Rising volcanically from the middle of the Pacific, Hawaii is one of the world’s greatest holiday destinations, a chain of islands, where year-round sunshine, a relaxed Aloha lifestyle and incredible scenery come together like nowhere else on earth. Each island takes on its own character and personality, and it’s very easy to explore different islands thanks to convenient internal flights, meaning you can maximise your time and pack in many experiences without feeling rushed. Back from a recent visit to the Aloha state, here is our insight into each island, helping you pick the perfect luxury holiday experience.
Maui — The Valley Isle
From luxury hotels and wellness experiences to adventure, cultural experiences, and romance, Maui has it all.
Maui, known as The Valley Isle, is the archipelago’s second largest island. It ticks all the boxes for a first-time visitor, five-star resorts aplenty, excellent swimming and surfing opportunities, and a great choice of dining, including fine-dining, options. View migrating humpback whales during the winter months, watch a sunrise at 10’000 feet, experience a traditional beach Lū’au in Lāhainā and enjoy being pampered at the spa all in one day. And if you enjoy an open-road adventure, Hāna is home to the Road to Hāna, a famous scenic drive that spans between 50-64 miles through rainforests and along coastal cliffs.
Do Not Miss
- Haleakalā National Park – Sunrise or sunset at the summit crater (10,023 ft), followed by stargazing under a Gold Tier International Dark Sky
- Old Lāhainā Lū’au – The finest traditional lū’au on the island; a genuine cultural ceremony, not a resort floor show
- Maverick Hāna Rainforest Helicopter – 75 minutes over the island’s wild, inaccessible eastern spine, waterfalls, black sand, bamboo valleys
- Wailea– Maui’s south shore luxury corridor; impeccable resorts, world-class golf, and luxury shopping
- Journey Jill’s Private Tour – Secret waterfalls, sea turtles, sacred valleys; the island’s best-kept itinerary (journeyjill.com)
Where To Stay
Some of Maui’s finest resorts line the sun-drenched shore of Wailea on the island’s south coast, where a string of world-class beaches and the clearest weather make it a natural home for luxury. The Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott Maui is one of the area’s most expansive. Oceanfront suites and villas and multiple rooms, along with an adults-only spa and pool, and a wide variety of activities means there is always lots to do. Read our review of Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott Maui
For classic laidback island life, the Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows on Kā’anapali Beach offers a beachfront lifestyle with lots of personality. The resort’s bungalow accommodation is particularly special, with its garden format a world apart from the standard hotel room, while the four-mile stretch of white sand on the doorstep is among the most beautiful in Hawaii. Sunsets here are reliably spectacular and the close proximity to Lahaina means you can help support the regeneration of this town. Read our review of the Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows
The Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea delivers the brand’s signature level of service on one of the island’s best beaches, with four pools, including a serene adults-only option, multiple award-winning restaurants and a spa that ranks among the finest in Hawaii. For the ultimate experience, the two-storey oceanfront suites on the upper floors are among the finest hotel rooms in all of Hawaii.
View all our favourite hotels in Maui
Good to Know
Maui’s central position in the archipelago makes it one of the best bases for island-hopping, with inter-island flights putting the rest of Hawaii within easy reach. Moloka’i and Kaua’i are both around 30 minutes away, Lāna’i just 35 minutes, or a short ferry crossing for a day trip, and the Big Island is only 45 minutes by air. Hawaiian Airlines and Mokulele Airlines operate regular services from Kahului Airport throughout the day, making it straightforward to add a night or two on a neighbouring island either side of your Maui stay.
The Island of Hawaii — Big Island
For the visitor who wants to witness the earth still forming, here you can experience volcanoes, snorkelling and diving, stargazing and off-grid adventures all in one day.
The Island of Hawaii, awe-inspiring in size, is known affectionately as the Big Island – it’s nearly twice the size of all the other islands combined. Here you can travel through all four of the world’s climate zones, from Wet Tropical to Polar Tundra, as a result of the shielding effect of the massive volcanoes, Maunakea and Maunaloa. Geographical features include the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, to the snow-capped heights of Maunakea, lush valleys of Hilo and Hāmākua Coasts and jet black sands of Punalu’u Sand Beach, where you can fully experience the power of nature.
Do Not Miss
- Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park – Lava fields, calderas and active flows; one of the most extraordinary landscapes on the planet
- Manta Ray Night Snorkel, Kona – An evening in the water with manta rays feeding overhead is absolutely unmissable
- Mauna Kea Summit – 13,796 feet above the Pacific; the world’s most powerful astronomical observatories cluster here
- Punalu’u Sand Beach – Volcanic black sand, sea turtles sunning on the shore; utterly unlike anywhere else
- Kohala Coast – The island’s luxury resort corridor; stunning setting, world-class golf, magnificent snorkelling reefs
Where to Stay
The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on the Kohala Coast remains the gold standard. Low-rise in format and adult-focused villas and bungalows set directly on a lava rock coastline, with a famous saltwater snorkelling pond. Book a King Lava Deluxe room for direct ocean access, or a private villa for that full residential feel.
North along the Kohala Coast, the Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, offers a contemporary take on Hawaiian luxury. Beautifully appointed rooms, with private lanais, along with golfing, tennis, spa, and an oceanfront restaurant. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection has been an island icon since 1965, set on Kauna’oa Bay. This resort hotel combines a championship golf course with a world-class art collection from Sotheby’s, tennis and pickleball, and an adults’ infinity pool which perches over Kauna’oa Bay.
View all our favourite hotels on the Island of Hawaii
Good To Know
Despite being the most south-eastern island in the archipelago, the Island of Hawaii is better connected than many visitors expect. Direct flights from Kona International Airport put Maui just 40 minutes away, O’ahu 45 minutes, and Kaua’i around an hour, making it easy to combine with another island on a longer trip. Moloka’i and Lāna’i require a little more planning, at around 1 hour 20 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes respectively, and for most itineraries, this island pairs naturally with Maui or O’ahu as a two-island combination. The island itself is vast, and the drive between Kona on the west coast and Hilo in the east takes around two hours. Most visitors base themselves on the Kohala Coast for the weather, the choice of resorts and the manta ray snorkelling, and for the ease with which you can venture east and visit the volcano as a day trip.
O’ahu — The Gathering Place
Hawaii’s most energetic island. Enjoy city lifestyle and skyscrapers, as well as history and surfing.
Sometimes called The Gathering Place Oʻahu, certainly lives up to its name; you can feel the energy as soon as you touch down in Honolulu. Hike to Diamond Hill for panoramic views over the city, take surfing lessons on the famous Waikiki Beach, visit Pearl Harbour and explore the wide range of culinary offerings from the traditional poke bowl to glamorous fine dining establishments.
Do Not Miss
- Diamond Head Summit — The classic crater hike at sunrise; extraordinary views over Waikīkī and the Pacific
- Pearl Harbour National Memorial — Among the most emotionally moving historic sites in the United States
- North Shore in winter — Watch the Banzai Pipeline from the beach; among the most thrilling spectacles in sport
- Honolulu’s Chinatown — Galleries, cocktail bars, extraordinary ramen; the city’s most creative neighbourhood
- Hanauma Bay — Still one of the world’s great snorkelling reefs; book early, numbers are now strictly limited
Where To Stay
O’ahu has the most varied luxury hotel offering in Hawaii, spanning iconic Waikīkī beachfront institutions, discreet hideaways and grand resorts on the island’s quieter west coast.
In Waikīkī, oceanfront hotel Halekulani has been welcoming discerning guests for over a century, with three restaurants, a jazz lounge and spa. This is a great choice for people who want Waikīkī without the buzz. Just along the beach, The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki has been a landmark since 1927, thanks to its distinctive Spanish-Moorish architecture and direct beach access, making it one of the most photographed hotels in Hawaii.
For those who want to be away from Waikīkī entirely, The Kahala Hotel & Resort is tucked away in one of Honolulu’s most exclusive neighbourhoods, a favourite with celebrities for its private beach and discreet personal service. And over on the west coast, the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina offers a resort-focused concept with multiple pools, a private beach lagoon and an expansive spa, just 30 minutes from the airport
View all our favourite hotels in Oahu
Good To Know
O’ahu sits at the geographic and logistical heart of the Hawaiian archipelago, making it the easiest island from which to explore the rest of the chain. Moloka’i and Kaua’i are both around 30 minutes away, Lāna’i just 35 minutes, Maui 40 minutes and the Big Island 45 minutes, all served by frequent Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest departures from Honolulu International Airport throughout the day. O’ahu makes a natural starting or finishing point for a multi-island itinerary, with the convenience of direct international connections combined with easy onward access to whichever islands are calling. Within the island itself, Honolulu and Waikīkī are well-connected by car and a new rail line, while car remains the best way to reach the North Shore and the island’s quieter windward coast.
Kaua’i — The Garden Isle
For the visitor who wants wilderness, wonder, experiences, hiking and adventure, great waves eco-luxury.
Known as The Garden Isle, it’s the oldest and northernmost island in the Hawaiian chain. Known for emerald valleys, sharp mountain spires and jagged cliffs. Kaua’i resists development fiercely, so it’s ideal for those looking for a more sustainable luxury experience. Some parts of the island are only accessible by air or water. Here, you can kayak the Wailua River, snorkel on Poʻipū Beach, hike the trails of Kōkeʻe State Park, or go ziplining above Kauaʻi’s lush valleys.
Do Not Miss
- Nā Pali Coast — By boat in summer, by helicopter year-round; among the most spectacular coastal scenery in the world
- Kalalau Trail — 11 miles of the most celebrated hiking in Hawaii; permit required, worth every step
- Waimea Canyon — The ‘Grand Canyon of the Pacific’ — a vast, colour-saturated gorge in the island’s dry south-west
- Princeville — Kaua’i’s north shore luxury enclave; the St Regis here has one of the finest views in Hawaii
- Hanalei Bay — A crescent of near-perfect sand beneath pleated green mountains; best at dusk
Where To Stay
The Ko’a Kea Resort on Poipu Beach offers a boutique experience entirely in keeping with the island’s quieter character. Sitting on Poipu Beach, one of the island’s sunniest stretches of coast, this intimate 121 room trades scale for atmosphere with a lagoon-style pool, a tiki bar, daily oceanfront yoga at sunrise and the sound of the Pacific from every room. Read our review of the Ko’a Kea Resort on Poipu Beach
For those who want a larger resort experience, the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay pairs world-class wellness with some of the most cinematic views in all of Hawaii. The Bamford Wellness Spa, farm-to-table dining and a stunning infinity pool looking out over the curve of Hanalei Bay make it the natural choice for those who want sustainability and luxury in equal measure.
Also on the sunny south shore, the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa offers the island’s most complete large-scale resort experience with 50 oceanfront acres of lush gardens, lagoon-style pools, a lazy river, six restaurants, including the celebrated Tidepools, and the award-winning Anara Spa with open-air treatment rooms rooted in traditional Hawaiian healing.
View all our favourite hotels in Kauai
Good To Know
Kaua’i sits at the north-western end of the Hawaiian chain, and while it feels wonderfully removed from the rest of the world, it is more accessible than its wild landscape might suggest. O’ahu is just 30 minutes away by air, close enough for a day trip if needed. Maui and Lāna’i are around 1 hour 15 minutes and 1 hour 10 minutes, respectively, while Moloka’i is around 1 hour 5 minutes. All services depart from Līhu’e Airport, which is compact, easy to navigate and around 25 minutes from the resort areas of Poipu in the south and around 45 minutes from the north shore. Kaua’i pairs beautifully with Maui or O’ahu as part of a two or three-island itinerary.
Lāna’i — Hawaii’s Private Island
For those who value seclusion and privacy, but still enjoy complete luxury
Lāna’i is unlike any other island in the archipelago, almost entirely privately owned and completely untouched. For a long time, it served as a pineapple plantation for the Dole Company and was then bought by billionaire Larry Ellison, who has improved the island’s infrastructure to create one of the world’s most unspoilt island getaways. Explore the island’s historic town, Lāna‘i City, a short and scenic ride from the harbour, where you’ll discover aloha within quaint shops and restaurants.
Do Not Miss
- Hulopoe Beach — One of Hawaii’s most beautiful and least crowded beaches; almost exclusively for guests of the Four Seasons
- Pū’u Pehe (Sweetheart Rock) — A legendary sea stack rising from turquoise water off Mānele Bay; one of Hawaii’s most iconic images
- Lāna’i City — The island’s only town; colourful plantation-era buildings, excellent coffee, a genuine sense of place
- Off-road 4WD exploration — Much of the island’s interior is accessible only by 4WD; the Garden of the Gods rock formations are extraordinary
Where To Stay
Lāna’i is unique in Hawaii for having just two hotels, both Four Seasons, and both exceptional, but so different in character that many guests book a few nights at each. The Four Seasons Resort Lāna’i on Mānele Bay sits right on the coast, with a clifftop infinity pool overlooking spinner dolphins and some of the finest snorkelling in the state just below. Offering impeccable service, beautiful rooms and direct access to Hulopoe Beach, widely regarded as one of Hawaii’s most pristine stretches of sand.
Up in the island’s cool, misty upcountry, the Sensei Lāna’i, a Four Seasons Resort, takes an entirely different approach. This is an adults-only wellness retreat built around the science of longevity with daily movement sessions, meditation, one-to-one health consultations, spa treatments and a Nobu restaurant.
Good To Know
Part of Lāna’i’s appeal is its sense of seclusion, and getting here feels like part of the experience. The most atmospheric arrival is the 45-minute Expeditions Ferry from Lahaina on Maui. For those flying in, O’ahu is the closest connection at around 35 minutes, with Moloka’i around 1 hour 5 minutes, Kaua’i 1 hour 10 minutes and the Island of Hawaii 1 hour 30 minutes away. Maui, at 1 hour 15 minutes by air but less than an hour by ferry, is the most natural pairing for a two-island stay. Spend a few nights exploring Maui’s dramatic landscapes, then cross to Lāna’i for its complete seclusion.
Moloka’i — The Friendly Isle
For the visitor who wants to enjoy complete solitude and a digital detox
Hawai’i’s fifth-largest island is where Hawai’i’s natural beauty and cultural traditions remain most untouched. At 38 miles long and 10 miles across at its widest point, it is home to dramatic sea cliffs, the world’s longest continuous fringing reef and Pāpōhaku Beach, one of Hawaiʻi’s largest white-sand beaches. A high percentage of the population is of Native Hawaiian ancestry, so history runs deep.
Do Not Miss
- Kalaupapa National Historical Park — The former leprosy colony at the base of the sea cliffs; accessible only by mule or on foot — among the most moving sites in Hawaii
- North Shore sea cliffs — Best seen by boat or helicopter; the scale is simply incomprehensible from land
- Pāpōhaku Beach — One of the longest white-sand beaches in Hawaii, and frequently completely empty
- Halawa Valley — A lush, historically significant valley at the island’s eastern tip; the guided hike to its waterfalls is extraordinary
- Moloka’i Fish Ponds — Ancient Hawaiian fishponds still in use — a window into pre-contact aquaculture and a powerful cultural experience
Where To Stay
Hotel Molokai is the island’s most characterful address, a small, friendly inn on Kamiloloa Beach with Polynesian-style bungalows set among tropical gardens, each opening out toward the water. As the sun goes down, the waterfront restaurant Hiro’s Ohana Grill becomes the natural gathering place, cocktails in hand, Hawaiian and cuisine on the table.
Good To Know
Moloka’i is one of the easiest islands to reach, and yet one of the least visited. O’ahu is just 30 minutes away by air, making it surprisingly accessible as an add-on to a broader Hawaiian itinerary. Maui is around 1 hour 10 minutes, Kaua’i and Lāna’i both approximately 1 hour 5 minutes, and the Island of Hawaii 1 hour 20 minutes. Alternatively, a ferry service operates between Moloka’i and Maui for those who prefer to arrive by sea. Public transport is virtually non-existent so a hire car is recommended. The roads are quiet, and the drives are genuinely beautiful.
