Comparison · Honolulu vs Maui · United States
Honolulu 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: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Honolulu for Waikīkī Beach, Diamond Head, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife; choose Maui for Haleakalā and Road to Hāna. Honolulu is generally less expensive, and the two are about 168 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 168 km
- Less expensive
- Honolulu
- Best time for Honolulu
- April–May and September–October
- Best time for Maui
- April–May and September–October
Side by side
| Honolulu | Maui | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Waikīkī Beach, Diamond Head and Pearl Harbor | Haleakalā, Road to Hāna and Whale watching |
| Best time to visit | April–May and September–October | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 6 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $300–$500 | $350–$600 |
| Cost level | Very expensive | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | August, 32°C (90°F) | July, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 27°C (81°F) | January, 27°C (81°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 3 |
| Beaches | Waikīkī Beach | Kāʻanapali Beach |
| Airports | HNL | OGG, JHM |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Honolulu for…
Waikīkī Beach, Diamond Head, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. Honolulu, on the south shore of Oʻahu, combines a real Pacific city with Waikīkī's beach resort strip. Most visitors stay in Waikīkī, where the sea is gentle enough for first surf lessons and Diamond Head rises at the eastern end, and take day trips to Pearl…
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
| # | Honolulu | Maui |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waikīkī Beach | Haleakalā summit sunrise |
| 2 | Diamond Head (Lēʻahi) | Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) Trail |
| 3 | Pearl Harbor National Memorial and USS Arizona Memorial | Road to Hāna |
| 4 | Battleship Missouri Memorial | Pīpīwai Trail and Waimoku Falls |
| 5 | Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve | Waiʻānapanapa State Park |
Food compared
| Honolulu | Maui |
|---|---|
| Poke | Poke |
| Plate lunch | Plate lunch |
| Loco moco | Loco moco |
| Spam musubi | Shave ice |
Which is cheaper?
Honolulu is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $300–$500 per person there, against $350–$600 in Maui (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Honolulu on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Honolulu and Maui are about 168 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 6 days in Honolulu and 7 in Maui.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Honolulu or Maui cheaper?
Honolulu is usually less expensive: about $300–$500 a day mid-range against $350–$600 (estimates).
+Is Honolulu or Maui better for a first trip?
Pick Honolulu for Waikīkī Beach, Diamond Head, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife, or Maui for Haleakalā and Road to Hāna.
+How far is Honolulu from Maui?
About 168 km in a straight line.