I am just doing a survey of all the people that have been to all four of the hawaiian islands. I want the opionion of people who can compare the islands of Maui, Kaui,B.I. and Oahu. Please rank them in order of if you could only pick two of the four which two would you pick. Thanks for your reply.

I wish they all could be California girls!!!

P.S. Can you give us a clue as to what your criteria is as to how they should be rated

Oh my gosh! I love them all. But if push comes to shove, I vote for Maui and Kauai. I love the beautiful beaches and upcountry of Maui as well as the world class resorts and restaurants. But oh, the natural beauty of Kauai...

1.Oahu
2.Kauai
3. Hawaii
4. Lanai
5. maui

This is a really hard question but here goes my own personal ranking which will differ from just about everyone else:

Kauai - go with the one you love. Quiet, romantic slower-paced and beautiful. (been 2 times honeymoon and 20th anniversary)

Maui - great for families or teens and twentys. Lots to do and see. Lots of activities and lovely resorts. (been 4 times, 1 with DH and friends, 1 with DH only, 2 times with kids)

BI - place is wide open. Has lots to see. Spread out more than any other island. Huge variety of terrain and nature. (been once)

Oahu - loved it all. Waikiki is a fun time while the rest of the island is surely worth seeing. (been 2 times, both times were great)

1-Maui
2-Oahu
3-Big Island
4-Kauai
5-Lanai
6-Molokai
7-Molokini
8-Kahoolawe
9-Niihau

1. Big Island
2. Kauai
3. Maui
4. Oahu

Let's do favorite ice creams next.. ;-)

1. Big Island, Big Island, Big Island
2. Kauai
3. Maui
4. Oahu

Sorry......... I can't! They're like having four very different brothers whom you love equally. I could rate them for which I think is most beautiful, which has more historical value, which is the most unique, etc. but to simply rate as to which is *best* to visit, I can't! (Marshall, I think you need to find as many websites about each island as possible, look at the pictures, read up on each one, and see which ones interest you the most.)

Lots of different opinions, which is good. My list:
1. Kauai, Kauai, Kauai
2. Big Island
3. Maui
4. Oahu

You mean all eight of the Hawaiian islands right?

I guess it depends on what you want to do while in Hawaii. Like sightseeing and history? Like eating and shopping? Or do you just want to detox and chill?

My fave of course is Oahu. But I'm biased.

This is like asking us to rank our favorite children! There is such variety amongst them, it really does depend on what you most like to do.
For myself: BI and Maui.

1. Oahu
2. Maui
3. BI
4. Kauai

But really Oahu takes the cake for me - I just love it there and all it has to offer.

I'd probably pick Kauai last as I'm still involved in an intensive, on going fact finding mission into why anyone could be fascinated by it?


Nothing to do, no good beaches, no nightlife, rains all the time, bugs, mosquitos...I miss anything? :-?

Oh yeah....251 days to go!!!! \/

I love all the answers. I was all set on Kaui and Maui and then a few people threw the big island in as there favorite. I guess the one deterring factor about Kaui is I don't want to go there in March for four days and have it rain all the time since it appears there is really not much to do on this island in the rain whereas on the big island you can site see and see the amazing volcanos. THe negative about Maui is that it is very commercial and it sounds as if Maui and Oahu are very similar. I will definitely be spending three nights in Oahu so maybe being that Oahu and Maui are similar(are they?) then maybe I should do Kaui and the big island. I guess the person that answered find a web site about the different islands and look at what each has to offer and choose from that is probably the best answer. Keep those replys coming. Thanks again. Bruce

Marshall (bruce), I remembered a beautiful website for you *alternative-hawaii.com*.... "I'm the mouthy one saying to go look at websites;-)" The whole website is beautiful, and so informative. Has won lots of awards. Click on Island Profiles, look at (click to enlarge) all those photos in the pictorials, and really read the info on the different islands. Let me know what you think of the site..... it has so many great links, and the latest info, on all the things you like to see and do there! Good luck, Bruce!

Oh, one more thing! Don't worry about rain in Kauai in March IF you stay in Poipu on the South Shore. It *could* rain, but usually does not there!!!

Sorry, this is bugging me...
it's K-A-U-A-I.

Not "Kaui".

love
roxy

I'm a little bias because I live on Maui. I have to disagree that Oahu & Maui are similar, Maui has great expanses of green sugarcane fields and pineapple. It has become more commercial, but the natural beauty still far outweighs it. Visit upcountry Makawao on your way back from visiting Haleakala, and bohemian Paia on your way to Hana. I lived on the Big Island for several years and it has it's appeal, but it is much slower and there is very little night life, the beaches are fewer and the best ones are difficult to reach. Maui has the easiest access to good beaches, great biking, hiking, shopping, restaurants, etc. That's why it's called Maui No Ka Oi (Maui is the best!) Rated #1 island by Conde Naste Traveller

Aloha Marshall531,

From your response, I think if you decide how important the active volcano issue is, your island choices will be easier. For us the active volcano on the Big Island was a highlight and not what we anticipated since we were able to walk up to the oozing lava flows, but this experience is highly variable and may require a helicopter even to see it. Most convenient snorkeling experience for us was done from a boat snorkeling trip on the B.I.

Agree with Kula's comments and offer that Maui has the US's largest tropical rainforest that you can conveniently explore by car at your own pace which can be enhanced by picking up a CD/tape tour or by studying the "Maui Revealed" guidebook. Golden sandy beaches abound and snorkeling is very good.

Kauai also has great beaches and snorkeling but offers the most striking mountain landscapes exceeding Maui and the Big Island (e.g. Napali Coast and Waimea Canyon, a.k.a."Hawaii's Grand Canyon").
We have travelled to Kauai 5 times in Feb. and March for a week or less and only once was it mostly rainy, however an hour's drive took us somewhere totally clear and . You can read about it in my last T.R. http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34491972

In summary, I believe visiting both Maui and Kauai will best meet your expectations for a 1st trip to the Hawaiian Islands.