Hawai'i NeiThe Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
Independent Hawaii Travel Guides for each Hawaiian Island
Founder & certified Hawaii travel expert with 20+ years of experience in Hawaii tourism.
This article may include unbiased affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Mahalo for your support!
The Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Archipelago - 8 Major Islands, 124 Islets
Unlike many destinations, Hawaii is not really one destination - but eight unique, eclectic, and diverse island destinations that all happen to be within the same state. The six main islands, four of which we cover in detail on this site, are, from west to east, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and the Big Island of Hawaii. All in all, 124 additional islets make up the Hawaiian Archipelago. For those interested, we cover the Geography and Geology of the Hawaiian Islands here.
Explore Hawaii
- Select an Island -
Not sure which island is best for you?
Take our 'Which Hawaii Island? + Best Island Quiz'
Ultimately, if I can initially impart anything to you at this point, let it be that each Hawaiian island has a distinct character shaped by its level of development and landscape.
- Oahu is the most urbanized city, with Honolulu as its bustling metropolis, although it still has rural areas on the north and west sides.
- Maui feels more like a collection of small towns, akin to the suburbs, offering a balance between convenience and open space.
- The Big Island of Hawaii is vast and predominantly rural despite being home to Hilo, the second-largest city in the state.
- Kauai, in comparison, is the most rural of the four, with a laid-back atmosphere and limited large-scale development. The overall vibe of each island reflects these differences.
Printed & Digital Guides
2025 Hawaii Visitor Guides

Published by: John C. Derrick
Founder & certified Hawaii travel expert with 20+ years of experience in Hawaii tourism.
Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn commissions from some travel partners (like Amazon or Expedia) which helps us maintain this site. These links are at no extra cost to you and don't impact our honest & unbiased recommendations. Remove all the ads →

Try out our new AI Powered
Search & Chatbot →