Fly over the Nā Pali Coast
See Kauaʻi’s Nā Pali Coast from a helicopter, taking in sheer cliffs, deep valleys and remote coastline. Our local partners offer scenic flights across several islands, some with exclusive landings.
Hawai'i holidays, beyond the tourist trail
Hawai’i rewards those who know where to look. We’ll help you explore beyond the typical tourist hotspots, where you’ll discover lush rainforests, distinctive places to stay, quieter beaches and volcanic landscapes that show you a very different side of the islands.
© Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) - Mathieu DuchierWhen is the best time to travel to Hawai'i?
Hawai’i is beautiful year-round, but for the best experience, we recommend travelling in the shoulder seasons. April to June and September to November offer pleasant temperatures while avoiding peak season crowds and benefit from better availability at unique small-scale stays.
The weather varies between islands and regions, so the best time to visit depends on where you want to go and what you want to do. Kona is generally drier, Kauaʻi is greener and wetter, and Maui’s Upcountry is cooler than the coast. We use your personal appointment to understand what you want from your holiday, then combine that with these regional and seasonal differences when we shape your tailor-made itinerary.
Which Hawaiian island should I visit?
There is no ‘best’ island to visit in Hawai'i. Each earns its place for a different reason, and combining two can give you far more variety than trying to fit too many into one holiday.
Hawai'i - Big Island: for volcanoes, coffee, and contrasts
Hawai'i Island is a land of variety. As the largest in the island chain, it offers a huge range of scenery, from black lava coastlines to lush rainforests, local coffee farms, and volcanic craters.
The Big Island is a great choice for travellers looking to experience different landscapes within one island. In our experience, spending around seven nights split between two or three areas is the best way to appreciate the island. You can stay a few nights on the west coast and visit local coffee farms, discover Hawaiian historical sites, or try some snorkelling, then head to Volcano Village and spend some time exploring Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.
Travel tip: look beyond the coast for your stay. Around the Kona Coffee Belt, small B&Bs and working farms give you the chance to meet local hosts, learn more about coffee growing, and experience a quieter pace of island life.
Kauaʻi: for rainforests, hiking, and the Nā Pali Coast
Kauaʻi is the island we would point you towards if green landscapes and time outdoors were high on your list. We recommend spending five to seven nights exploring its deep canyons, lush rainforest, Hanalei Bay, the Wailua River and the cliffs of the Nā Pali Coast that give the island a wilder feel.
South Kauaʻi tends to be sunnier and gives you easy access to Waimea Canyon, Old Kōloa Town, and Hanapēpē. Poʻipū and its beaches are worth including, but we think small towns such as Lāwaʻi, Kōloa and Kalāheo give you a better feel for everyday life on Kauaʻi.
Travel tip: take to the water and explore the Nā Pali Coast. Options here include snorkelling, rafting, and sunset sailing, taking you beneath towering sea cliffs and to beaches and sea caves that are best accessed from the water.
© Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)Maui: for volcanic landscapes, rural Upcountry, and time on the water
Maui combines beaches with volcanic landscapes, rainforests, and some of Hawai'i’s most memorable drives. We recommend spending about seven nights here, split across one or two bases.
The best of Maui lies beyond the resort strip. Upcountry Maui brings you into rolling farmland around Makawao and Kula, with paniolo heritage, local farms and easy access to Haleakalā National Park, home to a vast volcanic crater and some of Maui’s most dramatic highland scenery. The Road to Hāna is another place where slowing down pays off: roadside food stands, rainforest scenery, and stops along the way make the drive an experience in itself.
Travel tip: Maui is a strong choice for wildlife lovers, particularly in winter when humpback whales visit its waters. We favour smaller boat trips with an expert local guide, giving you a more personal way to look for marine life and learn about the coast.
Oʻahu: for Hawaiian history, surf culture, and the widest mix
Oʻahu is so much more than Waikīkī. Honolulu gives you Hawaiian history, neighbourhoods such as Kakaʻako, and the contrast of city life right beside the Pacific. Head north, and the pace changes around Haleʻiwa, Waimea Valley, and the North Shore beaches.
We suggest choosing one or two bases and giving yourself five to seven nights on O’ahu for a relaxed holiday. We would often combine a few days around Honolulu with another part of the island. The windward coast around Kāneʻohe and Kailua sits beneath the steep green Koʻolau Mountains, with bays, beaches, and easy access to nature.
Travel tip: on Kāneʻohe Bay, a small waterfront retreat gives you a quieter base beneath the Koʻolau Mountains, away from the crowds of Waikīkī but within reach of Oʻahu’s main sights.
© Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), Heather GoodmanA few of our favourite experiences
What can I do in Hawai'i?
Fly over the Nā Pali Coast
Snorkel Maui’s volcanic coast
From Kīhei, we can arrange a small-group Zodiac trip along Maui’s coast. Snorkel at Molokini Crater, explore sea caves or look for marine wildlife, all with knowledgeable local guides.
Hike Kauaʻi with a local guide
Explore Kauaʻi with a local guide on a private half or full-day hike. Leave the busy trails behind as you discover quiet rainforests, waterfalls and coastal viewpoints few visitors reach.
“I think people really underestimate Hawai'i. It's much more diverse than most people realise.”
— Thies, Product Manager
A few of our favourite accommodations
Where can I stay in Hawai'i?
Hosts who know Kauaʻi inside out
Stay at a small inn near Lāwaʻi, away from Kauaʻi’s busy resorts. Your hosts love sharing their favourite beaches, scenic walks and places to eat, helping you experience the island like a local.
Wake up on a working coffee farm
Stay on a working coffee farm on Hawaiʻi Island, where mornings begin with a farm-fresh breakfast. Meet your hosts and discover how Kona coffee is grown and roasted, right on your doorstep.
Experience rural Maui
Stay at a small B&B in Upcountry Maui, surrounded by rolling farmland. Explore Haleakalā, Pāʻia and the Road to Hāna, then return to welcoming local hosts and a peaceful setting away from the coast.
How do you fly to and around Hawai'i?
Hawai'i can work as a standalone holiday or as part of a wider trip, and with at least one stop needed from the UK, you can choose whether to make the journey as direct as possible or turn the stopover into part of the holiday. Common connections include Vancouver, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
From London, the quickest one-stop journeys to Honolulu are around 18 hours, although the total journey time varies with the connection. We can also arrange departures from regional UK airports where they suit your wider plans.
Once you reach Hawai'i, flying is the best way to travel between the islands. We’ll arrange your inter-island flights and fit them into the wider itinerary, so each connection works smoothly with the rest of your trip.
Do you need a hire car in Hawai'i?
A hire car gives you the freedom to reach beyond the resort areas and explore at your own pace. You can stop at a roadside food stand, spend longer at a beach you like or follow a recommendation from your hosts without having to fit your day around a tour timetable.
We arrange your hire car as part of your holiday, so it is ready and waiting for the self-drive portions of your trip and fits neatly with the rest of your itinerary. We choose your island bases and overnight stops with comfortable driving days in mind, while leaving you free to decide exactly how you travel between them.
On Maui, for example, the Road to Hāna is narrow and winding, with plenty of one-lane bridges, and that is part of what makes the drive so scenic. In our experience, it is a road to take slowly, with time to enjoy the rainforest views and stops along the way.
© Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), Dana EdmundsDiscover Hawai'i the Little America way
Many people are drawn to Hawai'i for its famous beaches, large resorts, and well-known sights such as Waikīkī – we do something different. We build Hawai'i trips for travellers who want to see a more personal side of the islands.
Our job is to help you work out which famous places are worth your time, then balance them with quieter towns, small-scale stays, and tour with expert guides who can show you the landscapes through the eyes of a local.
Your holiday is built around you. There is no standard Hawai'i package. We choose islands, stays, and experiences around what you enjoy, then bring them together into a route where every stop earns its place.
You benefit from local knowledge. We work with local hosts and guides who know their area inside out. They can point you towards a scenic walk, a café loved by locals, or a quieter beach you might otherwise pass.
You have time to experience each island. Slowing down is at the heart of what we do. We recommend spending at least two or three nights in a location rather than constantly moving on; this gives you time to really relax and get to know your surroundings.
Stay somewhere worth remembering. We believe where you stay is part of the experience. We look for small-scale places with character, from working coffee farms and rainforest cottages, to locally hosted B&Bs, where the setting, the people and their recommendations bring you closer to the island you are exploring.
Your holiday supports smaller businesses. We choose independent and family-run businesses wherever we can, helping more of what you spend stay within the communities you visit.
Support from the first conversation to the journey home. Your holiday starts with a personal appointment, where your dedicated travel expert takes the time to understand what you want from Hawai'i and shapes the trip around you.
That same team is there as you prepare to travel and while you are away. Our 24/7 emergency line ensures help is never far away should you need us.
Practical information for your Hawai'i holiday
Do I need a visa for Hawai'i?
Hawai'i follows the same entry requirements as the rest of the United States. If you are travelling on a full British citizen passport for a holiday, you will normally need an approved ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program rather than a visa. Some travellers are not eligible for an ESTA, so it is important to check the current requirements for your own circumstances before you travel.
What currency do they use in Hawai'i?
Hawai'i uses the US dollar (USD), just like the rest of the United States. Cards are widely accepted, although it is useful to carry some cash for smaller purchases, tips, and more remote stops.
What is the time difference in Hawai'i?
Hawai'i is 10 hours behind the UK when the UK is on Greenwich Mean Time and 11 hours behind during British Summer Time. Hawai'i stays on Hawai'i Standard Time throughout the year.
© Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), Tor JohnsonCan I swim at any Hawaiian beach?
We would not recommend swimming at every beach in Hawai'i because ocean conditions vary by coast and season. Winter surf can make North Shore beaches on Oʻahu unsuitable for swimming, while parts of Kauaʻi’s east coast can have rough conditions.
Check the conditions on the day, look out for warning signs, and follow local and lifeguard advice where available. If the sea looks rough or you are unsure, choose another beach or enjoy the coast from the shore instead.
How long do I need for a trip to Hawai'i?
For a first trip to Hawai'i, we recommend allowing around two weeks. That gives you enough time to combine two islands without rushing, with roughly five to seven nights on each. If you want to explore more deeply or include a third island, we would allow closer to three weeks.
Frequently asked questions
For most Little America travellers, we would start with two islands. We recommend roughly five to seven nights on the main islands, so two gives you time to settle in rather than repeatedly packing, flying, and checking into another accommodation.
Neither island is 'better'. Choose Maui if you want a broad mix of scenic driving, beaches, Haleakalā, and different landscapes within one island. Choose Kauaʻi if rainforest, hiking, canyons, and the Nā Pali Coast are higher on your list.
Yes. Honolulu is only one side of Oʻahu. The North Shore brings surf towns and a slower pace, while the windward side around Kāneʻohe and Kailua offers mountains, bays, and easier access to nature.
Your journey starts here
