Top tips

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The Hawaiian group has long been the stuff of paradise island dreaming. These islands are honeymoon heaven, while also being known for world-class surfing, spectacular scenery, and the promise of both tranquility and adventure. And of course, there is a vast array of accommodation!  Romantic, private island hideaways; party hotels; family-friendly resorts; beach-front B&Bs, you name it, Hawaii has it somewhere, on one of the islands. So it’s worth checking out our guide to some of the most popular holiday hubs and destinations, to help you pick the perfect place in which to look for your ideal island accommodation.  

Our Guide to Hawaii's Centres 

Honolulu, O’Ahu

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You might be expecting the sand and palm trees, but you might not be expecting Honolulu’s impressive collection of skyscrapers! Honolulu is a surprisingly big city, by far the most populous centre in all of Hawaii, and the best place for shopping, nightlife and all the excitement of a city break — Hawaiian style! Despite the scale of this city, it has plenty of tropical island atmosphere, and loads of great sightseeing opportunities!  The ‘Iolani Palace is the U.S.A.’s only real royal palace, Honolulu has a collection of great galleries and art museums, plus the Bishop Museum, a zoo, and the atmospheric USS Arizona Memorial. There are beaches aplenty, with surfing and diving opportunities, hiking trails up Diamond Head, or in the Queen Kapiolani Park, or the ‘Ualala’a State Wayside Park. And Honolulu is where you’ll find Ala Moana, the world’s largest open air shopping centre, as well as plenty of smaller shopping streets and markets, and a fantastic Chinatown.  Honolulu has a myriad of places to stay too, from luxury resorts and hotels, through to guesthouses and B&Bs, with apartment hotels aplenty.  

Waikīkī, O’Ahu

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Waikīkī and its beach sits just below Diamond Head, on the south shore of Honolulu. It’s a spectacular beach, with fine, white sand and clear, aqua waters, and is arguably one of the world’s best known. Waikīkī is an ideal spot for swimming and sunbathing, though it is one of the most densely resort-covered parts of the Hawaiian islands. But with a stretch of beach this long it doesn’t feel too congested. Lots of accommodation is right on the beach, but it stretches back about three blocks (the further away from the beach the cheaper the option). Waikīkī Beach has always been a great place to learn to surf, or to swim or canoe, but there’s also plenty of sightseeing to do as you’re close to many of Honolulu’s attractions.

Haleʻiwa, O’Ahu

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Haleʻiwa is a North Shore surf town, with an arty edge, and plenty of history. The surfers swing by for the famous beaches of Waimea Bay, several of which are known for their breaks and pipeline potential, but stay for the friendly foodie culture — think street trucks with a view — and for the unique and independent galleries and boutiques, which have been painted in a rainbow of colours. Haleʻiwa also has a macadamia nut farm (located at the foot of Mt. Kaala, the island’s highest mountain), some fantastic trails through spectacular scenery; great kayaking and paddle boarding opportunities, and the chance to see sea turtles — or even swim with sharks! Haleʻiwa is also a popular spot with divers and snorkelers. O’ahu’s North Shore isn’t known for its big hotels — there are just a handful around Turtle Bay — this part of the island has many more smaller hotels, guesthouses, aparthotels and villas. This is the place to camp too!  Haleʻiwa has a very different atmosphere from busy Waikīkī; this is a place to relax and reset to island time, with genuine Hawaiian culture.  

Lahaina & Kā’anapali, Maui 

Flickr user Cindy Devin

Lahaina is an excellent choice if you want to spend quite a lot of your Hawaiian holiday in, or on, the water. Known for whale watching opportunities and incredible underwater scenes, Lahaina is also good for surfers and sailors. There are some fantastic beachfront restaurants here, and the accommodation ranges from relaxed to luxurious and honeymoon-style. Ka’anapali is just to the north of Lahaina, and is where you’ll find some of Maui’s most famous barefoot luxury resorts — think waterfalls and lush tropical scenes just behind your beach cabana.

Kihei & Wailea, Maui 

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A large, but relaxed town with a friendly atmosphere and a nice mix of locals and tourists, Kihei is a great destination for families and groups. There’s a huge range of accommodation here, much of it with great access to the beach, shops, restaurants, bars and ice cream shops! Wailea is just to the south of Kihei, a bit closer to some of South Maui’s best-loved beaches, and with more of a luxury resort vibe. Wailea has some good shopping opportunities, and some great restaurants. There’s also a well-regarded golf course, and pretty much all the other bells and whistles too.

Hana, Maui

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The Hana Highway runs along Maui’s eastern, windward shore, a road that will take your breath away with its beauty and its hairpin bends! East Maui gets the rain, so the landscape is lush, green, and dotted with tropical waterfalls. Hana is where most of the resorts and hotels on East Maui are, and there’s plenty of choice, including larger apartments and condos. Away from Hana you’re more likely to find small inns and hotels set back from the Hana Highway, on their own. Hana is a popular spot for a honeymoon escape, while also being ideal for families, and hikers — East Maui has some of the island's best hiking trails.

Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i

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The island of Hawai’i (or Big Island as it's also known) has twice the landmass of the other islands in the group. and it’s diverse with it: lush in parts, bare and volcano-covered in others.  Kailua-Kona is on the lee-side, meaning it's protected from the trade winds and the heaviest rains, but still lush. It’s the mile-long stretch of beach that appeals more than the weather: a developed stretch, but also one of the most beautiful on the island. So there are plenty of shops, bars and restaurants just across from the beach. Kailua-Kona is one of the most popular places to stay on Hawai’i, with lots of accommodation to choose from, much of it with direct water access or fantastic ocean views.  

Hilo & Volcano, Hawai’i

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Volcano is the name of a town, very close to the Kilauea Volcano, just outside of the Volcano National Park.  This is an atmospheric place to stay, romantic and memorable. However, you are less than two miles away from an active volcano, and there is sometimes volcanic haze, but the town is upslope from the crater, so you’re less likely to be impacted by an eruption here than you are in Hilo, which is further away, but downhill. Charming Hilo is a quiet base, but it still has plenty of opportunities to eat and shop well. The rains keep this part of the island lush and verdant, as well as ensuring colourful tropical gardens. Hilo doesn’t have the best beaches on the island, but its coastline does have a number of underground springs, so there are dome rock pools that are quite a lot like spa baths. There are also some good dive sites around, and you’re conveniently located for a volcano hike.

Lana’i 

Four Seasons Resort Lanai

Lana’i is small and central in the Hawaiian island group, just 18 miles across at the widest point, and blessed with lush vegetation and views, and a tranquil atmosphere. Lana’i is beautiful offshore as well as on, and has some fantastic snorkelling and diving sites, and is popular with sailors, as well as those who just want to relax on a quiet beach. There’s not a huge amount of accommodation on Lanai, but there’s a surprisingly good range, from small boutique hotels, to sprawling luxurious resorts.

Kaua’i

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Small, topographically interesting and very green, Kaua’i has the nickname of ‘the Garden Isle’. If you’re looking for dramatic, mountain-side waterfalls and vibrant tropical flora and foliage, then Kaua’i is definitely for you!  It’s also for hikers, divers and snorkelers, and anyone who wants to meet Hawaii’s endemic wildlife.  While the whole of the island is something of a tropical garden, Waimea Canyon State Park, the National Tropical Botanic Garden, and Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge are where you can experience the best of its landscape. Kaua’i has fantastic beaches, too, and the food is fantastic. Despite being one of the smaller islands in the group, Kaua’i has quite a wide range of accommodation, from simple cottages to luxurious resorts, all renowned for their friendly welcome.