Difference Between Maui and Kauai

Key Difference – Maui vs Kauai
 

Many tourists debate whether to visit Maui or Kauai when planning a trip to Hawaii. Although both are islands in the Hawaii chain, there is a difference between the Maui and Kauai based on their atmosphere, sights and tourism industry. Maui has a wide range of shops, restaurants, and resorts while Kauai is more rural and isolated. This can be considered as the key difference between Maui and Kauai. However, both Maui and Kauai have gorgeous beaches and offers tourists the opportunity to engage in a variety of outdoor activities such as snorkeling, diving, and hiking.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Maui
3. What is Kauai
4. Similarities Between Maui and Kauai
5. Side by Side Comparison – Maui vs Kauai in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Maui?

Maui, also known as the “Valley Isle” is the second largest island in Hawaii. It is known for its calm water, tourist appeal, and numerous beachfront accommodations. When compared with other islands, especially Kauai, Maui has a wide array of shops, restaurants, and resorts– from simple to exquisite Hence, it is more crowded as well. This island is also accessible and easy to see. Most of the coast is clearly visible from the road.

The sea is calmer in Maui beach, so it’s perfect for snorkeling and diving. The calmer waters between Maui and its neighboring islands is a perfect for watching humpback whales during the winter. However, the two most unique sights in Maui are the Haleakala and the road to Hana. Haleakala is the large dormant volcano that occupies about 40% of the island. The visitors can hike, bike or drive parts of this volcano. This is also a perfect spot for watching the sunrise. The road to Hana is one the most scenic drives in the world.

What is Kauai?

Kauai, also known as the “Garden Island”, is the fourth largest island in Hawaii. This is also the oldest and northernmost island in the Hawaiian chain. This is an ideal holiday destination for tourists looking for lush, rugged and rural landscape with a touch of adventure. When compared to Maui, Kauai may seem isolated since there are no high rise resorts or other major touristic constructions. In general, there are fewer tourists in Kauai.  Some parts of Kauai are only accessible by sea or air. Most of the coast is also not visible from the road.

Kauai is also the site Waimea Canyon, which is considered as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” and Napali coast, which is a large coastline shown in various movies. These two are the main two unique sights in Kauai. Kauai also offers tourists the chance to kayak since there are several rivers flowing through the island. However, Kauai shore is not as calm as Maui shore.

What are the Similarities Between Maui and Kauai?

• Maui and Kauai are two islands in Hawaii.
• Both are known for their beautiful beaches.
• Both offer a variety of outdoor activities such as snorkeling, diving, and hiking.

What is the Difference Between Maui and Kauai?

Maui vs Kauai
Maui is the second-largest island in Hawaii.	Kauai is the fourth largest island in Hawaii.
Accessibility
The whole island is accessible.	The whole of Kauai is not accessible.
Atmosphere
Maui is busier and touristic than Kauai.	Kauai is more rural, adventurous, and quiet than Maui.
Crowds
Maui is more crowded than Kauai.	Kauai is relatively isolated.
Tourism
Maui has many resorts, restaurants and shops.	There are no high rise resorts; there are less touristic buildings in Kauai.
Cost
Most of the coast is visible from the road.	Most of the coast is not visible from the road.
Whale Watching
Maui is the best destination for whale watching in winter.	Kauai is not good as Maui for whale watching.
Main Sights
Haleakala and the road to Hana are the two main sights in Maui.	Waimea Canyon and Napali coast are the two main sights in Kauai.

Summary – Maui vs Kauai

It is important to know the difference between Maui and Kauai to plan a perfect Hawaii trip. The main difference between these two islands lies in their atmosphere, sights and tourist appeal. While Kauai appears quite rural and untouched, Maui is a tourist paradise.

Download the PDF Version of Maui vs Kauai

You can download PDF version of this article and use it for offline purposes as per citation note. Please download PDF version here Difference Between Maui and Kauai

Image Courtesy:

1.’Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii United States – panoramio (2)’By Michelle Maria, (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2.’Coast of Kauai, Hawaii’ By Paul Bica (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia