Best Island to Vacation in Hawaii?
dlilnjndatdid asked:
Want Beaches, Activities, Nature and Night Life..
2 Ladys in 20s
Can only do 1 Island
Want Beaches, Activities, Nature and Night Life..
2 Ladys in 20s
Can only do 1 Island
Maui-lover’s Island?
Kaui-only nature?
Other Island that’s suppose to be like LA? not a big fan of LA btw..
Any advice info would be awesome, thx!
April 24th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Be sure to grab a (name of Island) THIS WEEK.
Its a magazine listing everything going on on that particular island.
Oahu has a lot of activities, but it is mostly over developed theme parks. Honolulu is a big city, and you have to lay upside down to get a tan. The Pipeline and Sunset Beaches are spectacular, but too rough for kids. Pearl Harbor is very moving.
Maui is a more relaxed vacation setting. Quiet beaches and Lahina is a fun town. The drive to Hana is very long and beautiful, and the 7 pools are incredible. Haleakala volcano is amazing at sunrise. Take a boat ride to Molikini for great snorkle/scuba.
Kauai is less developed, & more relaxed.. Nepali coast you can snorkle in the grottos, and Waiamaya Canyon is fabulous.
I like the Big Island the best (Hawaii) The active volcano, black sand beaches and pineapple plantations. But it may be too rugged with a baby and a grandma.
I think Maui is the best island as a base with kids. Try to visit at least 2 islands to get some diversity. You cant see everything unless you are there at least a month.
April 26th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
I have been to Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai and lived on Maui for a few years.
Maui is the most diverse offering all that you mentioned above plus more. There are PLENTY of single people there, don’t worry. Most of the “night life” is divided among two main hot spots: West Maui (Lahaina) and South Maui (Kehei). Maui is the best island- “No Ka Oi”. I believe it has more beaches than any other island. Don’t expect is to look like a postcard though. Most of these islands can very dry in some regions and then a rain forest in others–if you like the latter go to Hana, on the east side of Maui.
If you do not like “the big city” do NOT go to Honolulu on Oahu! And Waikiki Beach is WAY overrated and crowded, fyi
Kauai is very green, WET and beautiful! But not much night life.
This is bringing back memories-thanks. If you want more Maui info, email me.
April 27th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
we’ve been to most of the islands-Kauai is the most beautiful and we think has the best beaches,(no nightlife to speak of) Maui might be your best bet- beautiful beaches,plenty of hiking/snorkeling/biking and has a bit of nighttime entertainment in lahaina-Have a great trip!
April 29th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Kauai has great beaches. It is the oldest island in the Hawaiian island chain, so what used to be lava has eroded by millions of years of pounding surf and has turned into sand. There isn’t much nightlife but the island is very small and not very densely populated. Any bars or clubs you might find will have a mixture of locals and tourists, which I think is more fun than just hanging out with a bunch of tourists, anyway. If you hang with the locals, you get to experience some of Hawaii’s culture and you never know if you will get an interesting tip on something your guide book didn’t tell you!
Oahu is probably the island you’ve been told is like L.A. I’m from L.A. and let me tell you: Oahu is NOTHING like it! Los Angeles is a huge metropolitan city with almost 4 million people. Honolulu (Hawaii’s state capital, which is on the island of Oahu) has less than 400,000 people and is lovely with lots of trees and green belts and no billboards. Oahu offers tons of nightlife plus great beaches and other sights to see: Punchbowl crater, Arizona Memorial, and the summit of Diamond Head, just to name a few. There is also the north shore and central Oahu with its miles and miles of pineapple fields and TONS of great shopping and restaurants down in Honolulu!
Maui is pretty but it doesn’t do much for me. Some people swear it’s the only island in Hawaii they’ll ever visit because they love it so much, but I’m not one of them. Maui also has nice beaches, some nightlife (particularly in Kihei and Lahaina — both tourist spots), and good shopping.
I think you should check out the ‘Revealed’ series by Andrew Doughty and Harriett Friedman. They have written excellent guide books for the four ‘main’ Hawaiian Islands. I use mine frequently and I live on Kauai! You can buy them at any major bookstore, but check them out online first at the website I’ve included.
Aloha!
May 2nd, 2009 at 8:21 am
I like maui but if you want good night life probably the oahu place…w\e its called. Maui has wonderful beaches.