Does Hana Area = Kauai?
 

Taking a 10 day trip to Hawaii in November, right now planning 2 days Oahu with the rest in Maui (5 days Wailea- FS, 3 days Hana- Hotel Hana). My hope is Hana area will give me a taste of quiet, lushness, peace. However, I dread not going to Kauai and think it may be a mistake. Will Hana be a good substitute or should I go to Kauai as well?

Lush and quiet, yes, Hana is both.
A "substitute" for Kauai?
Not even close.
Kauai is the most lush and quiet of the main islands, but those are not Kauai's best attributes. Kauia has some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. No exaggeration, you would be hard pressed to find anyplace significantly more spectacular than Waimea Canyon and the Napali Coast.
Waimea Canyon is called "the Grand Canyon of the Pacific" and is truly something to behold.
Many movies you've probably seen have been filmed on Kauai due to its unique beauty, including all or parts of Jurassic Park, South Pacific, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Six Days Seven Nights, Outbreak, Blue Hawaii (Elvis), Fantasy Island, the pilot for Gilligan's Island, etc.

Kauai also has a couple really outstanding resorts, some tremendous beaches, and more of an unspoiled 'old Hawaii' feel to it.

Maui is great and you'll love it.
Plan on a return visit to get full appreciation of Kauai.

In my opinion, Hana is not a substitute for Kauai. We've been to both and prefer Kauai for a lot of reasons but its an individual choice.

Well, I haven't been to Kauai, but we did spend two nights in Hana at the Hale Malamalama. I have to be honest, the actual Hana highway was pretty nice, but it didn't impress me as much as I thought it would, but once we got hiking into the jungle and bamboo groves and waterfalls, it was splendid, and the grounds of the villa were awesome too, as I'm sure yours will be. We had a fresh water bathtub on our porch and marveled each night at the immense starry sky and the total quiet. Get a copy of Maui Revealed and you'll find some really wonderful special places in the Hana area. The four falls of Na'ili'ili'haele, one of the first falls stops on the highway, was one of our favorites, very lush and jungly, lots of bamboo, and four wonderful falls/pools. Maui Revealed lists a LOT of wonderful places to go for peace and quiet and for adventurous fun. I know I can't compare Maui and Kauai for you (until we go in June!), but I just wanted to let you know that you won't be disappointed.

I wrote a trip report last July here: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34436140

Let me know if you have any questions!

love
roxy

We live northshore Kaua`i, and recently made our first trip to Hana.

Loved it. People are exceedingly friendly, the landscape and beaches are beautiful, and best of all it's _very_ Hawaiian. Can't wait to make our next visit there.

But it's not Kaua`i...

Aloha cotes,

No worries... plan Kauai for the next trip to HI... spend the whole time there!

Hana is lovely and wonderful "old" Hawaii flavor... lush, quiet, peaceful... you won't be disappointed. ;)

Aloha.

Thank you all for your great responses . I'm reassured that Hana will be a break from "resort land" and beautiful, but not the same as Kauai. In my opinion, 4 days Maui, 4 days Kauai is too rushed. My fear is I won't get back to Kauai- will 4 days be enough? Also, if I did do Kauai, thinking about Secreat Beach Cottages- is this is a mistake for early November giving weather. In gratitude.

I think 4 days in both places is too rushed, Ive been to Kauai 3 times and Maui at least 20 times, Both are beautiful, the four seasons is very nice and surprisingly quiet for a large resort. Hana is lush, but not as lush as Kauai, however it's not worth taking that extra trip to the airport. If you see Kauai on another trip would be great, but if you can't get back don't worry your Maui trip will be awesome. Aloha.

You might want to re-think that 3 days in Hana. Truth is, Hana is nothing special. The subject of all the talk is the road TO Hana, not Hana itself. It's not even much by way of peace and quiet, since it't the turnaround point for "the road" travelers.

RE: Hana is nothing special

To the point that it's the "turnaround" for day trippers and it might not be totally quiet, a lot of people go past Hana on to the Seven Deadly Pools anyway, and if you're not out enjoying all the great hikes and beaches the entire area has to offer (not just Hana itself), I can't imagine a relaxing day at the hotel itself being "noisy". And it was VERY quiet both nights we were there. Even during the day it was pretty sleepy. And yes, the subject of all the talk IS the road TO Hana, and of course the road PAST Hana...Hana is just a good place to stay, a good halfway point for exploring the entire "to" and "past" areas. The whole point is to explore the length of the highway's offerings, not just what's IN Hana, which isn't much because it's a very small town.

I think the phrase "Road To Hana" is unfortunate because it seems to lead a lot of people to zoom by incredible beauty in a rush to get to Hana because they read it on a t-shirt and are disappointed when it's not the freaking Garden of Eden. It's not. But venture into the jungle before or after Hana and you'll find it.

If you're looking for the peace and quiet of a luxury hotel, I think you'll find it (I mean, the Hotel Hana-Maui isn't a Motel 6 at the side of an interstate for god's sake, it's a big beautiful property) and if you're looking for the peace and quiet of some wonderful secluded hikes and beaches you'll find it as well, especially with the advantage of already being there in the morning, when you'll find most sites totally empty. Yes, it's true there's nothing "to do" in Hana by way of jet ski or cheesy luau, but if you love to explore or relax on the beach or next to a waterfall, there's too much to do and not enough time.

Hana is very special, as is the entire highway. We met wonderfully laid back people, took some awesome hikes, and truly enjoyed the serenity of each evening out on the porch under the stars with the sound of the bay just steps away. It's a beautiful place regardless of how beautiful someplace else might be.

love
roxy

I would vote to bypass Hana entirely, instead see the lush greenery of Kauai, maybe do 5/Maui, 5/Kauai this trip, saving Oahu for next trip. Or just stopping in Oahu for one night, to see Pearl Harbor and get a taste of Waikiki........ I personally think three days in Hana would be too much for me but that's just me.