Maui vs Big Island 🌴 Best Hawaiian island for volcanoes, lava, snorkeling, waterfalls, hiking, beaches…?! 🌴 Hawaii travel blog

ALOHA!

You’ve taken the first step in deciding that you are going to Hawaii!

And you’ve taken the second step to choose either Maui or the Big Island out of the Hawaiian islands.

Now, I’m here to help you decide which will be the better island for YOU based on what your interests are!

I’ve spent 3 weeks on Maui and 3 weeks on the Big Island as a visitor, and I did all-the-things!

Well, a lot of things anyway!

I did something new almost every day that I was on Maui or the Big Island.

This means that I can tell you about the differences between the Hawaiian islands about national parks, black sand beaches, waterfalls, hiking, regular beaches, snorkeling, turtles, and lava fields.

And below, I give you the comparisons of all of these very Hawaii activities, and more!

The main Hawaiian islands are Oahu (with Honolulu), Maui, the Big Island (with Kona), and Kauai.

There’s Lanai and Molokai too, and these are smaller islands with far less tourists.

So…

Let’s compare Maui and the Big Island in a few ways!

Black sand beach

Well, if you want to see a black sand beach in Hawaii, then out of all the Hawaiian islands to choose, you will want to go to Maui or the Big Island!

So when your choice is between these 2 islands, no matter which island you choose, you can see a black sand beach!

If your goal is simply to see ONE black sand beach, then you will be very happy with either of the islands.

There’s at least one beach on both Maui and the Big Island that’s a very good (meaning very black) black sand beach.

Maui has one very great black sand beach

THE famous black sand beach on Maui is the black sand beach at Waianapanapa State Park on the Road to Hana.

This will not disappoint.

This is one of the best Hawaii state parks on Maui.

There’s also a small little lava tube cave here that opens up to the ocean. 

You can also make you trip to Waianapanapa State Park more than just about the black sand beach.

There is the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail which will give you grand ocean views with the opportunity to hike across lava fields on Maui.

There are more beaches that are sometimes listed as black sand beaches on Maui but they are not always the really black-colored black sand beaches.

So basically, Maui has one great black sand beach for tourists to visit.

Waianapanapa State Park is also where you can stay at a Hawaii state park cabin near the ocean.

The Big Island has many very great black sand beaches

If you want to see MANY very good (again, meaning very black) black sand beaches, then the Big Island is better.

The Big Island has the most recent volcanic lava activity (what causes the black color sand in Hawaii) and as a result, there are also “newer” black sand beaches here. 

The famous black sand beach on the Big Island is the Punaluu black sand beach. This is also a beach that is known for frequent turtle sightings. I went to this beach 3 times and saw at least one turtle each time. 

There are also many black sand beaches on the Puna coast.

Red Road along this coast can be a 30 minute drive point to point, and you can make stops for 3 black sand beaches that are very black in color.

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National parks: Volcanoes

There are 2 national parks in Hawaii, and Maui and the Big Island each have one national park!

So again, if you want to visit a national park in Hawaii, then you will want to choose Maui or the Big Island.

And when your choice is down to these 2 islands, you will definitely be able to visit a U.S. national park in Hawaii no matter which island you choose!

Maui has a national park with one dormant volcano

Haleakala National Park is home to the Haleakala volcano aka East Maui volcano.

The popular thing to do here is to visit the summit of this volcano. You’ll be at high altitude, above 10,000 ft. You can pretty much drive straight up to it. You’ll be above the clouds!

The other thing to do here is the Haleakala crater hike. You’ll be treated to volcanic desert landscape.

The Big Island has a national park with 2 active volcanoes

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is home to the Kilauea volcano and Mauna Loa volcano.

The Big Island is known as THE island to visit in Hawaii if you want a chance to see active molten lava (aka the red stuff). It’s not always guaranteed, though. 

For something like 30 years, lava was actively flowing on the Big Island. But then, in 2018, that stopped. And it stopped for over 2 years. That means that during that time there was no chance to see active lava. Then, in December 2020, lava started flowing again. See the video that was posted to twitter by the US Geological Survey.

So, will you be able to see active lava during your Hawaii trip in 2021?! There’s no certain way to know! You can check for the updates here.

Even if you can’t see the lava actively flowing, what you can see in the national park is the aftermath of all the lava that has flowed through over the years. There’s hardened lava all over spanning to the coast.

If you are interested in a volcano-themed vacation in Hawaii, be sure to see this list of where to see old lava flows on the Big Island!

There are many parts of the Big Island (not just the national park) that you can see vast lava fields.

The Big Island is the better island in Hawaii to see old lava flows, but you can see old lava flows on Maui too.

See more about the national parks in Hawaii

• Things to do in Maui’s national park
• Things to do in the Big Island’s national park
• Driving to the summit of Maui’s national park
• Best hike in the Maui national park (hike into a crater with volcanic desert landscape)
• Best hike in the Big Island national park (hike into a former lava lake)
• National park sites in Hawaii
• Hawaii national park pass

See more about where to see lava fields in Hawaii:

• Big Island lava fields
• Maui lava fields

Waterfalls

Hawaii is known for waterfalls, and you’ll be able to see waterfalls on both Maui and the Big Island. If your goal is to see ONE very great waterfalls, then you’ll likely be happy with either of the islands.

Maui has many waterfalls you can see on a single drive

If you want to chase waterfalls in Hawaii, then Maui is the better island! All you have to do is drive the Hana Highway aka the Road to Hana and you will see waterfalls!

Some you can see while driving, some can be quick stops to see, and there are some waterfalls to hike to! And there are waterfalls for swimming too. There are tons of waterfalls along the Hana Highway.

The Big Island has 2 waterfalls that are easy to see

For Big Island waterfalls, the most famous waterfalls are Akaka Falls. These waterfalls are pretty tall, and it’s a sight to see, so you probably won’t be disappointed! You just need to take a short trail to see it. 

Kind of nearby is also Rainbow Falls that you can pretty much drive straight up to.

Colored sand beaches

Well, if you want to see a different colored beach in Hawaii, then out of all the Hawaiian islands to choose, you will once again want to go to Maui or the Big Island! Aside from seeing a black sand beach, you can also see a different colored beach on both Maui and the Big Island! (Not the same color, though.)

Hawaii’s red sand beach is on Maui

THE famous red sand beach in Hawaii is Kaihalulu Beach.

This colored sand beach requires a little bit of an effort to get to. It’s a relatively short hike that’s sometimes referred to as dangerous. So be sure to look into the red sand beach hike before you go to make sure it’s something you’re okay with. 

Hawaii’s green sand beach is on the Big Island

THE famous green sand beach in Hawaii is Papakolea Beach.

But, it is not THAT green. Or at least, not some truly amazing color green.

But it’s said to be a very unique type of beach because it’s believed to be one of only 4 green sand beaches in the world that exist.

While you may not be able to truly see the green sand until you get up close and personal with the sand, it is a beach that gets this unique color from the mineral called olivine. 

This colored sand beach also requires a little bit of effort to get to. There’s a green sand beach “shuttle” that costs money and then you can hike to the green sand beach which is free. 

Lava tubes

Have you ever been in a cave that used to have lava flowing through it?!

If not, you can see this in Hawaii!

These are also called lava tubes.

On Maui, there’s the Hana lava tube that you can go to.

On the Big Island, there’s the Nahuku Thurston lava tube, Kula Kai caves, and Kaumana Caves that can be perfect for tourists to visit.

Go for a lava tube cave hike for a unique Hawaii experience!

Scenic drives

Maui and the Big Island are… islands, and there are coastal drives on both Maui and the Big Island!

The Big Island IS big in size, and this can mean more driving compared to Maui to explore more.

Top scenic drives on Maui

The Road to Hana is THE drive to do on Maui. This is a drive on the Hana Highway.

There are TONS of stops to make as you drive the Road to Hana, including waterfalls, beaches, and more! There is ocean view camping right off the Hana Highway you can do too.

There is also what’s called a “back road” of the Hana Highway. This has been considered a “scary” or “dangerous” drive. You can get a glimpse of that with a trip to Alelele Falls.

Far north of West Maui is also a must-drive if you want to see Maui’s rugged coastline. While much of this drive can be more about the scenic coastline, stops you can make include seeing a blowhole and tide pools. 

There is also somewhat of a “back road” in West Maui. Likewise, this has also been considered a scary or dangerous drive.

You can get a glimpse of that with a trip to the Kahakuloa Bay overlook.

Top scenic drives on the Big Island

Most of the island!

The main road somewhat loops around the outer part of the island, and a lot of it is along the coast and a good height above sea level which means stunning views as you drive.

And then there are also smaller roads off the main road that you can take that will look like you are driving straight towards the ocean too.

So as long as you go to at least 1 or 2 different parts of the Big Island outside of Kona, you are sure to come across some beautiful drives.

Snorkeling

Is Maui or Big Island better for snorkeling?

Compared to the Big Island, Maui is generally better known for snorkeling and swimming with turtles.

There is even an area called turtle town on Maui.

But you can see turtles on the Big Island too, and similar to any island in Hawaii, you might randomly see them as you’re swimming in the ocean.

I unexpectedly saw one when swimming at Mahaiula Beach on the Big Island, which isn’t even really known as a top snorkeling spot.

So whether on Maui or the Big Island, there are fish and turtles to be seen in many places.

But of course, you do increase your chances of seeing the marine life that will get you excited by going to the spots that are known as the best snorkeling spots on Maui and the best snorkeling spots on the Big Island!

If you’re a first-time snorkeler, there are beginner-friendly snorkeling spots on both Maui and the Big Island that will allow you to swim with lots of colorful tropical fish that likely won’t leave you disappointed!

As for seeing turtles on shore without going in the water, both Maui and the Big Island have a pretty reliable beach where you have a good chance of seeing turtles. On Maui there’s Hookipa Beach, and on the Big Island there’s Punaluu Beach (the black sand beach).

I never did see a Hawaiian monk seal on the Big Island, but I visited Hookipa Beach on Maui twice and saw seals laying on the beach there both times.

In any case, fish, turtles, and seals are wild marine life so they do what they want!

There’s never any guarantee for sightings, but there are some places where you do have a better chance of seeing them!

Also, Hawaii is very serious about respecting marine life and not disturbing them.

So be sure to keep your distance from turtles and seals if you do see them!

Whale watching

You have a chance to see whales on any of the Hawaiian islands during whale season, but Maui is generally said to be the best island for whale watching. Whale season in Hawaii is generally speaking in the winter.

I was on Maui during the prime of whale season and I feel like I saw so many whales from shore without even trying!

If you’re headed to Hawaii during winter and whales are at the top of your priority list, then this could be a reason to choose Maui too.

Aside from seeing whales off in the distance from shore, there are many whale watching boat tours. Among the most popular sports to get a boat tour from is Lahaina in West Maui. The channel between Lahaina and the neighbor island of Lanai is considered among the best areas to see whales. (Although not the only spot!)

There is also the Lanai ferry that you can take between Maui and Lanai.

See pictures from the boat ride:

• Maui to Lanai ferry
• Lanai to Maui ferry

Hiking

You will find hikes with beautiful views no matter which Hawaiian island you choose! 

But THE famous bamboo forest hike in Hawaii is on Maui.

There are coastal trails across old lava flows on both Maui and the Big Island: Maui lava hikes and Big Island lava hikes

And then again, being islands, there are many hikes with ocean views on both Maui and the Big Island!

See photos of hikes in the Hawaiian islands:

• Best hikes on Maui
• Best hikes on the Big Island
• Best hikes on Oahu
• Best hikes on Lanai

Does Maui or the Big Island have better beaches?

As you see, Hawaii is more than about the beaches.

But okay, you are going to Hawaii for the beaches too!

One way that Maui is different from the Big Island is that Maui has many more beaches to choose from compared to the Big Island.

When it comes to the island in Hawaii that has the best beaches in Hawaii, Maui or the Big Island, it’s more so that Maui has many more beaches to choose from compared to the Big Island.

Maui beaches and Oahu beaches are usually listed as the islands in Hawaii with the best beaches.

There are also many more developed tourist areas around beaches in Maui.

And that means that Maui also has more beachfront accommodation options, like the Hyatt Regency, Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, and the Grand Wailea Waldorf Astoria, among others

👇 The Hawaiian island of Maui has beautiful beaches!

Still, the Big Island does have some great beaches too, including some that are Hawaii state park beaches.

And the Big Island also does have oceanfront accommodation, like the Four Seasons, Hilton Waikoloa Village, Fairmont Orchid, and the Royal Kona Resort, among others.

👇 The Big Island of Hawaii has beautiful beaches!

Do you NEED a rental car?

So again, if you’re flying from somewhere that doesn’t have any shorelines, then surely, no matter what you do or where you go in Hawaii, you will have a very good time in Hawaii, whether you rent a car or not.

If you’re just interested in staying in resort areas, then you might be able to manage without a car if you don’t mind the extra time it takes to get around otherwise.

In the case of Maui, there are a few places you can go by taking the Maui bus, including:

• Lahaina
• Kaanapali
• Kapalua
• Wailea
• Paia

I have been to all these places by bus – it works!

For more about what it can be like to be on Maui without a car, see Lahaina without a car and getting around Maui by bus.

In the case of the Big Island, you can go a limited area on the Kona coast by bus, trolley, or bike sharing. (The bus does also loop around the Big Island.)

But when you’re choosing between Maui and the Big Island, to truly do the BEST things (and most popular things), I think it’s best to have a car no matter which island you choose. Some of the top places to visit in Hawaii on both Maui and the Big Island do require a car (or tour) and there’s no public transportation that will get you there.

Renting a car will allow you to be more efficient with your time, and do a lot more with your time. If you want a few easy days by the beach, it can also be reasonable to just rent a car for a few days of your vacation and not the whole time.

It’s best to rent a car from the airport. More cars usually means better deals. So that would be OGG Kahului airport for Maui, and likely KOA Kona airport for the Big Island.

You can get a bus to/from the airport if you don’t want to rent for your entire vacation. I’ve been to both the Kahului airport by bus and the Kona airport by bus in order to pick up a rental car, so again, bus can work! Uber is also available in Hawaii on both Maui and the Big Island.

A car will allow you to discover an island in your own way. There are plenty of random stops you can make along the way as you drive to discover “secret” spots that you don’t read about online in the all the lists of the best things to do in Hawaii.

See more about why it’s best to have a car on Maui for at least 2-3 days. Also see the best Maui tours that will give you the best experiences for a first trip to Hawaii!

Renting a jeep is popular on the Big Island. See more about whether or not you need a 4×4 on the Big Island. (The short answer is no, but you may consider renting one anyway.)

If you want a Hawaiian island that you can really get away with not renting a car, then Oahu is the true budget Hawaiian island. There is plenty to do on Oahu without a car. Here are ideas for how to spend 2 weeks on Oahu without a car.

One week in Hawaii: 1 or 2 islands?

Travel between Hawaiian islands isn’t difficult. There are frequent flights between all the islands, including Maui and the Big Island. 

Still, with just one week in Hawaii, I think you would be better off spending your time on one island. This way you can really get to know better an island, and you’d be able to take it easy more, I think!

Maybe if you have 10 days in Hawaii you might start to think about visiting 2 islands, but even then, I think spending time on one island can better!

But again, it depends on what you’re looking for out of your Hawaii vacation! 

The only ferry that connects any of the Hawaiian islands is the ferry that goes from Maui to Lanai.

Otherwise, there is no ferry in Hawaii between the main Hawaiian islands.

For future trip planning (way out into the future probably), it is possible to get a week-long cruise around Hawaii though! With a cruise around the Hawaiian islands you would visit Oahu (start/end), Maui (2 days), the Big Island (2 days), and Kauai (2 days). Visit many islands in Hawaii and unpack only once!

There are also cruises TO Hawaii. These are usually around 15-day cruises, with the majority of time spent at sea.

Day trip to Oahu

If you are interested in visiting the Pearl Harbor national memorial, this is on the island of Oahu. It can be reasonable to make it a day trip to Oahu to visit Pearl Harbor from Maui or from the Big Island if this is a top priority for you. You would fly into Honolulu Airport.

Where to stay

On Maui, the resort areas are West Maui and South Maui:

• Kaanapali (West Maui)
• Kapalua (West Maui)
• Wailea (South Maui)

See more: Where to stay in Maui

Kaanapali has a long stretch of beach that’s lined with many beachfront resorts and hotels. Kapalua would be the quieter resort area of West Maui. Wailea has a long stretch of coastline that’s lined with many oceanfront resorts and hotels, some with beaches out front.

A Maui beach in West Maui was named best beach in America by Dr. Beach a few years ago.

See more about what’s around West Maui and what’s around South Maui, which includes a list of the top hotels that are near some of the beaches.

On the Big Island, the resort areas are:

• Kona coast
• Waikoloa / Kohala coast (a little bit north of Kona)

See more: Where to stay in Kona

More recently, in 2021, a Big Island beach along the Kohala coast (north of Kona) was named the best beach in America by Dr. Beach. This was Hapuna Beach Hawaii State Recreation Area, and as a Hawaii state park, there are no beachfront hotels or resorts directly at Hapuna Beach.

Airbnb is also an option in Hawaii.

If you are traveling to Hawaii alone, or you’re a backpacker on a budget, then also see where to stay when backpacking Hawaii. On Maui, there are hostels that offer free group tours. (Including to those places that you can’t get to by bus too!)

So…

There are things to love about both the Hawaiian islands of Maui and the Big Island!

I really don’t think you can go wrong with either! 

👆 Don’t miss out on a sunset in Hawaii no matter which island you choose!

👆 Flying into the Hawaiian island of Maui to the Kahului airport. A reason to get a window seat on your flight to Hawaii!

👆 Driving to see the beautiful backroads of Hawaii. (Or you can walk this scary Hawaii road instead!)

👆 Flying into the Big Island of Hawaii to the Kona airport.

👆 Driving to see beautiful valleys in Hawaii. 🌴

Comparing the islands vs Oahu?! Oahu vs Maui vs Big Island

Oahu is the island of Honolulu and Waikiki.

This is another popular Hawaiian island choice for a first trip to Hawaii.

It can be considered the most budget friendly island in Hawaii.

If you had to choose the best islands in Hawaii for the beaches, it would likely be Maui or Oahu.

Once again, similar to Maui, on Oahu you have a lot of picture-perfect beaches to choose from… like Lanikai Beach and Waimanalo Beach!

I don’t have any specific comparison post of Maui vs Oahu or the Big Island vs Oahu, but I do have some individual posts of the best things to do on Oahu and the best things to do in Waikiki for views! (I have also spent more than 3 weeks on Oahu.)

Waikiki Beach on Oahu is the biggest tourist hub of Hawaii. You fly into Honolulu for this.

Also, if you are looking at a solo trip to Hawaii, also see about things to consider when traveling to Hawaii alone.

Your first trip to Maui or the Big Island will be amazing!

To choose between Maui and the Big Island truly is HARD!

To choose between ANY of the Hawaiian islands is hard.

Much of it really depends on what you’re looking for out of your Hawaii vacation!

But the thing is that no matter which island you choose for your Hawaii vacation, there’s a VERY good chance you will love it!

If you’re coming from landlocked USA (or landlocked anywhere really) and this is your first trip to Hawaii, then any Hawaii experience can only be amazing I’m sure.

So, don’t stress TOO much over choosing the “best” Hawaiian island or the “perfect” Hawaiian island.

You are sure to have an amazing time no matter which island you choose!

Map of Maui, Big Island, and more Hawaiian islands

👆 Explore on google maps the Hawaiian islands map that has the best things to do in Hawaii!

👆 How to start using this map: Click the top left icon! Or just zoom in to start looking and clicking around! If you start off by clicking on the gold stars, that will tell you the basics of each of the major islands. See more tips for using the interactive map of Hawaii.

For further reading, for further picture viewing, and for further trip planning, also see:

• Maui itinerary: The best of Maui in 3 days, then take it easy the other days!
• Big Island itinerary: The best of the Big Island in 7 days – explore all the different areas of the island!

Things to do in Hawaii:

• Things to do on Maui
• Things to do on the Big Island
• Things to do on Oahu
• Things to do on Lanai

HAPPY CHOOSING BETWEEN MAUI OR THE BIG ISLAND!

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Where to stay near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Read the reviews at partner website!

• Volcano House (book sooner rather than later! This is THE lodging of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and it's in demand!)
• Lava Lodge at Hale Kilauea
• More budget-friendly option: Aloha Crater Lodge

Here are some ideas for your time on the Big Island!

Among the most popular things to do on the Big Island are Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Akaka Falls State Park, and Waipio Valley!

For Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the main road to drive is Chain of Craters Road and it will take you to see the best lava fields in Hawaii! Before that though (or after!) you will want to make a stop for the Thurston lava tube. You can also hike into a former lava lake by doing the Kilauea Iki Trail!

Other Big Island activities you may want to make time for are the best black sand beaches in Hawaii (including Punaluu black sand beach to see turtles maybe!) and the Papakolea green sand beach of Hawaii.

👇 Explore the Big Island map on google maps!

See the list:

• Things to do on the Big Island (for VIEWS!)
• Things to do in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
• Things to do in Kona

ALOHA!