Everybody desires of their first Hawaiian trip, however deciding between the 2 hottest islands of Oahu and Maui might be a particularly troublesome and vital selection.
Each islands have unbelievable seashores, snorkeling, eating places, and actions. Each additionally value about the identical quantity for flights and lodging… so how do you select?!
On this information, we examine all the most vital elements that will help you resolve whether or not to decide on Maui vs Oahu. This consists of breakdowns of value, seashores, actions, climate, crowds, and a lot extra.
By the top, you’ll have realized the whole lot it’s good to contemplate to make the suitable choice for YOU!
Disclosure: With the intention to maintain offering you with free content material, this submit doubtless comprises affiliate hyperlinks. Should you make a reserving or buy by way of one among these hyperlinks we earn a small fee at no further value to you. So a HUGE thanks to you in the event you click on one among these hyperlinks 🙂
🌺 Maui vs Oahu Snapshot
Oahu is the most well-liked and best option of islands for many first-time guests of Hawaii.
Whereas Maui and Oahu are comparable in some ways, Oahu has a slight edge in essentially the most influential decision-making elements corresponding to greatest seashores, widest vary of lodging choices, greatest nightlife, and most direct flight choices.
Seek the advice of the desk under for a fast have a look at essentially the most generally in contrast options of Maui vs Oahu.
Who Ought to Select Maui Over Oahu
Maui is a greater choice than Oahu for the next vacationers:
- Households with youngsters
- Honeymooners
- Journey vacationers
- Nature & panorama photographers
- Street trippers
Who Ought to Select Oahu Over Maui
Oahu is a greater choice than Maui for the next first-time guests to Hawaii:
- Seaside bums / Resort seekers
- Surfers
- Buyers
- Singles
- Historical past & tradition buffs
- Group celebrations
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🌴 Maui vs Oahu Breakdown
🐢 Maui Overview
- Nickname: The Valley Isle
- The place to Keep: Kihei or Wailea
- Airports
- Kahului (OGG) – Fundamental Airport
- Hana (HNM)
- Kapalua (JHM)
Finest for: Individuals who need a bit of little bit of the whole lot; some lavish, upscale choices, nature to discover however principally by automotive, well-known and secret seashores, one thing for everybody.
Advised: PLANNING A TRIP TO MAUI: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE
🏝 Oahu Overview
- Nickname: The Gathering Place
- The place to Keep: Waikiki or Honolulu
- Airports
- Honolulu (HNL) – Fundamental Airport
- Kalaeloa (JRF)
Finest for: Individuals who favor resorts and vacationer sights; these which might be extra a couple of enjoyable trip than exploration, in addition to seaside fans.
Advised: PLANNING A TRIP TO OAHU: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE
🌤 Climate in Maui vs Oahu
Fast Takeaway
☀️ Kihei / Wailea on Maui are the driest locations to stick with the most effective climate on both island.
🌥 Each Maui & Oahu have a number of microclimates. The climate is most depending on the time of yr and precise location.
If you would like the most effective likelihood at sunny days with no rain, the Kihei and Wailea-Makena areas of Maui are the most secure guess. They see the least rainfall and most sunny days of any area throughout each Oahu and Maui.
Should you resolve to remain on Oahu however need good seaside climate, Ewa Seaside is the driest place on the island. The extra standard Waikiki Seaside sees 123 days of rain on common, however that is principally passing drizzle that won’t have an effect on your time.
Perceive that every one Hawaiian islands have massive volcanoes that not solely created the earth there, but in addition create a number of microclimates. You’ll typically see the phrases “Leeward Facet” (aka dry aspect) and “Windward Facet (aka moist aspect) used to explain the Hawaiian islands, that are attributable to these volcanoes.
For instance, the presence of mighty Haleakala on Maui has created a lush rainforest on the windward aspect which receives 400 inches of annual rainfall. That is in stark distinction to simply 10 inches in Kihei regardless of the 2 being solely quarter-hour aside (by air)!
Under are the most well-liked locations to remain on Oahu and Maui with the common annual rainfall and days of rain notated:
🏖 Seashores in Maui vs Oahu
Fast Takeaway
💦 Oahu has the most effective seashores in all of Hawaii.
🏖 Maui has essentially the most seaside choices and a few extraordinarily distinctive ones, i.e. Crimson Sand Seaside.
Oahu has the greatest seashores in Hawaii in terms of crystal clear water, tropical palm timber, and tender white sand. That is the island the place you discover the seashores from “the postcard” with a palm tree rustling gently and turquoise water lapping the shores.
Maui, nonetheless, can also be a unbelievable choice for a beach-heavy trip. This island has extra choices total, to not point out some actually distinctive choices. There are 15 seashores in Kihei alone and a minimum of a couple of dozen easily-accessible choices all through the western shoreline.
Maui can also be residence to 2 visually beautiful seashores; Kaihalulu (aka Crimson Sand Seaside) and Waianapanapa (aka Black Sand Seaside). Whereas neither is good for an off-the-cuff seaside day, they’re extremely stunning to see and {photograph}.
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✈️ Flights to Maui vs Oahu
Fast Takeaway
🛬 Extra cities provide direct flights to Oahu than to Maui.
💰 The baseline worth for each Oahu and Maui are practically an identical.
Extra cities fly direct to Honolulu (HNL) in Oahu than to Kahului (OGG) in Maui, however the baseline ticket worth to every island is sort of an identical. You should still discover cheaper flights to at least one over the opposite for a particular date primarily based on affords and availability, in fact.
A shock to most first-time guests of Hawaii is that the price of flights is definitely pretty inexpensive, whereas the price of lodging is borderline extortionate.
One of the best ways to seek out low cost tickets to Oahu and Maui is to make use of the SkyScanner web site and search by month. This can present you a calendar with the most cost effective costs for every day displayed, permitting you to ebook for whichever is the most cost effective.
💰 Price of Visiting Maui vs Oahu
Fast Takeaway
💲 Oahu is barely extra budget-friendly than Maui.
🏠 AirBnBs / condominium leases on Maui provide teams and households a novel financial savings alternative.
When contemplating the overall prices of your go to to Hawaii, Oahu is usually a bit of cheaper than Maui.
The largest distinction in bills between the 2 islands comes from the worth of lodging.
Lodging would be the largest expense and an analogous vary of choices exists for each islands. Nevertheless, the beginning costs on accommodations and resorts on Oahu are usually a bit decrease than on Maui.
That stated, condominium leases are extra plentiful on Maui so these touring as a part of a bunch or household have the distinctive alternative for financial savings by sharing a rental versus reserving a number of rooms in a resort or resort.
Flights are the second-highest journey value and the baseline airfare for Maui and Oahu are an identical no matter departure metropolis.
The prices of meals and actions on every island are more likely to be pretty comparable, with quite a lot of choices on every.
If value and finances are vital to you, make sure you open our full breakdown on how you can finances for a visit to Hawaii in one other tab.
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COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE COST OF A TRIP TO HAWAII
🚗 Getting Round Maui vs Oahu
Fast Takeaway
🏖 Waikiki in Oahu is the most suitable choice if you wish to keep on the resort and never drive.
🚘You’ll need to hire a automotive or organize excursions for a go to to Maui.
The Waikiki Seaside area of Oahu and the Ka’anapali area of Maui are the one locations on both island that you’d even wish to contemplate staying and not using a rental automotive or excursions with pick-up service.
Each of those areas have quite a lot of resorts proper on the seaside and all essential facilities inside simple strolling distance.
Public transportation in Hawaii could be very restricted and shouldn’t be relied upon. If you wish to do any exploring of your individual, which we extremely advocate, you’ll need to hire a automotive.
Fortunately, rental vehicles are surprisingly inexpensive starting at simply $35/day throughout off-peak seasons, and barely touchdown over $65/day even when busy.
Each Oahu and Maui have a plethora of putting pure magnificence that’s value exploring in case your concept of the right trip entails greater than laying on the seaside.
Maui, specifically, is an distinctive place for day journeys with locations just like the well-known Street to Hana and Haleakala being necessities on any bucket listing for the island.
📸 High Sights, Actions & Issues to Do: Maui vs Oahu
Fast Takeaway
🏝 Oahu has the most effective seashores, nightlife, and historic/cultural sights in Hawaii.
🐠 Maui has extra numerous & distinctive pure magnificence, and higher snorkeling/diving than Oahu.
Oahu and Maui are by far essentially the most accommodating Hawaiian islands for vacationers. Each provide guests loads of issues to see and do it doesn’t matter what sort of traveler you might be. Selecting which to go to comes right down to your preferences and most well-liked trip fashion.
Oahu has the one main metropolis in Hawaii in Honolulu. If actions involving nightlife, procuring, museums, high quality eating, and so forth are your precedence, Oahu will likely be your best choice. Likewise, you can find the greatest seashores in all of Hawaii on Oahu.
Conversely, Maui is definitely very quiet at night time, even in Kihei (the most well-liked place to remain). The actual attraction of Maui as a vacation spot over Oahu is the character.
There are some unbelievable sights you’ll uncover right here not like the rest in Hawaii, or the remainder of the world for that matter. These are issues like Crimson Sand Seaside, the Rainbow Eucalyptus, Molokini Crater, and a plethora of beautiful waterfalls, to call a couple of.
Moreover, in the event you’re visiting within the winter months, Maui is the most effective place for whale watching. Whereas you’ll doubtless see these majestic marine mammals from each islands, the shallow Auʻau Channel between Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi is a favourite spot for the whales!
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🤙🏽 Vibes & Environment in Oahu vs Maui
Fast Takeaway
🌃 Oahu has extra nightlife and buzz, although there are quiet components of the island as properly.
😌 Maui is barely extra relaxed and shuts down at night time.
Maui and Oahu are the 2 hottest Hawaiian islands by far, so each have a bit of buzz and pulse. That stated, Hawaii will not be a state recognized for its nightlife. Each islands have areas the place you could find, or escape, the crowds.
For perspective, Oahu sees 4.7 million guests yearly, in comparison with 2-3 million for Maui and solely about 1 million yearly for Kauai.
Most individuals think about Oahu to be a swarm of screaming youngsters and crowds of vacationers. Whereas Waikiki Seaside and Honolulu are completely that, a really quick drive to the Kailua area or up the North Shore will make you’re feeling such as you’re in one other world solely.
Equally, Ka’anapali is a well-liked resort vacation spot on Maui, and the seashores of Wailea-Makena and Kihei won’t ever be empty, however you’ll hardly ever battle to seek out parking or get caught in site visitors.
You may additionally have heard that there’s a particular Hawaiian island for everybody that speaks to them. On a private notice, we’re not closely influenced by the concept of power fields and auras, however must admit that we very a lot really feel completely different “vibes” the second we arrive on every island, and it has remained constant on every of our returns.
The Huge Island and, shockingly, Oahu are those that make us really feel comfortable, whereas Maui all the time greets us with emotions of inexplicable anxiousness.
🏨 Lodging & Resorts in Maui vs Oahu
Fast Takeaway
🏡 Maui has higher lodging choices for honeymoons and particular events.
🏩 Oahu has extra large-scale beachside accommodations & resorts for “trip in a field” fashion holidays.
Each Maui and Oahu are well-developed for vacationers and provide a variety of lodging. Nevertheless, they’re the 2 costliest Hawaiian islands in terms of reserving your stays.
On Oahu, you can find the best focus of lodging choices in Honolulu and on Waikiki Seaside.
Oahu has a bigger variety of resorts and accommodations than Maui, they usually usually begin at a lower cost level. Mid-range accommodations on Oahu begin from round $150 – $300 per night time, with beachfront rooms and properties going up significantly from there.
Nevertheless, the resorts on Oahu aren’t essentially instantly comparable with these on Maui.
Inns and resorts on Oahu are usually extra crowded and are concentrated inside a compact area close to Waikiki and Honolulu. They’re constructed UP into high-rises with tons of of rooms on every property.
On Maui, many of the lodging might be discovered on the south and west aspect of the island, particularly round Wailea, Kihei, and Ka’anapali. The resorts on Maui are extra sprawling and fewer crowded than Oahu, extending OUT quite than UP.
Nevertheless, these resorts include a better price ticket. A mid-range resort on Maui usually begins from round $250-400 per night time.
Maui has fewer resort however much more residences and AirBnBs than Oahu, notably within the Kihei area. Teams and households, specifically, might be able to rating a greater price on Maui by sharing a big condominium or AirBnB quite than reserving a number of rooms in a resort.
No matter which island you select, remember that you’ll pay a premium for beachfront property.
⭐️ Professional tip: Each Maui and Oahu usually have extra taxes and resort charges, so make sure you click on during your reserving to get a closing estimated worth as these extra charges can add up rapidly.
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🍹 Bars & Nightlife in Maui vs Oahu
Fast Takeaway
🍾 Honolulu on Oahu is the one main metropolis in Hawaii and residential to the most effective bars and nightlife.
🍹 Maui has some upscale eating however could be very quiet at night time.
If nightlife is vital to your model of the right Hawaiian trip, you’ll completely wish to select Oahu over Maui.
Honolulu is the one main metropolis in Hawaii and actually the one place the place you can find golf equipment and cosmopolitan vibes.
Maui, in contrast, is surprisingly sleepy after darkish. That doesn’t imply you possibly can’t discover a place to seize a drink in a social setting, solely that the choices are very restricted and a bit lower-key.
When you have selected Maui and count on to be spending your evenings behind a bar, Kihei and Lahaina would be the greatest choices.
Exterior of the bar and membership scene, each Oahu and Maui have some wonderful native, craft breweries value trying out. Maui Brewing Co. is a very unbelievable place for the beer connoisseurs on the market.
🍽 Meals & Eating places in Maui vs Oahu
Fast Takeaway
🍴Oahu has extra high quality eating choices and a wider choice of eating places.
🍱 Each Maui and Oahu provide nice informal fare and boast various unbelievable meals vans.
As Honolulu is the one cosmopolitan metropolis in Hawaii, Oahu would be the more sensible choice of islands for the foodies who prioritize high quality eating. There are extra choices and higher-rated eating places on Oahu than Maui.
Maui definitely has loads of nice choices as properly, nonetheless, notably within the extra prosperous Wailea area.
In case you are on the lookout for native, informal “grindz”, you possibly can’t go mistaken with both Oahu or Maui. Hawaiian meals is scrumptious and each islands boast no scarcity of fantastic meals vans and small-kitchen locations to seize one thing inexpensive and genuine.
*Grinds, generally spelled with a “z” as grindz, is a Hawaiian slang time period for meals or a meal out.
🌿 Pure Magnificence & Surroundings of Maui vs Oahu
Fast Takeaway
🌸 Maui has extra numerous nature and is best for out of doors journey.
🌄 Oahu is surprisingly stunning and mountainous however has much less numerous surroundings than Maui.
Not everybody desires of sitting by the pool all week on their trip. In case you are something like us, the most effective journeys provide loads of sightseeing as properly!
Maui is best than Oahu for these on the lookout for a mixture of seaside and out of doors adventuring. There’s the well-known Street to Hana drive by way of lush, waterfall-laden rainforest, in addition to a crimson sand seaside, Haleakala volcano, O’heo Gulch, Olivine Swimming pools, and a lot extra.
Oahu can also be surprisingly beautiful, although the vary of magnificence is extra restricted. The seashores are clearly distinctive, and the Koʻolau Mountain Vary provides a “Jurassic” sort of magnificence to the landscapes.
There are many magnificent issues for panorama photographers and nature lovers to level a digicam at on both island, however Maui has extra selection total.
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⛱ Crowds in Maui vs Oahu
Fast Takeaway
🏙 Oahu is the busiest island in Hawaii. Count on massive crowds in Honolulu & Waikiki.
🚶♂️ Maui is the second hottest Hawaiian island, however crowds are principally well-dispersed.
Oahu sees a median of 4.7 million guests yearly, whereas Maui sees between 2-3 million on common. Accordingly, you possibly can count on some site visitors close to the airport and cities on each.
Each Maui and Oahu have areas the place you possibly can day journey or keep if you wish to get away from the crowds, and locations you possibly can go to seek out them.
On Oahu, Waikiki Seaside will all the time be teeming with households, foreigners, and vacationers. Honolulu can even be perpetually buzzing as the one metropolis on the islands.
Nevertheless, a brief drive in any route away from these two locations will restrict the crowds considerably. The North Shore and jap Kailua Area current two unbelievable choices for quieter stays on Oahu
In Maui, the area generally known as “South Maui” is the place the overwhelming majority of individuals keep. Kihei, specifically, tends to be the busiest place on the island.
Ka’anapali within the area generally known as “West Maui” is the Waikiki Seaside of Maui; that’s, it’s the place the place you can find massive resorts proper on the seaside with households and seaside bums who don’t plan on straying removed from their resort rooms.
Hana and the Maui North Shore Area are two nice choices for getting away from the households and crowds.
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🐠 Snorkeling & Diving in Maui vs Oahu
Fast Takeaway
🤿 Maui is the most effective island in Hawaii for beach-access snorkeling, and Molokini Crater is essentially the most well-known snorkel website within the state.
🌊 Oahu has a couple of well-known snorkel spots and higher seashores, however will not be nearly as good for underwater adventures as Maui.
Most contemplate Maui to be the most effective Hawaiian island for snorkeling and scuba diving. There are extra beach-access snorkel spots on Maui than another island, plus an assortment of wonderful areas you possibly can attain by boat tour.
There are a number of areas with assured turtle sightings on Maui which might be free to go to and simple to entry, a couple of Marine Sanctuaries you possibly can go to without spending a dime, plus the world-famous Molokini Crater. Learn extra in our full information to the most effective snorkeling spots on Maui.
Oahu has stunning clear water, however fewer beach-access coral gardens and simply accessible websites. Hanauma Bay Nature Protect is by far essentially the most well-known place to snorkel on the island, however they restrict guests, and getting reservations is more and more troublesome.
Oahu can also be the one island that gives snorkeling or diving with sharks. This may be carried out by way of a caged, or cage-free expertise, each of that are very protected and provide a novel wildlife expertise.
If snorkeling and/or scuba diving are vital elements in deciding which island to go to, Maui will likely be by far the higher selection than Oahu.
⭐️ Professional tip: To economize and assist you to snorkel at any seaside, pack your individual snorkel gear.
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🥾 Climbing in Maui vs Oahu
Fast Takeaway
🚶🏽♀️ Oahu affords essentially the most mountaineering trails of any Hawaiian island.
🏔 Maui has extra restricted mountaineering alternatives, however nonetheless affords a couple of unbelievable hikes.
Oahu has essentially the most mountaineering trails of any of the Hawaiian islands with over 250 completely different trails. It’s arguably the most effective island in Hawaii for mountaineering (although Kauai makes a really robust declare to this title).
Nevertheless it’s not simply amount that makes Oahu nice for mountaineering! It is usually the number of landscapes to discover, from jungle strolls to cascading waterfalls, to thrilling ridge-line hikes, and spectacular sweeping views.
Many of the standard trails in Oahu are between 2 – 5 miles in size and make for simple day journeys. A few of these embody Diamond Head, Lanikai Pillbox, Koko Crater, Mānoa Falls, and Kaena Level.
*Notice: The extremely well-known Stairway to Heaven hike is formally closed to everybody and the state has even voted to start dismantling the staircase after many years of misuse in 2023.
Whereas the mountaineering on Oahu is usually thought of higher than Maui, you’ll nonetheless discover some unbelievable hikes on the Valley Isle. Specifically, Waihee Ridge Path, ‘Iao Valley, Pipiwai Path, and Sliding Sand Trails provide some superb mountaineering alternatives.
🧳 Packing for Hawaii
There are a couple of necessities that you’ll want to contemplate taking with you to the Hawaiian islands.
For an entire information on what to pack, together with a printable listing, try our ULTIMATE HAWAII PACKING GUIDE.
Necessities
- Reef-safe sunscreen: Conventional sunscreen is stuffed with chemical substances which might be vastly damaging to coral reefs. Moreover, Hawaii is the primary state to require the usage of reef-safe sunscreen. Accordingly, reef-safe sunscreen is probably an important merchandise to pack for Hawaii.
We use Stream 2 Sea sunscreen because it’s non-harmful and most of their bottles are constructed from sugarcane resin quite than plastic. Buy on Amazon or direct. - Seaside journey towel: Inns will present towels to be used inside their grounds however you’ll want to take a towel with you for the seaside. We advocate bringing a journey towel particularly as they’re small, dry rapidly, and don’t gather sand!
- Snorkel gear: Except you’re solely planning on taking snorkel excursions, it’s cheaper and simpler to convey your individual snorkel and masks and fins than renting them every day. You too can purchase these things as a snorkel set which works out cheaper nonetheless.
🙋♀️ Maui vs Oahu FAQs
Use the drop-down containers under to seek out the solutions to essentially the most often requested questions evaluating Maui to Oahu.
Is Maui nicer than Honolulu/Oahu?
Oahu is the most effective island to go to to your first journey to Hawaii if you wish to see the long-lasting websites and greatest seashores, and caters most to vacationers. Maui is taken into account the most effective island for honeymoons and self-arranged journey.
Each Maui and Oahu are stunning and provide a few of the greatest seashores on the planet. Oahu tends to be busier with bigger crowds whereas Maui is a bit of quiet, particularly at night time.
Are the seashores higher in Oahu or Maui?
Oahu has the most effective seashores in all of Hawaii! That is the island the place you discover these postcard-worthy seashores with swaying palm timber and turquoise water. Maui additionally has unbelievable golden sand seashores and advantages from an extended stretch of shoreline to disperse crowds.
Is it cheaper to fly to Oahu or Maui?
The baseline worth of flights is identical for each Maui and Oahu. Extra cities provide direct flights to Oahu than to Maui, however which island will likely be cheaper to fly to relies solely on availability.
Which island is cheaper, Oahu or Maui?
The prices for visiting Oahu are Maui are very comparable. Flight pricing begins on the identical baseline from any metropolis, and all different bills from lodging to meals and gasoline is sort of an identical.
📚 Extra Oahu, Maui & Hawaii Journey Guides
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We hope you’ve discovered this information evaluating Maui vs Oahu useful as you intend your subsequent Hawaiian trip.
Earlier than you go, we’ve got a plethora of different guides to each islands and the complete Rainbow State to browse. Every of those will likely be helpful as you proceed planning the holiday you deserve!
Basic Hawaii Journey Guides
Maui Journey Guides
Oahu Journey Guides
💬 Last Ideas on Maui vs. Oahu
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We actually hope you might have discovered this information evaluating Maui vs Oahu helpful for deciding which island to decide on.
Should you nonetheless can’t resolve, may we advocate visiting each?! Island hopping in Hawaii is extremely inexpensive and an effective way to expertise two very completely different locations for your self!
Now we’d love to listen to from YOU!
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Now seize some reef-safe sunscreen and go put together for the journey of a lifetime!
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