OK, researching and need a little help.

Will be in Maui next Spring for 6 days/5nights. Don't care about being overwhelmed from doing too much Love to be a "tourist"!

Interested in a one day tour from Maui to Kauai. Was going to go to Kauai from Oahu last October, but did not make it. Now interested in visiting Kauai in a day from Maui. Able to find a flight between the two islands on Aloha Airlines arriving at 8:50 a.m. and heading out about 6:50 p.m. same day. Should I rent a car and then drive for several hours or is there a tour available once I get there. I realize that the time may be late for a tour. I will be traveling alone.

I actually prefer a tour out of Maui that would encompass airfare and a Kauai tour. Any thoughts on where to look? Having a challenge finding tours from Maui to Kauai.

As usual, thanks in advance for your assistance!

Try these guys:
http://www.fishbowltours.com/

I used them for a day tour of Oahu from the Big Island, and they were great!

Just out of curiosity, I am wondering what you plan to see on Kauai in one day. I have thought about doing mini-tours of the islands like that, before, but I couldn't figure out how to fit it all in. (After 7 day trips each, I still felt like I hadn't seen enough of either Kauai or Maui.) It seems like Oahu is the only one that can be managed in that time frame. I guess the trick is to focus on just one area of the island, and they're all different. The question is, which one? Please let us know what you decide and how it works out.

From the posts and various scenes I've seen of Kauai, it is lush and beautiful. I'm the type that could just spend hours driving and enjoying the view. I'm not a hiker or anything of the like. Just enjoy panoramic views. When I drove Oahu, stopped at almost every scenic outlook along the way, enjoyed the view, and took pictures. Mostly interested in viewing the waterfalls and/or canyon. Not looking to do anything else and think that is likely doable.

Just want to know if anyone has been to Maui and done a day tour to Kauai. I have found several sites with offers for other islands from Maui, but not Kauai. Seems to be do to limited flights.

Thanks.

Sap, did you actually do all of Oahu in in one day and feel that you had seen it all? How did you do that (or how would you do that)?

Actually, Rusty, I have not "done" Oahu at all yet. I have just heard that it is the most feasible choice for a short trip. Of course, that might only be if you skip the North Shore. I have no plans for any of that yet as my next focus will be either the BI or a return to Maui (which I couldn't get enough of even if I had a month). From what I remember, you really like Oahu, though. How much time do you think it would take to get the full gist? Also, have you been to all the islands?

FWIW, sk84fungirl, I found that the east side of Maui was very much like the lush, green north shore of Kauai (and I loved Hanalei). If you can't manage a day trip to Kauai, you could have a similar experience if you just book a place for a couple of days in Hana. There are plenty of waterfalls. I'm definitely going to do that on my next Maui trip.

Also, as special, beautiful and huge as Waimea Canyon on Kauai is, a visit to Maui's Haleakala Crater is not completely dissimilar.

Just a thought.

K, thanks.

I actually spent a day driving Oahu counterclockwise. It took the entire day as we stopped at every possible spot along the way. Of course, the remaining days on Oahu were spent doing various other activities.

It is likely I will not get back to Hawaii for a while and just thought Kauai would be a nice to do. If I don't make it, it's OK. I plan to enjoy my time in Maui.

Thanks for the thoughts sap.

Hope it works out for you, but I don't recommend a "day trip" to Kauai (unless you just really want to do a 1 to 1.5 hour helicopter tour). The beautiful end of Kauai is really the North Shore and the gorgeous Napali coastline. It is about 1.5 hours to that area from the airport. That puts your route to and from the airport at a minimum of 3 hrs of driving time alone (not counting the fact that you need to arrive 45 minutes to 1 hour before your flight). That would leave you too little time to do much of anything other than going to Tunnels beach or someplace like that.

If you could squeeze some more time in (another day or two), then I would suggest a Napali coastline tour (on a catamaran) that leaves from Hanalei (much better tours) and the helicopter ride. Those two items alone will give you a good feel for the beauty of Kauai (although it will just be a good sampling of its beauty). Alternatively, I would drop Maui and just do Kauai. It is (along with the BI) the best Hawaii has to offer in terms of beauty and relaxation. Good luck.

Sap, I am not a big fan of Oahu. And yes, I have been to all the islands.

If you pick up your car by 9:30 that will give you approx 8 hours to see some Kauai highlights. I would drive north. Take the short detour to Opaeka'a Falls, then continue on stopping at the scenic lookouts and another detour to Kilauea Lighthouse. Maybe a pit stop at the P-Ville Hotel for their fantastic view and clean bathrooms! Then down to Hanalei Town and the pier area. Then the 10 mile drive up the the end of the road at Ke'e Beach where you can either take a short hike or relax on the beach or you may even have time for a quick run-through at Limahuli Gardens. If you have time to kill when you get back to Lihue I would recommend a mai tai at Dukes at the Marriott.

Out of curiosity, what is the one day airfare to Kauai from Maui. We'll be there in January and would love to visit friends for a day who moved to Kauai