Hawaii - which 2 islands?
 

Hello all -

We are planning our first trip to Hawaii in March '08. We'll have about 10 days and are thinking of 2 islands.

Now, of course the question is - which two???

I've been once before and stayed on Kauai, which was beautiful. I was only there for a few days and my husband has never been.

I'm thinking of Maui for one, and am torn between the BI or Kauai, but am open to any suggestions.

We like to golf, will enjoy sightseeing, nice restaurants, will likely rent a car. We are not much for a 'big city' feel (ie. shopping not so important).

I'd appreciate any suggestions!

Thanks
:)

My favorite islands are Kauai and Oahu.
Oahu is always overlooked in favor of the BI or Maui, but I think Oahu has more to do, wonderful beaches, a variety of terrain (the south vs north shore), historical sites, etc.

I would choose Oahu and Maui.

I would pick Kauai and the Big Island. The Big Island is great for the variety between different sides of the island. Black sand beaches, volcanoes, farm land and the tropical side, Hilo. Kauai is awesome for hiking, beaches, boat rides to see coastline, etc. For the best banana pancakes, be sure to stop at the Tip Top Cafe on Kauai....yummo!

No matter what, you can't go wrong!

I would pick Maui and the BI. Another more radical approach, is to just pick the big Island. There would be plenty to do, as Monica H. mentioned for the full 10 days.

Do you have anything that particularly interests you? Like if you want to see live volcano, then the Big Island is a must. If you want the chance for a bit of nightlife than Waikiki on Oahu, or Lahaina on Maui might be included.

Oahu & Maui

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

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34812564

I would pick Kauai and the Big Island. The Big Island is really diverse; we stayed in the Volcano area to see the park and also stayed at the Hapuna Beach Prince for beach time. We went to Maui for our honeymoon and loved it, but even by Hawaiian standards, it was really expensive. I'd highly recommend doing a helicopter tour of the Na Pali coast on Kauai.

Looks like it is pretty evenly divided.
Oahu = three
Kauai = three
Maui = three
BI = three
Makes it tough!

Maui and Kaua'i. Actually, if it were me I do 10 days on Kaua'i. Boring...I-)

I think it depends on what interests your husband and yourself may have. Do you love beaches, scuba, or does the volcano activity interest you? I loved Kauai myself. I would want to always go back there, and by all means, do the helicopter ride. It is a memory I will always treasure. I liked the volcano as well. My husband and I like that quite a bit too.

Maui and Kauai pull ahead....

Diann and Suze have a point about it depends on your interests.

I'm w/ iamq & would pick 1 island for the entire 10 days if it were my trip. I hate to move hotels, take taxi, schlepp back to the airport, wait around, take flight, transpo to next hotel, get and return rental cars, whatever.

And am hard pressed to do much of anything, instead slow down to local pace once I hit "island" time. I don't even pre-book tours, because likely I won't really want to go when that morning rolls around.

All that said, I live in Seattle and can get back to Hawaii to see other places on the next trip.

If you are coming from further away, I can understand the desire to see more than one island. Maui & Kauai or Oahu & BI would be the way I'd pair them (one busy & one more quiet island together).

Hey, Trippin said one island for 10 days also (the Big Island) in an earlier post! LOL.

Maui and Kauai. My husband and I returned earlier this week from Maui, Kauai and Oahu.

Maui was beautiful and there was a lot to do.

Kauai was also incredibly beautiful and there is a lot to do if you like to be outdoors.

Both islands are laid back and easy to drive around.

Oahu was a lot of fun, but it has more of the big city feel.

Ni'ihau - if you can get a reservation. Kaho'olawe, if they cleaned up the military landmine junk.

Oh and Kaua'i doesn't suck, but Maui mo bettah~

Kauai IS boring!! I'm still getting teased by people here in Honolulu for my little trip to Kauai last January. ha!

I'd go for Oahu and the Big Island. You have a plethora of nice restaurants on Oahu and can drive outside of Honolulu proper to escape the big city.

You could spend 2 weeks on the Big Island and still not do all there is to do. I hear the golfing is nice there, too.

hi Kealalani: is it possible to get a reservation to visit Ni'ihau? i thought you had to be a native Hawaiian?
I've always wanted to go there.

definitely bi and maui. go to niihau on business, never knew you could make reservations.

Sorry, it was my poor attempt at humour. As far as I know you can only visit via boat or heli tour and neither give you contact with the other side of the island. What the future of the island is time will tell.

aka - you do business there? are you a puka smuggler? - Another joke!!! Have a great day!

if i tell you, i'd have to kill ya :)

How about Maui & Lanai? Good golfing on both & you could take the ferry from Maui to Lanai & stay at one of the Four Seasons resorts there.

One more vote for the BI. Lots to see and do. VNP is a must see. It may well be the highlight of your trip, nothing else like it.

I also stayed at the Hapuna Beach Prince, great resort and amazing beach.

For golf, I'd go to Maui and the Big Island. Both have wonderful golf courses. On Maui I would stay in Wailea or nearby. There are three beautiful course in Wailea -- their Emerald, Blue, and Gold courses. Unless you are a low handicapper, the Gold course (on which the Senior Skins game is played) can be pretty challenging and has a lot of bunkers, while the other two have views that are just a good and are perhaps a little more enjoyable for the average golfer. The Sea Watch restaurant at the clubhouse (Emerald/Blue courses -- Gold has its own clubhouse) is great. We try to get there at least once on our trips to Maui, even if we don't golf there.

Next to Wailea and along the same drier, southern exposure is Makena, which has two courses that are also very nice. So if you stay in that area, you can play several different courses, enjoy wonderful ocean views and increase your chances of good weather.

See map at: http://www.hawaiivtmaps.com/mauimaps/index6.html

Wailea courses: http://www.waileagolf.com

www.makenagolf.com

We almost always stay at the Maui Price Hotel in Makena. It is not the most central since it is at the end of the road, but it is quite peaceful. You can get a free hotel shuttle to the Makena golf course( a couple of minutes away) and other parts of the Wailea resort, including the shopping center and the Wailea golf courses. (http://www.princeresortshawaii.com/m...ince-hotel.php)

On the Big Island (http://www.gohawaii.com/big_island), you also have an entire coastline of great golf courses. I'm told that rainfall on the Kohala coast averages 9 inches a year, so while the courses are lush, the weather is generally warm and dry. We like staying at a condominium in Waikoloa (near the beach at the resort, rather than in Waikoloa Village, but that is just personal preference). You can learn more about the entire resort, including their two golf courses at: http://www.waikoloabeachresort.com.

Up the road there are great courses at Maunalani (2 courses and a good restaurant at the clubhouse) and Hapuna. There is also a renowned golf school at Maunalani if you want to take a few lessons.

The Big Island will give you a chance to see the volcano, although that is quite a long ride from the Waikoloa area. There is lots to do, but just know that many sites are quite far apart.

Kauai and Big Island

Oahu and Maui. I can't imagine going to Hawaii and not seeing Diamond Head in the distance, world famous Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbor, Iolani Palace, the Pali, Haunama Bay, and the gorgeous scenery on the "other" side of the island.