I am trying to help my mil in planning our family trip to Hawaii this summer. We will be coming for a week in July. It will be first time for all of us. It will be my inlaws (50s,), sil, my husband and me, and our 22 month old. I have heard many wonderful things about Kauai and was leaning more towards there. But my mil has her heart set on Maui due to the more things to do. At least that is what she has read and heard from others. I am afraid it is more city like than what she has envisioned when she has thought of her Hawaiian trip. So my questions are which island do you suggest, our of all not just the 2 mentioned? I know my mil is interested in seeing a volcano. I am all about the beaches and snorkeling. My sil wants to see waterfalls. My husband is interested in fishing. Our daughter is used to being taken places so she is not much of a concern in doing things vs not doing things. Budget is not a factor. We are interested in renting a house vs staying in a hotel. Or do you suggest hotel vs renting? Just plain help lol. Thanks.

I would rent a house in the Poipu beach area of Kauai. With the baby and many different interests that will be more comfortable and sociable than separate hotel or condo rooms. Kauai is the most authentic and easiest to get around. There will be plenty to do for all. Kauai has lots of waterfalls, the Waimea Canyon, the Wailua River/Fern Grotto, etc. The volcano on Maui is dormant and a long drive.

My problem with Maui is that there are tons of high rise condos on the west coast but I like a low rise feel in the islands and Poipu is my favorite area. I don't personally like the Kihei area of Maui www.vrbo.com has lots of listings.

Do you know what your MIL means by "more things to do"?

I agree with everything LeslieC said. Haleakala is dormant but imo its caldera is visually stunning, definitely worth at least one visit. Go early morning or late afternoon for full effect.

Maui also has some great snorkeling, beaches (Big/Little Beach, Makena etc) and it's not hard to find accomodations away from the urban sprawl. For families like yours who're first-timers it's really a tossup imo between Maui and Kauai as the best choice of islands. If your heart is set on Kauai show your family pictures of the Na Pali Coast. Maui has nothing to compare.

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Well, everyone has a different opinion about any topic. My opinion is: think Miami Beach if you think "urban sprawl". Maui isn't urban. Yes, some areas are more developed than others. Think Miami Beach if you think "tons of high rise condos". There is a cluster of high rise hotels and condos in the Kaanapali area of Maui, but that is a small segment of the island. No place on Maui is like the string of high rise hotels on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu.

Kauai is stunningly beautiful no doubt about it, and it is more low key than Maui. Maui offers 'more to do' with a variety of things to see, activities, restaurants, and shopping.

Are you sure you aren't thinking of Honolulu, when you say Maui is "city like"?

Our family did a trip to Maui with 9 people, different generations. We stayed in condo units at Lahaina Shores (walking distance to the town of Lahaina which we all enjoyed). We had a couple rental cars/vans. We went to Old Lahaina Luau, Haleakala, walking tour in Lahaina, U'lalena (music/dance show about island history), scenic drives, lots of nice meals.

Haleakala is dormant but an incredible sight to see as far as 'volcano'. It is on Maui. But if you MIL is set on seeing an active volcano then that means you'd have to go to The Big Island instead.

You won't see much activity at the volcano on the Big Island either- hard to see other than by helicopter.

Kauai is all about it's low-key vibe, gorgeous/lush landscapes and vistas and great beaches, wonderful hiking. Maui is more developed than Kauai and IMHO not nearly as beautiful, except within the resort areas (Kaanapali, Wailea and the like). The lushness that you see everywhere in Kauai is mostly confined to the Road to Hana on Maui and I doubt you'd want to undertake that drive with a 2-year old. So for me, it would be Kauai, but it depends what your MIL means by "more to do". I go to Hawaii mostly for "less to do"

I should add that the one advantage Maui has for me over Kauai is the town of Lahaina itself. I like the vibe of the town and it's a great place to spend evening hours. Kauai has nothing similar.

I love Kauai but Maui does have a bit more shopping and more housing directly on the beach. If you do go to Kauai, the North Shore would be beautiful that time of year. You can rent a house or cottage in Hanalei or a condo (or two) in Princeville. Depends if you want a pool or not.

Thank you everyone. I am pretty sure we will be visiting Maui. Once my mother in law has something in her mind its hard to change it. But I don't think there is a bad island to Hawaii! And that also means I will just have to go back! In terms of more things to do I think she is worried she won't ever get back and wants to see and do as much as possible: helicopter tour, waterfall, beach, snorkel, fish, the boys want to surf, hike etc. When I say "city like" I mean more built up than other islands. From everything I read Kauai is the most natural lush of the islands and I think that is the picture that is in my mil mind. I honestly don't think we can go wrong wherever we stay. So if Maui, you all think Lahaina is where we should base our stay from?

I think the picture your MIL has is probably from Kauai or even shots from parts of Oahu. Maui is less lush, less tropical and more of a tourist destination for big resorts. But it'll be still a wonderful experience.

You can't go wrong in Paradise and all the islands have their own special beauty.

I loved Lahaina myself. But I enjoy being near a town, especially when with a group, so people have places to go walk around and explore, without having to get in a rental car every time.

Who is paying? If MIL is only paying for herself then she gets one vote in my book. Others who are paying also get one vote.

Haha jamie99 MIL is paying so she gets all the votes. I am just the travel planner in the family and love to plan and research trips. So I am helping by bringing all the cards to the table!! Right now we are having a hard time finding a place to rent. Not many housing options. Tons of condos. Any reccomendations on which resort we should look into. Want to keep it to Lahaina, Kaanapali or Wailea areas. Thanks again for all insights.

My husband and I rented a condo in the Kaanapali area. I had a conference at the Hyatt, but we wanted the extra space of a condo.

I liked being close to Black Rock for snorkeling. There is a board walk that runs the length of the beach, and I liked that for running. There are also shops and restaurants in the area.

I think condos in Wailea would be great, too, since you're closer to Kahului for groceries, etc. The beaches in the Wailea area were also great.

The BI is my favorite, but I liked Maui a lot. We went when our daughter was four years old, and it was nice to be on a smaller island (less time in the car for her).

I think condos in Wailea would be great, too, since you're closer to Kahului for groceries, etc.

There's a Safeway in Lahaina that's only 3 miles from the Kaanapali Beach resorts (just saying I wouldn't choose where I base myself by where the grocery stores are).

I forgot about the Safeway. We even shopped there.

Safeway, Times Supermarket, and maybe a Foodland are in Kihei, which is convenient if you decide on Wailea.

It's not Kaanapali or Wailea, but one place where you can get that low-rise, Hawaiian feel would be Napili Kai: http://www.napilikai.com/. It's on one of the most beautiful beaches on the island (IMO anyway), which also has decent snorkeling, as does neighboring Kapalua Bay.

We stayed at a condo in Honokawai on our trips to Maui but had to drive to the beaches. I would also stay in Napili, really liked the look up in that area, very low key and good swimming and snorkeling at Kapalua.

We (my father-in-law, sister-in-law and husband, nephew, Mr. Pickle and me) stayed in this condo in Wailea. http://www.rudgeprops.com/maui/about.html

It's fairly close to Ulua Beach - we walked there one morning to snorkel - and not far from grocery stores.

Lee Ann