I have read so many posts but cannot decide which Island to visit. We plan on going towards the end of July. Unclear on how the weather will be but not worried. I know we will be staying in a house or maybe a condo but we just can't decide on the Island. We only plan on staying on one island(unless boredome sets in) Neither of us have been to Hawaai and we want a variety of things to do. We want the benefits of shoping and tourist spots but also want to be able to enjoy hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, off the beaten track sort of stuff. Our fist choice was Lanai....but I have had friends tell me its beautiful but boring(no shopping either), Kauai was another but once again we were told we would get bored. Any suggestions would help!!! Thanks!

We stayed on Kauai. We visited the Waialea Canyon...similar to our Grand Canyon. Hiking trails..lots of nature. We also went to the Fern Grotto...a bit comercial but very interesting. Its one of my favorite islands.
Carolyn

Anyone who says you will get bored on Kauai is out of their mind or has absolutely no imagination. We stayed for 8 days and did not get to do 1/10 of the things we would have liked to do. There is a free book at the Wal-Mart of K-Mart there called 101 things to do in Kauai and when we went through the list at the end and checked off what we had done, we barely made a dent in the list. Going to the Big Island for the first time in February and can't wait!

Which island to visit is an often asked question, and one that is hard to answer. Most Hawaii regulars have their favorite island, and the reasons for preferring one island over another are many and varied.

Don't take the advice of anyone who says "Go to xxxx because I was there and I just loved it and you will love it too." Find out what it was they liked about the place and then decide if those things interest you. It helps if you know the age of the people recommending. Those in their 60's will probably have different interests than those in their 30's. Also, read as much as you can about each island.

Some basic facts:

Oahu: Honolulu. Waikiki - a beach in a city, lots of people, highrises, shopping, restaurants, nightlife, etc. But a completely different world outside of Waikiki.

The Big Island: Very beautiful, the only island with an active volcanoe, a nature lover's paradise. Very quiet, no night life. No big city.

Kauai: Very beautiful, some claim the most beautiful of all the islands. Very quiet, no nightlife, maybe even quieter than the Big Island. A nature lover's paradise. No big cities or towns. No big city.

Maui: Somewhere in between Oahu and The Big Island and / or Kauai. Beautiful beaches. Many restaurants and some nightlife (but not as many as Oahu). Lots of variety. No big city.

Lanai and Molokai: Very quiet and beautiful but not a variety of things to do. Little or no night life and shopping. Good islands to get away from it all.

Now wait for the postings to pour in from those who disagree with the above thumbnails of each island, and then make your own decision.

E-mail if you want more information.

Anyone will get VERY BORED on Kauai if shopping and night life are a priority.

Well, definitely skip Lanai, that island is small and has very little to do.

You seem to place a lot of emphasis on shopping and traditional tourist activities. In that case, you will probably want to stay on Oahu. It has more shopping/dining choices than all the other islands combined. You will need to escape the Honolulu area to do any "off the beaten track" kind of thing but I assure you, there is a LOT to do and the further away you go from town the more isolated it can become. Boredom will never set in! Needless to say, a rental car is a MUST.

As for the weather, it's usually warm and sunny in July, but rain can always come down at any given time.

Samantha, you should head to Maui for your honeymoon. You sound like you like alot of action. Stay in Kaanapali where lots of people go. Lots of shopping possibilities both at Whalers village, the hotels and close by in Lahaina. Everything you want is close by. If you find it too busy there you can take a boat to Lanai and stay at your original choice.

If you enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, you shouldn't be bored on Kauai. If you need a little more nightlife and shopping, go to Maui. In either case definitely buy the Wizard Publication guide (Ultimate Kauai or Maui Revealed) for the island you end up choosing. Lots of "off the beaten path" ideas not found in other guidebooks.

I imagine I'm going to get killed for this, but I like Oahu the best. It really offers everything. True, Waikiki is crowded and touristy and a lot like a million other beaches that are much more accessible and affordable, but there is so much more. The North Shore is great, as is Pearl Harbor. If you drive, the scenery is incredible. And of course, there are many great bars and restaurants.
You could always split up your time too, say three days on one island, and three on another. I wouldn't do more than two though, unless you're staying a long time, because packing and checking out and then checking in again gets to be a pain.
Wherever you go, you'll love it. Hawaii is enchanting.

Actually, Tom you shouldn't be killed for recommending Oahu. Oahu would fit Samantha's interests perfectly. We went there on our honeymoon and loved it. A first time visitor to Hawaii will be surprised at the Hawaiian pace of life and may not appreciate the slowness of say, Kauai, and its lack of nightlife and shopping.

Tom, I love Oahu too. I just hesitate to recommend it without really knowing the other person as people seem to have such mixed reactions to the island. So far, the only island I've found where I wouldn't want to spend an extended amount of time on is Lanai.

I think Maui is a great place to go if you want to experience the beauty of Hawaii but also have access to nightlife and shopping. The Wailea area is beautiful and the weather is great in that location of the island. Oahu has a lot of things to do but it is very commercial, and in my opinion, not as pretty as Maui. Kauai is beautiful too and is more of a place to go if you are interested in outdoors activities - there is really no nightlife. I think Maui has the best of both worlds - fun and activity and natural, unspoiled beauty.

Hi Samantha,
We spent our Honeymoon on Kauai last April and we are heading back there in 35 days. I look at Kauai just like California in that you are able to drive a little and hit a very different climate and very unique areas. For lush moist garden like areas you will head to the North. For lots of sunshine you will head to the South. There is hiking on many different nature trails, biking, snorkeling, flights in a helicopter. It's my favorite of the islands. Above all it was perfect for our Hoenymoon becasue it was romantic!! Have a great time!

Wow...people saying to skip on Lanai, huh? I know plenty of people who have been to all the islands and go to Lanai year after year. If you love oceanlife and a pristine beach and romantic atmosphere you will love Lanai. You can swim in Manele Bay and be a dozen feet from spinner dolphins. The water is clear turquoise and the Manele Bay resort itself is probably one of the best on the islands (up there with the Four Seasons Hualalai--Big Island, or Kauai's Hyatt or Princeville). The upcountry hotel, the Lodge of Koele, actually gets even more good recommendations than Manele Bay. It is in the style of an old English plantation house and has stables, golf, archery, plenty of activites. The restaurants are phenomenal. The Lodge is in the upcountry region of Lanai so there are some misty clouds that develop and then burn off, it is really beautiful. You can rent a Jeep and see the Garden of the Gods or Shipwreck beach... I think it would be ideal for a honeymoon as the resorts set up a very romantic atmosphere and there are a lot of couples there.
My second choice at for a Hawaiian honeymoon would be on Kauai and I can't imagine getting bored there either. I stayed 10 days and left much undone. we are renting a condo for a month on Kauai's north shore next year.
Finally, I would also put a vote in for the Four Seasons on the Big Island or the Ritz in Kapalua, Maui. These are two of my absolute favorite hotels in the world. The most romantic area on Maui, IMHO, would be Kapalua

I've visited all the islands you're considering. My favorite is Kauai but again if big night life is important, you're better in Oahu. Usually by the end of the day we were too pooped to have much desire to do much. We've always rented a condo and sometimes just stayed home bar-b-quing (all the condos have outdoor bar-b-ques)and taking a swim. Other nights we would go out for a nice leisurely dinner then return to just sit outside on our lanai with a nightcap. It just depends on you! I really prefer a private condo over the larger hotels no matter which island you chose. Happy Honeymoon! Nancy