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So you鈥檙e made the decision to head to Hawaii. Lucky you.

Now comes the hard part: choosing which idyllic island to visit. Among the larger destinations, two finalists will quickly emerge: 翱驶补丑耻 and Maui.

Which of these two stars should you choose for your time in paradise? We鈥檝e asked two passionate writers to make the case for why the natural attractions, beaches, food scene and overall vibe give their preferred island the edge.

Why I鈥檓 mad for Maui

Amy C Balfour has visited Maui regularly for the last 10 years, often bringing friends and family members from the mainland 鈥 and always reconnecting with the local friends she鈥檚 made over the years. The duration of her average visit to the island? Three to five weeks.

Have you seen the sun rise over 贬补濒别补办补濒腻? This luminous show is the stuff of myths, pilgrimages and (of course) Instagram feeds. Maui wakes up gorgeous 鈥 and never lets up. 翱驶补丑耻? Well, we concede it does wake up.

Sunrise over clouds and distant mountains from on top of Haleakala Crater, Maui, Hawaii, USA
The sunrise at Maui鈥檚 贬补濒别补办补濒腻 Crater is always a showstopper 漏 DonLand / Shutterstock

The world鈥檚 largest dormant volcano, 贬补濒别补办补濒腻 is the marquee attraction at stunning 贬补濒别补办补濒腻 National Park. 贬补濒别补办补濒腻 also wins bragging rights with its dazzling silverswords, a rare and finicky plant that thrives in Maui鈥檚 soils 鈥 and which doesn鈥檛 grow on the slopes of 翱驶补丑耻鈥檚 鈥渧olcanic tuff cone鈥 at Diamond Head State Monument.

Humpback whales prefer Maui, too. In winter, these leviathans will swim the 翱驶补丑耻 coast, yet the waters of western Maui are their preferred spot for mating and birthing. Most visitors can observe their graceful glory from the island鈥檚 condos, catamarans and clifftops 鈥 and a lucky few from a kayak on Makena Bay.

Another bucket-list experience is driving the Road to Hana, where waterfalls tumble into sparkling pools mere steps from the road. (Maui has no shortage of dazzling road trips.) Hana itself offers a window into the Hawaii of old, where locals 鈥渢alk story鈥 over mahi-mahi tacos, tropical fruit popsicles and warm banana bread, all sold at roadside food stands.

Honolulu鈥檚 Bishop Museum might celebrate Polynesian culture and history with a glossy cool. Yet this history packs a visceral punch on Maui. Hike over ancient lava rocks on the King鈥檚 Highway. Stand in awe below Pi鈥榠lanihale Heiau, an immense Polynesian temple. Or wade into the Ko鈥榠e鈥榠e Fishpond, originally built for a royal family.

In Maui, fantastic meals are not confined to the big city, as in 翱驶补丑耻. Deliciousness is a given at Mama鈥檚 Fish House, Leoda鈥檚 Kitchen & Pie Shop, Kula Bistro and other far-flung outposts. And no one can resist the Old Lahaina Luau, which complements its scrumptious Native Hawaiian feast with storytelling and traditional hula. Where鈥檚 your hula, Honolulu?

The scene at Waikiki has its partisans 鈥 but Maui鈥檚 Ka鈥榓napali Beach sports a similar oceanfront cool. And here, every evening kicks off with a mesmerizing traditional cliff dive from the astonishing Pu鈥榰 Keka鈥榓.

Hawaiian outrigger canoes and palm trees on the beach at sunset, Kihei, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Hop in a traditional outrigger canoes off Maui鈥檚 southwest coast for an outdoor adventure 漏 drewsulockcreations / Getty Images

Outdoor adventure? Another winner. Snorkelers flock to Maui鈥檚 coves to get up close to tropical fish and honu (green turtles). Windsurfers dazzle crowds at Ho鈥榦kipa Beach, while outrigger canoes paddle past lava-rock shores on the southwest coast. And though 翱驶补丑耻鈥檚 North Shore does offer world-class surfing, Maui wins the awe factor with the monstrous annual break at Pe鈥榓hi (also known as Jaws).

And finally, the beaches. Golden strands hug the entire perimeter of the Valley Isle, all ready-made for your postcard moment. We especially love Oneloa Beach (Big Beach), a showstopping mile-long stretch of sand in Makena. Flanked by tangled tropical greenery and a wild blue sea, it finds no worthy competition on 翱驶补丑耻. Or anywhere in Hawaii. Or really anywhere in the world.

You should be agog over O鈥榓hu

Catherine Toth Fox grew up on 翱驶补丑耻, and has spent years as a travel writer reporting on the best things to see, do and eat in her native state. Having traveled all over the Hawaiian archipelago, she鈥檚 an expert on which island is the best. Her pick? 翱驶补丑耻.

There鈥檚 a reason the majority of visitors to Hawaii 鈥 60% in pre-Covid 2019 鈥 come to 翱驶补丑耻. Quite simply, there鈥檚 more to do here than on any other island, Maui included. Much more.

It鈥檚 hard to knock Maui, home to the world鈥檚 largest dormant volcano and gorgeous beaches. Yet 翱驶补丑耻 boasts more than 200 hiking trails, hundreds of restaurants and food trucks serving everything from birria tacos to Burmese cuisine, and some of the world鈥檚 best surfing breaks year-round. (Pe鈥榓hi 鈥 aka Jaws 鈥 in Maui? Good luck timing your trip around that.)

If you鈥檙e looking to hole up at your hotel for the entire vacation, pick Maui and its sprawling oceanfront resorts. But if you鈥檙e looking for adventure, to really experience the Hawaiian Islands and make the most of your well-earned vacation, 翱驶补丑耻 should be your choice.

Let鈥檚 start outdoors. On 翱驶补丑耻 you can view the sunrise from the top of the Makapu驶u Lighthouse Trail, an easy trek along a paved road that meanders along the island鈥檚 rugged southeastern coastline. Along the way, stunning views open up of the rural town of Waim膩nalo, off-shore islets like M膩nana (Rabbit Island), Hawaiian seabirds like the 驶颈飞补 (great frigate bird) flying above, and the historic, red-roofed Makapu驶u Lighthouse itself. And on calm winter days, you鈥檒l have a front-row seat to the playful 办辞丑辞濒腻, or North Pacific humpback whales, frolicking in Hawaii鈥檚 warm waters. Like most visitors, even these majestic creatures start their Hawaiian journey in 翱驶补丑耻. Did I mention that, unlike at 贬补濒别补办补濒腻 on Maui, you don鈥檛 need a reservation to take it all in?

If you鈥檙e hungry, 翱驶补丑耻 has way more restaurants 鈥 and way more variety 鈥 than any other island. Here, you鈥檒l find hefty plated lunches served roadside (Rainbow Drive-In), authentic Hawaiian fare (Helena鈥檚 Hawaiian Food), family-run okazuya (Fukuya Delicatessen), manapua pork-bun shops (Royal Kitchen), old-school saimin noodle-soup stands (Shige鈥檚 Saimin Stand), elevated Vietnamese street food (Pig & the Lady), restaurants run by James Beard Award鈥搘inning chefs (贵锚迟别) and the bakery where sweet malasadas were first served (尝别辞苍补谤诲鈥檚). Plus, Zippy鈥檚 Restaurants serves its popular chili, saimin and Apple Napples 24 hours a day. You won鈥檛 find much open after sunset on Maui.

A hiker along the steep Koko Crater Trail, near Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, USA
The Koko Crater Trail near Honolulu is a popular choice among 翱驶补丑耻鈥檚 many hiking options 漏 ChristianZanePhotography / Shutterstock

If hiking鈥檚 your thing, 翱驶补丑耻 has more trails than any other island, from the easy trek to Manoa Falls to the epic trek to the top of Olomana. We have trails that run along pristine coastlines (Ka驶ena Point), uphill jaunts (Ka驶颈飞补 Ridge 鈥 aka Lanikai Pillbox 鈥 Trail) and walks through lush forests (驶Aiea Loop trail). Not to mention the popular Koko Crater stairs, which let visitors scramble up an old wooden tramway to the top of a 1208ft volcanic tuff cone. You won鈥檛 get this hiking variety in Maui.

翱驶补丑耻 is heaven for travelers with kids. The fun never stops at such sites as Waikiki Aquarium, the 42-acre Honolulu Zoo, an indoor play area (Hawaii Children鈥檚 Discovery Center), a water park (Wet 鈥檔鈥 Wild) and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa where the whole family can dine with Mickey Mouse even if you鈥檙e not overnight guests.

If you want to dive deep into the culture that makes Hawaii so special, the Bishop Museum boasts the world鈥檚 largest collection of Polynesian cultural artifacts and natural-history specimens. Explore an old sugar farm and settlement at Hawaii鈥檚 Plantation Village. Get inspired at the Hawai驶i State Art Museum and the Honolulu Museum of Art, which display works from Hawaii and around the world. You can even help restore ancient Hawaiian fishponds at Pae驶pae o He驶ei, or plant taro, an important staple plant for Native Hawaiians, at Ka Papa Lo驶i O K膩newai.

Two visitors look at art exhibits at the Hawaii State Art Museum, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, USA
The Hawaii State Art Museum in Honolulu features vibrant works by artists from all over Hawaii, and the world 漏 Alamy Stock Photo

The history lessons continue at opulent Shangri La, the mansion-turned-museum of the late philanthropist Doris Duke. 驶Iolani Palace is the only official state residence of royalty in the USA. And the USS Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum illustrate another vital moment in American history.

翱驶补丑耻 has it all, and there鈥檚 no place like it.

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