I've stayed in both - more often in Waikiki, but once at the Marriott Ko'Olina. The resorts at Ko'Olina are very nice, but I don't really like the location, especially with older kids. Eventually, the area might fill out to be like Kaanapali Beach, but it's not there yet, so unless you are happy just sitting around the resort, there's really nowhere to go ( and the kids can't drive the rental car). I absolutely would not want to be stranded there without a car - you'd have to eat all your meals at the resorts. Even with a car, the restaurant choices are fairly slim, but they're a lot better than being limited to what's in the resorts. Also, the drive between The airport and the resort is really not nice - it only gets "tropical" once you're inside the developed resort area.

I agree with sf7307. I've stayed at both, but usually go to Waikiki. The JW Marriott Ko Olina is really nice... but a car is a MUST. It's just so isolated there. Parking is also at an additional cost beyond the price of the hotel room.

Parking in Waikiki is expensive also! But the good news is you don't need a car until you decide to do an island drive to the north shore (be sure to have lunch at a shrimp truck). You can ride the bus to most of the places you'll want to visit; or get tickets on the hop on/hop off shuttle(s).

I'd stay in Waikiki....

It's easiest if you have a car to go to Hanauma Bay for snorkeling - the best place IMO for snorkeling in the islands and we have snorkeled/dove all over. http://www1.honolulu.gov/parks/facility/hanaumabay/underwatertour.htm

It's about 20 minutes south of Waikiki - and go early before the crowds hit and also for the best visibility/calmest conditions Also check on the schedule - as it's closed on Wednesdays? - to let the fish have a little peace and quiet.

You might rent geat ahead of time and Snorkel Bob's is one place that has a good selection - but there are others. Check out the various specials. http://www.snorkelbob.com/

The kids (big and small ) might also like going to Sea Life Park - a few minutes beyond Hanauma Bay. http://www.sealifeparkhawaii.com/directions.asp

I'm crazy for Waikiki, but have never stayed anywhere else on Oahu to compare.

I also agree with sf7307. I stayed at the Marriott Ko Olina, which was nice, but did not care for the location. My kids weren't fans of the man made lagoons, so we spent a lot of time away from the resort. You would definitely need a car. I have not stayed in Waikiki, but that would be my choice next time.

I agree with others that Ko Olina isn't as well suited to older kids and the onsite dining options are very limited. You'll definitely need a car there. I would say the benefits over Waikiki would be less crowded beaches and walk in snorkeling. There's a marina with tour operators offering snorkel/dive trips and a golf course within the resort complex. Other than that, there's not much else onsite. The nearest town, one exit away, is Kapolei and has mostly casual restaurants, a movie theater and big box stores.

Waikiki! The kids will love it, and you will, too. It's gorgeous, and all the cultural things are nearer. Buy or check out from your library a good guide book, and you will see.

Thanks everyone, it sounds pretty unanimous. I think what we may do is stay 3 or 4 nights in Waikiki, then possibly spend another 3 or 4 nights on Kauai or Maui. Also, thanks Tomsd for all the links and great snorkeling advice!

One more question, since we have only been to Maui, for those who have visited both Maui and Kauai, if you had to choose one to revisit which would it be and why?

Kauai would be my choice. Laid back, beautiful!!!

Kauai would be my choice for me, too, but not necessarily with kids ages 7-18. What do you want to DO while you are on this "other" island ---- beach-hop, hike, take scenic drives, play around your resort?

Kauai would be my choice also. Kids should have a good time anyplace, after all they are in Hawaii.

Sorry, but I don't agree. If the kids are stuck at the pool at their "home" resort, they'll quickly be bored, especially the older ones. At least in Maui, at a resort like Kaanapali, they can go off on their own.

I don't know Ko'Olina, but the kids would love Waikiki. A couple of things: A) You don't need a car in Waikiki, just rent one for a day to see the rest of the island; B) you don't need a car to get to Hanauma Bay, it's an easy bus ride from Waikiki; C) Spending three or four nights in both Waikiki and Maui won't give you enough time in either place, so pick one or extend your trip.

I've done this trip a bunch of times, with and without our 4 kids. I'm also a TA, so have lots of feedback.
Last year, we split it-a few nights Ko Olina and 3 nights Hilton Hawaiian Village-which has the best beach in Waikiki.
Outrigger is 2nd best beach.

You might consider this-do 3 nights Turtle Bay Resort (North Shore) close to better snorkeling, Polynesian Culture Center, nice beaches -Waimea Bay is one of the nicest beaches on the island, botanical garddens, etc. and then 4 nights down in Waikiki.

Ko Oline is pretty quick to Waikiki, the problem is the bad traffic, so you are always dealing with that. But we loved Ko Olina, have stayed at the Marriott and Disney Aulani. Marriott is better value, and very nice, plus the kitchen helps! There are a ton of restaraunts, Costco, etc. nearby.

You will get to Pearl Harbor easier from either one-and make advance reservations through their Gov. web site.

Kauai-great island, very little night life. Lot's of hiking, and kayaking, etc. but snorkeling is minimal. A little in Poipu and North Shore. Stay at Kaihuna Plantation if you go-great for families.

Fall is the best time to go to Hawaii=good weather, low crowds.

Have fun!

Actually, the snorkeling at Tunnels and Ke'e beaches on the North Shore of Kauai was excellent in the summer. Not sure how it would be in the fall.

Thanks! The activities I am hoping to do are Polynesian Cultural Center & Pearl Harbor for sure on Oahu, snorkeling wherever, then some hiking to a waterfall for a picnic. I think we would also enjoy doing a zip line some where really lush and beautiful. I am interested in some kind of a Lost tour as well. The rest of the time would probably be spent just relaxing on the beach or renting bikes to ride in a fun area.

I second the rec for spending some time on the North shore! Just returned from a 10 day trip to Oahu and 3 of them were spent at Turtle Bay resort. They are undergoing a renovation right now and the new rooms look very nice, although I did not have an issue with the older rooms. We did a tour of movie sites at Kualoa ranch - we did the ATV tour which was a blast. We saw Hurley's golf course as well as a few other places where they filmed Jurassic park and other movies. If you don't want to do ATV they have a bus tour as well. I tried to find the beach where they set up camp - it's on the North shore, but honestly without the sets, every beach looks like a scene from Lost! I also prefer Waikiki over Ko Olina, but I really did love the Aulani resort - spent a few nights there 2 years ago and it was awesome, but yes the resort food options weren't that great, and we definitely preferred being closer to the action in Waikiki/Honolulu.

The ATV tour sounds like a lot of fun, can you send me a link?

www.kualoa.com

We booked the 2-hour ATV tour...much more worth it than the 1 hour IMO plus it wasn't as crowded. If you look under my profile you can see my most recent Trip Report in progress (the one where we had the flu, yeah sucked at first) - I describe the tour in my last post. Enjoy!

Ok, thx tifa.kualoa

Thinking we might just stay on Oahu, with so much to do and see there.

One more question, is Turtle Bay really the only place to stay on the North shore? It sure seems so.
We would like to stay on the North shore for a night or two & need a place to accommodate us and 4 kids, but don't want to pay 1,ooo for a suite that will fit our family. Most of the vacation rental's/condo's require a longer stay and with all the cleaning deposits etc it's just not worth it.

Plan so far; Ko Olina for 2 or 3 nights, up to the North shore for a night or two then the last 3 nights in Waikiki.

Turtle Bay is the only hotel/resort on the North Shore.

The aloha apirit of Hawaii is relaxing. Packing up and moving from hotel to hotel every few days is going to interfere with that, I promise you. Pick a home base and visit the rest of Oahu from there. You'll see enough of the rest of the island to want to go back again and again.

The aloha spirit of Hawaii is relaxing. Packing up and moving from hotel to hotel every few days is going to interfere with that, I promise you. Pick a home base and visit the rest of Oahu from there. You'll see enough of the rest of the island to want to go back again and again.

Turtle Bay is the only resort/hotel on the north shore. There may be a few bed and breakfasts though which can accomodate short stays but your family may feel more comfortable in a resort. Instead of getting a villa you can maybe get 2 rooms for less? They may have adjoining rooms, I am not sure. The rooms are very spacious, so there will be room for a few rollaways in case you need them.

I enjoy Waikiki too although it has a city vibe, but it is a lot of fun and I'm sure your kids will love being able to walk around and take in the sights. Diamond Head hike is popular but go early to avoid crowds, same for Hanauma Bay snorkeling. Pearl Harbor is a must. Definitely reserve tix via the reacreation.gov website for a very small fee. If you would like a less crowded beach than Waikiki, I'd go to Ala Moana beach park on a weekday or to Kailua or Lanikai beaches on the East.

I think your itinerary is doable - but that will be a lot of packing up and checking in...I would suggest doing just 2 locations. Even if you did not stay in Ko Olina or North shore, you can always visit for a day trip. It is not that far from Waikiki IMO. You can enjoy the beaches, and then have a nice meal in the area before driving back. Before my last trip, I never did a stay on the North Shore, but visiting was always part of my itinerary. The drive is lovely as well. (go up the east and come down the middle, or vice versa) I usually stop by Matsumoto's in Haleiwa for shave ice and Dole Plantation for dole whip (pineapple soft serve), and almost always a meal at any of the shrimp trucks. Some beaches, such as Sunset Beach, offer showers and bathrooms so you can always get cleaned up a bit before moving on.

I'm not sure i understand why you want stay at both Turtlr Bay and Ko'Olina. I too was going to recommend Turtle Bay if you want to spend time away from the bustle of Waikiki. Ko'Olina in my opinion doesn't offer anything more than Turtle Bay other than being newer and it is isolated where Turtle Bay is closer to other island sites. It is also very close to the famous North Shore surfing Mecca which may interest your teen agers. If you want a resort like hotel in Waikiki the Hilton Hawaiian Village is a great one and The Halekulani is great too. Personally, I would only pick two places for one island or split my time on two islands.

Oh, I agree that road trips are the way to go but I wouldn't want to pack and unpack more than once during an 8 day stay.

We have been to Oahu several times with older teenagers/young adults, always in Waikiki. Based on what others have said, personally I would skip Ko Olina. I would definitely not jump from place to place. The island is small enough that you can easily take day trips to every place you want to go and save yourself the hassle and time of moving from place to place. I also agree that 4 days on each island is not enough.

<<<The island is small enough that you can easily take day trips to every place you want to go and save yourself the hassle and time of moving from place to place.>>>

Most definitely! We once went kayaking in Kailua in the morning, and then drove to Haleiwa for lunch!

I agree. It's a small island. No need to keep unpacking and packing. It's been awhile since I was on the north shore, but if I remember right, it's about an hour's drive from Waikiki if that. I would pick one place and stay there. If you insist on dividing the trip, then I would split it between Waikiki and Turtle Bay, based on what people on here are saying about Ko Olina.

Hey, thanks everyone for the input. It's so great to have all of your insight when planning. I did find a beach house rental on the north Shore that we are considering for the first 4 nights, we just need to decide on Waikiki accommodations now. First 4 days will be North Shore with a car I think, then last 4 in Waikiki using public transit/shuttles etc...

I can't believe how quickly things book up in Oahu!!

Thanks again.

Keep your car for your entire stay; you'll be so happy you did.

Emily Post, I am thinking we may keep the car the whole time per your advice. It seems the rates for 4 days are close to the rates for a week or even 8 days. My only hesitation would be are the costs of parking overnight and everywhere we go going to end up being more than we will save. I have also heard that booking a rental car far in advance is a good idea, as they can be sold out. I am thinking this could be even more important for us as we will need a vehicle to accommodate 6 people.

On another note have any of you used the GoOahu cards? Are they worthwhile?

Absolutely keep your car. Although Waikiki is doable with a car, the rest of the island would be so much easier (especially with 6 of you) with a car. Otherwise, you're going to be using The Bus, which will take much much longer to get anyplace you want to go.

6 in a car? Get a van! The convenience of having your own car for this trip FAR outweighs the burden of any parking costs. How many times do you think you'll visit Hawaii in your lifetime? Do it right and you'll have one of the most relaxing trips of your life. I agree with sf7307: Although Waikiki is doable without a car, the best of the island is reached by driving there. Some of the vistas are breathtaking and you'll want to have the freedom to stop and take photos, dip your toes into the water of a deserted beach, or stay as long as you want at the Dole Plantation or Pearl Harbor, etc. Pay the money and be happy knowing you did the exact right thing.

Try priceline for car rentals.

Yep, I will get a van or SUV for sure .
I might try priceline, thx. I did find a Hawaiian agency that actually gives better rates than I have seen anywhere else. I can get a van or SUV for under $400 for the 8 days!

We have booked Waikiki accommodations!! Great Condo right on the water with beautiful ocean views, a kitchen and will be comfortable for the whole family.There is also parking available for less than $20 a day It is still a long way off but exciting to plan and look forward to. Especially with all the good advice!

Still looking for the right beach house on the North shore for the first 4 days, fingers crossed.
Any thoughts on the GoOahu card?

What is the GoOahu card?

Accommodations done! First 4 nights at the Turtle Bay Resort, in a condo right on the golf course, then 4 nights at the condo on Waikiki Beach. I feel much better now that is taken care of.

Another question?... At the Pearl Harbor Memorial, how much time will it take to see the most important things? I know we have to make reservations, and I am trying to get a feel for how much time to plan. I want to see the good stuff, but probably don't want to spend the whole day there. Thoughts...?

EmilyPost - the GoOahu card includes a lot of Oahu's sites and activities for one price, if you visit many of them, it can save $$. I was wondering what kind of experience those who have used it had.

Sorry I can't help at all with the GoOahu card, obviously. I hope you get helpful feedback from those who have used it.

Glad to hear your accomodations are all set. Sounds like an excellent plan!

Re. Pearl Harbor: At least 3 hours for the basics. You could spent a lot of time there, as you've realized, but 3 hours might be enough for you to go through some of the displays. Not all of the exhibits there are under the 'National Park' umbrella,if I remember correctly, but I may have this wrong; we only bought a ticket for those parts of the memorial that are part of the National Park system.....I think. Someone here will confirm.

I agree that 3 hours would be good. 4 hours if you really want to spend a lot of time reading every monument and memorial in detail. The $1.50 tickets on recreation.gov is only for reserved times for the USS Arizona Memorial. I would head there a good 2 hours before your reserved time to view the exhibits and stuff. Then at your reserved time, you head into the theater, watch a short movie about the attacks then you board a ferry which takes you to the memorial. You are allowed I think 20 minutes there before heading back where you can view more of the exhibits at your leisure. The 1.50 does not cover the other attractions such as the Bowfin submarine or the USS Missouri or the aviation museum - those you will have to purchase separate tickets. The Bowfin is right where the Pearl Harbor memorial is so you don't have to drive anywhere else but the Missouri and museum is in a different location so I think you have to drive there and park separately. I have honestly never done anything else aside from the USS Arizona (and I have done it twice) - but I am looking forward to seeing the USS Missouri and the avaition museum on my next trip.

That's great that you have accomodations booked! You will have a wonderful time!

Great, thanks all! This clarifies a lot, I was wondering the difference between what the .gov site offers and what tour companies are offering. So, a mid morning reservation might work well, then we will make sure to get there early and allow time to see other things before our tour.

Brenkjtravel: We waited quite awhile after purchasing our tickets for the Memorial before we were able to view the Memorial, but we didn't have reservations.

Don't bring any bags or purses into the park; it's a pain to use the lockers. Also, get there plenty early; parking is actually a bit of an issue there!

Don't miss the Missouri.

I found out you can purchase the Go Oahu card through Costco for $40 cheaper than on the website However they only sell the three day and not the 5 day, which I am hoping will be ok since you don't have to use the days consecutively. It will include all of Pearl Harbor, the Movie sites tour, snorkeling in Hanauma Bay and on the North Shore, Polynesian Cultural Center, Sea Life Park, Kayaking, Dole Plantation tour, bike rentals, scooter rentals, catamaran trips, a bunch of museums, and other excursions, even discounts on restraunts. You also get one extra, like a swim with the dolphins (my kids would love that!) That's going to save me $240 to buy them from Costco, not to mention all we will save on the attractions...Love it!

Wow! That's fabulous! Take your time at the Polynesian Cultural Center. There's 'stuff' going on all day at the different pavillions and it's just fascinating.

I hit 'enter' too soon.

One of the best things we visited on Oahu is also the only palace in the United States:

http://www.iolanipalace.org/

Iolani Palace is a fascinating place to be. Visit the exhibit downstairs, too. It's a great museum and is both poignant and proud.

It's fabulous that it was restored and is now a museum. Beautiful experience and I highly recommend a visit.

EmilyPost - now I have to go to Iolani Palace too! It is amazing, the number of times I have been to Oahu and yet even though my days are packed, I've never been to the palace, nor the Bishop Museum or even PCC. Next time, for sure!

You will love it.

I second going to the Iolani Palace. Definitely worthwhile.

I would love to go there, but wondering if the kids would like it?

They have done palaces and museums in Europe and liked them pretty well, but with less time I'm on the fence?

I am sure there will be plenty we just play by ear.

I think it looks really cool.

I don't think young kids would enjoy the palace visit so much, generally, but it can be experienced during a short visit.

The palace is a poignant remnant and reminder of a time and culture that has passed. The palace is more about the culture of the Hawaiian people rather than a monument to power and influence (although there's that, too...Iolani Palace had electricity before the United States White House!)

The palace is a pretty short bus ride from Waikiki and wouldn't be an all-day affair. There would still be plenty of time for the pool and beach. I believe it's along the bus line that goes to Pearl Harbor so you might be able to combine the two, although that might be a bit much for one day. I would say the palace might be one of those places that the kids wouldn't pick to visit, but it might be worthwhile to take them there, anyway.

Take the kids that want to go and leave the others at the pool!

No swimming with (harassing!) dolphins.

If your kids like the TV series "Hawaii Five-O", they know the Iolani Palace as 'police headquarters'.

If you are staying North Shore, you'd probably be closer to the PCC there than from Honolulu, although there are tours that will pick you up and return you to a Honolulu hotel.

Don't overbook yourselves. Hawaii is a treat in itself. I'd skip Dole and Sea Life Park. I believe only the Navy tour lands at the Arizona memorial.