Hawaii: Maui or Kauaii?

[mefordis]

We had such a great time in Hawaii this summer, we are planning another trip there next summer. We visited Oahu and stayed at Turtle Bay resort, which we will do again, but this time we'd like to island hop.

Any recommendations? We are deciding between Maui or Kawaii.

Tia!

 

[soccerdad72]

Personally, I'm a Maui fan, but I don't think you could go wrong with Kauai either.

 

[wvjules]

Do both! However, if you can't then I vote for Maui. I spent 2 weeks on Maui last year and would love to go back and do another two weeks.

We have been to all islands and Maui is hands down my favorite.

 

[mefordis]

Thanks! I think we are going to do 4 nights at Turtle Bay in Oahu, then 4 more nights in Maui at the Four Seasons Resort, where the show White Lotus was filmed.

 

[wvjules]

Thanks! I think we are going to do 4 nights at Turtle Bay in Oahu, then 4 more nights in Maui at the Four Seasons Resort, where the show White Lotus was filmed.

Skip Oahu and do 4 nights on Kauai and 4 nights on Maui.

 

[mefordis]

We LOVED Turtle Bay and the north shore. I'd hate to skip it.

We probably should experience something totally new, though.

 

[gmi3804]

Kauai has desert (west side), hot and sunny (south shore) and lush jungle (north shore), all on one small, easy-to-navigate island. We go two or three times a year, normally. It's our favorite, and the most "Hawaiian" of the islands.

 

[PezRuth]

I would go to the Big Island. We honeymooned on the Big Island and Kuaii and loved both but preferred Big Island.

 

[Southernmiss]

We visited Oahu, Big Island and Maui almost 30 years ago.

Would love to do it again.

 

[QueenIsabella]

We hit the "top 4" back in July. Maui was my favorite, but Kauai was a close second. Before this trip, I had said I'd never go back (this was my fifth trip; my FIL died there in 1990). But now, I say I'd go back to Maui, but in the winter to see the whales calving.

We stayed at the Grand Hyatt Kauai, then the Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui--both were amazing.

 

[China Expat]

Ive been to Maui 23 times. It has become too commercial and built up for me. Didn't have the best experience there in 2019 with some locals who didn't like tourists. I prefer Kuaui, stunning.

 

[jdb in AZ]

You can't go wrong with either choice. Maui has the Road of Hana (tho there's lotsa crazy local drivers.) Mama's Fish House restaurant is amazing.

Several movies were filmed on Kauai, which is called the Garden Isle for a good reason. We really enjoyed taking a helicopter tour that flew over several former movie sites. We also had a lot of fun floating down a sugar cane plantation canal -- they call it "tube the ditch." https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/...cc5bd089a86cc7f9af05fcf1bf8d14fa&action=click

 

[Magical2017]

We went to both Maui and Kauai on our honeymoon. If I had to choose, Maui with kids and Kauai without. Both are lovely.

 

[RamblingMad]

Kauai is my go to island since I love hiking around that island.

Maui is more pricey and less busy than Oahu.

 

[Silvermist999]

We went to Oahu and Maui for our honeymoon 21 years ago. I recommend that you visit Maui on your next visit, you won’t regret it. Of course, on your third trip, you can visit Kauai...

 

[Adelle Dazeem]

Depends on your plans - Kauai is more rural and it's my favorite. Maui is more developed and commercial. Whenever or wherever you go, try to catch a performance by Kupaoa or Mark Yamanaka - two of my favorite Hawaiian musical artists.

https://www.kupaoa.com/

 

[JulieBeeRN]

I vote for Maui too. Thinking about banana pancakes with coconut syrup at the Gazebo, makes my mouth water.

 

[mefordis]

Kauai is my go to island since I love hiking around that island.

Maui is more pricey and less busy than Oahu.

I think you were the one who suggested we spend more time at the north shore and less time in Waikiki and boy were you right! We came from Turtle Bay resort to Waikiki intending to spend 5 nights there but once we checked in our hotel we were on the Turtle Bay website looking for availability to go right back. We ended up spending only 2 nights in Waikiki instead of our original plan of 3 nights north shore, 5 nights Waikiki. I thought about your advice the entire time!

 

[MillauFr]

Depends on your plans - Kauai is more rural and it's my favorite. Maui is more developed and commercial.

This is the correct answer. We stay at the Marriott Waiohai Poipu beach on Kauai. It is a timeshare but you can rent weeks from people on RedWeek.

 

[AppleDumpling]

I’ve been to both, although it was over 30 years ago, on my honeymoon. Loved both for different reasons. As others have said, Kauai is the least developed of the islands, most rural and least touristy. If you go there and can swing it, I’d recommend taking a helicopter tour over Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali coast. The Fern Grotto is another beautiful spot.