Oahu vs Maui--newbie
Nov 9th, 2008, 01:01 PM
#1
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Oahu vs Maui--newbie
My wife and I are in our 4os. We like nice quiet resorts with cool pools, beautiful beaches for walking, and access to great restaurants. We have a budget of around 350-450 per night. We are not interested in night life--we are pretty laid back, tend to read a lot, and will rent a car to drive around.
We like the idea of seeing big surf, turtle and whale watching, and plan a short trip to Volcano National Park for a night or 2.
But am at a loss of whether to base our main stay in Maui or Oahu. Waikiki sounds a bit Miami Beachish to me. Would consider a resort outside of the city in Oahu. Or Maui.
Any advice as to which island? and where to stay on each? And best way to get to big island for a stay as well? Do we just book a flight? Thanks!!
We like the idea of seeing big surf, turtle and whale watching, and plan a short trip to Volcano National Park for a night or 2.
But am at a loss of whether to base our main stay in Maui or Oahu. Waikiki sounds a bit Miami Beachish to me. Would consider a resort outside of the city in Oahu. Or Maui.
Any advice as to which island? and where to stay on each? And best way to get to big island for a stay as well? Do we just book a flight? Thanks!!
Nov 9th, 2008, 02:03 PM
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You don't say how long entire trip is.
You could easily spend most all the trip on The Big Island, with two nights in the Volcano National Park area. The Kohala resorts on the west coast of The Big Island would have all your prerequisites.
You could easily spend most all the trip on The Big Island, with two nights in the Volcano National Park area. The Kohala resorts on the west coast of The Big Island would have all your prerequisites.
Nov 9th, 2008, 02:05 PM
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I would advise against Oahu. South Maui has plenty of great hotels that would fit the bill.
However, if you have only a week or so, I wouldn't stay on two islands. Too much time consumed in airport travel stuff.
However, if you have only a week or so, I wouldn't stay on two islands. Too much time consumed in airport travel stuff.
Nov 9th, 2008, 02:08 PM
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This thread also has a great deal of information pertinent to your question:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...t=0&dirtyBit=1
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...t=0&dirtyBit=1
Nov 9th, 2008, 02:40 PM
#5
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I agree that the Big Island would fit all your criteria. The whales are plentiful off the Kohala and Hamakua coasts between late December and early April. There are many incredible restaurants, so much history and natural beauty, and lots of local Hawaiian style entertainment including slack key guitar and hula.
Kilauea Lodge in Volcano is a lovely place to spend the night and have a delicious meal.
http://www.kilauealodge.com/
All of the Kohala resorts are pretty nice. The Mauna Kea is just reopening. The Mauna Lani has historical fish ponds and is my personal favorite, the Hapuna is very popular, Hilton Waikoloa is less expensive, and the Four Seasons is top notch.
It's fun to visit the different resorts and explore different beaches, restaurants and petroglyph trails. All beaches in Hawaii are public access.
You can explore the east side of the Big Island for whale watching, amazing waterfalls and tropical gardens, as well as some interesting sites in Hilo (tsumani museum, new planetarium).
Waimea (also called Kamuela) is an old Paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) town, with some excellent restaurants including Daniel Thiebault and Merrimans.
In North Kohala, birthplace of King Kamehameha, there are some great local style restaurants, especially Bamboo, with music on the weekends, Sushi Rock, an innovative and acclaimed gem with a young energetic chef, Pico's Bistro a delicious Greek organic/local place with a interesting tiny museum and art gallery.
http://www.gokohala.com/pages/about.html
United flies non-stop to the Big Island from LA and SF.
Kilauea Lodge in Volcano is a lovely place to spend the night and have a delicious meal.
http://www.kilauealodge.com/
All of the Kohala resorts are pretty nice. The Mauna Kea is just reopening. The Mauna Lani has historical fish ponds and is my personal favorite, the Hapuna is very popular, Hilton Waikoloa is less expensive, and the Four Seasons is top notch.
It's fun to visit the different resorts and explore different beaches, restaurants and petroglyph trails. All beaches in Hawaii are public access.
You can explore the east side of the Big Island for whale watching, amazing waterfalls and tropical gardens, as well as some interesting sites in Hilo (tsumani museum, new planetarium).
Waimea (also called Kamuela) is an old Paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) town, with some excellent restaurants including Daniel Thiebault and Merrimans.
In North Kohala, birthplace of King Kamehameha, there are some great local style restaurants, especially Bamboo, with music on the weekends, Sushi Rock, an innovative and acclaimed gem with a young energetic chef, Pico's Bistro a delicious Greek organic/local place with a interesting tiny museum and art gallery.
http://www.gokohala.com/pages/about.html
United flies non-stop to the Big Island from LA and SF.
Nov 9th, 2008, 02:56 PM
#6
I agree with staying on the Big Island.
We stayed at the Hilton which is large and probably too busy for you, but great for families. There are many other very nice resorts on the Kohala coast that would be relaxing and offer a great Hawaiian vacation.
We visited the Fairmont and that seemed very nice and much quieter. The Marriott has just been redone. It was being remodled while we were there in spring 06. The Four Seasons. There are several other resorts as well.
We thought the Big Island offered great snorkeling. We snorkeled with giant turtles at the Hilton and also in Kona. We rode the waves at Hapuna Beach (boogie boarding) and we also visited the volcano.
I thought it was a very unique place to see and not like the other Hawaiian islands. I would not hesitate to go back again.
We stayed at the Hilton which is large and probably too busy for you, but great for families. There are many other very nice resorts on the Kohala coast that would be relaxing and offer a great Hawaiian vacation.
We visited the Fairmont and that seemed very nice and much quieter. The Marriott has just been redone. It was being remodled while we were there in spring 06. The Four Seasons. There are several other resorts as well.
We thought the Big Island offered great snorkeling. We snorkeled with giant turtles at the Hilton and also in Kona. We rode the waves at Hapuna Beach (boogie boarding) and we also visited the volcano.
I thought it was a very unique place to see and not like the other Hawaiian islands. I would not hesitate to go back again.
Nov 9th, 2008, 03:08 PM
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Jeff, My husband and I are also in our 40's, and we like the same things you and your wife do. We are not into night life.
Oahu was our least favorite of the 4 biggest Islands (Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island). We have been to Hawaii 4 times (visiting Mauai a couple of times, Kauai a couple of times, Oahu once and the Big Island once).
Given the fact that you want to visit Volcano National Park, I, too, would recommend that you stay on the Big Island for the whole time (assuming your stay is 10 days or so). We spent 10 nights on the Big Island (3 near Kona in a B&B, 2 near Volcano National Park, and then 5 on the Kohala Coast (at the Fairmont Orchid).
How many nights are you planning on staying?
If you do decide to stay on the Big Island, try to end your stay with the Kohala Coast, because the nicest resorts are there. I always like to end with the nicest resort.
If you click on my name, you can eventually find my trip report.
We also like Mauai, but the Big Island and Kauai are both much more laid back than Mauai. If you do decide to go to Mauai, there are lots of nice resorts; you could stay in either South Mauai or West Mauai, depending on the area you prefer.
Oahu was our least favorite of the 4 biggest Islands (Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island). We have been to Hawaii 4 times (visiting Mauai a couple of times, Kauai a couple of times, Oahu once and the Big Island once).
Given the fact that you want to visit Volcano National Park, I, too, would recommend that you stay on the Big Island for the whole time (assuming your stay is 10 days or so). We spent 10 nights on the Big Island (3 near Kona in a B&B, 2 near Volcano National Park, and then 5 on the Kohala Coast (at the Fairmont Orchid).
How many nights are you planning on staying?
If you do decide to stay on the Big Island, try to end your stay with the Kohala Coast, because the nicest resorts are there. I always like to end with the nicest resort.
If you click on my name, you can eventually find my trip report.
We also like Mauai, but the Big Island and Kauai are both much more laid back than Mauai. If you do decide to go to Mauai, there are lots of nice resorts; you could stay in either South Mauai or West Mauai, depending on the area you prefer.
Nov 9th, 2008, 06:21 PM
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We tend to go to Maui every year, specifically Wailea. It has everything you are looking for as far as I can tell including a cool volcano. A few years about we stayed at the Four Seasons on the Big Island and were very bored and felt isolated. The Big Island is also not lush and beautiful like Maui IMO.
Nov 9th, 2008, 07:08 PM
#12
Oahu is NOT a concrete jungle! Maybe Honolulu/Waikiki could be called that, but there is an entire *island* besides that one city.
That said, I would recommend Maui for JeffRome and his family. Of if you choose Oahu, perhaps up on the North Shore for "seeing big surf".
That said, I would recommend Maui for JeffRome and his family. Of if you choose Oahu, perhaps up on the North Shore for "seeing big surf".
Nov 9th, 2008, 07:20 PM
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Oahu a concrete jungle?
Hardly!
The vast majority of those who think Oahu is a concrete jungle have rarely left Honolulu & explored the island.
Outside of Honolulu, Oahu is rural like the other islands.
Lots of info including sites with free brochures for all islands:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34812564
Hardly!
The vast majority of those who think Oahu is a concrete jungle have rarely left Honolulu & explored the island.
Outside of Honolulu, Oahu is rural like the other islands.
Lots of info including sites with free brochures for all islands:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34812564
Nov 9th, 2008, 07:42 PM
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I have spent time in Oahu and Maui on several occasions. My favorite place in the world is Oahu. If you get out of the big city and tourist areas you find beautiful scenery, beaches and very friendly local people. There is also much in favor of Honolulu and Waikiki. Diamond Head, Arizona Memorial, expansive parks, the only royal palace in the U.S., Chinatown, and on and on . I want to be there NOW. Maui is different but also wonderful. Both islands do have traffic problems.
Nov 10th, 2008, 02:45 AM
#15
I agree with above that Oahu is not a concrete jungle and offers many opportunities for a busy vacation. We all liked Oahu because it has so much available and Waikiki was like a city on the beach. But you want a quieter vacation without the nightlife. So, therefore your needs would be more met by going to another island.
I would only go to one island with one week vacation time.
I would buy a book on all four islands that gives a brief overview. You can choose the best one for you.
Maui would be the busiest of the other islands, but also very nice. Kauai would be the most lush and the Big Island is just different altogether.
When we were planning our trip a couple of years ago, Big Island was not even in our plans. We were headed to Oahu and Kauai, but they both had flooding problems. Last minute, I changed to a short stay in Oahu and a week on the Big Island. We have been to oahu and Maui years ago.
Well, it was such a great vacation with so many nature wise things to do. We were traveling as a family so nightlife outside of a luau was not that important to us as well.
Hope you enjoy!
I would only go to one island with one week vacation time.
I would buy a book on all four islands that gives a brief overview. You can choose the best one for you.
Maui would be the busiest of the other islands, but also very nice. Kauai would be the most lush and the Big Island is just different altogether.
When we were planning our trip a couple of years ago, Big Island was not even in our plans. We were headed to Oahu and Kauai, but they both had flooding problems. Last minute, I changed to a short stay in Oahu and a week on the Big Island. We have been to oahu and Maui years ago.
Well, it was such a great vacation with so many nature wise things to do. We were traveling as a family so nightlife outside of a luau was not that important to us as well.
Hope you enjoy!
Nov 10th, 2008, 07:31 AM
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With only 6-7 nights, I would recommend you stay either on Maui, in the Wailea area, or on The Big Island, in the Kohala area.
You don't want to split that time in airports.
From what you have described, I don't think Oahua is what you want for this trip.
You don't want to split that time in airports.
From what you have described, I don't think Oahua is what you want for this trip.
