My wife and I are planning a trip to Hawaii in Oct./Nov. this year and need some advice on which island(s) to stay for approx. 10 days. We are looking for beaches and photography opportunities (e.g. volcanoes, scenic vistas, sunsets, etc.) We also want to stay rather cheaply in a condo with kitchen unit. Any suggestions on which islands (one ot two?) and where to stay would be welcomed.

Based on your criteria, the Big Island of Hawaii is one. It's the only one with an active volcano.

As far as pure scenery (especially beaches) you can't beat Kauai. They don't call it the Garden Island for nothing. Of course, I'm originally from there, so I'm biased.

Maui and Oahu are fine, though more cosmopolitan than the other two.

Hi 7473chad,

I would highly recommend both the big island of Hawaii and Maui for what you are looking for.

The big island has the active volcano and Maui has lush tropical vegetation in the Iao Valley State Park, and beautiful beaches and sunsets with views of Lanai and Molokai.

Places to stay...I can only recommend the Honokeana Cove on Maui. It is located on the north/west side of the island with the sunset views I referemced. The management there is spectacular, Sue, and it is low key. A beautiful coe to snorkel in, and a short walk around the cove will put you on the Napili Beach, with the Gazebo restaurant for delicious breakfast. The cove has three great gas bar b q's and many amenities like fully equipped kitchens and laundry facilities. Check it out.

I would vote for the Big Island and Kauai. Although Molokai is pretty, too, with stretches of uncrowded beaches, if you don't mind having not much else to do there. Maui felt too much like southern California for our taste. We've never stayed at Oahu or Lanai.
On the Big Island, we have stayed three times at the Sea Village condominium complex. It's a bit south of Kona, a very well-kept, low-key, great value. Ask for a unit on the top floor (for privacy) and oceanfront. We have had a view there that looks directly out to sea and up the coast. It has a nice little pool, also overlooking the ocean, and even has free tennis courts, also barbecue pits in a little garden area in the center. I have always been amazed at how inexpensive it is for what you get. Try Googling Sea Village and you'll find some private owners who rent theirs directly. Or try Vacations Unlimited, in Florida-- they handle a couple of them, too. I believe all units there are privately owned, so there isn't consistency in decoration. We rented from Vacations Unlimited and were more than pleased with our unit each time. Good luck. (If you can't find Vacations Unlimited, I can probably dig up their 800 number in my files.)

We've been to Maui and Kauai in the last two years. My two trip reports have detailed info on everything we did, and include good info on two wonderful, reasonably priced condos with drop-dead ocean views we stayed in, the Kihei Surfside on Maui (Wailea/Keawakapu Beach, $125/nt for one bedroom) and the Pali Ke Kua condos in Princeville, Kauai ($140/nt one bedroom).

Maui is at:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34436140

Kauai is at:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34508517

Kauai is great for fantastic scenic views, lush, jungle-backed beaches, and lots of rainbows. Everywhere you turn is a photo waiting to happen, from the enormous glory of Waimea Canyon that fills your entire line of sight like a backdrop, to the misty, spooky peaks and bogs of the Alakai Swamp, to the bottom of Opaeka'a Falls, from points on the Kalalau Trail, all along the unforgettable Na Pali coast, and the dreamy beaches, especially on the north shore where you often get verdant waterfall-streaked mountains in the background.

I have to say I fell in love with Kauai more than Maui. Kauai's blanket of all-over lushness, jagged green mountains, and the fact that the center of the island is constantly shrouded in a mysterious fog just makes it an all-around wonderful place to be. But Maui does also have some beautiful beaches with great snorkeling, especially on the south shore, windswept Haleakala, gems like the Olivine Pools, and the relative ease of exploring all the sweet jungley spots along the Hana highway.

Let me know if you have any questions!

love
roxy

All of the five Hawaiian islands we have visited meet your criteria but my vote would be for Maui and Kauai, over the Big Island of Hawaii since you did not mention underwater, and the possibility that the B.I. volcano may not be producing lava the day you choose to visit Volcano National Park.

A multicolor (though dormant) volcano landscape containing cinder cones (shots here IMHO look like a volcano) can be found atop Haleakala on Maui, as well as spectacular sunrise and sunsets. The "Road to Hana" in Maui is a drive through the US's largest tropicalrainforest and provides incredibly easy access and closeups to small waterfalls and picturesque coastline. Also, a convenient relatively inexpensive$) day trip by boat can additionally provide round trip access to the islands of Molokai, or Lanai from Maui.

As stated above, Kauai contains striking beauty, from the inspiring mountains in a lush tropical landscape up north, to Waimea canyon (a.k.a. grand canyon of the pacific).

We have found no problems finding very nice condo's with kitchens etc, for ~$150/nite or less$) on Maui and Kauai at www.vrbo.com

Enjoy your stay in paradise !

My fiancé and I are going to Maui for 7 nights and Oahu for 2 on our honeymoon next April. We have a junior suite booked at the Maui Kai (unit 402) for $110 a night through the owner!!! Check out their website http://www.paradiseinmaui.com

You can see pictures of the condo. Sandra (the owner) also has a nice welcome letter to help you get around Maui.

If you decide on Maui, considre three areas to stay in: ka'anapali, kapalua and wailea, all on the west side, thus offering great sunsets and beaches.

Hana is an option, but quite isolated, and away from most of Maui's fun activities.

For food, suggest you do a search here, because there are tons of posts with excellent information. Here again, the restaurants are concentrated in those three areas, plus Lahaina and near the airport (OGG).

Suggest taking a look at www.101thingstodo.com to help plan things you'll visit and do.

By convention Wailea (leeward) is considered to be in the south of Maui, not the west, though it faces that direction.
You can find moderately priced condominiums next door in Kihei, along with great beaches and an abundance of shopping and dining opportunities. By November the western sides of the islands can see large swells, making swimming and snorkeling world class adventures.

This is a tough choice that so many have to make! If you can only do one island, I would recommend Maui hands down. Why? It is not as 'cosmopolitan' as some are lead to believe. In fact I was suprised. There is a lot to do on the island to fill 10 days easy....trip to Hana, Haleakala ?crater, Iaow Needle (spelling), great beaches and Lahaina being a charming, artsy little town. The only thing you are missing is an active volcanoe. It is the perfect combination of serenity and fun! If you can do two islands the second would be a tougher choice- Kauai, most beautiful but quiet, Hawaii-active volcanoe, Oahu- great sights and city for nightlife, etc. Hope this helps!

PS- I recommend the Kaanapali area just north of Lahaina, although the most plush hotels are south in Walea area.

Just an addition to info. about the Big Island: even if the volcanoes are not going ballistic, there is often a way to view red-hot, flowing lava in the cracks of the national park. I remember a hotline that can be called that describes where the viewing is best that day. Park Rangers supervise the scene so that no one does anything too stupid, and you can see technicians in the distance putting out the occasional flare-up of lava hitting scrub brush.

A caution: even the solid rock you stand out can be extrememly hot with flowing lava underneath. When we visited such an area with our small hiking group, we could easily feel the heat through our running shoes, and often had to move off. Those who wore the good hiking boots were more insultated from the heat and could stay in one place longer -- but the heat also melted their cleats without their knowing it, until it was too late, i.e. they were left with smeary blobs on the bottom of theiir soles.

Another thing you might love about the Big Island is the variety of sands on the beaches -- golden, green, black -- depending on where you are. Check out the park on the very southern tip of the island with beautiful rgeenish olivine sand, and a nice swim cove a short hike from the parking lots.

If you are looking for inexpensive accomodations on Kauai, we stayed at Waikomo Stream Villas about $80-100/NIGHT........1100 sq ft condo, very nice........lanai overlooks pool area

If you are set on an active volcanoe then I guess you must go to the Big Island.

I personally would only stay on one island for 10 days, but that is just me.

For scenery? Definitely Kaua'i as a lot of the others have said.

We really did enjoy Maui as well though. But in your case, I would do the Big Island and Kaua'i.

Good luck!

amelie

We just returned from the Big Island. If you want to see flowing lava now, the only way is a 7 mile hike (1 way) or to take a helicopter or plane. However, by the time you go it could be closer again. We could see a sulphur cloud and a red glow at night, but not actual lava. We really enjoyed our stay though and the night we went to try to see the lava flow we spent an hour in our car (convertible with the top down) just staring at the stars. There was no light pollution around and the sky was magnificant. We also spent 4 days on Maui and loved it there too. You can go to www.vrbo.com to find condos for rent in any area. There are some really great values in Kihie on Maui. Sunrise from the top of Haleaka (sp?) is awesome and so is the drive to Hana with lots of waterfalls and breathtaking scenery. Wherever you decide, have a great trip!!!

Kauai has both old and new areas. Some beautiful resorts but also some rural areas. There's lots to see and do. It's Hawaii's island of discovery and there is a LOT to discover.