There can hardly be a better look at Hawaii, then looking at four of its islands, with a comparative eye, in one go. With the unique and respective colors and scenes of each Island, nothing gives you a more encompassing picture of the archipelago of Hawaii. For the enhancement of this rare pleasure, here are a few things which each of these Islands are known for, as we move on our cruise from Kauai to the Big Island.

Kauai is the little paradise within a paradise; that is why it is dubbed as the Garden Island. It is probably the best preserved natural environment among all of the Hawaiian Islands. That is why Kauai is famous for its nature-centered activities such as whale watching, snorkeling, tubing, kayaking, biking, off-road sightseeing, eco tours, picnicking and the most amazing of all, an airplane view of the island.

It features some amazing white sand beaches and has by far the most natural and best preserved environment of all the islands. The island is so famous for its repute of having an unadulterated natural environment that it is often featured in Hollywood movies for portraying the natural environment of Hawaii and wildlife of jungles.
A day long tour of the island from its beaches to the Waimea Canyon is a treat for anyone who takes time out to witness it.

Your next stop will be Oahu, as you inch towards the Big Island. It is one of the largest islands and houses the capital Honolulu, since its declaration about two centuries ago. Oahu means the gathering place in the native language, and isnt that name fitting for the place. It is famous for its Waikiki Beach Resort, which is a gathering place in itself.

You can find atmosphere like that of your home on this well built part of the Hawaiian Islands, but Oahu also has to offer a lot for those who want to stay close to nature. You could also enjoy snorkeling, swimming and scuba diving along the coast during your stay.

Oahu can offer you a touch of a historical refresher by allowing you to pay a visit to the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, or you could experience the richness and beauty of the native art and culture through the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Maui, your next stop on the cruise offers you as much outdoor fun as any of the other Hawaiian Islands. Let it be parasailing, biking, kayaking or ATV tours, Maui has a little bit of everything for those with a taste of adventure. Maui also boasts one of the most spectacular beaches and golf courses in the world, which really makes visiting the island a treat. Moreover, the Haleakala volcano is also one of the trademark sites of Maui that attract tourists.

Finally we arrive to the Big Island itself, the largest volcanic wonder on Earth. The Big Island is named so because it is actually larger than the rest of the Hawaiian land mass combined, and is actually growing. The Big Island enables you to admire the furious side of nature, with the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park. You can also enjoy day trips on the island, surfing and could also take eco tours. It has plenty of sites to keep you captivated like the Mauna Loa and the Kilauea.

Taking such a cruise will be a dream tour of Hawaii, and if you find a chance to take it, make sure that you dont miss this opportunity.
You may or may not find one again.

This following guide will help you to select the appropriate Hawaiian islands to visit according to the activity that you want to pursue. Although you will find an activity present in almost all of the 6 major and most frequently visited islands in one form or another, but this article will enable you to find that activity at its best in Hawaii.
These recommendations are actually based on the valued opinion of many visitors and on our research of these locations.

The Best Beaches

1. Maui – Red Sand Beach (Hana)
2. The Big Island – Punaluu Black Sand Beach
3. The Big Island – Mahana Green Sand (Seasonal)

Surfing Destinations (Advanced Level) (Seasonal)

1. Oahu – North Shore
2. Kauai – Hanalei Bay
3. Maui – Honolua Bay

Surfing Destinations (Novice Level) (Seasonal)

1. Oahu – Waikiki
2. Kauai – Kalapaki Beach
3. Maui – Launiupoko Park

Windsurfing & Kite Surfing Destinations

1. Maui – Hookipa Beach Park (Advanced Level)
2. Maui – Kanaha Beach (Novice Level)
3. Oahu – Kailua Beach

Best Scuba Diving Destinations

1. Maui – Molokini
2. Maui – Lanai Coast
3. The Big Island – West Coast

Best Snorkeling Experience

1. Oahu – Haunama Bay
2. Maui – Kaanapali (Black Rock)
3. Kauai – Lydgate Beach & Tunnels

Top Natural Wonders

1. Kauai – Na Pali Coast
2. The Big Island – Kilauea Volcano
3. Maui or Lanai – whale watching (seasonal)

Best Hiking Tracks

1. Kauai – Na Pali Coast (seasonal)
2. Kauai – Waimea Canyon
3. The Big Island – Mt. Kilauea

Best Nude Sunbathing Beaches

1. Maui – Little Beach in Makena
2. The Big Island – Various Locations
3. Kauai – Secret Beach in Kilauea

The Most Colorful Nightlife

1.Oahu Waikiki
2.Maui Lahaina
3.The Big Island Kailua Kona

The Best Places To Shop

1. Oahu – Aloha Market & Waikiki
2. Maui – Lahaina
3. Big Island – Kailua Kona

Hawaii is home to one of the most spectacular and breath-taking natural wonders and scenic beauty, and is famous for rewarding its visitors to experience priceless natural phenomena and marvels.

One such wonder is whale-watching. Humpback Whales gather to mate in the temperate waters of the Pacific around Hawaii, migrating some good 4,000 miles all over from Alaska, their summer feeding haven. Whales tend to increase their activity during mating, and that causes them to make a lot of surface appearances. Whale moves like breaching and tail-slaps provide scenes that are awaited by enthusiastic whale watchers all over the year.

As a local Hawaiian and a keen whale-watcher myself, allow me to offer five useful tips to you, which will ensure your whale watching experience in Hawaii to be a thing to remember.

1. Plan Your Trip During Whale-Watching Months

The arrival of the Humpbacks commences in the month of November, and they do not return back to Alaska before May starts. Plan your tour to Hawaii between these months, even more so in February and March, during which the activity of the whales is at its peak. You will easily spot whales, with some nice potential shots for the photographers. If you havent yet made your plan for Hawaii, remember to do so in the mentioned months.

2. Be at the Right Places

Another important factor is to be at the right places and right islands in order to get better views. Kauai, Maui and the Big Island are the favorites of whale-watchers. You can see some whales from Oahu too, but not as much as from the former three.

3. Take A Boat Tour

It is a natural coincidence that a popular tourist spot as Hawaii also serves as the natural habitat for the Humpback Whales, which actually allows visitors to witness a show arranged by nature herself. But you can get unimaginably close and of course, better views if you take a boat tour. The Humpback Whales are curious animals and always approach a boat, offering you almost a pleasant close encounter with the wonderful creatures.

You can find a lot of boat tours on the Lahaina Harbor all through the day during the whale-watching seasons. Whale-watching is also pretty organized in Kauai and the Big Island, and tours are arranged with schedules, which also feature expert guides that enrich your whale-watching experience by the relevant knowledge.

However, if youre not the boating type, you can even enjoy the whale-watching experience from the shore. But in order to get the best possible views from land, you need to choose some really good spots. Some of such locations on the Kauai island are the Kealia Lookout, the Kilauea Lighthouse, and many of the high spots on the coastline. Once you settle into a nice spot with all your optics focused, you can relish the joys of witnessing the spectacular spouting water plumes and the playful moves of the enormous creatures.

4. Take Care to Respect Their Space

Whale-watching can be a fun activity, but remember that it involves living creatures, and there are strict rules and ethics that regulate it in order to protect the freedom and safety of these beautiful creatures. Any observer is not allowed to get within a distance of 100 yards from the whale, whether by boat or by swimming. However there is no such rule that can prevent whales from getting closer, but experienced Hawaiian guides and tour leaders exactly have the idea of how to interact with and approach these peaceful creatures, and to encourage them to feel safe and come closer.

5. Take Care to Preserve the Species

Due to the unrestrained and unethical practice of mass commercial whaling during the early half of the 20th century, the Humpback Whales almost saw extinction staring in the eye by 1966. As you are reading these lines, there are roughly 30,000 to 40,000 Humpbacks around the world. Federal Legislation is made to protect the creatures, but the real difference is made if every individual understands his or her responsibility, and to help preserve these magnificent creatures, so that the generations to come can enjoy whale-watching, just like we do. You could take care of the following:

Only be a part of responsible whale-watching groups or activities
Keep the beach clean and never dispose off any debris to the beach and the sea. Support groups that work against illegal whaling & stop buying related products. Support relevant legislation, preservation programs and research meant for this purpose. Support and donate to environment friendly organizations and groups

Hawaii whale-watching is as close as you can possibly get to these amazing creatures without being a researcher or a biologist. There is one thing reading about it in books, and watching it on TV, but it is entirely different living the experience yourself. There is no reason why you shouldnt try. Its perfectly safe, is a fun-filled activity for the whole family. It could be one of the greatest reasons that attract you to the shores of Hawaii.