Vacation rentals and bed & breakfasts in Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai and Oahu.  Self catering holiday accommodations.

Hawaii, USA

Island Overview

Hawaii is a tropical paradise. With an average daily temperature of 75 F, and almost continuous sunshine, Hawaii is a great year-round vacation destination.  The islands are painted with extreme images such as active volcanoes, volcanic ridges, high waterfalls, lush green valleys, snow-capped mountains, rainforests and endless ocean views. 

There are few places in the world where you have the opportunity to hike to a pristine pool from a waterfall, snorkel in a marine preserve, hike to an active volcano, and then sleep in a world class resort.   However, be aware that the islands can fall victim to winter storms.  For example, in Honolulu, the average January rainfall is 3 1/2 inches, but it can to almost 20 inches in wet years.

While the archipelago exists across over 1,500 miles and includes more than 130 islands, reefs, and shoals, most people only consider only 6 islands when they plan a trip to Hawaii - Hawaii, Oahu, Maui, Mokolai, Kauai,  and Lanai, each with a different climate and unique characteristics. 

Although you may be able to visit all the islands in your visit, since it's only about a 30 minute plane ride between islands, we don’t recommend it.  While it may not take a long time in the air to reach each island, you can still spend a great deal of your day at the ticket counter, baggage claim, or rental car counter and in the process miss the essence of paradise of Hawaii.

Hawaii (Big Island)
With both snow-capped mountains and fresh hot lava from the largest active volcano in the world, the Big Island offers visitors extreme diversity.  In addition, it offers a variety of stunning landscapes.  It is also the home of some of the most luxurious resorts in the world.  This island hosts some of the world’s most lavish resorts, yet also is home to charming costal communities and amazing natural landscapes, such as coral edged highways, and cactus-studded grasslands.

Oahu
Oahu is Hawaii’s most populated island and most popular tourist destination, hosting the state capital of Honolulu.  However, this can lead to high population density and traffic jams.  For example, one square mile of Oahu hosts 32,000 hotel rooms and condominiums, 700 restaurants, 350 bars, 1,100 shops and approximately 60,000 visitors each day.  Oahu also offers tourists a chance to visit some historic and world renowned landmarks, including Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor and Waikiki beach.  The island offers a wide range of activities and attractions, including, museums, shopping, an active nightlife, restaurants, amazing snorkeling opportunities, surfing, and other adventures off the beaten path.  The beaches are great and the North Shore is less developed, seeming more like a tropical paradise.

Maui
Maui is a very popular and expensive destination for travelers.  It has been ranked “Best Island in the World” by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine for eight years in a row.  The island is larger than Oahu, yet has one-tenth the number of people.  Maui offers visitors incredible landscapes with the opulence of world-call resorts, high-end restaurants, and endless shopping.  So great things to plan to do include an amazing drive on the Hana Highway, and hike to the 10,023 foot summit of Haleakala, the world’s largest dormant volcano, to watch the sun rise above the clouds.

Molokai
This island is a great place to go if you want to experience paradise without all the high end glamour.  A largely undeveloped island, it has only one true resort.  You can still see Hawaiian Paniolos (cowboys) herd cattle.  With more of a small town trust, people frequently leave their door unlooked and meet on weekends with their neighbors for potluck dinners by the beach.  Some great things to plan are to hike or horseback ride down the world’s highest cliffs to Kalaupapa National Park.

Kauai
Kauai is the oldest and lushest of all the islands.  It is a quiet and beautiful island, with emerald valleys, towering waterfalls, and white sand beaches.  Several movies have been filmed on this island, such as Jurassic Park and Blue Hawaii.  Visitors can hike the rugged Na Pali Coast world famous cliffs, hike in a rain forest or simply play on its unpopulated shores.  This is a good island for those that aren’t much into shopping or high end restaurants.

Lanai
Lanai offers visitors unspoiled wilderness.  The two resorts on the island offer luxurious accommodations and dining, while the island offers a range of activities for the outdoor enthusiast, such as some of the best golf courses in the world, exploring a plantation town, horseback riding through pine forests, or simply enjoying the unpopulated beaches.