A trip to Hawaii is a dream vacation for many, but choosing the islands for a vacation is only the beginning.  Although the Hawaiian Islands are made up of many islands and atolls, along with smaller islets, when it comes to vacation, you’re probably talking about visiting one of the six main islands.

Depending on what you want out of your vacation, frenetic levels of activity, rocking night life, or peaceful sandy beaches, you’ll want to choose an island that fits your personal preferences.  While sharing the basics of beautiful sun, sand, and surf, each island has its own special ambience, so be sure to make the right match up and have a perfect vacation in paradise.

Waikiki Beach shortly after sunrise ©2010, Mary Jo Manzanares

Here’s a brief rundown to help with your preliminary research.

Hawaii, the Big Island:  This is the largest of the islands, and also the youngest in development.  On the windward side of the island, you’ll find lush, tropical rain forests and quaint little inns, while on the leeward side of the island are lava rock beaches and big resorts.  There’s also an active volcano on the island, Kilauea.  The Big Island has lots of off-the-beaten-path kind of spots, and with a little luck you’ll be able to find one of the island’s hidden black sand beaches.  If you want activity, you’ll find resorts along the Kohala-Kona Coast offering golf, sport fishing, snorkeling, and tennis.  Specialty tours include Kona coffee plantation tours, swimming with manta rays, hiking across lava beds in Volcanoes National Park, or gazing at the stars at Imiloa Astronomy Center.

Oahu, the Gathering Place:  The most populated of the islands, you’ll find the best in shopping, dining, nightlife, and beautiful hotels and resorts.  The most popular area is Waikiki Beach, where you’ll find options, in all budget ranges, for hotels, dining, shopping, and things to do.  The trade off, however, is beaches that are more crowded, and a little faster, more hectic pace.  Drive or hike Diamond Head, get a little culture at the Polynesian Cultural Center or Iolani Palace, or spend a day at the beach or out on the water.  For a quieter Oahu experience, you could check out the North Shore.  With only one resort (Turtle Bay Resort), it’s a slower, more relaxed pace, and a wonderful antidote to the frenzy that can overcome Waikiki.

Maui, the Valley Isle:  Offering something for everyone, Maui is full of quiet, peaceful activities as well as home to bustling and energetic nightlife.  The windward side is fairly remote, with plenty of out-of-the-way spots to spend some quiet time.  The leeward side has plenty of resorts, and development, but you’ll also find a few secluded areas as well.  You may want the solitude of watching sunrise from the top of Mount Haleakala or the adventure of driving the road to Hana, or exploring the shopping, dining and nightlife of the former whaling village (and now main tourist town) of Lahaina.  You’ll find plenty of beautiful water for diving, swimming and snorkeling, and can choose to stay at a major resort (Kapalua, Kaanapali, or Wailea) or find a condo of small hotel.  Maui, with all it’s variety, is a popular spot with honeymooners.

Bench sitting on Kauai ©2010, Mary Jo Manzanares

Kauai, the Garden Isle:  Less commercial, less developed, and more tropical, Kauai is the oldest of the islands.  This is a wonderful island on which to relax, while still offering a few attractions and things to do.  Most activity centers around the lush tropical foliage of the island, along with Fern Grotto (a natural lava-rock grotto with hanging ferns, accessible only by the Wailua River), Waimea Canyon (the Grand Canyon of the Pacific), Na Pali Coast (cliffs, sea caves, remote beaches and waterfalls), hiking, inner tubing, and zip-lining.  Princeville and Poipu are the resort areas, and a little more upscale, and Hanalei and Koloa are older, more historic Hawaiian towns.

Lanai, the Pineapple Isle:  The smallest of the island, Lanai will appeal to people who want to escape the crowds, and be alone.  With only a couple resorts, you won’t find a lot of tourists here.  But that doesn’t mean you won’t find upscale accommodations –- two of the resorts are operated by the Four Seasons.  There’s still a variety of terrain, though, and you can go from beach to forest in very little time.  Rent a jeep and go island exploring, check out Shipwreck Beach, Kaunolu (King Kamehameha’s summer fishing village), and Garden of the Gods (which some swear looks a bit like Mars).

Molokai, the Friendly Isle:  The most secluded and laid back of the island, Molokai harkens back to what Hawaii was like years and years ago, making it one of the most historic and culturally significant islands.  There is only one resort (the Aqua Hotel Molokai with 53 rooms), although you’ll find a few small inns and private residences that rent out rooms, so the island never gets very crowded. Molokai was the residence of Father Damien, a Catholic Priest who cared for the lepers who once sought refuge on the island.  Many of the residents of the island are descendants from the original lepers who lived here.  There are, however, NO active cases on leprosy on Molokai, so it is a safe place to visit.

Which Hawaiian Island do you want to fall in love with?

Photo credit:  both from Mary Jo Manzanares

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In the middle of the Seattle rainy season, which come February will seem like it’s been going on FOREVER, planning a little sun break can be a life saver.  Escaping the grey, dreary days can be just the lift you need to face the remainder of the days until summer.

One of my favorite parts of a visit to the tropics is the lush foliage and beautiful blooms of the island.

While my most recent visit to Hawaii was, ironically, to Kauai (known as the Garden Isle, most likely for its rain), you just can’t help but be captivated by the beautiful hibiscus growing everyone around the island.

If you enjoy travel photography, you’ll want to take a look at some great photos at Photo Friday, sponsored by Debbie at Delicious Baby.  Check it out – there’s some great stuff there!

Photo credit:  Mary Jo Manzanares

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I see the beginning of the day creeping out of the darkness, and daylight starts to spill across my hotel room.  I hear the surf, thinking that’s what has woken me.  I listen again.  It’s a rooster crowing.  That’s right, I’m on Kauai.

Rooster in the tree in Kauai

Grabbing a cup of coffee, I head out to my lanai (I’d call it a balcony if I was anywhere else  but Hawaii), and settle in with a stack of magazines.  It’s a pleasant way to ease into the day, and I could have actually gotten a lot of things done – if it weren’t for the darn rooster in the tree.  Where else but Kauai could you see a rooster in a tree?!  He, and several that were flocking about on the ground seemed intent on having a spirited conversation at 6:30 am.

Thousands of wild chickens, including the six roosters below my lanai, call Kauai home.  Originally a food source for the island’s Polynesian settlers they now seem to outnumbered residents.  With few natural predators, they pretty much go and do as they please.

It’s not uncommon to see them wandering alongside the highway, near the pool at a resort hotel, or hopping across a path leading to the beach.  Or in a tree outside your room.

Instead of thinking of it as annoying, just make a mind shift.  It’s their way of saying “Aloha, welcome to the islands.”

Photo credit:  Mary Jo Manzanares

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Greetings from Kauai, the Garden Isle of Hawaii.

The fourth largest of the Hawaiian Islands, it is often called the Garden Isle because it is lush and green.  It’s lush and green because it rains a lot here, and there are spots on the island that claim to have the most rainfall of anywhere on Earth.  Whether that’s a fact, or an urban legend, seems up for debate, but there’s no debating that this island is not what most people expect of Hawaii.

This was a view of the ocean on my walk this morning.  I was walking along a path to the city of Kapa’a, the second largest on the island.

In addition to the surf crashing against the volcanic rocks on the beach, my morning walk was peppered with the sounds of roosters crowing and chickens clucking.  The area is home to thousands of wild roosters and hens, and they roam freely around yards, walkways, and even along the edge of the beach.  I

It’s unusual to be walking alongside the ocean and hear roosters crowing.  It’s even more startling to have on cross your path on the beach!

Photo credit: personal collection

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Kauai is the oldest of the main Hawaii Islands, and is the fourth largest of the islands, and is about a 100 miles from Oahu.

Often referred to as the “Garden Isle,” Kauai is one of the wettest spot in the world, with an annual rainfall of 460 inches. 

I’m most familiar with the town of Lihue, on the southeast coast of Kauai.   Most visitors, however, may be more familiar with Waimea, once the capital of the island, and the first place in Hawaii visited by Captain James Cook. 

While there’s still beaches and sand, the lushness of Kauai lends itself to lots of other outdoor activities.

To learn more about Kauai, and all the other Hawaiian Islands, head over to The Hawaii Traveler, and read what Jody has to say about one of the top vacation spots in the United States.

Photo credit:  personal collection

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