Comparison · Big Island (Hawaiʻi) vs Maui · United States
Big Island (Hawaiʻi) vs Maui
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Hawaii Land Cover Analysis project, NOAA Coastal Services Center, Public domain
Quick answer
Choose Big Island (Hawaiʻi) for Kīlauea volcano, Maunakea stargazing, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife; choose Maui for Haleakalā and Road to Hāna. Big Island (Hawaiʻi) is generally less expensive, and the two are about 159 km (99 mi) apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 159 km (99 mi)
- Less expensive
- Big Island (Hawaiʻi)
- Best time for Big Island (Hawaiʻi)
- April–May and September–October
- Best time for Maui
- April–May and September–October
Plan either trip
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Side by side
| Big Island (Hawaiʻi) | Maui | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Kīlauea volcano, Maunakea stargazing and Kona coffee | Haleakalā, Road to Hāna and Whale watching |
| Best time to visit | April–May and September–October | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 8 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | US$250–420 | US$350–600 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | August, 31°C (88°F) | July, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 27°C (81°F) | January, 27°C (81°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 3 |
| Beaches | Hāpuna Beach | Kāʻanapali Beach |
| Airports | KOA, ITO | OGG, JHM |
Month by month
Our guides rate the two the same in every month. Both are at their best in April–May and September–October.
| Month | Big Island (Hawaiʻi) | Maui | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27°C (81°F), 7 rainy days · shoulder season | 27°C (81°F), 9 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
| February | 27°C (81°F), 7 rainy days · shoulder season | 27°C (81°F), 8 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
| March | 28°C (82°F), 9 rainy days · shoulder season | 27°C (81°F), 9 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
| April | 28°C (82°F), 9 rainy days · best time | 28°C (82°F), 8 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| May | 29°C (84°F), 9 rainy days · best time | 29°C (84°F), 5 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| June | 30°C (86°F), 9 rainy days · shoulder season | 30°C (86°F), 3 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
| July | 30°C (86°F), 10 rainy days | 31°C (88°F), 4 rainy days | No clear pick |
| August | 31°C (88°F), 10 rainy days | 31°C (88°F), 4 rainy days | No clear pick |
| September | 30°C (86°F), 9 rainy days · best time | 31°C (88°F), 4 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| October | 30°C (86°F), 9 rainy days · best time | 30°C (86°F), 6 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| November | 29°C (84°F), 8 rainy days · shoulder season | 29°C (84°F), 8 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
| December | 28°C (82°F), 8 rainy days | 27°C (81°F), 9 rainy days | No clear pick |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Big Island (Hawaiʻi) for…
Kīlauea volcano, Maunakea stargazing, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. Hawaiʻi Island, usually called the Big Island, is larger than all the other Hawaiian islands combined and spans climates from rainforest to lava desert and alpine summit. The dry, sunny Kona and Kohala coasts on the west hold most of the resorts, snorkelling…
Choose Maui for…
Haleakalā and Road to Hāna. Maui is the second-largest Hawaiian island, formed by two volcanoes joined by a flat central isthmus around Kahului. The dormant summit of Haleakalā rises to about 3,055 metres in the east, while resorts line the sunny west and south coasts at Kāʻanapali…
Top sights compared
| # | Big Island (Hawaiʻi) | Maui |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park | Haleakalā summit sunrise |
| 2 | Kīlauea Iki Trail | Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) Trail |
| 3 | Chain of Craters Road | Road to Hāna |
| 4 | Maunakea | Pīpīwai Trail and Waimoku Falls |
| 5 | Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park | Waiʻānapanapa State Park |
Food compared
| Big Island (Hawaiʻi) | Maui |
|---|---|
| Poke | Poke |
| Loco moco | Plate lunch |
| Plate lunch | Loco moco |
| Kona coffee | Shave ice |
Which is cheaper?
Big Island (Hawaiʻi) is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about US$250–420 per person there, against US$350–600 in Maui (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Big Island (Hawaiʻi) on a budget.
Big Island (Hawaiʻi) or Maui from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones and airport coordinates: straight-line distances, not flight routes.
| Big Island (Hawaiʻi) | Maui | |
|---|---|---|
| Time vs New York | −5 h Jan, −6 h Jul | −5 h Jan, −6 h Jul |
| Time vs Los Angeles | −2 h Jan, −3 h Jul | −2 h Jan, −3 h Jul |
| From New York (JFK) | 4,920 mi (7,920 km) | 4,920 mi (7,910 km) |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | 2,480 mi (3,980 km) | 2,480 mi (3,990 km) |
| U.S. plugs | U.S. plugs fit | U.S. plugs fit |
Big Island (Hawaiʻi) and Maui are about the same distance from New York.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Big Island (Hawaiʻi) and Maui are about 159 km (99 mi) apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 8 days in Big Island (Hawaiʻi) and 7 in Maui.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Big Island (Hawaiʻi) or Maui cheaper?
Big Island (Hawaiʻi) is usually less expensive: about US$250–420 a day mid-range against US$350–600 (estimates).
+Is Big Island (Hawaiʻi) or Maui better for a first trip?
Pick Big Island (Hawaiʻi) for Kīlauea volcano, Maunakea stargazing, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife, or Maui for Haleakalā and Road to Hāna.
+How far is Big Island (Hawaiʻi) from Maui?
About 159 km (99 mi) in a straight line.