Hawaii

You’ve probably heard of Hawaii, America’s own little slice of the dreamy South Pacific. You probably also know that it’s more than just one island. There’s 4 of them in fact, and they’re actually very different. No, I was surprised too, they actually are very different from each other, despite being so close. So I’ve split them into 4 different mini-destination guides, in order of priority based only on my personal, very subjective impressions.

The big island

It was hard choosing a lead photo for the Big Island, the one actually called Hawai’i that became the name for the whole state, because of the sheer variety there. The name says it all, it’s big! The largest and newest of the Hawaiian Islands, it’s the only one with an active volcano. And the best underwater snorkeling, in my personal experience. It’s got room for both the big tourist resorts on the western side, a locals city on the northeast side, a lush rainforest national park, a peak high enough for snow, and vast expanses of desolate ground dropping to the ocean.

In other words, it’s got everything that draws you to the Hawaiian Islands, and that’s why I’ve listed it at top. The other islands might have a better something in one of the specific categories, but the Big Island has them all, plus some cool sights that you won’t find elsewhere.

Maui

The 2nd newest island, Maui is actually the largest of a cluster of 4, like a larger island that broke apart in the ocean. It’s got a reputation for being expensive and resort heavy. Both are true, nowhere else on the islands do you do feel a greater ratio of tourists relative to the number of locals. But there’s a reason they come here. Maui has probably some of the most spectacular mountain to ocean scenery of all the islands. And it’s very lush throughout the island. Tropical mountains that drop off into the crystal blue Pacific, everywhere you go. All that that is enough to earn a #2 spot in my book.

The Road to Hana is Maui’s signature attraction, well, that and its many luxurious resorts if you can stomach the cost. For driving enthusiasts, it’s the kind of road your car was dreaming of. Hairpin turns suspended over the ocean, past numerous waterfalls, with the towering jungle mountains behind you and pristine beaches down below. It also caters more to tourists than some of the other islands, other than Oahu.

Kauai

The oldest of the major islands, Kauai has a few standout attractions of its own. The big one: The spectacular Na Pali Coast. Eons of erosion has lead to this, and you better see it by boat from the ocean. Other unique aspects include the lack of major resorts, compact size, and generally very lush cover. Might not be enough to put it over the others, but still worth seeing.