One does not treat Hawaii with casualness, and this ranking is a matter of fit, pressure and what one can expect, not an indictment of the islands for being so well liked.
The lower numbers are for those who travel in a more respectful, unhurried way. The higher ones denote places where the hype is apt to get in the way of the experience.
29. Waikiki
Waikiki You will find Waikiki ranked high because it is too often put on sale as all of Hawaii in a neat little package. That is the rub. The diamond head view, the surf lessons and the beach are iconic enough, but the urban density has a way of surprising people.
A first-timer in search of convenience can make it work if he or she accepts it is a city beach. But it should be a deliberate booking, not one done out of habit.
28. Road to Hana Day Rush
Road to Hana Day Rush There is a tendency for visitors to make a checklist race of a fine local road, which puts the Road to Hana up there on the list.
Patience will reveal scenery that is both lush and memorable. Travelers who do not feel entitled to every pullout and book with some thought can have a good time of it. Still, it ought to be booked with purpose.
27. Kaanapali Resort Corridor
Kaanapali Resort Corridor The polish of the resorts here can give the impression of expense before any sense of the personal is felt. The beach is lovely, but a thoughtful visitor would do well to put it in the context of west maui and how things are at the moment.
Those in want of resort comfort and willing to put in the care will find it works. As with the others, it is best to book on purpose.
26. Wailea
Wailea It is easy to mistake the luxury pricing at Wailea for a deeper kind of Hawaii experience, hence its place on the ranking. The hotels and beaches are top notch, if the setting is something of a controlled environment.
A couple looking for a splurge at a polished resort will be satisfied. Provided the booking is made for a reason and not by rote.
25. Oahu North Shore Weekend Rush
Oahu North Shore Weekend Rush The image of the laid-back surfer gives way fast when the traffic and parking build up. The food trucks, waves and small-town character are still worth the visit.
It is a sound option for a visitor who goes midweek and has respect for the surf. But it should be a considered decision.
24. Lanikai and Kailua Day-Trip Crush
Lanikai and Kailua Day-Trip Crush Photos suggest it is no effort to get to Lanikai and Kailua, but access tells a different story. The color of the water is there for sure, but one has to contend with residential pressure.
If a traveler plans lightly and early and by the book, it can be done. Do not book it out of habit though.
23. Poipu
Poipu This is the automatic safe bet for Kauai and that is why it is ranked where it is. The sun, the turtles and the swimming are genuine assets.
Families who prefer to know what they are getting over making new discoveries will be fine. Yet it is better to book with intent.
22. Kona Resort Strip
Kona Resort Strip The Big Island is a vast place, but a stay in the Kona resorts can make it seem smaller and run of the mill.
The coast is convenient and sunny, though some of the island’s finest moments are found behind the wheel. Use the resort as a base and it works for the traveler. Book it for a reason.
21. Honolulu Hotel Base
Honolulu Hotel Base Many put down a reservation for Honolulu when what they really want is the pace of another island. There is a certain utility to be found in the mix of museums, restaurants and beaches.
For those after an urban Hawaii experience with some beach time, it will do. But one should book with intent, not out of habit.
20. Maui Snorkel Boat Circuit
Take the Maui Snorkel Boat Circuit: it is the wiser choice if one has honest expectations. The boat routes are well known and can be more crowded than the brochure would have you think, though responsible operators see to it that the ocean life remains splendid.
Those who put in the work to vet the reef practices and group size will find their mark; any other way and the place does not live up to the pictures.
19. Kapalua
Kapalua is worth the pick when expectations are in order. You get the calm beauty of the coves and coastal trail, but the cost means every meal is something of a strategy. It is ideal for the visitor in search of a more discreet luxury.
If not, it can seem rather thin compared to what is on camera. A similar famous-place-versus-reality dilemma is at play in the Mexico beach ranking, where the easy option is not always right.
18. Hanalei in Peak Season
The dream version of Hanalei in Peak Season is no illusion, making it a good selection.
Yet the pressure of the season is there as much as the fine views of the bay and mountains. It is best for those with the humility to let the North Shore be.
17. Waikoloa Beach
Waikoloa Beach is a dependable spot for sunshine and family convenience, even if the resort side of things seems a world apart from the rest of the Big Island.
Families looking for a warm base from which to drive the island will appreciate it.
16. Haleakala Sunrise
As for Haleakala Sunrise, the ritual of it all can get in the way of the mountain itself.
The crater is still something else entirely if one goes past the viewpoint. Travelers who have the respect for altitude and weather and make their reservations will be rewarded.
15. Hana Overnight
An overnight in Hana makes sense in a way a hurried day trip does not; the latter is overrated. Staying puts a slower pace on the east side.
For those wanting to be present rather than puttering between stops, this is the place. One might also look at the Florida beach town ranking before settling on a name brand if crowd pressure is a concern.
14. Volcano Village
Volcano Village is a better bet if one is not set on the typical tropical beach scene. The cooler air and the mood around the lava landscapes are quite distinctive.
13. Hilo
Hilo has its share of rainy reputations that put off some, but there is depth to be had in the markets, gardens and waterfalls.
It has a real-town feel. Those who prefer culture and landscape to the polish of a resort will find it suits them.
12. Waimea, Big Island
Waimea on the Big Island is a case in point for the hidden-gem end of the spectrum. Since it is not a beach base, those who plan around sand tend to overlook it.
But with its cool air, ranch history and good food, plus some fine island drives, it is a sensible counterweight. The place has appeal for any traveler putting together a more complete Big Island itinerary, particularly one inclined to forego instant fame in favor of a self-directed outing.
11. Kapaa
You will find Kapaa in the same category because it does not carry the resort Kauai nameplate, which is a good thing for keeping expectations in check.
The central location, food trucks and bike path are all to be put to use. It makes for a practical base, as do some of the access issues at the US national parks ranking where one can have an undeniable beauty but still feel the strain of the visit.
Best for the sort of traveler who wants to call the shots on his own trip rather than chase what is famous.
10. Wailua
Wailua is more about the river and hikes than one particular well-known beach, so it rates as a hidden gem and a solid middle-ground choice on Kauai.
It is the pick for those who want to be active without going to the priciest part of the coast, or for anyone who would prefer a less formulaic way of traveling.
9. South Kona
Resort types may not care for South Kona since it demands a degree of self-direction, but coffee country and the smaller communities are well worth the effort for a rewarding snorkel or drive.
It is ideal for the slower-paced traveler on the Big Island who is not interested in the quick fix of instant fame.
8. Upcountry Maui
Upcountry Maui is not what first-timers have in mind, which puts it near the hidden-gem end. The wide views, farms and cool mornings add a dimension to the island that is a welcome change from the sameness of the resorts.
One can see the reputation check in a city form at the European cities ranking when postcard status begins to dictate the day. This is for the person who wants to make the trip his own.
7. Lanai City and Manele
Lanai City and Manele are not a casual budget affair, but with some care in the planning their quiet scale is something of a rarity.
A good fit for travelers who know what they are paying for and want to be away from the crowds, eschewing the easy route for something more self-directed.
6. Molokai
Molokai is no place for someone after resort service or entertainment. The draw here is the quiet, provided one is a respectful, low-impact visitor.
It is for the type who does his homework and travels humbly, and who would rather have a sense of direction than instant notoriety.
5. Kauai North Shore With Patience
The North Shore of Kauai requires patience; weather and access limits will test those looking for instant gratification. But the scenery is there for the taking if one has the restraint.
Plan for the rain and the permits and it is a strong option. The comparison in the Mexico beach ranking is apt when a too-polished trip starts to feel like a package.
4. Puna Coast
Puna Coast is rawer and harder to predict than the resort side of Hawaii. There is life in the volcanic shoreline and local communities.
For the Big Island traveler with some texture in his travel style and respect for boundaries, this is where he will want to be.
3. Kohala Small-Town Stops
Many in a hurry for the resorts will put the Kohala small towns behind them, but Hawi, kapaau and the northern road put some story into a Big Island journey.
A fine spot for the road-tripper with an eye for wide views and a preference for a self-directed trip over the famous one.
2. Lanai Backroads
Lanai Backroads calls for more planning than the typical Hawaii vacation template allows. If you handle it with responsibility the ruggedness is a privilege. This is for the traveler who puts solitude ahead of amenities.
One can see a lower-stakes version of the trade-off in the Florida beach town ranking, where easy access is often accompanied by noise.
1. Hilo and Volcano Side
Hilo and the Volcano Side will never be popular with the lazy-beach set. As a base for waterfalls, lava and real-town Hawaii, however, it is perhaps the most intelligent of the quieter options.
It is for those who want an expansive feeling to their time in Hawaii, not a packaged one.
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