Fodor's Essential Hawaii
Whether you want to hike a volcano in Maui, relax on Waikiki Beach, or attend a luau, the...
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.
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Top Destinations
Top Destinations
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Big Island
![](/assets/destinations/6997/waikiki-honolulu-honolulu-and-oahum-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
Oahu
![](/assets/destinations/4636/backpacker-maui-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
Maui
![](/assets/destinations/189/na-pali-coastline-north-shore-kauai-kauai-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
Kauai
![](/assets/destinations/58225/waikiki-honolulu-honolulu-and-oahu-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
Honolulu and Pearl Harbor
![](/assets/destinations/4637/beach-waianapanapa-state-park-maui-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
West Maui
![](/assets/destinations/58262/restaurant-kailuakona-big-island-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
Kailua-Kona
![](/assets/destinations/705213/trees-coconut-coast-east-side-coconut-coast-kauai-kauai-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
The East Side
![](/assets/destinations/705312/kohala-coast-big-island-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
The Kohala Coast
![](/assets/destinations/705514/big-beach-makena-beach-state-park-maui-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
South Shore
![](/assets/destinations/4192/kepuhi-beach-molokai-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
Molokai
![](/assets/destinations/58266/imiloa-astronomy-center-hilo-big-island-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
Hilo
![](/assets/destinations/226/polihua-beach-lanai-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
Lanai
![](/assets/destinations/705214/nawiliwili-south-shore-kauai-kauai-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
The South Shore
![](/assets/destinations/705212/kalalau-beach-north-shore-kauai-kauai-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
The North Shore
![](/images/hotels/default-image-02.webp)
Windward Oahu
![](/assets/destinations/4639/japanese-garden-kepaniwai-park-and-heritage-gardens-central-maui-maui-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
Central Maui
![](/assets/destinations/705515/windsurfing-hookipa-beach-park-north-shore-maui-maui-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
North Shore
![](/assets/destinations/4643/polipoli-upcountry-maui-maui-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
Upcountry
![](/assets/destinations/705028/lanikuhonua-west-leeward-oahu-honolulu-and-oahu-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
Leeward and Central Oahu
![](/assets/destinations/58229/north-shore-oahu-honolulu-and-oahu-oahu-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
North Shore
![](/assets/destinations/705215/waimea-canyon-west-side-kauai-kauai-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
The West Side
![](/images/hotels/default-image-04.webp)
Central Molokai
![](/images/hotels/default-image-01.webp)
Lanai City
![](/assets/destinations/710337/coast-waianapanapa-state-park-maui-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
Road to Hana
![](/assets/destinations/705525/kilauea-volcano-hawaii-volcanoes-national-park-big-island-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Vicinity
![](/assets/destinations/705304/hills-waimea-big-island-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
Waimea
![](/assets/destinations/710331/waterfall-waipio-hamakua-coast-big-island-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
The Hamakua Coast
![](/assets/destinations/710119/kona-coast-big-island-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
The Kona Coast
![](/assets/destinations/705307/observatorysights_med.jpg)
Mauna Kea and Hapuna
![](/assets/destinations/705305/coast-kau-big-island-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
Kau
![](/images/hotels/default-image-02.webp)
Puna
![](/images/hotels/default-image-03.webp)
East Molokai
![](/assets/destinations/710105/oheo-gulch-east-maui-maui-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
East Maui
![](/images/hotels/default-image-04.webp)
West Molokai
![](/images/hotels/default-image-03.webp)
Windward Lanai
![](/assets/destinations/58227/beach-southeast-oahu-oahu-honolulu-and-oahu-hawaii-usa-north-america_med.jpg)
Southeast Oahu
![](/assets/destinations/705022/dole-pineapple-plantation-central-oahu-oahu-honolulu-and-oahu-hawaii-usa-north-america_med.jpg)
Central Oahu
![](/images/hotels/default-image-04.webp)
Kalaupapa Peninsula
![](/assets/destinations/710281/puu-o-kila-lookout-kalalau-valley-na-pali-coast-kauai-hawaii_med.jpg)
The Napali Coast
![](/assets/destinations/705524/oheo-gulch-waterfall-haleakala-national-park-maui-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
Haleakala National Park
![](/assets/destinations/4637/beach-waianapanapa-state-park-maui-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
West Maui
![](/assets/destinations/705213/trees-coconut-coast-east-side-coconut-coast-kauai-kauai-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
The East Side
![](/assets/destinations/705312/kohala-coast-big-island-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
The Kohala Coast
![](/assets/destinations/705514/big-beach-makena-beach-state-park-maui-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
South Shore
![](/assets/destinations/705214/nawiliwili-south-shore-kauai-kauai-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
The South Shore
![](/assets/destinations/705212/kalalau-beach-north-shore-kauai-kauai-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
The North Shore
![](/images/hotels/default-image-04.webp)
Windward Oahu
![](/assets/destinations/4639/japanese-garden-kepaniwai-park-and-heritage-gardens-central-maui-maui-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
Central Maui
![](/assets/destinations/705515/windsurfing-hookipa-beach-park-north-shore-maui-maui-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
North Shore
![](/assets/destinations/4643/polipoli-upcountry-maui-maui-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
Upcountry
![](/assets/destinations/705028/lanikuhonua-west-leeward-oahu-honolulu-and-oahu-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
Leeward and Central Oahu
![](/assets/destinations/58229/north-shore-oahu-honolulu-and-oahu-oahu-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
North Shore
![](/assets/destinations/705215/waimea-canyon-west-side-kauai-kauai-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
The West Side
![](/images/hotels/default-image-01.webp)
Central Molokai
![](/assets/destinations/710331/waterfall-waipio-hamakua-coast-big-island-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
The Hamakua Coast
![](/images/hotels/default-image-03.webp)
South Kona
![](/assets/destinations/710119/kona-coast-big-island-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
The Kona Coast
![](/images/hotels/default-image-01.webp)
Puna
![](/assets/destinations/705305/coast-kau-big-island-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
Kau
![](/images/hotels/default-image-01.webp)
East Molokai
![](/assets/destinations/710105/oheo-gulch-east-maui-maui-hawaii-usa_med.jpg)
East Maui
![](/images/hotels/default-image-04.webp)
West Molokai
![](/images/hotels/default-image-02.webp)
North Kona
![](/images/hotels/default-image-02.webp)
Windward Lanai
![](/assets/destinations/58227/beach-southeast-oahu-oahu-honolulu-and-oahu-hawaii-usa-north-america_med.jpg)
Southeast Oahu
![](/assets/destinations/705022/dole-pineapple-plantation-central-oahu-oahu-honolulu-and-oahu-hawaii-usa-north-america_med.jpg)
Central Oahu
![](/images/hotels/default-image-03.webp)
Kalaupapa Peninsula
![](/assets/destinations/710281/puu-o-kila-lookout-kalalau-valley-na-pali-coast-kauai-hawaii_med.jpg)
The Napali Coast
All Destinations
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Guidebooks
Guidebooks
Our worldwide travel correspondents bring you the best and most up-to-date coverage of over 7,500 global destinations.
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