Oahu is more fun. More things to do. More touristy.

Maui is better if you're looking for pure beauty and quiet.

Big Island has every color of sand in the world.

Honestly, you can't go wrong; they're all great. But what do you want to do?

That is really wonderful of you and a trip she will treasure I'm sure. My only thought is that the sand on the North Shore is very hard to walk in. You sink down in in when you walk, I don't really know how to explain it.. soft and squishy and it's dry except at the water's edge. I found it really tiring to walk there. Your mom simply can't go to Hawaii without walking on the beach at sunset... at least some. Be sure to take her to the famous snow cone place that's on the North Shore... can't remember the name of it right now...

my mom went on a cruise that visited several islands..so one unpacking which she liked...she could get off or not as she chose...

I'd like the idea of maui, over Oahu, but then i'd like to see the Arizona, and the palace...

Going to Lahaina with a friend in November.

We love the Big Island ... so diverse. And they have a great infrastructure so driving around it is a breeze.

Just don't attempt to drive Saddle Road (the one that cuts across the island) if any of you have a weak heart. Between the signs that read "Danger, Overhead Artillary Firing", black lava hot from the sun and winding road where the locals drive the center line, it's a challenge and at the time we drove it, many car rental agencies would not let you take your car on Saddle Road. But it's cool to watch the island slowly change from hot, arid desert to rain forest as you drive west to east.

Just some of the sights on the big island of Hawaii:
- Kona side of the island which is dry with great snorkeling
- Hilo side which is a rain forest
- Volcano's National Park (south island)
- Kona coffee plantation (Kona side)
- Volcano Winery (south island)
- Muana Loa macadamia nut factory (Hilo side)
- Parker Ranch, one of the nation's largest cattle ranches (north on the island)
- And lots of beautiful beaches. Lots of them.

Jodi-

Kauai. I like Maui, too, but Kauai is - by far - my favorite. Have visited at least a dozen times. Been to all of them including Molokai and Lanai. Oahu IS beautiful, but far too built-up and congested. It's like visiting any other skyscraper city.

We liked Maui. It was many years ago. I'm sure its changed a lot. We also were on Oahu twice but it is busy but we did enjoy both the islands. Wonderful trip and still have fond memories of being there.
Mary

Spent a month on Oahu, when stepson was stationed at Red Baty with the coast guard.

My family and I island hopped and I preferred Kauai.

But that was a long time ago. I wasn't that big of a lover of Oahu, but did enjoy going to certain tourist sites.

The cultural center was awesome, can't think of the name of it now. Spent the whole day there. Polynesian Cultural Center, that's the name.

If I were to go NOW, I'd love to do the islands cruise. Princess cruise line would be my preference.

Rates go down after mid-April. You'd still see some whales off Maui then. May is a little less expensive and less busy before the onslaught of mainland families when kids are on summer breaks. May is really a 'blooming' time all over the islands too.

We've spent two to four weeks on all four major islands -- but in winter months. Big Island is my favorite, but when we bought it was South Maui -- more 'man made' conveniences on Maui for a property owner.

I'd 'prescribe' flights in and out of HNL on widebody aircraft. Spend some time showing Mom historic sights around Oahu, then hop to Big Island for longer. You need a week, minimum, if you want to stay sunny Kohala Coast and also a night or two in the town of Volcano. Mauna Lani has nice condos; I'm not fond of (tacky) Kona Town.

Lanai is kind of a pain to get to, and Four Seasons is the major deal there.

You can get a ton of information from the forums on Trip Advisor.

My absolute favorite, hands down, is Kauai. They don't call it "the garden isle" for nothing. Especially in the spring when all of the flowers are in bloom.

Thanks for the ideas, everyone. I haven't really started researching yet, still trying to decompress from Alaska, lol. How come it takes me days to get back to a normal routine everytime I vacation the older I get?

I do love Kauai, did the Na Pali coast trail when we were there. Quite beautiful, but quite dangerous. Waimea canyon is like a mini grand canyon. I think Kauai is my favorite isle, but for mostly active endeavors. I think it would be too much for my Mom, so am leaning towards Maui and the Big Island.

I just wanted to get some personal opinions before I start looking, so thank you all for that.

just the idea she's going to a place so many people would to do is fun...i'd check with hotels for possible wheel chair/scooter rental...she'd be able to see more and not get so tired...

and I bet they have bus tours of the main goodies?

"Waimea canyon is like a mini grand canyon." Yep, that's why it's called the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific." :-)

Kauai is the most laid-back, and relaxed island. It's not the place to go if you want a lot of activity. It's the only island with navigable rivers, too. You can take a nice, slow ride up a river to the Fern Grotto.

When we go to Kauai, we always stay at the Grand Hyatt (Poipu area). I can be perfectly content never leaving the grounds of that place.

for those of you who island hop, do you do it on an island hopping tour or do you arrange individual flights, one by one?

jmc -- You need at least three weeks in Hawaii to stay on each of the four major islands. On our first trip In the years before TSA my DH, DS and I stayed on four islands in two weeks. Since then we've never stayed less than two weeks on any one island. FAST is not what Hawaii is all about -- not enough time to get on Island Time and soak up the Aloha.

Now you lose almost half a day per 'hop' -- same TSA nonsense as with any mainland flight, plus the packing up, getting to an airport, checking luggage, waiting for luggage, picking up a rental car, finding your new lodgings and settling in. The 30-minute flights are the least of it!

There is an NCL cruise that departs Honolulu every Saturday afternoon and calls at Kauai, Maui and Big Island. You can glimpse some of the highlights of each island on the ship's tours or by reserving a rental car for DIY touring.

We went to maui for spring break, first week in april...and it raied the whole week. I'm still bitter about it- we are from seattle and really needed and looked forward to legendary hawaiian sunshine and we are still paying for the very expensive trip.

I would go to the big island in May.