The 5 Best Islands in Hawaii of 2025

Travel + Leisure

08-07-2025

Travelers are spoiled for choice when it comes to the islands of the Hawaiian archipelago, with each one having its own distinct character, from the urban energy of Oahu (home to Honolulu, the state capital and largest city) to the rural, laid-back nature of Kauai. And this year, readers crowned a new number one favorite. Read on to find out which island took the top spot. Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 180,000 T+L readers completed the 2025 survey. A total of more than 657,000 votes were cast across over 8,700 properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Islands were specifically rated on the criteria below: Natural attractions/beaches Activities/sights Restaurants/food People/friendliness Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.
Buildings along the coastline of Maui.
Christopher Larson/Travel + Leisure
'[The Island of] Hawaii is second to none,' says one reader, of this year's runner-up and the state's largest island by area. 'Every corner is completely different, from rainforests and waterfalls to valleys, the ocean, and lava.' Indeed, Hawaii Island has the unique distinction of continuing to expand, with active volcanoes creating the lava flow necessary to increase its total land mass.
A quick 50-minute flight away, Oahu (No. 4) is beloved by readers thanks to the 'amazing people, food, beaches, sunsets, and hotels,' said one voter. And with a population close to one million, the diversity of things to do is vast. As one reader puts it, 'Waikiki defines Oahu for many visitors, but there's much more! Ko Olina, north of Honolulu, has great food, lagoons, and [beautiful] scenery. [Elsewhere], you can hike to the top of Diamond Head, visit the USS Arizona Memorial, shop at the world's largest open-air shopping center, and much, much more.'
But this year, Maui took the top spot. See why, below.
Maui A black sand beach on Maui.
Melissa Cherry/Travel + Leisure
Despite the devastating wildfires that tore through the historic town of Lahaina in 2023, T+L readers showed their love of Maui by voting it the number one island in Hawaii this year. As one reader put it, 'Kudos to the locals of Maui that are trying so hard to deal with the tragic fire in Lahaina. People need to acknowledge that losing Lahaina was devastating, but there are so many other areas and activities on the island that merit a return trip. Let's make Lahaina strong together!' Another reader summed it up this way: 'I will be back to support Maui! I love it and would absolutely move here if I could. It's an amazing and beautiful island.'
I will be back to support Maui! I love it and would absolutely move here if I could.
— T+L Reader
1. Maui
WBA Super Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 88.26
2. Island Of Hawaii
WBA Super Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 87.37
3. Kauai
WBA Super Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 87.30
4. Oahu
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 86.55
5. LanaiWBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 82.93