Kauai or Maui?

Originally Posted by MikeyC

How do you know if you've never been? Really the only thing Kauai lacks is the opportunity to go out clubbing/bar hopping. Personally, I would rather have a late dinner and then hang out by the beach with a drink and a cigar anyway.

I agree with Mikey here Moe....but you know, if you're looking to hit the bars, Kauai certainly has a few, they're just not huge party bars...man, Zelo's in Hanalei is an awesome spot in the north!

[Skywalker]

I've never been to either but it has been my dream to visit Kauai!!! It is the location of so many great movies!!!

[ucla695]

I've been to Maui and there are so many things to do, both touristy and laid back. You can choose your own adventure. I'd go back in a hearbeat.

[dunng]

I did not vote as I have only been to Maui... For Maui I would recommend staying around Lahina, there is so much to do there! My book recommendation is "Driving & Discovering Hawaii: Maui & Molokai".

[poker]

I voted Maui, but then again Im partial since Im from there

[Footbag]

I've been to Maui three times and Kauai once. I spent a week in Kauai and it was just too much time for me. We were able to do the whole island in about three days. If I could've done it over again, I'd have no problem eliminating Kauai.
I find Kauai to be a bit boring, and know a lot of people who share my opinion. If you;ve never been, I'd suggest the lava flows on the big island (Volcanos National Park) as a must see.

Things to do in Maui, Road to Hana, Haleakala sunrise, hit up a bar in Paia, etc...

[kgoings]

Hands down Kauai, the secret falls, Fern Grotto, Na Pali Shore, and Waemea Canyon (The Mini Grand Canyon).

Again I will say HANDS DOWN Kauai! Been there 3 times, love it! I prefer to rent a house when I go. Last time I rented a house on the shore on the secluded North shore of the island, I had my own private reef right behind the house...and it was only 3 minutes from Tunnels Beach.

[Mr.Maduro]

One more thing....

Whichever island you choose, I highly recommend taking the 1 day trip to Oahu and go to Pearl Harbor. Another high-light of my trip that I will never forget. They try to have a one of the survivors there everyday greeting the visitors at the entrance.

[poker]

Originally Posted by Footbag

Things to do in Maui, Road to Hana, Haleakala sunrise, hit up a bar in Paia, etc...

Go snorkeling in a little place unknown to many called Honolua Bay (past Kapalua). There is no place to park except along the road & no signs. Its a 1/4 mile trek thru natural forest that looks as though time stood still in the Jurassic era. It opens up to this:


Other fun things to do on Maui:

Take a casual stroll thru Wailuku. Its like time stood still and its still in the 1950's. Then take a short drive to Iao Valley and see the natual beauty there.

Bike ride down the Haleakala Crater road.

Go to Makawao to eat creampuffs from the famous Komoda Bakery (family owned since 1916)

In Kahului at the Maui Mall, have some sherbet they call "guri guri" at Tasaka's Guri Guri. Its legendary and only available there (family owned since the 1920's).

Go shopping along the boardwalk in old Lahaina.

Ask any of the locals about a hidden spot called "Twin Falls".

[Footbag]

Originally Posted by poker

Go snorkeling in a little place unknown to many called Honolua Bay (past Kapalua). There is no place to park except along the road & no signs. Its a 1/4 mile trek thru natural forest that looks as though time stood still in the Jurassic era. It opens up to this:

Other fun things to do on Maui:

Take a casual stroll thru Wailuku. Its like time stood still and its still in the 1950's. Then take a short drive to Iao Valley and see the natual beauty there.

Bike ride down the Haleakala Crater road.

Go to Makawao to eat creampuffs from the famous Komoda Bakery (family owned since 1916)

In Kahului at the Maui Mall, have some sherbet they call "guri guri" at Tasaka's Guri Guri. Its legendary and only available there (family owned since the 1920's).

Go shopping along the boardwalk in old Lahaina.

Ask any of the locals about a hidden spot called "Twin Falls".

This is making me want to go back to Maui.
The fishing is great off Maui, not that I caught anything, but the water is very calm for those who get sea sick.

The last time I went, for my honeymoon, my wife and I lived it up at the Grand Wailea. But the first time we stayed in a hostel in Kahului with some friends. The great thing is you can either live the life, or go on a budget and have fun either way.

Of course the week I got back, my laptop and camera were stolen. So I have no photo's from my honeymoon.

May just have to go back!

[Mister Moo]

I voted Maui because that's the only place I've seen in Hawaii other than Honolulu (and all around the island) where I used to visit for work pretty regularly. Check out the north shore for big-wave surfing if the curl is curling high. Bring binoculars and a large thermos full of Mai Tai.

Lunch, fresh fish dinner and cocktails at Kimo's is hard to beat; see Iao Park and the famous Iao Needle. Take time to get away from the beach/resort scene and ease around the jungle a bit. You need wheels. Too cool. Maui is a beautiful place but it's only a tourist trap/resort-without-culture thing if you never get past the Sheraton parking lot.

http://www.kimosmaui.com/
http://www.hawaiiweb.com/maui/html/s...tate_park.html

[Prozac_Puros]

The wife and I took a 10 day trip to Maui, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The list of things you can do is endless. We took the boat over to Lanai and ended up staying one night there. Golf, nice beaches and nowhere to go, we loved it. When we go back, We will stay on Lanai.

[ade06]

Neither. Go to the Big Island and stay on the Kona side. There is soo much to do (or not do) on that island. In one you could be walking on lava, horse back riding in the hills, snorkling off the beach, walking through a tropical forrest, drinking Kona coffee with the growers, etc., etc. I love the Big Island!

Been to both, loved both. I tended to like Maui a little better because there's more to do, but Kauai is less touristy.
I say do both.

[Footbag]

Something you should know about visiting the Hawaiian islands, it is very easy to island hop and rental cars (especially Jeeps) are cheap. Planes fly from island to island almost hourly and even a day trip to the Big Island would be worth it. Seeing the lava flows at sunset was one of the coolest experiences of my life.

I also loved Waikiki beach on Oahu. The busiest of the islands, and very touristy and expensive, but lots of window shopping and beautiful scenery. Also, some of the best restaurants on the Islands.

[JE3146]

Originally Posted by Footbag

Something you should know about visiting the Hawaiian islands, it is very easy to island hop and rental cars (especially Jeeps) are cheap. Planes fly from island to island almost hourly and even a day trip to the Big Island would be worth it. Seeing the lava flows at sunset was one of the coolest experiences of my life.

I also loved Waikiki beach on Oahu. The busiest of the islands, and very touristy and expensive, but lots of window shopping and beautiful scenery. Also, some of the best restaurants on the Islands.

Unless you're under 25 years of age, then the price doubles.

Being 24 years old on a honeymoon 275$ in surcharges.

Me and my fiance chose Kauai for our honeymoon destination. We'll be there in July.

[jcruse64]

Been to both, and love both; couldn't really recommend one over the other, as both have their strong points and not too much in weak points.

They carry a lot of the same activities with Kaui being a little more limited in entertainment after dark, but still some things to do. Great golfing on both. Great beaches on both. Great food on both. One thing you CAN do on Kaui but nowhere else on the islands is fish for smallmouth bass (Hawaii's only true freshwater river has a transplanted smallmouth population!). True, Maui is more developed and "touristy", but there are lots of places away from the crowds. A great one is to take the Road to Hana, and then keep on going past Hana. Turns into a dirt/gravel road and circles the south/southwest side of the island, until you hook back up with highway again, around the area where you turn to go up Haleakala. But, Kaui has Mt Waialiali, wettest spot on Earth, and the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.

If you have time, I'd do both.

Then again, if you have time, spend it all on the Big Island. All the great stuff the other two islands have, and an active volcano. Plus, go up Mauna Kea and play in the snow and watch the locals fill the backs of their trucks with snow and race to the beach with it on Sundays.

Oh yeah, forgot about Kona beans!

Next time we go back, it'll be the Big Island again; just beautiful!!!

[Ahbroody]

Maui if for nothing else then cheeseburger in paradise at sunset 2nd floor window. The ultimate Jimmy B experience. Just Relax.

Haleakala(SP) at sunrise and sunset is epic as well

[dunng]

Originally Posted by Ahbroody

Maui if for nothing else then cheeseburger in paradise at sunset 2nd floor window. The ultimate Jimmy B experience. Just Relax.

Went to that one a few times but also hit the on Waikiki frequently as it was right next to our hotel... The one in Vegas sucked!

Looks like it is going to be kauai. Putting the trip together today or tomorrow. Probbly leaving second week of March. Thanks for all the great advice.