The Islands of Hawaii are an unforgettable destination for newlywed couples seeking a lifetime’s worth of experiences. With the warm glow of the sun shining as you relax by a pool, the soft ocean breezes while sunbathing and snorkeling, or the surrounding greenery as you embark on a tropical hike, the Hawaiian Islands are full of activities for couples who want to relax and those who want a little bit of adventure. In addition, with numerous resort options and amazing, award-winning restaurants to try, Hawaii is the perfect place to do it all! All that’s left is finding out which island truly fits you and your special someone.
Oahu
On the beach at Waikiki.
Oahu – with Waikiki, beautiful hikes, iconic attractions, and Honolulu, the biggest city in Hawaii – is often the most popular island for travelers visiting the Hawaiian Islands. For honeymooners, a few nights here can be a wonderful experience, whether you want to swim in Waikiki Beach, go on a whale-watching cruise, or try something new with your loved one. Soaring, anyone? On Oahu, with its mix of urban city in Honolulu and rural, countryside on the North Shore, you can do it all! Take up some surfing lessons, go on a hike up Diamond Head Crater Trail, or visit Pearl Harbor in the daytime and still have time to see a Hawaiian sunset and fireworks, experience a luau, or dine at an award-winning restaurant in the evening. Want more adventure? How about a hike up Kokohead Crater Trailhead? Although it may be a little short, compared to the other hikes on Oahu, don’t underestimate this steep path with a little over 1000 stairs! You can also go horseback riding, ride ATVs, take a helicopter ride, ziplining, hang gliding, and much more!
Hotel Recommendations:
Waikiki has the most options on Oahu but my top pick in Waikiki is the Moana Surf Rider. The Moana Surf Rider originally opened its doors in 1901 and continues to have the old Hawaii luxury aesthetic with modern sustainability. Unlike many of the hotels on the strip, the hotel exterior is so striking that it’s hard to miss the historic Victorian architecture of the Moana Surf Rider as you drive by on Kalakaua Avenue. Located right on Waikiki Beach in the heart of Waikiki is a bonus. You’ll have all the luxury of a beautiful Hawaii honeymoon with all the conveniences of small local and award-winning fine dining, spas, and activities at your fingertips.
If you want to move away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki, keep in mind that moving away from urban Oahu also means you may need a rental vehicle during your honeymoon. However, if you are okay with a car rental, I would recommend the following:
- The Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore offers a perfect low-key laidback atmosphere out-of-the-way of Waikiki. The resort itself is a beautiful place to rest and relax with Kuilima Cove connected to the resort area; it’s also close to places like Haleiwa Town, the Polynesian Cultural Center, and Kualoa Ranch. One thing to keep in mind is if you are planning to honeymoon during the winter, the North Shore may experience a lot of high surf which may make it difficult to enjoy the beaches during the winter season.
- On the Leeward (West) side of Oahu, Four Season Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa, and Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club offer easy and direct beach access. The Ko Olina area is a beautiful resort town, with cute eateries, a harbor nearby with access to various boating excursions, as well as Ka Makana Ali’i Shopping Center and the Waikele Premium Outlet Mall within a short driving distance. In addition, the weather is usually beautiful and sunny on the west side and the Ko Olina Lagoons offer year-round gorgeous beaches to enjoy!
Kauai
Waimea Canyon State Park on Kauai.
If city life isn’t your style or if you’re looking for a more slow-paced kind of honeymoon, then the island of Kauai is a perfect place to relax and enjoy a quiet, island paradise honeymoon. Known as the Garden Isle of Hawaii, Kauai has a very local, tropical island feel, with soft sand beaches perfect for sunbathing and snorkeling, hiking trails with gorgeous waterfalls tucked in lush forests, and locally crafted specialized items like chocolate, coffee, and rum. Feeling adventurous? Try taking a helicopter ride to see the Na Pali coast or visiting Waimea Canyon – the Grand Canyon of the Pacific!
Hotel Recommendations:
1 Hanalei Bay is often voted the best for a luxurious, romantic getaway. Located on the North Shore of Kauai, it is perfectly located for your romantic Hawaiian honeymoon with activities to do by day and romantic dinners by night.
On the southern end of Kauai, the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa is another gorgeous, honeymoon-perfect hotel. Typically seen as the sunnier side of Kauai, this hotel doesn’t disappoint with all the amenities of a top-notch resort, including a beautiful golf course, fine dining, and more!
Hawaii
Punalu’u Beach on the Big Island.
Hawaii, also known as the Big Island, is over 6x larger than its neighboring island of Oahu but has only about 1/5th of the population; giving the Big Island a rural but wide-open feel compared to Oahu and Kauai. As the youngest island of the Hawaiian Island chain, the Big Island is the only Hawaiian Island with two active volcanoes – Kilauea and Maunaloa – which are amazing to visit, weather and environment permitting; it also boasts one of the highest summits in the world, Mauna Kea, where, yes, it actually can snow in the winter. With a variety of activities including, camping, ziplining, deep-sea fishing, ATV riding, and more! If your tastes run more toward low-key than thrill-seeking, the Big Island is also the home for a variety of agricultural products, mostly famously Kona coffee, but also honey, chocolate, tea, macadamia nuts, and even a winery!
Hotel Recommendations:
The Kohala on the northern side of the Big Island has several luxury resorts perfect for a Hawaiian honeymoon getaway. From the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Mauna Lani, and the Waikoloa Village, there are a variety of options to choose from. Many of these resorts come with amazing dining options, boutique and specialty shops, golf courses, gorgeous beaches, luxury spas, and other amenities that will surely make your honeymoon a vacation to remember.
If you’re looking to move away from the resort area, Holualoa Inn, a beautiful bed and breakfast located a little more inland offers amazing rooms and cottages tucked on a 30-acre estate, along with a coffee farm, orchard, amazing views of the west side of the Big Island.
Lanai
Kaiolohia (Shipwreck Beach) on Lanai, photo by Anton Repponen on Unsplash
One Lanai is a special island that used to be a former pineapple plantation island and now it’s become the perfect remote resort. With all the activities of Hawaii with the untouched side of nature, Lanai is a great place to go to the beach and swim or even sail! Or you can hike through the tropical lands of the island and enjoy the surrounding environment in peace.
Maui
Waihee Coastal Dunes and Wetlands Refuge.
Although Maui has had it rough with the recent disaster, the island is open to visitors and tourists now more than ever. A perfect way to start your adventure here is by going to Mt. Haleakala, a 10,000-foot monster of a mountain with a breathtaking view. One of if not the best places to just stare off into the sunset and soak in the last of the sun’s rays. Then take the “Road to Hana” the massive scenic view wrapping around the island’s eastern coast. During the travel, make sure to stop by the waterfalls and forest hikes, and take in everything around you. If you ever get hungry along the road, there are food trucks at multiple stops giving you the perfect chance to rest and eat up before continuing your adventure!
