Hawaiian islands aerial view for island hopping adventures

Island Hopping & Beyond

Extending Your Trip - Discover More of Hawaii

Written by a Local Expert

Love the Big Island so much you want to see more of Hawaiʻi? I get it! Each island has a totally different feel. A short flight can take you to a whole new world of adventure.

I'm thinking of visiting another island. What are my options?

The only way to travel between the Hawaiian islands is by taking a short flight, usually between 20 and 50 minutes long, on an airline like Hawaiian Airlines. There are no public ferries connecting the main islands. The most common destination for island hoppers is Oʻahu, which we call "The Gathering Place." It's the most populated island and home to Honolulu and Waikiki. The pace is much faster than here on the Big Island, but it offers some unique adventures and historical sites you can't find anywhere else.

🏙️ Oʻahu (Honolulu)

"The Gathering Place" - Most populated island with Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, and vibrant city life. Great for history, shopping, and nightlife.

City Life History Shopping

🌺 Maui

"The Valley Isle" - Perfect blend of luxury and adventure with Haleakalā crater, Road to Hana, and world-class beaches. More upscale than Big Island.

Luxury Beaches Sunrise

🏞️ Kauai

"The Garden Isle" - Oldest main island with dramatic Na Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon, and lush landscapes. Most natural and undeveloped.

Nature Hiking Canyons

🍍 Molokai & Lanai

Smaller, more remote islands. Molokai is "The Friendly Isle" with authentic local culture. Lanai is "The Pineapple Isle" with luxury resorts.

Remote Authentic Exclusive

✈️ Inter-Island Travel Tips

• Flight Time: 20-50 minutes between most islands
• Airlines: Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest, Alaska Airlines
• Advance Booking: Book early for better prices, especially during peak season
• Baggage: Check weight limits - inter-island flights are smaller planes
• Timing: Allow at least 2-3 days per additional island

I'm an adrenaline junkie. Is there anything like a big adventure park in Hawaiʻi?

While the Big Island is all about raw, natural adventure—hiking active volcanoes, diving with giant manta rays—if you're looking for that mainland-style adventure park with ziplines, ATVs, and challenge courses all in one place, my cousins on Oʻahu always take their kids to Coral Crater Adventure Park. It's a different kind of fun, perfect for a high-energy day.

🎢 Coral Crater Adventure Park (Oʻahu)

Located in Kapolei, it's a one-stop shop for thrills. Their main attractions include a 6-line zipline course that sends you flying through the jungle, rugged off-road trails for side-by-side ATVs, and a massive Adventure Tower with an 18-element obstacle course, a climbing wall, and a heart-pounding 50-foot freefall. It's especially convenient if you happen to be staying in the Ko Olina resort area on Oʻahu.

🪂 Ziplines

6-line course through jungle canopy

🏍️ ATV Tours

Side-by-side off-road adventures

🧗 Adventure Tower

18-element obstacle course + freefall

I want to learn about the history that shaped modern Hawaiʻi. Where should I go?

To understand modern Hawaiʻi, you have to understand our complex history, including our role in World War II. While you can visit incredible ancient sites on the Big Island like Puʻukoholā Heiau to learn about the time of King Kamehameha I, no trip to the islands is complete without paying respects at Pearl Harbor on Oʻahu. It's a powerful, moving experience that connects all of us to a pivotal moment in world history.

⚓ Pearl Harbor Experience

A visit to Pearl Harbor is a full-day experience. Tours typically include the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, where you watch a documentary film and take a solemn boat ride out to the USS Arizona Memorial, which rests above the sunken battleship. You can also visit the Battleship Missouri, where the Japanese surrender officially ended WWII; the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum; and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.

🛳️ USS Arizona Memorial

Boat ride to memorial above sunken battleship

⚔️ Battleship Missouri

Where Japanese surrender ended WWII

🔱 USS Bowfin

WWII submarine museum experience

✈️ Aviation Museum

Historic aircraft and aviation history

🎫 Day Trip from Big Island

For visitors based on the Big Island, many tour companies offer all-inclusive day trips that bundle the round-trip inter-island flights with the full Pearl Harbor tour, making it a long but very feasible day. It's a journey every visitor to Hawaiʻi should consider making.