I can only visit one Hawaiian island. Which do I pick?: Travel Weekly

One of the most common questions I’m asked by prospective visitors is which of the Hawaiian Islands to visit, especially if their budget limits them to choosing only one. Of the eight main islands, six of them are open to visitors and two, Oahu and Maui, are the most popular. I usually approach answering this question two ways and then leave it up to the person to decide.

Related: My favorite spas in Hawaii

First-time visitors generally already have a list of places they want to see that are all typically found on Oahu, such as Pearl Harbor, the North Shore and Waikiki. That’s an easy one to figure out — they should go to Oahu.

For the more adventurous traveler, however, who is fine with missing some of those must-see, bucket-list places, I offer an expanded description of the Islands:

Oahu

Oahu has the largest population with 1 million residents, so the city and traffic may be typical of other major cities. Now, there are still some rural enclaves, but finding a remote spot or beach with little to no people is not as easy as on some of the other islands. This immediately is a turnoff to some travelers, while others will not be bothered by it as long as they are able to see the world-famous places Hawaii is known for, such as Waikiki Beach.

Kauai

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I offer Kauai, which is much more rural and filled with plenty of waterfalls. This is great for travelers who are looking for more scenic wonders and unique adventures, such as…