2007-09-07 10:02:15 · 11 answers · asked by mcbryanjeff86 1 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Honolulu
I recently found this post out there that someone did a very nice job on. It was so good I copied it and thought you might benefit from it. Here is a simple breakdown on the islands of Hawaii! Hope this helps! Aloha
Which island is best question
Oahu....
The tourist destination... many people... lots of traffic... lots of tall buildings..... good shopping... and lots of things to do...good beaches but ive been to better on the other islands... Honolulu/Waikiki is just like any other major city i.e San Francisco...clubbing, high rise buildings, and way too many people.... but it does have a lot of historical places on Oahu like Pearl Harbor, Bishop Museum, etc....
Big Island...
The only island you can't drive all the way around in a day... it also has active volcanoes on it... on the Kailua-Kona side there is a lot and i mean a lot of lava... from kona to waikaloa, a 30+ minute drive is allll lava on each side. on the Hilo side it rains a lot more and is always green... very pretty... there are many things to do here from star gazing on a volcano top to snorkeling beautiful reefs... in hilo during easter week is the largest Hula Dancing Festival in the world... i like to say the superbowl of hula... the BEST hula dancers in the world competing in one place... i highly recommend this if you are there at this time(just make sure you get tickets way in advance)...
Kauai...
most BEAUTIFUL place i have ever been... this island has the most gorgeous Palis(cliffs)... gorgeous beaches... beautiful waterfalls... luscious gardens too... this island has the best nature of the islands... Kauai is also a very quiet island especially compared to Oahu... not so much traffic.. no tall buildings... not as many people... one thing i loved to do while i was in kauai was go kayaking...
Maui...
is also a very gorgeous place... the Road to Hana is a gorgeous drive... can be scary at times cuz of the steep cliffs but it is worth it... but if you do this trip then you need to get the self guided tour cd of the Road to Hana... it is a cd that guides you all the way thorough this road... it tells you about the places you would not know about without this cd... there are so many turn offs that you do notice that lead to fantastic black and red sand beaches,tropical gardens, historic churches,sacred marae's (temple sites) and ancient burial grounds... this is well worth it... i also recommend snorkeling or scuba diving(if certified) Molokini... it is a crater just 2 nd a half miles off the coast of Maui's southern coast...it is part of the orld's top ten diving spots... it has a gorgeous reef and beautiful fish...(i saw dolphins when i was there)...
another place to go is the Haleakala Crater... it has a spectacular sunrise... i would deffinately go there...
Lanai...
is a much more smaller island of the Hawaiian islands.... it is not visited as much as the 4 major islands... Lanai has great golfing as do the rest of the islands... and also great snorkeling...
Molokai...
is a very quiet island ....and easy to hear the sounds of nature... not visited as much either... very pretty island... is has a lot more ancient sites that shouldnt be disturbed...
Kaho`olawe...
is the smallest of the Hawaiian islands...12 miles in diameter... no one is allowed to permanantly live here under law... and no one is allowed to go ashore this island without permission... so i dont know much about this island...
Ni`ihau...
is one of the smallest islands also... it is privately owned so it is off limits to eveyone except for relatives of the owners,and pretty much government officials...
there are many hotels on all of the islands... some are high class resorts and some are not... on Oahu try to find a hotel not beach side and it most likely will be less...
so i hope this helped...
2007-09-11 07:39:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oahu has more people, more traffice, more "sights to see" as the Pearl Harbor Memorial, Punchbowl, etc. I always tell folks to go to Kauai for their vacations, and take a day trip to Oahu to see the sights. Many tour companies have day trip packages to Oahu that will include both air fare and a rental car. But stay on Kauai, enjoy the beaches, the slower pace of life, the wonderful people and eateries. After many trips to Hawaii, I moved there in the 90's and still feel that is home even after returning to the mainland. ALOHA!
2007-09-07 18:08:10 · answer #2 · answered by alohamryan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well i cant pick one they both have their ups and downs:
Kauai is very quiet and relaxing...i say it is the most Beautiful island of them all.... the pali's are GORGEOUS! Kauai is more of a nature island... but after a while on this island you can get bored... not as much stuff to do unless it's nature related... there food is fantastic
Oahu is wayyyyy more crowded... more traffic... more people... beaches arent as nice but are pretty good... there is much more stuff to do on Oahu... more tourists go to this island than any of the others... Oahu has reallly good shopping! and more variety in everything there.... Oahu has more historical places to see like Pearl Harbor.....
Both islands are nice but i prefer Kauai for the beauty cuz i can appreciate it a lot more...
it all depends on hat you like.
so hope this helped.
2007-09-09 01:12:15 · answer #3 · answered by kinaranoa 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I prefer Kauai. Oahu is more commercialized and has lots of touristy things to do and see. Kauai is much more laid back and relaxing. It really depends on you. If you've never been and enjoy a party atmosphere, Oahu is for you. If you prefer to relax and take what may at a slow pace, then Kauai is the option to consider.
2007-09-08 23:23:36 · answer #4 · answered by Gone 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you out of your mind?!?! The most beautiful island in my opinion is Kauai!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The two islands are so different ! Oahu is just like ANY other city filled with traffic, hi rises and malls. Yes there are lots of things to do and you may find cheaper places to eat there and an occasion plam tree but for my money, I would go Straight to Kauai. The island is changing fast and catching up with the 21st century but still untainted and beautiful with wonderful beaches, rainforest and mountains. So much to do or nothing at all to do...your choice.
2007-09-08 22:18:24 · answer #5 · answered by laura c 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Kauai is more nice b/c it's got more of an island vibe, look & feel, it's more relaxing, quiet. O'ahu is just a big city full of traffic & tourist. It doesn't look much of an island as it use to back in the day. I use to live on the island of O'ahu in Honolulu, during 4th of July this year, my husband and I took a week off & spent it in Kauai. We both agreed that Kauai is a better island than O'ahu.
2007-09-08 15:00:05 · answer #6 · answered by sugarBear 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
kauai is my favorite island. it is much smaller than oahu and you can see all of it very easily on one tank of gas! it is a little more rural but still with shopping and such. oahu of course has a lot more 'touristy' attractions, but it also has a lot more of the elements of regular city and town life, not too interesting if you are trying to be on vacation. you will keep busy on oahu, and will have more options, but you can take it more easy on kauai.
2007-09-07 23:37:06 · answer #7 · answered by KJC 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They're both great!! It depends on the type of person you are. If you would like to get away from all the worldly stuff and just go out in the lush green jungle and on a beach without any big brand name stores then it's kaui. Oahu is alot like Beverly Hills, well Honnolulu is at least, and that's where i suggest you stay, you walk down the streets there and there's Lou Vuttion and other big stroes like that, great resturants, most expensive, and really swanky hotels.
2007-09-10 21:35:11 · answer #8 · answered by summer lovin' 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I haven't been to kauai, but Oahu is nice.. all of the hawaiian islands are beautiful. the only thing is Oahu there are more people, where kauai is more for honeymooners or if you just want to relax.
2007-09-07 17:12:48 · answer #9 · answered by green eyes 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
depends what you like.
I found kauai sad for some reason.
I like molokai best.
2007-09-08 19:28:22 · answer #10 · answered by sweets 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋