Going to Hawaii in late November 2011 and looking for recommendation on which island to go to, Kauai or Maui? Have a wedding to go to in Honolulu for a weekend then off to see something else.

Both are wonderful islands to visit but are different in certain ways. So for a comparison of which of the two islands you might like better it would be helpful to know what type of things you enjoy doing when you are on vacation.

We enjoy just about anything sports and relaxation. From what we are told relax in Kauai and more activities in Maui but would like to know which might have better beaches. Plan to do more on the water since we live in Wisconsin and not close to an ocean!

Do this quickly. Tag your post "Hawaii". Otherwise you will get few responses. Currently it doesn't show up on the Hawaii boards.

Just back from Maui...Prior to this Maui trip (our third), I would have said Kauai (going on our 8th trip in May) but I think late Fall you may be better off in Maui where you'll get less rain. Our first two trips to Maui we stayed in Ka'anapali. This time, because it was Winter, we stayed in Wailea and I think it made all the difference. Fabulous beaches in South Maui: Ulua, Wailea, Po'olenalena & Big Beach just to name a few.

Also if you do like to tan evenly, just over the rocks from Big Beach is little Beach, an unofficial nude beach...

More activities in Maui. Kauai is quieter and more relaxing (and shuts down at night earlier). Maui you can enjoy so many things from water activities to the mountains. We did a horse back ride through the old volcano and mountains. Totally would recommend it!

8-)

I'd vote Maui, too. You can relax OR be active in Maui, whereas even my retired parents got bored on Kauai!

Another thought: Why not the Big Island?

I love that Narnya's parents got bored! If you heart Kauai, send your friends to Maui! Maui mo bettah!!!!

Maui has more good beaches that are easy to get to than those on Kauai.

How anyone, no matter what their age can get bored on ANY of the Hawaiian Islands, even dull and depressing and rainy ole Kauai is beyond me (for those of you that have no sense of humor, that is a joke, click on my name and you'll see how I feel about both islands). How about Atlantic City?

How about Atlantic City?

That's hilarious. And don't forget Vegas!

One could easily fill every day on Kauai with snorkeling, ziplining, boat trips, kayaking, horseback riding, visiting waterfalls, the Kilauea lighthouse, Waimea Canyon, three botanical gardens, the coffee plantation, hula shows, helicopter rides, tubing, luaus, whale watching (in winter), renting a bicycle, etc. -- and that doesn't even include time for strolling or relaxing on gorgeous beaches or walking paths--or hiking.

There's live music every night of the week, too.

But ... if someone's idea of fun is Paris, London, Disneyland, Broadway shows, gambling, discos, museums,the opera, glitz & glitter ... then I can see how they'd find Kauai deadly boring.

I like all of those things ... but I LOVE my walks at Hanalei Bay, Kealia Beach, and watching the sunset at Bali Hai.

Hawaii's not for everyone. Only the ones with discerning taste ;-) But for me ... Kauai is paradise--and nothing else (including the other Hawaiian islands I've visited) even comes close.

I've never understood the argument that Maui has more activities and better beaches then Kauai. Kauai is very dark though!

Kauai has two of most gorgeous beaches in the Hawaiian Islands: Hanalei Bay and Makua (Tunnels). Maui has nothing even close to that. Now Maui has Hamoa Beach, but that's all the way over in Hana and who goes there? The beaches on Maui south of Wailea ARE gorgeous and often come with lots of fishies to see, but none have the magic as the Kauai beaches.

The thing about the Wailea Beaches, other then Makena's Big and small is that they are cluttered with hotel chairs and hotel people and hotel rules that make mere mortal visitors and locals to feel like second hand citizens with our beach mats and chairs and coolers from our trunk.

Yesterday, I drove to Ke'e Beach late in the afternoon. The tide was out, allowing me to walk all the way to Tunnels--with amazing views behind me of the Napali cliffs. Regardless of how many times I visit to these beaches--and Hanalei Bay--the beauty never stops taking me by surprise.

I walked for two hours and there were long stretches when I never saw another person.

By the way, the weather has been UNBELIEVABLE. Apparently no one told Kauai that this is supposed to be the rainy season. I arrived Jan. 12th and have been here eighteen days.

It was raining when my flight landed and as I drove to the North Shore. A few days later I was in Kapa'a and it rained intensely for a few hours. There was one cloudy day. Other than that ... sixteen days of pure, gorgeous, sunshine in bright blue skies dotted with puffy white clouds; surprisingly low humidity; marvelous breezes & temps mostly in the upper 70s with a few 80s -- on the "rainy" North Shore.

Wait ... what am I doing writing this when I could be enjoying the nonstop parade of whaling swimming by? Besides I'm giving away my trip report!

Both Kauai and Maui are little pieces of heaven on Earth. It's like choosing between your two favorite flavors of ice cream. Pretty hard choice. Best to get a double scoop -- one of each.

Well, now I just have to defend my parents a little... They are so NOT the kind of people that need constant entertainment or a sensory overload type of environment. That's why I think it's so bizarre that they were BORED in Kauai! That's all I'm sayin...

maybe you were adopted

Sometimes I wonder...