Maui or Kauai – which island is better? With summer vacation approaching, the question of Kauai vs Maui may be on your mind these days. I’ve seen both islands so many times before and truth is that it’s not easy to choose.
Overview
Kauai vs Maui – Which Island to Choose and Why?
Both islands are incredibly beautiful, yet different from each other. Some believe Kauai is everything a tropical island should be. Others swear by Maui and wouldn’t go anywhere else.
People’s idea of a tropical paradise may vary a lot, depending on their lifestyle. So if you are not sure weather go to Kauai or to Maui, here are some considerations that may help you decide which island to pick:
What’s Unique About Kauai?
Kauai is more rural and laid back atmosphere. It has more of an “island” feel: secluded beaches, taro fields and wild rugged cliffs. Agriculture still dominates much of the island’s landscape. Kauai seems to go to sleep after the sun sets below the horizon.
Although there is still a good array of bars and lounges with live music and dance, you won’t see any bright laser lights and nightclubs on this island. Here is what’s unique about this island:
• Pristine nature
Kauai is the most pristine and secluded of the four major islands of Hawaii. On this island you’ll have a real sense of peace and privacy. In Kauai you are most likely to sunbathe next to a monk seal, or swim with a huge turtle.
READ NEXT: 8 Great Spots to Visit in Kauai
• Lots of hiking trails
Kauai has some of the best hiking trails in the entire state. Depending on your hiking abilities, you can climb to an upland swamp, descend into a deep valley in the canyon, hike to a hidden waterfall, or walk along the steep cliffs of the Na Pali Coast. For active, outdoorsy travelers, Kauai is heaven on earth!
• Secluded beaches
Kauai has more beaches than any other Hawaiian island. Most of them are easily accessible, but there are some that can only be reached by trail, or by sea. Some are great for surfing, others are perfect for swimming, or snorkeling. There are some great family beaches too, but if you like private, secluded beaches Kauai is perfect for that.
• Gorgeous botanical gardens
Kauai meets its nickname’s expectations. The Garden Isle –as it is also called– is home to Hawaii’s best and most atmospheric botanical gardens. The endless sunshine and warm rain bursts on this island create a kaleidoscope of colors, shapes and textures: luxuriant ferns, patterned orchids, rope-thick vines, lush fruit trees and shimmering flowers.
• Navigable rivers
Of all the Hawaiian Islands, Kauai is the ONLY one that has navigable rivers. You can kayak past taro fields and under a canopy of lianas, watch birds and eat fresh guava directly from the trees.
• Varied scenery
Kauai is an island of contrasts. From evergreen valleys, to sharp mountain peaks, ragged cliffs, and pristine beaches, the scenery is quite varied. While both islands are stunning, Kauai wins by a narrow margin.
What’s Unique About Maui?
I love Maui! There are so many things to do on this island! No matter how often I visit it, I can always come up with new itinerary ideas for Maui.
There are a lot of reasons to fall in love with Maui: the beaches, the sunsets, the waterfalls, and so much more. But then you have most of these these in Kauai as well. So why Maui? Here are some unique things about this island:
• Reliable weather
Unlike Kauai where you will encounter more rain (especially in the northern part of the Island), Maui boast reliably sunny days all year round. Especially on the western part of the island. For that reason, most resorts and sought after beaches are located on the west side of Maui.
However, if you to travel to Hana, on the east side of the island, you are almost guaranteed to encounter rain.
• Black sand beaches and great snorkeling spots
Maui is great for snorkeling. The waters around Maui are calmer than the waters around Kauai, especially in winter. While both islands have good snorkeling, Maui has more top-notch sites and more are easily accessible from the beach. One particularity of this island are the black sand beaches which are made of ground lava rock.
• Wonderful diving locations
The different islands that make up Maui County offer many excellent dive locations. Maui scuba diving is known to be some of the best diving in the world. The Northern part of Maui is less regularly explored due to swell activity, though in the summer it’s usually calm.
• The wide variety of entertainment
Maui can be a great choice if you travel with a larger group of people who have different interests. Or if you travel with children and family members of different ages. On Maui you are more likely to find something entertaining for each one in your group.
Although entertainment on Maui doesn’t even come close to the lively Oahu, there is a good number of dance clubs and lively bars that stay open till dawn. There are also a couple of comedy clubs, many good restaurants and some great shopping areas, especially in the little town of Lahaina.
• The vibe
Lahaina is the typical old-time sea town turned tourist spot. The town is an odd mix of history, art galleries, T-shirt shops and fine jewelry stores. The number-one attraction in Lahaina is definitely “the buzz,” – the restaurants, the night-life and the swinging bars.
• The sunsets
Maui sunsets are simply spectacular. There are several great spots to catch a perfect Maui sunset, like Kaanapali Beach, Napili Bay Beach, or Kimo’s Restaurant in Lahaina. Just grab a Mai Tai and join the crowd.
Kauai vs Maui for a Honeymoon
If you are planning to spend your honeymoon in Hawaii, both Kauai and Maui will be a great choice. Both island offer enough secluded places that will give you the privacy you need for your more romantic moments.
If you are into a more active lifestyle and like to spend time doing physical activities like kayaking, or hiking, you’ll probably like Kauai more. On the other hand, if you want a bigger variety of restaurants, dance clubs and lively bars, you should choose Maui.
A Final Thought
Now that you have an idea what’s unique about each island, you can make a more educated decision which one to choose. But in the end, whether you choose Maui or Kauai, it won’t matter much. Both islands are so beautiful and diverse, that you won’t come back disappointed.
And if you are wondering what to pack for Hawaii, read this packing list for the beach.
STILL NOT SURE WHETHER YOU SHOULD CHOOSE KAUAI OR MAUI? YOU MAY FIND THESE HELPFUL:
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Joann B.
Hi there, i stumbled upon your page as we are struggling to decide between staying in kauai for 11 nights or squeezing in maui. We will be traveling the first two weeks in september. We are most worried about rain in Kauai- is it less than ideal in September?
Should we break up the trip to make sure we get some sunshine in Maui just in case? Appreciate your input!
Anda
Hi Joana,
September weather is great in the Hawaiian islands, I don’t think you’ll have too much rain. And even if it rains, keep in mind this is tropical rain: it comes and goes, it’s not there to stay. In Kauai it rains more in the northern part of the island, but it’s almost always sunny in the south (at Poipu). I think you have enough time to see both islands, so do it. You’ll love both of them.
Joann B.
Thanks so much for your response! We are bringing our 3 year old daughter and will be traveling from the east coast, so was thinking about doing one island as it seems more relaxing that way. 🙂 I guess it comes down to preference.
We love to do a mix of hiking and beach. If staying for 11 nights, how would you recommend splitting up the time between north/south?
Anda
You could spend 6 days in Kauai and 4 in Maui. This way you’ll have enough time to visit both islands and not feel rushed. There are great hiking opportunities on both islands as well as great beaches. I have several posts about the islands, so you might want to check them out for more information on activities and beaches. Hope you’ll have a great vacation and this Coronavirus nightmare will be over by then.
Stella
I have been to the islands of Hawaii many years ago ,twice. Now I would like to take my two grandchildren 12 and 9, they like to snorkel a lot, be in the ocean, like beautiful places to see, but we all don’t like rainy weather. Which island do you think we should go to. Stella
Anda
Hi Stella,
Both islands have friendly beaches for families with children, but if rain is a big concern you should probably choose Maui. Kauai is further north and it gets more rain (especially the northern part of the island). However, rain comes and goes, so it’s very rarely that it will impact your vacation to the point of ruining it. It also depends what month of the year you choose to visit the islands. In summer it’s definitely less rain. Hope this helps. Before you decide which island to choose, please check this article for the best beaches in Kauai: https://travelnotesandbeyond.com/top-7-beaches-in-kauai/
Linda (LD Holland)
We have never visited Hawaii but it is getting higher on the travel wish list. So this was great to try to decide where to start. I like the idea of Kauai with more secluded areas. It would be great to go snorkeling without the crowds. Kayaking on the rivers would be a relaxing way to pass our time. Probably the biggest things I would want from Maui would be the sunshine and sunsets.
Tanya
We are leaving Kauai after a first visit- nine days spent. I have been to Maui 4 times and headed there tomorrow. I have to say, although the hikes and scenery are beyond spectacular here, we were disappointed in the lack of entertainment and the unpredictable weather (rain and wind 3 days in a row in Princeville and sporadic regular rain the entire trip). The beaches were very average. We spent 6 nights in Poipu, at a lovely location, which was the saving grace of our time spent here. Weather is a big deal to us, therefore if given the opportunity again we would shorten our time here and make sure to hit Maui before or afterward! Hope this helps:)
Ray Bookter
Kauai is unbelievable. If you take your time , stop and look at different times of day and pretend you are in a church no one else has ever seen and just feel it, your will understand what Kauai is all about.
Hope you enjoy it. I’ve been there over 20 times and know if you open up your inner self, you will feel the magic.
Rob+Ann @TravelLatte(.net)
Tough call! Currently, we are Team Maui – but that could change in an instant. 😉 Great photos, Anda!
Anda Galffy
Thanks, Rob.
Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
Stunning photos which made me decide that a visit to Kauai is in order. I have enjoyed many visits to Maui but never to Kauai. The hiking trails and the botanical gardens are a big draw for me. Pinned for later!
Anda Galffy
Thank you, Stephanie. Hope you’ll get to see Kauai someday.
Kreete
Yep, looks like it’s decided! Kaui for hiking and Maui for snorkelling! I can’t believe how amazing they both look. I definitely need more than just a couple of days for each!
dorothyadele
I love Maui and visited Kauai briefly on an airplane tour, but I prefer a more relaxed island, and I would choose Kauai. I think that a good option would be to split your time between both.
Victoria - Meet The Wards
Both seem like really good options. If I wanted to just chill out Kauai seems like a good spot to just unplug and disconnect from the world. Thanks for sharing
Emese
I haven’t been in Maui yet, but I am absolutely in love with Kauaii. You are right, it is a nature lover’s paradise, and it has a small island vibe I love. Weather is unpredictable like you said, we started hiking the trail on the Na Pali Coast in the sunshine, and ended up drenched with torrential rain within an hour, slipping and sliding in the mud. It was a lot of fun though. Thanks for sharing facts about both islands, Maui is on our list to visit soon.
Anda Galffy
I’m in love with both islands, and I find it quite difficult to decide which one I like the best.
Doreen Pendgracs
Hi Anda. I can never resist a post about Hawaii as it is one of my most favourite places on the planet. I do love the natural beauty of Kauai and its amazing canyon. But for me, it’s handsdown Maui. I adore the vibe on Maui and could definitely see myself living there. Plus, I had one of the most incredible snorkelling adventures of my life in the Molokini Crater on Maui and will never forget it.
Anda Galffy
I know what you are saying, Doreen. I’ve seen both island many times and when it comes to deciding which one I prefer, I’m still torn between the vibe of Maui and the gorgeous scenery of Kauai.
Kat
My sister had been to Hawaii more than a decade ago and I remember her mentioning Oahu and Maui, don’t think she has been to Kauai. Between Kauai and Maui – if I was doing slow travel, then I might consider Kauai to chill out and spend time amidst nature and the rural area. However, for more entertainment and to be among the crowd, then I’d probably opt for Maui 🙂 Love your pics!
Anda Galffy
Maui and Kauai are both very beautiful and you can’t go wrong with any of them. However, if you are a party lover, Maui is a better choice for you. Kauai seems to go to sleep when the sun sets, so there is not much partying there.
beatravelling
Yes, please! #both 🙂 I am so looking forward to visiting Hawaii someday. Have been to the Pacific before, and fell in love.
Rhonda Albom
I have not been to Kauai yet but I should be there in September The hikes and trails sound like just what I need for a relaxing break from the world.
Anda Galffy
They have some great hikes in Kauai, Rhonda. You should definitely try a couple of them if you go to Kauai. I also love that you can kayak on rivers in Kauai, unlike on the other islands.
Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields
I would love to combine the best of both. The peace, tranquility and laid back nature of Kauai with the fabulous snorkelling on Maui – now that would be perfect.
Anda Galffy
You don’t have to worry about snorkeling in Kauai, Lyn. They have excellent places for that, like the beaches on the northern part of the island.
Anna
Was so interesting to read – both are on my travel bucket list! I´ve only been to the Big Island so far, and at that moment we were choosing between the Big Island and Kauai. I was more excited about the Kauai´s nature, while my husband really wanted to fly over the Kilauea. And we had no time for both. lol so as I chose the destination, he ended up choosing the island! After your post I´m pretty sure I´ll fall in love with Kauai. However, the Maui sunsets and Lahaina vibes also look amazing…
Anda Galffy
Hope you’ll get to visit each of the Hawaiian island someday, Anna. You can’t really decide which one you like the best until you’ve seen all of them. We love to take turns and go to another one each year. But when it comes to tropics, I wouldn’t go anywhere else. Hawaii is civilized, cheaper and very safe.
Karen (Back Road Journal)
Your photographs are absolutely stunning. Makes me want to get my suitcase out. 🙂
Anda Galffy
Thank you, Karen. I really appreciate it. I hope you’ll make it to Kauai someday.
Jessica @ Independent Travel Cats
Kauai looks beautiful. I have only been to Hawaii twice (Big Island) and I think it would be hard to love another island as much as I love it. But I do hope to get a chance to spend more time in Hawaii in the future and visit the other islands!
Anda Galffy
I think you should wait until you see all of them before you decide which one you like the best. Of course, loving an island more than another depends a lot of the kind of activities you do. I like the Big Island too, but there are no navigable rivers on it and way less places to hike than in Kauai. Also, because it’s so “big,” you get to spend a lot of time in the car, trying to get from one place to another.
Vlad
I was already convinced from the first picture, but scrolling through all the beautiful images made me want to go even more (especially that photo with the seal – I just love seals). I hope I can get to Kauai one day.
Anda Galffy
Kauai is fabulous, Vlad. I do hope that you’ll be able to visit at least one of the Hawaiian islands someday. They are actually all very beautiful.
Linda Bibb
What Ryan said, Anda. I’ve heard the same thing: If you can only visit one Hawaiian island, Kauai is the one. After seeing all your jaw-dropping images and considering how much we enjoy photography, I can’t imagine otherwise.
haha – How many photos did you end up with, did you count them?
Anda Galffy
Thank you, Linda. Hope you’ll get to visit Kauai sometime.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
I am loving your photos! You did a wonderful job capturing the beauty of the island. I am envious that you got such a good photo looking down from Waimea to the ocean. It was foggy when we went, and we couldn’t see much of anything at all. There are so many places still left for me to see on this Earth, but I hope to return to Kauai some day.
Anda Galffy
We always choose a perfect day when we go to the Canyon because we do a lot of hiking, Michele. I wouldn’t dare go on those muddy trails if it was rainy.
Anisa
I have been to Maui and Oahu, so definitely need to go to Kauai. Your pictures are just stunning and I really love hiking, so know I would love it there.
Lolo
I visited Kauai in 2002 or 2003 with family and loved it, but I had no idea that the island had the most beaches! I remember one beach we went to had small orange stones and the waves were strong and kept knocking me down and I ended up with torn up knees. Would love to go back!
Esther
Oh my!! No need to help me decide, what a gorgeous place! Too bad it’s just súch a drag getting there from western Europe, but I bet it would be SO worth it.
Anda Galffy
Yea, Hawaiian Islands are so far away from Europe, Esther. They are far even from the East Coast USA.
Michelle
Love your photos! And love the photos of the bird-of-paradise and the papaya tree – the former reminds me of Thailand, and the latter is pretty common around here. Kauai looks like an unspoilt piece of paradise with the beaches, waterfalls, lakes and all that lush greenery. Really makes me feel like visiting Kauai, although Hawaii is *so* expensive. And Kauai sounds like it’s even more expensive than the other islands!
Anda Galffy
Kauai may be more expensive than Oahu, but not more expensive than Maui or the Big Island.
Mary (The World Is A Book)
Such gorgeous photos and makes me really want to visit soon. We only spent a day in Kauai on a cruise stop and we want to go back. Love this post!
Anda Galffy
Oh, Kauai is worth way more than just a day, Mary. You can easily spend there two weeks and not do the same thing every day.
jill
Stunning photos! Kauai is my favorite Hawaiian island – but it’s not fair to pick as I’ve not been to the Big Island. But Kauai is such a piece of paradise – I loved my whole week there. And I would go back in a heartbeat!
Anda Galffy
Each island is beautiful in its own way, Jill. You are right, it’s hard to pick.
shere
Beautiful pictures Anda!! They really make me want to go there. I only need to find a decent priced flight ticket
Anda Galffy
That’s going to be hard, Shere. Especially coming from Europe.
Rhonda Albom
Your photos of Kauai are beautiful. They are a compelling reason to go and visit. I love the vivid colours of the tropical plant and bird life.
Anda Galffy
Thank you, Rhonda.
Ryan Biddulph
Hi Anda,
These images are beyond gorgeous. Absolutely stunning.
I have spoken to a few folks from Hawaii who say again and again that if you were to visit one island, make it Kauai. They say it is the most beautiful. I can see that from these images. But they also hit on the point of the awesome beaches and range that you speak of.
I just love a stunning tropical paradise and Kauai is it.
There is also that mystical feel to any island in the Pacific, whether Polynesia or Micronesia. I experienced this in the South Pacific, in Fiji, when I spent 4 months in Savusavu. The place was magical. But fascinating beyond that; almost like Skull Island.
These places do attract some tourists but tend to be largely unspoiled, and even though not uncharted, they have that pristine and unblemished feel to them. You can see it from your rocking photos.
Love that snap of the cardinal. Cute little bird and the bright red pops in a place with so many brilliant contrasts.
Thanks for the fabulous post Anda.
Ryan
Anda Galffy
Thanks for your comment, Ryan. I would be curious to know how the Hawaiian islands compare to other tropical islands on the planet. Besides Hawaii, I have only been in New Caledonia, but didn’t find it as beautiful the Hawaiian islands.