The six main islands of Hawaii-Oahu, Maui, the Big Island, Kauai, Molokai and Lanai-all have their own characters, landscapes and popular attractions. When planning a trip to Hawaii, whether you are visiting one island or many, you can make sure you have a great vacation by researching the different islands in advance. You can either plan your choice of islands to visit according to the activities you wish to pursue and sights you want to see, or pick the islands first then choose the from available attractions.
The Best of Oahu
The island of Oahu is a hub for tourists visiting Hawaii. The large metropolitan city of Honolulu and world-famous Waikiki Beach are on Oahu and are popular places to visit for shopping, surfing and nightlife. The Polynesian Cultural Center is one of Hawaii's premier cultural attractions, where visitors can learn about the traditional ways of life of the people of the Polynesian islands and finish with a feast at an authentic luau. The North Shore of Oahu is known for its huge waves and surfing competitions. Another popular attraction is Pearl Harbor, where you can pay your respects to those who lost their lives in the World War II attack. Golfers looking for a challenge can play the "hardest golf course in the world," Ko'olau Golf Club, which has a course rating of 74.4 and a slope rating of 152.
polynesia.com
golflink.com/golf-courses/course.aspx?course=1455356
The Best of Maui
Maui is called "the Magic Isle" because it features some unbelievably beautiful scenery. A drive along the Hana Highway is a popular day trip for visitors to Maui. The road twists and turns along the coast and through tropical rain forests filled with waterfalls and pools, providing unmatched panoramic ocean views for a 2- to 4-hour drive. Haleakala is a 10,000-foot high active volcano on Maui. On a visit to Haleakala National Park you will experience three distinct climate and landscape zones on the way to the stark summit area above the clouds. From November until May, thousands of humpback whales visit the warm waters off south and west Maui to breed and raise their young. Many tour companies offer whale watching boat trips throughout the season to enable you to see the magnificent creatures up close for an unforgettable experience. Maui boasts many highly-rated golf courses. Kapalua Resort is one of Golf Magazine's "Top 100 You Can Play." Its Plantation Course is where the PGA Tour's Mercedes Championship opens and the course is known for its dramatic elevation changes. The highlight of the Bay Course, designed by Arnold Palmer, is some amazing ocean vistas.
nps.gov/hale
golflink.com/golf-courses/course.aspx?course=265145
golflink.com/golf-courses/course.aspx?course=264945
The Best of the Big Island
The Big Island of Hawaii is known for its active volcanoes. Volcanoes National Park is an International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site. It consists of Mount Kilauea and Mauna Loa, covering distinct climate zones and vastly different landscapes and features. Kilauea has been erupting constantly since 1983 and visitors can witness the formation of the earth at the edge of the ocean by driving to the end of Chain of Craters Road. In the distance you can see where red lava pours into the water, creating a beacon of steam. You can even play a round of golf in Volcanoes National Park at Volcano Golf and Country Club. The Kona Coast on Hawai'i's eastern side offers the seaside town of Kona, coffee plantations and world-class diving and snorkeling. One notable excursion available in Kailua-Kona is the manta ray night dive or snorkel, on which you enter the ocean after dark and swim either above or below giant manta rays feasting on plankton.
nps.gov/havo
golflink.com/golf-courses/course.aspx?course=268545
The Best of Kauai
Kauai is known as "the Garden Isle" for its lush tropical vegetation. The best activities on Kauai involve exploring the beautiful and unspoiled natural scenery. Waimea Canyon is known as "the Grand Canyon of the Pacific" for its vast size and rugged scenery, and it is a popular spot for hiking and photography. The gentle Wailua River can be navigated by boat, canoe or kayak for a leisurely excursion. The tropical rainforests of Kauai can be explored in a variety of ways: you can hike, take a ride through the trees on a zipline adventure, or take a horseback riding trip. For golfers looking for exquisite courses, try the Princeville Resort at Hanalei on the North Shore, which provides two championship courses with a total of 45 holes.
golflink.com/golf-courses/course.aspx?course=267345
The Best of Molokai
Kalaupapa National Historical Park is worth a visit to learn about the history of Molokai. From 1866 until 1969, patients suffering from Hansen's disease--better known as leprosy--were forced into exile in the remote Kalaupapa peninsula. A visit to the park will show you how the settlement was established, how those afflicted with the disease lived. You will also learn about the involvement of Father Damien, a missionary who found his calling helping the residents of Kalaupapa. The Halawa Valley is considered sacred in traditional Hawaiian culture. On a hike of any length through the valley you will see waterfalls and ancient places of worship within its dense tropical vegetation. There is one golf course on Molokai-the 9 hole public Ironwood Hills Golf Course.
nps.gov/KALA
golflink.com/golf-courses/course.aspx?course=264445
The Best of Lanai
Lanai is just seven miles from Maui. It features two luxury golf resorts with championship courses-the Jack Nicklaus-designed Challenge at Manele and Greg Norman-designed Experience at Koele. At Hulopoe Bay you can enjoy beach and ocean activities with the added attraction of the chance to see spinner dolphins. Visitors to Keahiakawelo or the "Garden of the Gods" will see some amazing and unusual rock formations. The dramatic and barren landscape has been compared to surface of the moon or Mars, and the site is only accessible by 4-wheel drive vehicle.
golflink.com/golf-courses/course.aspx?course=1459856
golflink.com/golf-courses/course.aspx?course=1371156
About The Author
Joanne Lewis is a freelance writer who has written for newspapers since 2005. She is currently the editor of a weekly community newspaper in Los Angeles, Calif. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Science in politics from the University of Bristol, England.
