fireflyparents

So the tickets are booked and hotels are reserved. After a lot of considerations and some discussions on Fodors, we decided to visit only one island with our one yr old. Since this is our first vacation, we wanted to keep it relaxing and not hectic with lots of driving and multiple sight seeing. We plan to drive around the island and stay at different places, basically keep it enjoyable and not make it feel like a chore.

And just when I was so excited and about to plan my itenary, my friend tells me that I am gonna be so BORED in 2 weeks. She kept insisting that 2 weeks is too much for just one island and that I should change my itenary and go to Maui or Ohau. I have been feeling so down ever since, felt like sharing and asking, so I am here again.

For all you folks who love Hawaii so much, did I make the wrong decission? Will I regret spending so much yet getting bored?

trippinkpj

The Big Island is so big, no you won't be bored. I was there for a week with my family a few years back, and it wasn't long enough to really see the island. And you have a smart idea staying in more than one location. Sometimes, you just plan and do the research, and don't listen to well meaning pals or relatives. Can you tell I've been in that situation before? ;-)

fdecarlo

Assuming this isn't a 4/01 joke, your friend must not have done her homework before she went. A lot of first-timers to the Big Island wind up spending a week or two in Kailua, never venture to the other shores, and come away with the impression that it's just one big, barren lava flow with nothing to do.

Nothing could be further from the truth. This year will be our 17th vacation there, and we *still* haven't seen and done everything.

iamq

I'm envious!

I've heard the "you'll be bored" comment before and frankly I've never understood it. It just does not compute.

It's your vacation, not your friend's and do it the way you want to. I prefer two weeks on one island. Having that amount of time on one island is the ultimate luxury.

Have a great time.

Bill

wtm003

We spent 10 days on the Big Island and did not get to do all we had planned. I would go back for two weeks in a heartbeat. Has your friend ever been to the Big Island?

I know you'll have a great time!

starrsville

Not at all. The Big Island is biiigggg! I spent 10 days there and didn't scratch the surface (no pun intended!)

LoveItaly

Oh my firefly..if one has to be bored..two weeks on the Big Island is the place to be, lol.

People that make comments that put down someone elses trip plans..that is boring IMO.

I think you have made a good decision, two weeks on the Big Island with your little one will be wonderful. You will all be able to relax and enjoy the beauty of this wonderful island for two solid weeks..priceless!!

Rusty

Firefly, all of the people who have posted in response to your question are obviously Big Island fans and their opinions are biased.

The truth is that of the four major islands the Big Island is third in number of visitors. The Big Island is very quiet and laid back with no night life and not nearly the variety of things to do as Oahu or Maui. On the other hand it is a nature lover's paradise. If you don't like what the Big Island has to offer you WILL be bored.

starrsville

Rusty, on fireflyparent's first post, I recommended that she stay on Oahu for a few days and then travel on to the BI. After varied input, she decided that because they are traveling with a 1 year old, they would prefer to get to an island and settle in. In this post she said "we want to keep in relaxing and not hectic...We plan to drive around the island and stay at different places".

It doesn't sound like "no night life" will be a problem, IMO anyway. Sounds like the BI will give them plenty of options for the kind of quiet vacation with their new baby they are looking for.

Firefly, stop "feeling so down". If you get there - and so many of us are wrong - you can always hop on a plane and go to another island .

highflyer

We love BI. It's perfect for families especially if you love nature. It's the most diverse of the islands and will amaze you. Just remember to let that friend know that your trip was perfect when you return...
Stay positive and look forward to a great trip!

fireflyparents

thank you every one for making me feel so much better this morning. as i have posted before this is my first vacation with the little one and we wanted it to be a low key relaxing vacation, not a sight-seeing marathon. Thats why we chose one/this island.

we know we wont be enjoying night life anywhere we go with a one yr old. with a 5hr time difference, i am sure the first couple of days will be pretty laid back too. and we are READY for this. what i was not prepared for was this friend who kept saying again and again what a big mistake i am making. i am the kind of person who hates arguing and trying to convince her that i am right. as someone said, its MY vacation and we decide how it is going to be.

yes, she has been to BI and multiple times in Hawaii but mostly on the other islands. when i asked her how long she spend in BI, she goes not even a night, it seems she flew in only to see the volcano and back. my husband said the same thing when i was whining (believe me, he had to hear a lot of it before i posted here!)to him. he said she did not do her homework and i need not believe everything she says. a vacation depends on someone's expectations from a place, and i think we are pretty realistic in ours.

i am so relieved now, all geared up for more searches and planning of my itenary! you guys are surely gonna see a lot more posts coming up in the next 2 months

iamq

=D>=D>=D>

-Bill

MarthaB

We were on the Big Island for 10 days in December 2005 and then two weeks December 2006. Neither was enough time for us. In fact, dh is always checking out the real estate around Waimea because that's where we'd like to live some day. Seriously, there is so much to see and do, even if it's just relaxing on a beach (we liked Hapuna).

Instead of night life, we enjoy "morning life" before the kids wake up. In Hawaii, this means grabbing a cup of coffee and sitting out on your lanai while listening to the birds as the sun rises.

Enjoy your trip!

Samsaf

We spent 10 nights on the Big Island last fall and, like, spent it in several locations (first 3 nights near Kona, 2 nights near Volcano, 5 nights on Kohala coast.) We are now trying to figure out if we can bring our 3 young adult kids here next year. If you like being outdoors, you will love the Big Island. We have been to Maui, Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island. At this point, the BI and Kauai are our favorites. We're not much into night life, so we don't really care about that. I love that Big Island has so much to do, and there aren't huge crowds. It was great. You can click on my name to pull up my trip report if you want.

Have a wonderful time!

Samsaf

Sorry, I meant to say "like you are planning, spent it in several locations." I wasn't trying to talk like a teenage valley girl!

iamq

Oh my gawd samsaf, you are like so cooooool!

Bill

starrsville

ffp, this is one of my favorite sites for planning in HI. Here's a link to a Big Island page -
http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/actbi.htm

A beach map -
http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/activity/bibeach.htm

The Big Island is BIG! You are going to be glad you have two weeks to spend there.

I've been to Oahu, Maui and Kauai, and the BI - and the Big Island is my favorite. I don't forsee going back to Maui and get irritated when folks think it's the "only" island to see.

Your "friend" has no idea what the Big Island has to offer. Flew in just for VNP? Phooey!

And, BTW, I've met samsaf and she is, like, soooooo cool!

bostontohawaii

fireflyparents - My wife and were in Hawaii mid Feb. - mid Mar. this year. It was a great time not to be in Boston!! We first went to Maui and then to BI. We travel to Hawaii every year and have been doing so for 15+ years. We generally stay in condos. You didn't say where you would be staying, i.e. condo/resort/hotel. Although you mention hotels in your post. Also, where on the BI? It makes a big difference. Hilo, for example gets quite a bit of rain. Kona gets much less and Waikoloa very litte. TIme of year is also a factor. It gets hotter and more humid in the summer. Also, much less rain.

With a 1 yr. old, you will be a bit rstricted unless you can arrange babysitting. I would advise that as it gives you much more flexibility and options.

To the point - you will not run out of things to do in two weeks. You would not run out of things to do in four weeks. You will not be bored unless your 1 yr. old really restricts your activities. For first timers, we usually advise more than one island, not because you would be bored on one island but because you may wish to scout out other islands. It is a pain, however to move accomodations and you do lose a day with check out by 11AM and then the hassle of packing/rental car/air travel/rental car/unpacking. SO with two weeks or less, going to just one island is best. Unless you want the night life, or the big city (Honolulu) BI is great. There is tons to do, great beaches (Hapuna beach and Mona Kea beach), great snorkeling (try Kahalu'u beach park south of Kona which is great for all ages including little ones), great kayaking (go to Captain Cooks monument first thing in the AM if you can get a babysitter)and wonderful and varied scenery. If you don't already have it get a copy of "Hawaii the Big Island Revealed" by Andrew Doughty. It is very informative.

You will have a great time and will be sad when you have to leave.

Aloha

wtm003

Firefly, we did a snorkeling cruise with Fair Wind on the Big Island and loved it. They are set up to accomodate families with infants and toddlers, so if you are interested check out their website.

www.fair-wind.com/II_fw_overview.htm

I'm glad you are ignoring your friends advice. If I had listened to some of my "friends" I would have been terrified to take my children anywhere. I've been told Europe, Hawaii, Charleston and Santa Fe are all inappropiate for families. Somehow, we have always had a wonderful trip and found activities that our family enjoys.

MelissaHI

I live on Oahu and tend to pooh-pooh the other islands as boring. But I will admit, quite honestly, that you can spend 2 weeks on the Big Island and still not do everything there is to do.

Call your friend every day from the Big Island with a report on what you did that day, and rub it in.