1st time to Hawaii I'll have a chance in early August to spend 3-4 days in Hawaii after some business in Oahu. Will be with family and a young baby--so laid back, great scenery/sunsets at the hotel, and easy car trips into the mountains from the hotel/condo are a priority. Not a golfer, so don't care about that. I think I have nailed down my targets to: Southern Maui (near Wailea) Kauai (probably South/Poipu) Though I could re-consider South Kona in the Big Island (though I was just thinking the car trips would be too long and going with something smaller scale this time). Thoughts from experienced Hawaii travelers?
You can't go wrong with either. Depends on what you really like...in my opinion, Kauai is prettier, but there's more things to do on Maui.
I have only been to Kauai and it was INCREDIBLE! We stayed in Princeville and just hung out on the North side of the island. Lots of movie stars up there just chillin'. Has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. Very untouristy, not much to do at night though. (I was on my honeymoon so let's just say I was occupied...) Check out the Princeville Hotel balcony cafe for a sunset and a lava flow (drink). Open to the public. Sky looks like it is on fire.
Kauai was great when I went. Check out Brennecke's Beach if you decide to go there (Poipu area). Also kayaking/canoeing up the river from Raiders of the Lost Ark and hiking to the falls from Jurassic Park is a fun family thing to do.
I'd say Kauai because I lived there and have never been to Maui. If you're going in August, I would recommend the North shore. In the summer the North shore is calm with gentle waves and really nice weather . The South shore has big swells during that time of year. It's the opposite during the winter. There are plenty of nice beaches from which to choose. Anini beach is probably the best place to take a young baby, reef protected, nice shade trees, beautiful.
Awesume tips fellas. Makes a lot of sense about the swells, even if I give surfing a try I wouldn't want the big swells. So in midsummer would northern Kauai (e.g., near Princeville) have good/unobstructed sunsets or would sun rises be the thing at that time of year. One of the main things about S. Maui is it seemed pretty cool to have you situated right between a 10K foot mountain & the ocean (even bigger on the Big Island). As I said before most of the time we will be hanging near the hotel/condo anyway except for some short day excusions--I'd like to do serious hiking/exploring some time--but I know it won't be happening on this visit. I do have 4 inter-island frequent flyer tickets now on hold (can change) for Lithi/Kauai--it just seems Kauai has even more going for it for what I want despite the more modest mountain backdrops than some of the other Islands. Thanks again and if anyone else has more to add please do.
Never been to Maui but the Na Pali coast on the north shore of Kauai is by far the most dramatic scenery I have been to. Check it out http://www.kauai-hawaii.com/
Hanalei Bay Resort This is in Princeville on the north side (as opposed to south side Poipu). I loved it there. The Waimea Canyon (grand canyon of the pacific) is about an hour clockwise from Poipu, toward the west side, but there's no good places to stay over on the west side. So, for proximity sakes, Poipu is your best bet. The highway doesn't connect counterclockwise from the north, because of the Napali coast, so maybe my suggestion isn't so hot. But you really don't need to see the canyon every day. A day trip is enough. The trail along the sheer cliff face of the Napali coast does start on the north side near Princeville, though. So I don't know if you want to try that. I've been all over that island (as a tourist), so if you have some more questions, just ask.
