{"id":182,"date":"2020-03-10T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-10T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluehawaiian.com\/blog\/?p=182"},"modified":"2026-02-23T21:47:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T21:47:36","slug":"which-hawaiian-island-should-you-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluehawaiian.com\/blog\/which-hawaiian-island-should-you-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"Which Hawaiian Island Should You Visit?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 class=\"gb-text gb-text-c138447e\"><strong>How to Find the Perfect Hawaiian Island For Your Next Vacation<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text\">Each Hawaiian island offers a unique and memorable experience, and no two are the same. Like many visitors to the islands, you\u2019re probably wondering, \u201cWhich island, or islands, should I visit during my vacation?\u201d<br><br>It\u2019s a tricky question to answer \u2014 every island is special and worth a visit! But, there are key differences between Hawaii\u2019s four most frequently visited islands, and knowing what to expect will help you choose the best island for the type of vacation you want to have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-text gb-text-aeba9bd7\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehawaiian.com\/en\/oahu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Oahu<\/a>: A little bit of everything<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text\">Many first-time visitors find themselves on Oahu, and it\u2019s easy to see why. There\u2019s something for everyone in the \u201cHeart of Hawaii,\u201d including the bustling capital city of Honolulu, unforgettable natural beauty (including many idyllic beaches and forests) and rich cultural history.<br><br>If you\u2019re looking for a dynamic fusion of Hawaiian culture, city life, and nature, Oahu is a great choice. Some of the most beloved attractions and destinations here include Waikiki Beach and Downtown Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head,\u00a0 Nuuanu Valley, Waimea Bay, and the North Shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-text gb-text-7e97a07e\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehawaiian.com\/en\/bigisland\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Hawaii<\/a>: The Big Island<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text\">The Island of Hawaii, aka the Big Island, is the largest and youngest of the Hawaiian islands. Since it\u2019s home to the archipelago\u2019s only active volcano, this is the island to visit if you want to see lava flows.<br><br>Lava isn\u2019t the only sight worth seeing here, though. Stargazing from the top of Mauna Kea offers some of the darkest skies in the world, and you might even see snow. The wildlife viewing is also excellent, and lucky visitors can see Hawaiian green sea turtles, manta rays, dolphins, different types of forest birds, and other native wildlife. The stunning Kohala Coast, on the island\u2019s North Shore, has dramatic sea cliffs, lush rainforests, mesmerizing waterfalls, and so much more. It\u2019s a popular destination that also provides\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehawaiian.com\/en\/bigisland\/tours\/kohala-coast-adventure\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">an amazing backdrop for a scenic helicopter tour of the Big Island<\/a>.<br><br>The Big Island is a wonderful spot for your Hawaii vacation, and its sheer size means everyone in your group is sure to find something to love. However, while there are top-notch beaches here, serious beach-lovers may prefer islands like Maui and Kauai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-text gb-text-a6e4e51c\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehawaiian.com\/en\/maui\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Maui<\/a>: Relaxation and adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text\">When people dream of Hawaii, images of Maui\u2019s legendary scenery comes to mind. The second-largest island, Maui is full of lush rainforests and valleys, majestic volcanic craters, towering seaside cliffs, and postcard-perfect beaches.\u00a0<br><br>The island\u2019s diverse landscapes and well-developed tourism infrastructure mean there\u2019s an endless number of activities and adventures to enjoy, like the scenic Road to Hana for waterfall viewing, sunrises at Haleakal\u0101 National Park, surfing, hiking, and so much more.<br><br>For help planning a trip to Maui, be sure to save these two helpful articles from the Blue Hawaiian blog:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-444bc2d3\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bluehawaiian.com\/blog\/the-top-7-adventure-activities-for-your-maui-vacation\/\" title=\"\">The Top 7 Adventure Activities For Your Maui Vacation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bluehawaiian.com\/blog\/5-must-see-waterfalls-on-maui\/\" title=\"\">5 Must-See Waterfalls on Maui<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-text gb-text-0b4f070c\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehawaiian.com\/en\/kauai\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Kauai<\/a>: Rugged tranquility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text\">The oldest and smallest of the Hawaiian Islands, Kauai is an excellent choice for vacationers who prefer less development and fewer crowds\u2026 without being\u00a0<em>too<\/em>\u00a0far away from civilization. It\u2019s an ideal spot for nature lovers, beach bums, and bird watchers, too. Even if you don\u2019t head into the rainforest searching for birds, you\u2019re bound to run into some local chickens roaming the roads.<br><br>Kauai is also known for its famous admirers, and several celebrities have made the island their second home. With the island\u2019s laid back charm and contrasting landscapes, it\u2019s no surprise it has enchanted so many people. You can experience unmatched scenery in spots like Waimea Canyon, aka the \u201cGrand Canyon of the Pacific,\u201d where cascading waterfalls dot the landscape. There\u2019s also the green valleys and dramatic, 3,000-foot sea cliffs of the Na Pali Coast, Mt. Wai\u2019ale\u2019ale (the second wettest places on earth),\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehawaiian.com\/en\/kauai\/tours\/kauai-eco-adventure\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">and so much more<\/a>.<br><br>There\u2019s plenty to explore on land, though it\u2019s worth noting that much of Kauai can\u2019t be reached via roads or trails.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehawaiian.com\/en\/kauai\/tours\/discover-kauai\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">The best way to see the island\u2019s dense green forests, jagged cliffs, soaring peaks, and other remote terrain is on a helicopter tour<\/a>.<br><br>Explore the stunning Manawaiopuna Falls, also known as \u201cJurassic Park\u201d falls, wedged in between the emerald green mountaintop of the Hanapepe Valley. Then, Kauai\u2019s magical North Shore reveals the sculpted green valleys and 3,000-foot sea cliffs of the Na Pali Coast, the pristine turquoise-blue waters of Hanalei Bay and the Princeville Resort area.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to Find the Perfect Hawaiian Island For Your Next Vacation Each Hawaiian island offers a unique and memorable experience, and no two are the same. Like many visitors to the islands, you\u2019re probably wondering, \u201cWhich island, or islands, should I visit during my vacation?\u201d It\u2019s a tricky question to answer \u2014 every island is &#8230; <a title=\"Which Hawaiian Island Should You Visit?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/bluehawaiian.com\/blog\/which-hawaiian-island-should-you-visit\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Which Hawaiian Island Should You Visit?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":197,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"slim_seo":{"title":"Which Hawaiian Island Should You Visit? - Blue Hawaiian Helicopters","description":"How to Find the Perfect Hawaiian Island For Your Next Vacation Each Hawaiian island offers a unique and memorable experience, and no two are the same. Like many"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"island":[16],"class_list":["post-182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tours","island-big-island"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bluehawaiian.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bluehawaiian.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bluehawaiian.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bluehawaiian.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bluehawaiian.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=182"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/bluehawaiian.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/182\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":200,"href":"https:\/\/bluehawaiian.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/182\/revisions\/200"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bluehawaiian.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bluehawaiian.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bluehawaiian.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bluehawaiian.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=182"},{"taxonomy":"island","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bluehawaiian.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/island?post=182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}