My husband and I will be traveling to Hawaii for a little more than a week in April. This will be our first vacation away from our infant son (10 months at the time of travel) and first time to Hawaii. We'll be staying for 5 nights on Maui and 3 on Kauai. In Kauai, we'll be staying on the North shore, up in the hills in Kilauea.

I'm confused as to where to stay in Maui, though I've been trolling these forums! Also not sure if it would be best to spend all 5 nights in one spot or break it up. We're willing to splurge if it's worth it, but are also happy to stay at more moderate priced locations. Would love to be ocean front at least some of the time and want to be "central" due to time constraints. We tend to prefer smaller more intimate hotels/B&Bs to resorts but have heard amazing things about the Andaz. Not sure if we'd enjoy the experience or hate the resort feel of Wailea.

While on Maui, we're planning one day of scuba diving, whale watching, and the Haleakala sunrise. We're debating driving the road to Hana--planning on doing hiking and nature while in Kauai, so I'm not sure if spending the day on the drive will be the best use of our time.

Any thoughts from you more experienced Fodorites given our interests and activities?

I think Wailea would suit you in terms of location, beauty, and tropical feel. The Andaz is a beautiful hotel (fabulous pools) and I've heard only really good things about the Fairmont.

We have stayed in Napili 3 times and really like the area. If you want something more moderately priced, Napili might suit you. I don't think it is worth moving when you only have 5 nights. Wailea is also lovely and has fabulous hotels, but it is a bit too artificial & manicured for our taste.

Kihei Marina is the origin of many dive boats every morning.
Staying in Kihei has other advantages, great beaches and moderately priced lodging and many dining choices.

I also love the Napili area, but it's not centrally located. I'm not a Kihei fan (moderately priced, lots of food choices, nice beaches, but no tropical feel or look at all).

Staying at Napili looks like it might make our Haleakala sunrise trip a bit of a bear! I've read lots of pluses and minues about Kihei and think it probably won't suit us well.

2 cents. Do Haleakala at sunset (amazing colors) and avoid the train of sleepy people driving an unfamiliar mountain road in the dark, and freezing your a$$ of to see fog and clouds that you will then feel compelled to gush about, because otherwise you have to admit it was a mistake.

We've done Haleakala at sunrise and also at midday (hiked into the crater) and I wouldn't go back at sunrise for the reasons Sylvia stated. It's a beautiful drive anytime of day. .

Thanks! Really helpful advice. Sounds like we might be best served by staying at Napili which will probably be more our style and doing Haleakala at sunset instead of sunrise.

I consider Hawaii my second home. I have gone there every year but one since 1980. My area of preference on Maui is Honokowai, Kahana or Napili and Kapalua if it is in the budget. There are many many rental units in those areas. Look into VRBO

Napili is a nice area (although we stayed in Honokawai) and the drive to Haleakala is not that far IMO. We did not do sunrise and do not feel we missed a thing, we went late morning and had a great trip.

Haleakala at sunset remains one of the most spectacular experiences of my life. I enjoyed the road to Hana--but it's a long, tiring drive to do in one day. (We stayed overnight.) To me, it would depend on what else you want to do, and how much time you need to recover from jet-lag. There are certainly some beautiful views and waterfalls on the RtH, but you will find equally beautiful (yet different) views and waterfalls on Kauai.

On Kauai be sure you spend a day heading north, stopping at Hanalei Bay and going to the end of the road: Ke'e Beach. While Kilauea might technically be the beginning of the North Shore, the beauty I associate with the North Shore is found farther north.

When you get to Ke'e, a five minute walk on the sand will give you great views of the Napali cliffs. You could also get awesome views of the Napali cliffs from hiking the first mile or so on the Kalalau Trail.

Also, on Kauai, drive to Waimea Canyon and the Kalalau Lookout in Koke'e Park (right next to the canyon--and not to be confused with the Kalalau Trail). Stop at Wailua Falls and Opaeka'a Falls on the way, and if you're coffee lovers, make a stop at the Kauai Coffee Company.

At Waimea/Koke'e I love hiking the Canyon Trail.

My family did Haleakala mid-morning. It was perfect and well worth the trip. Allow time to stop and do a bit of light hiking at various spots on the way up.

We really enjoyed staying at this affordable 1 br oceanfront condo in Napili. We were steps away from snorkeling with huge turtles in the bay directly in front of the condo. Finding a 2nd or 3rd floor unit would insure privacy and a gorgeous view (we have toddlers who liked running out into the grassy patio area but people could walk right by us on the path). Our view from this inexpensive ground floor condo was incomparably better than our "full oceanview suites" at the Wailea Fairmont that cost $500/night).

https://www.vrbo.com/77243

We also liked the look of this place which is just next door but it's a further walk from the beach so we stuck with our condo complex.

http://bookings.honokeana-cove.com/Unit/Details/63355

EARLY in April you will see whales from a whale watch on Maui. The 'season' is officially January - March.

With only one week, I would choose ONE island to relax and enjoy from ONE place.

Day One in Hawaii is largely adjusting to the time change. Each transit between islands will consume 4 - 5 hours, door to door. Departure days aren't relaxing.

Airport (Kahului) to Wailea is about 30 minutes. It's over an hour to Napili/Kapalua. You begin roads to the volcano and Hana at Kahului.

Is 'Grandma' keeping the baby? I'd bring them both and stay the whole time in a 2BR condo on Maui!

Grandma Sue

fishee~ cool condos!!

While I find the Napili area to be nice, I don't think I would want to stay there...especially on a 1st trip to Hawaii. I stayed in Wailea and found it was just perfect. The location is excellent for everything, and the area is just stunning. We visited Napili on our trip and we would go back to spend the day but that's probably it.