I am going to hawaii for 8 days and hate to spend the whole trip on one island. would it be too much to see hawaii and kauai?

No, you can do both. I will say the Big Island has a bit of everything and I could easily spend a week there without running out of things to do.

Hi murrab00, sure you can. Just know you will lose part of a day flying from one island to the other. But I am sure you already know that. Have a fantastic time!

Thanks! So if I were to just go to 1 - which would you recommend? We are low key travellers who love St John and Anguilla. Hawaii sounds like it has a ton to do, but will we miss the lush tropical part!? On the other hand could you spend a week on Kauai?

Hi again murrab. Right now 8 days on Kauai sounds fantastic to me. That is what I would probably do if I were going back. But I say that as this month has been rather stressful for me so I would enjoy just staying there and getting some R&R. Kauai is lush and beautiful. I do love all four of the islands I have been to however and wouldn't turn any of them down.

I guess it boils down to the question if you prefer not packing up and flying to the other island and getting situated etc. Best wishes in your decision.

If it were up to me, I'd spend all 8 days on Kauai.

Aloha murrab,

now you're talking ... I'll be in Kauai for 14 days in July, and I'm wishing it were 30... I also love the Caribbean... St. John is my fav down there and if you're looking for low key, laid back, lush, lovely, nothing or everything to do, Kauai will be perfect for your 8 days. Happy planning...

It depends if it's your first time to Hawaii. You didn't mention that. But if it is, you can easily spend a week, if not more, on 1 island. Are you sure you don't want to include Oahu in there??

Hi - been to Oahu a few times and Maui as well. My wife has never been to Hawaii at all and I want to ensure she gets a good flavor of the islands. We are low key and love natural beauty so I narrowed it down to Kauai and Hawaii - but not sure whether to do 1 or both. TOUGH CALL!

Having been to both (BI & Kauai)several times, for a first trip I'd chose the full 8 days in Kauai. The Bi is much BIGGER (duh!) and you'll be tempted to do lots more driving, e.g. the route from Kona to Hilo--both of which are worth seeing. Or ,as another person mentioned--Oahu? But I'd stay in EITHER Kauai or Oahu for the full time.

I love St John too! If it's that quiet atmosphere you want, IMHO the BI most "feels" like St John. But for maximum feel of the wonders of the Hawaiian islands, in as laid back a way as poss, I'd chose Kauai for 8 days.
There's a thread somehere on Fodors Talk asking "I love St John, will I love Hawaii?" Maybe you'll get some ideas there.

Hope you od't mind if I ask==why "hate to spend the whole trip on one island"? While each island is unique, there are many similarities between them all. Went on 8 day trip to Kauai last summer with family members who'd never been to Hawaii. Whie they hope to see another Hawaiian island some day, the 8 days in Kauai was a very full, wonderful complete experience for them.