Hawaii flights and travel guide

The Hawaiian islands really are as good as they look in the movies. Selecting which island to go, before booking a flight to Hawaii, depends on whether you want to fish, snorkel and scuba dive, hike, surf, beachcomb, climb cliffs, take in some history, party — the list goes on and on. One thing of which you can be assured is that no matter which island you visit, the scenery is breathtaking: rain forests, sandy beaches that range in colour from white to green, volcanoes, lava beds, rain forests, verdant valleys, canyons, and cliffs.

Since temperatures in Hawaii remain constant throughout the year, it's easy to decide when to book a Hawaii flight, but because of the islands’ isolation and range of environments, there is a vast assortment of flora and fauna. And don’t forget that some islands also have cultural and historic sites, museums, and ethnic areas such as Honolulu's Chinatown. It’s hard to see all an island has to offer in just one trip. As more and more tourists visit Hawaii, the islands are becoming more resort like, but you can still experience their beauty and essence.

The largest island in the chain is Big Island. It is the smaller island Oahu, however, that is home to most of Hawaii's permanent population and the state capital, Honolulu. Oahu is also the most popular tourist destination. The other inhabited islands which each have something special to offer are Maui, Molokai, and Kauai.

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Hawaii Climate

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When to Fly to Hawaii

Peak Season:
Prices are high and the resorts are fully booked from mid-December through March and sometimes into April. The last two weeks of December are particularly busy in Hawaii. The summer school holidays brings a lot of families to Hawaii, but you can get better deals on packages and airline and hotel rates than in winter.

Off Season:
Cheap flights to Hawaii are available in the spring and autumn, mid-April to mid-June and September to mid-December, which is also the best weather. However, if you’re coming the last weekend of April, book your reservations early as that is Japan’s Golden Week (four national holidays in one week), and the islands are very busy with Japanese visitors.

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Getting Around Hawaii

Oahu has a bus system, and taxis are available on the larger islands, but it can be very expensive taking a taxi for a long distance. You’ll probably want to rent a car, possibly even on Oahu.

Except for Lanai, Hawaiian car-rental rates tend to be reasonable, but petrol prices are high. Traffic on Oahu is heavy; there are approximately 400 cars for every kilometre of road on Oahu. If you do rent a car, make sure to avoid rush hour. Interisland airlines offer several trips a day for travelling from one island to another.

Another option is to go by boat: the Molokai ferry goes back and forth to Maui, and the Lahaina-Lanai Ferry provides service between Maui and Lanai.

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Hawaii Insider Information

The ideal is to visit just one island — find the one that’s right for you and there’ll be plenty to do.

• The Big Island, Hawaii, is for many the true Hawaii with its snow-capped mountains, active volcanoes, and beaches that range in colour from black to green. The eastern side of the island is known for its mist, flower farms, waterfalls, and rainbows. The western side has dry lava lowlands, ranches in the uplands, and the resorts and bustle of Kailua-Kona.
• Maui, the second-largest island, has many of the best resorts in Hawaii. Maui offers a tropical vacation with perfect beaches, a 3.4km volcano mountain, waterfalls, rain forests, abundant marine life, arts and cultural activities, nightlife, and the world’s top surfers at Hookipa Beach.
• Oahu is the most populated island. Honolulu, Waikiki beach, Pearl Harbour, and Diamond Head are here. There are also museums, historic sites, and a great nightlife. Oahu’s terrain alone is an attraction, with mountain ranges, valleys, extinct volcanoes, and dry gulches.
• Kauai is the oldest inhabited island, with cliffs thousands of metres high along its northwestern shore, the Waimean Canyon, jagged mountains, rain forests, and sandy beaches. This is the place for water sports, kayaking, hiking, and bird-watching.
• Put on the map by Bill Gates’ wedding, Lanai is small and not easy to reach, but known for its small-town feel and celebrity appeal. The island is almost completely unspoiled and the main attraction is nature. Activities include snorkelling, scuba diving, hiking, whale-watching, horseback riding, golfing, and talking story with the locals.
• Molokai is the least-developed island and has Hawaii's highest waterfall, the world's tallest sea cliffs, coral reefs, rain forests, and empty beaches. If you’re looking for a beautiful tropical isle with few tourist trappings, this is the island for you.

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Hawaii Airports

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