Before traveling to a new destination, most visitors spend some time learning about where they are going, what they want to see and how they will spend their vacation. Hawaii is no different, and one question that comes up surprisingly often is: how many islands are there in Hawaii?
The answer depends on what you mean by “islands.” Hawaii is generally described as having eight main islands:
- Oahu
- Maui
- Hawaii Island (Big Island)
- Kauai
- Lanai
- Molokai
- Niihau
- Kahoolawe
These are the eight principal islands most people recognize when they think of the Hawaiian Islands. Only six are commonly visited by travelers. Niihau is privately owned and access is highly restricted, while Kahoolawe is uninhabited and access is limited.
But the Hawaiian archipelago is much larger than those eight islands. Hawaii includes numerous smaller islands, islets, reefs and atolls stretching northwest across the Pacific. When these smaller landforms are included, the state is commonly described as containing 137 islands.
Some of the smaller islands and islets are familiar to visitors even if they are not usually thought of as separate Hawaiian islands. Examples include Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, Moku Nui and Moku Iki off Oahu’s Windward Coast, Coconut Island near Hilo and Molokini off Maui.
The main visitor islands also have very different landscapes and personalities. Oahu combines Honolulu, Waikiki, Pearl Harbor and the North Shore. Maui is known for Haleakala, the Road to Hana and resort beaches. Kauai offers the Na Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon, while the Big Island is shaped by volcanoes, lava fields and dramatically different climate zones. If you are deciding which island fits your vacation, you can browse Hawaii tours by island and location to compare things to do around the state.
Whether you count the eight main islands or the many smaller islands, islets and atolls that make up the larger archipelago, Hawaii is far more geographically diverse than it may appear on a map. Choosing which islands to visit is part of the fun—and usually the hardest part of planning the trip.