I'm planning a trip to Hawai'i in January 2003. I've never been to Hawai'i but have heard that the weather can be rainy in the winter months, is this something to be concerned about when making my travel plans? Further, which of the Hawaiian Islands would be the most pleasant to visit in January (as far as weather, least amount of tourists, activities: I like a mix of cultural and outdoor activities)?

Hawaii is pretty much the same all year round. Summer average is 85-90 and winter is 80-85. Every island is very different, so you need to decide what is that you're looking for out of this vacation before I could give advice on anything except what I like to do on vacation.

Good Luck,

Bobbi

Went to Kuaui for my honeymoon ... didnt get out too much but heard the island is the best for the outdoor enthusiast..

I have never been there, but my boss is in Maui for two weeks...therefore I love Maui..thank you Maui.

Chris,
The first thing you must do is buy yourself The Unofficial Guide to Hawaii. You can get this in Waldenbooks or Barnes and Noble.
If this is your first time in Hawaii you must go to Oahu. Stay on Waikiki Beach, go to Pearl Harbor and Hanama Bay.
Read the book and it will give you a wealth of knowledge.
Have Fun.

Carrie I would never go so far as to tell someone they "must" visit anyplace in Hawaii (Oahu or otherwise).
There's so much to see and the islands are so different....and everyone has a different agenda.
For instance, when I go to Hawaii it's usually to de-stress. Almost never do anything but hang out at our hotel and beach because that's what we're there for.
So if someone's going to Hawaii expressly to relax there's no point in beelining to Pearl Harbor and IMO to Waikiki (since I don't find it relaxing).

I love Kauai. Great beaches & lots to do. If your into heavy duty night life may want Oahu or Maui

Absolute BEST advice that you have received is to look at the activities you enjoy, then choose. Maui is beautiful, but more commerical than Kauai. Kauai is great for outdoor enthusiasts as it is a lush playground. you can hike, bike, ATV ride, or horseback ride back to waterfalls. A great condo place that we use a lot has some wonderful general info on Kauai. It is http:\\www.hideawaycove.com there you will see pictures, excursions and other things. Other great sites are www.visitmaui.com or www.gohawaii.com these are by the visitors bureaus. I just stumbled onto this so thought I would share this info. After you take a look, and think about the things you like to do, then you can decide! Both islands offer both outdoor activities and cultural interests. I won't monitor the responses, so if you need to ask any questions directly, I would be happy to help.

Just wanted to give you my opinion. I went to Maui last January (2001) and it was AWESOME. I was afraid too because I heard that it was the rainy season. The whole 8 days I was there, I only saw it sprinkle once and that was on a different part of the island where it does tend to rain more.
January is a great time to go so you can see the whales. It's amazing! You can even see them from the street.

I have been to Oahu once before and I definetly prefer Maui. It all depends on what you like to do. I find the Honolulu area fun, but it's more like another city. I believe that Maui has a great mix of nature/relaxing and shops/nightlife.

Have a great time. I can't wait to go back.

We will be going to Hawaii for the first time ever in 1 month. We wanted to do all four of the major islands, but thanks to the wordly advice of numerous posters on this site, we narrowed it to two (Oahu & Maui). I totally agree with the previous poster, you've got to buy a good guide book first in order to decide which islands are best for you. According to one we bought January is the rainiest month of the year, but thankfully rain tends to stay away from the beach areas!

With apologies to Chris, the original questioner, why is everyone so bent on getting away from all the tourists? Doesn't it follow that the most activities would be where there are the most visitors. It's gotten to where tourist equates to loser or criminal or something.
Anyway, in answer to your question, a lot depends on your age, who you're with, what you want to do. All the islands offer a wealth of activity, both commercial and nature-oriented. If you're younger, Kauai and Hawaii do not offer a whole lot in the way of nightlife, Maui is better, Oahu is best. As for the cultural acitivities, again, that's probably most accessible on Oahu. Much of what happens on the other islands is private, i.e. family affairs to which we are not invited anymore than they would be invited to our homes at Christmas.
Just my thoughts. Hawaii is truly a great destination. Enjoy it.

Whatever you do Chris don't email Denise. She is a travel agent trolling for clients. She will steer you to her agencies preferred properties where she makes mega commission dollars. Do your research, get a couple of guide books, search other travel sites but don't email travel agents like Denise. They are pariahs feeding on the ignorant and naive!!!