Hi,

We'll be spending 10-12 days in August honeymooning in Hawaii. We would like to go to Maui plus another island. Can you help me figure out the difference between Kuai and the Big Island? I think they're both quieter than Maui but how do they compare to each other? We're probably staying at Four Seasons on Maui--I've heard great things about the Four Seasons on the Big Island but I'm afraid it's out of our budget.

Thanks,
Michelle

I think I suggested the 4S BI as a resort destination, not necessarily an island destination.
The BI is BIG and deserves time.

If it is out of your budget then I'd head to Kauai. Compact, lots to see and do or do nothing.

The North Shore of Kauai, to me, is what I envision when I think of Hawaii .... very lush, very green, dramatic cliffs. It can be cloudy and rain (but rarely would you have a whole day of it). The beaches and scenery are gorgeous, and the things "to do" are definitely more inclined to being outdoors...beaches, snorkeling, hiking, visiting the gardens, etc. We just came back from a week on the North Shore and loved it.

The South Shore of Kauai is where a lot of resorts are located, and we spent the last 3 nights of our vacation at the Grand Hyatt. They Hyatt is a gorgeous property (not really on a swimmable beach) with amazing pools and really good restaurants. I would not hesitate to recommend it to a honeymooning couple, although your budget/tastes suggest you might prefer the St Regis in Princeville (which, by the way, has the most amazing sunset views).

The Big Island is a drastically different landscape than Kauai. It is a lot of lava rock and the area between Kona and Waikoloa looks, to me, like the moon. Not a lot of tropical vegetation and lava rock as far as you can see. The resorts, though, are gorgeous and I wouldn't mind spending a few days at one. BUT...as Froderick mentions, the Big Island is really big (huge actually) and the driving times between areas are really long. It would not be my first recommendation for a taste of Hawaii, although I do love it for snorkeling and some other adventures.

They're both great, but if I had to pick, I'd say Kauai is probably the most beautiful place I've ever seen. It would be a nice complement to time on Maui. We did the helicopter tour of the Na Pali coast, and it's one of our favorite vacation memories of all time.

>>

This is true, but don't let it scare you off. It's very very different from Maui (which I love, too) -- you hardly see the properties from the road or the water, so it still seems secluded and quiet. There's no "planned development" like Kaanapali. In fact, if you are at, say, the Marriott Waiohai, you can walk on the beach from there to Koa Kea, to Kiahuna, to the Sheraton, but it's a walk ON THE BEACH, not a paved path.

Totally agree with your point, sf7307. A lot of the resorts are located there, but it definitely does still seem secluded. I wouldn't have traded our 3 days at the Hyatt for anything, and it will be hard NOT to return. We loved splitting our time between the North and South shores, and would consider doing the same in the future.

beanweb, when we go we always go to Poipu. We MUST try the North Shore some time. Where did you stay on the north shore?

I'm just back from a trip to Kauai. We rented a small cottage in Hanalei. I've been to the Big Island, Maui and Kauai.

I would probably recommend Kauai over the Big Island if you're not going to want to spend a lot of time in the car. Like others have said, the Big Island is huge. I love the Big Island, but I also like to drive around and see things. If you're looking to do less driving and more relaxing, then Kauai might be a better choice.

Kauai is beautiful. I loved the north shore; although, we had a few days on our trip where the rain did not let up all day. I think, for me, a trip to Kauai would depend a lot on the time of year you'll be visiting.

sf7307 - I really love the north shore...it is green, lush, and dramatic! I've been to Kauai 2 times and both times stayed in units at Pu'u Poa. This last time we rented unit 311 (for 3 adults). It was perfect...great view of Mt. Makana (Bali Hai) and the sunset, really clean and very well equipped. There is no a/c, but we didn't need it during our stay (May 21-28...just a few days ago!). The complex also sits above Hideaways beach which has great snorkeling.

http://www.vrbo.com/26097

The unit I rented in 2007 was also very nice, but did not have a view of Bali Hai.

www.kauaidreamer.com

Of the two, I prefer #311 for the view.

I'll probably get pounded for this, but the 'big island' did not impress me. And I didn't think it was big. The active volcano /lava was very cool though. Maybe my expectations were too high because I found it to be highly over rated.

kureiff--we will be going in August. From what I understand this is a good time to be on the North Shore of Kuai, correct?

Thanks to everyone for all the input. Kuai sounds like a really good choice for us. Will talk it over with my fiancee!

Yes on August and No Shore...just don't go end of Dec/beginng of Jan.
IT's terrible!

And in 211 more days I will continue my almost 22 yrs of detailed and exhaustive research into that Dec/Jan Kauai phenomena

We have been to the Hawaiian Islands 3 times and the next time we go back we are going to skip the Big Island. It is beautiful, of course and the volcanoes are amazing but the Vog is a problem. Often the winds carry particles and smoke from the volcanoes to large areas of the island. It can cause breathing problems or just make it kind of overcast. The fantastic views of the Pacific are not as clear. I also agree with the others that Kauai is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Rent a car and see the whole island. I am sure you will love it.