I am visiting Hawaii for the first time in May. From May 1-8, I will be on Maui with 5 friends. I am staying until May 16 by myself and would like to visit 2 other islands. Kauai has been high recommended by friends because I enjoy hiking and outdoor activties.
I need to decide between Oahu and the Big Island.
Oahu has Waikiki, Diamond Head... and the Big Island has the volcanos and beaches...
I definitely would like B&B or a cottage and will be renting cars.
Any thoughts or recommendations are appreciated.

For me solo, I'd prefer going to Oahu. It certainly has beaches too! With a rental car you could find a cottage up on the North Shore?

I agree with the post above. If I was traveling solo I would choose Oahu. Lots more to do and see...Big Island is cool for hiking and such but I think one could get bored if traveling solo to the Big Island. Oahu all the way!

I just came back from Oahu and the Big Island -- and I've been to Oahu before.
I loved the Big Island, and there is far more to see and do that is just plain different. The volcanoes, the rain forest, the valleys, the beaches, the open spaces and FAR fewer people.

Diamond Head is pretty, but it's just an expensive residential area. Waikiki is bit like Myrtle Beach with a really lovely beach (a lot of tourists and hotels and bustle, but no relaxation). The traffic around Honolulu is bad. The North Shore is nice - but probably shouldn't be the reason you choose Oahu over the Big Island.

I have a house on the Big Island, and I am often there by myself (as my husband has a real job) so I'll give my comments as solo traveler.

I feel comfortable hiking and exploring at national and state parks, (Pu'ukohola, Lapakahi, Place of Refuge) as well as the waterfalls and botanical gardens. Most resorts have petroglyph trails, and I like to explore them for exercise and inspiration.

I love poking in all the galleries and small museums in the many tiny towns, especially in North Kohala, Waimea and Hamakua.

I enjoy going to local celebrations and parades for King Kamehameha Day in June, Cherry Blossoms in February, Iron Man in October, and many more. They are rarely crowded, always full of charm and aloha spirit.

I follow local musicians, and check the schedules of resorts and shopping centers where they have free entertainment frequently. I especially love hula, and there are often performances.

I like shopping at the resorts (unlike my husband) even though I don't usually buy stuff.

I feel comfortable taking a tour of coffee or orchid farms by myself, and a tour of the only vanilla farm in the U.S. http://www.hawaiianvanilla.com/ I like strolling down Ali'i Drive and enjoying the surf crash against the sea wall, and visiting the Hulihee Palace http://www.huliheepalace.org/visiting.htm and early stone church, and checking out the latest in shell souvenirs.

In Hilo I go to the Tsunami Museum, the new Imiloa Planetarium http://www.imiloahawaii.org/. I always enjoy walking in the park and seeing the impressive row of banyan trees planted by celebrities and dignitaries.

On Saturdays I find farmer's markets.

I wouldn't swim alone, but you can swim at any resort beach as all beaches are public. I don't snorkle, but people say Fairwinds out of Kealakakua is fabulous.

There is a naturalist group that gives eco tours that might be interesting for the volcano. http://www.hawaii-forest.com/

As for eating alone, I often take a picnic to the beach, eat at casual local places, or cook at home.

The Big Island is very big, not very populated (except for traffic in Kona) and very rural and wild with some very nice resorts thrown in. It's not for everyone, but it really isn't boring!

I would choose Oahu, traveling by myself. So much to do, and very diverse. Love the Big Island, but if I were you, I'd go with Oahu in this case.

If it were me this would be a no-brainer: The Big Island. I like the outdoors and being active, and Oahu has way too many people and too much traffic for my taste. (I've been to Oahu several times because my sister lives there. We stay a couple of days for family, then move on to another island.) But as you can see, everyone has different tastes.

There is more to see & do on Oahu than any other island.

Outside of Honolulu/Waikiki Oahu is rural like the other islands.

Over 100 beaches on Oahu, more than any other island.

Lots of info including sites with free brochures for all islands:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34812564

You sound more like an outdoorsy person. I think Big Island is a better fit.
Snorkeling was great there! I think Oahu is more touristy and has more sights to see, but the Big Island is more of an outdoorsman paradise. If that makes sense.

It is a common misconception that the entire island of Oahu is "touristy". It's not, mostly that is just Waikiki beach area.

My comments pro Oahu are more about travelling solo & on a first time visit to Hawaii, I just think Oahu is a more easy, good first experience. Personally I would not want to be driving the distances on Big Island alone or hiking in more isolated places by myself (i'm sure it would be different if I lived there and knew my way around).

In my opinion I would say Oahu has much more to do, and less distanse to do it. There are a bunch of hiking trails as well as beaches. You could probally meet more people on Oahu and get them to show you places around the whole island. I think this website could help you discover places on Oahu if thats where you decide to go. www.oahuvacations.org I hope you have a wonderful vacation!

I just got back from Hawaii. You will absolutely love Maui. Dollar for dollar it is a much better value on the Big Island. If you want night life you better stay with Oahu. If you stay in Waikiki, plan on expensive parking bills and frustration with traffic (my opinion is that you are just as well off in LA). You might also want to check on the cost of air flights as it was cheaper for me to fly in and out of Maui and the Big Isle than out of Honolulu. I stayed at the Kona Coast Resort on the Big Island for $80 a night in a 1 bedroom condo, whose patio was bigger than my entire room in Waikiki. For me there was much more opportunity for relaxation and exploration of a true Hawaiian experience on the Big Island. PS: If the budget allows, take a helicopter ride on Maui or the Big Isle... you will never regret it (and you can negotiate the rates because their economy is hurting there also)

I may be biased, but Oahu is a good choice if this is your first time and traveling solo. You will have access to more options in a shorter distance, including outdoor activities.

For hiking, you might want to contact the Sierra Club, as you may be able to hike with them and learn more about the flora and fauna of Hawaii: http://www.hi.sierraclub.org/oahu

As suze says, Oahu is NOT all touristy. Waikiki is a 2-mile strip on the south shore and is NOT reflective of the rest of the island. You can drive to a rainforest-like setting just minutes outside of urban Honolulu. I've sat with turtles on a deserted beach, just 40 minutes from the urban core.

Unlike Mellisa...I AM biased!

I love Oahu, and please don't compare Waikiki to Myrtle Beach or L.A. ughh good grief! Waikiki is so clean you can practically eat off the sidewalks. People are so friendly it is almost sickening gt;

But...like others have said, Oahu has a little bit of everything to offer. You can easily rent a car anytime and in 25 minutes you are exploring a beach where NO ONE else is in sight!

The entire north coast is gorgeous and in my opinion much nicer vistas then Maui.

If you are at all a foodie you cannot compare the variety and quality of dining on Oahu to any other Island.

One thing to keep in mind, is that you can always take a day trip to the Big Island leaving early in the morning and returning late at night. We've done that to many of the Islands.

But most definately this is the ideal Island for people who like a variety of things to do, so let that be your determining factor.

Thank you all for your thoughts, opinions and recommendations. Unfortunately, it's now even harder for me to decide !!
Both islands have so much to offer. I have to book my flights soon. If I choose the Big Island, is it better to fly into and out of Kona or Hilo?
Do you I have to fly from Honolulu back to the US?

spres242, Hawaii is part of the US.

mark99--OK OK I will stand strong and BE biased! ha ha

Some airlines fly directly into Kona from the mainland or continental us. You can check and see if your airline will do that. You are flying into Maui or Oahu? You could fly into Maui and out of big island.

What's your home city?

(to be able to answer the question if there are direct flights out of BI or if you'd need to go thru Honolulu)

Philadelphia, PA is my closest and Newark, NJ is next.
If I can only fly out of Honolulu, I may go over in morning at see Pearl Harbor and fly out at night.

I can't argue with folks who say you should visit Oahu at least once. It definitely has more to do, and certainly, more of the "famous" stuff that tourists many times feel they must see. Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, Waikiki, the North Shore, etc.

However, IMO, you should go where your interests lay. If you like the wide outdoors and more of an old Hawaii type look, the Kauai and the Big Island cannot be beat.

I must disagree slightly with some of the posters regarding Oahu and it's density.

Though Honolulu and Waikiki are certainly more dense and crowded, even when you leave it, you'll be driving freeway and still passing through very urban areas. The only "rural" areas are past Wahiawa and out to the North Shore.

Don't get me wrong. I live on Oahu and love it. But IMHO, the majority of island is one big city.

I'd go to the BI.