoy the Polynesian South Seas ambience (which is nice too!) you have enough time to see most of the sites, and I would absolutely visit at least 2-3 islands, but frankly if you are here for 3 weeks, you have plenty of time to visit all four main islands. The inter-island flights are only 30-45 minutes in length.

   Since this is your first (and maybe only) time, you should at least start with Oahu, where most people in Hawaii live. This is the island most people think of when they imagine “Hawaii”. Except for no active volcano, it has a little of each of the other islands, and is “the gathering place” since 80% of the population lives here. Waikiki in Honolulu is one of three most famous urban tropical beaches in the world. Walk down Kalakaua Avenue on a Friday night. Visit the Bishop Museum to get a dose of Polynesian history, and visit Iolani Palace, the palace of the Hawaiian monarchy and the only royal palace on USA soil. Pearl Harbor Arizona Memorial may mean less to you. Walk through Honolulu’s Chinatown, and walk down Mauna Kea Street to watch the ladies string orchid and flower leis in the morning. Eat at famous “Asian Fusion” restaurants such as Roy’s or Alan Wong’s, two of the most famous chefs in the islands merging western, Hawaiian and asian cooking. Oahu has the most beaches of any island, and like all Hawaiian islands has a dry (leeward) and wet, jungle (windward) side. The drive on the other (windward) side of the island from Honolulu is spectacular. If you have never been to Japan there is an amazing temple called Byodo-in temple in Kaneohe. Oahu’s North Shore is the famous surfing area of Sunset Beach, and you should go to see it but the waves are calm in summer. Make sure to eat a traditional hawaiian shave ice at Matsumoto’s. Go to Hanauma Bay National Park, an underwater coral lagoon in a sunken volcanic caldera (go early before other tourists kick up the sand and cloud the water). Finally, try to take in a hula dance, an amazingly beautiful dance; I would try seeing Kanoe Miller at the “House Without A Key” at the Halekulani Hotel if you want to see a legitimate quality dance.

   The 2nd island I would recommend for you because it is so exotic is the Big Island. It is HUGE compared to the other islands, and since it has multiple active volcanoes and full of lava fields, black sand beaches, tree fern forests, the most exotic. The island is too new to have much coral lagoons, and deep ocean wildlife come right up to the shore…off the shore of the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort they shine light on the water, and it has attracted 4 meter wide manta rays right on the shoreline. You should visit the City of Refuge (an AMAZING historic site) and of course go look at the active volcano Kiluauea which is erupting now. You can visit the Kona Coffee farms above Kailua Kona in Holoalua. The most dramatic tropical waterfall on the island (Akaka Falls) is on this island…just make sure to allow plenty of time to drive as the distances are huge.

   If you want beauty, simplicity, peace and quiet, then Kauai is the place for you. It is the oldest island, the most beautiful and has the most eroded cliffs that will remind you of French Polynesia (Tahiti). There is an incredible canyon (Waimea Canyon) that looks like the Grand Canyon in Arizona..incredible because of course this is a small island. You can take zodiac (air-filled rubber boats) to the Na Pali coast to see cliffs and caves, waterfalls that fall into the ocean. The area called Poipu Beach is a dryer, sunny resort on the island, and Hanalei/Princeville is on the wetter, more tropical but quieter side of the island (people like the dryer parts of the island even though not as beautiful because it has less rain and humidity).

   The island best infrastructured for tourists without the massive crowds of Honolulu and Waikiki is the island of Maui. The main beaches are lined with hotels, and if you are looking for the perfect beach, at the perfect tropical resort hotel in the tropics, this is for you. There are three things in Maui that are amazing: driving the road to the town of Hana on the windward side where there is a tropical waterfall and pool with orchids, ginger, bananas, bamboo forests at every turn (take car sick precautions), the sunken volcanic caldera off Maui called Molokini which has filled in with a beautiful coral lagoon, and the sunrise on 3500 meter high volcano of Haleakala (with the subsequent ride down the entire mountain on a bike!).

5. Gary H Says:
   July 5th, 2009 at 12:55 am

   Hawaii is paradise. Some of the most popular areas would include Maui and Honolulu. There is activities like whale watching, scuba diving, jet ski-ing, surfing, memorable activities and good meals. Lots of outdoor activities, stuff like beach volleyball, street vendors and local shopping markets for all ages. It is very culture oriented. Be organized and book early along with finding reasonable housing. A valuable source for finding condos is.