Maui or Kauai
 

we are thinking about honeymooning on either Kauai or Maui next September and we were wondering which island would be better for us. We would like to spend part of our time there doing water sports and other activities. Does one island favor activities over the other? Also, which hotels are great to honeymoon at. Thanks in advance for the info.

This is probably the #1 question asked at this website, so you might check the archives for the wealth of opinions about this. <BR>The best Maui hotels are the Four Seasons, Grand Wailea, Ritz, Kea Lani and Renaissance. <BR>On Kauai the Hyatt and Princeville are tops. <BR>Your personality and vacation style will be better suited to some of these better than others. <BR>Simply put, Kauai is much quieter, less touristy, more lush and Maui has more activities/restaurants/shopping/variety, but is busier. Also more hotel choices.

There are lots of luxury condos/timeshares available as well on both islands. You might consider these as you'd have more room for less money.

If you want to have consistently good snorkeling at your hotel beach, check out the Kapalua Bay Hotel in Maui. It is casually elegant in one of the finest settings in the islands.We just returned. You can read my full trip report at www.wheretostay.com on the boards for Hawaii. Their website is <BR>www.kapaluabayhotel.com.......Ken

Been to both islands twice. My favorite is Maui. Although Kauai is beautiful, there's not as much to do as there is on Maui. Activities on Maui not to miss: sunrise and bike ride down the volcano, road to Hana, snorkeling at Molokini, surfing lessons, golf in Kapalua, shopping in Lahaina. We honeymooned at the Embassy Suites, which was nice, but not on the "strip" at Kaanapali Beach. I would recommend the Marriot on Kaanapali Beach, as well as on Kauai. I've heard that the Hyatt on Kauai is beautiful too.

We were just in Maui in May. It was awesome! Most of the people we talked to there that had done both like Maui better. We stayed at the Four Seasons. It was outstanding. The property is beautiful and the service couldn't have been better. It is expensive, but definitely worth it! I agree...don't miss the snorkeling at Molokini and the bike down the mountain was just breath-taking! Have a great time!

Just returned from Maui. Cannot say enough good things about the Four Seasons. It would be perfect for a honeymoon. We debated Maui & Kaui as well and decided on Maui for the activities. Personally, I was not impress with the sunrise trip--wasn't worth getting up in the middle of the night for it.

I visited Kauai and Maui in June & July of this year. We visited Kauai first and Maui second. I have to say I was very disappointed with Maui. It is quite touristy, especially the Kaanapali area. We stayed in Wailea. Wailea has very nice hotels, however there is little traditional hawaiian culture. If you are going to Hawaii to experience the feeling of the islands, a feeling different than you could get in another tropical environment such as Florida or Key West, I would advise going to Kauai. The atmosphere in Maui is very much like you find in a touristy area of Florida or Key West. Lahaina would be very close to the Key West atmosphere. There are a lot of things to do on Maui but very few of them are cultural experiences. they have tons of tshirt shops and bars and so so restraunts, but nothing that compares to the entertainment the beautiful scenery and exciting adventures the Kauai offers. I am city guy who travels quite a bit and I think Kauai is the most beautiful place on earth, especially the Napali Coast. Definitely worth the Helicopter Ride. We stayed at the Hyatt and I would also say it is one of the top 2 resorts I have been to. It's beauty will exceed all expectations you might have from reading posts on this site. Good luck with your decision.

Just got back on Monday from 2 weeks on BI, Kauai and Maui. We liked BI the best but since we aren't talking about that here... <BR> <BR>We definately liked Kauai better. We stayed at Anini Beach in a small cottage on the north shore. It was great... quiet beach, lush beautiful scenery and beautiful starry nights. Kauai is less developed and great if you want to see beautiful sights, go on great hikes and find mostly deserted beaches. Maui seemed to be more organized... more development, condo buildings, gift shops. Not to say Maui was bad... we enjoyed it... horseback riding at Mendez Ranch was the highlight... but Kauai just had a more comfortable feel for us. Plus, I doubt that you could find comparable hiking on Maui to Kauai's NaPali coast.

Never been to Maui but I've been to Kauai and I would definitely say Maui. Or better yet, honeymoon in Maui and take a day (or 2) trip to Kauai, go to the north shore, the canyon and the Napali coast, buy an authentic Hawaiian souvenir at Hilo Hatties (made in China) and that should do it. Unless you love scenery or hiking, Kauai is about is exciting as watching paint dry. <BR> <BR>Just my opinion, folks.

It depends on what you are looking for guys. Kauai is definitely the more beautiful of the two islands. It offers incredible scenery, hiking, kayaking, lush landscape and much more quiet than Maui. We've crossed Maui off our list - loved it 20 years ago, but it has become so commercialized, it just does not offer what we are looking for - a chance to get away from it all and to still discover the true Hawaiian spirit. Opt for Kauai or the Big Island for your honeymoon, IMHO.

You really DO hate Kauai, don't you "not a fan"? <BR> <BR>Your girlfriend leave you for a Kauaian hippie in a Chinese Hawaiian shirt or something while you were over there or ARE you "just too hip for the room"? <BR> <BR>

I have been to both islands. Personally i preferred Kaui BUT it really is a matter of personal taste and what is important to you. <BR>Kaui <BR>-Fantastic scenery <BR>-great beaches <BR>-good snorkeling <BR>-great hiking <BR>-quiet and peaceful <BR>Maui <BR>-good scenery and in the case of Haleakala - great scenery <BR>-good beaches (but I found surf there quite rough) <BR>-Busy,lots of traffic <BR>-Many activities to choose from <BR>In summary, if you want lots of activites and nightlife - Maui;if you want relaxation in beautiful surroundings - Kaui. <BR>

MAUI! MAUI! MAUI! MAUI! MAUI! MAUI! MAUI! MAUI! MAUI! MAUI! MAUI! MAUI! MAUI! MAUI! KAUAI! KAUAI! <BR> <BR>MAUI GETS 14 VOTES - BEEN THERE 14 TIMES! <BR>KAUAI GETS 2 VOTES - BEEN THERE TWICE...COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT RETURNING BUT WILL BE RETURNING TO MAUI NEXT MONTH!

My wife and I had the same question when we honeymooned. We solved it by splitting our time and going to both islands. Kauai is much quieter and peaceful with vegitation and nice restaurants(many roosters)and a beautiful ocean where boat tours are a must. We took a helicopter tour which was a little nerve racking. Maui is more commercial but just as fun. You have to ride down the volcano on a bike, Mount Haleakala. Lahaina is a nice town. I am glad we split the time cuz both were nice.

Hopefully, you are going go spend more than a week in HI, and if you are, split your time between the two and you decide. The opinions of these two islands are as different as the individuals making them. Hands down, Kauai is our favorite, Maui being too commercial for us. As for a honeymoon choice, I would recommend Kauai for its lush beauty and quiet, romantic spots. You can still find your own "secret beach" you don't have to share with others. However, if you are looking for lots of night life, there is a limited supply on Kauai, however, it does exist in limited qualities. No doubt, Kauai is the more beautiful of the two islands you are contemplating. I agree with the majority of the posters on hotels; on the South shore of Kauai, the Hyatt Regency is premier and on the North Shore, the Princeville is recommended. On Maui, I would recommend you either stay in the Wailea area or Kapalua and avoid Kaanapali and Lahaina. <BR> <BR>I think it is extremely important to know what your likes and dislikes are because these two islands really are quite different in many ways.

I think Kitty's message helped me decide on which island where I would spend more relaxing time. Kauai. <BR>Thank you Kitty.

Spend 1 week in Maui/1week in Kaui im April. Loved Kaui beautiful, peaceful and truly tropical paradise. Traveled with our 13 and 18 year old daughters. They also loved it. We snorkled, horseback road, golfed, golfed and golfed, Jack Harter Helicopter(fabulous)drove up Waimia Canyon loved it. Great resturants. Napali coast is the most breath taking sight I have ever seen and we have traveled extensively. Maui was ok very very busy and touristy. Beach was beautiful, however I will never go back to Maui, would go to Kaui or BI have been to Oahu also. Maui is catching up to Oahu for tourism (but I choose Oahu because Pearl Harbor is a do not miss)

We love both islands for unique reasons. Some people on the board are focused on resorts, and there are more resorts by far on Maui, yet it is a big enough island that you can easily escape the crowds. Maui also has a lush upcountry area with cool temperatures and an idyllic pastoral atmosphere. Comparing Maui, with its 10,000 volcano and winter snows, to Florida is wrong...its obvious some people never leave the resort areas. <BR>Kauai is less touristy and commercial, with fewer roads...this makes a big difference during busy times as traffic can get just as bad as Maui. The Kalalau Trail is the Holy Grail to many hikers for its majesty and difficulty. On the west end, Polihale Beach is a wondrous 15 mile long deserted strand, heaven for those seeking solitude. Kauai's north shore has wonderful little roads hiding isolated communities in paradise, and are great fun to explore. <BR>Researching is really the only way you'll find what features attract you more. Considering the money you'll invest in this trip, your research may make or break your experience. <BR> <BR>Driving & Discovering Hawaii Books <BR>www.discoveringhawaii.com

Aloooohaaaaa, <BR>JMM has hit the nail on the head with his breakdown of the islands. <BR>72 more days until I return to, let's seeeeeee, oh yeah...Kauai. <BR>Mucho mahalos, <BR>Kal

To Anti_Not_me_again: <BR> <BR>No I don't HATE Kauai -- I try not to hate anything or anybody. I'm actually a pretty easy going fellow, equally at home at the Waldorf Astoria or a Motel 6, depending on the reason I'm there. When Beth (name changed to protect the innocent) and I decided to go to Kauai we were thrilled. I remember saying, "This will probably be the most beautiful place we'll ever see." Friends who had been there raved about it, the lush scenery, the little waterfalls off the sides of the road. Coupled with the fact that neither of us had been anywhere near Hawaii (we usually vacation in the Caribbean), we were more than ready to spend our special week in paradise. <BR> <BR>We chose the north shore over the south -- we wanted to revel in the lushness -- and picked the Hanalei Bay Resort, a self-proclaimed 5-star resort. We were warned that it might rain, and it did. But that's o.k., it goes with the territory. If it didn't rain it wouldn't be as beautiful as it is. Plus, rain means rain-bows, which were as vivid and spectacular as any we had ever seen. BUT, a 5-star hotel?? No way. That place is a 3-star at most. Where do I begin? No beach chairs (except for a few rusty, broken ones in the woods)? The concierge who would not give a straight answer without putting everything in the context of selling us a timeshare? The bar, that closed at 8:30??? Let's talk about that one... <BR> <BR>I am no longer the traditional "party animal". I was not expecting to be naked in the hot tub at 2AM with hula girls dropping martini olives in my mouth while fanning me with palm fronds. I am talking about a simple "nightcap" and the ability to sit outside in the night air, relax and chat -- you know, review the day and plan tomorrow. One night the hotel hosted a wedding. Everyone was decked out in their Hawaiian garb and it looked like a pretty fancy affair. I'm sure Hanalei Bay charged a pretty penny to have the wedding there. Anyway, at exactly 9:05PM a couple (who were IN the wedding party) came to the bar, asked for a drink and were refused. They wouldn't even give them a Coke or a glass of water. Nothing. "We are closed". That's pretty bush league stuff in my opinion, especially in paradise. <BR> <BR>Anyway, to avoid running on and on and on, lets wrap this up. Kauai, in spots, is a beautiful place. Hard as I tried I ate in no memorable restaurants. Even Duke's (in the Marriott) was nothing great. The beaches were "nice" but nothing compared to many beaches in the Caribbean, both in sand and water quality. The canyon was "nice" but at the end of the day it's just a big hole. The Coco Palms (home to Elvis) was being made into, you guessed it, timeshares. The Fern Grotto was lame. Hilo Hatties is no different than any souvenir "mega store" you can find right in Times Square. The most consistent meal I had was 2, in a place called Bubba's Burgers, and that's not a good thing. <BR> <BR>Perhaps I should have stayed on the south shore, or gone to a different island. But I'll be hard pressed to ever convince myself to go back to find out. <BR> <BR>To those of you who love it, that's great, and to those of you who don't, you are not alone. <BR> <BR>

To Me Again, sounds like your Kauai experience was incredibly tainted by unpleasant experiences with the Hanalei Bay Resort. That's too bad and maybe sometime you'll give Kauai another shot. <BR> <BR>Kristin, we spent our honeymoon split between Kauai and Maui, visiting Kauai first. For me personally, after the stresses of planning a wedding I truly wanted to get away from it all. Just the thought of the phone not ringing off the hook was relaxing for me. Kauai was perfect for that. I wasn't interested in a lot of nightlife and partying, had done enough of that in the weeks leading up to the wedding. So Kauai fit the bill for us perfectly. Maui was a different experience. We stayed at the Hyatt on Kanaapali beach and that area was too touristy, too crowded, too fast-paced and expensive for me. And the beaches were not as nice. But there's loads of nightlife. So it is a personal decision and this thread has done a good job of pointing out the pros and cons of both places. Let us know what you decide!

TO: <BR>"me again", if that's your real name! ;^D <BR> <BR>Just curious. When did you and "beth" go? Recently? <BR> <BR>Did you stay at the HBR or the Hanalei Colony Resort? <BR> <BR>I've read a lot of mixed reviews about HBR, mostly poor and probably would never stay there since we have our own favorite. <BR> <BR>Ahhhh. The Waldorf! <BR>Mahalo, <BR>Kal

Hate to say it "Me Again" but you chose the worst of the worst that Kauai has to offer. At least what you mentioned are places no one would recommend who has ever been to the Garden Isle before. What a shame you missed the real Kauai - Bubba burgers - really. We've been to Kauai over a dozen times and the locals never even recommeded Bubba burgers to us. <BR> <BR>We stayed at Hanalei Bay last year and "hand picked" our unit, which was decorated beautifully and our view of Bali Hai and Hanalei Bay (Bamboo Building) was totally unobstructed. However, we have been going to HBR for many years and know that its transition to timeshare/interval ownership has left this resort in a state of flux. In fact, we arrived at HBR last year after 9:30 p.m. and went to the bar, had drinks, sandwiches and there was entertainment (we were there in February)so your situation is unique with no serving of drinks after 9:00 p.m. We had dinner at the Bali Hai restaurant, and though service was extremely slow, the food was quite good (not as good as A Pacific Cafe, Casa de Amici or Tidepools), the view was incredible and after dinner (9:00 p.m. or so, we went to the Happy Talk Lounge for an after dinner drink). It seems that you experienced HBR at its worst, but we have been staying there for quite a few years and know you have to chose your units carefully. Also, Fern Grotto, Hilo Hatties and Coco Palms - you need a new travel agent or guide. These are as bad as anything you could find in Lahaina and not places we have frequented in the last 11 years. <BR> <BR>So sorry your experience was so bad, but you truly visited the worst that Kauai has to offer.

Kal: <BR> <BR>"Beth" and myself, Me Again, were there a little over a year ago. We stayed at the Hanalei Bay Resort, next door (more or less) to the Princeville Resort. From what I've read here HBR may have gone downhill a little further since then.

Maui is SO awesome! I like it the best because it's the best of both worlds. There is enough to do there if you get restless and there's also a lot of quiet/scenic areas if you want to get away from it all. It's funny, my sister says that Kaui is her favorite, but for some reason, she keeps going back to Maui. <BR>Don't forget the road to Hana. <BR>My boyfriend, who has been many places, said that Maui is paradise. It's the most beautiful place he's seen. I've just recently been to Key West and Maui is NOTHING like it. <BR>Have fun!

Me Again, <BR> <BR>Thx for the info. I think I'll stop by the place and just see what it looks like now and get a genl. feel for the place. <BR> <BR>Anybody else out there that stayed there recently? <BR> <BR>We haven't stopped by the place since our first trip in '89. We, too heard good things about the place and considered staying there. <BR> <BR>Thx again, <BR>Kal <BR> <BR>ps....A triple Bubba's burger with cheese and chili fries in Hanalei is still a tasty treat. Too bad you have to wait around 5 hrs after a meal like that to go in the water!