Hawai'i NeiThe Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian Islands

Independent Hawaii Travel Guides for each Hawaiian Island

Published by: John C. Derrick

Founder & certified Hawaii travel expert with 20+ years of experience in Hawaii tourism.

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.

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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.

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