Hawaii - Kauai vs. Maui

Why only 1? The puddle jump isn't that bad.

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Why only 1? The puddle jump isn't that bad.

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heard the flight is expensive now from one island to the other.

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heard the flight is expensive now from one island to the other.

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It's $100, give or take a few bucks. And Southwest is about to start flying and give Hawaiian Airlines some competition to bring prices down even further.

I've only done Kauai and the Big Island, but Kauai is awesome. I hiked the full Kalalau Trail and camped at Kalalau Beach and loved it. If you want to do that, you have to get permits way in advance, but even doing the first two miles of the trail as a dayhike is stunning.

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I hiked the full Kalalau Trail and camped at Kalalau Beach and loved it.

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I was thinking about doing that but I watched some Youtube videos and that trail looked pretty scary in some places and apparently a lot of people have slipped and fallen to their deaths.

I love a good hike but I'm not risking my life.

Eh, there are dozens of people hiking the full trail everyday, and I think that in the last ten years, that there have been two people who fell to their deaths on the Kalalau Trail. There are a couple of sections in the later part of the trail (e.g. "Crawler's Ledge") where you have to be careful (and I wouldn't want to do those sections in bad weather). And a mentally ill person pushed someone off the trail in 2012. There have also been a couple of people killed trying to cross streams in floods and have been swept out to sea. But there have been about a hundred people killed trying to swim at Hanakapiai Beach, where there are all kinds of signs warning you that you will get swept out to sea and die, but some people do it anyway.

But it's incredible -- the best hike in my life. Everyone in decent physical condition who goes to Kauai should do the first part of the trail to Hanakapiai Beach and back, as that section isn't dangerous at all and is stunningly beautiful.

FYI the Kalalau Trail is currently closed due to mud slides and flooding. Not sure if they have an eta on when it’ll open back up.

The water quality in Maui is better, FYI. Kauai has so much rain that the water has much lower visibility. So factor that in if you want to snorkel. Waimea Canyon is incredible for "safe" hiking. Take a look at some online pics, it's incredible. Following a hike with a shave ice (or three) is a great day.

Maui is a bit more civilized with more higher-end restaurants, hotels and resorts. The island is geared a bit more towards tourism and things to do are a bit more accessible to one another. Water at Maui is probably a little more calm, especially in winter months. There is probably more shoreline access to snorkeling on Maui as well.

Kauai is a little less civilized and more rural. They have resorts, too but not the hi-rise monstrosities you see on Maui, Oahu, etc. Since it's not as geared towards tourism, it's more lush than Maui (which is a pretty fine line for a Hawaiian island). Where Maui has beaches-a-plenty, Kauai is less developed and offers rivers for kayaking, too.

More than a few places for sun, beaches, hiking, snorkeling, sailing, tours, etc on both. One is just a little more "wildlife" than the other. Honestly, you should split time between them.

For the first time visitor to HI, I'd recommend Maui as a primer. "All of Hawaii" on one island. Best beaches, snorkeling, awesome drives, great golf and restaurants.

Kauai is quieter but has more stunning scenery and great hiking.

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FYI the Kalalau Trail is currently closed due to mud slides and flooding. Not sure if they have an eta on when it’ll open back up.

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Supposedly June.

BTW for those who have done the trail, can I safely bring a kid in a child carrier for the first two miles if I don't do anything dumb like walk on the super wet stuff and try to die like the other morons?