Island Hopping in Hawaiʻi: dos, don’ts, and money saving tips

Hawaiʻi’s archipelago presents the unique opportunity to visit several islands during your visit. With six major islands in the chain, there is much to explore, and believe it or not, each island offers a noticeably different experience from the next.

But, just because there are many islands to visit doesn’t mean you should. There are logistical and time restraints to island hopping, and some folks find it more enjoyable to stay put on one island.

The dos and don’ts of island hopping

What’s the best plan of action for you? Below, we look at reasons for and against island hopping and offer some advice on the best way to plan your trip.

• Why you should island hop
• Why you shouldn’t island hop

Approximate flight times between Hawaiian islands.

Why Should You Island Hop?

One mistake first-time travelers to Hawaiʻi make is assuming that all the Hawaiian islands are the same. This is definitely not the case! Each island carries its own unique personality and atmosphere despite the underlying similarities.

Both Kauaʻi and Maui have mountains and beaches, for example, but no one who has visited would ever get them confused. Oʻahu is the only island with a major metropolitan area, while Molokaʻi has no stoplights. Each island also has its own strengths – Maui and Oʻahu have the most white-sand beaches to offer, while the volcanic exploration on the Big Island is like no other.

In this way, a visit to a variety of islands can offer a wider perspective on Hawaiʻi as a whole, and provide the opportunity to experience variations in landscapes and lifestyles. With proper planning, you can execute a multi-island trip that showcases the varying and encompassing beauty of the individual islands.

Why Shouldn’t You Island Hop?

Island hopping, while rewarding, requires effort. You’ll need to pack up and spend a couple hours at the airport in order to take the short flight over to another island. Many people come to Hawaiʻi to relax, and find this process undesirable.

How much exploring you want to do is also a factor. If you plan to spend each and every day on the beach, staying put could be more relaxing than island hopping (though island hopping could introduce you to a variety of awesome beaches!).

Other folks prefer to spend more time on one island and get to know it really well as opposed to spreading out their time across multiple islands and only getting an overview of each. If you only spend a day or two in Honolulu, for example, you will end up with a very skewed view of Oʻahu. Spending more time on one island gives you the complete picture of that particular island.

Traveling to multiple islands is also more expensive, since you need to buy the interisland flights and will incur accessory costs along the way, such as taxis, car rentals, baggage fees, short-term accommodations, etc.

Recommended Minimum Stay on Each Island

If you’re going to island hop, make sure you give yourself enough time to enjoy it. Visiting each island for one day, for example, would not be worth the effort. Below is what we recommend for minimum stays on each island when bouncing between them.

• Oʻahu
• Big Island
• Maui
• Kauaʻi
• Molokaʻi
• Lanaʻi

Note: The times listed below are our recommended minimums for those visiting multiple islands in one trip and looking to get a solid overview/introduction.

Oʻahu

Minimum recommended stay: 3 days.

Why: To understand Oʻahu, one needs a few days to explore beyond Honolulu, Waikīkī, and Pearl Harbor. Oʻahu is extremely diverse, with a variety of cultures and landscapes and a mix of city and outdoor opportunities that include the Koʻolau Mountains, the North Shore, and the beaches of the Waiʻanae Coast. Plus, lots of great restaurants.

Waikiki Beach on Oʻahu with Leahi (Diamond Head) in the background. Credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Vincent Lim

Big Island

Minimum recommended stay: 4 days.

Why: The Big Island is so big that all the other islands combined could fit inside of it, which means longer drive times between areas. Four days will not allow you to explore the entire island, but it’s enough time to give you a pretty good overview. Spend a few days in Kona, and then hop over to Hilo-side to explore Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Maui

Minimum recommended stay: 3 days.

Why: There’s a lot more to Maui than what you could explore in three days, but it would allow you a very good first look, including the Road to Hāna, Haleakalā Volcano, and its world-class beaches.

Snorkelers and a catamaran in Honolua Bay, one of the few sheltered bays to snorkel on Maui. Image credit: Edmund Garman, source.

Kauaʻi

Minimum recommended stay: 3 days.

Why: The Nāpali Coast and Waimea Canyon are the two major natural attractions on Kauaʻi, so any visit must include a day exploring each. Since they are on opposite sides of the island, driving between them will give you a great look at the Kauaʻi’s diverse environment.

The easily accessible Waimea Canyon Lookout gives amazing views of Waimea Canyon. Image credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Ben Ono

Molokaʻi

Minimum recommended stay: 2 days.

Why: Molokaʻi is a small island, but the experience there is unlike any other you’ll find in the islands. Minimal tourism infrastructure keeps the island feeling extremely local, with lots of space to spread out from Pāpōhaku Beach in the west to the historic and sacred Hālawa Valley out east.

A view of the North Molokai cliffs through a small airplane window. Image: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Blake Bronstad

Lānaʻi

Minimum recommended stay: 2 days.

Why: Formerly known as the Pineapple Island, Lānaʻi is a unique place to visit thanks to the fact that it is privately owned. It’s an expensive place to spend the night – hotels start at about $500 per night – but its tall cliffs and history make it an interesting stop. Sound too expensive? Check out how you can visit on a budget below.

Puʻu Pehe (Sweetheart Rock)on Lanaʻi is a popular photo spot with a storied history & a serene vibe. Credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson

Suggested Island Pairings

There are many different ways to pair the islands when traveling between them.

Our best tip and most strict advice in this regard is to always start with Oʻahu if it’s on your itinerary. Because it is the most populated and busiest, it can be quite a shock to arrive at this metropolitan island after spending a few mellow days on, say, Big Island. It’s much better to experience the busiest island first, then chill out from there. For this reason, we always recommend starting your trip on Oʻahu and then continuing on to other islands.

That said, here are some suggested island pairings that make sense to us:

• Oʻahu – Big Island – Maui
• Kauaʻi – Maui, Molokaʻi/Lanaʻi
• Big Island – Maui
• Oʻahu – Kauaʻi

Oʻahu – Big Island – Maui

Why? This classic itinerary will allow you to explore the bustling shores and beautiful beaches of Oʻahu, head out for a few days of hearty exploration and hiking on the Big Island, and then end up in the cozy confines of Maui, where luxury resorts, long white-sand beaches, and small town communities await.

Minimum recommended time: 10 days (but plan to go for at least 14 days if you can).

Start here to plan your trip to Oʻahu, the Big Island, and Maui

The following guides are good places to explore if you want to get a feeling for what to do while visiting Oʻahu, the Big Island, and Maui.

Oʻahu:

• The Love Oʻahu website is a GREAT resource to help you plan your trip.
• You can copy & paste quite a few thing from our 7 day itinerary for Oʻahu.
• Other good places for an overview are this list of 24 favorite sights and destination on Oʻahu and this overview of Things to Do on Oʻahu.

Big Island

• Our Big Island 5 day itinerary is a great place to look for some ideas.
• Another good place to fill up your bucket list is our list of favorite Big Island Sights and Destinations.
• And don’t forget to get active: have a look at our list of Big Island activities (and don’t forget to at least seriously consider doing the Manta Ray night dive or snorkel).

Maui

• For 1st timers our Maui overview article is a must-read.
• Another good place to start is our (probably slightly too long) Maui 8-day itinerary.
• If you want to build your itinerary from the basics our list of things to do on Maui and our list of favorite sights and destinations on Maui are good places to start.

Kauaʻi – Maui – Molokaʻi/Lānaʻi

Why? Start off with some outdoor adventure on Kauaʻi exploring Waimea Canyon and the Nāpali Coast, then split for Maui for some beach time and soft adventure (visiting Haleakalā, Road to Hāna, etc). Then, catch a ferry over to Molokaʻi or Lānaʻi (or both) for an easy but rewarding journey to experience a third island.

Minimum recommended time: 8 days

Start here to plan your trip to Kauaʻi,  Maui, and Molokaʻi or Lānaʻi

The following guides are good places to explore if you want to get a feeling for what to do while visiting Kauaʻi, Maui, and Molokaʻi or Lānaʻi.

Kauaʻi:

• For 1st timers our Kauaʻi overview article is a must-read.
• Another good place to start is our 7-day itinerary for Kauaʻi.
• If you want to build your itinerary from the basics our list of things to do on Kauaʻi and our list of 19 favorite sights and destinations on Kauaʻi are good places to start.

Maui

• For 1st timers our Maui overview article is a must-read.
• Another good place to start is our (probably slightly too long) Maui 8-day itinerary.
• If you want to build your itinerary from the basics our list of things to do on Maui and our list of favorite sights and destinations on Maui are good places to start.

Molokaʻi or Lānaʻi

We have two overview guides to get you started:

• Molokaʻi, where to stay, what to see, and what to do
• An overview of Lānaʻi

Big Island – Maui

Why? Remember, you don’t need to overdo it – visiting two islands can be extremely rewarding, offering the chance to see a different island but enough time and energy to dive into it more deeply. Sitting just a short 20-minute flight apart, the Big Island and Maui are perfect in this regard.

Start on Big Island and spend long days “out in the field” exploring the volcanoes (hiking, lava viewing, stargazing) and remote coastal areas, then end up on Maui, where you can kick back on its world-class beaches.

Minimum recommended time: 7 days (although 10+ days gives you more time to enjoy your trip).

Start here to plan your trip to the Big Island and Maui

The following guides are good places to explore if you want to get a feeling for what to do while visiting the Big Island and Maui.

Big Island

• Our Big Island 5 day itinerary is a great place to look for some ideas.
• Another good place to fill up your bucket list is our list of favorite Big Island Sights and Destinations.
• And don’t forget to get active: have a look at our list of Big Island activities (and don’t forget to at least seriously consider doing the Manta Ray night dive or snorkel).

Maui

• For 1st timers our Maui overview article is a must-read.
• Another good place to start is our (probably slightly too long) Maui 8-day itinerary.
• If you want to build your itinerary from the basics our list of things to do on Maui and our list of favorite sights and destinations on Maui are good places to start.

Oʻahu – Kauaʻi

Why? Again, sometimes less is more. These adjacent islands are the perfect complement to one another, as you visit the “big city” on Oʻahu where the travel is more fast paced, then end up on the quaint and quiet island of Kauaʻi.

Minimum recommended time: 6 days (but if you can, aim for at least 8 days)

Start here to plan your trip to Oʻahu and Kauaʻi

The following guides are good places to explore if you want to get a feeling for what to do while visiting Oʻahu and Kauaʻi.

Oʻahu:

• The Love Oʻahu website is a GREAT resource to help you plan your trip.
• You can copy & paste quite a few thing from our 7 day itinerary for Oʻahu.
• Other good places for an overview are this list of 24 favorite sights and destination on Oʻahu and this overview of Things to Do on Oʻahu.

Kauaʻi:

• For 1st timers our Kauaʻi overview article is a must-read.
• Another good place to start is our 7-day itinerary for Kauaʻi.
• If you want to build your itinerary from the basics our list of things to do on Kauaʻi and our list of 19 favorite sights and destinations on Kauaʻi are good places to start.

Day Trips Between the Islands

If you want to experience another island but are short on time and money, there are certain instances where a day trip between islands is possible and makes sense.

The first option would be to simply fly over to another island in the morning, rent a car and drive around, and then fly back that same night. Because flight times are relatively short, it is possible to do this, and if you already have a good deal on accommodation on one island, you can avoid the overnight costs of staying on another island by going there and back in a day. However, this strategy has obvious drawbacks – you’re spending money on the flight and rental car, but limiting your experience to whatever ground you can cover in those daytime hours; plus, you’re spending a few hours at the airport on each end.

Other day trip options make a little more sense, but they are limited to certain islands.

Maui to Lānaʻi

From Maui, you can take a short ferry ride to Lānaʻi, arriving at Hulopoʻe Beach Park and the Manele-Hulopoʻe Marine Life Conservation District. The ride itself is a treat, sailing out into the Auʻau channel, and arriving at an area where you can swim, snorkel, hike, or sunbath, all within walking distance of the ferry stop. This is a wonderful day trip option for people staying on Maui.

Maui to Molokaʻi

There’s also a ferry from Maui to Molokaʻi each day that takes about 90 minutes each way. The logistics aren’t as easy as the Lānaʻi situation above – you will need to rent a car or taxi upon arrival to explore – but the ferry beats the heck out of the airport experience, and it provide the chance to visit another island on a budget.

Kauaʻi to Niʻihau

Niʻihau is known as “the Forbidden Island” because it is privately owned and off limits to visitors. There are, however, some exceptions, including day tours that allow you to access certain parts of the island. HoloHolo Charters on Kauaʻi organizes a trip to Niʻihau, a great way to touch down on another island without worrying about logistics.

Airline Options and Typical Costs

When island hopping, you have several choices between airlines and, in some cases, ferry boats.

There are only two ferries left in the island, and both leave from the west side of Maui, traveling to Lanaʻi and Molokaʻi, respectively. This means that in a majority of cases, your best way to get between islands will be to fly.

There are three choices of airlines: Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Mokulele. Hawaiian will have the most number of routes between major airports, while Mokulele offers service to smaller regional airports around the islands and has smaller airplanes that fly lower (great coastline views!).

Prices will vary depending upon your exact route and the time of your flight, but generally, you can expect to pay anywhere between $50-$125 per roundtrip ticket. Tickets tend to be more expensive during the morning and evening commuter hours (many residents fly between islands for work), as well as other popular travel times, like Sunday evening. Deals for as low as $25 or $35 one-way can be found for those with flexible timing.

Dive deeper: You can read more about these flights and how to safe money on them in our interisland flight guide.

The 9-seater airplane serving the Kona – Kahalui route. Courtesy Makani Kai Air

Flight time between the islands

Flights between the islands are short – about 20 to 45 minutes depending on which islands you are traveling between. You will definitely spend more time at the airport than you will in the air!

Approximate flight times between Hawaiian islands.

Important: sometimes saving time is better than saving money!

Sometimes the cheapest flight option for your island-hopping adventure is one with a 1-stop layover in Honolulu. While these flights sometimes leave at a more convenient time, and you can sometimes save money on these kind of flights, we strongly recommend against them.

Think about it like this. Adding in a layover will easily add 2 hours to the flight time and save you a few 10s of USD. How much does the airline + accommodation + rental car portion of your trip cost? (for most people this can easily add up to $500/day, so your small layover-saving just turned into an expense!). And do you not already feel that your time in Hawaiʻi is too short?

We rest our case. Avoid layovers whenever possible!

3 Tips to save money while island hopping

Use the following 3 tips to save a few $$ on your island hopping adventure:

1. Skip bag fees
2. Get smart with your rental car
3. Time your flight for extra savings

The super-savers among you may also interested in our tips to save money on your Hawaiʻi trip.

Skip bag fees

If you fly Southwest, you won’t pay to check your first two standard bags. When you fly Hawaiian Airlines between neighbor islands, your first checked bag costs $25 and your second costs $35. Mokulele charges slightly less: the charge for the 1st checked item is $20, 2nd item is $30, and $50 for each item over 2 — a lot for such a short flight.

Get a great deal on your rental car

When you get to a new island, having a rental car (see our complete rental car guide here) will greatly increase the amount of things you can see during your stay.

Prices fluctuate, but we have finally found a company that has always given us great prices, and we heartily recommend them to you. Don’t spend more than you need to.

We love using Discount Hawaii Car Rental when island hopping. They don’t require advance payments to secure your reservation and charge no cancellation fees. They also offer additional benefits such as free extra drivers and reduced young driver rates.

Get a direct (and free) quote from Discount Hawaii Car Rental and see your savings.

Time your flight for extra savings and don’t compete with commuters

Tickets tend to be more expensive during the morning and evening commuter hours (many residents fly between islands for work), as well as other popular travel times, like Sunday evening. Deals for as low as $25 or $35 one-way can be found for those with flexible timing.