My wife and I are planing on going to Hawaii next year (2010). I would appreciate any recomendations on which island to go to and where to stay. We only want to visit one island, and would like to have a variety of things to do/see during our trip (approx 10 days). I am currently leaning torward the big island or Maui, we would rather not stay in the "big cities like Honolulu.

My vote is for Maui. plenty to do and see but easy to get away from the crowds.

If you are a person who likes vacation spots with lots of activity, great restaurants, many grand resort hotels, and night life along with great beaches then Maui would be the place to go. If you are a person who likes quiet. bucolic, nature that is very, very lush and has spectacular scenery with tiny towns that have a funky, rural ambiance, then Kauai would be the place to go. Since both of the islands I mentioned are fabulous in there own way, I would pick one for your first trip and the other for your second trip. Then the Big Island for your 3rd trip. After you make your choice the best guide books are Maui Revealed and The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook. The author of both is Doughty.

Maui... the big island is a giant black lava rock and the only advantage it has over Maui is the Volcano!!

thanks for the recomendations so far. I was actually on the big island in '86 and I did enjoy the time there, but as this is my wife's first trip I want this to be an extra special trip for her. She would love to see the volcano, but is open to other islands too (she says she just wants to go there). I am just trying to get ideas for the best place for her first trip there.

The Big Island is the largest, the most diverse ecologically, and the least populated of the four main islands. I think it is best for people who are very adventurous, or people who love to really relax at low key but very nice resorts, or people who like history, variety, and lots of rural charm.

The Big Island has incredible restaurants, gorgeous landscapes including Paniolo (cowboy) country, rain forests, rural old sugar towns, interesting ancient villages, Heiaus, petroglyphs, waterfalls, lots of incredible botanical gardens, and fantastic golf courses.

One idea would be to really explore the four corners of the Big Island, including beautiful North Kohala, the Hamakua Coast, Hilo, Volcano, and other places (people on Fodor's mention a place that sounds amazing, but I've never been there, Kapoho tidepools).

You can visit the tallest mountain in the world, Mauna Kea. Snorkeling is amazing near the Place of Refuge, and monument to Captain Cook. You can learn about and visit coffee, orchid, macadamia and vanilla farms.

It is Big, however, and nightlife is limited to nice dinners out, or listening to local music, or walking along the beach. It is a very fun and beautiful place.

All the islands are great, as you know!

Either choice would be wonderful. Look at a couple of guidebook's & make your choice - you can't go wrong.

I agree with Kailani--the variety of landscapes to be found on the Big Island is astonishing. I have visited Kauai I think around 10 times, and I love it passionately, but if I were to do only one trip to Hawaii, I would choose the Big Island and take enough time to sample its variety, north, south, east and west. And be sure to include a home rental in Kapoho if you can swing it--an amazing place.

If you go to Maui, whatever you do, don't stop in Hana. Drive right through. There is nothing there.

iamq wants to keep Hana for himself, you see!

"It's all about the journey, not the destination."

"There is nothing in Hana."

This is said over and over and over here. Can all of these people be wrong?

Yeah....those pictures of your vacation were terrible!
How DID you tolerate it?

Much worse than the #ellhole of an island, Kauai.