Want to help me plan a trip to Hawaii?

[expectantsteelerfan]

We are going to Hawaii this summer (yay!) and it's likely a once in a lifetime trip for our family (dh was there when he was in the military though).  We have 2 weeks scheduled and we planned to do 2 islands.  I've been researching a ton, and I thought I had half the trip planned, but I'm torn on the 2nd half and it's making me rethink the first half.

So we are pretty set on spending 1 week on Big Island and staying near A'bay.  We had thought that we would do a condo on one island, and a resort on the 2nd island just to have a different vibe.  I got a personal recommendation for a condo on Big Island that looked great and was in our price range, so I was ready to book, but this is what I'm being thrown by with my 2nd conundrum. 
1 question for Big Island...we want to do Volcano National Park.  I can't decide if we should just do it as a day trip, or if we should move for 1 night and spend a 2nd day exploring Hilo.

We are torn for the 2nd week going to either Maui or Oahu.  I had originally picked Maui because Oahu seemed very commercial/city/touristy.  But my dh doesn't love 'just beach' vacations, and if we're doing a lot of beach/outdoorsy stuff on Big Island, then Oahu might be better.  There are a lot of activities on Oahu that sound like we'd like them (and dh wants to go to Pearl Harbor again).  BUT I don't think I'd want to stay in Waikiki, just because of how 'in the middle of things' it is.  Most of the resorts I'm finding recommended are in Waikiki.  I've found a few that aren't and seem like more of what we're looking for, but they are a bit out of our budget.  

I did find some condos on Oahu that would work for us and seem nice, so should we go to Oahu, rent a condo without a personal recommendation (some of them only have a few reviews too), and switch to a resort on Big Island?  Or should we skip Oahu and do a resort on Maui and stay with the condo on Big Island?  

[hbomdiggity]

I would do a resort on Maui and condo on BI. Admittedly that matches my experiences, but I think of BI as get out and explore and I think a condo/house is easier for that vs the resort (to me, resort means staying put to get the most out of amenities).

We did a day trip to volcanoes from Kona. Long day but very doable.

[fernweh]

I have only been to the Big Island so I can’t help with your other question.

We took a small group tour with stops along the way but if you plan to drive yourself it’s only about an hour and a half drive from Kona to Hilo. It might be a long day but if the kids can handle it I would just drive. I wouldn’t want to move for 1 night.

Also while on the big island please please please do a nighttime manta ray snorkel if your kids aren’t too young. It is one of the coolest things I have ever done.

[orval]

I like the Big Island and Oahu combo.
We stayed in Waikoloa on the Big Island. We drove around the island and nothing was really to far with that as our home base. I don't think you need to stay in two different places.
On Oahu, we have stayed in Ko'Olina. It is where the Disney resort is, but there are other resorts. It is not super close to Waikiki but not a bad drive. We did Pearl harbor, Diamond Head, Dole Pineapple Plantation, North Shore -- all from Ko'olina as our home base.
Maui was my least favorite island (we have been to Kauai too).

eta: koolina.com/

[holly116]

DH and I did a week in Maui and three days in Oahu a decade ago. I loved Maui a million times more than Oahu and I remember it being much cheaper. I would go back to Maui and could skip Oahu forever.

[Tacocat]

Oh following this because I’m also planning a family trip to Hawaii for next year. Our plan is to spend it all on BI because we only have 8 days, so wanted time to explore both sides. Debating if we’re going to stay in Kona the entire time and do a day trip to Hilo or split half the trip on each side. Does anyone have a recommendation?

Also, if you wouldn’t mind PM me a link to the condo you were planning to stay at on BI I’d like to take a look. Thanks!

[buckeyegirl]

Our last trip was Big Island then Oahu. We flew to Big Island first and stayed in Kona. We did a day trip to Volcano and then circles around the island to Hilo and then back to Kona. It was a long day but we did it our first day on the Big Island. We were still on east coast time so we were already up early and decided to do the trip then. We were at Volcano nice and early. This trip we only went to Oahu because we wanted to see Aulani. Otherwise, we would have skipped Oahu and gone to Maui. I do think Pearl Harbor is worth seeing.

[nicolewi]

We went to the Big Island and Maui on our honeymoon (17 years ago!!!) The way we did it was we spent I think the first 3? nights in Hilo and went to Volcanoes National Park from there. Then we spent the next four nights near the Kona area. LOVED the Big Island very much. Nothing is really ALL that far if you want one landing spot but I liked the way we did it. We also visited the macadamia nut farm while in Hilo, the Hilo Cookie Company, and on the way across the island we stopped a few different places, including the Hawaii Botanic Gardens, which was well worth it and so beautiful. We did a really awesome whale watching/snorkel expedition from the Big Island (and did a lot of snorkeling in general on the whole trip) and also a luau.

I also love Maui and even though it's busy I think it's busy for a reason. I love the beach/water/sea creatures, but there are many other things you can do. We did NOT do the Road to Hana b/c we didn't want to deal with traffic, but you could. We went to the Sugar Cane museum place, up Haleakala (did not bike; that terrifies me!), and you can also do the lavender or protea farms or pineapple stuff if you want, and there is also a historic park. The free whaling musuem on Kanapali Beach is worthwhile and interesting. We really enjoyed just driving up and down the island and snorkeling/checking out different beaches, too.

I totally want to go back to the Big Island and do the manta ray snorkel!!!

[sugarbear1]

I LOVE Maui and am not a "beach vacation" person (we go with my parents). We stay in Napili Bay which is out of the way, but a quick drive to Lahaina. Plenty to do in that area.

[waverly]

A couple of thoughts. 1. Pearl Harbor memorial at the time that we went which was around Christmas was very difficult to get tickets to. You have to do it right on the dot time wise many weeks in advance, and with the time change I wasn't able to do it. Or go very early in the morning the day of. So we ended up not doing it the way I had wanted, but I had been there once before.

There are regulations around airbnbs, VRBO on Oahu, so make sure you are not using them to rent a condo. All of our rentals were cancelled, and we ended up at a Hilton suite which was OK price range compared to other resorts. Waikiki is very nice, but it is a resort feel. You can walk all around, and we did rent a car. Car rentals are very pricey.

I've been to Maui and loved it, but we didn't have time to do 3 islands on that trip. If I had to go back I would do Maui, but it is not like Oahu is not great. It's just a different vibe and that would be more up to you all what kind of vibe you want.

We did the Big Island and Volcano National Park from Kona. The drive is longer than you think because of twists and turns in the somewhat mountainous area. Plus we did a scenic drive. There was a lot of driving. It was Christmas day and there was no food or restuarants open in the area except for the one at the actual National Park, so maybe see if you can make a reservation there. Going not on Christmas will help, but there wasn't a ton of options in the area anyway because it is a National Park.

[liverandonions]

My in laws live on Oahu and it is very citified but there is still a lot to do.
The resorts In Ko’olina are all lovely and you’re not stuck in waikiki which has a ton of traffic and people.

We stay at the Marriott Vacation Club in Ko’olina

[moreace01]

The last time I went to Maui, it was in the middle of a big storm and the entire time we were there, was no beach time due to flooding and a cold front (note - I've been there 4 or 5 times and that's never happened). We did a ton of hiking and exploring since we couldn't go to the beach and it was still a really great trip. It was my partner's first time there and it's probably his favorite place of anywhere we've been.

I'll have to think of all the things we did - for sure got all the way to the end of Road to Hana and the blowhole. I can't remember if we did Haleakala on this trip, but I've done that before.

[livinitup]

We were at the JW hotel in Oahu for a week and it was great. It’s on the west side of the island and I think it’s been converted to private condos and/or another brand. I checked a map and it might be the Aulani, Disney Resort & Spa and Ko Olina area. The beach in front is amazing and part of 3 coves that are very walkable. So, I would recommend anything in your budget in or around there.

We were worried that the location was too far away from stuff on the rest of the island and it was not an issue at all. We rented a jeep and drove around the island and to/from Pearl Harbor with absolutely no issues.

It’s worth saying, that entire 3-cove beach area is absolutely spectacular. It was easy to walk around and felt big. I’m not sure which pools you can/cannot use depending on your overnight accommodation but it is truly beach-side. It also felt cozy to be on the beach because each cove was a huge semicircle which protected swimmers from the ocean. We toured around the island quite a bit and it almost felt like a struggle to leave the beach.

[supertrooper1]

We did a once in a lifetime trip for my parents last December to Oahu. They had never been and due to their age and health, probably will never go back. I was torn between Oahu and Maui (I had been to both islands) and we chose Oahu because my parents wanted to see Pearl Harbor.

We booked a condo through Beach Villa Realty at the Ocean Towers in Ko Olina. I would recommend them. It's right next door to the Disney resort and a couple other resorts. My parents do not like cities or crowds, and I knew that Waikiki was not the right choice. We still checked out Waikiki for dinner. In addition to Pearl Harbor, we went to the Dole Plantation and a luau.

[tiki]

My in-laws live on Oahu so I have been there one million times (but always to see my husband's family, so not totally a vacation?). I find Oahu so much more interesting than Maui or Kauai, especially if you're looking to do a wider variety of things than beach and resort restaurants. We drive around the island, hike, go to different beaches, shop, and do historical and cultural things like Pearl Harbor, Dole Plantation, Bishop Museum, Polynesian Cultural Center. ETA: We don't spend much time in Waikiki, and I understand why people wouldn't choose Oahu if that's how they experienced the island. 

[rennequin]

I would recommend Maui over Oahu.
We just did 4 days on Oahu & a week on the Big Island.
We did a resort on Waikiki & while it was lovely and there is lots to do, I just didn’t love the vibe of the island. We went to the North Shore for a day and I definitely preferred that area but I loved Maui so much more. We went 6 years ago and it was fantastic. We stayed at a resort in Kaanapali Beach. There was a ton to do - road to Hana, snorkeling the Molokini crater, etc. It’s just such a beautiful, relaxed island and to me is more what I picture when I think of Hawaii.

On the Big Island We stayed at a rental house in Kona, which was wonderful. We did a day trip to VNP. I thought about staying over at the park for one night, but no one felt like packing up, etc. I kinda regret it bc it would’ve been nice to see Hilo & some waterfalls on the rainy side of the island. We did a day time snorkel boat trip to Captain Cooks monument & that was some of the best snorkeling we’ve ever done. We also did the night time Manta Ray snorkel boat trip and that was one of the coolest experiences ever. They are amazing creatures! Also we did a small bus tour to the top of Haleakala to see the sunset & star gazing. That was expensive but so cool - I’ve never seen so many stars.

Since it’s a once in a lifetime trip - maybe look into Kauai as well. It is my absolute favorite island (and one of my favorite places in the world). The diversity on Kauai is amazing - the Waimea canyon, beaches, rainforests - so much to do!

[kitchenreno]

I only spent one day in Waikiki and didn't love it, but also admit we didn't spend enough time to explore properly. If I recall correctly, Pearl Harbor wasn't open for visitors at the time of our visit, so we opted to do a fly by visit in the city.

I've been to Maui several times - staying at a few different resorts - and have loved them all. The resorts are generally very expensive. I had to let go of my frugality and let myself enjoy instead (not my strong suit, but worth it!)

[pinkdutchtulips]

Maui over Oahu ... I've been to both. Maui was more fun (we did 3 nights in Kaanapoli and 3 nights in Hana).

Kauai was fun too .. especially Hanalei and Weilaia Falls/Canyon.

[theoriginalbean]

We've done Big Island twice, stayed in a condo at Waikoloa both times, walkable to a'bay. We drove to the Hilo side for a day trip and it wasn't awful. I wouldn't have wanted to move halfway through but that's just my preference.

Highly recommend Willie's Hot Chicken in Kona - I dream about it sometimes.

[expectantsteelerfan]

Sept 19, 2024 13:14:27 GMT -5 waverly said:

A couple of thoughts. 1. Pearl Harbor memorial at the time that we went which was around Christmas was very difficult to get tickets to. You have to do it right on the dot time wise many weeks in advance, and with the time change I wasn't able to do it. Or go very early in the morning the day of. So we ended up not doing it the way I had wanted, but I had been there once before.

There are regulations around airbnbs, VRBO on Oahu, so make sure you are not using them to rent a condo. All of our rentals were cancelled, and we ended up at a Hilton suite which was OK price range compared to other resorts. Waikiki is very nice, but it is a resort feel. You can walk all around, and we did rent a car. Car rentals are very pricey.

I've been to Maui and loved it, but we didn't have time to do 3 islands on that trip. If I had to go back I would do Maui, but it is not like Oahu is not great. It's just a different vibe and that would be more up to you all what kind of vibe you want.

We did the Big Island and Volcano National Park from Kona. The drive is longer than you think because of twists and turns in the somewhat mountainous area. Plus we did a scenic drive. There was a lot of driving. It was Christmas day and there was no food or restuarants open in the area except for the one at the actual National Park, so maybe see if you can make a reservation there. Going not on Christmas will help, but there wasn't a ton of options in the area anyway because it is a National Park.

Thank you for sharing this.  I was looking through VRBO, so I guess that is not an option.

The resorts on Oahu that I was most interested in are the ones in Ko'Olina, but they are seriously like $3000 more total than the ones in Waikiki.  The kids had requested a big resort with water slides and stuff for the resort that we do, but maybe I'll override them on this since we won't be spending the whole week at the resort for sure.  I'll have to keep looking though.

Although I'd love to see Kauai, but we are trying to keep the kids' wants in mind and I don't think they'd enjoy it as much.

[expectantsteelerfan]

Sept 19, 2024 13:47:55 GMT -5 supertrooper1 said:

We did a once in a lifetime trip for my parents last December to Oahu. They had never been and due to their age and health, probably will never go back. I was torn between Oahu and Maui (I had been to both islands) and we chose Oahu because my parents wanted to see Pearl Harbor.

We booked a condo through Beach Villa Realty at the Ocean Towers in Ko Olina. I would recommend them. It's right next door to the Disney resort and a couple other resorts. My parents do not like cities or crowds, and I knew that Waikiki was not the right choice. We still checked out Waikiki for dinner. In addition to Pearl Harbor, we went to the Dole Plantation and a luau.

I will look up those condos, thank you!

[waverly]

Sept 19, 2024 15:05:01 GMT -5 expectantsteelerfan said:

Sept 19, 2024 13:14:27 GMT -5 waverly said:

A couple of thoughts. 1. Pearl Harbor memorial at the time that we went which was around Christmas was very difficult to get tickets to. You have to do it right on the dot time wise many weeks in advance, and with the time change I wasn't able to do it. Or go very early in the morning the day of. So we ended up not doing it the way I had wanted, but I had been there once before.

There are regulations around airbnbs, VRBO on Oahu, so make sure you are not using them to rent a condo. All of our rentals were cancelled, and we ended up at a Hilton suite which was OK price range compared to other resorts. Waikiki is very nice, but it is a resort feel. You can walk all around, and we did rent a car. Car rentals are very pricey.

I've been to Maui and loved it, but we didn't have time to do 3 islands on that trip. If I had to go back I would do Maui, but it is not like Oahu is not great. It's just a different vibe and that would be more up to you all what kind of vibe you want.

We did the Big Island and Volcano National Park from Kona. The drive is longer than you think because of twists and turns in the somewhat mountainous area. Plus we did a scenic drive. There was a lot of driving. It was Christmas day and there was no food or restuarants open in the area except for the one at the actual National Park, so maybe see if you can make a reservation there. Going not on Christmas will help, but there wasn't a ton of options in the area anyway because it is a National Park.

Thank you for sharing this.  I was looking through VRBO, so I guess that is not an option.

The resorts on Oahu that I was most interested in are the ones in Ko'Olina, but they are seriously like $3000 more total than the ones in Waikiki.  The kids had requested a big resort with water slides and stuff for the resort that we do, but maybe I'll override them on this since we won't be spending the whole week at the resort for sure.  I'll have to keep looking though.

Although I'd love to see Kauai, but we are trying to keep the kids' wants in mind and I don't think they'd enjoy it as much.

Its complicated, so I am posting a link thehawaiivacationguide.com/is-airbnb-legal-in-hawaii/, but it seems like mostly only in resort areas and very limited.  We were looking outside the resort area, and that was in Dec 2019.  

We had no issues on the Big Island at that time, but they may have started limiting it more since then. 

[al dente]

I would split big island if you can, half kona side (that's the side you're planning on staying) and half Hilo side. Volcano is like an all day trip if you drive to the end and back, and a lot closer to Hilo. Id also be sure to check out the black sand beach! Id also recommend the Shaka guide audio tours. It's an app and has a lot of great suggestions and stories while you drive.

If your H is prior military can you stay at Hale Koa? Idk what their policy is, but they just redid their pool area. It is in Waikiki, but idk I don't think Waikiki is all that bad it has a lot of food options. Like someone else mentioned airbnbs are only allowed in Waikiki, Ko'olina, and Turtle Bay. Other areas do come up when you search, but they're illegal so there's a chance they get caught and shut down between booking and your trip.

Maui is super expensive. A lot of people love it. It's been awhile since we've been there. The driving there stresses me out so if you're a sensitive driver/passenger you may not find the main things to do enjoyable.

[kitchenreno]

Sept 19, 2024 15:05:01 GMT -5 expectantsteelerfan said:

Sept 19, 2024 13:14:27 GMT -5 waverly said:

A couple of thoughts. 1. Pearl Harbor memorial at the time that we went which was around Christmas was very difficult to get tickets to. You have to do it right on the dot time wise many weeks in advance, and with the time change I wasn't able to do it. Or go very early in the morning the day of. So we ended up not doing it the way I had wanted, but I had been there once before.

There are regulations around airbnbs, VRBO on Oahu, so make sure you are not using them to rent a condo. All of our rentals were cancelled, and we ended up at a Hilton suite which was OK price range compared to other resorts. Waikiki is very nice, but it is a resort feel. You can walk all around, and we did rent a car. Car rentals are very pricey.

I've been to Maui and loved it, but we didn't have time to do 3 islands on that trip. If I had to go back I would do Maui, but it is not like Oahu is not great. It's just a different vibe and that would be more up to you all what kind of vibe you want.

We did the Big Island and Volcano National Park from Kona. The drive is longer than you think because of twists and turns in the somewhat mountainous area. Plus we did a scenic drive. There was a lot of driving. It was Christmas day and there was no food or restuarants open in the area except for the one at the actual National Park, so maybe see if you can make a reservation there. Going not on Christmas will help, but there wasn't a ton of options in the area anyway because it is a National Park.

Thank you for sharing this.  I was looking through VRBO, so I guess that is not an option.

The resorts on Oahu that I was most interested in are the ones in Ko'Olina, but they are seriously like $3000 more total than the ones in Waikiki.  The kids had requested a big resort with water slides and stuff for the resort that we do, but maybe I'll override them on this since we won't be spending the whole week at the resort for sure.  I'll have to keep looking though.

Although I'd love to see Kauai, but we are trying to keep the kids' wants in mind and I don't think they'd enjoy it as much.

The Grand Wailea (Maui) is unbelievable in terms of water slides for kids

[redheadk]

My DH grew up on Oahu (MIL is native Hawaiian) so we have been many times.

My personal preference if you are doing a week near A'Bay on the Big Island is to then do a week on Maui. I actually really enjoy Oahu so long as we do not stay in Waikiki but would still pick Maui over Oahu. You should be able to find plenty to do beyond just sitting on a beach on Maui and the resorts on Maui are pretty much unmatched.

We did 2 weeks on the BI a few years ago, half on the east side and half near A'Bay. Kilauea started erupting the day after we visited to spread MIL's ashes so we actually decided to day trip back over from the west side the 2nd week. If you road trip at all at home or are used to long commutes, it will be completely fine. We didn't do everything again our 2nd time there but we did stop in hilo for a late lunch and to do a bit more shopping before driving home over the north shore instead of across saddle road so probably about the same amount of time total. It was seriously not a big deal. Food options are not great up near the entrance so I'd recommend packing a lunch but there is food and it's edible, so not a big deal if you don't. The art gallery at the national park features quite a few local artists.

Just FYI, we used paradiseinhawaii.com for our rental condo on BI and had a great experience with them. We were traveling with some of Dh's family so needed to switch condos a few months out, they were able to get us in another one of the other condos they represent with no issue or penalty, their communication was outstanding, they even booked in-condo massages for us. We stayed in Mauna Lani which is very close to A'Bay (we popped over to A'Bay just for sunset a few times) and were happy with it. All of those little condo communities are pretty similar.

[stemmie]

With kids and a husband who doesn't just want beaches, I would do Oahu and stay on the north shore which was amazing. You could still make a drive to spend a day at Pearl Harbor, Waikiki and snorkeling at Hanauma Bay.

www.turtlebayresort.com/

[EvieEthelGarland]

Sept 19, 2024 12:54:45 GMT -5 Tacocat said:

Oh following this because I’m also planning a family trip to Hawaii for next year. Our plan is to spend it all on BI because we only have 8 days, so wanted time to explore both sides. Debating if we’re going to stay in Kona the entire time and do a day trip to Hilo or split half the trip on each side. Does anyone have a recommendation?

Also, if you wouldn’t mind PM me a link to the condo you were planning to stay at on BI I’d like to take a look. Thanks!

This is what we did our last trip there in 2018. Spent a few nights in Pahoa and enjoyed things on that side before moving to Waikoloa, but I think we would've enjoyed Kona more. The entire area was too resort-y for us. A real town would've been better.  A lot of the things we loved about the Pahoa/Volcano area were destroyed by the 2018 eruption but I'm sure there is plenty of other things to do. The split trip allowed us to leisurely drive the island instead of rushing.  

[sdlaura]

I’d do the big island and Maui or Kauai. Last time we went to the big island, we spent 3 nights in volcano and 5 nights in the condos at the Mauna Kea - if you stay in their condos you have key cards for parking and access to the pools/beaches/ restaurants at both the Mauna Kea and the Westin Hapuna Beach.

[Mrs.Syntax]

We were just on the Big Island and Maui a few weeks ago. We stayed in Kona and did a day trip to Volcanoes National Park. It was a lot of driving, but we figured it was less effort than packing up and moving to a new hotel/condo on the other side of the island. We packed a lunch (bought premade subs from Safeway the night before) so we could just explore and not worry about spending time trying to find a place to eat.

If you go to Maui and are interested in doing the Road to Hana, be sure to seek out the most updated info on stops along the way and how to access them. Between the last time we went in 2011 and now, a lot has changed in terms of what is accessible to tourists. If you hear from someone that you should totally visit the black sand beach, for example, that now needs reservations and the availability is very limited.

[sicilygirl]

Sept 19, 2024 15:05:01 GMT -5 expectantsteelerfan said:

Sept 19, 2024 13:14:27 GMT -5 waverly said:

A couple of thoughts. 1. Pearl Harbor memorial at the time that we went which was around Christmas was very difficult to get tickets to. You have to do it right on the dot time wise many weeks in advance, and with the time change I wasn't able to do it. Or go very early in the morning the day of. So we ended up not doing it the way I had wanted, but I had been there once before.

There are regulations around airbnbs, VRBO on Oahu, so make sure you are not using them to rent a condo. All of our rentals were cancelled, and we ended up at a Hilton suite which was OK price range compared to other resorts. Waikiki is very nice, but it is a resort feel. You can walk all around, and we did rent a car. Car rentals are very pricey.

I've been to Maui and loved it, but we didn't have time to do 3 islands on that trip. If I had to go back I would do Maui, but it is not like Oahu is not great. It's just a different vibe and that would be more up to you all what kind of vibe you want.

We did the Big Island and Volcano National Park from Kona. The drive is longer than you think because of twists and turns in the somewhat mountainous area. Plus we did a scenic drive. There was a lot of driving. It was Christmas day and there was no food or restuarants open in the area except for the one at the actual National Park, so maybe see if you can make a reservation there. Going not on Christmas will help, but there wasn't a ton of options in the area anyway because it is a National Park.

Thank you for sharing this.  I was looking through VRBO, so I guess that is not an option.

The resorts on Oahu that I was most interested in are the ones in Ko'Olina, but they are seriously like $3000 more total than the ones in Waikiki.  The kids had requested a big resort with water slides and stuff for the resort that we do, but maybe I'll override them on this since we won't be spending the whole week at the resort for sure.  I'll have to keep looking though.

Although I'd love to see Kauai, but we are trying to keep the kids' wants in mind and I don't think they'd enjoy it as much.

Maybe you can find one of the reports with the water slides and all that on ResortPass and just get a day pass for one day?