My Wife and I are planning a vacation to Hawaii this September, this will be our second visit as we visited Maui and Honolulu back in 2008. Last time we stayed at the Westin Kaanapali on Maui and loved it, we loved the island and the resort. This time around we are looking at either Kauai or the Big Island, my first question is how do they differ from Maui. On Maui during the day we we did surfing, biking, kayaking escursions or would lay around the pool/beach. Most nights we went to Lahaina to go to dinner and walk around checking out the shops. Are there similar places on the Big Island or Kauai, someplace similar to Lahaina to walk around, check the shops, have dinner at night which is not too far from the resort areas.

Second does anyone have any experiences with a resort they recommend? TripAdvisor's reviews are all over the place, here's what we've been looking at:

Big Island:

Hilton Waikoloa Village (property looks fatastic, reviews say it's dated?)
Fairmont Orchid
Waikoloa Marriot Resort


Kauai:

Grand Hyatt
St.Regis Princeville
Marriott Kauai resort
Sheraton Kauai resrt

Any other recommendations appreciated, around $300 or so per night would be the budget.

Thanks.

A...pretty much anything you do in maui you can do in kauai/big island..except big island is like makena the whole kona side

B...Both places have tons of beaches and enough restaurants

C...on big island Waikoloa is very much a "resort" neighborhood(meaning $$$) much like Wailea or Kanapalii. Kailua Kona is more of a Lahaina/Waikiki type feel..

D....on Kauai not as resort(y) but Grand Hyatt is very nice

E...the sheraton & marriot on Kauai not as nice as the Hyatt or St.Regis

F...Marriot Waikaloa is nice...the hilton waikaloa is crazy big...

We have been staying at the Fairmont Orchid for several years now and enjoy the Staff and property. Their van will take you to The Shops at Mauna Lani for free not sure if they go any other places but if you contact the hotel they will tell you. When the Hotel was built it was a Ritz Carlton before it became a Fairmont Property. We have found that if you buy a Package from Delta / UA Vacations you can save a lot of money.

Each island has its own personality. That said, like Bitachu anything that you did on Maui you can do on the Big Island and Kauai. Here is an option. Stay at a resort on one island and a condo on the other. Staying in a condo will give you the benefit of doing your laundry when you want, having your breakfast on your lanai, etc. then you have the savings, which depending on where you stay could be huge. Then on the other island, splurge away.

If we do Hawaii and Kauai, we stay in a condo on the Big Island. It is the Kanaloa at Kona bookable through Outrigger.com or other sites. If you have the Entertainment card, you can get half of rack. As an example, we have stayed there in the past in a two bedroom, two bathroom ocean front unit for just under $200 per night. Nothing like waking up in the morning and having your coffee, a bowl of cereal, watching the ocean and possible wild life. That said, we always go out to eat dinner. As for lunch, depending on our location, could be an ice cream cone, a burger, sandwich, etc. There are other ocean front condos on the Big Island. This is just one example.

On Kauai, we will stay in one of the resorts. Our latest choice has been the Koa Kea in Poipu. Awesome boutique hotel. Because we saved on the big island , we can afford the ocean front room. There are other hotels on that side of Kauai. The Sheraton and the Hyatt. Also, nothing says you can't do the reverse of this game plan.

I would not say there is anything like Lahaina on either Kauai or the Big Island given that Lahaina has been an active city since the 1820's or so. Hanalei is quaint, but I think way too small. I'd much rather be in Poipu and Koloa (an old plantation town) than Princeville, where the St Regis is.

The Grand Hyatt is a great hotel. I like it better than the St Regis, but I like the location of the Sheraton Poipu, Koa Ke'a and Marriott Waiohai better than the Grand Hyatt's because you can walk to a lot of nice restaurants. The Grand Hyatt has the big fancy pool which does nothing for me because if I was looking for a cool hotel with a water park I wouldn't go to Hawaii for that.

On the Big Island, the Fairmont Orchid is the only of those three I'd consider. Our favorite hotels in that area are the Mauna Kea, Mauna Lani and Hapuna Beach Prince. There is nothing like Lahaina. I suppose Waimea/Kamuela has a bit of charm, but it is a lot smaller than Lahaina is.

Given a choice between the two, I'd go for Kauai and go for the Poipu area.

We've visited the Orchid 6 or 7 times over the years and love it. Its a former Ritz Carlton, but the beauty, architecture and grounds are preserved well. When the hotel is fully occupied, you can't tell its a full house. The beach is manmade, encased in a cove which breaks large waves, so great for kids.

If you want Hollywood meets Hawaii.. Hilton Waikoloa is an excellent destination as well.

I'll just stick to Kauai since I know that best. If you want to go out to a nice dinner every evening, you're better staying on the south side at the Sheraton or Hyatt (the Hyatt is MUCH nicer, however). There are now quite a few nice restaurants, especially in Kukuiula Village, with upscale shops. There aren't as many good restaurants in the Princeville area. I think you would find Kauai to be much more quiet and less built up than Maui, but all of the same activities that you seem to enjoy you can find in abundance on Kauai.

We really love the Grand Hyatt on Kauai. We've stayed at other places on Kauai but the Grand Hyatt is our favorite. I think their pool is fabulous - not a water park at all - just a really amazing pool with grottos and waterfalls and winding river-like features. The Kauai Sheraton Resort has just undergone a renovation. The oceanfront rooms are very nice. It's a better place now that it was before but I still like the Grand Hyatt better. The St. Regis is on the north side - great views of Bali Hai but the rooms do not have balconies. Not a fan.

On the Big Island I would highly recommend the Mauna Lani. The Fairmont Orchid is next door to it - both are on beaches. Sandy beaches are not the norm on the Big Island. The ML is old Hawaii. Very relaxing and wonderful.

I notice that some people are recommending that you visit only one island. If you have the time and don't mind giving up some of your vacation to inter-island travel I agree with going to both of these islands. Good choices!!