Fodors - Fodors Hawaii 2012

Experience Hawaii

Oahu

Maui

The Big Island

Kauai

Molokai

Lnai

Oahu. Honolulu and Waikk are hereand its a great big lau. Its got hot restaurants and lively nightlife as well as gorgeous white-sand beaches, knife-edged mountain ranges, and cultural sites including Pearl Harbor.

Maui. The phrase Maui n ka oi means Maui is the best, the most, the tops. Theres good reason for the superlatives. Its the most diversified Hawaiian island, perfect for families with divergent interests.

Big Island of Hawaii . It has two faces, watched over by snowcapped Mauna Kea and steaming Mauna Loa. The Kona side has parched, lava-strewn lowlands, and eastern Hilo is characterized by lush flower farms and waterfalls.

Kauai. This is the Garden Isle, and its where youll find the lush, green folding sea cliffs of Npali Coast, the colorful and awesome Waimea Canyon, and more beaches per mile of coastline than any other Hawaiian island.

Molokai. Its the least changed, most laid-back of the Islands. Come here to experience riding a mule down a cliff to Kalaupapa Peninsula; the Kamakou Preserve, a 2, 774-acre wildlife refuge; and plenty of peace and quiet.

Lnai. For years there was nothing here except for pineapples and red-dirt roads. Today it attracts the well-heeled in search of privacy, with a few upscale resorts, archery and shooting, four-wheel-drive excursions, and superb scuba diving.

Honolulus International Airport is the main stopover for most domestic and international flights, but all Hawaiis major Islands have their own airports. Flights to the Neighbor Islands leave from Honolulu almost every half hour daily.

Oahu Visitors Bureau ( 808/5240722 | www.visit-oahu.com ).

Maui Visitors Bureau ( 800/5256284 | www.visitmaui.com ).

Big Island Visitors Bureau ( 808/9615797, 800/6482441 for vacation planner and brochures | www.bigisland.org ).

Kauai Visitors Bureau ( 808/2453971 or 800/2621400 | www.kauaidiscovery.com ).

Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce ( 808/9357178 | www.hicc.biz ). Hawaii Beach Safety ( www.hawaiibeachsafety.org ). Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources ( www.state.hi.us/dlnr ). Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau ( 808/9231811, 800/4642924 for brochures | www.gohawaii.com ).

Oahu: Honolulu International Airport is 20 minutes (40 during rush hour) from Waikk. Car rental is across the street from baggage claim. An inefficient airport taxi system requires you to line up to a taxi wrangler who radios for cars (about $30 to Waikk). Other options: TheBus ($2, one lap-size bag allowed) or public airport shuttle ($9).

Maui: Most visitors arrive at Kahului Airport in Central Maui. For trips to Molokai or Lnai, ferries are available to both islands and have room for your golf clubs and mountain bike. If you prefer to travel to Molokai or Lnai by air, and youre not averse to flying on four- to 12-seaters, your best bet is a small air taxi.

Big Island: The Big Islands two airports are directly across the island from each other. Kona International Airport on the west side is about a 10-minute drive from Kailua-Kona and 30 to 45 minutes from the Kohala Coast. On the east side, Hilo International Airport, 2 mi from downtown Hilo, is about 40 minutes from Volcanoes National Park.

Kauai: All commercial flights use the Lhue Airport, 2 mi east of the town of Lhue. It has just two baggage-claim areas, each with a visitor information center.

Hawaii is a melting pot of cultures, and nowhere is this more apparent than in its cuisine. From lau and plate lunch to sushi and steak, theres no shortage of interesting flavors and presentations. As for lodging, there are several top-notch resorts in Hawaii, as well as a wide variety of condos and vacation rentals to choose from.

Oahu: If you plan on getting outside Waikk and Honolulu, renting a car is a must. Heavy traffic toward downtown Honolulu begins as early as 6:30 am and lasts until 9 am. In the afternoon, expect traffic departing downtown to back up beginning around 3 pm until approximately 7 pm.

Maui: Driving from one point on Maui to another can take longer than the mileage indicates. Its 52 mi from Kahului Airport to Hna, but the drive will take you about three hours. As for driving to Haleakal, the 38-mi drive from sea level to the summit will take you about two hours. Traffic on Mauis roads can be heavy, especially during the rush hours of 6 am to 8:30 am and 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

Big Island: Its a good idea to rent a car with four-wheel drive, such as a Jeep, on the Big Island. Some of the islands best sights (and most beautiful beaches) are at the end of rough or unpaved roads. Most agencies make you sign an agreement that you wont drive on the path to Mauna Kea and its observatories. Keep in mind that, while a good portion of the Saddle Road is smoothly paved, it is also remote, winding, and bumpy in certain areas,unlighted, and bereft of gas stations.