Looking for paradise?
Well, call off the search party because you’ll find what you’re looking for here. Whether you’re after lush rainforests or white beaches, it’s here, there and everywhere in Hawaii.
Made up of eight spectacular islands, you’re bound to find one that suits your travel style. The Big Island provides woos, while Kauai brings the wows. Yep, Hawaii caters to everything.
Undecided on where to visit? Don’t stress. We’ve done the travelling for you to give you the lowdown on what the four main islands are like. So all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the view.
Best For Adventure: Big Island
Flying foxes are a super-fun, eco-friendly way to explore the island
Thrill-seekers, rejoice! The Big Island – officially named Hawaii – is an adrenaline junkie’s Disneyland. Ever wanted to zipline over a waterfall? Hike a volcano? See lava pour into the ocean? Cross them all off your bucket list here.
Jay Z and Beyonce even swapped their life of luxury to explore the Big Island from the back of a pick-up truck!
Well, if it’s good enough for Jay and Bey…
Skyline Eco Adventures Akaka Falls caters to your every risk-taking whim with a Zip Adventure Tour ($220), where you’ll experience seven different flying foxes, including one fast minute soaring over a 140m-deep ravine. Look down if you dare and see the KoleKole waterfall crashing below your feet.
There’s also a Lava N’ Zip Tour, a 13-hour adventure exploring the wonders of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park – home to Kilauea, one of the top-five most active volcanoes on earth.
See mystifying sulfur steams rising from volcanic vents as well as the Halemaumau and Kilauea Iki craters. Book your spot for just $410.
Best For Scenery: Kauai
The waterfalls are truly Insty-worthy! #nofilter
Model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley loves Kauai, and it’s no wonder – the scenery is majestic. This island is so untouched, its pristine Na Pali Coast in the northwest proved the perf setting for the movie Jurassic Park.
There’s just one catch. With no roads to Na Pali (Hawaiian for “the cliffs”), it’s only accessible by boat, so why not explore the coast on a sunset cruise?
Is it even possible to look more relaxed than Rosie does in Kauai?
Holo-Holo Charters offers 3.5-hour packages from $170, which includes dinner and refreshing mai tais served throughout the cruise.
Or explore the other side of the island by kayak as you paddle through the serene Wailua River. You can totes go chasing waterfalls here, and even swim beneath cascading 50m-high falls.
It does involve a bit of hiking – 3.2km of muddy trails – but at $140 per person (plus tax), it’s worth every cent. Visit Outfitters Kauai for deets.
Best For Relaxation: Maui
There are 58 free cabanas across the Four Seasons resort for the ultimate chill time
One guess what’s been named Conde Nast Traveler’s Best Island in the US for 22 years running. Yep, Maui!
And there’s no better place to relax and unwind than at the Four Seasons Resort Maui overlooking Wailea Beach. Attendants are at your beck and call, offering little luxuries from cleaning sunnies to cool cucumbers for your tired eyes!
Done chilling at the swim-up Serenity Pool Bar? There are a host of other water activities to try – go stand-up paddleboarding like Jessica Alba or whale-watching like Nina Dobrev.
“These guys just swam up to us and said, ‘Hi,’ like it was NO BIG DEAL,” Nina captioned an Insty pic of the humpbacks.
Of course, no Hawaii trip is complete without experiencing a traditional Hawaiian luau feast, like at the Old Lahaina Luau.
For $155 per person, you’ll enjoy an evening of traditional cuisine, music and cultural dance all while enjoying a gorgeous sunset over the ocean. Hula-tastic!
Best For Everything: Oahu
Where turquoise waters meet lush volcanoes!
Oahu really does have a little bit of everything. Plus, it’s home to the ever popular Waikiki Beach, where you can shop till you drop and eat till you pop… a button.
Take the charming tram to outdoor shopping centre Ala Moana, or catch a 30-minute shuttle bus from Honolulu to the famous Waikele Premium Outlets, where discounted Calvin Klein, Kors and Coach awaits! Afterwards, recharge and refuel at the grand Royal Hawaiian hotel.
With its fancy facade, it’s no wonder it’s known as the Pink Palace Of The Pacific. You may just find bikini-clad Alessandra Ambrosio sipping cocktails at the beachfront Mai Tai bar!
Or head to the nearby 19th-floor Sky Waikiki bar, where Brody Jenner’s partied.
More of a water baby? Splash on over to Hanauma Bay, part of a crater formed by a volcanic eruption. There are more than 400 species of fish swimming here, so grab some snorkelling gear and an underwater camera!
Oahu is also Hawaii’s surf mecca. Catch some gnarly tubes at the North Shore’s world-famous Banzai Pipeline, Waimea Bay or Sunset Beach!
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