Overview of the Hawaiian Islands – The Aloha State

The Hawaiian Islands are known for their spectacular natural beauty and also for their sunny climate all year around. Of the eight main Hawaiian Islands, six offer opportunities for real estate purchases and residential living.

These six islands are O’ahu, Kaua’i, Maui, Lana’i, Moloka’i, and Hawai’i Island, also called the Big Island, and each offers unique opportunities, environments, and experiences.

The total population of the Hawaiian Islands is about 1.2 million people. About 900,000 people live on O’ahu, which also has the most visitors—about 75% of all tourists coming to the Hawaiian Islands visit O’ahu and its famous resort destination of Waikiki.

There are also many other visitor attractions on O’ahu including a zoo, parks, museums, botanical gardens, and the spectacular beaches all around the island. Honolulu is the state capital and the center of business and commerce.

To the north of O’ahu is the island of Kaua’i, known for its lush tropical scenery and white sand beaches. Many consider Kaua’i the most beautiful island and also the most romantic. Hollywood seems to agree as many major motion pictures as well as television shows have been filmed on the island. Kaua’i has something for everyone, from the aquamarine waters of Hanalei Bay on the north shore to the sunny resort area of Poipu on the south shore to the remote natural wonders of the Na Pali Coast and Kalalau Valley.

To the south of O’ahu is Maui, an island that offers the sophistication of O’ahu while also retaining much of its natural beauty like Kaua’i. With numerous luxury resorts and some large cities, Maui also has vast expanses of unspoiled nature and pristine white sand beaches.

The island of Moloka’i hearkens to a simpler time with no tall buildings, stop lights, shopping malls, or fast food restaurants, and lots of natural beauty. A laid back lifestyle is the norm on Moloka’i where you can see the world’s tallest sea cliffs and waterfalls and also relax on the beautiful beaches.

Lana’i is also a very laid back, but much more upscale. The island was once dominated by the world’s largest pineapple plantation, and today the restored former plantation homes provide the main housing for Lanai’s residents. The island also has two major resorts, two championship golf courses, and of course nice beaches.

The Big Island of Hawai’i is the southernmost Hawaiian Island, and it is more than twice as large as all of the other islands combined. Different areas of the Big Island offer vastly different climates, from the lush and tropical weather of Hilo to the sunny Kona coast.

There are also many luxurious resort areas on the Big Island as well as a world famous astronomical observatory atop Mauna Kea Volcano, and the awesome spectacle of the continuously erupting Kilauea Volcano which sends its red-hot lava flowing into the sea. The spacious Big Island also has the lowest real estate prices including many opportunities for relatively low cost land purchases.

No matter what your goals are in regards to moving to Hawai’i and/or purchasing land or a home, there is surely one of these islands that will perfectly satisfy your needs and desires.

Hawai’i is truly a melting pot with residents of the Islands coming from all over the globe and no one ethnic group making up the majority of the population. Here in this island paradise most everyone gets along with each other, and the beauty of Hawai’i is exceeded only by the beauty of its people. There is a great sense of the “aloha spirit,” which is a spirit of helping and giving to each other and caring for all of the ‘ohana (extended family).

Hawai’i’s official State Motto is Ua mau ke ea o ka āina i ka pono, which means, “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”