I've only been to Maui, and I hate to say it, but I was pretty underwhelmed by it. Quite a bit of it reminded me of California. We did not drive the Road to Hana, where I understand the scenery is more lush, because I didn't want to spend all day on vacation in a car! I have heard that Kauai is very lush and tropical.

I have heard that. Wondering if I can talk her into going somewhere else...

Kaua`i. We love the island! Beautiful beaches. Great food. Rainforest. Not as overdone or as hectic(IMO) as some of the other islands. Great golf courses (for DH). When we were there we stayed at the Grand Hyatt. They have a drop-dead fantastic brunch that I highly recommend, even if you're not a guest there. The huge room wraps around an inside-outside lagoon with beautiful fish and swans. The floor to ceiling massive doors between the two parts of the lagoon are open in good weather (which is pretty much all the time). We took a great helicopter tour of the island which was breathtaking. The huge, beautiful waterfall that you see in the Jurassic Park movie is on Kaua`i and it's very worth seeing. We snorkeled here and there around the island. Took a rafting/snorkeling trip along the Napali Coast, too. Loved all the fresh seafoood. Enjoyed shopping over on the North Shore in Hanalei and visiting (and golfing) at Princeville Resort. Many scenes from the movie South Pacific were supposedly filmed on Kaua'i. We love the laid back lifestyle there and the sheer tropicalness of it all.
Although the name sounds so un-Hawaiian, we had a great time exploring Smith's Tropical Gardens (which are about 30 acres). We also went to their luau, which was enjoyable.
The Grand Hyatt also puts on a great luau.
When we stayed there,we could see all sorts of very tropical looking roosters down on the grounds between our room and the ocean. We were told that they're everywhere on the island.

Our 30th wedding anniversary is in January and we're thinking seriously of heading back to the Grand Hyatt Kauai to celebrate it there.
Lynn

Honestly, it depends on what you like, and on how you like to vacation. We've been only once - a vacation tagged on to a conference. The conference was on Oahu, and (naturally), we spent most of our Oahu time in Honalulu, where the conference was.

The vacation part was divided between the Big Island and Kauai. The Big Island was great: we split our time between Volcanoes National Park (with a stay outside the park in a B&B) and the Waipi'o Valley in the Hamakua District (another B&B), which is on the northeast part of the island. We got there by leisurely driving, with stops at, among other places, Akaka Falls and the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. Also visited and hiked at Kilauea.

My impression (which might be wrong) is that most, or at least many people who visit the Big Island stay on the Kona Coast. I'm not much into resort-type activities: hiking in the national park, botanic garden, etc. and horseback riding in the Hamakua District is much more my style....

So I think you should first decide what kind of experience and activities you want and then start narrowing down your list of islands.

I will say that, depending on how much - or how little - time you will have in total, you might want to limit the number of islands you visit. Travel between islands is easy, but you still need to spend time doing all that airport-flying-car rental stuff, and that could eat into your actual vacation time.

Kauai - I didn't say much because, unfortunately, conditions were unusually dry when we visited. It's supposed to be a lush, lush island. Still, we did have a blast - hiked at Waimea Canyon, for example. Also some hiking on the Na Pali Coasat. Sadly - TRAGICALLY! - I just read online that A Pacific Cafe, a restaurant I was going to highly HIGHLY recommend, is closed. Among the best meals we've ever had in our lives, and it was considered the best restaurant on Kauai. Our meal was so good that we actually considered going back for another Hawaiian vacation so that we could eat there.

My favorite was Kauai also. It has been a while though. It seemed less crowded to me and the rain forest is unbelievably spectacular. Of course, each island is pretty amazing, but my least favorite was Oahu because we were in Honolulu and it is just another big city IMO.

Lucky you! Enjoy the planning and the trip!

I liked Maui better than Kauai. I loved the road to Hana, we mountain biked down Haleakala, we did a snorkeling trip to some little crescent shaped island (I think the name was Molikini, but can't remember). The luau we went to in Maui was on the beach and so beautiful at sunset. It has been 11 years, but I remember loving Maui so much more.

I've only been to Honolulu, Maui and Kauai, butKauai was the most beautiful IMHO. That said, the(downhill!) sunrise bike ride on Maui is lovely.

Have fun!

Since we live in the mountains, rurally, it is fun to go to places that have different options. A little unique shopping, a bit of hiking. Good food and time to relax and talk.

We like to try new things together. Like Calistoga mud baths... We could go snorkeling if the weather is warm enough. We could rent bicycles, a car, or horses. We are open to new experiences...

We have been to Oahu, Kauai, Big Island & Maui. They all have pros & cons. We love Kauai, for the reasons listed by Lynn. We stay on the Northshore, near Princeville, and dearly love Hanalei. The beach is about 5 mins. by car and is a great beach. The Island is lush & beautiful, and there are 2-3 beautiful gardens to tour. We've kayaked the Hanalei and Waimea rivers which is very fun, and easily accessible & do-able. Several wonderful restaurants. The Island has a sweetness to it...love it.

We also love the Big Island, and it offers lots of diversity. The beaches near the $$ hotels are gorgeous, but we have usually stayed near Kona, but not in Kona. The one thing that is bothersome for me on that island is something called "Vog", which is like volcanic fog...I find it depressing & oppressive, & actually makes me not feel very good. It's not always there, but can be a problem...mostly down by Kona.

Maui has easily accessible beaches, but we haven't spent as much time there.

Since we live in a city, I wasn't wild about Oahu, but the areas that are not Waikiki are very pretty...just busier. Waikiki is zany!!

Just decide how you want to spend your time, and go from there. I'm not sure I would do more than one island if going just for a week.

Keep us posted!

Hi Goldy!

Yea...it's hard to decide...you can't really go wrong on any island!

We've been to Oahu/Waikiki twice, Maui & Kauai.

To ME anyway, Honolulu needs to be seen! Waikiki beach, with the iconic Diamond-head crater, is just classic....and yes...busy! The high-end shops are there too, along with quaint little eateries, etc. My jaws were usually dropping at the stud cars cruising along the beach road...some Bentleys, RR's, Ferrari's!!!

Pearl-Harbor is just mandatory if you ask me....you can STILL see the oil oozing up from the Arizona. Still smells a little too...SEVENTY+ YEARS later. Pretty humbling...
Punchbowl Cemetery should be considered too.

Snorkeling in Hanauma Bay is so fun! Beautiful fish & corals. Consider some of the bus/van tours. The North-shore of Oahu is neat!

MAUI:
You've undoubtedly read my many ramblings about the Four-Seasons Hotel, so I won't gush anymore about it!
We snorkeled out at the Molokini crater too, and a few other spots on Maui's West/SW side. Watching the sea-turtles swim under you is soooo neat! We drove the beautiful Road-to-Hanna too.

KAUAI:
Yes, it's stunningly beautiful. We drove up to Princeville. The North shore is stunning there! Also toured up Mt. Waealeale. Gorgeous view down Waimea canyon!!!

Faron

I've been to Hawai'i four times and have always gone to the Big Island. Love, love, love it. But I was a geology major in college so the active volcano is a huge draw. :) I've stayed in every level of lodging from 5 Star resort to camping in county parks. I don't have anything negative to say about it. There's something for everyone.

Maybe the next time I go I'll branch out and go to Kauai. A childhood friend lives on the Northern side of Oahu and she flies to see me on the Big Island versus me going to Oahu to see her. She says it's not worth it (except to spend a day at Pearl Harbor). But for her profession she has to live close to Honolulu.

Lynxe said what I was going to say. I lived in Hawaii back when dh was in the Navy and stationed at Pearl Harbor on Oahu. I personally don't see much reason to stop in Waikiki but if you are interested in history (both Pearl Harbor and native Hawaiian), there are some fantastic things to see on the island of Oahu. However, for a more relaxing, beach vacation, you can't go wrong with any of the others. I've been to Kauai, Maui (multiple times), the Big Island several times and Molokai. Maui is probably the most touristy out of those, but there is plenty to do there and the beaches are amazing. You can also day trip over to Molokai from there which is pretty neat. Seeing the sunrise atop Haleakala is surreal, but requires a VERY early morning wake up as it is a long drive up the switchbacks of the mountain. The road to Hana is fun if you get an early start ahead of all the tourists!

The Big Island is a bit more remote but the difference in climate and landscape is amazing (dry on the Kona side, very lush on the Hilo side). Volcanoes National Park is very cool and if they still allow, driving down to where the lava has crossed the coastal road is fantastic at night. I didn't find the beaches as nice on the Big Island where the resorts are and things are definitely more secluded on the Kona side w/not as much to do compared to Maui. The Hilo side is nice to explore - lots of waterfalls, etc. I really like the Big Island, but perhaps wouldn't be my first choice for a first timer especially if you are looking for nice sandy beaches at your resort's doorstep. (Though I will say, dh, who grew up going to Maui every summer b/c his family owned a condo there, has switched allegiance to the Big Island and wants a retirement place there. Note, he has never been to Kauai though for comparison sake).

Kauai is stunning and less developed (at least back then) than Maui. I spent several days there with my mom in a bed & breakfast and we had a fantastic time. We didn't do any beach vacationing there b/c my mom isn't a beachgoer. We spent a day at Waimea Canyon which is known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. It's quite a drive from the developed side of the island, making it a full day of driving and exploring, but worth it! We stopped all along the way at different noteworthy places too. Nice beaches, waterfalls, etc. You can definitely relax and explore on Kauai, and not have to share it with as many people as you would in Maui.

Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong whatever you choose. And I'm so jealous! We were last in Hawaii (Big Island) 8 years ago when my youngest was still in my belly. She reminds us all the time how unfair it is that the entire family except for her has been to Hawaii. I try to appease her by saying she WAS there, inside my belly! LOL I think dh is in withdrawal as this is the longest he has ever gone w/o visiting Hawaii. Two of my neighbors and BIL each have condos at the Maui Westin resort and go every year, making dh so envious!

We have been to Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Lanai. Kauai and Lanai are my favorites, but I like to kick back and relax on vacation. I would love to go back!

I think it depends on what you want to do. I've been to the four major islands and if I could only choose one I would pick Maui.

I've only been to the Big Island, Kona area. We went to dive and see Volcano National Park. The diving was great: turtles, volcanic features, endemics - we didn't do the manta dives, but that's an option. People were very nice. We stayed in a condo resort; the unit had a washer/dryer which was good for our purposes. I think it depends on what you want to do.

TexanJana,

We've been going to Hawaii for over 20 years now, but have not been to Lanai. Could you tell me where you stay there & what you enjoy about that Island (other than the "kicking back", which we also enjoy when we're in Hawaii. Thank you...