HAWAIIAN ISLANDS: Oahu vs Maui vs Kauai - which island is best?
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Sheraton Kauai Resort
Which island should you choose to travel to for your Hawaiian beach vacation? Oahu, Maui, or Kauai?
I’ve been asked this question a few times, “where to travel in Hawaii, which island is your favorite?” I might be biased because we’ve been to Maui so many times but it all comes down to how you like to travel and what experiences you’re looking for. I broke this list into categories so you can see for yourself what Island matches your style and pace!
RELATED POST: How much does it cost to go to Maui in 2021? - Itinerary, budget, and more!
Kauai - Waimea Canyon
Fun Facts about the Islands:
Kauai
Known as the garden island as the tropical rainforest covers most of the surface. Jurassic Park was shot here in which you would recognize the waterfalls and cliffs from the NaPali coast! Waimea Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, is a 10-mile long canyon with breathtaking views and offers a variety of hikes and lookout points. Kauai is a great honeymoon destination!
Maui
Maui is the second-largest island in Hawaii and is known as the “Valley Isle” for the large isthmus separating its northwestern and southeastern volcanic masses. Haleakala is the southeastern volcano and popular for spectators to watch the sunrise at 10,000 feet with clouds looming below. The west side of Maui has some great resorts along Wailea and Kaanapali beach.
Oahu
Oahu hosts the state capital, Honolulu, and is famous for high-rise hotels and the infamous surf beach in Waikiki. West of Honolulu is Pearl Harbor, site of the WWII's 1941 bombing attack and home to the USS Arizona Memorial. It’s the easiest island to get to as well with the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) one of the biggest and busiest airports in the world.
Maui - Sunrise at Haleakala
Are you looking for a fast-paced or relaxing kinda trip?
More Relaxation - Kauai was like driving through a jungle most of the time! The island felt very spread out, and as it is the garden isle, it was so lush and green. We went in January which was very windy and wet, though I hear that’s often the weather pattern in Kauai. We stayed in Poipu and it wasn’t very crowded. No one felt like they were in a rush here, which was nice for a change.
A little of both - Maui is great so that you can get to remote areas like staying in Hana to unplug for a few days. Or, you can stay in Wailea or Kaanapali at a resort with ocean views and beach access (and spas!). You’ll still have shopping areas and more options to zip around the island.
Fast-Pace - Oahu is very city-like with lots of high-end retail stores, high-rise buildings, and traffic if you stay in Waikiki! If you’re looking for nightlife, this is your place! The North Shore is more laid back if you want to head up there to relax or catch a surf competition.
Grand Wailea Resort
Outdoor Activities
Kauai - So many things to do outdoors!
Hiking is available on all three islands, though we did more hikes in Kauai than the other 2 combined! There are many levels of difficulty and well, mud. You can also casually tube down the mountains via water tunnels and canals in some spots!
Take a helicopter tour around Kauai. Ours was canceled 3 times due to weather so we were unable to go, but the pictures and sites we saw from the ground would have been even better from a birds-eye view.
Go on a snorkel tour and see the island from the outside looking in.
Maui - Lots of water activities!
Tour the Road to Hana for lava tubes, hiking, red and black sand beaches, waterfalls, and swimming! The gorgeous remote views will take your breath away!
Check out what’s under the sea. Lots of great snorkeling and scuba sites all over the west side of Maui. If you don’t want to get wet, check out the aquarium to see the beautiful Hawaiian reef behind glass. During the winter months (November-May), humpback whales migrate through the sheltered ʻAuʻau Channel between the islands of Maui county!
Oahu - So much to explore!
Visit Pearl Harbor! I was surprised by how much there was to see and do there, and most of it is free! There are ships, submarines, and planes you can walk on for an inexpensive price! Get there early before tickets sell out.
Hike up the inactive volcano, Diamond Head, and take in Waikiki views from above.
Surf gnarly waves! Some of the best waves in Hawaii can be found on Oahu beaches.
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Oahu - View of Waikiki Beach from Diamond Head
Are you a hotel resort or Airbnb type of person?
Kauai has smaller resorts compared to Maui and Oahu, but they also have some Airbnb type options as well.
Maui has bigger resorts and more Airbnb type options. Resort prices range from 3 stars to 5 stars along the sand beaches!
Oahu has lots of skyscraping hotels in Waikiki with lively nightlife! If you have your window open in your room, it almost sounds like New York city with honking and traffic.
No matter which island you choose, we ALWAYS find THE BEST rates through Booking.com. See deals of up to 50% off! You can save a bunch of money if you book a bundle flight+room+rental car! They even have apartments, lodges, and houses you can rent, just like AirBnB or VRBO! By booking through this link, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you! PLEASE support our blog and bookmark this link!
Sheraton Maui Deluxe Room Views
Beaches - Do you want to layout or participate in water activities?
Kauai - We stopped at a few beaches driving along the coast and most were completely empty! Great sand to layout on or take a long walk.
Maui - Lots of beaches to visit on the west side! If you drive further away from the resorts, you might have a beach to yourself! However, the resorts do have a lot of water activities available such as parasailing, jet ski, etc. If you’re into that!
Oahu - Head towards the North Shore for less crowded beaches, although the Waikiki waves were pretty fun! Lots of water activities available here too.
Sheraton Kauai Resort
Restaurants - Do you prefer fine dining or more casual restaurants?
Kauai - Some fine dining, but more local casual spots. Folks like to turn in early here. We enjoyed Merriman’s which wasn’t too far from our hotel in Poipu.
Maui - It’s a bit of a mix and match of both fine dining near the bigger resorts as well as great local spots with loco moco! Our favorite restaurant is Monkeypod Kitchen and they have 2 locations (Wailea or Kaanapali)!
Oahu - More chain-like restaurants here, but definitely some great fine dining options. My favorite restaurant was the Top of Waikiki, a revolving restaurant with 365 views! Sounds like it is permanently closed due to the lack of tourism in 2020!
Maui - Merriman’s Restaurant at Sunset
How do you budget travel to Hawaii and how do you island-hop?
GREAT question! If you’re traveling on a budget, I recommend using points and miles. Plan at least a year in advance if you need to save up! Alaska Airlines offers a great deal if you have their credit card - you can have a companion fly for a discounted price upon booking! Sometimes my flight as a companion is only $150 and free checked bags (1 per person)! Make sure you book well in advance to take advantage of this opportunity. Chase credit card points are also good as they have a 1:1 ratio for points and miles. The Marriott Bonvoy credit card offers a free night a year! I’m happy to give you free pointers if you contact me!
RELATED POST: How much does it cost to go to Maui in 2021? - Itinerary, budget, and more!
Don’t want to mess with credit cards? We ALWAYS find THE BEST rates through Booking.com. See deals of up to 50% off! You can save a bunch of money if you book a bundle flight+room+rental car! They even have apartments, lodges, and houses you can rent, just like AirBnB or VRBO!
Most flights come into Honolulu (HNL) or Maui (OGG). From there you can travel to the other islands within an hour via plane.
No matter what, you’ll have a great time in Hawaii! Live aloha and relax! Feel free to contact us for a more in-depth conversation or leave a comment below. We’d be happy to help you plan your next trip!
Please note this is not a sponsored post and based on my own personal experience, all thoughts are my own.
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MORE HAWAII POSTS:
Our guide and best tips for Kauai including where to stay, eat, and things to do! See Waimea Canyon tips, restaurant recommendations (and ice cream recs, of course!), and Poipu favorites!