Husband and I are planning a 10 night trip to Hawaii in January. We definitely want to stay at the Four Seasons in Maui. However, we are uncertain whether we should combine it with Halekulani in Honolulu, the Four Seasons in Hualalai, or a top resort in Kauai.

My questions are the following:

1. Is one island better than the other in terms of weather in January?

2. Where is the best luxury resort in Kauai?

3. Any other advice for making this decision?
TIA

I should add that a hotel with a great beach is really important!

I love Honolulu/Waikiki myself, so my personal choice would be Halekulani for 3-4 days (we had good weather last January) at the beginning or end of the trip with the rest of your time on Maui.

Are you planning to fly into Oahu? Or can you get flights directly to Maui? That might make a difference in the decision?

I need to use delta. So I can fly into or out of OGG, HNL, or LIH. I can fly into one and out of another airport.

I don't think any of these islands are better than the other as far as weather in January.

Most of the hotels/resort areas are in the drier part of the islands.

Most of the rain is in the mountains & the windward (east) side of the islands. Most of the rain is during the night & early mornings.

Here are a couple of links to maps of precipitation:

All islands:

http://www.climatesource.com/hi/fact...s/hippt_xl.jpg

Oahu:

http://www.climatesource.com/hi/fact...oahuppt_xl.jpg

Oahu & then Maui would have the most things to do if it would happen to rain over the entire island.

Lots of other info including sites with free brochures for all islands:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34812564

Hi again, Doc:

The "best luxury hotel" on Kauai would be the Grand Hyatt in Poipu (google it, it is architecturally stunning) and you do want to be on the South shore in January, which tends to be dryer and sunnier but one never knows. We had fabulous, sunny weather in late December/January as well as more rain than we cared to experience..

Great beach is another issue altogether. While the Grand Hyatt is situated beachfront on Shipwreck Beach, the beach is not called that for nothing and swimming there would not be a great idea. If you want to swim in the ocean, you would have to walk (10 mins) or drive (5 mins) to Poipu Beach Park. But you could certainly enjoy the many interconnected pools a the Hyatt and just hang out on the beautiful beach without swimming.

Marriott in Lihue is a lovely hotel but I would not call it best luxury, just really nice. Sheraton on the South shore is very ordinary, IMO.
Princeville on the North Shore (would not be a wise choice for January; surf is too wild) is closed for a major redo but it sure was luxurious.

Still, if Kauai calls, I would go for the Hyatt.

Anna Roz

Thanks! Any other advice from fellow Hawaii experts???

I would also suggest the Halekulani. It would make a good combination with the Four Seasons Maui and a great vacation.

We recently stayed at the Halekulani and loved it. Great service, rooms, location and ocean views. It is conveniently located to shopping and restaurants, and yet it sits on the oceanfront with a nice sandy beach.

Four Seasons Hualalai doesn't have any nice beaches (think lava rocks) and is somewhat secluded from everything. Nice if you want that to relax, but you should already get some of that at the Four Seasons Maui.

What I liked about the Halekulani, aside from what was already mentioned, the hotel is "compact" so you don't have to walk very far to go anywhere--the pool, the lobby, the beaches, the restaurants, shopping are all within a few minutes walk. There are sidewalks along the beachfrontage that you can walk along to get to other sandy beaches, in both directions. See if you can get one of the units on the oceanfront end of the buildings with Diamond Head views and a large balcony (have room service bring breakfast to your lanai in the morning). Some rooms face the pool and ocean, but are set back a bit so you can't see Diamond Head.

I would also suggest the Halekulani. It would make a good combination with the Four Seasons Maui and a great vacation.

We recently stayed at the Halekulani and loved it. Great service, rooms, location and ocean views. It is conveniently located to shopping and restaurants, and yet it sits on the oceanfront with a nice sandy beach.

Four Seasons Hualalai doesn't have any nice beaches (think lava rocks) and is somewhat secluded from everything. Nice if you want that to relax, but you should already get some of that at the Four Seasons Maui.

What I liked about the Halekulani, aside from what was already mentioned, the hotel is "compact" so you don't have to walk very far to go anywhere--the pool, the lobby, the beaches, the restaurants, shopping are all within a few minutes walk. There are sidewalks along the beachfrontage that you can walk along to get to other sandy beaches, in both directions. See if you can get one of the units on the oceanfront end of the buildings with Diamond Head views and a large balcony (have room service bring breakfast to your lanai in the morning). Some rooms face the pool and ocean, but are set back a bit so you can't see Diamond Head.

It seems like we are going with Kauai. However, it doesn't seem like the island really has a uber-luxury resort. The Princeville is closed for renovations.

Aloha from Princeville...

The Princeville Hotel had lost its uber-lux rating awhile back...but when it reopens next year as a St. Regis property, we're expecting fabulosity! 8-)

So now the only hi-lux hotel on our island is the still-lovely Hyatt in Po`ipu. And since you'll be here in January, the south shore is your best bet for nicer weather, too.

I would fly into Honolulu stay at Halekulani. Then fly over to Maui, and fly home directly from there. That would be a beautiful trip.

I believe you are correct, that nothing on Kauai offers quite the same level of luxury that you asked for.

If you do stay on Kauai, the Poipu area/ south side will have a much better chance to be drier than the north side in January.

Thanks everyone! I just booked five nights on the Big Island (Four Seasons) and six nights in Maui (Four Seasons). I am so excited!!!