Maui, more tourist';y'; than Oahu?

It will be 20 years ago that I was last on the Oahu, Maui was then known as the quiet boring place where old people and honeymoomers hide out.(spoken by a true 20years old at the time) Now it seems that its has quite simply become the island with lots of tourists....Now that I%26#39;m coming for my wedding(with teenagers and a little one) would this be the right island....don%26#39;t get my wrong, It%26#39;s sounds amazing....But...we are looking for a fun but not crowded island. Make sense??? I hope so.

Maui, more tourist';y'; than Oahu?

Oahu has become a really big city, and lots of traffic. While Maui does have more traffic than it used to, I enjoy Maui more for a better assortment of things to do without ';being in the big city';. I find it a little easier to get around. I would not say Maui is boring at all. Honolulu does have some nice tourist spots........but I love Maui!!! Just check out some of the Maui websites for things to do and see what would interest your family.

Maui, more tourist';y'; than Oahu?

';Oahu has become a really big city, and lots of traffic.';

Not true. Honolulu is a big city %26amp; has a lot of traffic. Outside of Honolulu, Oahu is much like the other islands.

Whoops....sorry about that....that is exactly what I meant to say.....

Just returned from Maui and Oahu. Outside of Honolulu, I found Oahu to be less touristy than Maui. I enjoyed both islands, they each had their own uniqueness, but I am looking forward to visiting Kauai in a few years. Have you checked into Kauai?

Oahu has its share of ';rural'; once you get outside Honolulu/Waikiki. However it lacks nice lodgings outside those places.

West Maui *is* touristy, IMO. South Maui and upcountry are quieter, once you get south of the Kamaole beach parks. Maui has plenty of nice (and some budget) lodgings and some good restaurants and shops -- a bit of ';nightlife'; in the Lahaina/Kaanapali area. Upcountry is beautiful. Maui is big enough to absorb a lot of visitors.

Kauai is still quite laid back with lodgings clustered in Poipu and Princeville (and some on the less-beachy Coconut Coast). So much of it is vertical that you%26#39;ll never see it unless from a helicopter.

Big Island is not anybody%26#39;s idea of ';typically tropical'; but fascinating. Virtually all the good lodgings are up in its NW corner though.

Lanai and Molokai might suit you best if you want VERY quiet.

If you are coming in the winter/spring be aware that the northern areas of Kauai and Oahu can be rainy and windy -- that %26#39;s somewhat true for West Maui too.

I went to Maui for the first time in 16 years in December. It has changed - a LOT. It%26#39;s not as commercial and busy as the Waikiki area of Oahu, but it is built up. the change seemed most apparent around Wailea. Upscale homes, a range of condos and the ubiquitous timeshares. Not so much so at Kaanapali as that was pretty developed already -but there was construction of more timeshares going up between Kaanapali and what had been the Embassy Suites. Even Kapalua is seeing ever more condos.

Did I have a good time? Yes. Is it fun? - well it is a resort island and a beautiful one. Haleakala is amazing as ever. The luaus were fun. Am I anxious to go back? Well, no. That is largely do to a personal preference for very quiet and laid back places like St John in the USVI%26#39;s. Maui is just too built up for me. But that%26#39;s just me.

Interesting observations and I would agree that maui is more touristy, to me west and south maui have the well planned tourist area feel to it, I guess I would describe it as the white shorts and tennis shoes type of atmoshpere, I think that is one of the reasons people like it. Waikiki is more crowded and commercial but has a more international and locals type flavor to it. North and east ohau are areas that do not feel touristy at all, definetly a locals dominated area.

If you want an empty island with numerous areas to explore Kuaui would seem to be a good pick.

Hawaii is really a diverse place so wherever you go keep an open mind and enjoy yourselves for what is in front of you. When I read of unhappy experiences it usually sounds like someone was expecting something different and they spend their time comparing rather than exploring.

Lahaina/Kaanapali/Wailea are just about as touristy as Waikiki/Honolulu.

Good grief! Maui more touristy than Oahu? NO! We spent five days too many on Oahu a few years ago. You may also want to consider Kauai. It%26#39;s very quiet, much quieter than Maui and so beautiful.

Just returned from Oahu yesterday. I don%26#39;t plan to go back for MANY years. I was in Maui in April and October of 2006 and my next trip to Maui is planned for July 2007. I just didn%26#39;t get that wonderful tropical ALOHA feel while in Oahu. Between the freeways, the planes flying overhead constantly, (we were staying at the Ko Olina), and the lack of beautiful sunsets, there were many times that I had to remind myself that I WAS in Hawaii. This is never a problem for me in Maui. In Oahu I enjoyed the Polynesian Cultural Center and our trip to the North Shore to see the waves. I found no great snorkling, no great restaurants and even the swap meet at the Aloha Stadium had the same thing over and over again. We counted 27 vendors selling the $8.00 swim trunks. I%26#39;d take the Maui swap meet any day over Oahu. Sp for me it Maui once a year, Kauai once every other year, and Oahu once a decade, if that.