If you could go to HI

[Breezy]

which island would you go to between the Big Island or Kauai

[CaptainTom]

As a photographer I 'd prefer the "garden" Island of Kauai

[J Eddington]

Kauai, We go every other year! When you find paradise why go anywhere else!

[Breezy]

Janice
with kids?
The big island looks gorgeous too.
We have a time share and can actually go in 09 as there are week available so I am trying to book it lol. But dh doesn't like that both are located in the middle of a golf course.

Which one has the better snorkeling? and kid friendly things? I know for photography I could do either, but I really don't want to hear the bitching if everyone isn't happy.
Thanks for your input too TOM :D

[Spec A!]

Yeah I'd say it depends on what you plan to do while there, and who's going with. Maui was great, but if we ever go again we want to see Kauai. Everything you hear about it is how beautiful and perfect it is. :)

[darktiger]

I would prob goto Kauai, when to Oahu a few months ago and loved it.

[Bella]

Go to the Big Island . .. there is so much more to do there. Kauai is gorgeous, make no mistake . . but Hawaii has more variety. Also .. .I have some memory of the last time I was there being told that the world has 7 or 8 climate zones, and the Big Island has all but 2 of them! There are black and white sand beaches, a beautiful Buddhist monastery you shoud visit (religious or not) and the southern most point in the US is on Hawaii too. There's Volcano's National Park . ..and whale watching depending on when you go . . .the coffee plantations of Kona . ..and I think it's on the drive to Kona, there is a stretch of road surrounded by black lava, where people have collected white coral and they "write" on the black lava by arranging the coral on the lava to make words . ..very cool to explore.

I just think you'll find a lot more family friendly variety on the Big Island . . oh, while you're there, make sure you try some Lehua (sp?) honey . . .Yummy!!

-Cindy

[Jaime Vinas]

kauai hands down for photography. THe big island is beautiful too, but I would pick kauai over the BI

If you go to Kauai, take the helicopter photography tour. That was the best 300 bucks spent. Very beautiful areal views of the island

[J Eddington]

Originally Posted by Breezy

Janice
with kids?
The big island looks gorgeous too.
We have a time share and can actually go in 09 as there are week available so I am trying to book it lol. But dh doesn't like that both are located in the middle of a golf course.

Which one has the better snorkeling? and kid friendly things? I know for photography I could do either, but I really don't want to hear the bitching if everyone isn't happy.
Thanks for your input too TOM :D

Kids no Problem! Poipu beach is FANTASTIC for small kids. Snorkling is great all over. You have Waimea Canyon, the HI version of the Grand Canyon. It is 10 miles long 3,600 feet deep and a mile wide. You can Kayak the wailua River to Fern Grotto, which is like a land based tree house but made out of lava and filled with tropical plants. Kaiauea Point National Wildlife Refuge with the light house is great. Kukui Grove Center has a Hula show every Friday night. Friday night is Gallery night is Hanapepe. If you go make sure you stop by and visit Aris Hopman. He insprired me to take my photography to the next level. Princeville Ranch self guided hiking tour is great (wears the kids out). Zodiac trip along the Napali Coast or a sunset sail is fun. AND Kipu Kai Ranch ATV tour is a blast. Kamalani Playground at Lydgate beach park is good for young ones (10 and under). Kaua'i Childrens Discovery Museum is fun and during the summer offer day camp. Storybook Theatre is in Hanapepe. You can go horseback riding, mountain biking. Kid love watching the Spouting Horn, guessing when the nest blow is and how big it will be. On the north shore there are dry caves that are easy to visit. Gee that is just a start! But all this depends upon what you and your family like. Kauai is not like the other islands. It is more slow paced and doesn't have the same urban feel to it. I have a friend that thinks the Virgin Islands are better. I just visited the VI and feel no reason to go back!

[ggeen]

Maui or Kauai. Been to Oahu already. Loved it and did all the touristy things. Next time looking for a more island experience. Trees, hiking, water falls, adventure.

-G

[Teddington]

Originally Posted by J Eddington

Kids no Problem! Poipu beach is FANTASTIC for small kids. Snorkling is great all over. You have Waimea Canyon, the HI version of the Grand Canyon. It is 10 miles long 3,600 feet deep and a mile wide. You can Kayak the wailua River to Fern Grotto, which is like a land based tree house but made out of lava and filled with tropical plants. Kaiauea Point National Wildlife Refuge with the light house is great. Kukui Grove Center has a Hula show every Friday night. Friday night is Gallery night is Hanapepe. If you go make sure you stop by and visit Aris Hopman. He insprired me to take my photography to the next level. Princeville Ranch self guided hiking tour is great (wears the kids out). Zodiac trip along the Napali Coast or a sunset sail is fun. AND Kipu Kai Ranch ATV tour is a blast. Kamalani Playground at Lydgate beach park is good for young ones (10 and under). Kaua'i Childrens Discovery Museum is fun and during the summer offer day camp. Storybook Theatre is in Hanapepe. You can go horseback riding, mountain biking. Kid love watching the Spouting Horn, guessing when the nest blow is and how big it will be. On the north shore there are dry caves that are easy to visit. Gee that is just a start! But all this depends upon what you and your family like. Kauai is not like the other islands. It is more slow paced and doesn't have the same urban feel to it. I have a friend that thinks the Virgin Islands are better. I just visited the VI and feel no reason to go back!

Do you sense just a little prejudice?? She forgot another fun thing on Kauai - tubing the irrigation canals on the old pineapple plantation (now owned by Steve Jobs who "promises" it will never be commercially developed). Kids love it and Janice & I introduced the staff to "tube dancing" while we floated down. The canals spend almost 50% of the trip in a tunnel. Oh, and the 10 mile bikeride down past Waimea Canyon from the mountain top. Yeah, you only have to go DOWN the hill so it's appropriate for any age or condition level.

You can't go wrong with either one but they are different.

Kauai is the least developed and probably more nature oriented in activities - beaches, hiking, and nature friendly "tourist" activities. Oh, and while the speed limits are low and you can't drive all the way around the island, it's only a couple of hours from one end to the other so you can stay in one place and still get to anywhere with a reasonable drive.

Disclaimer: We've never been to another island so this is impression, not experience. We're probably going to spend 3 days on the Big Island in November. The Big Island has more diversity in geography and the only active volcano (enough reason to go in my opinion). Snorkeling, diving or boat tours are probably similar on either island. I think Hawaii will be more commercially developed and it will be more of a challenge to get that "island" feel of the locals. To me, the big difference is the size. I think you probably need to stay in 3 different locations (NE, NW and south) in order to avoid drives of more than 2-3 hours to get to things. I doubt if you can do the whole island from one location.

Being in the military, I'd think you MUST see the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor on Oahu. We did it by flying in a day early, spending the night at a local hotel and hitting the first tour in the morning before going on to Kauai the next day. In my mind, Oahu is not much different than going to LA or San Diego - just another big city with big city development. There are other things to do, just not that different than a mainland vacation.

There's no wrong choice except not going at all. Have a great time.

[Breezy]

Thank you all so much for the great information.
As for the AZ we are hoping to go there too. I was trying to convince dh to do a week on each island but he refuses :(. He insists that we have to unpack everything on day one and that is his reasoning (WTH) lol.
We are definately going but Oahu will be based of the cost of flights. And depending on how many free days we get at the Hale Koa lol.
Thanks again and keep them coming. I am forwarding it all to dh.

[David_3]

Originally Posted by Breezy

And depending on how many free days we get at the Hale Koa lol.

I could spend all of my time right there.

I never actually stayed in the Hale Koa. How far in advance do you have to make reservations (not that it matters for me anymore...just curious)?

[dwilliams35]

Oh.. Hawaii. I thought you were talking about High Island. I was already going to get my fishing gear ready.

[Breezy]

Originally Posted by David_3

I could spend all of my time right there.

I never actually stayed in the Hale Koa. How far in advance do you have to make reservations (not that it matters for me anymore...just curious)?

ASAP for the timeshare. For the Hale Koa, once I get my gift certificates from dhs stay during the move.
They are giving one night for every 3 nights stayed. He stayed for 60 days. But I am sure there is some sort of cut off.