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You’re planning your vacation, and you already know your destination: Hawaii. While thrilled with this decision, you have an even tougher one ahead: which of the islands are you going to visit? Hawaii is filled to the brim with great destinations, that picking one is perhaps the most difficult task.

Important to consider in your decision making is the purpose of your trip. Is it a family vacation, or are on a trip to see if Hawaii is a great place to relocate to? If you’re looking at Hawaii as a wedding destination, be sure that everyone stays on the same island. It reduces both the travel time and costs. Don’t eliminate visiting other islands, however, as inter-island flights are available for a reasonable cost.

Do some research before choosing your Hawaiian island destination. You will want to examine hotels, vacation rentals and attractions available on the various islands before coming to a decision. Activities are less of a concern, since each of Hawaii’s islands offer the same beach activities, like swimming, surfing, kayaking and sailing.

The Big Island is a popular choice with many vacations. Its big size only suggest that big adventures await you here. One of them is the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where you can learn about the impact of volcanic eruptions on this island. Don’t forget to walk through the Thurston Lava Tube. Mauna Kea, a large dormant volcano is found here as well. Interesting to some may be Mauna Loa, that when measured from the sea floor, it is the tallest mountain in the world.

Another popular island is Oahu, however, this island is often referred to as surfer’s paradise. Oahu’s shores host some of the world’s best surfing conditions on the North Shore, and you may find many surfing competition hosted on these beaches. Pearl Harbor is also found on this island, where you can learn about the critical bombing. There are also a number of locations on this island where you can pay respect to the resting servicemen and women. Also found on this island is the iconic Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach, and Iolani Palace.

Maui is a great choice, especially if you are looking for tons of beautiful scenery. You can drive along the scenic Hana Highway for views of exotic plants and flowers, cascading waterfalls, historic bridges, and endless ocean. Another great scenic spot is Haleakala National Park, where sunrises are breathtakingly gorgeous.

Kauai is the outdoor enthusiast’s playground. You can kayak down the Wailua River, and visit the hidden Fern Grotto. The 11 mile hike along the Na Pali Coast is also a suggestion for the intrepid traveler. The Waimea Canyon is another area that is popular for hikers, and the view from the top is definitely satisfying. If you’re not looking to expend so much energy, however, there are also tours by boat and helicopter.

Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island are easily the most popular Hawaiian vacation spots. These are not your only options, as there are the truly untouched islands of Hawaii are Molokai and Lanai. They have retained much of Hawaii’s charm throughout the ages, but have all of the same local flavors. Once you’ve chosen your island destination, the hardest part is over, and you’re one step closer to your Hawaii vacation.