Have visited Kauai on your first trip to Hawaii and then been disappointed when visiting Maui?
 

I ask this question because my sister just returned from visiting Maui and,other than the road to Hana, she didn’t really like Maui. On the other hand, she visited Kauai in 2007 and thought it was paradise on earth. She thought Maui was horribly commercialized and said it reminded her of Disneyland (and not in a good way).

I ask this question around my workplace and found that the Maui lovers had never been to Kauai and the Kauai lovers had not been to Maui. I have been to Kauai and it is without question one of my favorite places in the world. I have also visited Oahu and while I didn’t really like Honolulu, I did enjoy Oahu.

I was just wondering if anyone else had this reaction.

I have been to Kauai twice and Maui 5 or 6 times. I suppose it depends on when you go whether you would think it's like disneyland or not. I've never felt like that. There is certainly plenty to see and do but if you go duirnghigh season you would probably be doing activities with lots of other people.


I like all the islands.

I'll never understand how any of the islands can remind someone of Disneyland. It is beyond me.

"I like all the islands.'

So do I! I don't understand the disneyland comment? Those widly shaking hulu hips look really enough to me!

Disneyland where? I love all 4 of the islands we've been to, probably like the Big Island best.

i love them all but it's hard to compare- i like them for different reasons. maui for it's nightlife and hustle and bustle and then kauai for the beauty and the quiet. and oahu, and the big island....
we always stay at hilton waikoloa and while i do love it there, i can see where people might say that it's like disneyland! but that's one of the things that makes it special!!

Thank you for your responses. My sister wasn’t very clear about the Disneyland comment but I interpreted it to mean that Maui had the “fake” Disneyland feel whereas Kauai had an “authentic” Hawaiian feel. She stayed at the Sheraton, which she said was beautiful.

Depends where you stay and what you do. I did not find anything about Maui Disneyland-esque, with perhaps the exception of Old Lahaina Luau one evening (which was lovely nonetheless).

I think some people tend to get snobby about the various islands they enjoy. Many people say "Oh Oahu is just New York City with a beach" which is ridiculous.

I find it difficult to compare the two islands. They are both beautiful and unique in their own ways. In my opinion, Kauai is beautiful and you don't have to look far to find the beauty; MAui is beautiful in its own way but you have to go off the beaten path in order to find it.

We visited Maui 1st then Kauai on DH's first visit to the islands. I'm glad we went in that order. I enjoy both islands in different ways. It all depends on where you stay on each island. For example, I think the Coconut Coast on Kauai is more commercialized than Maui's Upcountry. I would ask your sister what specifically reminded her of Disneyland.

I must admit.

On one trip, I had a big struggle adjusting from beachhouse on ns kauai to Kea Lani resort on Maui. But that was just a puddle jump away. I missed my beach house and pier and talk story. But the resort and island are amazing. I wouldn't kick any island out for crackers in bed.

How anyone could <i>evah</i> go to Kauai after being to Maui is beyond me.
:-&quot;

Kauai's ugly Coconut Coast reminds me of driving thru Los Angeles it's that congested and unattractive.
[(

Billaaayyyyyy...
Mrs Kal has been know to ride me like an e-ticket on Kauai, hence Dinnylannnnnn....

Poor Mrs. Kal! #-O

Each of the 4 largest islands of the Hawaiian Islands are so very different from each other. Maui, Kauai, Oahu, and the Big Island Hawaii each have distinctive attributes. Visitors may be looking for different factors. We liked Maui, Kauai, and Oahu to visit, but will plan to retire to the Big Island. It indeed is the largest, and we found the greatest variety of features and factors of aloha there.

I know I'm in trouble when she turns up the stereo.

Be careful I'2...<i>short chix dig the big guy</i> /:)














:)):)):))

We've been both to Maui and Kauai. I loved both of them for very different reasons. Kauai is laid-back, lush, green. My idea of paradise. However, they roll the streets up over there around 5pm. Maui on the other hand is still lush and beautiful but you can find something to do after dark if you'd like. They both have a special place in my heart. Either island is a winner.

I'm just the opposite of your sister. I have been to four major islands many times and Kauai is MY least favorite. Each island has it's own special &quot;flavor&quot; and Kauai just doesn't &quot;do it&quot; for me. I don't get the Disneyland reference either, about ANY of the islands.

Hello
We have been to both islands,
my guess is it is a personal preference,
We LOVED the sunrise tour on Maui,
cant miss that one, didnt go road to Hana, but we much preferred Kauai and we are returning in Sept for 10 days on Kauai and 5 days on the big island, to celebrate our 25 wedding anniversary.

I just got back from both islands. My second trip to Maui first to Kauai. Maui has lost a lot of that Hawaiian feeling. It's still there... away from the crowds but the crowds are every where. I can understand the Disney thing. The Kanapali(sp) and Wailea resort areas are so artificial?( I think that's it.)
Maui is beautiful but crowded.
Kauai was just great. More laid back and less people, more Hawaiians. Kapa'a was congested but it wasn't that bad.
Everyone looks for their own thing on vacation. Some people love the resorts and some people prefer a grass shack. I'm the shack kind of person.

I just prefer Kauai to Maui as I don't like all the crowds and major traffic. To me Maui is way overdeveloped. For us it goes Kauai, BI, Oahu, Maui, Molokai and finally Lanai. And the last two trail because it is hard to find food outside of the hotel property, otherwise the islands are breathtaking, especially Molokai.