3rd Island Recommendations Wanted
 

We will be vacationing in Hawaii for the first time from San Francisco.

Originally, we were planning a 16 day trip to Honolulu and Maui starting around last two weeks of November. Now, we are wondering if 16 days is too much time for the two islands and whether we could add a third without adding too much to the run around factor. We are a 30ish couple, a 70ish grandmother and a 16 month toddler...Interested in a leisurely pace of sightseeing and hiking but don't want to spend too much time on the same beaches.

Does anyone have any suggestions in this regard? If we add the third island, which should it be?..should we break the time spent on each island evenly?... or should we be spending more time in Honolulu vs the other two islands for example?

We'll be flying United to get from San Fran to Hawaii but would like recommendations on airlines for flying between the islands?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Adding another island to your trip -- while you might enjoy the visit -- will take a full day away from your vacation. By the time you check out of your hotel, return that rental car in time to check-in for your flight (not less than one hour prior to departure), land at the island, get your luggage, get the rental car, drive to the hotel...and all this with the senior-citizen mom and the toddler in tow. Ack!

Save the "other island" for your _next_ visit! 8-)

Click on my name and check my recent trip reports for HI and my thoughts on only doing about 7 -8 days per island. Too much time wasted: packing, driving to airport, turning in rental car, checking in/security, flight time and then doing it all in reverse order EACH time you change islands.

Also type in 3rd island in the search box and see other recent comments.

Hope this helps...
Debi

oppps Sorry Auntie! I shoulda read your reply first! But just goes to prove, great minds thinks alike! GMTA

Debi

I'm in the agreement that 2 islands in 16 days is better, especially with the toddler and maybe the senior also. If it was just the two of you, I'd say go for it. Oahu and Maui will make for a fun trip, and it's good you have 16 days.

You could always add a second location to se same island. Like a Waikiki/ North shore split on Oahu. Or a Kanapalli/ Makena split on Maui. There's many more combinations also.

We really like Molokai and it's an easy add on to Maui (ferry) but you have to self-entertaining types as its very laid back

I can appreciate your train of thought, having just done a Chicago trip with gals who were trying to squeeze as much as they could into their trip. but, Hawaii is supposed to be a relaxing place, so you should enjoy its beauty at a nice, happy pace. If you live in sf, no worries, there are always good fare sales on ata and Hawaiian air (there may be one right now, actually). save the other islands for another trip, as you will most likely want to return!

I recommend the Ka'anapali / Makena split on Maui (stay at the Makena Surf!!!)

Also a day trip to Lanai from Lahaina will give you your 3rd island with no packing. It is wonderful on Lanai.

Finally, your other questions: Hawaiian Air and Aloha are both good airlines, don't know if there are others now.

IMHO I would spend much more time on Maui than anywhere else!

i did 3 islands in 16 days and i loved each of them, it did take up some , a half day for each hop.

coming from the east coast hawaii is $$ to fly to so i wasn't sure if i'd be back so i went for the three.

my main problem was flying out of honolulu without staying on oahu! just a day trip so i guess i did 4 islands.

imo if you aren't sure about getting back, go for 3.

imo 2 islands is plenty - especially taking into consideration the varying ages of your travel party.

7-days passed quickly for me in Honolulu and I didn't even have a car or explore the rest of the island. There are loads of other things to do besides sit on the same beach there, cultural and historical stuff (Iolani Palace, Bishop Museum, Pearl Harbor, Chinatown, ShangriLa Estate) if you think you might be bored. Plus of course hike Diamond Head, drive the "circle tour" of the island up to the north side.

And on Maui besides the natural beauty of places like the crater at Haleakala, road to Hana, etc. you can spend some time in Lahaiana, a fun and funky town with loads of shops, galleries, restaurants, maybe even see a show one evening?

Oh, and I would divide the time evenly between Oahu and Maui, if I were planning your trip.

suze,

Don't forget. Lahaina also has prostitutes now. /:)

-Bill