which island to visit?
Hawaii is a state in the US – but it’s not one island. Among the major ones, you have oahu, maui. big island and kaui. So which one do you visit? If you live on the western coast of the US, and have not visited Hawaii before – i suggest Maui because it has something for everyone. If you live on the east coast – most people do multiple islands since the flight is longer and they may not do it soon again. And it’s the same if you’re an international tourist.
maui
I’m going to suggest a 3-day itinerary for Maui – and you can spend additional time on whichever part of the island suits you more.
To begin with, i suggest you checkout the western part of Maui. Notable things are the Nakalele blowhole, DT Fleming park and Lahaina. Once you’ve had your fill of West Maui, head on over to the road to hana – But don’t do what others do and come back on the same day – the road has a lot of viewpoints on the way and you’ll be rushing back. Stay back in Hana for the night – find an airbnb if hotels are too expensive. On the 3rd day, do Paia village – lots of seafood to eat and its nice to walk around. And if you have more than 3 days , add the haleakala crater sunrise to your itinerary along with the Waihee ridge trail . You don’t need to do the whole trail and there are ranches around where you can go horse riding on scenic off beat paths.
oahu
Oahu is great if you’re visiting with small kids – plenty of chain restaurants for them, and plenty of fine dining for you. It’s a lot more commercial while offering gorgeous beaches and nature as well. Hanuama bay is a standout because of the beautiful coral reefs and fish over there.
big island
Visit big island if you’re into volcanoes and the big resort experience. It’s hawaii’s biggest island – hence the name. The volcanoes national park is gorgeous and has a lot to offer both in terms of hikes and sight seeing. Also – you can see new land being formed right in front of your eyes if you take an early morning boat tour – but beware, just like the haleakala – you have to be up and ready in the middle of the night. When it comes to resorts, there are plenty on big island – pick one after reading pool and other amenities’ reviews because you’ll be paying resort fees. So it makes sense to pick one where you’ll be comfortable and safe.