Comparison · Big Island (Hawaiʻi) vs Honolulu · United States
Big Island (Hawaiʻi) vs Honolulu
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Hawaii Land Cover Analysis project, NOAA Coastal Services Center, Public domain
Quick answer
Choose Big Island (Hawaiʻi) for Kīlauea volcano, Maunakea stargazing and lower day-to-day costs; choose Honolulu for Waikīkī Beach, Diamond Head and a short break. Big Island (Hawaiʻi) is generally less expensive, and the two are about 310 km (193 mi) apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 310 km (193 mi)
- Less expensive
- Big Island (Hawaiʻi)
- Best time for Big Island (Hawaiʻi)
- April–May and September–October
- Best time for Honolulu
- April–May and September–October
Plan either trip
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Side by side
| Big Island (Hawaiʻi) | Honolulu | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Kīlauea volcano, Maunakea stargazing and Kona coffee | Waikīkī Beach, Diamond Head and Pearl Harbor |
| Best time to visit | April–May and September–October | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 8 days | 6 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | US$250–420 | US$300–500 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | August, 31°C (88°F) | August, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 27°C (81°F) | January, 27°C (81°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 8 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 5 |
| Beaches | Hāpuna Beach | Waikīkī Beach |
| Airports | KOA, ITO | HNL |
Month by month
Going by our guides' own ratings, the better pick is Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in January–February. Both are at their best in April–May and September–October.
| Month | Big Island (Hawaiʻi) | Honolulu | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27°C (81°F), 7 rainy days · shoulder season | 27°C (81°F), 8 rainy days | Big Island (Hawaiʻi) |
| February | 27°C (81°F), 7 rainy days · shoulder season | 27°C (81°F), 7 rainy days | Big Island (Hawaiʻi) |
| March | 28°C (82°F), 9 rainy days · shoulder season | 28°C (82°F), 8 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
| April | 28°C (82°F), 9 rainy days · best time | 28°C (82°F), 7 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| May | 29°C (84°F), 9 rainy days · best time | 29°C (84°F), 5 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| June | 30°C (86°F), 9 rainy days · shoulder season | 30°C (86°F), 5 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
| July | 30°C (86°F), 10 rainy days | 31°C (88°F), 6 rainy days | No clear pick |
| August | 31°C (88°F), 10 rainy days | 32°C (90°F), 5 rainy days | No clear pick |
| September | 30°C (86°F), 9 rainy days · best time | 31°C (88°F), 6 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| October | 30°C (86°F), 9 rainy days · best time | 30°C (86°F), 7 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| November | 29°C (84°F), 8 rainy days · shoulder season | 29°C (84°F), 9 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
| December | 28°C (82°F), 8 rainy days | 27°C (81°F), 9 rainy days | No clear pick |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Big Island (Hawaiʻi) for…
Kīlauea volcano, Maunakea stargazing and lower day-to-day costs. Hawaiʻi Island, usually called the Big Island, is larger than all the other Hawaiian islands combined and spans climates from rainforest to lava desert and alpine summit. The dry, sunny Kona and Kohala coasts on the west hold most of the resorts, snorkelling…
Choose Honolulu for…
Waikīkī Beach, Diamond Head and a short break. Honolulu, on the south shore of Oʻahu, combines a real Pacific city with Waikīkī's beach resort strip. Most visitors stay in Waikīkī, where the sea is gentle enough for first surf lessons and Diamond Head rises at the eastern end, and take day trips to Pearl…
Top sights compared
| # | Big Island (Hawaiʻi) | Honolulu |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park | Waikīkī Beach |
| 2 | Kīlauea Iki Trail | Diamond Head (Lēʻahi) |
| 3 | Chain of Craters Road | Pearl Harbor National Memorial and USS Arizona Memorial |
| 4 | Maunakea | Battleship Missouri Memorial |
| 5 | Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park | Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve |
Food compared
| Big Island (Hawaiʻi) | Honolulu |
|---|---|
| Poke | Poke |
| Loco moco | Plate lunch |
| Plate lunch | Loco moco |
| Kona coffee | Spam musubi |
Which is cheaper?
Big Island (Hawaiʻi) is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about US$250–420 per person there, against US$300–500 in Honolulu (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Big Island (Hawaiʻi) on a budget.
Big Island (Hawaiʻi) or Honolulu from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones and airport coordinates: straight-line distances, not flight routes.
| Big Island (Hawaiʻi) | Honolulu | |
|---|---|---|
| Time vs New York | −5 h Jan, −6 h Jul | −5 h Jan, −6 h Jul |
| Time vs Los Angeles | −2 h Jan, −3 h Jul | −2 h Jan, −3 h Jul |
| From New York (JFK) | 4,920 mi (7,920 km) | 4,970 mi (8,000 km) |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | 2,480 mi (3,980 km) | 2,550 mi (4,100 km) |
| U.S. plugs | U.S. plugs fit | U.S. plugs fit |
Big Island (Hawaiʻi) and Honolulu are about the same distance from New York.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Big Island (Hawaiʻi) and Honolulu are about 310 km (193 mi) apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 8 days in Big Island (Hawaiʻi) and 6 in Honolulu.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Big Island (Hawaiʻi) or Honolulu cheaper?
Big Island (Hawaiʻi) is usually less expensive: about US$250–420 a day mid-range against US$300–500 (estimates).
+Is Big Island (Hawaiʻi) or Honolulu better for a first trip?
Pick Big Island (Hawaiʻi) for Kīlauea volcano, Maunakea stargazing and lower day-to-day costs, or Honolulu for Waikīkī Beach, Diamond Head and a short break.
+How far is Big Island (Hawaiʻi) from Honolulu?
About 310 km (193 mi) in a straight line.