Hawaii Travel Guide

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Hawaii overflows with natural beauty. Piercing the surface of the Pacific from the ocean floor, the Hawaiian Islands are garlanded with soft sand beaches and dramatic volcanic cliffs. Long days of sunshine and fairly mild year-round temperatures make this an all-season destination, and the islands' offerings—from urban Honolulu on Oahu to the luxury resorts of Maui to the natural wonders of Kauai and the Big Island—appeal to all kinds of visitors. Less-developed Lanai and Molokai are quieter, but all the islands are rich in Hawaiian culture.

Guidebooks for Every Journey

Fodor's Essential Hawaii

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Fodor's Kauai

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Fodor's Complete Guide to the National Parks of the USA: All 63 parks from Maine to American Samoa

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Fodor's Big Island of Hawaii

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Fodor's Oahu: with Honolulu, Waikiki & the North Shore

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Fodor's Maui: With Molokai & Lanai

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Find a Hotel

Guidebooks for Every Journey

Fodor's Essential Hawaii

Buy Now See All Guideboks

Fodor's Kauai

Easy Planning
Local Writers
Itineraries
Pullout Map

Buy Now See All Guideboks

Fodor's Complete Guide to the National Parks of the USA: All 63 parks from Maine to American Samoa

Buy Now See All Guideboks

Fodor's Big Island of Hawaii

Easy Planning
Local Writers
Itineraries
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Fodor's Oahu: with Honolulu, Waikiki & the North Shore

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Itineraries
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Fodor's Maui: With Molokai & Lanai

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Top Destinations

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Big Island

It takes time to explore the Big Island's stunning landscapes, but the rewards are spectacular. Hawaii’s largest island has more than 250 miles of coast...

Oahu

Oahu is the Hawaiian island that has it all—untouched tropical landscapes as well as a stimulating urban vibe. You can explore the beaches and gentle...

Maui

"Maui no ka oi" is what locals say—it's the best, the most, the top of the heap. To those who know Maui well, there are...

Kauai

Hawaii's ultimate tropical paradise, Kauai has amazing natural wonders to explore, from the velvety green, accordion-folded cliffs of Napali Coast to the multicolor vistas of...

Honolulu and Pearl Harbor

Here is Hawaii's only true metropolis, its seat of government, center of commerce and shipping, entertainment and recreation mecca, a historic site, and an evolving...

Kailua-Kona

A fun and quaint seaside town, Kailua-Kona has the souvenir shops and open-air restaurants you'd expect in a small tourist hub, plus a surprising number...

Waikiki and Diamond Head

A short drive from downtown Honolulu, Waikiki is Oahu's primary resort area. A mix of historic and modern hotels and condos front the sunny 2-mile...

The East Side

The East Side encompasses Lihue, Wailua, and Kapaa. It's also known as the Coconut Coast, as there was once a coconut plantation where today's aptly...

South Shore

Blessed by more than its fair share of sun, the southern shore of Haleakala was an undeveloped wilderness until the 1970s, when the sun worshippers...

West Maui

Separated from the remainder of the island by steep pali (cliffs), West Maui has a reputation for attitude and action. Once upon a time this...

Hilo

In comparison to Kailua-Kona, Hilo is often deemed "the old Hawaii." With significantly fewer visitors than residents, more historic buildings, and a much stronger identity...

Molokai

Molokai is generally thought of as the last bit of "real" Hawaii. Tourism has been held at bay by the island’s unique history and the...

The South Shore

As you follow the main road south from Lihue, the landscape becomes lush and densely vegetated before giving way to drier conditions that characterize Poipu...

The North Shore

The North Shore of Kauai includes the environs of Kilauea, Princeville, Hanalei, and Haena. Traveling north on Route 56 from the airport, the coastal highway...

Lanai

With no traffic or traffic lights and miles of open space, Lanai seems suspended in time, and that can be a good thing. Small (141...

Central Maui

Kahului, where you most likely landed when you arrived on Maui, is the industrial and commercial center of the island. West of Kahului is Wailuku...

Windward Oahu

Looking at Honolulu's topsy-turvy urban sprawl, you would never suspect the windward side existed. It's a secret Oahuans like to keep, so they can watch...

North Shore

An hour from town and a world away in atmosphere, Oahu's North Shore, roughly from Kahuku Point to Kaena Point, is about small farms and...

The West Side

Exploring the West Side is akin to visiting an entirely different world. The landscape is dramatic and colorful: a patchwork of green, blue, black, and...

Upcountry

The west-facing upper slope of Haleakala is considered "Upcountry" by locals and is a hidden gem by most accounts. Although this region is responsible for...

East Maui with the Road to Hana

The Road to Hana is a 55-mile journey into the unspoiled heart of Maui. Tracing a centuries-old path, the road begins as a well-paved highway...

Leeward and Central Oahu

West (or Leeward) Oahu has the island's "second city"—the planned community of Kapolei, where for years the government has been trying to attract enough jobs...

North Shore

Blasted by winter swells and wind, Maui’s North Shore draws water-sports thrill seekers from around the world. But there’s much more to this area of...

Hanalei, Haena, and West

Crossing the historic one-lane bridge into Hanalei reveals old-world Hawaii, including working taro farms, poi making, and evenings of throwing horseshoes at Black Pot Beach...

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Vicinity

Few visitors realize that in addition to "the volcano" (Kilauea)—that mountain oozing new layers of lava onto its flanks—there's also Volcano, the village. Conveniently located...

Kaanapali and Nearby

As you drive north from Lahaina, the first resort community you reach is Kaanapali, a cluster of high-rise hotels framing a world-class white-sand beach. This...

Waimea

Thirty minutes over the mountain from Kohala, Waimea offers a completely different experience than the rest of the island. Rolling green hills, large open pastures...

Lahaina

Lahaina is a bustling waterfront town packed with visitors from around the globe. Some may describe the area as tacky, with too many T-shirt vendors...

Kapalua and Kahakuloa

Upscale Kapalua is north of the Kaanapali resorts, past Napili, and is a hideaway for those with money who want to stay incognito. Farther along...

Kau

Perhaps the most desolate region of the island, Kau is nevertheless home to some spectacular sights. Mark Twain wrote some of his finest prose here...

Puna

The Puna District is wild in every sense of the word. The jagged black coastline is changing all the time; the trees are growing out...

Mauna Kea and Hapuna

Maunakea ("white mountain") offers the antithesis of the typical tropical island experience. Freezing temperatures and arctic conditions are common at the summit, and snow can...

Kahala

Oahu's wealthiest neighborhood has streets lined with multimillion-dollar homes. At intervals along tree-lined Kahala Avenue are narrow lanes that provide public access to Kahala's quiet...

The Kohala Coast

If you had only a weekend to spend on the Big Island, this is probably where you'd want to be. The Kohala Coast is a...

The Hamakua Coast

The spectacular waterfalls, mysterious jungles, emerald fields, and stunning ocean vistas along Highway 19 northwest of Hilo are collectively referred to as the Hilo–Hamakua Heritage...

Southeast Oahu

Driving southeast from Waikiki on busy four-lane Kalanianaole Highway, you'll pass a dozen bedroom communities tucked into the valleys at the foot of the Koolau...

The Napali Coast

Napali Coast is considered the jewel of Kauai, and for all its greenery, it would surely be an emerald. After seeing the coast, many are...

Haleakala National Park

From the tropics to the moon! Two hours, 38 miles, 10,023 feet—those are the unlikely numbers involved in reaching Maui’s highest point, the summit of...

Central Oahu

Oahu's central plain is a patchwork of old towns and new residential developments, military bases, farms, ranches, and shopping malls, with a few visit-worthy attractions...

The Kona Coast

South of Kailua-Kona, Highway 11 hugs splendid coastlines and rural towns, leaving busy streets behind. The winding, upcountry road takes you straight to the heart...

South Kona and Kealakekua Bay

Between its coffee plantations, artsy havens, and Kealakekua Bay—one of the most beautiful spots on the Big Island—South Kona has plenty of activities to occupy...

Kahului

With the island’s largest airport and commercial harbor, Kahului is Maui’s commercial hub. But it also offers plenty of natural and cultural attractions. The town...

Lanai City

A tidy plantation town, built in 1924 by Jim Dole to accommodate workers for his pineapple business, Lanai City is home to old-time residents, resort...

West Molokai

The remote beaches and rolling pastures on Molokai’s west end are presided over by Mauna Loa, a dormant volcano, and a sleepy little former plantation...

Kalaupapa Peninsula

The most remote area in the entire Hawaiian Islands is a place of stunning natural beauty coupled with a tragic past. It’s here that residents...

East Molokai

On the beautifully undeveloped east end of Molokai you can find ancient fishponds, a magnificent coastline, splendid ocean views, and a fertile valley that’s been...

Keanae, Wailua, and Nearby

Officially, Keanae is the halfway point to Hana, but for many, this is where the drive offers the most rewarding vistas. The greenery seems to...

Paia

At the intersection of Hana Highway and Baldwin Avenue, Paia has eclectic boutiques that supply everything from high fashion to hemp-oil candles. Some of Maui’s...

Wailuku

Wailuku is peaceful now—although it wasn’t always so. Its name means Water of Destruction, after the fateful battle in Iao Valley that pitted King Kamehameha...

Princeville and Kilauea

Built on a bluff offering gorgeous sea and mountain vistas, including Hanalei Bay, Princeville is the creation of a 1970s resort development. The area is...

Makawao

At the intersection of Baldwin and Makawao avenues, this once-tiny town has managed to hang on to its country charm (and eccentricity) as it has...

Kula Highway

Kula: most Mauians say it with a hint of a sigh. Why? It’s just that much closer to heaven. On the broad shoulder of Haleakala...

Wailea

The South Shore’s resort community, Wailea is slightly quieter and drier than its West Maui sister, Kaanapali. Many visitors cannot pick a favorite, so they...

Maalaea

Pronounced "Mah-ah-lye-ah," this spot is not much more than a few condos, an aquarium, and a wind-blasted harbor (where there are tour boats)—but that’s more...

Kihei

Traffic lights and shopping malls may not fit your notion of paradise, but Kihei offers dependably warm sun, excellent beaches, and a front-row seat to...

Kipahulu and Nearby

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North Kona

The North Kona district is characterized by vast lava fields, dotted with turnoff points to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Most...

Moiliili

Packed into the neighborhood of Moiliili are flower and lei shops, restaurants (Dagon, Fukuya Delicatessen, Sweet Home Café), and little stores such as Kuni Island...

Haiku

At one time this area centered on a couple of enormous pineapple canneries. Both have been transformed into rustic warehouse malls. Because of the post...

Windward Lanai

The eastern shore of Lanai is mostly deserted. A few inaccessible heiau, or temples, rock walls and boulders marking old shrines, and a restored church...

Central Molokai

Most residents live centrally, near the island’s one and only true town, Kaunakakai. It’s just about the only place on the island to get food...

Huelo, Kailua, and Nearby

As the Road to Hana begins its journey eastward, the slopes get steeper and the Pacific Ocean pops into view. The first waterfall you see...