Big Island vs Maui: Which Island Should You Visit?

Are you planning a trip to Hawaii but can’t decide between the Big Island or Maui? As someone whose been to both islands, I’m here to help! While both islands are worth a visit and have something for every traveler, there are some things to consider when deciding if you should travel to Maui or the Big Island.

Maui and the Big Island have a lot of similarities. From black sand beaches, waterfalls, and volcanos, to luxurious beach resorts, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for on both Maui and the Big Island. So, how do you decide?

In this blog, I’ll break down everything you need to know about Maui and the Big Island to help you decide where you should spend your Hawaiian vacation. From the best resorts, things to do and pros and cons of each island by the end of this blog, you’ll be ready to book your trip!

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Table of Contents:

First, lets go over an overview of Maui and the Big Island

Big Island Overview

The Big Island is Hawaii’s youngest island and also the largest of all the Hawaiian islands. I like to think of it as the bucket list island. Because of the volcanic activity on the Big Island, you’ll find some of the world’s most unique beaches and volcanic landscapes on this island. The Big Island is mostly made up of lava rock coast which also makes for world-class snorkeling!

Kona is the main town on the Big Island and most likely where you will fly into when visiting the Big Island. If you’re looking for luxury beach resorts, the Kohala Coast/Waikoloa Village is the place to be. If you’re looking for more outdoor adventures, drive across the island to Hilo to chase waterfalls or stay in Volcano to explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park!

Pros/Cons of the Big Island

Pros:

• The island is large so, there’s much more to explore
• More opportunity to experience authentic Hawaiian culture/not as touristy
• Less crowds due to the size of the island, and it is less visited than Maui
• Easy to navigate the island by rental car
• This island has 2 airport options instead of 1: Kona or Hilo
• A lot of outdoor activities and good for adventure lovers

Cons:

• Can take time to travel around the island and it is necessary to rent a car to explore
• Not as many resort options on the Big Island as there are on Maui
• Fewer beaches due to the volcanic coastline (make sure to pack water shoes)

Maui Overview

Maui is one of the more popular Hawaiian islands and with good reason! Maui is actually very close to the Big Island and you can see the Big Island from Maui!

Maui is known for its adventurous landscapes, luxurious beach resorts, famous beaches, and Haleakala National Park. If you’re visiting Maui, you’ll likely stay near Lahaina however there are resorts all over the island. Some travelers choose to stay in Hana to be closer to nature such as the national park and black sand beaches.

Pros/Cons of Maui

Pros:

• Less driving time to attractions
• Not too necessary to rent a car but helpful to have one!
• Many resort options all around the island
• A lot of sandy beaches good for relaxing and swimming
• Good for hiking and swimming in waterfalls

Cons:

• Lots of crowds and more touristy
• Narrow roads can be hard to navigate
• Higher costs due to more tourists

So, which island is right for you? Let’s break it down!

Best for Resorts: Maui

Maui and the Big Island both have some of the world’s most luxurious beach resorts however, Maui is known as the resort island due to its large selection of resorts to choose from.

If lounging on the beach at a nice resort is what you’re looking for on your trip to Hawaii, Maui might be the best island for you. On Maui’s west coast, Ka’anapali Beach and Kapalua are two popular resort areas on Maui. Or, head north to Kihei and Wailea.

If you’re traveling to the Big Island looking for resorts, the Kohala Coast is where you’ll find the most luxurious beach resorts on the island however, there are a few resort options in Kona as well.

Maui Resorts: Fairmont Kea Lani, Four Seasons at Wailea, Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club, Grand Wailea, Hilton Vacation Club, Westin Maui, Outrigger Ka’anapali Beach, Hyatt Regency

Big Island Resorts: Fairmont Orchid, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Mauna Lani, Westin Hapuna, Hilton Waikoloa Village, Four Seasons Hualalai, Outrigger Kona, Royal Kona

Also Read: Where To Stay On The Big Island

Best For Snorkeling: Big Island

If you’re looking to do some snorkeling on your trip to Hawaii, head to the Big Island! The Big Island has some of the most incredible snorkeling experiences in the world! Due to the volcanic coastline of the Big Island, you’ll most likely be able to get great snorkeling right off the beach of your hotel.

Captain Cook, a town outside of Kona, has some of the best snorkeling that you can do for free just make sure to bring your own snorkel! For some of the best free snorkeling, head over to Two-Step Beach. Two-Step Beach is a lava rock reef full of vibrant marine life and my favorite snorkeling spot on the Big Island!

Another great snorkeling spot near Two-Step beach is Captain Cook Monument. You can either hike down to the monument, rent a kayak, or go on a group tour!

Lastly, and the main reason the Big Island wins for the best snorkeling, is the nighttime manta ray snorkel! The Big Island is one of the only places in the world where you can snorkel with manta rays and is an absolute MUST on your trip to the Big Island. You can also swim out from Mauna Kea Beach to snorkel with the rays for free but I highly recommend booking a tour.

With that said, if you’re planning a trip to Maui, you can also find some great snorkeling on this island as well! For free snorkeling, I recommend checking out Black Rock Beach which is located at the end of Ka’anapali Beach. The beach has a lot of coral which makes for great snorkeling! There is also a large area of black rock that is perfect for cliff jumping. You’re also likely to find people diving near the rock.

For snorkel tours in Maui, the most popular spots to go are Molokini Crater and Lanai.

Molokini Crater is a crescent moon-shaped crater off the coast of Maui and is the most popular snorkel spot when visiting Maui. Most snorkel tours to Molokini also stop at Turtle Town where you can snorkel with sea turtles! Just remember to keep your distance and never touch the turtles.

Lanai is a less-visited Hawaiian island near Maui and another great spot for snorkeling! There are snorkel tours that leave from Lahaina and take you to snorkel on the coast of Lanai. This is also a great way to spot some famous Hawaiian spinner dolphins on your way from Maui to Lanai!

Best For Beaches: Maui

While both Maui and the Big Island have some beautiful and unique beaches, Maui has a slight advantage when it comes to this category.

The Big Island still has a lot of volcanic activity and because of this, it has a mostly lava rock coastline. There are still some amazing beaches on the Big Island including several black sand beaches and one of the world’s only green sand beaches. Maui, however, has more widespread sandy beaches perfect for lounging, snorkeling, water sports, and surfing.

Best Beaches on the Big Island: Punalu’u Black Sand Beach, Green Sand Beach, Magic Sands Beach Park, Mauna Kea Beach, Hapuna Beach

Best Beaches on Maui: Ka’anapali Beach, Kaihalulu Beach, Honokalani Black Sand Beach, Kapalua Beach, Black Rock Beach

Best For Activities: Big Island

Outdoor and adventure lovers are going to find places to explore on both Maui and the Big Island. In fact, Maui and the Big Island both have very similar activities.

On Maui and the Big Island, you’ll find waterfalls, volcanos, lava fields, lush jungles, black sand beaches, snorkeling, hiking, and even Hawaii’s two national parks. Volcanoes National Park is located on the Big Island and Haleakala National Park is on Maui.

Due to the size of the Big Island compared to Maui, the Big Island offers much more room to explore. The Big Island truly is a bucket list island because it offers activities that you can’t do anywhere else in the world. From hiking to a green sand beach, summiting a volcano, or night snorkeling with manta rays, a trip to the Big Island is going to be packed full of adventure!

Best Big Island Activities: Manta Ray Night Snorkel, Volcanos National Park Tour, Captain Cook Snorkeling, Kohala Coast Helicopter Tour, Hilo Waterfalls, Black & Green Sand Beach

Best Activities on Maui: Road to Hana, Sunrise at Haleakala, Snorkel Molokini Crater, Lanai Snorkel Tour, Helicopter Tour, Iao Valley State Park, Whale Watching Cruise

Also Read: Bucket List Things to do on The Big Island, Top Things to do on Maui

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you’re looking for a beach vacation where you can relax on the beach at a nice resort and spend a day or two exploring, Maui will be the best island for you!

If you looking for an adventure-packed vacation with snorkeling, volcanos, authentic Hawaiian culture and a few days relaxing at a resort on the beach, head to the Big Island!

If you have time, it might be worth visiting both Maui and the Big Island on the same trip! I recommend spending at least 4-5 days on each island so if you only have a week, choose one island for your trip. If you have more than a week, you can definitely visit more than one island! Each island has its own airport and it’s easy and affordable to fly between the islands on Hawaiian Airlines or Southwest!

FAQ

Is Big Island cheaper than Maui?

Yes, the Big Island can be slightly cheaper than Maui. Maui tends to be more touristy and has more crowds than the Big Island which tends to drive the prices a little higher. Maui is considered to be the most expensive island, even more expensive than Oahu or Kauai.

How large is the Big Island in Hawaii?

The Big Island is twice the size of all the other Hawaiian Islands and has over 4,000 square miles of land. It takes about 6 hours to drive around the whole island.

Is the Big Island and Maui the same?

No, the Big Island and Maui are not the same. However, the two islands do have many similarities such has black sand beaches, volcanos, national parks, and luxury beach resorts.

Is the Big Island or Maui better?

Everyone has different preferences when it comes to the Big Island vs Maui. Personally, I prefer the Big Island but, I know many other travelers prefer Maui! Which island is better will be different for each person so hopefully this post can help you decide!

Is Maui the largest island in Hawaii?

No, the Big Island is the largest island in Hawaii. However, Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands!