Hawaiian Islands

Find out what makes the six major Hawaiian islands so unique: Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui and Hawaii's Big Island. Which island will you choose?

Looking for the best Hawaiian Island to visit in 2017? Readers rank their favorite our Readers' Choice Awards.

Planning a trip to the Hawaiian Islands but not sure where to start? Torn between picking a single island or doing some island-hopping?

Inside Hawaii: Hawaiian Islands - Before you visit Hawaii, visit TripAdvisor for the latest info and advice, written for travelers by travelers.

See our recommendations for the best places to stay on the Big Island, Kauai, Maui and other Hawaiian Islands.

Deciding the best Hawaiian Island to visit for your Hawaii vacation is an important step in planning your trip to the Hawaiian Islands.

The Hawaiian Islands (Hawaiian: Mokupuni o Hawai‘i) are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) from the island of Hawaiʻi in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll. Formerly the group was known to Europeans and Americans as the "Sandwich Islands", a name chosen by James Cook in honor of the then First Lord of the Admiralty John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich. The contemporary name is derived from the name of the largest island, Hawaii Island.