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Hawaiʻi Blog: Island Comparisons + Best-of Lists

Start with the biggest decision: which island? The posts below compare the islands head to head and rank the beaches, snorkeling spots, and stargazing sites we keep going back to. We write from the islands themselves: Gerrit from his rainforest above Hilo, next to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and Will from years living on Oʻahu and leading tours across the state. Pick a topic in the filter to narrow the list.

Islands
Topics
Oʻahu Rainy Day Activities: What to Do When It Rains

Oʻahu Rainy Day Activities: What to Do When It Rains

OʻahuThings to Do
Kauaʻi Rainy Day Activities: What to Do When It Rains

Kauaʻi Rainy Day Activities: What to Do When It Rains

KauaʻiThings to Do
Maui Rainy Day Activities: What to Do When It Rains

Maui Rainy Day Activities: What to Do When It Rains

MauiThings to Do
Oʻahu climate zones: all 5, and where to find each one

Oʻahu climate zones: all 5, and where to find each one

Nature & HistoryOʻahu
Kauaʻi climate zones: all 6, and where to find each one

Kauaʻi climate zones: all 6, and where to find each one

KauaʻiNature & History
Maui climate zones: all 7, and where to find each one

Maui climate zones: all 7, and where to find each one

MauiTrip Planning
Oʻahu for Beginners: Where to Stay and How Long to Go

Oʻahu for Beginners: Where to Stay and How Long to Go

OʻahuTrip Planning
Big Island rainy day activities (and 2 to skip)

Big Island rainy day activities (and 2 to skip)

Big IslandThings to Do
Big Island for Beginners: Need-to-Know Tips for First-Time Visitors

Big Island for Beginners: Need-to-Know Tips for First-Time Visitors

Big IslandTrip Planning
What is the best time to visit the Big Island?

What is the best time to visit the Big Island?

Big IslandTrip Planning
Secret Maui: 7 “Off the Beaten Path” Things that Locals Like To Do

Secret Maui: 7 “Off the Beaten Path” Things that Locals Like To Do

MauiThings to Do
Secret Oʻahu: 7 “Off the beaten path” Things that locals like to Do

Secret Oʻahu: 7 “Off the beaten path” Things that locals like to Do

OʻahuThings to Do
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupts for the third time this year

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupts for the third time this year

Big IslandVolcanoes
Kauaʻi on a Budget (Cheap & Free Things to do on Kauaʻi)

Kauaʻi on a Budget (Cheap & Free Things to do on Kauaʻi)

KauaʻiThings to Do
How to avoid the crowds in Hawaiʻi

How to avoid the crowds in Hawaiʻi

Trip Planning
Big Island on a Budget (Cheap & Free Things to do on Hawaiʻi Island)

Big Island on a Budget (Cheap & Free Things to do on Hawaiʻi Island)

Big IslandThings to Do
Cheap & Free Things to do on Oʻahu

Cheap & Free Things to do on Oʻahu

OʻahuThings to Do
Lāhainā Noon in Hawaiʻi: When and Where to see it (2027)

Lāhainā Noon in Hawaiʻi: When and Where to see it (2027)

Astronomy
Things to Do in Hanalei, the Last Town Before the Nāpali Coast

Things to Do in Hanalei, the Last Town Before the Nāpali Coast

City GuidesKauaʻi
The 7 Best Black Sand Beaches in Hawaiʻi

The 7 Best Black Sand Beaches in Hawaiʻi

Big IslandMauiThings to Do
Maui on a Budget: Free and Cheap Things to Do

Maui on a Budget: Free and Cheap Things to Do

MauiThings to Do
When Is the Best Time to Visit Oʻahu?

When Is the Best Time to Visit Oʻahu?

OʻahuTrip Planning
13 of our Favorite Things to Do In and Around Kīhei (Maui)

13 of our Favorite Things to Do In and Around Kīhei (Maui)

City GuidesMaui
How to Choose the Best Tour in Hawaiʻi: 7 Checks (and One Coin Flip)

How to Choose the Best Tour in Hawaiʻi: 7 Checks (and One Coin Flip)

Trip Planning
12 Common Tourist Mistakes in Hawaiʻi (and How to Avoid Them)

12 Common Tourist Mistakes in Hawaiʻi (and How to Avoid Them)

Trip Planning
The 10 Best Hawaiʻi Waterfalls to Swim in (all islands)

The 10 Best Hawaiʻi Waterfalls to Swim in (all islands)

Big IslandKauaʻiMauiOʻahuThings to Do
What is the Best Time to Visit Kauaʻi?

What is the Best Time to Visit Kauaʻi?

KauaʻiTrip Planning
When Should You Visit Maui?

When Should You Visit Maui?

MauiTrip Planning
10 Things to Do in Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi

10 Things to Do in Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi

City GuidesKauaʻi
Ecotourism in Hawaiʻi

Ecotourism in Hawaiʻi

Trip Planning
Mauna Loa’s 2022 Eruption: What Happened and What It Means for Future Travel

Mauna Loa’s 2022 Eruption: What Happened and What It Means for Future Travel

Big IslandVolcanoes
Lāhainā Now: What Is Open and What to Do

Lāhainā Now: What Is Open and What to Do

City GuidesMaui
6 Ways to Save Money when Planning a Trip to Hawaiʻi

6 Ways to Save Money when Planning a Trip to Hawaiʻi

Trip Planning
13 Best Sunrise Spots in Hawaiʻi: Big Island, Oʻahu, Maui, and Kauaʻi

13 Best Sunrise Spots in Hawaiʻi: Big Island, Oʻahu, Maui, and Kauaʻi

Big IslandKauaʻiMauiOʻahuThings to Do
How to visit Hawaiʻi like a local

How to visit Hawaiʻi like a local

Hawaiʻi’s Lava Tubes, Sea Caves, and Blowholes, Island by Island

Hawaiʻi’s Lava Tubes, Sea Caves, and Blowholes, Island by Island

Big IslandKauaʻiMauiOʻahuThings to DoVolcanoes
A Beginner’s Guide to Snorkeling in Hawaiʻi (+12 easy snorkeling spots)

A Beginner’s Guide to Snorkeling in Hawaiʻi (+12 easy snorkeling spots)

Big IslandKauaʻiMauiOʻahuThings to Do
The 16 Best Places to Watch the Sunset in Hawaiʻi: Big Island, Maui, Oʻahu & Kauaʻi

The 16 Best Places to Watch the Sunset in Hawaiʻi: Big Island, Maui, Oʻahu & Kauaʻi

Big IslandKauaʻiMauiOʻahuThings to Do
Stargazing in Hawaiʻi: The Best Spots on Four Islands

Stargazing in Hawaiʻi: The Best Spots on Four Islands

AstronomyBig IslandKauaʻiMauiOʻahuThings to Do
The 9 Best Spots to Find Sea Turtles in Hawaiʻi (All Islands)

The 9 Best Spots to Find Sea Turtles in Hawaiʻi (All Islands)

Big IslandKauaʻiMauiOʻahuThings to Do
14 Bite-Sized Things to Do on Maui

14 Bite-Sized Things to Do on Maui

MauiThings to Do
14 Bite-Sized Things to Do on Kauaʻi

14 Bite-Sized Things to Do on Kauaʻi

KauaʻiThings to Do
14 Fun and Bite-Sized Things to Do on Oʻahu

14 Fun and Bite-Sized Things to Do on Oʻahu

OʻahuThings to Do
16 (short) Things to Do for your Big Island Itinerary

16 (short) Things to Do for your Big Island Itinerary

Big IslandThings to Do
20 Great Books about Hawaiʻi to Read Before your Trip

20 Great Books about Hawaiʻi to Read Before your Trip

Trip Planning
Big Island or Kauaʻi: which island fits your trip?

Big Island or Kauaʻi: which island fits your trip?

Big IslandIsland ComparisonsKauaʻiTrip Planning
Maui or Kauaʻi, which is better?

Maui or Kauaʻi, which is better?

Island ComparisonsKauaʻiMauiTrip Planning
Oʻahu vs Kauaʻi: Which Island Should You Visit?

Oʻahu vs Kauaʻi: Which Island Should You Visit?

Island ComparisonsKauaʻiOʻahuTrip Planning
Big Island or Maui, which is better?

Big Island or Maui, which is better?

Big IslandIsland ComparisonsMauiTrip Planning
Oʻahu or Maui, which is better?

Oʻahu or Maui, which is better?

Island ComparisonsMauiOʻahuTrip Planning
Oʻahu or the Big Island: which is better?

Oʻahu or the Big Island: which is better?

Big IslandIsland ComparisonsOʻahuTrip Planning
COVID-19 and your trip to Hawai‘i

COVID-19 and your trip to Hawai‘i

Trip Planning
Haumea: Dwarf Planet and Hawaiian Goddess

Haumea: Dwarf Planet and Hawaiian Goddess

Astronomy
The 8 climate zones on the Big Island

The 8 climate zones on the Big Island

Big IslandNature & History
Hawaii’s State Anthem: Hawai’i Pono’i

Hawaii’s State Anthem: Hawai’i Pono’i

Nature & History
Hawaii Trivia Quiz (10 questions)

Hawaii Trivia Quiz (10 questions)

Hawaiʻi, the Earthquake State?

Hawaiʻi, the Earthquake State?

Big IslandNature & HistoryVolcanoes
6 Whale Watching Tips for Hawaiʻi’s Humpback Season

6 Whale Watching Tips for Hawaiʻi’s Humpback Season

Whales
Whale Watching 101

Whale Watching 101

Whales
The Volcanic History of the Big Island

The Volcanic History of the Big Island

Nature & HistoryVolcanoes
Lunar Eclipse 101

Lunar Eclipse 101

Astronomy

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