Hi... Just to get the ball rolling. Considering Hawaii trip in the fall. Not interested in crowded, touristy. We kind of like off the beaten path travel. Would like to hike, go to nice beaches, see a volcano and hang with the locals. Which island would you prefer? Thanks in advance.

All those things except the volcano -- Kauai!

There is only one island with a volcano that is currently flowing lava and that is Hawaii (the big island).

If this thread runs true to form, you will get nominations for all four of the major islands, and maybe the minor ones.

I suggest you do a search for "Hawaii" and read at least some posts that relate to your question. This ground has been plowed many times.

Sorry. That wasn't as helpful as it could have been. Try this link to the Fodors online guides to the several islands.

http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/hawaii/

Having lived in Hawaii I would likely second the notion of Kauai absent the volcano.

Hanging with the locals????? In a bar? Where?

stayhawaii.com
konaweb.com
WAY more variety lower tourist and the only active volcano
A no brainer for me...
Kohala Coast my fav Hapuna Prince last for me
$1k car hotel flight booking priceline.com
4 hour flight LAX to Kona nice cheap direct.

It's pretty easy to get from island to island in Paradise, so I would suggest you do as we did on our honeymoon years ago. Start on Big Island/Hawaii - and stay a night or two up at or by the Volcano (see Volcano Village Lodge among others http://volcanovillagelodge.com/lodge.shtml ) - and then enjoy a few days on the sunny Kona side.

Then after a short flight (or connecting through the smaller inter-island terminal in Hono) - kick back on the beautiful north shore of the Garden Island - Kauai. There are other posts in here about both. http://www.terragalleria.com/pacific...i-north-shore/

How much time do you have? One week per island is the general guideline. I would not try to see Hawaii (The Big Island) and another island in less than 10 days. Hawaii is very big.

A rental car is a must. Make reservations when you make your flight reservations.

I don't think of hanging with the locals as much of an activity on Hawaii. Most locals are working two jobs (or more) to make ends meet and aren't particulary interested in hanging with tourists. They'd rather hang with their friends and family in their spare time.

Have "hung with locals" a number of times in Hawaii. Of course, I understood a bit about the Islands - as when I practied law for the Feds - I had a great boss who had lived there two different times during his Coast Guard career (Once on Poipu and once in Waikiki - but he was all over the islands on Coast Guard business) -and I had law school friends from there also. So much of it has to do with how you approach it and if you don't feel comfortable - they won't either.

Tahihi Nui in Hanalei (North Shore Kauai) was great. Good local music and fun times. http://www.thenui.com/

And Big Island is the biggest of the Hawaiian Islands (you can put all the other islands on it and still have some room ) but I have driven around it in a day.

Everybody is different - but I think seeing two islands in a week - ideally 10 days - is very doable.

In fact - my old boss' son has been a doctor up on the North Shore of Oahu - forever - and they live right on the edge of Waimea Bay, although the office is in Haleiwa. Have met a lot of locals through Dr.T and his wife and family - and one of his daughters used to win hula contests, even though she was blond. He even surfs and his wife boogie boards - which is what I like - and also - body surfing.