We're planning a trip (no kids) for early September for 10 nights. We went to the Big Island last year (3 nights Hilo, 5 nights Hilton Waikoloa Village) and for this year are considering 3 nights Honolulu and 7 nights Hapuna Beach Prince on the Big Island (well, the Mauna Kea would be our dream resort, but the price is prohibitive).

However, we are also considering other itineraries, perhaps including Kauai or Maui instead.

What we liked about the Big Island:

1) Relatively quiet and uncrowded; and
2) Hapuna Beach was beautiful (also uncrowded).

Fears about Maui:

1) Crowds (particularly at the beaches);
2) Choice of big, poor service, mass market resorts (Kaanapali) or paying insane amounts for Wailea hotels (though the Fairmont has special renovation rates). To be clear, we do not like (nor could we afford) something like the Four Seasons or Grand Wailea. But we've read stories about the Kaanapali resorts that make us nervous. We don't want to be fighting for seats by the pool or waiting in long lines.

Fears about Kauai:

1) Restaurant options;
2) Rainy?;
3) Beaches comparable to Hapuna or Mauna Kea.

Given the time of year we'd be going (early September), any input on whether our concerns about Maui and Kauai are particularly valid/relevant?

We are looking to split up the trip between two islands at the most with a 6 night/4 night or 7 night/3 night split.

Thanks!

David

Look at the Grand Hyatt, in sunny Poipu Beach, Kauai, the Garden Isle. Gorgeous, peaceful resort, many restaurants to choose from. Favorites: Beach House, Tidepools, Dondero's, Roy's of Hawaii, Plantation Gardens, Merrimans, Josselin's, Keoki's Paradise, Dukes, to name a few.

Check out the Sunshine on Sale package, get one night free after 5, free breakfast buffet and free room upgrade.

Been to them all for value
Refer the Prince Resorts
Booking Pricline.com get great deals

In fall more rain on Kaui Maui nice pretty more tourists

For me less rain crowds more variety on the BI

These days get a nice package into Kona

Got air a car and a nice room at the Hapuna Prince for 1k pp when there fall last

It was awesome.

Might just head back there.

There are many gorgeous beaches on Kaua`i so finding a beautiful beach is no problem. In September the really rainy season will not have started so the weather should be good---but of course it might rain And Sept. is not peak travel season so it should not be too hard to get away from the crowds.

But it sounds to me like what you really want to do is spend time at Hapuna, so i think for this trip you should go there. Spend those 7 days really enjoying Hapuna! Then for your next trip you can go to a different island.

Can only comment on Kauai as it has been a long time since traveling to Maui or Big Island.

Travel in September is great, after Labor Day all but the small kids will be back in school, it seldom rains and when it does it is for a short period, usually in the afternoon or evening and not all over the island. In fact, often in September the trades sometimes die and you get Kona winds on Kauai, so if you were in a condo, you definitely would want AC at least in the bedroom. Lots of nice restaurants there, maybe not as big a selection as Maui, but like MBnancy stated, several new ones have opened up like Merriman's and Josselin's Tapas place. I also like Casa d' Amici in Poipu, no view but really great Italian.

Beautiful beaches up on the North Shore like Ke'e that will be fantastic and normally good for snorkeling that time of year. Nice beaches on the South Shore as well plus things to see like Waimea Grand Canyon, kayaking the rivers there, etc.

But it does sound like you are leaning toward a return to BI.

You will love everything!! If you get the chance take an outrigger canoe ride it will be the best $15 or $20 you have ever spent!!!

I like the Makena Resort in south Maui. More reasonable than the Wailea hotels. On a really nice quiet beach with excellent snorkeling. A very low-key place. The beach is smaller than Hapuna, but very nice for swimming and sunning.

I don't like the Hyatt Kauai, as the beach is too rough for swimming or snorkeling, and their large pool system draws in kids like crazy. I was there in July, and it was uncomfortably busy and noisy.

Each island has it's own unique heavenly things to offer. To go thru life without having experienced each island would be like vowing to only listen to one Beatles song in your lifetime. Big mistake.

I agree with montereybob, each island is unique and has its own personality. You just have to experience it to decide which one you like the most. I've been to Kauai, Maui, Big Island, but not Oahu yet. I would say if you liked Hapuna Beach, you are likely going to enjoy both Kauai and Maui. I did not think either was too touristy. We stayed near Kihei on Maui, near the Kama'ole Beach Park 1, 2, 3, in an apartment. Here is a link to some info on Maui: http://www.mauiinformationguide.com/best-beaches.php.

On Kauai, we stayed near Lihue and I would not recommend staying there. Anywhere like Poipu or Hanalei, would be great.

Hi all,

Thank you for all of the great advice. I very much appreciate it.

Unfortunately, over the last 24 hours the plans changed and we're going to have to move up the trip to go over Labor Day Weekend Not sure how that impacts things (not positively, though oddly the prices are the same...).

Kaua'i is boring. Nothing to do. Lousy food. Rainbows are over rated. So are the waterfalls. click on my name and read my Kauai trip reports for the real story.

Your fears about Maui (2). There are lots of choices of places you could stay on Maui that are not either mass market or high-end resorts. There's some nice regular hotels right in Lahaina. Or you could look into getting a condo or cottage somewhere. Don't limit yourself to those two popular areas.

Yeah....what Iamq said.....

Anymore, when it comes to predicting the weather on Kauai, yah pays yer money, you takes yer chances.

We've spent 3 weeks in Dec/Jan and got one day of rain where you couldn't do anything.

We just got back from a 10 days visit and it rained almost every day....sometimes more...sometimes less.

It was like Chicago weather tho. You don't like it, wait 30 mins and it will change.

We just returned from 6 nights in Maui and found most of the beaches to be not crowded at all. Kaanapali @ the Sheraton where Black Rock is was the most populated beach, we were there on a Saturday. We loved the beaches at Kapalua, Napili and Honolua Bay in Maui, all were just a short drive away from Honua Kai where we stayed. Aloha! ***kim***

iamq- You didn't even mention the massive chicken influx on Kauai....

I also didn't mention the cigar size cockaroaches that hide under the floor mats of rental cars.

And, that's a double yeah to what Wally and Beaver both mentioned!!! In addition to those terrible roosters and cockaroaches, they now have bazillions of cats everywhere on Kauai.
We were on Kauai in March and did no fine dining, but did have some mighty fine eats. Tropical pancakes and loco mocos at the Ono Family Restaurant for breakfast will keep you going for a long time. Plus, shave ice is a daily staple for me, not to mention the copious amounts of wine we consumed!

Some friends just returned from their first visit to Kauai(also first time to Hawaii), and are already planning a return visit.

i'2

iceeu2, I need to hear more about your "mighty fine eats" (no fine dining necessary!) on Kauai -- we'll be there in October, south shore, but we'll be getting around. (I've put Ono Family Restaurant on my list, thanks)

sf7307, I reviewed most of our eats on trip advisor.com~~
I don't want to hijack this thread, but will try to do a separate post very soon.
Or email me and I will send you a link to my reviews on ta.
dfreezeatwindstreamdotnet

If you went somewhere I really liked it there is nothing wrong with going back. If it has what you want, you're comfortable there, and can relax straight-away, why not view that as a good thing?

We stayed at the Fairmount in Maui this past April. We liked it so much we're already planning to go back next year for spring break with our kids. We could do a lot to find a place like that, but why not just stay there?

A few years ago we went to Club Med in Ixtapa. We had a great time. When we came home we cancelled our summer plans and went back again. If you like it and you're happy, why mess with that?