Hawaii is an island state in the Western United States, about 2,000 miles from the U.S. mainland in the Pacific Ocean. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state in the tropics.
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For an idyllic and outdoorsy island escape, choose Maui. If you want to sprinkle in city life, Honolulu's the way to go. After spending seven years in the U.S. Air Force as an Arabic linguist, Carissa is now a freelance writer using points and miles to fund a four-year (and counting!) adventure.
In 2021, Honolulu, Oahu, saw a total of 3.3 million visitors, while neighboring Maui received fewer at 2.3 million. Despite this, these two destinations are by far the most-visited across the Hawaiian islands, which makes it much easier for guests to find places to stay and things to do.
The best time to visit this Hawaiian island to avoid tourist crowds is April to June and September to November. Lanai and Molokai are the least visited islands and are the perfect rural getaways for introverts.
In fact, Oahu is the cheapest of the Hawaiian islands for lodging, coming in behind both the Big Island and Kauai. Add to this its lower costs for food and transportation, and Oahu becomes a much more affordable option than Maui.
One of the main reasons to fall in love with Maui is undoubtedly its gorgeous beaches. Volumes have been written about Maui beaches and their diversity. From white to black and red sand, from snorkeling to windsurfing and swimming, Maui has over 30 miles of unbelievably beautiful beaches.
The best way to experience Hawaii is to devote at least five days to each island. If you want to tack on a quick trip to another island in a short amount of time, Oahu is your best bet, as it's the main hub for the islands.
If it's your first time in Hawaii, your ideal island will depend on your travel style and to-do list. For most travelers visiting Hawaii for the first time, the Big Island of Hawaii should be the winner because it offers the most diverse experiences.
While many vacations are five to seven days long, we recommend staying for at least 10 days to enjoy your Hawaiian vacation. The time change is difficult to adjust to at first and takes about 3 days to get fully acclimated. So, allowing a couple days to get over the jet lag is important.
Oahu vs Maui: Beaches and SnorkelingThis is tough and subjective. But I'm here to give you answers. Beauty-wise, I'd have to say Oahu has slightly better beaches, especially in the summer. You'll find stunning beaches all over the island — Waimea Bay (summer), Waikiki Beach, and Lanikai Beach, just to name a few.
The cheapest time to fly to Hawaii is during February and March. The most expensive month to fly is December when the holiday period falls, with January being very expensive as well. The peak travel months of June and July are surprisingly not the most expensive months for flights, with middle figure prices.
The Kona side is the best area to stay on Big Island as it will have the driest, sunniest weather and by far the best beaches. In fact, nearly the entire eastern coastline has no sandy beaches at all! Rather than sand, you will find only an extended lava rock shelf that drops right into the ocean.
If you want to avoid the crowds, then head over to the least touristy beaches such as Waimanalo Beach and Kaimana Beach on Oahu or Ke'ei Beach and Shipman Beach on the Big Island to take a swim or catch some rays in silence.