Updated on: April 26, 2024
Short on time? Here’s the best VPN for Hawaii in 2024:
- 🥇ExpressVPN: It comes with top-notch security features for protecting your privacy while in Hawaii. The VPN also has industry-leading speeds, a large US server network, and user-friendly apps. Plus, all plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
There are only a few VPNs that have a server in Hawaii. So, if you’re on one of the Hawaiian islands, you need to choose a VPN that either offers a server location in Hawaii or nearby alternative locations, like on the West Coast of the US to make sure you can still get fast speeds.
I spent a few weeks testing the top VPNs and found the best ones for Hawaii. My top choice is ExpressVPN, as it has strong security, maintains lightning-fast speeds, and has reliable servers spread out all across California and Washington, as well as in Guam, which is a US territory.
Quick summary of the best VPNs for Hawaii:
- 1. 🥇ExpressVPN — Best overall VPN for Hawaii in 2024 (with industry-leading speeds + top-notch security).
- 2. 🥈Private Internet Access — Excellent VPN for torrenting (with customizable apps) + offers a server in Hawaii.
- 3. 🥉CyberGhost VPN — Good VPN for streaming & gaming in Hawaii (with dedicated servers) + automation rules.
- 4. NordVPN — Strong security features for safe browsing in Hawaii (with decent speeds).
- 5. Surfshark — Intuitive VPN with beginner-friendly apps and affordable pricing plans.
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for Hawaii
ExpressVPN is my top choice for Hawaii. While it doesn’t have a server in Hawaii, ExpressVPN has a large US server network with servers in 24 US server locations, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Monica, and Seattle. So you’ll easily find the fastest server in the country you’re looking for.
The VPN comes with strong security features, including:
- RAM-only servers. These servers make sure that the data is written on the RAM instead of the hard drive. So, each server reboot erases all data.
- Audited no-logs policy. ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy has passed an independent audit, confirming that it doesn’t store your browsing history.
- Full leak protection. The VPN has protection against DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks. I never experienced any leaks in my tests while connected to 10+ US servers (I only saw the VPN’s IP address and not my own).
- Perfect forward secrecy. This security feature changes the encryption key for each session to prevent hackers or government authorities from compromising past or future keys.
- Threat Manager. This feature limits the amount of browsing data ad trackers collect and also prevents access to malicious sites.
When it comes to speeds, ExpressVPN is super fast. During my tests, ad-heavy websites loaded instantly, and I was able to watch videos in HD and 4K without any buffering. This is all thanks to its proprietary protocol called Lightway, which is designed to provide very fast speeds and has been independently audited.
This VPN is excellent for streaming as it works with 100+ streaming sites, including 20+ sites available in the US. My colleagues in the US confirmed that they could watch Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and Disney+. What’s more, the VPN has torrenting support on all servers and works with popular P2P apps, like qBittorrent and uTorrent.
The provider offers apps for most major devices and they are easy to install. I was able to download and install the Windows app in only 2 minutes. I also love the Shortcuts feature, which lets you create 1-click connections to your favorite sites, like Hulu. They’ll appear on the screen after you connect to a server.
ExpressVPN’s plans start at $6.67 / month. All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Hawaii. It has top-notch security features to protect your data when browsing in Hawaii and maintains super-fast speeds. It has excellent streaming and torrenting support and its apps are intuitive. Each plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Good VPN for Torrenting in Hawaii + Has a Hawaii server
Private Internet Access (PIA) is the only VPN on this list that has a server in Hawaii, which is located in Honolulu. This is great for browsing the web with a Hawaiian IP address, so websites will still think you’re in Hawaii. If you want to connect to a US server on the mainland, PIA offers servers in every US state.
In addition, PIA has excellent P2P support. It allows torrenting on all of its servers and works with popular P2P apps, like uTorrent and Vuze. In addition, there’s port forwarding, which lets you connect to more peers to get faster speeds and SOCKS5 proxy support — these servers change your IP address but don’t have encryption, so you usually get faster speeds.
PIA has strong security features, such as full leak protection, RAM-only servers, an audited no-logs policy, and perfect forward secrecy. What’s more, its apps are open-source, which means anyone can inspect the code for security issues. I’m a big fan of MACE, which is the best ad blocker on the market. It successfully blocks ads, ad trackers, and access to shady sites.
This VPN had great speeds in my tests. I downloaded a 20 GB file in just 15 minutes. Moreover, all sites and HD videos loaded instantly, and 4K videos took 1–2 seconds to play. However, PIA is unable to match ExpressVPN’s speeds.
The provider is also good for streaming because it works with 30+ streaming sites, including Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. It also has dedicated servers for streaming in the US. These servers constantly refresh their IP addresses, making them more reliable (the VPN recommends using these servers over regular ones for streaming).
PIA’s mobile apps are highly customizable. For instance, you can switch from 256-bit AES encryption to 128-bit AES encryption for slightly faster speeds. You can also set rules on whether to connect to trusted or untrusted Wi-Fi networks. Plus, PIA offers unlimited simultaneous connections, which is great for large families where everyone needs a quality VPN for Hawaii.
Private Internet Access has plans that start at $2.03 / month. Each plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access comes with a server in Honolulu and is excellent for torrenting in Hawaii. It allows torrenting on all of its servers and comes with port forwarding and SOCKS5 proxy support, as well as strong privacy features. Plus, it’s fast, great for streaming, includes customizable apps, and covers all plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Private Internet Access review
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Dedicated Servers for Streaming in Hawaii
CyberGhost VPN has dedicated servers for streaming in 20+ countries, including the US. These servers are optimized to work with multiple streaming platforms, like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+. My colleagues in the US were able to consistently watch Netflix US while connected to US streaming servers (but CyberGhost reps strongly suggest using the dedicated streaming servers when applicable).
The VPN maintains good speeds. In my tests, sites loaded instantly, HD videos started playing in 1–2 seconds, and 4K videos loaded in 3–4 seconds. Although CyberGhost doesn’t have servers in Hawaii, the VPN has 2,000+ US servers in 11 locations, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. This gives you plenty of server locations to choose from.
This provider has strong security and privacy features, such as perfect forward secrecy, an audited no-logs policy, RAM-only servers, and DNS and IPv6 leak protection. Plus, there’s a Content Blocker, which blocks ads and access to malicious sites. It prevented me from connecting to shady sites, but there were still some ads on ad-heavy media outlets.
I’m a big fan of CyberGhost’s Smart Rules feature, which lets you personalize your VPN connections. For example, you can set up automatic connections to a server when you join an unsecured Wi-Fi network. You can also set up the VPN to automatically connect to a US server when you launch the app so that you don’t have to search for it manually.
This VPN has P2P-optimized servers in 60+ countries, including the US. It works with tons of top P2P clients like qBittorrent and Vuze. That said, I prefer Private Internet Access for torrenting as it comes with more P2P features, like port forwarding and SOCKS5 proxy servers.
CyberGhost VPN has plans starting at $2.03 / month. Long-term plans have a 45-day money-back guarantee and the shortest plan has a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
CyberGhost VPN is great for streaming in Hawaii due to its dedicated streaming servers. The VPN maintains fast speeds, has strong security, and has a convenient Smart Rules feature. It also has decent P2P support. Moreover, the long-term plans have a 45-day money-back guarantee and the shortest plan has a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full CyberGhost VPN review
4. NordVPN — High-End Security Features
NordVPN has top-notch security features to keep your data safe in Hawaii. It comes with RAM-only servers, full leak protection, an audited and verified no-logs policy, and perfect forward secrecy. I also like its ad blocker, Threat Protection, which blocks ads, connections to shady sites, and malware-infected downloads. Plus, you don’t have to be connected to a VPN server for the ad blocker to work.
The provider has over 1,900 US servers in 16 locations, including LA, San Francisco, and Seattle. In my tests, websites loaded in 1–2 seconds, HD videos in 3–4 seconds and 4K videos played in 5 seconds while connected to a local server. However, when I connected to distant servers, I wasn’t as impressed with my speeds as I was when I connected to distant servers using ExpressVPN.
This VPN is good for streaming as it works with Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu. What’s more, NordVPN allows P2P traffic in the US.
I like that the VPN has apps for most major devices, which are quite easy and quick to install. There’s a Quick Connect button that automatically connects you to the fastest server. Plus, the desktop apps come with an interactive digital map, which lets you connect to specific cities or use country pins to pick servers.
NordVPN’s plans start as low as $3.09 / month. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
NordVPN is a good pick if you want to secure your device. It has a great ad blocker, fast speeds, and good streaming and torrenting support. Its apps are intuitive to use and all purchases are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
5. Surfshark — Beginner-Friendly VPN With Affordable Plans
Surfshark has user-friendly apps that are great for beginners. They are easy to install and all settings and features come with useful explanations. Plus, Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections, making it a great option for large families in Hawaii.
The VPN had decent speeds — websites loaded in 4 seconds, HD videos loaded in 5–6 seconds and 4K videos played with some interruptions. However, Surfshark is slower than ExpressVPN, especially when connected to distant servers. Moreover, the VPN has 600+ US servers in 25 server locations, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle.
Surfshark has advanced security features, like an audited no-logs policy, RAM-only servers, and perfect forward secrecy. However, it’s missing WebRTC and IPv6 leak protection but I experienced no leaks in my tests while connected to at least 10 different US server locations.
The provider is also great for streaming, as it works with top streaming sites like Netflix and Amazon Prime (but I had some issues with Disney+). What’s more, Surfshark has great P2P support as it allows torrenting on all of its servers, including US ones, and works with top P2P apps.
Surfshark has super affordable plans that start at $2.29 / month. Every plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Surfshark has user-friendly apps. It also has decent speeds, advanced security features, and good streaming and torrenting apps. Its affordable plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Surfshark review
Comparison of the Best VPNs for Hawaii in 2024
How to Choose the Best VPN for Hawaii in 2024
- Look for a VPN with servers in or near Hawaii. I recommend getting a VPN that has servers in or near Hawaii. The VPNs on this list have multiple US server locations near Hawaii, like Los Angeles and San Francisco, and Private Internet Access has one in the state.
- Find a VPN with strong security features. I only recommend purchasing VPNs that come with industry-standard VPN security features, such as 256-bit AES encryption, a verified no-logs policy, and a kill switch, which disables your internet access if the VPN connection drops.
- Consider speeds. All VPNs slow down your speeds due to the encryption process but top VPNs can maintain fast speeds across all servers. Since most VPNs don’t have a server location in Hawaii, you need one that maintain fast speeds even on servers on the mainland in cities like LA and San Francisco. ExpressVPN had the fastest speeds in my tests.
- Go for a VPN with good streaming and P2P support. A VPN should work with multiple streaming services available in the US and allow P2P support on all US servers.
- Select a VPN that offers a good value. The VPNs on this list offer affordable plans with generous money-back guarantees and allow multiple simultaneous connections.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- PrivateVPN. PrivateVPN is pretty fast and a good VPN for streaming, but it’s missing some key features and only has one server location in California (Los Angeles). It doesn’t use RAM-only servers, lacks WebRTC leak protection, and is missing an ad blocker.
- VyprVPN. VyprVPN’s speeds on distant servers were somewhat disappointing, so if you’re connecting to a server on the West Coast of the US from Hawaii, you might experiences some noticeable slowdowns. It also doesn’t offer an ad blocker, it only has DNS leak protection, and it’s a bit expensive.
- IPVanish. IPVanish lacks WebRTC leak protection. Unfortunately, it doesn’t use RAM-only servers, and its DNS leak protection is only included on Windows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best VPN for Hawaii?
ExpressVPN is my top choice for Hawaii, as it has strong security features to protect your privacy while browsing in Hawaii. The VPN maintains industry-leading speeds, has a large US server network (multiple server locations along the West Coast), and is easy to use.
Can I use a free VPN for Hawaii?
Maybe, but I don’t recommend it. Many free VPNs lack essential security features and could expose your data to third parties. Plus, they have slow speeds and data caps. Instead, I recommend purchasing a premium VPN, like ExpressVPN. It has top-notch security features, fast speeds, and user-friendly apps.
Does ExpressVPN have servers in Hawaii?
ExpressVPN doesn’t have servers in Hawaii, but it has servers in 24 US locations, including in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Monica, and Seattle. So, you’ll easily find a US server with the fastest possible speeds and avoid overcrowded ones.
Are VPNs legal in Hawaii?
Yes, VPNs are legal in Hawaii. Although the VPNs on this list don’t store your data, I don’t condone using a VPN for illegal activities. Make sure to use a VPN according to all the applicable laws and regulations.
