Skip to content

Top Navigation

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Trip Inspiration
  • Plan Your Trip
  • World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises
  • Travel Tips
  • News
  • Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Explore

    Explore

    • World's Best

      The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you. Read More Next
    • The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2020

      Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2020. Read More Next
    • Let's Go Together Podcast

      Start listening to T+L's brand new podcast, Let's Go Together! Hosted by Kellee Edwards. Read More Next
  • Trip Inspiration

    Trip Inspiration

    • Trip Ideas
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Spring Travel
    • Summer Travel
    • Fall Travel
    • Winter Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Luxury Travel
    • Beach Vacations
    • Adventure Travel
    • Road Trips
    • Family Travel
    • National Parks
    • Holiday Travel
    • Travel Photography
    • Photo of the Day
    • Culture and Design
  • Plan Your Trip

    Plan Your Trip

    • Travel Guides
    • Flight Deals
    • Travel Deals
    • Ways to Save
    • Hotels + Resorts
    • Attractions
    • Amusement Parks
    • Disney Vacations
    • Festivals + Events
    • Airlines + Airports
    • Buses + Trains
    • Ground Transportation
  • World's Best

    World's Best

    • Top Hotels
    • Top Cities
    • Top Islands
    • Domestic Airlines
    • International Airlines
    • Tours
    • Safaris
    • All World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises

    Cruises

    • Find A Cruise
    • Caribbean Cruises
    • River Cruises
    • European Cruises
    • All-Inclusive Cruises
    • Family Cruises
    • Alaskan Cruises
    • Disney Cruises
    • See All Cruise Vacations
  • Travel Tips

    Travel Tips

    • Travel Trends
    • Packing Tips
    • Points + Miles
    • Budgeting + Currency
    • Customs + Immigration
    • Responsible Travel
    • Travel Etiquette
    • Travel Warnings
    • Weather
    • Mobile Apps
    • See All Travel Tips
  • News

    News

    • Wellness
    • Celebrity Travel
    • Animals
    • Jobs
    • Offbeat
    • See All News
  • Food + Drink

    Food + Drink

    • Restaurants
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Bars + Clubs
    • Celebrity Chefs
    • Cooking + Entertaining
    • Food Fairs + Festivals
    • World's Best Restaurants
    • See All Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories

    Travel Accessories

    • Travel Bags
    • Shoes
    • Travel Tech
    • Shopping
    • Style
    • Gift Guides
    • See All Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Worlds Best
  3. The Best Islands in Hawaii in 2017

The Best Islands in Hawaii in 2017

By John Wogan
July 11, 2017
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Getty Images/Perspectives
Hawaii has been a popular tropical getaway for decades — and with good reason. The 50th state’s six main islands — Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, and Molokai — offer everything from world-class surfing and snorkeling to increasingly dynamic food and hotel scenes that are attracting a new generation of travelers — while also giving longtime visitors a fresh perspective with each trip.

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated islands according to their activities and sights, natural attractions and beaches, food, friendliness, and overall value.

For the sixth year in a row, Maui has earned top honors from T+L readers — many of whom return year after year. “I’ve been visiting Maui since the 1960s,” said one longtime fan, who praised the diverse activities, from “the incredibly scenic road to Hana to the adventures of whale-watching and snorkeling in pristine waters.”

The “Garden Isle” of Kauai is known for its lush jungle landscapes and the easy, relaxed pace of life. One reader characterized Kauai as having “that old-school aloha spirit,” where the warmth and openness of the locals is especially present. Another cherishes the “nearly deserted beaches that look like a film set.”

Larger than all of the other islands combined, Hawaii, aptly nicknamed the Big Island, is defined by the dramatic, moonlike landscape of its lava fields. But there are also dense, verdant rain forests, miles of stunning beaches, and the quiet, small-town charm of Hilo, the island’s biggest city (population: about 43,000), where the weekly farmers’ market is a must-stop for the abundant fresh tropical fruit for sale.

Oahu, meanwhile, offers a little (or a lot) of everything. The island is home to Hawaii’s glittering capital, Honolulu, which has a smattering of museums, galleries, and a seemingly endless amount of hip new restaurants in its recently gentrified downtown. Still, this is Hawaii, after all, and there’s also some of the best surf on the planet on Oahu’s rural North Shore.
Start Slideshow

1 of 5

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

5. Lanai

Credit: Getty Images/Perspectives

Score: 82.41

1 of 5

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 5

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

4. Oahu

Credit: Michael DeFreitas/Getty Images/Robert Harding World Imagery

Score: 85.56

2 of 5

3 of 5

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

3. Hawaii, the Big Island

Credit: Sam Camp/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Score: 87.42

3 of 5

Advertisement

4 of 5

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

2. Kauai

Credit: Michael Treloar/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Score: 88.72

4 of 5

5 of 5

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

1. Maui

Credit: Getty Images/Perspectives

Score: 89.17

Take a Tour of Hawaii's No. 1 Island

Readers love the second-largest Hawaiian island — and this year’s winner — for its limitless options for outdoor and culinary pursuits, from the glistening sands of Wailea and Kapalua to the bustling town of Lahaina. “There’s so much to do on this heavenly island,” said one respondent. “There are water sports, hiking, good food, and beautiful views around every turn of the road. It’s the closest place to heaven on earth!” Another reader appreciated the singular experience of visiting Haleakala crater, the dormant volcano that rises over 10,000 feet. “Watching the sunrise, then biking down the volcano to the beach was one of my favorite travel experiences of all time.”

5 of 5

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By John Wogan

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 5 5. Lanai
2 of 5 4. Oahu
3 of 5 3. Hawaii, the Big Island
4 of 5 2. Kauai
5 of 5 1. Maui

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap
  • Travel Guide Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
Travel + Leisure is part of the Travel + Leisure Group. Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Travel + Leisure is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation Travel + Leisure Group All Rights Reserved, registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.travelandleisure.com

View image

The Best Islands in Hawaii in 2017
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.