We are palnning a honeymoon in Hawaii and we will have @ 15 days. We can't decide if we want to do only 5 days each on Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island, or 7 days on 2 islands. Is 5 days too short, and if it is, how do we decide which 2 islands to see?

We spent 3 weeks exploring 4 islands in Hawaii - Oahu, Maui, the Big Island, and Kauai. We spent 4 days each on Oahu and the BI and 7 each on Maui and Kaui. It was nice to see the differences between the islands and we knew which ones we wanted to return to. We took our golf clubs along, so that was a bit of a pain to lug along (w/ our other luggage) - otherwise the flights are fairly short. Next time I will plan my interisland flights early in the morning and drop my luggage w/ the hotel (most hotels will let you do that) to avoid "losing" the day travelling. If you don't mind exploring and moving around - I'd do 5 days on each island. If you want to relax more, split your time between Kauai and the Big Island - but don't miss the volcano. Maui is bustling but crowded w/ more children in most areas - something you may not want to experience on your honeymoon. Have fun.

This is just a personal response. Unlike the last response I would miss the big island and spend 7 days each on Maui and Kauai. There is so much to do on those islands....especially if you rent a car. Also on honeymoon...my feeling is that you need some time to just relax after all the business of a wedding. Whatever you do..your trip will be wonderful.

To get in the laid back aloha island spirit, I feel one or two islands would better suit.

Yes I think 5 days is too short because any time traveling when you change locations you "lose" a good part of that day (check out hotel, to airport, flight, to new hotel, check in, switch out car rentals if applicable, etc.) when you could instead be blissfully sitting under a palm tree on the beach somewhere!


I also would save the big island for a separate trip in the future sometime.

Hi Just back from 6 nights in Kauai and 5 nights in maui. Just our own personal preference. Even though maui is a beautiful island it is just so crowded and traffic in Lahaina at all times is awful. Front street is packed with people and that was not our idea of a relaxing vacation. We live an hour outside of manhattan and we wanted to get away from the crowds and that is what kauai offered to us. Especially the hyatt. Email me if you would like at [email protected]

We spent 6 days on Kauai and 6 on Maui. Kauai was gorgeous, relaxing, romantic...the perfect start to our Hawaii vacation. I took over 100 photos the first day it's so gorgeous there! Maui is more crowded and has better shopping and restaurants. Also gorgeous and fabulous beaches. These 2 islands paired were the perfect vacation for us. I have no desire to visit the other islands...too busy. I want to relax and sightsee on my Hawaii vacations!

We love Hawaii and each island has its own charm. It depends on what you are looking for. The weather on the Kona side of the big island is always warm & sunny; the resorts irrigate so they will be very nice but the rest of the area will be a little barren with black lava. The Hilo side is more green; a trip to the volcano and other sights on that side are very interesting & well worth it. We usually stay on the Kona side (check out the petroglyphs) and do a day trip over to the Hilo side (leave early). Maui is my husbands favorite island. It is what most people imagine when they think of Hawaii, it's beautiful (road to Hana), has great beaches (Kanapali stretches for miles), and has a bit of nightlife too. Kauai is my favorite. It is more laid back with lots of smaller beaches, a little more rain so a little more beauty, lots of great hikes, but virtually no nightlife. If you do Kauai, make sure you take a helicopter ride. If you don't think you'll be back, you can get a good flavor of each island by spending 5 days on each, but you will lose a little time in travelling (maybe 1/2 day each trip). If you just want to relax & enjoy, pick the two islands that offer what you're looking for, then plan another trip to see the third.

Hi Wanderer,
We have taken cruise which spent about five days in four islands, plus two days in Oahu before and 3 days in Kauai after. Plus we have been back to Maui for about five weeks since then. Our clear favorite is Maui due to the vast range of things to do there. We have not stayed at Lahina/Kanapoli area due to the traffic in and around there. We have stayed in the Kihei area in condos which works out better for us. We have explored most of the island and love it. My son got married on beach in Wailea, McKenna a couple of years ago and it worked out nicely.
We are planning to go back to Kauai in Oct this year for a week or 10 days. My other son has a condo at Poipu Beach and they love the island. My sister in law has been going to Maui every Jan for years and this year went to Kauai and didn't like it nearly as well. There are places on both to get away from crowds and I think there is a lot less traffic on Kauai, but I will know more by the end of the year. I think you can find a nice quiet romantic place in either one. Good luck.

I go along with the Maui/Kauai split. I did that on my honeymoon almost 20 years ago. We keep going back to Maui but only because we tend to travel in Jan-March and Kauai can be a little wetter during that time of year. I do want to go back to Kauai but I jut can't get enough of Maui. I never feel it's crowded when were there.

We like to spend two weeks on Kauai. Splitting your time between the north shore and the south shore would the "split" I would suggest.
-Bill

If you like T shirt shops and lots of people choose Maui. If you want old hawaii, lush greenery, less crowded then pick Kauai. And don't believe what you hear others say that it rains all the time in Kauai and you won't be able to do anything cause it just ain't true. I've been there 10 x's and have never been bothered by the rain. Sure it rains but mainly at night and early morning and it may rain a bit at some point in the day but it has never stopped me from hiking, snorkelying, swimming, beaching, kayaking, whale watching, etc. (sorry if I am offending those who love Maui!)

Go to Kauai,it is GORGEOUS..it does rain alot there..but it is very localized.If it is raining on the South shore chances are, it is sunny on the North Shore.When I went..it rained everyday..but we always found a sunny beach.Also it never rained very long.

two the last two responders I couldnt' agree with you more. Kauai and maui are on different planets. Kauai is the most beautiful place on earth(And we have traveled extensively) and the hyatt is the best place that I could imagine. I also was worried about rain but we spent the first week in march there and it only rained one afternoon and that was it. So if you want to relax and just be in paradise then kauai is it.

You might also think about staying on different sides of Maui. The Huelo/Haiku area is gorgeous with some very beautiful properties. Wailea is also great with wonderful beaches and great restaurants. I've also been to both and enjoyed each as well but Maui is a special place for us. We were there this past Jan/Feb and it was not crowded at all. I don't particularly like the Kanapalli area as well as Wailea.

We had the most wonderful trip ever with 14 days in Kauai. It is the "best" in the world. I cannot recommend it enough.