All of Hawaii HEAVEN or the Bjg Island or Maui or Kauai???

IMO - there is no perfect answer - and only after you check and check - might you think you have it right - and then it could still change.

Our favorites are Kauai (especially the North Shore) and the Big Island - but others love Maui - and you can even find a lot of neat things on Oahu.

Check out the other blogs in here and then google away - or go to a bookstore to find out more of the things each island offers - but it's all "paradise".

Just stick to your original plan and don't listen to other people. You can always go back and see the Big Island. It's big, by the way, so you really should have more than just 3-4 days there. The other two are small and can be seen in that amount of time.

Don't change your plans. You already have too little time on each island.

Are you serious? "This will be our only visit to Hawaii." (And you live in LA?)

One week = ONE island. Not two. Absolutely not three.

If you feel you MUST glimpse the highlights of Hawaii, book the NCL cruise that departs Honolulu every Saturday afternoon and goes to Kauai, Big Island of Hawaii, and Maui. You'd have time to see Pearl and Punchbowl on a Day 1 or a Day 8, depending on your timing in and out of HNL.

What time of year would you visit?

We did one island, plus one day flying to the Big Island for quick highlights. I can't imagine being that close and passing up the opportunity to see a live volcano!

I agree that you should stick with your original plan. Sometimes it's striking a balance between doing everything you can possibly do in a short amount of time (which I am guilty of too), and really enjoying and relaxing on your vacation. Know that Hawaii and the Big Island will always be there for your next visit, so don't think about it too much and enjoy your trip!

If you have the energy - you might consider flying from Maui on a one day trip to the Big Island to tour the Volcano - which is just amazing.

And hey - for a survey type trip - 4 days on an island is great - but some also like the idea of kicking back for a week in one place. Moi - I would rather see more - but hey - to each their own.

Some of the best beaches in the state are on Oahu..that place a lot of people here wouldn't be caught dead.

I would stick to my original plan and don't get intimidated by people who imply you are being unreasonable because of where you live. They have no idea what your finances are; what your likes and dislikes are, etc.

Stick with your plan and ignore that someone who says you must go to BI. Also ignore the post about living in LA and this being your first trip. That was very rude. Personally, I'd choose either Maui or Kauai, but that is simply my preference of traveling. Trust you plans, see a bit of Maui and Kauai and Pearl Harbor. Hopefully you will have the means and opportunity to return someday and see more. Happy trails and Aloha

You have to think about the reasons you are making the trip. What kinds of things do you want to do? If you are looking for gorgeous beaches and overall scenery, Maui and Kaua'i will fill the bill. If you want to see an active volcano, you do need to go to the Big Island. in that case, could you add a few days to the trip? But for beaches, the Big Island actually has less shoreline that is beach, because it has had less time for erosion to occur.

If you have already booked everything, i would not change plans just because of one person's (or a whole forum of people's) advice. You really can't miss with whatever island(s) you choose, it is all beautiful.

And, one never knows ahead of time, just how active the flow will be or not be.

IMO - a number of posters seem to forget their first time visiting someplace new - and how - at least for some of us - the Wanderlust is to see more the first time - call it a type of survey trip if you like.

To me - new discoveries are very stimulating - and simultaneously energizing - and on subsequent trips - one can spend more time kicking back at the places one has selected from what has been "discovered" on the first/initial trip - as well as adding a few new spots.

And it's not just about seeing lava flow when one visits the Volcano - but rather the whole experience of seeing how the islands were born, what the god of fire - Pele - shaped, and how the islands have evolved since then.

Driving around the main crater (11 mile drive) is a once in a lifetime experience, and there are plenty of other fun things to see/do - such as hiking through a temperate rain forest to get down to a smaller Cauldron - Ke Iki Hale - or more currently called - Kiluea Iki http://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/hike_day_kilaueaiki.htm .

As you walk across it - you know it hasn't blown since '59 - but as the steam vents hiss - you do pick up your pace across the mile long floor of the crater and up and out the other side.

Surely you have your reasons for choosing Maui and Kauai as the two to visit - stick with it and don't let others deter you. You simply cannot go wrong with spending time on any island. They are all unique and wonderful in their own ways, and no matter what you will have made the right choice.

I tend to agree with the one week, one island mantra - but ultimately it's your decision to budget your time as you see fit.

Everyone has their own opinions on what you *should* see...but the truth is you should see what YOU want to see.

Have you checked out gohawaii.com? You might want to give it a shot for some unbiased advice on which islands to choose if you're still in doubt.

"You have to think about the reasons you are making the trip."

Best advice on this thread, IMO.

"Are you serious? "This will be our only visit to Hawaii." (And you live in LA?)"

Not everyone who visits Hawaii can afford to go back and traveling from LA doesn't necessarily mean they live in LA.

I have flown cheaper from Boston to Hawaii then prices listed from LA to Hawaii. I think we get an automatic suffering longer discount!

Once you visit Hawaii - I think you will try to find a way to get back.

You are already splitting your time between 3 islands.Maui Kauai and a stop in Oahu.

As you enjoy each day in Hawaii, on Kauai and Maui, you will wonder how you can ever go back to LA. You will not be sorry for having missed anything. Be happy with the many sights you will already see and don't try to cram anything more - unless it's days - into your already very tight schedule.

I've been to the BI a couple of times and did not manage to fit in the volcano. We realized that it just can't all be done. Wedon't run around to every sight since it's a vacation. It's Hawaii.Relax and smell the plumeria.

If one misses the Volcano - they have not really been to the Big Island.

I'm assuming you picked Maui and Kauai for a reason, so stick with those. If those 2 were chosen at random, then by all means consider the Big Island to replace both of them.

I would not go to the Big Island just to see the volcano, unless there was an active eruption going on. And by that I mean something spectacular to see, not just lava slowly oozing down a hillside. It's interesting to see VNP in it's current state, but I don't think that's reason enough to make a special day trip over there.

<<If one misses the Volcano - they have not really been to the Big Island.>>

Your opinion as a volcano lover. My opinion is that the Big Island is far more than the volcano. Fodors is full of opinions each one just as important as the next. Meaning, Not Very.

Ditto what Suzie said. The beauty of us all as travelers is that we have different priorities for what we want to see and experience on our travels. For you to define an experience for someone else based on your own interests is extremely narrow-minded (in very polite terms).

Don't fret over your choices. EVERY island is wonderful, and has things you really should see. But you can't do it all. Just tell yourself that IF, just IF you ever go back, you will go to the Big Island. And enjoy your current trip as planned.

There is so much to experience on each of the major islands, i think it is unrealistic to say there are any absolute "musts" on any island. It is easy to get so wrapped up in running from site to site, checking things off on somebody else's must list, that one forgets to really experience the place, to"relax and smell the plumeria" which for many of us is the main reason to be there.

Simply stated - the #1 attraction on the Big Island is the Volcano - which draws 2.5 million visitors a year - and people come from all over the world to visit it. More info on Big Island: http://www.to-hawaii.com/big-island/attractions/hawaiivolcanoesnationalpark.php http://www.gohawaii.com/big-island

Nuff said.

And I have already noted that visiting Kauai and Maui is great - but If you have the time and inclindation to zip over to the BI for a day - go for it - or see it the next time you visit Paradise. Double

Once more - I think a lot of people tend to forget their first time visiting somewhere and discovering new things - and then later - dream about just kicking back on the return trips.

In response to the original poster's question:

You already have a full itinerary. Stick with it.

Please don't feel like you have to do everything in one trip.

There are people on this board who feel the need to bully everyone and brag on and on.

You'll have a great trip.

Suggesting over and over that 4 islands in a week is a great idea is irresponsible.

Inter island air is not what it was like in the olden days. Schedules and flights are limited and direct flights have been slashed.

Stick with your plans.
Big Island is well named and as it's large and so diverse it's best visited for at least a week IMO.

Geesh - some of you try to make it sound impossible. Again, this is just for an option if one decides to fly over to see the Volcano for the day - on a preview type trip.

Flights go from Maui to Hilo all the time, and Hawaiian alone has two daily flights from Maui direct to Hilo - the first 913 AM - taking 35 minutes - and the direct return from Hilo at 4:44 PM is 35 minutes back to Maui - for about $200 RT.

One could also probably find tours on Maui going to Hilo for a day.

http://www.google.com/flights/?hl=en&gl=us#search;f=OGG;t=ITO;q=flights+from+maui+to+hilo;d=2012-12-17;r=2012-12-17

and http://www.google.com/flights/?hl=en&gl=us#search;f=ITO;t=OGG;d=2012-12-17;r=2012-12-17;q=flights+from+hilo+to+Maui

2.5 million visitors per year at VNP? No.

More like 1.3 million in recent years. Only been over 2 million visitors twice (1983 and 1984) with a max of 2.25 million in 1983.

For my money, Yellowstone is a far more interesting old volcano to visit. VNP is nice if you're right there, but I had to look at my photos from 2 years ago to even remember what it looked like. Yet I can remember Yellowstone from almost 30 years ago. At least that has geysers and wildlife to go with the steam coming out of the ground.....honestly I found VNP to be underwhelming. I would only recommend someone go there for the day from another island IF there is an actual live eruption going on. Seeing the glow from the crater at night just doesn't cut it.

Gosh, Using the same logic as some of the above leads me to tell you that you SHOULD spend some more time on Oahu. Where else is their a royal palace in America? And why bother with Hawaii if you con't do Waikiki? Plus Diamond Head is THE symbol of Hawaii, so you can't miss that. nor can you miss the North Shore of Oahu. It's only an hour from downtown Honolulu.

And seriously, you MUST check out Kalaupapa on Molokai. It's only a half hour from Honolulu and was the home of one of the Catholic church's newest saints.

And heck, since you flew half way across the Pacific, why not continue on to Tokyo. it is only a 6.5 hour journey and would balance out your visit to Pearl Harbor nicely. if you want to save a few bucks, choose one of the United flights that drop you on Guam for the night. After all, you need to see everything to get the best bang for your travel dollars!

Seriously, I would stick with your original plan unless you are a geology buff, in which case, I'd skip either Maui or Kauai to make time for it. You cannot "see it all" no matter how long your trip is. I've lived in Hawaii 35+ years and still haven't seen it all. My first two weeks in Hawaii covered only one village on Kauai and Waikiki, but I had a fantastic time...so much so that I never left!

<Thought we had our May 2013 plans cemented. We were going to do 3/4 days Maui and then 3/4 days Kauai.>

I think your original idea was excellent. Go with that. Skip the cruise. I've been to Hawaii 5 times and have yet to make it to the Big Island. There's no right or wrong, just what you are interested in doing.

Well otto has not returned since his original post, hopefully he will let folks know what he decided on.

Hopefully he is still going to Hawaii!

Tom, you can't drive around the crater anymore; it's been blocked off for several years. There is no lava viewing right now, either. Might be tomorrow, but not now. Pele isn't a he, but a she. And not real. (Don't bother screaming at me, anyone.)
OP should stick with the original plan, and not worry about scurrying around, IMO; it's all good. Maui and Kauai will be good introductions to HA.