A month in Hawaii?

[cricketwife]

If you were going to spend a month in Hawaii (Summer 2024), how would you divide your time? Only parameter is that we will stay on one of the islands for two weeks.  Kids will be 7 and 10. 

ETA: We honeymooned on Maui for 2 weeks and LOVED it so I’m not feeling you Maui-haters, lol. I’m still in the idea-stage but we loved staying 2 weeks on one island and not island-hopping. It was so relaxing and we really felt like we saw and enjoyed the whole island.  So I’d like at least 2 weeks on a single island.  I’m all over the place with my thoughts.  I definitely want to do the Big Island, so I was thinking 2 weeks there, and 1 week Maui and 1 week Oahu.  But I could be convinced to do the whole month on the Big Island, or 2 weeks there and 2 weeks on Oahu.  I read it has the calmest waters which my kids would appreciate and I have heard good things about basically everything other than Waikiki. And I’d like to see Pearl Harbor, but it’s not a deciding factor.  Kauai sounds too rugged for me, I think? but I kinda hate to be so close and not see it at all. I’m sure I would enjoy it for a few days.  So I don’t know! So many options! I appreciate the input!

[devonpow]

I would do a week on Kauai, a week on the Big Island (split between Kona and Hilo areas) , 3 or so days on Oahu (on your flying in or out days since Honolulu is where most mainland flights go in) and a week and a half on Maui. A month in Hawaii would be amazing!

I missed the two week thing - Maui for the two weeks. Oahu the least amount of time, followed by Big Island, then Kauai (from least amount of time to most )

[namasteak]

redheadk probably has some tips!

[gretchenindisguise]

2 weeks on Maui (fly in and out from here).
1 week on Kauai
3 days on Lanai
4 days on Big Island

[ohgillian]

I must be doing life wrong.

[cricketwife]

Apr 26, 2023 20:01:40 GMT -5 ohgillian said:

I must be doing life wrong.

I know the feeling!  We have literally taken one true vacation in our lives and it was our honeymoon to Hawaii.  We only visited one island (which I won’t name until more people weigh in) and have always dreamed of returning. I’ve been saving for 4 years in order to surprise my husband with a trip back to Hawaii for his 50th birthday.  I’m a teacher and since the flights are an huge cost and I’ve got the time off, I’m thinking “let’s stay for a month!” I’m not actually 100% sure we can afford a whole month there yet and H (when he finds out about the trip) will definitely not be able to go for more than 2 weeks, but I want to stay as long as possible! 

[dancingirl21]

I’ve only been to Maui and Kauai for our honeymoon. We spent 6 days in Maui and 4 days in Kauai. I could have stayed in Maui longer and was ready to leave Kauai. I love fresh seafood but I really just wanted a cheeseburger and couldn’t find one where we were in Kauai. I’m sure there were some, we just didn’t find it. It was much more laid back than Maui, which was nice in some ways, but I was done there after 4 days.

[SusanBAnthony]

We went to Big Island for 5 days and I think I could easily spend 2-3 times that!

We stayed one night in Waikiki a d that was more than enough, no thanks (I realize that's a tiny part of the island).

I really want to go back!

[cottoncandy]

We did this last summer and it was amazing. We stayed on the big island the whole time. (It was 1000 times cheaper to rent a car for a month vs. a week or two at different islands) We had a condo in the Kona area and we did stay one night in volcanoes national park. I can go on about it, so feel free to message me if you have any specific questions. We choose the big island bc it has so much to do. I think we had maybe 1 or 2 pool days, but basically we were all over. Black sand beach, green sand beach, rain forest, cattle ranches, it really has it all. We rented a Jeep, which I highly recommend. We will definitely do it again sometime, and I would have no problem going back to the big island. (Edit to say my kids are 6 and 10)

[al dente]

10 days big island, 10 days Kauai, 5 and 5 at Maui and Oahu. Honestly I could skip Maui but I know that is sacrilege around here! Lol

[nicolewi]

Oh, wow! I want to go. I’ve only been to Maui and the big island, but I really loved both. It seems like Kauai is the next most popular, unless you want to do Pearl Harbor and that kind of thing. I would do one week, Maui, one week Kauai, and two weeks big island. I feel like the big island has a lot of different things to see and explore, especially for kids.

[mrsslocombe]

Apr 26, 2023 20:55:06 GMT -5 al dente said:

10 days big island, 10 days Kauai, 5 and 5 at Maui and Oahu. Honestly I could skip Maui but I know that is sacrilege around here! Lol

This is me too. I really disliked Maui (except for Haleakala). The Big Island is my favorite by far. It's also less expensive than Maui.

I'd personally do like...20 days Big island and 5 Kauai, 5 Maui. 

I haven't been to Oahu.

[expatjen]

Apr 26, 2023 20:55:06 GMT -5 al dente said:

10 days big island, 10 days Kauai, 5 and 5 at Maui and Oahu. Honestly I could skip Maui but I know that is sacrilege around here! Lol

Ditto! I’m from Hawaii and Maui is my least favourite island. 😬

[hoteldweller]

I also dislike Maui!

Oahu has a lot to do if you leave Waikiki.

[loira]

I have no advice but have fun! Sounds like an amazing trip!

[basilosaurus]

You haven't said what you want to do.

Kids for freedom to come and go to beaches? Packed with activities? Hike or swim?

I lived there a few years and have been to all.

For a long time I'd consider Molokai because it's so much smaller and less touristed the kids could go off on their own.

I actually loved living in Waikiki as I'd been rural prior and landlocked, and it was great to walk to everything. A monk seal just pupped for the 2nd time on my prefered beach.

Need more info

[hbomdiggity]

Apr 26, 2023 20:55:06 GMT -5 al dente said:

10 days big island, 10 days Kauai, 5 and 5 at Maui and Oahu. Honestly I could skip Maui but I know that is sacrilege around here! Lol

This.

I don’t dislike Maui but I much prefer big island. We were on Hawaii for 6 days and didn’t have enough time. Comparatively I was on Oahu for 3 days and was over it (admittedly for work but so.many.people).

[sonrisa]

Someplace your kids can do a fantastic hawaii/beach day camp for one of those two weeks - and give you two some time together

[cricketwife]

Apr 26, 2023 23:07:59 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

You haven't said what you want to do.

Kids for freedom to come and go to beaches? Packed with activities? Hike or swim?

I lived there a few years and have been to all.

For a long time I'd consider Molokai because it's so much smaller and less touristed the kids could go off on their own.

I actually loved living in Waikiki as I'd been rural prior and landlocked, and it was great to walk to everything. A monk seal just pupped for the 2nd time on my prefered beach.

Need more info

Fair point.  I love beaches, but the rest of the family is not happy to just sit on a beach for more than an hour, which is why I love all the snorkeling in Hawaii. We like to be doing of seeing things. H and I are of moderate fitness and don't want any crazy hikes, though we enjoy "nature light" so to speak. 

I don't imagine the kids going off on their own.  While huge crowds don't appeal to me, we would all like for there to be things to do. 

[cricketwife]

Apr 27, 2023 1:20:34 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Someplace your kids can do a fantastic hawaii/beach day camp for one of those two weeks - and give you two some time together

I hadn't even considered this but love the way you think! 

[redheadk]

Prices are very high for lodging in Hawaii right now so just be aware of that. They are coming down a bit but still much more than they were just a few years ago. There is a huge housing shortage in Hawaii plus high demand from tourists.

With the caveat that we like to have a nice mix of lazy and active time, I'd do some combination of Kauai, Big Island, and Oahu. I'm eh on Maui. We've spent 2 weeks on both Kauai and the Big Island each.


Kauai: Smaller, more "country", gorgeous with lots of outdoor things to do! I'd look for something with no view on the north shore personally to maximize how far your $$ goes, but the north shore is just my preference. If your kids want more easy beach time and activities, you may prefer the south shore. I'd spend at least a week here. We love beach hopping here, this is the oldest of the main islands so many beaches on the north side have trees, etc. The big "thing" I'd do on this island is a snorkel boat tour to the Na Pali coast. We are going in 2025 so that we can accommodate some friends schedules, we'll do one week on the north shore and one week on the south shore. You can easily just drive between the two if you are there for less time.

Big Island: The name doesn't lie. We spent 2 weeks here in 2021 and still have a list of things we want to do in the future. That said, I know not everyone would be content to spend a week in a kind of remote part of the east side of this island but we loved it. Lots to explore on this island! Your big thing here is Volcanoes National Park.

Oahu: I like Oahu. I don't like to stay in Waikiki. My preference is staying on the north shore. Turtle Bay has become very $$$ and I'm not sure what the situation is with legal rentals up there right now. Hawaii in general, Oahu in particular, is strict about rentals because of the general housing shortage, so be careful that any rentals are registered, legal rentals. Hawaii has zones identified for vacationers so you'll typically find most rentals/hotels clustered in certain areas. I like Honolulu for what it is but not if you are expecting outdoorsy, foresty, beachy Hawaii. For that, we rent in Lanikai (east side) or stay on the north shore. Staying on the north shore is a game changer, you can do all the cool stuff in the morning before the day trippers arrives then visit the pool/beach in the afternoon, go take a nap, then go back out when all the day trippers have returned to Waikiki or Ko Olina.

[rootbeerfloat]

Apr 26, 2023 22:25:58 GMT -5 expatjen said:

Apr 26, 2023 20:55:06 GMT -5 al dente said:

10 days big island, 10 days Kauai, 5 and 5 at Maui and Oahu. Honestly I could skip Maui but I know that is sacrilege around here! Lol

Ditto! I’m from Hawaii and Maui is my least favourite island. 😬

Tritto. Also from Hawaii

[litskispeciality]

OP I assume you've taken travel time to and from in to account. I believe it's about a 14 hour flight from the east coast which is at least 2 full days of travel/your trip if you don't lay over in say California. I haven't been able to go yet, but hope and plan two with a 2+ week block of time off, assuming 2 -3 days of travel and a day or two to adjust to the time difference as that kills me.

My friend stayed there pre- and post-COVID and added another expense to consider is parking if you rent a car. She had to pay to park at the hotel and said it was more than the cost of the rental as they try to discourage car rentals.

[wise_rita]

Apr 27, 2023 13:27:03 GMT -5 litskispeciality said:

My friend stayed there pre- and post-COVID and added another expense to consider is parking if you rent a car. She had to pay to park at the hotel and said it was more than the cost of the rental as they try to discourage car rentals.

Holy crap!

[chedifuen]

Apr 27, 2023 13:27:03 GMT -5 litskispeciality said:

OP I assume you've taken travel time to and from in to account. I believe it's about a 14 hour flight from the east coast which is at least 2 full days of travel/your trip if you don't lay over in say California. I haven't been able to go yet, but hope and plan two with a 2+ week block of time off, assuming 2 -3 days of travel and a day or two to adjust to the time difference as that kills me.

My friend stayed there pre- and post-COVID and added another expense to consider is parking if you rent a car. She had to pay to park at the hotel and said it was more than the cost of the rental as they try to discourage car rentals.

That parking is insane and likely a one-off. We've been several times, pre and post covid, resort parking is expensive but like $45 per day. Lodging is closer to $800 per day. 

[Deleted]

Apr 27, 2023 14:50:00 GMT -5 chedifuen said:

Apr 27, 2023 13:27:03 GMT -5 litskispeciality said:

OP I assume you've taken travel time to and from in to account. I believe it's about a 14 hour flight from the east coast which is at least 2 full days of travel/your trip if you don't lay over in say California. I haven't been able to go yet, but hope and plan two with a 2+ week block of time off, assuming 2 -3 days of travel and a day or two to adjust to the time difference as that kills me.

My friend stayed there pre- and post-COVID and added another expense to consider is parking if you rent a car. She had to pay to park at the hotel and said it was more than the cost of the rental as they try to discourage car rentals.

That parking is insane and likely a one-off. We've been several times, pre and post covid, resort parking is expensive but like $45 per day. Lodging is closer to $800 per day. 

Yeah that seems weirdly random. Parking ain't cheap but neither are cars, honestly. 

[TR]

Apr 27, 2023 14:50:00 GMT -5 chedifuen said:

Apr 27, 2023 13:27:03 GMT -5 litskispeciality said:

OP I assume you've taken travel time to and from in to account. I believe it's about a 14 hour flight from the east coast which is at least 2 full days of travel/your trip if you don't lay over in say California. I haven't been able to go yet, but hope and plan two with a 2+ week block of time off, assuming 2 -3 days of travel and a day or two to adjust to the time difference as that kills me.

My friend stayed there pre- and post-COVID and added another expense to consider is parking if you rent a car. She had to pay to park at the hotel and said it was more than the cost of the rental as they try to discourage car rentals.

That parking is insane and likely a one-off. We've been several times, pre and post covid, resort parking is expensive but like $45 per day. Lodging is closer to $800 per day. 

I think she meant parking per day was more than the car rental per day, but still, that would be pretty nuts.

[redheadk]

Apr 27, 2023 15:32:05 GMT -5 TR said:

Apr 27, 2023 14:50:00 GMT -5 chedifuen said:

That parking is insane and likely a one-off. We've been several times, pre and post covid, resort parking is expensive but like $45 per day. Lodging is closer to $800 per day. 

I think she meant parking per day was more than the car rental per day, but still, that would be pretty nuts.

That’s definitely the case in Waikiki and likely in some $$$ resorts.

[litskispeciality]

Apr 27, 2023 16:11:13 GMT -5 redheadk said:

Apr 27, 2023 15:32:05 GMT -5 TR said:

I think she meant parking per day was more than the car rental per day, but still, that would be pretty nuts.

That’s definitely the case in Waikiki and likely in some $$$ resorts.

Yes my friend said paying for a parking spot at their hotel, which I don't believe was a resort, was more per day than the cost of the rental car per day. She was told (by management of the hotel?) it's to deter car rentals, or maybe driving in general?, but I'm not sure I might have misunderstood that part. I don't know which island(s) they visited, but I think one included the big island.

Either way $45 per day to PARK a car, on top of the current outrageous prices to rent a car, then the very expensive food, and hotel fees upwards of $800 a night could make a two week trip a $10k+ vacation. That doesn't even include airfare. I assume OP is budgeting down to the penny, so knowing these weird ones offs may help even in planning which islands to visit or which hotel or resort to choose. I personally hadn't heard of paying to park on site at a hotel, or separate resort fees until my 30's at places like Vegas (resort fees) or maybe Disney (to park, maybe even resort fees too), I can't remember now as that was almost 10 years ago. We did a lot of AI's or places you weren't charged to leave a vehicle overnight.

[litskispeciality]

Not aimed at OP, I also know Hawaii is VERY expensive, so $45 per day just to park a car shouldn't raise eyebrows, but to me that's just nuts. I would probably research areas with easy transit (if possible) to places I want to visit rather than add an extra $300 - $450 to my bill just to park a car.