3 Generation Visit, Which Island?
 

We are taking our family of 3 generations to Hawaii next year. The grandkids will be 3, 6 and 12. Dates are not set but probably sometime between mid February and April.
Two of the adults have not been to Hawaii before. We plan on one week.
I originally thought we would rent a large house but now thinking 3 separate condos.

Looking for ideas for which island and any suggestions for specific condo complex.

1. We would like easy access to a safe beach and pool for the children. We would prefer to not drive to the beach although might rent a car for some sightseeing.

2. One family loves paddleboarding so easy access to rental boards and nice places to board is important.

3. We have vacationed on the Big Island which we loved but had to drive to good beaches, Oahu in Kalua which is a beautiful beach but not sure we could find appropriate lodging and Maui which was not our favorite but might be more attractive for this kind of trip.

Any suggestions appreciated as I am thinking we will need to make decisions for reservations fairly soon.

Thank you!

Well February and early March is whale season in Maui.
However if you dd not care for it, maybe take a look at Poipu on Kauai, lots of nice condos to rent there this time of year.
Hopefully ChiSue, who owns on Maui, will see this thread and make suggestions. You do need a car though.

Love all the main Hawaiian islands and plenty of choices on each one. Just check the many threads in here on the pluses of each one and read elsewhere - and also - it might depend on where you find where you get the best deal.

3 condos might be a good idea - and they could even be different sizes (studio, 1 BR,2 BR, etc depending on how many people in each generation) - and don't forget to google some of the timeshare places - such as our place - the Cliffs Club on the North Shore of Kauai at Princeville. http://www.cliffsatprinceville.com/

Our two favorites are Kauai and Big Island but we also love Oahu and Maui - and additionally - Molokai and Lanai. :)

Maui does have a little bit of everything without being as commercial as Honolulu. It has many easy-access beaches with decent snorkeling, boarding, SUP-ing. It has a touch of Kauai in some heavily tropical areas like Iao Valley and Hana. It has walk-in Haleakala volcano.

I'm thinking you may have stayed Kaanapali on Maui -- my least-favorite area for the tall elevator buildings 'on sand' and touristy Lahaina. I prefer the two 'ends' of the island, but Napili and Kapalua in West Maui may still be cool and windy when you are here. The oceans are generally calmer south in winter -- true on most of the Hawaiian islands.

Rates are highest at Christmas -- and in February (whales). They go down in April; down farther in May; then back up over summer; down in September (hot); lowest in early December.

I'd prefer separate condos in a single complex over too much togetherness in a single house. Each condo would also have a parking space; you won't go everywhere 'en mass'.

I would stay in South Maui in early spring. I like this site for well-vetted condos there: www.mauiownercondos.com

Kohala Coast of Big Island has beaches and some more reasonable rentals than Maui. Poipu on Kauai should be OK too.

Is Waikiki out? Some people could get around independently by bus or taxi. You might look at 'the edges' of town for more quiet. Ilikai has huge hotel rooms and some condos. As you have your own little party, Ko Olina might not feel too isolated.

How can you all get TO Hawaii most comfortably? I look for widebody aircraft with a single long leg and no 757's or west coast connections.

Look at Ekahi Village in Wailea. It has a nice beachfront pool and a good beach, but I don't like to call any Hawaiian beach safe, because there is always surf and currents, so careful supervision of children is mandatory. I agree with ChiSue that the northern Maui beaches in spring are less desirable because of clouds and surf. Kiahuna Plantation on Kauai used to be quite nice, although it didn't have a pool near the beach, but that might have changed since we have been there.

No the Kiahuna pool is still across the street, however they recently changed operators and I think you can only use the pool if you book thru Castle. Big discussion last week on TA about this.