The Best Hawaii Vacation Islands

Oahu is the most populated island in Hawaii. The major draw to Oahu is Waikiki, a bustling tourist area of Honolulu packed with high-rise hotels, shopping boutiques, restaurants and night life. Oahu's famed North Shore draws surfers to its massive waves in the winter, while the Windward side boasts the lovely green Koolau mountains.

Maui is the "Valley Isle," defined by a broad agricultural valley bridging two volcanoes: the older West Maui Mountains to the west, and the massive Haleakala to the east. The major resorts on Maui are concentrated around Lahaina on the northwest side of the island and include Kaanapali and Kapalua, and Wailea on the south central coast. Popular activities on Maui include windsurfing and kite surfing at Hookipa Beach, driving the verdant Road to Hana and heading to the Haleakala caldera for sunrise.

Hawaii, commonly called the "Big Island," is nearly twice the size of all the other major Hawaiian Islands combined. It boasts tremendous geographic diversity with 11 of Earth's 13 climatic zones. The Kohala coast is marked by its stark lava desert, while the South Kona coast possesses a wetter, cooler climate that is perfect for growing one of the world's most desirable coffees. Hilo, on the Big Island's east coast, is the rainiest city in the United States. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is one of the few places in the world that visitors can view molten lava spilling into the ocean.

Kauai is known as "The Garden Isle" for its lush environment, tropical flowers and gushing waterfalls. The major tourist destinations are the rainy Hanalei area on the north shore and the sunny area around Poipu in the South. The primary resorts on the island are the Princeville Resort near Hanalei, the Hyatt Regency Kauai near Poipu and the Kauai Marriot Resort near the main town of Lihue. The Na Pali Coast is a series of idyllic valleys along Kauai's west coast that are uninhabited and difficult to access. Waimea Canyon is a majestic, deeply eroded gorge commonly called "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific."

The "Pineapple Isle" was once owned by Dole Food Company and was the largest pineapple plantation in the world. Now it is better known for its luxurious Four Seasons Resorts. The Four Seasons Manele Bay is an ocean-side retreat featuring fine food and opulent surroundings. The Four Seasons Koele, located "upcountry" among the Cook pines, is modeled after an English hunting lodge and offers activities such as lawn bowling, croquet, skeet shooting and archery. The golf here is fantastic.