One of the most difficult parts of planning a trip to Hawaii is deciding which island to visit. In an ideal world, you’d have enough time to see a couple of them. But, in reality, sometimes you are forced to narrow it down to two, or even one island.
Our breakdown of O‘ahu versus Maui is made to help you choose between those two islands based on 5 different criteria. It is broken down into the following chapters:
Table of contents
For more breakdowns you should have a look at our comparisons of the Big Island vs. Oʻahu, the Big Island vs. Maui, and Kauaʻi vs Oʻahu.
O‘ahu and Maui in a Nutshell
Maui and O‘ahu are separated by one island (Molokai), 65 miles (100 km), or 40 minutes by plane. They have some similarities, such as their world-renowned beaches, but we will mostly talk about their differences here.
O‘ahu
O‘ahu is the most diverse of the Hawaiian islands, offering all kinds of people, landscapes, and lifestyles. From the buzz of Honolulu to the big waves of the north shore, it’s possible to experience everything Hawaii has to offer on O‘ahu. If you’re looking for a mix of city and outdoor opportunities, O‘ahu is your island.
See our complete O‘ahu overview for a longer list of O‘ahu essentials.
A visit to Honolulu (O‘ahu) isn’t complete without at least having a look at the Diamond Head crater from Waikiki Beach. Image credit: tomasphoto
Recommended minimum stay: 4 days
Good to know for O‘ahu: It’s tempting to stay in Waikiki for its convenience (it is, after all, where most of the hotels are), but O‘ahu has so much more to see. Its windward side is full of beautiful mountains and local beaches; its west side a hub for small communities and culture. Get around when you’re on O‘ahu – you will be surprised by how diverse it is outside the big city.
Don’t miss these 3 things: Big waves on the North Shore (winter); Sunrise hike at the Lanikai Pillbox; Sunset sail in Waikiki.
Maui
Maui has long been a favorite of visitors because it represents everything that people think of when they picture Hawaii, a beautiful blend of beaches, volcanoes, palm trees, an agriculture without the crowds. Now, that last part is subjective, of course – Maui certainly has its fair share of visitors, and you can find all those things mentioned above on O‘ahu – but because Maui lacks a big city, its overall vibe is much calmer than what you find on O‘ahu.
That said, Maui does have a pulse. It has plenty of medium-sized beach towns that provide a spark of life, making it a popular destination for people who want variety but not at the expense of open space (i.e., many residents of Molokai and Lanai go to Maui for shopping and nightlife). Much of Maui’s appeal comes from its natural landscape and biodiversity, including its two large volcanoes, whale watching season, and remote, undeveloped parts of its island, like Hana.
Recommended minimum stay: 5 days
Good to know for Maui: Although it lacks the big city feel of O‘ahu, Maui combines all other aspects of Hawaii and does so beautifully. One that often goes overlooked is its “up-country” lifestyle, that is, the belt of small farms that occupies the hillsides of Haleakala. The town of Kula, for example, is a good place to take a farm tour (lavender, coffee, pineapple, protea), visit a distillery, and check out a winery. The views from this part of the island are unforgettable, and it offers a different perspective and a different way of Hawaii life.
Don’t miss these 3 things: Exploring the summit of Haleakala, the beaches of south and west Maui, a boat trip in the Auau Channel (especially during whale season).
The summit area of the Haleakala volcano on Maui. Image credit: hdamke
What island should you choose if you like…
We have found that the best way to make a difficult choice is to base your decision on just one or two factors that are most important to you. These are our suggestions of what you should base your choice on for O‘ahu and Maui:
Outdoor adventure: Maui
Though O‘ahu might feel “bigger” due to its large population, Maui is actually the larger island of the two, with unpopulated areas like Haleakaka and the West Maui Mountains taking up much of its mass. Both provide many opportunities for outdoor adventure, including hiking, biking, camping, and stargazing.
Complementing that large amount of open space is the fact that Maui is surrounded by big islands – Lanai, Molokai, Kahoolawe – and is the main seasonal stomping ground for humpback whales (Nov-Mar). O‘ahu has a lot of hiking and a lot of outdoor opportunities, but Maui has more variety and far more space.
The scenic Road to Hana is the undisputed number one attraction on Maui. Image credit: Benoit de Chastenet, source.
Beaches: tie
Yeah, we know – ties are no fun. But in this case, it’s warranted. For every beautiful beach you could name on O‘ahu, you could follow it up with one on Maui, and vice versa. Both have dozens of beaches, with Maui a little bit more variety in that it offers a few alternative options, like red and black sand beaches.
Still, either island will satisfy your beach fix, so unfortunately you can’t decide between islands using this category alone.
Lanikai Beach in Kailua on O‘ahu with Nā Mokulua (the “Mokes”) on the left. Image credit: PBPhotos
Volcanoes: Maui
O‘ahu and Maui are both made up of two volcanoes each, but because it’s a younger island, Maui’s volcanoes stand taller and are much bigger in mass (due, in part, to a lack of time and erosion). Haleakala’s summit is more than 10,000 feet tall, compared to the highest peak on O‘ahu, Mt. Kaʻala in the Waianae Range, which is only a tick above 4,000 feet.
By the way, if volcanoes are the main subject of your visit to Hawaii you should seriously consider visiting the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.
Food, drinks, and nightlife: O‘ahu
Maui is littered with small towns, like Lahaina, Paia, and Kihei, that operate as small beach towns with shops, bars, and restaurants, many catered directly to visitors. However, there’s no comparing its offerings to what you find on O‘ahu, where Honolulu – a large metropolitan city – combines cultural, food, and entertainment options from all over the world. O‘ahu also has its fair share of small beach communities – Kailua, Waianae, Haleiwa.
If you’re looking for nightlife, entertainment, and world-class culinary options, O‘ahu is your island.
Variety: O‘ahu
This one is close, but the nudge goes to O‘ahu. True, Maui essentially has it all as well – volcanoes, beach towns, offshore activities, and old-world Hawaiian agriculture. But so does O‘ahu, and while its volcanoes might not be as tall, its diverse population, historical sites, surf breaks, hiking trails, and beach towns give it a spice of variety that other islands – even Maui – can’t match.
Waimea Bay on O‘ahu is one of the most iconic surfing spots in the world. Image credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson
Sample itineraries for Maui and O‘ahu:
Hopefully this guide has helped you decide what island(s) you want to spend your well-earned vacation on. We suggest the following itineraries for Maui and O‘ahu to help you plan out the specifics of your holiday.
For Maui: Our Maui overview article is great way to get to know Maui, but the best way to start planning your trip is to check out our Maui itinerary.
For O‘ahu: our O‘ahu overview article and our series of things to do in Kailua, Honolulu, the rugged leeward coast, the tropical and lush windward coast, central O‘ahu, and the world-famous north Shore, all are a good place to start planning your trip.
Ready for more? Start with our complete 7 day itinerary to explore the whole of Oʻahu.