The best Hawaiian Islands to visit on your next escape

Maui

Best for: sunrise volcano hikes 

While many Hawaiian islands promise dramatic landscapes and scenic adventures, it is Maui’s Haleakala National Park that truly sets the island apart. Home to Haleakalā Crater, a dormant volcano towering 10,000 feet above sea level, the park is affectionately known as “the house of the sun”, celebrated for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Its terrain shifts from otherworldly red deserts to lush waterfalls and the historic town of Hana, making it both a sacred landscape and a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.

Speaking of Hāna, the curvaceous and legendary Hana Highway is an adventure in itself. The 83-kilometre route hugs Maui’s northeastern shore, crossing 59 bridges winding past waterfalls, jungle lookouts, roadside fruitstands, and hidden beaches – every stop along the way feels like a new discovery

Beyond its natural wonders, Maui offers indulgence in abundance. Along its golden shores, five-star resorts and luxury villas blend seamlessly into the volcanic backdrop. Interiors are adorned with warm Koa Wood, crisp white linens, volcanic stone, and woven rattan – a design language that mirrors the island’s harmony of rugged beauty and refined comfort. 

O‘ahu

Best for: big waves and vibrant bars

Home to Hawai’i’s most diverse population and its most visited island, Oʻahu seamlessly blends Eastern and Western influences, offering travelers an irresistible mix of cosmopolitan energy and laid-back surf culture. Divided into five distinct regions – Honolulu, Central Oʻahu, the Leeward Coast, the North Shore, and the Windward Coast – the island is a surfing mecca, celebrated as the birthplace of modern surfing.

At its heart lies Waikīkī Beach, one of the world’s most iconic stretches of sand and a jewel in Honolulu’s crown. Here, towering luxury resorts line the shore, delivering tropical elegance with sweeping ocean views and vibrant nightlife just steps away.

While Oʻahu is the perfect place to hire a board and catch your first waves, some of its most unforgettable moments come from above. Whether soaring on a parasail or taking in the island’s dramatic coastlines by helicopter, experiencing Oʻahu from the sky reveals its sheer scale and breathtaking beauty.

Hawaiʻi (main island)

Best for: stargazing, snorkelling and scuba diving

With more shoreline than all the other Hawaiian islands combined, Hawaiʻi Island is a sanctuary of natural wonders and vibrant marine life. As the largest of the archipelago, it feels refreshingly less commercialised, drawing fewer visitors than Maui or Oʻahu – a distinction that only enhances its allure.

The island is home to two volcanic giants: Kīlauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the largest volcano on Earth. This dramatic terrain gives rise to rare natural marvels, including beaches of black, green, and white sand. Offshore, crystal-clear waters invite adventure – from snorkelling and scuba diving to swimming with graceful manta rays. Those who prefer to stay above the surface can embark on unforgettable whale-watching cruises, where humpbacks breach just meters away. Meanwhile, the calm, protected bays of Kailua, Hilo, Kaha‘ullu, and Keauhou provide the perfect playground for stand-up paddleboarding.

While luxury resorts dot the coastline, Hawaiʻi Island also offers stays as unique as its landscapes. Nestled near the entrance of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, travellers can find everything from glass-walled jungle hideaways to serene rainforest treehouses. Each promises an immersive experience – the perfect base for daily hikes, stargazing, and volcanic adventures.

Kauaʻi

Best for: dramatic scenery and romantic serenity

Kauaʻi is often described as one of the most beautiful places on earth. Cloaked in emerald valleys and thick tropical rainforest, it’s affectionately known as “The Garden Isle” – a landscape so cinematic it has starred in films from Jurassic Park to Indiana Jones and Avatar.

Less developed than its sister islands, Kauaʻi feels wonderfully untamed. Its fertile plantations and jungles brim with tropical fruits, while much of the island remains wild, remote, and ripe for exploration. Waterfalls thunder through its valleys – don’t miss Wailua Falls, Opaekaʻa Falls, and the famous Manawaiopuna (Jurassic Falls), best admired from a helicopter.

The island’s showstoppers are equally unforgettable on land and sea. Cruise beneath the 4,000-foot cliffs of the Nā Pali Coast, where sheer emerald walls plunge into turquoise waters, or lace up your boots to explore the kaleidoscopic hues of Waimea Canyon. Revered as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” it can be conquered in a day yet offers hikers a rewarding challenge and views that linger long after you’ve left.

Lānaʻi

Best for: exclusivity and holistic wellness

One of Hawai’i’s best-kept secrets, Lānaʻi remains relatively untouched and blissfully free of crowds. Rugged and secluded, it has transformed its natural beauty into an exclusive take on the Hawaiian lifestyle. Once home to the world’s largest pineapple plantation, the island is now largely privately owned by tech billionaire Larry Ellison and devoted to luxury accommodation and wellness.

What truly sets Lānaʻi apart, however, are its two Four Seasons resorts: Sensei Lānaʻi and the Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi. Both epitomise luxury, yet each offers a distinct experience. Sensei is dedicated to holistic wellness, with private hale spa treatments, tailored consultations, and yoga classes designed to rejuvenate body and mind. By contrast, the beachfront Resort Lānaʻi blends opulence with adventure, inviting guests to snorkel in the protected waters of Hulopoʻe Bay, play world-class golf, or simply unwind in oceanfront suites with sweeping Pacific views.

Together, the two properties capture the island’s dual spirit – one rooted in mindful wellness, the other in barefoot indulgence – making Lānaʻi a rare and spectacular destination for travellers in search of privacy, refinement, and true escape.