Best Island To Visit In Hawaii For First Time

The remote archipelago of Hawaii contains 6 main visible islands but which island is the best island to visit in Hawaii for first time?

To answer this question, we have compiled this in-depth guide for first-time visitors who have not explore Hawaiian Islands before.

Hawaii is a happy place for almost all just because of tropical weather, beautiful beaches, major islands & active volcanoes. Let’s start our informative blog post on Hawaiian Islands with pros & cons of each and nearby major attractions to spend your time in memorable way. Keep reading!

What is the Best Island to Visit in Hawaii for First Time?

Hawaii islands have own importance in cultural sites history, exploration, delicious food cuisines & nearby famous activities.

Each island has its own charming atmosphere and cultural attractions. Since, there’s so much to do & see on each island but still the question is what is the best island to visit in Hawaii for first time reddit.

This entirely depends on what type of traveler you are and what activities will be liked by you? Also, one notable thing that most matters is island’s weather or climate.

So, without wasting any time, let’s dig into details by mentioning pros & cons of each island with nearby top things so you can easily choose the best island to visit in Hawaii reddit.

Overview of the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii consists of six main tourist-friendly islands that are named as:

Oahu
Maui
Big Island
Kauai
Lanai
Molokai

Let’s breakdown the details of these islands one by one.

1. Oahu – Most Popular & Perfect Choice

Oahu is the most visited Hawaiian island and often considered as the best choice for first-timers for multiple of reasons. This island surprise tourists with city life, history, culture, and black sandy beaches. The Honolulu International Airport operate direct flights from major cities.

Pros of Visiting Oahu

Convenient Accessibility

Because of Honolulu International Airport and Oahu is home to Hawaii’s capital city, it is quite easy to get to Oahu from any part of the world. It has the largest airport with convenience of both international and domestic flights. From airport, you can rent a car or prefer public transportation for affordability.

Famous Attractions & historic Landmarks

In Oahu, you can get to Hawaii’s most popular attractions and landmarks which includes:

Waikiki Beach is the most famous beach and Hawaiian tour is complete without trying surfing here.
Pearl Harbor & USS Arizona Memorial is a must-visit historic site for history lovers.
With Diamond Head Chater, you can get the chance to enjoy Honolulu panoramic views.
North Shore is suitable for laid-back vibe and big wave surfing.
For snorkeling, go to Hanauma Bay.
Art galleries & marine life.

Nightlife, Shopping & Dining Options

In Waikiki and Honolulu, you can enjoy best nightlife, shopping and dining opportunities in the form of bars, clubs and live music places.
It has the widest variety of restaurants that are serving local Hawaiian food and international cuisine.
Ala Moana Center is the largest outdoor mall in the world with amazing shopping options.

Great Combination of City Life & Natural Beauty

Do you know that Oahu is the only Hawaiian Island where you can enjoy modern-life amenities while still exploring mountains, pristine beaches & more?

Yes, it’s true. Within one hour, you can go from a Skyscraper to remote beach area.

Cons of Visiting Oahu

Can be Overcrowded

Oahu island becomes overcrowded for a reason. All over the Hawaii, Waikiki is the overcrowded touristy area with large number of tourists every year. Popular attractions like Diamond Head and Pearl Harbor get packed so early bookings are needed.

Higher Hotel Prices in Crowded Areas

In Hawaii, Honolulu & Waikiki are two main areas that comes with most expensive hotels due to higher demand. So, it is recommended to stay outside of these areas or prefer Airbnb options, especially for budget-c onscious travelers.

Traffic Congestion Problems

It is impossible that jam-packed areas won’t face traffic congestion issues. Honolulu has heavy traffic, especially during rush hour (7-9 AM and 4-6 PM). If you want to explore outside the city, do not rely on public transport as renting a car is good option.

Less Secluded

As compared to other islands, Oahu is less secluded with noisy environment and jam-packed crowds everywhere. While North/ South Shore and Windward Coast offer a more peaceful Hawaiian experience with little number of tourists.

2. Maui – Best for Honeymoon & Luxury Travel

Are you looking for best island to visit in Hawaii for couples to enjoy romantic escape? Go for Maui Island. As a couple, you can spend your honeymoon here with some adventure and relaxation. It’s generally pricier than Oahu but comes with peaceful environment & less crowded.

Pros of Visiting Maui

Stunning Beaches

Maui has some of the Hawaii’s best stunning beaches with crystal clear waters, soft sand and diversity of landscapes. These beaches are:

Kaanapali Beach is the most famous beach in USA with swimming and snorkeling opportunities.
Wailea bay & Beach is home to luxury beach resorts and calm blue waters and Wailua falls.
Makena, a big secluded beach with golden sand and fewer crowds.
For snorkeling and diving, a Honolua Bay is a must-visit beach area.

The Road to Hana Drives

Wonder which drive is the most famous drive all over the world? The Road to Hana scenic drives is the most famous drives all over the world with 600+ hairpin turns and 50+ bridges. Most famous stops include waterfalls, black sand beaches, and lush rainforests.

Whale Watching Fun

From December to April, tourists can go for exploring whale watching opportunities in Maui. The best and most recommended whale watching spots are Lahaina, Maalaea Bay, and Wailea. You can see humpback whales crossing close to shore.

Cons of Visiting Maui

More Expensive

No doubt Maui is less crowded and provide a peaceful romantic escape but it’s pricier too, especially for hotels and dining. If you want to book luxury resorts in Wailea and Kapalua, you need to spend not less than $500 per night. Budget travelers can stay in stay in Kihei or book Airbnbs to save extra costs.

Need Rental Car

As Maui is a vast island so public transportation is limited. To explore this entire island at your own pace, you have to rent a car. Renting a car is not an affordable because gasoline prices are higher in Maui and in some areas, you may face parking challenges.

Limited Nightlife

As compared to Oahu, Maui’s nightlife is not as exiting as tourists want to enjoy their time. There are few bars and clubs with more laid-back atmosphere that may bore you. Additionally, the nightlife is mostly in Lahaina, but it’s nowhere near as vibrant as Waikiki.

3. Big Island (Hawai’i) – Best for Adventure & Volcanoes

Big island is the best island to visit in Hawaii for first time with family. The official name of Big Island is Hawaiʻi Island, a largest and most diverse island. If you are one who want to enjoy stargazing, explore green landscapes, experience active volcanoes and black sand beaches, this island is for you.

Pros of Visiting Big Island

See an Active Volcano

See active volcano at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This beautiful park is home to Kīlauea, most active volcano in the world. The must visit spots are Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, Thurston Lava Tube and Chain of Craters Road. Must check lava activity before your trip.

Less Crowded & More Affordable

As compared to Oahu and Maui, Big Island is a largest island and less crowded and more budget-friendly. The hotel prices are affordable and suitable for those who want to stay with luxury in budget-friendly way. Because of affordability and less crowds, this island has become a remote & favorite island.

Amazing Stargazing

Mauna Kea is one of the world’s best stargazing spots because of higher elevation gain and clear skies. Here, the visitor center offers free stargazing programs for tourists so it is recommended to bring warm clothes because temperature is quite cold.

Cons of Visiting Big Island

Requires More Driving

The Big Island is twice the size of all other Hawaiian Islands combined. Most of the famous attractions are located far away so it is must to rent a car because public transportation is not only limited but also inflexible. Prepare for driving more to move from one destination to other.

Fewer Luxury Resorts & Limited Nightlife

As compared to Maui and Oahu, Big Island has few luxury resorts, limited nightlife and outdoor educational activities. Most of the resorts are located on the Kona Coast and Hilo is more rustic. The number of bars, clubs and other entertainment options are limited.

Beaches are Not Perfect

Just like Maui’s amazing beaches, the beaches in Big Island are not as beautiful as just like black sand beaches. Most beaches are rocky or black sand which you may not prefer for memorable and enjoyable beach getaway experience.

4. Kauai – Best for Nature Lovers & Outdoor Adventures

Looking for best places to visit in Hawaii for families? Kauai is the best Hawaiian vacation island in terms of nature and outdoor environment. Kauai, also known as “The Garden Isle,” where dramatic cliffs, lush rainforests, and hidden beaches will be found.

Pros of Visiting Kauai

Surprising Natural Beauty

No doubt this island is the most scenic and greenest island in Hawaii. More than 97% island is undeveloped wilderness, a perfect retreat for nature & greenery lovers. Some of the most famous lush landscapes of this Hawaii’s island are Nā Pali Coast, Waimea Bay Canyon and Hanalei Bay.

Nā Pali Coast

Nā Pali Coast is considered as the most beautiful place in world with 1,000-ft sea cliffs, waterfalls, and beaches. To get to this area, there is a need of helicopter, boat ride or challenging hike on Kalalau Trail. A must-visit place for all who want to experience something different.

Waimea Canyon

Waimea Canyon is the Grand Canyon of Pacific. This is a beautiful 10-mile-long canyon with waterfalls, surrounding breathtaking views and red-rock cliffs. Waimea Canyon Lookout & Pu’u Hinahina Lookout are easy to access viewpoints for tourists.

Cons of Visiting Kauai

More Rain Than Other Islands

In the north (Princeville, Hanalei), Kauai is the wettest island with heavy rainfall predictions. There’s no other such Hawaiian island where heavy rainfall in expected in any month of the year. On the other hand, the island’s south side named as Poipu beach area is hottest and drier.

Few Resorts and Nightlife Options

As compared to Maui and Oahu, this island has fewer luxury resorts and limited nightlife activities. Most of the places like restaurants and attractions close early and there are no such nightclubs or bars for mid-night dancing and other entertainment options.

Harder to Reach Some Attractions

One main con of this island is that it is harder to reach famous attractions because the Nā Pali Coast is only accessible via helicopter, boat and hiking. You can’t rent a car or use public transportation. Some remote beaches like Polihale Beach require a 4WD vehicle.

5. Lanai – Best for Off-the-Beaten-Path Luxury

Among top 10 places to visit in Hawaii, the Lanai falls. This is the most exclusive and least-visited island in Hawaii with secluded luxury, otherworldly landscape and memorable adventures. Lanai is also famous island as “The Pineapple Island” which was once home to massive Dole plantation.

Pros of Visiting Lanai

Fewer Crowds

In comparison of other Hawaii islands, least number of tourists go to Lanai. All over the island, there are only 3,000 residents and limited tourist accommodations, a peaceful and remote island. This island is perfect spot for honeymoons, celebrities and tourists looking for privacy.

Best Luxury Resorts

Lanai is home to one of the Hawaii’s best luxury resorts. These resorts are:

Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi: World-class five star resort with beautiful ocean views, private beach area and gourmet dining.

Sensei Lānaʻi, A Four Seasons Resort: The resort’s primary focus is on wellness activities, spa and meditation treatments to improve overall health-being.

Off-Road Adventures & Landscapes

Lanai has 30 miles of paved roads and this means that most roads require 4W-D vehicles. Garden of the Gods is mars-like rock garden with both red & orange boulders. Polihua Beach is a two-mile beach, normally empty even during peak season, best for romantic couples seeking privacy.

Cons of Visiting Lanai

Expensive & Limited Accommodation Options

On this Hawaii island, you will find limited and expensive accommodation options. Only a few hotels exist like Four Seasons being the primary option. As compared to other islands, budget tourists may find it more expensive and unreliable option to stay with their families.

Limited Activities & Nightlife

As we earlier mentioned that this island is small in size so it is quite difficult to find nightlife activities like bars, shopping malls and restaurants. This is a quiet and slow-paced island with few tourists’ activities, wholly meant for relaxation, privacy and adventure.

Most Attractions Require a 4WD Vehicle

Inside the island, most of the best places or famous attractions like Shipwreck Beach & Garden of the Gods demand off-road driving. If you don’t rent a 4WD vehicle, you cannot explore this island to the fullest and just stick around limited part.

6. Molokai – Best for Authentic Hawaiian Culture

Molokai is a traditional and untouched island where you can explore old Hawaiian culture in the form of local attractions, Hawaiian heritage, and friendly locals. Just like other islands, there are no such major resorts, chain restaurants, or stoplights, a totally unique island to explore for first-timers.

Pros of Visiting Molokai

Culturally Authentic Island

The island has preserved laid-back Hawaiian history, traditional culture and local food scenes. You can find more native Hawaiians in this island as compared to any other. There is no commercialization, no huge buildings, no fancy restaurants, it’s all about just Hawaiian local culture.

Least Touristy & Most Peaceful Island

There are no crowds, no traffic congestion issues and no high-rise buildings. This island is perfect for travelers who want peace, solitude, and local experiences. When you visit this island, you will feel like you were stepping back to 50 years old Hawaii.

Hālawa Valley

Hālawa Valley is one of the Hawaii’s oldest settlements with ancient Hawaiian temples (heiau) and waterfalls. To learn about valley’s history, it is must to take a guided hike along with local family during family vacation to know in depth.

Cons of Visiting Molokai

Very Few Hotels, Restaurants & Activities

This island is not for tourists who want to go for lavish and luxury Hawaiian adventure. There are no big luxury resorts and hotels as you just find a few small inns and rentals. There are limited dining options with no nightlife scenes.

Difficult to Get to & Explore

To get to this island, there are no direct flights from mainland as you must fly from Oahu or Maui. There is no public transportation but you may find a car on rent but seems also difficult. Keep these things in your mind before go.

Slow Pace of Life

Not for everyone. If you like shopping, entertainment, or nightlife, this island isn’t for you. But if you want to know about Hawaiian adventures, history and culture in depth, this island is a must-visit popular tourist destination for you.

Wrapping Up!

The best island to visit in Hawaii for first time totally depends on your travel preferences, natural phenomenon and what you want to explore in Hawaii.

All these Hawaiian Islands are rich in delivering memorable experiences with separate things to do & activities.

In this blog, we mentioned pros and cons of visiting each island so you can finalize your decision with ease. Now it’s up to you which island you want to go to.