First time in Hawaii - which island to choose?
 

Hawaii is still our first pick for a honeymoon, but we're confused about which island to choose. We will be there for 10 days. We prefer to stay in one location and not island hop, and instead do day trips to other islands by ferry or plane, if possible. I know we won't get the full feel of the other islands, but we just want to relax and not have to change hotels. We love to hike, kayak, bike ride, dine out at different places, and get spa treatments for relaxation. We would also love to see volcanoes and maybe take a sailboat ride. We would like to stay in a high-end resort right on the beach with all the amenities (why not splurge on the honeymoon). From my research, I think the Big Island or Maui would be the best fit. I think Kuaia would be a little too quiet for us, and Oahu might not have great areas to kayak/hike. Am I wrong? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

I agree with your assessment that BI or Maui would be your best choices to meet all the needs you mentioned. I would suggest going to a bookstore and thumbing through travel guides on each of the two islands. The pictures will give you a good idea of the differences between them. Choose the one that seems the most intriguing to you. You can't make a wrong choice though. Either one would be a great place for a memorable honeymoon. When you are older and ready for more quiet times, then visit Kauai. It is a not-to-be-missed gorgeous, lush tropical paradise.

I haven't been on the Big Island in 30 years, so I can't comment on that. From your description of what you want to do, I too would choose Maui. It's a great combination of developed resorts, great beaches, natural sightseeing (Haleakala, road to Hana and such), towns to poke around (Lahaina), water sports (surf lessons?). Many people recommend the Trilogy trips to Lanai.

I agree with Bob that Kauai is not-to-be-missed gorgeous, but yes, it is pretty quiet. Oahu has many different areas, but only one with a large choice of resort hotels, and that's Waikiki, which would probably not meet your criteria (very crowded).

http://www.sailtrilogy.com/

Maui would be your best choice as it includes lots of nature, plush resorts, and access to culture, activities, and great dining...

The resorts and rentals in Kaanapali are high end and just a short drive to Lahaina ... driving around or a tour of the island would give you access to other beaches, hiking, snorkeling, copter rides, and native culture. good luck in your planning...

We go to the Big Island every year. We stay in condos, but I would say that you could go to any of the resorts north of Kona and enjoy yourselves. Four Seasons, Mauna Kea, and Mauna Lani are the ones that come to mind. (Kona Village was destroyed by the tsunami.)

And the Big Island is the only one that has a live volcano. It's a 3 - 4 hour drive from the resorts, but if you make it a day trip, and see some of the Hilo side along with it, it's a nice trip. there are some good hikes on the Big Island, too. Terrific snorkeling at Kealakakua Bay (either kayak over to the Cat. Cook Monument, take a boat, or hike down from the highway, as our son does. it's a couple of very steep miles and hot, so take plenty of water), and Two-step, down by the City of Refuge (Honaunau).

Otherwise, you can go to the top of Haleakala on Maui for a fantastic view of the crater, and even hike into it.

If you are really in nightlife, probably Waikiki is your best bet. There are some lovely hotels there. Otherwise, Hawaii is pretty sleepy. And there are good opportunities to get out and hike on Oahu, too.

you might consider 2 islands with 10 days. There are no ferries, and island hopping by plane for a day trip is an expensive and time consuming process.

What if you did something like spend a week on Maui, then a couple of days on Oahu on the way home? You can probably fly into Maui and out of Honolulu, so you only have one interislad flight. Maui gives you the laid back time, and activities you desire. Oahu for dining, nightlife, a visit to Pearl Harbor, and you can do some snorkelling or surfing here too.

Maui would be my pick for you based on what you've told us and it has the best beaches.