Maui Vs Kauai

Re: Maui Vs Kauai

• BeachLover2885 member

  

  March 2012

  They are both great islands that are very different.  Maui has more of a nightlife and you can do the Road to Hana (you'll hike through the rainforest, see waterfalls etc.). I know Kauai has waterfalls and rainforest, we just didn't venture out to those places since we had seen a lot of that in Maui and Big Island.  However, Kauai has the Na Pali Coast which is amazing.

  
  

  If you are looking for volcanoes, you'll have to go to the Big Island. You could probably do a day trip to the volcano via helicopter from one of the islands if you didn't want to stay there. Maui is definitely more touristy as PP mentioned, and Kauai is quieter and less crowded. 

  
  

  In Maui we stayed on Kaanapali Beach at the Sheraton and in Kauai we stayed at the Grand Hyatt (amazing hotel). You have a good budget for a week in Hawaii!! 

  

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• Jells2dot0 mod

  

  March 2012

  I agree with pp= gohawaii.com is an awesome planning website!
  
  If you want to see an active volcano, you'd have to go to the Big Island of Hawaii. Otherwise, if you want an inactive volcano and want to see a crater, Maui is the place. I personally would choose Kauai over Maui for the same reasons as pp. The higher end places to stay include the St. Regis Princeville and the Grand Hyatt in Poipu. The Westin Princeville is a nicer, high end, condo-type resort. Koa Kea is a boutique hotel also at Poipu.
  
  In Maui, the higher end places are the Four Seasons, Grand Wailea (somewhat family friendly), Fairmont Kea Lani, and the Ritz Carlton.  

   

  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

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• jemmini6 member

  

  March 2012

  Ditto PPs about the volcano, Big Island is the only one with an active volcano. However, you can go to Haleakala on Maui, they do sunrise tours on the peak that are supposed to be amazing. We also did zip lining on Haleakala too, which is really not as scary as you think. H's grandma did it with us. For waterfalls/rainforest, every island has some, but Kauai by far has the most. H and I were just in Kauai 3 weeks ago and you can see a waterfall just about everywhere you look. though the trade off for that is that it does rain there a little more than the other islands. Mt Waialeale is the rainiest place on earth. Really though, you can't go wrong with any island. I've been to 4 and I've had a blast on each one. It just depends on the type and pace of HM you are looking for.

  
  

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• pattib5 member

  

  March 2012

  Are you on the east coast? If your FI has his heart set on the Caribbean, I might pay a little more attention to him. The flight from the east coast to Hawaii is brutal and you'll lose two days just travelling there and back. You'll get more time at your actual destination if you stick with the Caribbean. You'll get the same type of tropical vacation either place ... white sands, resorts, activities, drinks, etc.
  
  I've done the all-inclusive thing and the regular hotel on Maui, and I've got to tell you that they both felt the same, but it was damn nice being able to get up from a very nice dinner at the all-inclusive without having to worry about the check.
  
  That said, my FI's mother lives on Maui and I LOVE Maui. You'll get more nightlife on Maui, but Kauai is quieter and very eco-tourism friendly.

  

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• Eliz77 member

  

  March 2012

  FI didn't have his heart set on any one place in particular. He wants to go to Maui as well, but thought for the travel time as well as the money, we should also look elsewhere before making a decision. 

  
  

  Well, we decided to expand our budget, splurge and we'll be going to Maui! I am soooo excited! He met with the travel agent today and gave his list of wants and what's realistic for us money wise, and they were able to come up with a plan. We're staying at the Hyatt and going for 7 nights. We are getting very excited as we research all the things there are to do! 

  ~ES~

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