Hawaii

Destinations

Hawaii - Planning your trip

Hawaii's beauty, tropical weather, majestic mountains, lush green forests, laid-back atmosphere, spectacular sunsets and inviting beaches are just part of what makes the state so special. The land of aloha is agreeable year-round with four popular tourist islands offering unique, bucket-list-worthy experiences. Kauai, Oahu, Maui Big Island, Maui, from the most spectacular coastlines in the world to the massive volcanic mountaintops, I promise you'll want to keep returning to the Aloha State to experience them all. Grab your flip-flops and let’s start to prepare your trip to paradise with us.

Hawaiian Islands

First thinks first, of the 50 U.S. states, although Hawaii is the eighth-smallest in land area, is not that easy to travel between the islands. I know, you want to visit them all! To get around the islands of Hawaii, you can fly by helicopter, travel by ferry or hop on a boat. But while there are options, in most cases, you are probably boarding a flight before saying aloha to your next Hawaiian island destination. If you are wondering what is the best island to visit first, here is a summary about the most popular ones:

Oahu - the most visited Hawaiian island, Oahu is a big city in a small island, tends to be the best Hawaiian island for first-time visitors because it offers a little bit of everything. Most flights to the Hawaiian Islands arrive in Honolulu (HNL), the capital city of Hawaii, which has big hotels and popular stores everywhere. Food trucks, island farmers markets and fusion menus by Hawaii’s star chefs – you can find them all in Oahu! If you choose to visit this small part of the paradise, be aware Oahu also has lot of traffic, with visitors rubbing elbows on the bus and city sidewalks. On the other side, the island has miles and miles of stunning beaches in just a short drive from downtown. Waikiki Beach is where most visitors stay and Makaha Beach has some of the biggest surfable waves on the planet. It's easy to rent a Harley or even book a tour to enjoy a day trip in some unforgettable places around the island. Pearl Harbor Memorial National Park and Diamond Head State Monument are some of the top places to visit in the island.

Maui - One of the most magical and romantic islands in Hawaii. This island has one of the most spectacular coastlines in the world. The famed Road to Heaven, I mean, to Hanna allow visitors to pass through 56 one-lane bridges, and 617 curves stoping by lush rainforests, wondrous waterfalls, lava tubes, flowering gardens lead and black-sand beaches. Another scenic trip is the Haleakala, the world’s largest dormant volcano where visitors drive around 3h to watch the sunrise and have a chance to bike down from the summit. Maui is the second largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago with 120 miles of coastline where you find will find a wide range of activities including a Traditional Hawaiian Luau in Lahaina or snorkeling with turtles in Honolua Bay. A vehicle will be essential to explore the stunning beaches in this island but a sunset from the balcony of your hotel will be enough to create the most remarkable memories from this trip.

Tip: Maui = Kahului Airport (OGG).

Big Island - As the name suggest, Big Island is the largest island in Hawaii where visitors can go snorkeling and boating on the reef-protected lagoons and beautiful beaches along the Kona and Kohala coasts. Also known as Island of Hawaii, Big Island comprises 62% of the Hawaiian Islands' land area and is famous for its incredible natural attractions, particularly the volcanoes, which continue to shape the landscape. The two largest volcanoes on the island are Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, which together comprise almost three quarters of the island's surface. Hilo, on the northeast coast, is the island's biggest town and the best place to stay for those focusing on exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, one of the most spectacular and unique natural areas in the United States. Kailua-Kona, on the opposite side of the island is best known for its coffee and breathtaking sunsets. You can fly to Kailua-Kona and split your trip in both towns to enjoy a little bit of everything.

Tip: If you choose Big Island as your next destination, you can flight to Hilo (ITO) and return via Kona International Airport at Keahole, Hawaii Island (KOA) to visit the entire island. In addition, A 4WD vehicle may come in handy for explorations off paved roads on volcanos in the Big Island. it's so fun!

Kauai- Kauai has the nickname of the ``Garden Isle`` because due to the most diverse range of plants around the island. The place has its own “Grand Canyon`` which is called Waimea Canyon State Park, which is covered by wild foliage and surrounded by tropical cliffs, mesmerizing waterfalls, and striking rainbows. If you are a Jurassic Park fan, you will be familiar with the gorgeous scenery of the movie at Na Pali coast. This is Island is still on top of our bucket-list, but according to the visitors, Kauai can be toured in two full days, with one day devoted to sites along the road west of Lihue, which curves up to Waimea Canyon, and a second day concentrating on the road that runs to the northern coast. Well, of course you can add some more days to relax in a beautiful resort in the hidden sandy beaches, correct? Experts used to say there are few things in the world more breathtaking than approaching the misty, rugged Na Pali coast landscape from the air. Nature and luxury, Kauai has it all!

Best time to visit Hawaii

You can visit Hawaii any time!

The winter – mid-December through mid-April is the busiest tourist season, as many tourists from the US are escaping the cold weather back home.

June through August, in addition to the holidays, especially Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, Easter the prices are higher and rooms can be scarce.

For the budget-conscious, the slowest times are mid-September through mid-November when you’re more likely to find good deals on accommodations and airfare.

TIps for first visit

1. How many Hawaiian Islands?

There are 8 Hawaiian Islands, but only six are open to visitors. The Big Island, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu, and Kauai. From those most the most popular tourist islands are: Oahu, Big Island, Maui, and Kauai. Most of the Lanai island is owned by billionaire Larry Ellison who wants to make the island self-sufficient and isolated. Molokai is the most remote part of Hawaii. Air travel is the most popular way to get around the islands.

2. Culture – Being Hawaiian is an important part of the identity of the islands, the culture evolves from ancient Polynesian traditions, with the inclusion of Hawaiian words in everyday speech to the embrace of concepts of respect and inclusion. Use aloha (hello/goodbye and the concept of love and fellowship) and mahalo (thank you) to be friendly. Also, Don’t collect or move stones at sacred sites. If you’re not sure whether something’s sacred, consider that in Hawaiian thinking, everything is sacred, especially in nature.

3. Do I need a car in Hawaii? – A car is an unnecessary expense ff you’re only visiting Honolulu and Waikiki. However, if you want to do any exploring beyond the main towns and resorts, renting a car is essential. A 4WD vehicle may come in handy for explorations off paved roads.

4. Undress for success – Hawaii is the land of bathing suits and flip-flops and going fancy means neat, modest attire. Pack lightweight. Yo just need casual clothes for top-tier restaurants and at high-end resorts across the islands.

5. Be aware of floods – No matter how dry or how sunny the sky above might be, a sudden rainstorm miles away can cause a flash flood in minutes. Always check the weather report before setting out on a hike, particularly, if you’re planning on hiking or swimming in waterfalls.

Essential Information

Here are some key things to know about traveling to the 50th US state:

Flights – There are multiple direct flights from California to the Hawaiian Islands, most range from five to six hours.

Weather – The weather is agreeable year-round and you can visit Hawaii anytime. It may be a bit rainier in winter and a bit hotter in summer, but there are no extremes.

Clothes – An extra layer will be useful If you plan seeing sunrise from the top of the volcanos.

High Season – The High Season in Hawaii is December to April and June to August. Despite winter being rainer, it’s best for whale-watching and surfing while summer is slightly hotter and more expensive.

Safety – Do not leave anything valuable in your parked car, ever. Thieves can pop not only at trailheads when you’ve gone for a hike, but also at crowded beach and hotel parking lots. Also, trespassing is always illegal, no matter how many other people you see doing it. As a visitor to the islands, it’s important to respect all ‘Kapu’ or ‘No Trespassing’ signs.

Curiosity: Hawaiʻi or Hawaii? – The ʻokina punctuation mark (ʻ) is the Hawaiian language’s which determines the pronunciation and meaning of words. Hawaiʻi (with the ʻokina) is being used for the island of Hawaiʻi (the Big Island), for references to ancient Hawaiʻi and to the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi pre-statehood. Hawaii (without the ʻokina) refers to the US territory that became a state in 1959.