When people think about Hawaii, they tend to think of it as one destination. It is, however, six major islands. While all of the islands have many things in common, they also have their own unique personalities.
Kauai is the oldest Hawaii island and it is full of unspoiled nature. It is 522 square miles and it has a population of 58,303. The highest spot on Kauai is Kawaikini and it is 5,243 feet in height. The average temperature on Kauai is 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. There are 9 golf courses on Kauai and it has 90 miles of coastline. Kauai is the only Hawaii island that has navigable rivers and the largest, Wilua River, is 12 miles long.
Maui! Who hasn't heard of Maui? Maui is the most popular Hawaii island of all the islands and, if you have been there, you know why. Maui is a tropical paradise whose unparalleled beauty and splendor leave it's visitors wanting to come back again and again. Maui has 727 square miles of unspoiled beauty and it has a population of 117,644. It's highest point is the famous Haleakala and it rises 10,023 feet above sea level. Maui have 9 golf courses and 120 miles of pristine beaches. Maui has won MANY awards from travel magazines and it continually ranks as the most popular island vacation spot in the world. Maui was voted "The Best" vacation spot in the world by readers of Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazines. Kaanapali Beach on Maui has consistently been named the most popular beach in the United States. D.T. Fleming Beach and Kapalua Beach have been rated two of the top beaches in the world. If you have ever been to Maui, you will know why!
Molokai is one of the more laid-back Hawaii islands. It takes you back to a simpler time and you won't find a single traffic light on Molokai. It just doesn't have them! You, also, will not find any buildings which are taller than a coconut tree. Again, they just don't have them. Molokai is very small and it is only 38 miles long and 10 miles wide. Molokai is famous as the island where Father Damien set out to minister to those people who had been exiled to the island. They were exiled because they had Hansen's Disease, also referred to as Leprosy.
Lanai is a small Hawaii island which is 141 square miles in size with a population of 3,193. It's highest elevation is 3,366 feet and it has a coastline of 47 miles. The average temperature ranges from 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Lanai is famous for having one of the country's best sporting clay ranges. This facility also has a 12-station archery range. Kaiolohia Bay, sometimes called Shipwreck Beach, is a great spot for whale-watching from November until April. It is called Shipwreck Beach because there are the remains of a ship dating back to World War II at the beach.
Oahu is the most settled Hawaii island of all the islands. Oahu is 597 square miles in size and it has a population of 876,151. There are 36 golf courses on Oahu and it has 112 miles of coastline. The average temperature, just like all the Hawaii islands, is 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Oahu has the "world's best known beach" in Honolulu. Waikiki Beach is one of the world's most popular beaches but it is certainly not the only beach on Oahu. Oahu has many beaches and a lot of them are so isolated that you won't see another person anywhere around you. There are far too many things to see and do on Oahu to list them all here. The more popular sites are Pearl Harbor, the North Shore, Maunalua Bay; along with smaller towns like Kahaluu, Waikane, Kaaawa, Kahana, Punaluu and Hauula.
Big Island Hawaii is the newest island and it is currently the only island with volcanic activity. Many people take helicopter tours of the island just to see the volcanic eruptions and the flow of lava. Big Island Hawaii has 4,028 square miles of beautiful landscape which makes it larger than all the other Hawaii islands put together. It has a population of 148,677 and it has 266 miles of coastline. The highest point on Big Island Maui is 13,796 on Mauna Kea and the island has 17 golf courses. The terrain is lush and green on the Northern side and dry and sunny to the South. Big Island Hawaii is the site of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which is the state's most popular attraction.
It's hard to sum up each Hawaii island with just a few words. They all have their own characteristics, ambience and culture. People have their own opinions about which island is the best but they all agree...Hawaii is the land of Aloha!
Hawaii Islands
