been to Maui 4 times - longest trip was 17 days

Kihei was where I stayed - did trips to the other locations around the island

lots to do there, and some great places to just go if you want to do absolutely nothing

An ancient chant, “Maui nō ka ‘oi” translates to “Maui is the best” but every island has the potential to be your “perfect” one depending on what you like to do. I prefer Maui because it happens to be the most suitable one for my lifestyle but I enjoy visiting the others and you’ll have a good time on any of the ones being recommended here.

Get an Alaska air or southwest air credit card and use the miles. Direct flights from Oakland and San Jose cheap to the islands. Assume you use a credit card and pay it off on a regular basis. Plus I think both cards have sign up bonuses of a bunch of miles and a low minimum to spend to get enough miles for a free flight. My wife will do this and then we get next to free flights.

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:

quote:

Originally posted by matai:
My preference is Kauai

Yes, go to Kauai. Maui is very touristy also, especially on the West side of the island. It's nothing but tourists and most of them elderly. You'd break your brain trying to count the convertible Mustang rentals. I just went and traffic was abysmal, and the traffic wasn't due to locals.

Kauai, you'll be more isolated. I have a friend that has timeshare on Maui and Kauai. He goes to Kauai probably 3X as much. When I go back next year I'll go to Kauai for the bulk of the trip, only going to Maui for a few days to surf with my friends that live there.

Another vote for Kauai. Having been to all the islands -- including Maui twice -- I highly recommend Kauai based on the parameters the you/OP mentioned at the beginning. I'm sure you'd have a very nice time in Maui, but if you want a lazier (but with still plenty to do for a good week), far more beautifully lush and tropical vacation, Kauai is the spot for you. That's where we'll be heading (again) next time around...

Solitude equals Kauai

Molokai. You could have a beach to yourself. I like to be left alone. I do not enjoy other tourists and being hustled. Oahu, and Maui have plenty of that. The big island has the volcanoes and in the more rural areas the people are generally nice.

Figure out what you want to experience and plan accordingly.

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Originally posted by ElToro:
Get an Alaska air or southwest air credit card and use the miles. Direct flights from Oakland and San Jose cheap to the islands. Assume you use a credit card and pay it off on a regular basis. Plus I think both cards have sign up bonuses of a bunch of miles and a low minimum to spend to get enough miles for a free flight. My wife will do this and then we get next to free flights.

Speaking of Alaska Air, get the Alaska Air Visa card. Once a year, you can buy tickets to anywhere they go and the second ticket is free plus tax and service fee. Still a hell of a deal. It is a fee credit card though. If you don't use it this way, you may want to cancel after.

quote:

Originally posted by 6guns:

quote:

Originally posted by ElToro:
Get an Alaska air or southwest air credit card and use the miles. Direct flights from Oakland and San Jose cheap to the islands. Assume you use a credit card and pay it off on a regular basis. Plus I think both cards have sign up bonuses of a bunch of miles and a low minimum to spend to get enough miles for a free flight. My wife will do this and then we get next to free flights.

Speaking of Alaska Air, get the Alaska Air Visa card. Once a year, you can buy tickets to anywhere they go and the second ticket is free plus tax and service fee. Still a hell of a deal. It is a fee credit card though. If you don't use it this way, you may want to cancel after.

OR, just get a Chase Sapphire Preferred or, Reserve, as the Chase points are partnered with both United and Southwest. Get the signing bonus points and use them towards either the hotel or, air. Considering the OP is out of CA Central Valley, airport options SMF, SJC, OAK, & SFO are all serviced by those two, w/SFO being United's big hub; UAL has been Hawaii's main airline for quite awhile.

As for which island, your wife put you on a mission, Hawaii it is....now, is this trip to be a lazy, recharge the batteries kindof trip, or, get out and do stuff kindof trip? Lots of good responses from members so, no need to add. With just 10-days, does that really mean 2-days total of flying, and only 8-days of actual ground time? Something to consider if you're thinking of visiting two islands, you should chart out your days/nights before committing. Airport security, and rental car returns can suck up time and throw a wet blanket on a good time.

If you're watching the funds, Costco Travel has a pretty good line-up of hotel/resorts to consider, many friends have used them, no complaints. Just remember, like a cruise, the cheaper it is, the more yahoos and idiots you'll likely encounter/deal with.

If you're locked-in on visiting Pearl Harbor/USS Arizona/USS Missouri (Oahu), devote a full-day and start early in the AM. The crowds will fill fast and can be overwhelming/frustrating. For most people, being outside for so long in humid air, will drain one's patience. Nap afterwards highly advised, then nice dinner.

I've been on Oahu and Maui.

Maui is my vote.

My wife and I have been to Kauai, Maui, Oahu and the Big Island. Unless all you like is waking with the sun, hiking all day and doing nothing after dinner but bedroom activities, Kauai is not a great choice. Maui was way too touristy and expensive. We only went to Oahu for the Pearl Harbor tour, which was completely worth the two day excursion after spending a week on the Big Island, which is far and away our favorite. It has active volcanoes, a mountaintop observatory, coffee plantations, deserts, rain forests, historical places, beaches with a variety of colored sand, but still has some nightlife.

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Originally posted by tatortodd:
I spent 5 winters in Alaska and 2 winters in Canada so it's no coincidence that I've been to Hawaii 7 times.

Here is how I rate the Islands:
#1 - Big Island
#2 - Maui
#3 - Oahu
Distant 4th - Kauai

Big Island is larger than the other 3 islands combined so it has the most coast line which means it has the most opportunity for something amazing to form that is awesome to snorkel. Since it has the most land, the costs tend to be a little lower since land isn't at such a premium (e.g. my first trip was 1/2 Maui and 1/2 Big Island. I stayed at Marriott on both islands and it was 30% less on Big Island. I used the same rental company on both islands and on Big Island got a convertible Camaro for less money than a Chevy Impala on Maui.). I've stayed at the Marriott, Marriott Courtyard, and a 1 bedroom condo I found on VRBO.

Hawaii has had a rental market longer than other vacation destinations so an older website such as VRBO tends to have more condos/homes for rent than AirBNB.

One thing to note that is unique to Big Island is that if you're a scuba diver there is enough elevation change on the island where you need to plan your trip carefully. For example, you cannot go to Volcano National Park, Mauna Loa, etc. within 24 hours of scuba diving or you could die. Also, helicopter tours need to be planned 24 hours after diving since they likely include flying over VNP.

Another Alaska resident here, and a Hawaii veteran, lol. Our favorite island is, hands-down, the Big Island on the Kona side. Maui is #2, Kauai #3, and Oahu a distant 4th for us, although you should try to go see Pearl Harbor, even if you do an island hop plane ride while staying on another island. We've been 12 of the last 13 years, and all of the last 7 to Kona area. Love it. Would seriously consider retiring there if not for the state's politics.

Big Island!

Way too much cool stuff. Volcanoes National Park alone wins out over the other islands. Even if there is not an active flow the park is amazing. Get out of the car and make some short hikes. It and Yellowstone are probably my 2 favorite national parks, a very pissed off Mother Nature.

Not only that there is way too much other cool stuff. resorts at Waikoloa, the Saddle Road, observatories atop Mauna Kea, cattle ranches of Waimea, rainforest on the Hilo side, etc.

Had talk about it today with my neighbor who’s 75% Hawaiian. She’s lived on all islands and chose here to raise her kids. Big Island is cheap to stay/live but for good reasons. Big Island roads mostly inland with no scenic views. Good stuff far apart so nod off in car unless driving. On Maui all the best stuff is free and it’s only expensive if you let yourself get suckered into all the crap former California residents try to sell you so they can afford to live here. Beaches are free. Sunsets are free.

Been to Hawaii 3 times. Maui hands down.

We've been to Maui 3 times and absolutely love it. I have never had a feeling anywhere like I do on Maui. It is truly special to me, and to my family. My one caveat is that it has been more than 10 years since our last trip there and Maui was getting more developed each time we went, but it was truly amazing.

We've been to Oahu a few times too. I wouldn't waste any time there.

Kauai may be the new Maui from what I have heard, but I have never been there.



.

Looks like a split decision between Maui and Kauia! You guys aren't making it any easier!

Plus a side trip to Oahu for some history... I would like to go to Pearl Harbor.

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Originally posted by thumperfbc:
Looks like a split decision between Maui and Kauia! You guys aren't making it any easier!

Plus a side trip to Oahu for some history... I would like to go to Pearl Harbor.

Both are about 40-50-min flight time from Oahu in opposite directions. I'd pick-one, then plug-in a layover visit to Oahu.

As you review flight options and work on an itinerary, you could fly-in/out of HNL, lay-over 1.5 days to visit Pearl either at the beginning or, end of your trip.

Op. I’m going to throw in for Kauai. Wife and I went with another couple in January of 2012 for two weeks. We never left the island and we had a blast. The island is more rural and laid back.

We stayed at the Kauai Beach Resort which was about 20 minutes away from the airport at Lihue. Contrary to what another poster said, we flew from L.A. to Lihue direct.

We enjoyed the resort, but never took advantage of any of the amenities there, so looking back it was a bit of a waste from that perspective.

We did befriend some of the staff there and got a few referrals to some local flavor to eat at.

We enjoyed the beaches, falls, sightseeing etc. One of the fun points for me was looking up how many movies were filmed there and then visiting the spots as we went. You can find the beaches from Gillian’s Island to Jurassic Park there. Heck, the spot in “Peru” where Indiana Jones jumped into the river the get away from the dart blowing natives is there and on one of the tours.

We only went the one time, although it’s calling me back. As someone else said, if not for the political stuff...

One final thought not already mentioned by anyone else. I made a journal during the trip using Evernote on my phone.

I couldn’t afford a nice camera at that time and wound up using my phone for everything. I’d make a note each day and jot down where we stopped and what we did and the add a few pictures to it.

Now all these years later, I can look back on pretty much each day of the trip and pick out the highlights. Well worth the few minutes a day it actually took.

Either way you decide, enjoy yourself with your bride!

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Originally posted by corsair:

quote:

Originally posted by thumperfbc:
Looks like a split decision between Maui and Kauia! You guys aren't making it any easier!

Plus a side trip to Oahu for some history... I would like to go to Pearl Harbor.

Both are about 40-50-min flight time from Oahu in opposite directions. I'd pick-one, then plug-in a layover visit to Oahu.

As you review flight options and work on an itinerary, you could fly-in/out of HNL, lay-over 1.5 days to visit Pearl either at the beginning or, end of your trip.

Yea, that is a not a bad idea... We can also fly direct to either Maui or Kauia from bay area airports as well. It is a little more than flying to Honolulu but I'm not stressing on an extra $60 for a flight.

Depending on date, Alaska flights from West Coast to Maui can be $200/person one way, give or take.
If flying to Oahu, look at Hawaiian, you get an early start on appreciating Hawaiian music and scenery.