Kauai vs. Hawaii

It’s difficult to do a comparison between Kauai vs. Hawaii because they are so different, yet they are so alike.

Both Kauai and other parts of Hawaii have been extremely popular destinations for vacations for many years, and it’s easy to see why before you even land on one of these tropical island paradises. But which is best? Which one is going to suit your needs the most, which is the best value for money and which is the most fun?

Accessibility

Kauai is the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands, and has culture and history abound, but if you want to visit the chances are you’ll have to fly in to Honolulu first and hop over on a separate flight. Don’t let this put you off, it’s so easy and the flight only lasts about 25 minutes, but seeing as you generally go to Hawaii first, it must be more accessible.

History and Culture

All of the Hawaiian Islands are steeped in the wonderful and colorful history and culture of the Hawaiian people, but to many, Kauai is the cradle of Hawaiian culture, as it is the oldest of the Hawaiian islands and is actually where many believe the whole Hawaiian people started, way back even before Captain Cook landed there. Although it’s a close one, we’ll have to give this to Kauai.

Affordability

Let’s be honest, no vacation in any part of Hawaii is ever going to be really cheap, but there are budget places to stay and to eat out if necessary, which can provide great accommodation and great food for below average prices. Kauai has some great places to stay which are not only cheap but also close enough to the things you want to see and do.

In all fairness, Kauai is said to be the "Garden Isle" which is so diverse that it boasts a little bit of every single part of Hawaii, all in the one place. There are marvelous beaches, staggering water falls, lush gardens, dramatic mountains, cliffs, canyons, valleys, rain forests, in fact, something for everyone, and with a distinct lack of sky scrapers (it is said that no building is higher than a palm tree) it can be the real deal on your Hawaiian trip.

Hawaii vacation rentals are probably what drew you to the islands in the first place. Those pictures of people lounging around with Mai Tais in their hands many a snowy day seem like a sin of some sort. When you’re looking at Hawaii and Kauai, you will see there are a number of different places you can stay to forget that you have to weather seasons at all back home, wherever home is for you. And even if you don’t get ‘blessed’ with snow, going to the warm sandy beaches is just what you need to soothe your restless soul.