Which Hawai’ian Island Should You Visit

Known as the ‘Heart of Hawai’i’, the island of O’ahu is easily Hawaii’s most popular holiday destination. The perfect base for first-time visitors, O’ahu is home to the state capital of Honolulu (where most visitors choose to stay) and the archipelago’s main international airport. Plus, with a vast array of accommodation, activities and attractions, you’ll never go bored when holidaying on O’ahu.

Whether you seek a relaxing tropical getaway or an action-packed adventure, there is plenty to see and do on O’ahu. With 180 kilometres of coastline, O’ahu boasts some of Hawaii’s most iconic beaches, including Waikiki Beach and the North Shore – if you’ve ever wanted to learn to surf, O’ahu is the place. Be sure to hike Diamond Head for unreal views over Honolulu and pay a visit to Pearl Harbor to reflect on the devasting effects of war. Some other O’ahu must-dos include snorkelling at Hanauma Bay, shopping at Ala Moana Center, connecting with Hawai’ian culture at the Polynesian Cultural Center and spiking your adrenaline at Kualoa Ranch.

When it comes to accommodation, O’ahu offers something to suit every traveller, with most resorts centred in the Waikiki area, where you’ll find an endless stream of dining, drinking and shopping options. Discover our O’ahu holidays here.

For a taste of what Hawai’i was like before becoming a major tourist destination, head to the Island of Hawai’i. More commonly known as the ‘Big Island’, Hawai’i is both the youngest and largest island in the Hawai’ian archipelago. As one of the most ecologically diverse places on the globe, and just a 50-minute flight from Honolulu, the Big Island is well worth adding to your Hawai’i itinerary.

Home to some of Hawaii’s most spectacular natural wonders and historic sights, there are endless things to do while holidaying on the Big Island. Being the only island where you can get up close to an active volcano, a visit to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is an absolute must. Here, you can hike across a solidified lava lake, walk through lava tubes and, if you’re lucky, witness the lava flow of Kilauea! For coffee lovers, be sure to visit one of many coffee farms in Kona – the Big Island is the only place in the United States where coffee is grown commercially. Other popular things to do on the Island of Hawai’i include snorkelling with manta rays, stargazing on the summit of Mauna Kea, horseback riding through the Waipio Valley and spotting turtles at Punaluu Black Sand Beach. There’s a reason that Big Island is known as ‘Hawaii’s Island of Adventure’!

There are two main towns on the Big Island that tourists tend to flock to: Kona and Hilo, each offering a different perspective of the island. Discover our Island of Hawai’i holidays here.