17 days in Kauai, Maui & Big Island Itinerary

The northernmost of Hawaii's major islands, Kauai earned the nickname "Garden Island" because of its abundance of lush greenery and tropical plants, watered frequently with plentiful rainfall. Kauai's landscape continues to suffer from powerful erosion, resulting in natural attractions that include plunging canyons, tall mountain peaks, and the longest sandy coastline of all the Hawaiian islands. Offering a mild tropical climate and pristine wilderness areas largely unspoiled by mass tourism, Kauai is a great vacation destination for visitors eager to escape Hawaii's more crowded tourist resorts. For a genuine Kauai experience, join the locals for one of their famous traditional meat and vegetable feasts, prepared in underground pits lined with hot rocks.

The second largest of the eight major Hawaiian Islands, Maui features a rugged landscape ranging from high mountain peaks to deep valleys. Half of Maui lies within 8 km (5 mi) of the coastline, and most tourists come for the sandy beaches, many of them backed by fashionable resorts offering every modern convenience. Diversity of tourist attractions is Maui's major allure, with each of the island's shores offering a different set of vacation ideas. You can swim with dolphins, snorkel with sea turtles, or hike over the otherworldly landscapes of the world's biggest dormant volcano. A foodie paradise, the island also features dozens of small farms and gourmet restaurants.