Maui or Kauai?

[hunnyke]

I need some advice ladies!! I am getting married on Oahu and was wondering which island we should go for our Honeymoon in October: Maui or Kauai? We have 5 nights and 6 days, but I am not sure which island to choose. Any advice and help would be great. Thanks!!!

[starchild]

I've only been to Oahu but I have heard many times that Kauai is the most beautiful of the islands.

[beachbride08]

I have been to both and I liked Kauai much better. It didn't seem as touristy as Maui did, and the scenery was beautiful. I stayed at the Princeville resort and it was great! I highly recommend it. If you go there you definitely have to do the helicopter ride. That was my favorite part of the trip.

[Bryan Valiant]

I'd do Maui. We did Maui for our honeymoon and just like 10 months ago went to Kauai for the first time. they are really different. Keep in mind if you pick Kauai odds are it will rain on your wedding day. Highest rainfall in the world. And there are things to do on Maui where as on Kauai it is much more limited.

 

Bryan

Some tips for both:

 

on Maui check out Maui tacos great food and cheap. Kimo's is awesome and really reasonable. Mama's fish house is spendy but it is the best beach on hawaii for a restaraunt and at lunch would be the way to go. The road to Hana is not as scarey as they say it is and check if the 7 sacred pools are open before you go they are so worth it.... bring Deet though mosquitos can come out in force. Stop on the way at any fruit smoothy bar and get one made with sugarcane yumm!!

 

On both islands you can get your snorkle gear at Costco. There is no better price for the quality and the stuff at Walmart blows. Bring a bag of frozen peas with you whenever you snorkle. Fish love love love them and they are good for them. plus the Hula grill in whalers village is a must eat on the beach. sand floor so cool. Dive the molokini crater.

 

On Kauai: check out Puka dogs hot dogs great food cheap. Puka in hawaiian actually means dog so it is a little silly dog dog but they rock! Check out the caves on the north shore and check out the beach infront of the Sheraton it is rated the worlds number one beach and there are usually sea turtles there. I think it is Poi Pu beach if I remember right.

[bre]

It all depends what you are looking for. If you want laid back atmosphere and stunning beaches go to Kauai. It you want touristy chic go to Maui. The islands really do have distinct personalities.

 

Kauai is my favorite place on earth. I used to live there and miss it every day. Hanalei Bay is off the charts beautiful. Don't worry too much about rain in October. December - March on the North Shore there is a lot of rain, but that is what makes it so lush. I have plenty of good beach days in October, November and even early December. The South Shore is always drier but it looks far less tropical.

 

No matter which island you got to, you'll love it.

[Jtds2713]

We are doing the same! GEtting married in Oahu and honeymoon in Kauai. I have been to Maui and we stayed at the Grand WAilea. It was ok but we were unable to do stuff because we had kids with us. Did Road to Hana-- it was summer so no waterfalls, wasn't worth it for us. Wailea beach was supposed to be great but I was not impressed. Definitely eat at Mama's Fish House-- great food! I found Wailea Maui to be overdeveloped and that is ok if that is what you are looking for.

 

This year we are going to Kauai and staying at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. I heard Hyatt is the place to be in Kauai. And according to my travel agent, Kauai is the most popular for honeymooners. I heard it rains a lot but we are going there for honeymoon and not wedding.

[nylalany]

I've been to both - Maui in November, and Kauai in February. This is my experience:

 

Maui is beautiful. It is truly a tropical island. You don't have to stay in the tourist strip (or you can for part of the time since all the fancy hotels are there), as there are places further up that side of the island that seem less touristy - and although it is touristy, I went to beaches where there were NO people (find the lava trail...), plenty of opportunities for skinny dipping and the like, and the rainbows and water were gorgeous. Also, the road to Hana was beautiful, the bamboo rainforest was amazing, and that whole part of the island is really cute. I don't know if I just went during off season or what, but it did not seem crowded anywhere.

 

Kauai is beautiful too, but it reminded me more of Northern California, but slightly warmer. Since I live in Southern California, this was slightly disappointing to me, but if you live elsewhere, it might not be. It was too cold for us to swim the whole time, another disappointment, so we basically did a lot of hiking. The hike that starts at the end of Hanalei where the roads ends is challenging and a blast, if you are into hiking (I am). Amazing views. You can also hike in the Grand Canyon of the Pacific - the hike we picked there was also pretty challenging, maybe that is why we didn't see anyone on it! The middle part of the island is a bit more tropical I guess - maybe I just had a negative impression b/c of the weather? I think you can go rafting there on a river. I didn't see any amazing beaches, though there was a beach in the south that seemed more swimmable, and maybe in October will be nicer. The town in the north - Hanalei, is charming and I was ready to move there - it felt like a real place to live that would be perfect for me. I met some transplants from the mainland there. I stayed near Princeville and I agree if you stay anywhere, that is where to stay there (even tho I didn't).

Tough decision - but you probably won't go wrong with either! Depends on what environment you want!

[JennyK]

If you want peace and quiet go to Kauai.. If you want more action, then Maui is better. In my opinion, Kauai is the most magical gorgeous place on earth. Either choice, you'll love both places.