Which island in Hawaii?

[BEANZ]

My wife, two kids (9 and 7) and I are planning a trip to Hawaii in October of this year. Having never been there we are a bit overwhelmed with trying to determine which island we should visit.

We are farily seasoned travellers with several trips overseas and lots of travel thru the US and Caribbean. The plan will be to rent a VRBO (or similar) property and spend time relaxing on the beach, hiking, site seeing etc.

Any advice on what island is the best to visit, easiest or cheapest to get to or accommodation recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[Tyler]

Maui

[Jbo]

Maui...and it's not even close

[BEANZ]

Any particular reason that you would say Maui?

[Calgary14]

I have only been to Oahu and Maui but loved both.

Honolulu (Oahu) is a big city so if youre looking for that, I'd go there.

Maui is more of a small town feel with less traffic and crowds. Tons of stuff to do on both islands. Personally I like Maui better but thats only because I go on vacation to get out of the city and relax, beaches are much less crowded and shopping isnt as great but I spend most of the time in the water anyways.

In Honolulu I'd recommend staying near Waikiki as you wont need a car to walk to the beach and that area has tons of shops to check out.

In Maui you'd probably need a car to see most parts of the island.

Honolulu has a lot of high rise apartment VRBOs. Parking (when I went) was $12/day in a VRBO close to Waikiki.

[Machiavelli]

I've only been to Maui and I think everyone should go at least once in their lifetime.

[troutman]

We loved the big island in November. Was in Maui and Oahu over 30 years ago.

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=141031

I'd vote big island just because it is the biggest and has more to see. Besides beaches, snorkelling and surfing, you have the option of seeing volcanos, and the observatories on Mauna Kea. Children under 16 are not allowed to go to the summit.

Stay around Kona. Hilo is on the rainy side of the island. Kona is home to the famous Iron Man race. See where Kona coffee is grown.



Maui thread:
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=129062

[Dion]

Kauai is the least populated of all the islands and the most beautiful IMO.

http://www.kauai.com/

[opendoor]

I'd agree with Maui; it probably has the best combination of beaches, scenery, and weather. But that doesn't mean it's the only option.

The Big Island probably has more dramatic scenery than Maui and the west coast has some nice beaches. The volcano is pretty unique as well. My only real issues with it were that some of it is kind of barren looking and there's more driving going from place to place than the smaller islands. I definitely plan to go back though.

Kauai is a quieter island. Definitely the lushest of the islands but that naturally means more rain. It'd probably be pretty nice still in October though. Some nice beaches in the south, some pretty amazing scenery and hiking on the Napali coast, and sort of a mini Grand Canyon in the middle. It was the first of the islands I went to and it didn't really fit my stereotype of what Hawaii was like (Oahu and Maui are more like that) but it was still amazing.

Oahu is OK. Definitely the most developed, but still has some amazing beaches and scenery. A little too crowded for my liking but every time I've been I've had a great time. I just usually keep it in small doses (stay for a few nights at the start or end of a trip to another island).

And Maui. Pretty much has any scenery you'd want. Dramatic rugged coastline on the north and south shores, dry almost desert like with gorgeous weather on the west coast, lush rainforest on the east coast, and a 10,000 ft high crater in the middle of it. The entire west coast is pretty much nice beach after nice beach and the island is small enough that you don't have to spend all day in a car to go somewhere. The downside to all its appeal is that it can get busy with tourists.

[Maccalus]

Oahu is where the big city is and the busiest tourist attractions. I don't recommend an entire vacation there, but it is worth it to pop over for a couple days to see pearl harbour.

Maui is a good inbetween island. It is far less busy than oahu, but quite a bit busier than the big island or kaui. This means there are way more accommodation, restaurant, tours and activity options. I think it is a good place for a first timer as has a bit of everything.

The big island is much quieter, but it has the Volcanos and a greater variety of landscape. I do highly recommend visiting it, but it will be a quieter vacation than Maui or Oahu.

I have never been to Kaui, but from what I have heard it is as quiet as the big island, with much more lush rain forests and no volcano. I do want to make it there at one point and do a helicopter ride of the big canyon.

[Jbo]

I'm on my iPad so can't type a bunch, but I found Maui to have the best beaches, some of the best day trips and snorkelling and most relaxed and fun atmosphere.It is also one of the more expensive islands (well all of Hawaii is expensive) I found Pearl City and Oahu to be way to much city for me. I enjoyed Waikiki and Pearl Harbor, but much less memorable then Maui.

Some recommendations:
-rent a car. You will want to be on the far side of the island.
-go snorkelling on a day trip.
-check out Lahaina for dinner. Some great spots.
- ATV the crater...a great two hour trip on ATVs. Went from +30C to about 10C in the hills
- by Lahaina is a bunch of hotels. You don't need to be a guest to have a drink by the pools. There is also a sports bar in a cave. I got loaded taking a break from the sun and watching the U.S. open.

[Red John]

Maui. Greatest place on Earth bar none.

Stunning.

[FlamesAllTheWay]

Forget Maui

Big Island is my favourite! It's got almost all of the worlds sub climates on one island, which makes for some interesting scenery. Good beaches, volcano is neat, probably lots of family friendly things to do as well (the usual ocean activities, some nice "hikes" that aren't too bad through some sub tropical rainforest on the north eastern side IIRC).

Probably can't go wrong whatever you decide though.

[pylon]

Another vote for Maui.

I've fallen so in love with it, my trip there in the fall is primarily to buy a condo. I'm planning to rent it 9 months of the year, and use it for family the other 3. Then 10 years from now, I will be spending 6 months a year there. If I can figure out a way to become a US citizen, I would live there full time on retirement.

It's heaven on earth. If I was a millionaire, I would buy an acreage on the Hana side of the Island. So incredibly beautiful, and still very rustic. The most amazing drive on the planet every day is a nice bonus too.

[Buff]

You can hop islands for a day.

Kauai was awesome. Not for somebody looking for nightlife, but very beautiful.

I've been to all of the (big 4) Islands and I would probably say Kauai is my favorite. I may do Maui next because that was the first one I went to and it has been a while. My least favorite is Oahu because it is way too touristy. Too busy, the rest of the Islands are laid back.

Might I make a suggestion? Do one a year.

[chedder]

On the big island as I type. Second time here and love it. Some nice beaches (Hapuna is awesome). Spent afternoon with family and friends on the beach at Lava Lava Beach Club in Waikola. Super fun, excellent fish tacos and Mai Tai's. Spent first week on Maui in south Kihei and the beaches there are second to none. Road to Hana was cool too. Did the whole big island tour last time and it is great to see volcano park, rain forest, ranch country, beaches all in one day.

[Red John]

Originally Posted by pylon

Another vote for Maui.

I've fallen so in love with it, my trip there in the fall is primarily to buy a condo. I'm planning to rent it 9 months of the year, and use it for family the other 3. Then 10 years from now, I will be spending 6 months a year there. If I can figure out a way to become a US citizen, I would live there full time on retirement.

It's heaven on earth. If I was a millionaire, I would buy an acreage on the Hana side of the Island. So incredibly beautiful, and still very rustic. The most amazing drive on the planet every day is a nice bonus too.

Yup. Going to spend my golden years in East Maui too. It's something else.

[guzzy]

Maui. You should really entertain costa rica though. Twice the fun, half the price. Great people.

[gargamel]

Oahu has the best nightlife, Maui has the best beaches, Kauai is the most peaceful and the Big Island has a freakin volcano. You really can't go wrong (though I'd never go that far just for Oahu).

[habernac]

I've been to Oahu, Maui and the big island. Loved all of them for different reasons. Maui has great beaches, the drive to Hana is spectacular. Kona has the volcanoes, the North Shore is on Oahu, loved the Kailua side of the island. Last year we spent one week on Maui, one on Kona.