Which Island to Choose for Your Hawaii Honeymoon By concentrating on their honeymoon after the ceremony and celebration, couples can maintain their sanity during the wedding planning process. There are countless ways to combine romance, leisure, and adventure for anyone considering a honeymoon in Hawaii. Even better, there is never a “bad” time to visit Hawaii because the climate is consistently warm and sunny, albeit there are some months that are better to avoid crowds and high hotel prices.
Spending a few days on one island and then flying a short distance to another allows you to mix and match islands. Couples traveling a long distance to Hawaii and wishing to see as much paradise as possible may find this very sensible. Some Hawaiian islands may speak to you more than others, even if they all offer breathtaking sunrises, carefree beach days, and the cozy Aloha vibe. Here is a rundown of each island to help you choose the ideal honeymoon atmosphere in Hawaii and where to stay.
Maui
Island vibe: One-stop island exploration
Details about the island: Five-star resorts, great snorkeling, fantastic surf breaks, mouthwatering restaurants, and even a (dormant) volcano you can trek up to view the sunrise make Maui a perfect destination for first-time tourists. If you and your significant other like to live off the grid, it offers a few isolated hideaways.
Be sure to look for a few adult-only activities like a helicopter ride over the island, a couples massage in a beachfront hale, or the Road to Hana, a winding road trip along the island’s eastern coast that stops for waterfalls, forest hikes, and secret beaches. Maui is often a popular destination for families, especially during spring break and the holidays.
Where to stay: Wailea’s beachfront is home to several of the island’s top resorts, including the Andaz Maui (reserve a suite because the essential room category is small) and the Four Seasons Maui (splurge for a club floor room for more specialized care). Adding switches and ages is straightforward because the resorts along Wailea’s beach are adjacent. Head up the hill to Hotel Wailea, an adults-only hotel with ultra-private suites, if you wish to escape the resort life for a few days.
The charming Inn at Mama’s Fish House is located on Maui’s north shore, where the atmosphere shifts from resort-like to local. It’s not the most remote location, but it feels like the authentic Maui. It has twelve tiny cottages and suites overlooking the serene Mama’s Beach and Fish House, the island’s favorite eatery.
The Hana Maui Resort is an off-the-grid haven on the edge of Hana Bay. Recently refurbished suites provide spectacular views of the dawn, but luckily, no TVs. If the Road to Hana is on your honeymoon bucket list, you’ll want to stay there for a few nights. However, WiFi is available.
The Big Island of Hawaii
Island vibe: More Hawaii, fewer visitors
Details about the island: The Big Island, sometimes known as the Island of Hawaii, is far less crowded and has a much more relaxed atmosphere than Maui and Oahu. It also has a somewhat altered appearance. Lava rocks are frequently seen in place of verdant fields because The Big Island still contains two active volcanoes, which only increases the island’s charm. Smaller beaches, excellent hiking routes, and a few upscale resorts make it the ideal destination for couples who wish to spend some time away from the world without getting totally off the grid.
When you’re ready to depart the resort, what are some things to consider doing? Driving out to the eastern half of the Big Island, which is rainier and more isolated but still has many breathtaking landscapes that are only seen in Hawaii, snorkeling in Kona’s Kealakekua Bay, and exploring the lava tunnels at Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park.
Where to stay: Book a room at the Four Seasons Hualalai to cocoon in a tranquil environment with your significant other until it’s time to return home. With substantial soaking tubs and outdoor showers, every room at this beachside resort is a tiny haven of leilei. Reserveroom on the wing reserved for adults.) Drinks, dinners, wellness activities, and water sports, such as snorkeling among fish in the resort’s saltwater aquarium pond, are just a few of the many activities available on the property.
With lovely accommodations and roomy lanais, the Mauna Lani, an Auberge Resort located just north of Hualalai, provides a contemporary take on the Hawaiian vacation. In addition to offering a spa, tennis, golf, and a restaurant by the sea, Mauna L provides delightful entertainment, including vintage sing-alongs and native talks about the islands’ past.
If you intend to explore the island more than just stay there, reserve a room at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel with a view of Kauna’oa Bay. It offers a variety of dining options on-site, including a grab-and-go store with local goods and oceanfront accommodations with balconies that overlook the ocean. Additionally, the resort’s luau is among the greatest in Hawaii; it’s small, features a riveting show, mouthwatering cuisine, and a stunning sunset view of the ocean.
Kauai
Island vibe: a bit sweet, a bit wild
Details about the island: Kauai is the Garden Isle of Hawaii, renowned for its waterfalls, meandering rivers, and verdant woods. It’s also less developed than other Hawaiian islands, which makes it an excellent place for couples who care about the environment. However, because Kauai is Hawaii’s rainiest island, especially from November to March, all this lushness has a cost. It frequently rains overnight, even during the driest months.
Hanalei on the north coast and Poipu on the south shore are two of the most popular places to explore and hang out on the island. Lunch in Poipu, a trip to Hanalei to jump off the pier for a sunset swim, and a stroll into town for dinner and cocktails are feasible because they are only an hour apart.
If you want to see more of Kauai, consider renting a boat to explore its coastlines or scheduling a helicopter flight to see the breathtaking waterfalls. Other activities to enjoy the island’s splendor include surfing, ziplining through the woods, and tubing down rivers.
Where to stay: The eco-conscious 1 Hotel brand has converted the former St. Regis Princeville into 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, a chic sustainable resort with a Bamford Wellness Spa and an adult-only infinity pool overlooking the picturesque Hanalei Bay. To fully experience the sense of being on the edge of the world that Hanalei Bay is known for, reserve a hotel with a terrace overlooking the ocean.
Given the limited on-site food options, the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas is a nearby hotel with spacious guest rooms and tiny kitchens ideal for preparing light meals and storing snacks.
The Grand Hyatt Kauai in Poipu has one of the island’s loveliest beaches and a conventional resort full of services and amenities. However, Kauai’s DIY culture is part of its allure, so reserving an Airbnb for your visit might be a better way to see the island.
Oahu
Island vibe: Big City living
Details about the island: As soon as you land in Honolulu, you can sense the spirit of Oahu. Spending two nights in Honolulu may be fun, even if you want to unwind. Explore the diverse food scene, which includes everything from glitzy fine-dining places to hidden gems. Visit Pearl Harbor, take surf lessons at the renowned Waikiki Beach, and hike to Diamond Head for an expansive city view. Travel to other island areas for romance, leisure, and recuperation.
Where to stay: Waikiki offers many accommodations, from the opulent ESPACIO, The Jewel of Waikiki hotel with just nine full-floor suites, to trendy boutique hotels like The Shoreline Hotel. However, the luxurious rooms with an ocean view, kitchens, washers and dryers, and private lanais at the Ritz-Carlton Waikiki are just right.
Although the North Shore of Oahu is a surfer’s dream, particularly during Pipeline waves, the town of Haleiwa offers a laid-back atmosphere with food trucks, shaved ice shops, and shops. Close by is the Turtle Bay Resort, which just underwent extensive renovations and offers private bungalows on the beach..It also has committed personal hosts for your stay.
The Four Seasons. Although Ko Olina is part of the larger, family-friendly Ko Olina resort complex (Disney’s Aulani resort is next door), the hotel has set aside a special area for adults only, Dr. Mai Tai’s, which has a pool and a swim-up bar. To enhance your visit, reserve a junior suite with a view of the ocean.
Lanai
Island vibe: Permanently out of the workplace
Details about the island: Off Maui’s west shore sits the tiny island of Lanai. From Honolulu, it’s roughly a 45-minute flight or a 45-minute ferry ride from Lahaina. It was used for many years by the Dole Corporation as a pineapple plantation. However, in 2012, billionaire Larry Ellison purchased nearly the entire island and upgraded its infrastructure, resulting in one of the most stunning island retreats. In this almost pristine area of Hawaii, one can engage in the typical Hawaiian pastimes of hiking, sailing, snorkeling, and beaching. You need look no farther than Lanai if you’re searching for something unique, uncommon, and isolated.
Where to stay: This island is home to two Four Seasons resorts: the Sensei Lanai, located in the mountains, and the Four Seasons Resort Lanai, located on the beach. Sensei is a wellness-focused adult-only establishment that offers daily yoga sessions, meditations, massages, and a Nobu restaurant. To obtain the complete experience, most visitors reserve a few nights at each resort because the two establishments aren’t interchangeable.
Moloka’i
Island vibe: Historical Hawaii & Adventure
Details about the island: Moloka’i is an island off the north-west coast of Maui that is just as secluded as Lanai. Having been a leper colony for a century, its history is complex. However, a visit to Molokai provides an excellent glimpse of Hawaii’s past because the town is undeveloped (it lacks traffic lights). There aren’t any large resorts, though, and this isn’t a tourist island. This is a preferable option for couples who have been to Hawaii before and don’t mind hiking, kayaking, or solo exploration, or who like to learn more about the island and its people.
Staying options include the Hotel Molokai, a cozy yet compact lodging on Kamiloloa Beach featuring Polynesian-style bungalows and its waterfront eatery, Hiro’s Ohana Grill, where visitors may enjoy Hawaiian food and cocktails after a day of exploration.