Big Island vs Oahu: Which to Choose!
There’s no doubt that one of the hardest parts about planning a trip to Hawaii is deciding which island to visit. While some people are lucky enough to visit multiple islands in one trip, most of us have to pick just one!
And if you’ve narrowed it down to the Big Island vs Oahu, you’ve come to the right place!
I’ve had the pleasure of visiting both the Big Island and Oahu multiple times, and I truly love them both!
However, I do believe there is a better choice depending on what type of vacation you are looking for.
Which island has the best beaches? The best snorkeling? The best food? All of these are important factors to consider before you decide!
So, I’m breaking down everything you need to know in order to choose between the Big Island vs Oahu for your trip to Hawaii.
A Quick Look at the Island of Oahu
Don’t have a lot of time? Here’s a quick mini guide to the island of Oahu to help plan your epic adventure!
Where to Stay:
Hilton Hawaiian Village ($$)
Sheraton Waikiki ($$$)
Moana Surfrider ($$$$)
When to Visit:
– My favorite time is April/May (great weather and in between peak season)
– High season is December – March (also whale season!)
– Summer (July-August) is very warm and also sees a good amount of crowds
Things to Do:
Pearl Harbor Memorial 🇺🇸
Sea Turtle Snorkel Tour 🤿
Kualoa Ranch 🦖
Big Island Overview
The Big Island of Hawaii is one of the most unique places I’ve ever traveled to! It’s full of incredible and varying landscapes, from rolling volcanic hills to black sand beaches.
As the largest and youngest of the Hawaiian islands, the Big Island feels completely different from places like Kauai or Oahu.
It’s also, you guessed it, the BIGGEST of the Hawaiian islands. In fact, all of the other Hawaiian islands could fit INSIDE the Big Island. For this reason, because it’s so large, I would only visit the Big Island if you have at least 4 days to explore it.
However, I personally recommend spending a full week on the Big Island, as the best activities are spread out! (This is what we did!).
The best activities are spread out across the entire island, so one week is the perfect amount of time to see and do it all. And you With that said, you’ll absolutely need a rental car when visiting the Big Island! I highly recommend using DiscoverCars.com for their price matching and great cancellation policy!
Top Activities on the Big Island
In general, I recommend visiting the Big Island if you love outdoor adventures, but especially adventures that revolve around the ocean.
If you’re water-obsessed like me, the Big Island is the place to be.
It’s the only Hawaiian island where you can snorkel/dive with manta rays at night, which to this day is one of the coolest things I’ve ever done!!
Don’t worry, there are plenty of daytime snorkeling spots too (some of the best in the Hawaiian Islands!).
Besides ocean adventures, there’s plenty of hiking, especially at the famous Volcanoes National Park (where you can sometimes see lava), coffee farms, and so much more.
Check out my full list of 30 Things to Do on the Big Island for even more ideas on what this island has to offer!
Oahu Overview
Oahu is completely different from the Big Island, in the best way possible! Oahu is much smaller than the Big Island, but there are still tons of different activities to experience!
Home to the capital of Hawaii (Honolulu) and, within it, the famous Waikiki Beach, Oahu is a lot more developed and definitely feels more touristy than the Big Island.
However, there’s plenty of off-the-beaten-path spots as you venture around the island.
I still recommend renting a car while visiting Oahu to maximize your time, but you can drive around all of Oahu in a few hours, so it’s easier to do day trips while on Oahu vs the Big Island.
Top Activities on Oahu
My favorite part of Oahu is the wide variety of activities and areas, truly something for every type of traveler/family.
In Waikiki, you’ll find shopping, nightlife, beaches, and surfing for beginners! Along the North Shore, there are adorable food trucks, beautiful sunsets, and killer waves.
Dotted across the island are incredible hikes like Lanikai Pillboxes, Diamond Head, and Koko Crater.
And don’t forget about visiting the historic Pearl Harbor site or the real-life Jurassic Park!
In general, Oahu has way more land-based adventures than the Big Island, and more that are better for young kids.
Make sure to check out my perfect 3 day Oahu itinerary that captures as much of Oahu as possible!
Which Island to Choose: Big Island vs Oahu
Now that you have a general understanding of both islands, let’s dive into the details of which island is best for different categories!
| Category | Best Pick | Notes |
| Beaches | Tie | Oahu has more white-sand beaches, but Big Island has more unique beaches! |
| Food / Nightlife | Oahu | Lots of restaurants to choose from, plenty of iconic Hawaiian food trucks |
| Volcanoes | Big Island | The Big Island has 5 active volcanoes, one of which is the most active in the world, Oahu doesn’t have any active volcanoes |
| Hiking | Oahu | There are gorgeous hikes across Oahu, including the Diamond Head Monument and Koko Crater |
| Waterfalls | Tie | Both islands are home to incredible waterfalls |
| Snorkeling | Big Island | Fewer crowds and you can snorkel right from the beach. Plus snorkeling with manta rays!! |
| Families | Oahu | Tons of family-friendly activities can be found on Oahu for all ages |
| Surfing | Oahu | Oahu is home to Waikiki Beach and the famous North Shore, both prime surfing spots |
| Couples | Big Island | The Kohala Coast is home to some of the most romantic resorts in Hawaii |
Best Island for Beaches: Oahu
From the famous Waikiki Beach to North Shore to Kailua Beach, Oahu has many beautiful, white sand beaches to choose from. You can spend your days lounging in the sand and drinking mai tais all across Oahu.
My particular favorite when visiting Oahu in the wintertime was Waimea Bay Beach Park on the North Shore, which had the biggest waves I’ve ever seen.
The beaches around Kualoa Ranch (where Jurassic Park was filmed – more on that later!) like Kahalu Beach are also quite impressive, as you get both the crystal-clear water and the insane sprawling landscapes behind them.
Don’t get me wrong, the Big Island also has some incredible beaches! We spent our first afternoon at Magic Sands Beach Park, watching people body surf and drinking yummy iced coffees from the little stand next door.
There are also traditional white sand beaches on the Kohala Coast where the resorts are, like the stunning Hapuna Beach (we spent a few hours here after getting massages at the Hapuna Beach Resort).
However, since the Big Island is the youngest of the Hawaiian islands, most of the beaches are volcanic/rocky.
This means the Big Island has some epic black sand beaches and even a green sand beach!
The most popular black sand beach on the Big Island is Punaluʻu Beach, which is dotted with green palm trees and full of sea turtles!
Best Island for Food and Nightlife: Oahu
While both islands have incredible food, I think Oahu takes the cake in this category. Since Oahu is so heavily populated, there are TONS of different restaurants and bars to choose from.
In the Waikiki area alone, I had a list of 20 restaurants I wanted to try. There are also incredible beach bars, rooftop bars, and even some nightlife on Oahu.
While the Big Island has some incredible local places to eat, I wouldn’t say there is much nightlife here. Restaurants like Da Poke Shack and Broke Da Mouth Grindz are absolutely mouth-watering though!!
I want to fly back to Hawaii right now so I can have the tuna at Da Poke Shack again, lol.
However, outside of the Kona area, your food and drink options become sparse, unless you drive from Kona to Hilo. Most places on the Big Island aren’t open past 10pm, let alone midnight, so don’t expect much nightlife here!
However, a special Hawaiian nightlife activity I have to touch on is: Luaus! There are plenty of luaus to choose from on both the Big Island and Oahu. Big Island luaus tend to be more casual and low-key affairs.
There are about 6 main luaus to choose from on the Big Island along the Kona and Kohala coast. On Oahu, there are even more to choose from, and luaus on Oahu are generally bigger productions!
So as usual, it depends what kind of vibe you are looking for.
Best Island for Volcanoes: Big Island
This one is easy! If your goal is to see an active volcano, you need to head to the Big Island!
The island of Oahu does not have any active volcanoes.
The Big Island, however, is made up of 5 different volcanoes: Kilauea, Mauna Loa, Hualālai, Mauna Kea, and Kohala.
The first 3 are still active, with Kilauea being the most active volcano on Earth. If you are lucky, you might even get to see real lava while visiting the Big Island. (Unfortunately, we missed an eruption by a week…).
Because of this, one of the most popular things to do on the Big Island is visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where you can walk through a lava tube, hike down into a volcanic crater, and see petroglyphs.
We absolutely loved our day at the national park, and it was a nice break from all the scuba diving and snorkeling!
One thing we missed on the Big Island was watching the sunset and stargazing from Mauna Kea! Mauna Kea is the tallest point in the Hawaiian Islands – it’s so high that there is snow at the top!! Yes, snow, in Hawaii!
It also has 13 world-class astronomical observatories at the top and arguably the best place to see the stars in the United States.
Best Island for Hiking: Oahu
As mentioned above, the Big Island has some incredible hiking in Volcanoes National Park.
In addition, there are a few hikes down to the ocean, like the hike to the Captain Cook monument (we skipped this and kayaked to the monument instead), Shipman Beach/Haena Beach, and the Onomea Bay Trail.
However, if you are looking for hikes with spectacular, tropical views, I believe Oahu is the winner!
For an easy, family-friendly hike, there is the famous Diamond Head Monument, located just 15 minutes down the road from Waikiki Beach. I did this with my family as a kid and remember having an amazing time – the views are absolutely insane!
About 30 minutes away from Waikiki, you’ll find the epic Koko Crater hike, which I loved, as it had epic sunrise views from the top, even if I tripped going back down…
There’s also the Kaʻau Crater Trail, the Wa’ahila Ridge Trail, and on the east side of the island, there’s the famous Lanikai Pillbox hike.
I could go on.. there are sooo many hikes on Oahu!
And nearly all of them are through lush foliage and beautiful landscapes, whereas most of the Big Island hikes are across old lava fields without much greenery around.
In summary, the Big Island has a few awesome hikes, but Oahu wins the category!
Best Island for Waterfalls: Tie
This is another close call, as both the Big Island and Oahu have some incredible waterfalls!
On the Big Island, you can visit some stunning waterfalls like ‘Akaka Falls and Rainbow Falls with barely any effort – no muddy hike required!
In fact, Rainbow Falls is just a few feet away from the parking lot! You can’t swim in either of these, however.
There’s also Kulaniapia Falls, which is on private property and requires a day pass to visit. This is one of the few waterfalls on the Big Island that you can swim in!
One of the most stunning (and tallest) waterfalls in all of Hawaii is Hiʻilawe Waterfall in the Waipi’o Valley. To see this waterfall, you’ll have to go on an organized tour into the valley!
P.S. Read my full guide to exploring waterfalls on the Big Island here!
Oahu also has many waterfalls, and quite a few that you can hike to and swim in.
Waimea Falls is one of the easiest to get to! A quick one-mile stroll through the Botanical Gardens will lead you to the waterfall.
If you are looking for a more challenging hike, there’s also the Waimano Falls Trail, a 3-mile hike to the stunning falls!
Other falls on Oahu include Lulumahu Falls, which requires a permit, and Manoa Falls, which is great for all ages!
In summary, I call this one a tie between the Big Island vs Oahu. They both have many waterfalls to choose from. However, if you want to swim in waterfalls, Oahu might have a slight edge.
Read my full guide to Best Hikes on Oahu with Waterfalls here!
Best Island for Snorkeling: Big Island
While both Oahu and the Big Island have gorgeous underwater scenery, I stand by the fact that the Big Island reigns supreme.
For one, the Big Island is much less populated and popular than Oahu, which means fewer crowds and less damage to its coral reefs.
The best part about snorkeling on the Big Island is you can do so right from the beach in many places, no tour required!
You can read my full guide to kayaking and snorkeling at Captain Cook here!
Both sides of the Big Island, Kona and Hilo, have incredible snorkeling. My favorite snorkel spot is at the Captain Cook monument, which you can get to by hiking or on a kayak like we did!
In addition to daytime snorkeling, the Big Island is the only place you can snorkel (or dive) at night with manta rays.
This is hands-down the coolest thing to do on the Big Island, and I highly recommend it, even if it sounds terrifying to you.
As a kid, we did the snorkeling (and I was totally freaked out to get in the water). But when I returned as an adult, we went scuba diving instead, which I definitely preferred!
Read my full guide to swimming with the manta rays here!
While I think the Big Island wins for the best snorkeling, I can’t neglect to mention the incredible snorkel spots on Oahu!
The best one hands down is Hanauma Bay, which requires advance reservations and limits the number of daily visitors, so you’ll need to plan in advance!
As a protected marine life conservation area, snorkeling at Hanauma Bay is truly incredible. Make sure to pack reef-safe sunscreen!
Another popular activity on Oahu is this snorkeling with sea turtles excursion, which I will definitely do next time I visit!
Best Island for Families: Oahu
In my opinion, Oahu is the better option for travelers with young children!
There are tons of family-friendly activities to experience on Oahu, like watching the waves at North Shore, visiting the Pearl Harbor memorial, exploring the Dole Plantation, and experiencing Kualoa Ranch (the real-life Jurassic Park).
And if you are staying in the Waikiki area, there are plenty of activities right at your doorstep (no car required).
You can swim at Waikiki Beach, visit the Honolulu Zoo, and go shopping around the town square.
Make sure to check out my list of 13 Things to Do in Waikiki for even more ideas!
Of course, you can absolutely travel to the Big Island with children. You can enjoy the beautiful drives, see waterfalls, swim at the beach, and more!
But if your kids are young, there definitely aren’t as many organized activities to choose from.
Best Island for Surfing: Oahu
You can’t go to Hawaii and NOT surf, right? Or at least watch some surfing! If this is a priority for you, the easy choice is Oahu vs the Big Island.
Oahu is home to the famous North Shore, where premier surfing competitions are held throughout the winter months!
I highly recommend spending an afternoon on the North Shore, eating at the famous Haleiwa Food Trucks and watching the surfers at the Banzai Pipeline.
Make sure to read my full guide to the Best Things to Do on North Shore here!
I’ll also never forget visiting Hawaii as a kid and wanting to take a surf lesson so bad, but I was too chicken (my dad still doesn’t let me live it down).
So when I returned to Oahu as an adult, I wasn’t passing up the opportunity!
Waikiki Beach is the perfect place to take a surf lesson, as the waves on Waikiki Beach stay pretty small year-round, making it ideal for beginners!
I surfed here in December while the waves at North Shore were absolutely terrifying, and it was so fun! Read my full guide on taking surf lessons on Waikiki beach here!
There is still some surfing on the Big Island, but it’s not nearly as accessible as on Oahu. If you are committed to visiting the Big Island but still want to surf, you can check out lessons at Kahalu’u Beach Park!
If you just want to watch some surfing, there’s also Honoli’i Beach Park on the Hilo side.
Best Island for Couples: Big Island
Surprisingly, I think the Big Island wins this category! If you’re looking for a romantic destination, I highly recommend checking out the Kohala coast of the Big Island.
The Kohala coast is home to the some incredible, luxurious resorts, like the Mauna Lani Resort, Fairmont Orchid, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, and Westin Hapuna Beach Resort.
All of these resorts capture that picturesque luxury vibe honeymooners will be looking for: stunning pools, beautiful beaches, delicious restaurants, and fancy golf resorts!
I dive more into this in my guide on Where to Stay on the Big Island!
That’s not to say Oahu doesn’t have beautiful resorts! Turtle Bay Resort is one of the best on the island, nestled on the North Shore! Some famous movies were filmed here, like Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
And about 30 minutes outside the hustle and bustle of Waikiki, you can find the luxurious Four Seasons at Ko Olina, which comes with a hefty price tag!
However, Oahu is just really crowded, especially in Waikiki, which is the opposite of what I want on a romantic trip personally.
So while Oahu has some beautiful resorts that are great for couples, I still think the Big Island is better in this category!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oahu the Big Island?
Nope! Oahu is a totally different island from “The Big Island”. The main Hawaiian Islands are: Maui, Oahu, Hawai’i (The Big Island), Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niʻihau, and Kahoʻolawe. The Big Island’s official name is Hawai’i. Hence the nickname of the Big Island to avoid confusion with the other Hawaiian islands.
Is Honolulu on the Big Island?
Nope! Honolulu is on the island of Oahu. Honolulu is also the capital city of the state of Hawaii. It’s the most populous Hawaiian city.
Which island is Waikiki on?
Waikiki is also on the island of Oahu. Waikiki is a district of Honolulu! It’s one of the most popular areas to visit in all of Hawaii.
Can I take a Big Island day trip from Oahu?
Not really.. There is no ferry service between the main Hawaiian islands. You can fly between the Big Island and Oahu, but it would be way too much to do in a day! I recommend spending at least a few days on both islands.
How do I get from Honolulu to Kona?
There are daily direct flights from Honolulu (HNL) to Kona (KOA) and the opposite! You can pretty much find a flight every hour of the day. The most popular airlines that fly this route are Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest Airlines. The journey takes less than an hour!
Final Thoughts
There’s no doubt that both the Big Island and Oahu are worth visiting!! But alas, you may have to choose just one.
When comparing the Big Island vs Oahu, it really depends on what type of vacation you are looking for and how long you have!
If you only have a few days, I recommend spending them on Oahu. Since Oahu is much smaller than the Big Island, you can do a ton of different activities in a very short time frame. However, as Hawaii’s most popular island, be prepared for crowds and traffic!
For those who have a bit longer to spend in Hawaii and are looking for diversity in their trip, the Big Island is the best choice!
With its multitude of climate zones and landscapes, you can find a little bit of everything on the Big Island. This includes black sand beaches, volcanoes, snorkeling, stunning vistas, waterfalls, coffee farms, and more!
No matter which island you choose, you really can’t go wrong with a trip to Hawaii!
Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning!
One Comment
Comments are closed.