The Best Islands in Hawaiʻi in 2024

The results are in.

We have the winners of the HAWAIʻI Magazine’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards, and the list is now on newsstands. (Get your copy!) Find out what you, our readers, picked as your favorite beach, hotel spa, snorkeling spot, hiking trail, lūʻau and more. (The issue makes a great travel planner, just saying)

Over the next few weeks, we’ll give you a sneak peek into the list, sharing some of the best of the best with you—including Best Island, one of the biggest categories of the year.

From Molokaʻi to Lānaʻi, Kauaʻi and Oʻahu, here are the best islands in Hawaiʻi according to our readers, and what makes them the best according to us.

1. Oʻahu

Lanikai Beach on Oʻahu’s Windward Side.
Photo: Getty Images/wingedwolf

We can’t remember the last time Oʻahu was picked as the top island in our annual list—but you decided it was time for the most-visited island in Hawaiʻi to earn top honors. Nicknamed the Gathering Place, Oʻahu is the island that has it all, from laid-back beaches to award-winning restaurants. While there’s lots to do in Waikīkī—the visitor hub—we recommend jumping in a rental car (or city bus) and exploring the rest of the island. Wander around Chinatown, now a thriving arts scene and cultural center. Or spend the day in Kailua on the island’s Windward Side, with family-run restaurants, friendly coffee shops and, of course, some of the best beaches in Hawaiʻi. And you don’t have to be a surfer to enjoy the famed North Shore, with golden-sand beaches, beach-y boutiques and food trucks galore.

2. Kauaʻi

Morning at Poʻipū Beach on Kauaʻi.
Photo: Getty Images/M Swiet Productions

Imagine a relaxing vacation in Hawaiʻi and you’ll be thinking about Kauaʻi. The oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands, the Garden Isle is verdant and lush, with stunning waterfalls, tropical rainforests and gorgeous vistas. If you love the outdoors, this is the island for you. Snorkel at Mākua (aka Tunnels) Beach, hike in Kōkeʻe State Park, or ride a catamaran along the fabled Nāpali Coast. But there are also luxe resorts—like 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay—and fantastic restaurants. It’s great for first-time visitors or returning travelers looking to experience something new.

3. Maui

The black sand beach at Waiʻānapanapa State Park on Maui.
Photo: Getty Images/7Michael

Who doesn’t love Maui? The Valley Isle is home to the Road to Hāna, black-sand beaches, Upcountry Kula and the 10,023-foot Haleakalā, one of the best places in the world to witness sunrise or sunset. Last year Lahaina was destroyed in a deadly wildfire, and the town is still in ruins. But the island has been welcoming back visitors, and some Lahaina businesses—like Māla Ocean Tavern and Old Lahaina Lūʻau—have reopened.

4. Hawaiʻi Island

Rainbow Falls in Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island.
Photo: Getty Images/Youli Zhao

There’s a reason Hawaiʻi Island is often referred to as the Big Island. It’s huge, spanning 4,028 square miles and comprising 63% of the archipelago’s combined land mass. (It’s also the third largest island in Polynesia, behind the north and south islands of New Zealand.) There’s a lot of space to adventure, from hiking in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to spending the day lounging at Hāpuna Beach. Dine at the old-school Manago Hotel or enjoy authentic Japanese mochi from Two Ladies Kitchen in Hilo. Or visit one of the island’s many incredible beaches, from the black-sand Punaluʻu Beach to the green sands of Papakōlea Beach. You’ll find out quickly there’s never enough time to explore the entire island.

5. Molokaʻi

Hālawa Valley on Molokaʻi.
Photo: Getty Images/Ed Freeman

If you want to get away from it all, there’s Molokaʻi. No traffic lights, no big-box retailers, no traffic. But there are beautiful beaches, picturesque trails and nice spots to grab a meal on the Friendly Isle. Hikers will love pristine Hālawa Valley on Molokaʻi’s east side, with views of Moʻoula Falls and rugged terrain. Or spend the day at Pāpōhaku Beach, one of Hawaiʻi’s biggest, at 3 miles long and 100 yards wide.

6. Lānaʻi

Puʻu Pehe (aka Sweetheart Rock) on Lānaʻi.
Photo: Getty Images/YinYang

Lānaʻi is perfect for relaxation, with its unspoiled natural beauty and breathtaking sites. The island may be small—just 140.5 square miles—the Pineapple Isle boasts some of the state’s best resorts, including the Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi and the wellness-focused Sensei Lānaʻi, a Four Seasons Resort. Grab a bite at the homey Blue Ginger Café and set out to explore Lānaʻi’s many seaside cliffs and cultural sites.