Hawaii is not one destination — it is three distinct ones, each with its own coastline, its own character, and its own very particular idea of what a perfect day looks like. What they share is an effortless beauty that makes even the most well-traveled guest stop mid-sentence.
Maui sets the standard for resort luxury in the Pacific. The Wailea coast is anchored by properties like Hotel Wailea, a Relais & Châteaux hideaway perched in the foothills above the ocean, where the dining room consistently ranks among the most romantic tables in the state. Morimoto Maui at Andaz brings a chef’s precision to the freshest fish in the islands, and mornings begin best on a paddleboard at sunrise, watching sea turtles move through the glassy water below. A Royal Sunset Dinner Cruise with Alii Nui Charters - whale watching off the coast as the sky turns amber - is the kind of evening that reframes what a night out can be.
Kauai is wilder and less polished, and all the better for it. The North Shore’s Hanalei Bay, backed by cathedral cliffs and framed by near-constant rainbows, is among the most beautiful coastlines in America. The 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay brings a considered, sustainability-led luxury to that setting without disturbing it. Waimea Canyon - the Grand Canyon of Hawaii, earned in a full day’s drive south - delivers a scale and drama that surprises even veteran island visitors. And the poke bowl from The Fish Express in Lihue remains the standard against which all others are measured.
The Big Island’s Kohala Coast is the quietest chapter - wide lava fields meeting the Pacific, the Hilton Waikoloa Village spreading across the coastline with a scale that feels like its own small city, and a pace that invites longer stays and slower mornings.
This guide covers where to eat, where to stay, and the experiences that make each of Hawaii’s three islands worth a trip of its own.
Stay
1 Hotel Hanalei Bay Staying at the 1Hotel Hanalei Bay hotel in Princeville, Kauai was a beautiful luscious oasis on the North Shore of Kauai, Hawai
Hilton Waikoloa Village Nestled along the Kohala Coast, Hilton Waikoloa Village on Hawaii's Big Island offers a family focused tropical escape
Hotel Wailea, a Relais & Châteaux Hotel Hotel Wailea, a Relais & Châteaux hotel, offers an adults only, luscious and luxurious escape in the foothills of Maui, HawaiiExperiences
Aqualani Beach & Ocean Recreation Rentals Using Aqualani Beach & Ocean Recreation Rentals for beach chairs and umbrella rentals gave us a fun base to relax and play at Wailea Beach
Royal Sunset Dinner Cruise with Alii Nui Charters Royal Sunset Dinner Cruise with Alii Nui Charters was the perfect experience for a night out on the water in Maui, Hawaii
Sunrise Paddleboarding with Maui Stand Up Paddle Boarding Trying our hand at stand up paddle boarding before our flight was the perfect way to greet the morning, in Maui, Hawaii 
Waimea Canyon State Park Basking in the beauty of Waimea Canyon State Park, often called the Grand Canyon of Hawaii, left me speechless Eat
1 Kitchen at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay At 1Hotel Hanalei Bay, the 1Kitchen restaurant serves as a catch all spot for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks
Breakfast at DUO at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea A buffet breakfast at DUO at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea was the perfect way to start the day in Maui
Chicken in a Barrel Barbecue Having lunch at Chicken in a Barrel Barbecue in Waimea, overlooking Waimea Bay at Waimea Plantation Cottages was a rainy and delicious experience
Kauai Coffee Company Stopping at Kauai Coffee Company for coffee tastings and a self guided tour was a great stop to break up my drive to Waimea Canyon State Park
Morimoto Maui Lunch at Morimoto Maui at Andaz Maui At Wailea Resort was a delicious introduction to the fresh sushi and quality cuisine of Maui, Hawaii Royal Sunset Dinner Cruise with Alii Nui Charters Royal Sunset Dinner Cruise with Alii Nui Charters was the perfect experience for a night out on the water in Maui, Hawaii
The Fish Express Getting a poke bowl to go from The Fish Express gave me a taste of the best poke on Kauai, Hawaii
The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea consistently ranks as a top rated, romantic restaurants - with a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean - in Wailea on Maui in Hawaii
Tropics Ale House – Waikōloa Tropics Ale House in Waikōloa, Hawaii, serves island-inspired dishes and drinks in a relaxed setting
Wake Up Delicious Hanalei Breakfast at local favorite Wake Up Delicious Hanalei in Hanalei Bay offered a truly delicious breakfast, under a sky filled with rainbows
Welina Terrance Dinner at Welina Terrance at 1Hotel Hanalei Bay offered a scrumptious evening of outstanding sushi and Asian inspired light bites
