We're planning a 9-day trip to Hawaii.  We're definitely going to go to Honolulu because that's the most touristy island and the place most people go to when they go to Hawaii.  And, since Cindy's never been to Hawaii before, we decided to take a little more time and see all of Oahu, Hawaii.  This Hawaiian vacation is going to be legendary! 

Since there was a sale on inter-island flights, we decided to check out another island as well.  Most Hawaii vacations include just Honolulu or just Oahu.  But, we wanted to shake it up a bit and try something different.  It took us awhile to narrow down the various Hawaiian Islands and decide on the Big Island of Hawaii.  Here's our thought process:

1.  Lets take a look at our options in Hawaii.

Hawaii - The Big Island 

The Big Island of Hawaii, also known as the Island of Hawaii, is a volcanic island in Hawaii.  It is larger than all of the other Hawaiian Islands combined and is the largest island in the United States.

The Big Island is most famous for its volcanoes.  There are plenty to choose from on the Big Island of Hawaii.  Kilauea is the most active and has been erupting almost continuously for more than two decades.  If you're looking for nature in its most primal form, you've got to look at the coast where the lava meets the ocean.  You'll see billows of white steam rising from off the shoreline.  If you take a tour there during the evening, you'll also be able to see the orange glow of the lava as it slides into the sea.  When the molten lava makes contact with the ocean, the sea water turns into steam, and the sudden cooling of the lava causes the newly formed lava rocks to explode and crack into small pieces.  The broken lava is ground up by the waves to the Black sand beaches that are famous on the Big Island of Hawaii.  The Big Island also contains one of the two green sand beaches in the world.  From reviews and content across the web, it sounds like the Big Island of Hawaii is the place for people looking for a unique Hawaiian vacation.  

The big tourist spots in the Big island include Volcanoes National Park, Punaluu Beach, and Papakolea Beach.

Punaluu Beach is a black sand beach on the Big Island of Hawaii and contains a year-round population of green sea turtles.  There are also several brackish marshy ponds which are home to several wetland bird species.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, established in 1916, is a United States National Park and displays the results of hundreds of thousands of years of volcanism, migration, and evolution.  This is where you can see the land being created before your very eyes.  The park encompasses diverse environments that range from sea level to the summit of the earth's most massive volcano, Mauna Loa at 13,677 feet.  Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, offers scientists insights into the birth of the Hawaiian islands and shows visitors dramatic views of the volcanic landscape.  The park includes lava tubes, steam vents, and a museum that showcases the volcanic activity on the big island of Hawaii.

Papakolea Beach is also known as Mahana Beach or the green sand beach.  It is located at the South point in the Kau district of the Big Island and is the Southernmost point of the United States.  The beach is distinctive because it is just one of only two green sand beaches in the world.  The beach gets distinctive coloring from the olivine crystals found in a nearby cinder cone.  

Maui - The Valley Isle

The island of Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian islands at 727.2 square miles.  Maui.  Maui is one of the most popular tourist spots in Hawaii, especially with visitors from the United States and Canada.  In 2006, over 2 million tourists visited Maui and spent over $3.5 billion.  Why? 

There are several reasons why you might want to come to Hawaii.  It can be because you need a break and you just want a relaxing vacation.  It can be because you're here to see all the sights and attractions that Hawaii has to offer and be a tourist.  Or, it can be because you wanted to plan a romantic honeymoon/destination wedding.  Maui is the hot spot for weddings and couples looking for that perfect romantic vacation.  It's less touristy than Oahu and contains plenty of resorts catered to making sure that you have the most relaxing and romantic trip that you can get. Maui seems like the island to choose if you're looking for a romantic getaway.

The big tourist spots in Maui include the Road to Hana, Haleakala National Park, and Lahaina.

The Road to Hana is a highway that runs along the east coast Maui which curves along many mountains and beaches. Even though the drive is very long and curvy, the beautiful waterfalls and black sand beaches are well worth it. 

Haleakala National Park is home to one of the most beautiful sunrises in the world. Drive up the cold, dormant volcano to view the sunrise, but be sure to bring some blankets because it is much different from the weather during the day at the beach. The temperature from atop the summit can be as much as 32 degrees colder than the resort areas.

Lahaina is one of the main attractions on the island with an entire street of shops and restaurants which lead to a wharf where many set out for a sunset cruise or whale watching journey. It is also a port of call for many cruise ships. Snorkeling can be done at almost any beach along the Maui coast.

Kauai -The Gathering Isle

The last island under consideration is Kauai.  Yes, there are a few more Hawaiian islands, but these three were the top 3 tourist destinations and the Hawaiian islands most talked besides Oahu, Hawaii.  For those who really want to get away, there are other possibilities.  But, that's not for us because we're not looking for a trip where we go to a secluded island. 

Kauai is the oldest of the main Hawaiian islands.  With an area of 552.3 square miles, it is the fourth largest of the main islands.  The island of Kauai has been featured in more than 70 Hollywood movies and television shows, including the musical South Pacific and Disney's Lilo and Stitch.  Waimea Canyon was used in the filming of the 1993 film, Jurassic Park.  Through all the reviews and information I gathered, Kauai seemed more laid back and family-friendly than the other islands. 

The big tourist spots in Kauai include Kokee State Park, Waimea Canyon State Park, Limahuli Garden, and Poipu Beach.

Kokee State Park is located in northwestern Kauai and includes a museum focused on the weather, vegetation, and bird life; a lodge which serves food and sells gifts; cabins for rent; and hiking trails. The main attractions of Kokee State Park trails are the native vegetation, native forest birds, and the scenic cliffside views. 

Poipu literally means crashing waves in Hawaiian.  Poipu Beach has received numerous "top 5" beach awards - both national and worldwide.  The reason?  Even during the "winter" days when the North shore is stormy and rough, Poipu is calm like a swimming pool and the perfect beach for families with children.

Waimea Canyon is a large canyon that is approximately ten miles long and up to 3,000 feet deep.  The canyon was formed by a deep incision of the Waimea River arising from the extreme rainfall on the island's central peak, Mount Waialeale, among the wettest places on earth.

In 1997 Limahuli Garden was selected as the best natural botanical garden in the United States.  In 2007, it received the top "Keep It Hawaii" award for its support of the Hawaiian culture, protection and development of Hawaiian knowledge by preservation of natural resources through research, hands-on work, educational opportunities, and a devout passion for all things Hawaiian.

Oahu -The Gathering Place

We're definitely going here since this is the number 1 tourist destination in Hawaii.  And, if you're planning a Hawaii vacation, everyone assumes that you're going to Oahu.  Especially if this is your first time visiting the Hawaiian islands.  So, we're going to check out Honolulu and the rest of Oahu on this Hawaiian vacation.

The flight is the first step in our Hawaiian vacation.  We need to get over to Hawaii after all.  I've heard that the Hawaiian islands are the most remote place on Earth.  So, the flight is going to take some time.  What I was surprised to see was that Hawaiian airlines has these really small luggage compartments on their flights from the mainland.  Ugh.  They're so small that the center ones can't hold a standard size luggage.  And, the side compartments only fit one regular sized luggage per compartment.  It's pretty frustrating.