Kauai or Maui?
 

Vote and Discuss..

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

I was just on both islands back in late August/early September for my honeymoon. I strongly preferred Kauai. It's much less developed and much more green. If I wanted to go somewhere with beaches and t-shirt shops on every corner I don't have to go all the way to Maui. I can save a few bucks and just go to Cape Cod.

The best hotel in Kauai in my opinion is the Hyatt in Poipu. It's on the dry (as opposed to rainy) side of the island and there are TONS of great restaurants in Poipu. I highly suggest The Beach House for dinner one night if you need to bring your lady to a romantic spot. Make sure you make a reservation and ask for a seating during sunset (maybe 6 PM). It's a bit early for dinner on vacation to do that but you can't beat the view.

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

I spent a week in both on my Honeymoon, I give a slight edge to Maui for the nightlife. I would take Kauai in the daytime, but definately Maui at night.

We went to Maui first to have a week of partying, then we went to Kauai to have a week of relaxing!

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Maui is nice with great beaches and shopping, but Kauai is more laid back and tropical. I'll always go with laid back and tropical.

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Maui! Parents have been a few times and loved it.

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Thanks for your replies I look forward to reading them as they come in.

I am not really looking for shopping or nightlife. I can't stand to just sit on the beach, so I like exploring and taking photo safaris.

So snorkling and exploring is more my speed.. I hear the Whale watching this time of year off Maui is cool.

We would be leaving in 3 or 4 weeks..

Thanks guys!

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

The whales were supposedly gone when I was in Maui mid-April. We were on a sunset cruise and got within 50 yards of a pod of about 5-7 of them. The high-light of my trip... I got some video clips on my point and shoot digital....it was just amazing!

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Kauai's North shore is nothing short of incredible. A couple years ago my wife and I spent two weeks snorkeling near Ha'ena (Tunnels and nearby beaches) and hiking the Kalalau trail. An experience of a lifetime. But it's very quiet -- no nightlife to speak of, but if you want to "get away from it all" this is the place.

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

If you enjoy exploring then I would definitely go to Kauai. There are tons of hiking trails, water falls, etc. The first time I went there I went on an ATV tour which was a blast and of course there is also horse back riding, snorkeling, scuba, etc. The only think I saw on Maui to explore was the local Wal-Mart and McDonalds.

To be honest, I was just extremely disappointed with Maui. To me it wasn't much different than going to the Carribean. Kauai is much more unique as a destination and more interesting in my opinion.

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

The Napali coast is one of the most magnificent places on earth!!! Kalalau valley is completely mind blowing and the nicest hike I've ever been on. Kauai everytime! My :2

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Never been to Kauai Andy but Maui in Feb is very nice. I missed all the ripe mangos in Feb but you could go to to any beach around Lahaina, stick your head in the water and listen to the humpbacks talk!

Dunno how long the whales are mating but in Feb they gang up between Maui and Lanai, see em from a boat or swim and listen.

Plenty of hiking and stuff to do besides walmart?! The drive to Hana from Lahaina can be taken slow but Oheo gulch just past Hana takes some time to hike so head out early or take 2 days.

I'm sure both will not disappoint.

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Jason, I was just trying to say that Maui is overdeveloped and highly commercialized. Next time you take a trip to Hawaii try Kauai. It's like a totally different world.

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

I clicked on the wrong one... I meant to choose Kauai!!! Anyway, to me it is what Hawaii should be... a tropical paradise. Not over developed like South Beach or something.

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Never been to Kauai, but I think I would be bored. Visited Oahu, Maui and the Big Island on my honeymoon, and we are going back to Maui for our 5th anniversary this October. There is so much to do in Maui its ridiculous. We stayed at the Four Seasons Maui in Waimea, which I liked so much better than Kaanapali, which is where a lot of the touristy stuff is.

A few of the many things we did in Maui:
Drove up a volcano to watch the sunrise- magnificent
Drove the road to Hana- an adventure
Hiked to the most beautiful waterfall Ive ever seen
Snorkeled at the "fishbowl" a protected cove and it was like swimming in an aquarium
Hiked across lava fields
Relaxed at the beach
Shopped
Ate at some FANTASTIC restaurants.
and also some other "honeymoon" type activities! :D

I strongly suggest you pick up Maui Revealed www.wizardpub.com, or any of the "revealed" books... they are written by residents, so they give some great tips, secret spots and resturants... and they are usually spot on

Have fun :tu

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

I've been to Maui and there are so many things to do, both touristy and laid back. You can choose your own adventure. I'd go back in a hearbeat.

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

I did not vote as I have only been to Maui... For Maui I would recommend staying around Lahina, there is so much to do there! My book recommendation is "Driving & Discovering Hawaii: Maui & Molokai". :ss

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

I voted Maui, but then again Im partial since Im from there :)

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

I've been to Maui three times and Kauai once. I spent a week in Kauai and it was just too much time for me. We were able to do the whole island in about three days. If I could've done it over again, I'd have no problem eliminating Kauai.
I find Kauai to be a bit boring, and know a lot of people who share my opinion. If you;ve never been, I'd suggest the lava flows on the big island (Volcanos National Park) as a must see.

Things to do in Maui, Road to Hana, Haleakala sunrise, hit up a bar in Paia, etc...

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Hands down Kauai, the secret falls, Fern Grotto, Na Pali Shore, and Waemea Canyon (The Mini Grand Canyon).

Again I will say HANDS DOWN Kauai! Been there 3 times, love it! I prefer to rent a house when I go. Last time I rented a house on the shore on the secluded North shore of the island, I had my own private reef right behind the house...and it was only 3 minutes from Tunnels Beach.

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Go snorkeling in a little place unknown to many called Honolua Bay (past Kapalua). There is no place to park except along the road & no signs. Its a 1/4 mile trek thru natural forest that looks as though time stood still in the Jurassic era. It opens up to this:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/152/4...9cfc06e5_b.jpg

Other fun things to do on Maui:

Take a casual stroll thru Wailuku. Its like time stood still and its still in the 1950's. Then take a short drive to Iao Valley and see the natual beauty there.

Bike ride down the Haleakala Crater road.

Go to Makawao to eat creampuffs from the famous Komoda Bakery (family owned since 1916)

In Kahului at the Maui Mall, have some sherbet they call "guri guri" at Tasaka's Guri Guri. Its legendary and only available there (family owned since the 1920's).

Go shopping along the boardwalk in old Lahaina.

Ask any of the locals about a hidden spot called "Twin Falls".

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

One more thing....

Whichever island you choose, I highly recommend taking the 1 day trip to Oahu and go to Pearl Harbor. Another high-light of my trip that I will never forget. They try to have a one of the survivors there everyday greeting the visitors at the entrance. :usa

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

This is making me want to go back to Maui.
The fishing is great off Maui, not that I caught anything, but the water is very calm for those who get sea sick.

The last time I went, for my honeymoon, my wife and I lived it up at the Grand Wailea. But the first time we stayed in a hostel in Kahului with some friends. The great thing is you can either live the life, or go on a budget and have fun either way.

Of course the week I got back, my laptop and camera were stolen. So I have no photo's from my honeymoon.:mad:

May just have to go back!:)

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

I voted Maui because that's the only place I've seen in Hawaii other than Honolulu (and all around the island) where I used to visit for work pretty regularly. Check out the north shore for big-wave surfing if the curl is curling high. Bring binoculars and a large thermos full of Mai Tai.

Lunch, fresh fish dinner and cocktails at Kimo's is hard to beat; see Iao Park and the famous Iao Needle. Take time to get away from the beach/resort scene and ease around the jungle a bit. You need wheels. Too cool. Maui is a beautiful place but it's only a tourist trap/resort-without-culture thing if you never get past the Sheraton parking lot.

http://www.kimosmaui.com/
http://www.hawaiiweb.com/maui/html/s...tate_park.html

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

The wife and I took a 10 day trip to Maui, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The list of things you can do is endless. We took the boat over to Lanai and ended up staying one night there. Golf, nice beaches and nowhere to go, we loved it. When we go back, We will stay on Lanai.

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

oops, this should have been Wailea, sorry! Should have doublechecked my post.

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

How do you know if you've never been? Really the only thing Kauai lacks is the opportunity to go out clubbing/bar hopping. Personally, I would rather have a late dinner and then hang out by the beach with a drink and a cigar anyway.

I also stayed at the 4 Seasons in Maui. It was a beautiful hotel with a great beach. Also, the best breakfast buffet I've ever visited. :tu

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

I agree with everything Mike's said here. And I'm actually surprised to see y'all fairly evenly split on the whole Maui / Kauai thing but I think it might be becuase more people have actually been to Maui than Kauai and I'm not exactly sure why.

We've been to both several times (and Oahu, the Big Island and Lanai) and my favorite Hawaiian island is Kauai hands-down as somebody said here. It's what you think of when you think of tropical paradise. Maui has a part that's tropical paradise (Hana) and I make mrsreindeer put up with the drive there every single time we visit. Most do not because it's such a long drive. And it ain't about the destination because there ain't nothin' in Hana except for a handful of places to stay. It's about the DRIVE and the scenery along the way. And most people avoid the drive and hate it. Again, I'm not sure why. It's beautiful and pretty much the only paradise-like part on the island (with the only runner-up being the way north past Kapalua, past that beach Kelly mentioned...which is an awesome beach and great snorkeling spot).

The Hyatt in Kauai is a great hotel but you definitely need to know it's in the more dry part of the island as Mike mentioned. It's beautiful and the Beach House is just down the road and not to be missed. It's nice being in Poipu because it's pretty much half-way between the lush north & Waimea Canyon (the Grand Canyon of Hawaiii and not to be missed).

There is a hotel in the north that's quite fancy and nice (but also expensive) called the Princeville and if you want to be in the more tropical part of the island, this is the place to be, just south of beautiful Hanalei and those awesome beaches to the north, the last of which is where the road ends and that Napali coastline hike begins (we did about an hour of it and we almost lost mrsreindeer....no joke...just be careful where you step).

Yeah, I'd agree there too...but if you're looking to party, Oahu is the way to go, I've heard.

:tpd: :tpd:

:tpd: :tpd: Moe is ABSOLUTELY right....I use these books as my bibles when visiting Hawaii. They put out a book for almost every island and they're written by locals (as Moe said) and are amazing. Heck, if you want, I can loan you my copies but they're a few years old.

Gosh, I want to go so bad... I don't think you'll regret choosing either island. There's certainly plenty to do on both. I don't think you'd get bored in Kauai....plenty of hiking, sightseeing, exploring to do. Just like in Maui. Maui, I think, is more like the Florida of the Hawaiian union. Beach resorts, lots of people, lots of shopping...certainly some good spots for sure (and it's mrsreindeer's favorite island) and excellent sight-seeing in its own right but Kauai is paradise, in my opinion. I hope they don't f' it up by building up and making it more commercial.

If you need any tips on either, I'd be happy to help. Friends of ours just went to Maui and I shot 'em a lengthy email with our favorite spots. I can forward it on to you if you like or I can shoot you one about Kauai.

Man, I'm just remembering a place in Waimea in Kauai called Shrimp Station; anyone ever been? That place is SICK! Like a dozen different preparations of shrimp...so freakin' good. I've even called them to ask if they'd ship and unfortunately they won't. I guess I have to go back.

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

I agree with Mikey here Moe....but you know, if you're looking to hit the bars, Kauai certainly has a few, they're just not huge party bars...man, Zelo's in Hanalei is an awesome spot in the north!

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

I was there. Great shrimp, indeed! Second only to Giovanni's Shrimp Van on the north sore of Oahu!

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

MAN, so good, so good!! mrsreindeer had one plate (and she doesn't eat shrimp) and I ordered THREE....Thai, Cajun & I forget the 3rd...

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

After seeing one of the waterfalls from the canyon overlook, my wife and I decided to take the 2 mile walk to the waterfall. We didn't eat that morning and ran out of water on the way to the falls. We figured we'd fill up there. Sure enough, we got to the falls and there were danger signs all over about no drinking the water. I completely panicked and felt like cr%p.

The Shrimp Station was our first stop when we got out of there. I could swear I heard angels singing when we pulled up!:r

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Oh man, you didn't read your 'Kauai Revealed' guidebook...always take PLENTY of water (and shrimp) with you on every hike! I think we did that hike too...it was the first 'hike' you get to once you hit Waimea Canyon...was about 2 miles...first part was through some forest...second part was along some exposed red dirt & boulders on the outer edge of the canyon and ended up at some pools, one of which was the top of the waterfall if I'm remembering correctly...just watch that edge!

Didja hit Jo-Jo's Shave Ice after Shrimp Station?

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

That's the hike! Downhill all the way there:dance: uphill all the way back:bh! One think I've learned about Hawaii is that there is a beware sign when you enter the country, besides that, you're on your own.

No shave ice for me. We did pick up some great granola at a place that was right across from the Shrimp Station. And I'm not really a granola guy!

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Yep! And yep, that's it! mrsreindeer was fightin' me all the way...but damn it, the view of the canyon from that waterfall pool was incredible!

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

I'm guessing a lot of people who have only been to Maui are chiming in. If you've only ever been to Maui I guess it seems like a great place, but IMO and I'm guessing yours too Kauai blows it away.

:tpd:

The north side of Kauai is the rainy side of the island. So, if you stay there expect a brief rain shower almost daily. It's actually one of the rainiest places in the world. The south side of the island is picture perfect weather everyday.

Princeville is nice, but I understand they're closed for rennovations (at least the hotel is) for the next year so that they can increase their rating by 1 star to 5 stars. I HIGHLY recommend if you are a golfer though that you visit their golf course. It's beautiful and challenging. The starter told me to expect to lose one ball for every stroke of my handicap. I didn't quite lose that many but it was a tough track. Also, if you're into golf do the "Kauai Golf Challenge." You can sign up at the Marriot Kauai Lagoons, Poipu Bay, or Princeville golf courses. Basically you get to play all three courses for the price of two and you also get a pro-shop discount.

If you end up going to Kauai shoot me a PM. I've got TONS of amazing restaurants I can recommend. I also know a few good ones in Maui.

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

almost dead even vote

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Shave ice with vanilla ice cream is probably one of the greatest frozen concoctions known to man.

we hit up one shack on the road to Hana (recommended in Maui revealed) that I can still taste... I wish I could bottle that chit and take it home with me!!

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Neither. Go to the Big Island and stay on the Kona side. There is soo much to do (or not do) on that island. In one you could be walking on lava, horse back riding in the hills, snorkling off the beach, walking through a tropical forrest, drinking Kona coffee with the growers, etc., etc. I love the Big Island!

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Been to both, loved both. I tended to like Maui a little better because there's more to do, but Kauai is less touristy.
I say do both.

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

I thought the same thing...and I totally agree.

MMMmmmm.....only thing better is Shave Ice with Macadamia Nut ice cream!!! I haven't hit that shack but man, the best Shave Ice I had in Maui was in the Kihei / Wailea area....Toby's....line out the door! Awesome stuff.

Fortunately, I've found a place out here in Gardena, CA that serves up equally authentic and yummy Shave Ice...seriously puts a few places I've been to in Hawaii to shame. 4Real. Teri Hawaii is the place, over on Artesia Blvd. right by the 110 Freeway onramp.

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Regarding the Big Island...it's nice, you're right....but Kauai is still the best IMO.

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Wishing I could afford to visit either one right now. 15 gegrees in CT today.:bh

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

If you come to Maui we can herf and I can play tour guide for you. PM me if you want any info on where to stay/what to do. Haven't been to Kauai yet, but I know that there is lots to do on Maui that avoids crowds and "touristy" places, if you know where to look. Lots of awesome hikes and good snorkeling, since thats what you're into. The whales are amazing, went diving two days ago and the whales singing was actually vibrating my chest cavity...really freakin cool!

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Something you should know about visiting the Hawaiian islands, it is very easy to island hop and rental cars (especially Jeeps) are cheap. Planes fly from island to island almost hourly and even a day trip to the Big Island would be worth it. Seeing the lava flows at sunset was one of the coolest experiences of my life.

I also loved Waikiki beach on Oahu. The busiest of the islands, and very touristy and expensive, but lots of window shopping and beautiful scenery. Also, some of the best restaurants on the Islands.

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Unless you're under 25 years of age, then the price doubles.

Being 24 years old on a honeymoon :bs 275$ in surcharges.

Me and my fiance chose Kauai for our honeymoon destination. We'll be there in July.

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Been to both, and love both; couldn't really recommend one over the other, as both have their strong points and not too much in weak points.

They carry a lot of the same activities with Kaui being a little more limited in entertainment after dark, but still some things to do. Great golfing on both. Great beaches on both. Great food on both. One thing you CAN do on Kaui but nowhere else on the islands is fish for smallmouth bass (Hawaii's only true freshwater river has a transplanted smallmouth population!). True, Maui is more developed and "touristy", but there are lots of places away from the crowds. A great one is to take the Road to Hana, and then keep on going past Hana. Turns into a dirt/gravel road and circles the south/southwest side of the island, until you hook back up with highway again, around the area where you turn to go up Haleakala. But, Kaui has Mt Waialiali, wettest spot on Earth, and the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.

If you have time, I'd do both.

Then again, if you have time, spend it all on the Big Island. All the great stuff the other two islands have, and an active volcano. Plus, go up Mauna Kea and play in the snow and watch the locals fill the backs of their trucks with snow and race to the beach with it on Sundays.

Oh yeah, forgot about Kona beans!

Next time we go back, it'll be the Big Island again; just beautiful!!!

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Maui if for nothing else then cheeseburger in paradise at sunset 2nd floor window. The ultimate Jimmy B experience. Just Relax.

Haleakala(SP) at sunrise and sunset is epic as well

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

:tpd: Went to that one a few times but also hit the on Waikiki frequently as it was right next to our hotel... The one in Vegas sucked! :D

Re: Kauai or Maui?
 

Looks like it is going to be kauai. Putting the trip together today or tomorrow. Probbly leaving second week of March. Thanks for all the great advice.