From the luxurious high-rises of Waikiki to the rugged wilderness of Kauai, Hawaii has a spot that’s just right for you. Boasting gorgeous weather year-round, with the warmest temperatures in August and September, the Islands’ majestic scenery, amazing beaches and all-over sense of adventure have attracted visitors from abroad time and time again. Discover your magical side today with a Hawaii vacation that will stay with you forever.

Are we there yet?

Flight times
6 hours from Seattle, San Francisco, or Los Angeles; 7.5 hours from Denver; 11 hours from Newark
Inter-island flight times

• Oahu to Maui: 37 minutes
• Oahu to Big Island: 40 minutes
• Oahu to Kauai: 37 minutes

Must-see sights

• Oahu: Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor/USS Arizona Memorial, North Shore
• Maui: Sunrise at Haleakala, the Road to Hana, Banyan Tree Square, whale-watching (Dec.–April, Maui)
• Kauai: Na Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon, Poipu Beach (rated one of the top 10 beaches in the world)
• Big Island (Hawaii): Kilauea, Kahaluu Beach Park (great beginner snorkeling), Green Sand Beach

Insider tips

• There’s no Daylight Savings Time in Hawaii.
• Look up: The nighttime sky, especially on the more remote islands, is blanketed with stars.
• All Hawaii beaches are public property. However, keep to the “public right of way” paths to avoid unnecessary problems.

Islands

Oahu Click here to see some great Oahu hotel deals!
Oahu, home of world-famous Waikiki Beach, is the most-visited Hawaiian Island. But Waikiki is only part of the allure. From Diamond Head crater to Pearl Harbor, Iolani Palace to the Banzai Pipeline, you’ll find unique attractions plus fine restaurants, shopping, golf courses, and nightlife. Oahu enjoys the best weather of the Hawaiian islands, with temperatures in the mid-80s throughout the year. High season (when crowds flock to Waikiki) is mid-December to early March, and again from June to early September when families come to visit.

Maui Check out some Maui hotel deals now!
Colonized by transplanted New Yorkers, expat Brazilians, sundry Europeans, and international celebrities, Maui is a mix of advanced café civilization, luxe resort life, and soul surfer mecca, all situated around singular natural sights. Enclaves of newcomers, like the little town of Pa’ia, on Maui’s North Shore, with cosmopolitan eateries and pricey boutiques, may make visitors wonder if there are any locals left at all. But if you know where to look—such as Wailuku, whose vintage “downtown” includes the classic bijou Iao Theater—you can still find traces of old Maui.

It’s 11,000 feet from the top of Haleakala Crater down to Maui’s whale-filled seas—and you can experience them both in the same day on this compact island. Whether you’re drawn to shopping, nightlife, art galleries, beaches, golf, or spas at world-class resorts, Maui will charm you.

Like the other Hawaiian islands, Maui’s high seasons are from mid-December to early March and again from June to early September. From October to April, choppy water can make some unprotected beaches dangerous, but most are gorgeous year-round. Maui has the added benefit of being the best island for observing the annual humpback whale migration (December–April).

Kauai Go here to explore hotel deals in Kauai!
Think “remote tropical island” and an image that looks remarkably like Kauai immediately comes to mind, even if you’ve never been there before. The Garden Isle embodies all the traits you’d expect of a Polynesian paradise. Around its edges are sandy beaches, secluded coves, and cathedral-like sea cliffs. The interior has rural landscapes ringing a mountainous rain forest. Throughout, you’ll find casual, friendly, down-to-earth people and a mystical energy that’s just as captivating as Kauai’s natural beauty.

Lush Kauai, where South Pacific was filmed, offers technicolor beauty. Consider taking a narrated seaplane excursion to get the big-picture view of verdant Waimea Canyon, the steep cliffs along the Na Pali coast, and Kauai’s uninhabited beaches. On land, relax in the lush Princeville and sunny Poipu Beach resort areas.

Kauai receives more rainfall than the other islands but enjoys lush greenery as a result. There are also many beaches where rainfall is a rarity. Much like the other islands, Kauai’s high seasons are from mid-December to early March and again from June to early September.

The Big Island View some unbeatable properties on The Big Island
While the Big Island challenges athletes in the annual Ironman Triathlon, vacationers are energized by its golf-shopping-dining triad. And no trip is complete without a visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Hike to the lip of Kilauea’s red-hot caldera—especially dramatic when viewed after dark.

Like the other Hawaiian islands, the Big Island’s high seasons are from mid-December to early March and again from June to early September. Due to its size, the Big Island enjoys gentle seas on the leeward side year-round. Hilo is host to the annual Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition in early spring—book early if you plan to attend, as rooms sell out quickly.