My wife and I will be celebrating our 1st wedding anniversary in Feb/06. I have mostly vacationed in Carribean..St.John. I've been told Kauai is most simalar to St John...Is that true? My other concern is the rain on Kauai in Feb. Is rain as big of a concern on Maui that time of year? I'm looking at Wailea area. Also need help with where to stay. $400.00/nt is about my limit.

I would stay on the Kapalua side of Maui. Maui is a wonderful island and I think you'd enjoy it immensly.

If you go to Kauai then avoid the north shore in order to avoid the rain. The west or south shore will be much dryer. Most of the time the north and east shores of the islands get the trade winds that blow moisture from over the ocean to the island. The clouds hit the high mountains on the island and rain on the north and east side while the south and west shores stay in a rain shadow. This dynamic reverses when there is a Kona wind or Kona storm in which the winds come from the south and west, but this is more the exception than the rule.

So to avoid rain, on Kauai, you are better staying at Poipu or Waimea. On Maui, you are better off in Wailea. Kapalua is a very nice place to stay though. I prefer Kauai much more over Maui because Maui to too crowded, too built up, has too much traffic and you really need to take the road to Hana to see the natural beauty that is all over Kauai. And Kauai is a tad bit cheaper than Maui.

You'll have a great time no matter what part of what island you choose.

Alan

We visited Maui and Kauai in Feb. We also have enjoyed St. John. You will find more affordable lodging options in the Hawaiian islands that time of year.

We stayed on the south side of both islands (5nts. Maui and 8 nts. Kauai). I was worried about rain too and the south sides are drier. We lucked out and had great weather.

The best thing about visiting in Feb. though is the whales. Seeing the whales was one of my top "wow" travel experiences.

Kauai is a lot more laid back than Maui, but both are beautiful and wonderful places to visit. The south side of the islands hardly ever rains. By the way, readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine voted Maui "Best Island in the World" for the twelfth year in a row and this year also voted Maui "Top Travel Destination in the World". Quite an honor.

Maui all the way, baby!!!
OO

The next time I go to Kauai, I will stay on the north shore. To me, it's much prettier than the southside despite treasures like Waimea Canyon (more west) and Poipu Beach. Having said that, I would save Kauai for the summer as rain and rough surf are prevalent in the winter. I vote for lovely Maui, the Wailea area. Although Kapalua has its fans, I suspect a poll would put Wailea on top. The weather is more reliably dry and there are numerous beautiful beaches. I suspect that's more in line with what you're looking for in an anniversary beach-type vacation. Haven't been to St. John so can't comment...

luv, luv, luv Maui

crazy4,
WRONG!!! Maui 24/7/365!!!

I also vote Maui as my favorite hawaiian island. Although both Maui and Kauai are relaxing, if you ever get bored in Maui, you'll find something to do in Lahaina, whereas in Kauai, everything closes by 6 or 7. Dont get me wrong, Kauai is just as beautiful, the beaches on the North Shore are breath taking, more beautiful than the beahces in Maui, but I still love Maui. The weather in Kaanapali is great too, we experienced the warm sun mixed with a nice breeze, it was truly an awesome vacation.

Oh, Kal -
You coconut coast boy, you! I know how you like to conduct your Kauai research in the winter just to make SURE you have a miserable, mosquitoey, chickeny, boring experience. I'm glad to read you are branching out to see places in Europe, Africa, and Oregon! Unfortunately, I've already spent all of my vacation money AGAIN on Hawaii.

kmart...

If you go to Maui, don't go to Hana. Its even more overrated that Kaua'i is. Right gyppie?

-bill

We truly are an unruly bunch...

Brutus, Kauai is very much different than Kauai... but if you St. John, chances are Kauai... er... uh... is for you.

There! I said it. ~gt;

ooops... that was St. John is dif than Kauai... oh, the heck with it!

Aloha, Brutus. In February, rain is a good possibility on the windwrd side of any of the Hawaiian islands. In Kauai, that side would be the North Shore, or rather, the East Coast and north of there. Kauai is similar to St John in that it is relatively small...tho St John is much smaller. Better scenery with stunning mountains and coconut palms in Hawaii, better beaches and water on StJ.
I think of the H. islands, Kauai is most similar to StJ, but there are many differences. Though it's hard, try not to have that expectation of similarities (which i did in reverse before first trip to StJ)
You should not have trouble finding a nice place to stay if $400/night is the limit. Beware that hotel room taxes are high.
On the south of Kauai, my choice for hotel with adequate romantic possibilities for a first anniversary, would be the Hyatt in Poipu. Perhaps the Maui lovers can suggest hotels in that range for the "dry" side of Maui.
Happy planning, and congratulations on this happy milestone in your lives!

It's hit or miss. We have been to Kauai the last 3 years for Valentines Week. 2 of the trips the weather was perfect. The exception was a winter storm and it didn't really matter what island or which side you were on it rained for 3 days then was beautiful again.

Don't let the rain on the north side of Kauai bother you. With out the occaisional rain, which is usually up in the mountains, you wouldn't have the waterfalls or the lush tropical plants. I also enjoy watching the huge waves on the north shore form the bluffs over looking the reef, truly awesome.

Thanks to all for the great advice. Are there "must not miss" things to do and see on Kauai? I figure we'll do a helecopter tour although I'm not sure with who...suggestions? Snorkeling sounds difficult, but if presented with good weather where are the best possibilities?

Aloha Brutus,
Check recent threads here on Kauai heli tours. I would not take a helicopter tour in Kauai (or probably anywhere) again, though did go in 1998.
Too dangerous--especially in suddenly stormy weather, which you may well encounter. You'll get lots of agreement/disagreement here about it. Re: more stuff to do on the isalnd, there are many Kauai guidebooks, and great threads on this forum. There are areas on the (usualy calmer in winter) South Shore with good snorkeling. One is as you head out to Spouting Horn (can't recall name) and part of Poipu Beach s'times has good snorkeling.
Enjoy!

brutus14 -
I have not been to St. John but have been to other Caribbean islands. I don't know how to describe the different feeling I get in Hawaii than anywhere esle - including those jewels in the Caribbean. It's not just the beaches. - It's the people, the smells, the diversity of landscape! Please go to Kauai and Maui. They are both breathtakingly beautiful and fun. Watching the turtles swim in that crashing surf below the cliffs on which the Kilauea Lighthouse perches....the eucalyptus smell and spiritual feeling you experience as you're climbing through Kula on the way to the top of Haleakala. So many experiences like this that will make your trip to Hawaii unparalleled...