Putting its dramatic landscape aside (for the moment, at least), Kauai has a lovely laidback vibe and feels a million miles from the hubbub of Honolulu. This fertile stunner is mostly covered in tropical rainforest and, as a result, it typically attracts hikers, nature-lovers and bird-watchers (the island is home to rare species of Hawaiian honeycreepers, such as the black-masked, yellow-and-olive ‘akeke‘e, which is only found in the mountains of Kauai). It’s not for nothing that Kauai Dropdown content is known as the “Garden Isle” of the Hawaiian islands. What’s more, it’s primely positioned for sunsets that will take your breath away. You could combine seeing a staggering number of Maui’s natural hotspots into one trip by taking this epic private tour.Īll things considered, Maui is best-suited for active adventurers and devoted beach-worshippers - with plenty of luxury resorts to lay down your head in style, among them Montage Kapalua Bay, an elegantly landscaped 24-acre oceanfront resort with luxurious suites. Not for the faint-hearted, this zig-zagging route along Maui’s north-eastern shore affords incredible views of waterfalls, beaches and tropical rainforests. Watching the sunrise atop Haleakala volcano is an unforgettable experience, as is driving the winding 64-mile Hana Highway. Here on the slopes of Maui’s volcano, life is a mix of geologic wonders and cowboy culture, with a thirty-mile system of trails to follow on foot or horseback. If staggering scenery is more your bag, you’ll want to make a beeline for Haleakala National Park. One of the many beaches viewable from the Road to Hana, Maui © Vacclav / Shutterstock Covering Waimea Valley’s waterfalls, the beautiful Byodo-In temple, Halona Blowhole, and much more besides, it gives a great overview of Oahu.

Alternatively, if you fancy mixing culture with nature, this full-day trip around the entire island is the perfect way to do exactly that. A great way to see the city and historic Pearl Harbour is to take this fascinating four-hour tour in the company of an expert Hawaiian Islands tourist guide. Honolulu Dropdown content itself has plenty to satisfy history and culture buffs, including the Iolani Palace and Honolulu Museum of Art. Where else on earth can you explore dense rainforest and volcanic craters, surf monstrous waves, take-in a multimillion-dollar cityscape, and goof around on a Disney resort? Oahuĭropdown contentHome to Hawaii’s capital and largest city, Oahu Dropdown content is a pretty unique place, to put it mildly. One thing’s certain, you’re sure to encounter the spirit during your trip whichever island you choose to visit, as this guide to the Hawaiian islands reveals. Something to strive for in life - an ethos of treating those around you with love and compassion. It’s an expression of sincerity from the heart. Though commonly used as a greeting, aloha means much more than “hello”.

Translated, aloha comprises alo (face) and ha (the breath of life), and it binds the islands’ populations, whatever their background. Despite their differences - physical and cultural - the Hawaiian islands are united by the unmistakable spirit of aloha.

Hawaii capital island