The Island of Hawaii, commonly known throughout the state as the Big Island, has a range of natural wonders from volcanoes to rain forests, but a sparse restaurant scene, largely concentrated in the resorts along the Kohala Coast and in the bustling little ranching town of Waimea. Maui's glamorous high-end resort strips have engendered restaurants that are polished, accomplished-and often expensive. Over the past decade, Maui's dining scene has grown to rival that of Honolulu.

It boasts all three of the Islands' James Beard Award–winning chefs and a host of smaller restaurants offering a remarkable variety of Asian and Island specialties. If you are coming to Hawaii to eat, Honolulu's the place. That means traffic and crowds, but it also brings a thriving restaurant culture. Oahu contains both urban Honolulu and Waikiki, often billed as an urban tropical resort. Each of the four principal islands-Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island-has a distinct dining scene. But choosing where to dine depends a great deal on which island you find yourself on.

No matter where you are in the Islands, you're likely to find something interesting to eat. H awaii has a 200-year-old tradition of mixing Eastern, Western, and Polynesian cuisine a thriving community of niche farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and aquaculturalists and a 15-year-old regional cuisine movement that has raised the bar for all Hawaii restaurants, big and small.