Comparison · Kauaʻi vs Maui · United States
Kauaʻi 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: The original uploader was Ulfl at German Wikipedia ., Public domain
Quick answer
Choose Kauaʻi for Nā Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon and lower day-to-day costs; choose Maui for Haleakalā and Road to Hāna. Kauaʻi is generally less expensive, and the two are about 361 km (224 mi) apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 361 km (224 mi)
- Less expensive
- Kauaʻi
- Best time for Kauaʻi
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Maui
- April–May and September–October
Plan either trip
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Side by side
| Kauaʻi | Maui | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Nā Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon and Hanalei Bay | Haleakalā, Road to Hāna and Whale watching |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | US$280–480 | US$350–600 |
| Cost level | Very expensive | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | August, 30°C (86°F) | July, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 26°C (79°F) | January, 27°C (81°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 3 |
| Beaches | Poʻipū Beach Park | Kāʻanapali Beach |
| Airports | LIH | OGG, JHM |
Month by month
Going by our guides' own ratings, the better pick is Kauaʻi in June–August, and Maui in January, March and November. Both are at their best in April–May and September–October.
| Month | Kauaʻi | Maui | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26°C (79°F), 14 rainy days | 27°C (81°F), 9 rainy days · shoulder season | Maui |
| February | 26°C (79°F), 12 rainy days · shoulder season | 27°C (81°F), 8 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
| March | 26°C (79°F), 15 rainy days | 27°C (81°F), 9 rainy days · shoulder season | Maui |
| April | 27°C (81°F), 14 rainy days · best time | 28°C (82°F), 8 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| May | 28°C (82°F), 12 rainy days · best time | 29°C (84°F), 5 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| June | 29°C (84°F), 13 rainy days · best time | 30°C (86°F), 3 rainy days · shoulder season | Kauaʻi |
| July | 29°C (84°F), 15 rainy days · shoulder season | 31°C (88°F), 4 rainy days | Kauaʻi |
| August | 30°C (86°F), 14 rainy days · shoulder season | 31°C (88°F), 4 rainy days | Kauaʻi |
| September | 30°C (86°F), 13 rainy days · best time | 31°C (88°F), 4 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| October | 29°C (84°F), 15 rainy days · best time | 30°C (86°F), 6 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| November | 28°C (82°F), 16 rainy days | 29°C (84°F), 8 rainy days · shoulder season | Maui |
| December | 27°C (81°F), 16 rainy days | 27°C (81°F), 9 rainy days | No clear pick |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Kauaʻi for…
Nā Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon and lower day-to-day costs. Kauaʻi is the oldest and greenest of the main Hawaiian islands, nicknamed the Garden Isle. Its interior rises to Mount Waiʻaleʻale, one of the wettest places on Earth, whose rain has carved the Waimea Canyon and the fluted sea cliffs of the Nā Pali Coast…
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
| # | Kauaʻi | Maui |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nā Pali Coast | Haleakalā summit sunrise |
| 2 | Waimea Canyon State Park | Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) Trail |
| 3 | Kōkeʻe State Park and Kalalau Lookout | Road to Hāna |
| 4 | Hāʻena State Park and Kēʻē Beach | Pīpīwai Trail and Waimoku Falls |
| 5 | Hanalei Bay | Waiʻānapanapa State Park |
Food compared
| Kauaʻi | Maui |
|---|---|
| Poke | Poke |
| Saimin | Plate lunch |
| Plate lunch | Loco moco |
| Poi and taro | Shave ice |
Which is cheaper?
Kauaʻi is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about US$280–480 per person there, against US$350–600 in Maui (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Kauaʻi on a budget.
Kauaʻi or Maui from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones and airport coordinates: straight-line distances, not flight routes.
| Kauaʻi | 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) | 5,020 mi (8,090 km) | 4,920 mi (7,910 km) |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | 2,620 mi (4,210 km) | 2,480 mi (3,990 km) |
| U.S. plugs | U.S. plugs fit | U.S. plugs fit |
Kauaʻi and Maui are about the same distance from New York.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Kauaʻi and Maui are about 361 km (224 mi) apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 7 days in Kauaʻi and 7 in Maui.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Kauaʻi or Maui cheaper?
Kauaʻi is usually less expensive: about US$280–480 a day mid-range against US$350–600 (estimates).
+Is Kauaʻi or Maui better for a first trip?
Pick Kauaʻi for Nā Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon and lower day-to-day costs, or Maui for Haleakalā and Road to Hāna.
+How far is Kauaʻi from Maui?
About 361 km (224 mi) in a straight line.