But, there are important differences between Maui and Oahu vacations. If you're looking for a typical Hawaiian tourist vacation, Oahu offers Waikiki Beach, historical memorials and modern culture.Meanwhile, travelers should head to Maui to enjoy outdoorsy adventures, from snorkeling to hiking volcanic peaks.
Hawaii Island (the Big Island) is home to several impressive white-sand beaches — Hapuna Beach State Park, a half-mile stretch located on the Kona-Kohala Coast, is one of them. Even locals come to this beautiful spot to picnic and hang out with friends.
Waikiki has achieved legendary status and is one of the most recognizable beaches in the world. Hawaii's tourism pretty much started here, and the popular beach resort continues to attract visitors to enjoy its combination of picture-postcard beauty, fun water sports, and big city convenience.
Maui has some of the best beaches in Hawaii and is a whale-watching hotspot. Maui is the place to be if you are interested in whale-watching tours. The island's surrounding waters contain the world's densest humpback whale population. Each year sees over 10,000 whales migrate to the island's waters.
The Big IslandEarly in the year you might see migrating humpback whales offshore, and all year long the water is perfect for swimming, bodyboarding, and snorkeling, though as is true on most Hawaiian beaches, the surf will tend to be higher in the winter months and far gentler in summer.
The Kona side is the best area to stay on Big Island as it will have the driest, sunniest weather and by far the best beaches. In fact, nearly the entire eastern coastline has no sandy beaches at all! Rather than sand, you will find only an extended lava rock shelf that drops right into the ocean.
If you're ready to trade the hustle and bustle for variety and adventure in your life, Maui probably sounds like the perfect escape. If you're looking for something quieter and family-friendly, with plenty of outdoor activities and natural beauty, Kauai is the ideal island paradise.
While Waikiki Beach is famous for its beauty and surfing, it got a little boost from other famous icons in the early 1900s. Shortly after the first hotels were built on the beach, celebrities such as Bing Crosby, Amelia Earhart, Frank Sinatra, and Joe DiMaggio rushed to see the beautiful Hawai'i landmark.
Oahu's windward coast – specifically the 10-mile stretch from the Marine Corps Base Kaneohe to Makapu'u Beach Park – is home to the bluest water in Hawaii, sure to make your next beach day unforgettable.
The sidewalks will usually be full of people all the way down there until you get very close to your hotel. It is safe unless you are our after midnight, then it is like walking around in any major city. Almost anywhere in Waikiki, you will be just fine.
The Waikiki Beach Walk is an amazing pathway along the beautiful Waikiki Beach. There are many resorts, eateries and fun things to do along this walk. It is lovely day or night. Very safe to walk in the evening.
It can be very expensive. Hidden costs like resort fees and exorbitant parking prices can easily break the budget. But there are ways to save on the cost of a vacation to Hawaii. Traveling before or after the peak summer season can save considerably.
Oahu, home to capital city Honolulu, is generally more crowded than Maui. It boasts the best-known destinations in Hawaii. You can book one of the many hotels on Waikiki Beach, visit the U.S.S.
The ferry service between Honolulu and Maui is provided by a company called Expeditions. The ferry takes approximately 2.5 hours to get from one island to another and operates daily. A one-way ticket costs $39 for adults, $20 for children between the ages of 2-12, and kids under two can ride the ferry for free.