Family holiday to Hawaii - which islands?
 

Hello!
We are starting to plan a trip to Hawaii for around 17 nights, arriving in very late 2014 (probably 29 December). We have two kids who will be 8 years old. I have been reading lots about Hawaii but just can't make a decision about where to visit.
After arriving in Oahu from Australia we will probably fly on to one of the other islands, and then finish with 7 nights in Waikiki. So, do we just see one island (plus Waikiki) or see a bit of two? I love the idea of Kauai (Na Pali Coast and Hanalei) but am concerned about the rough seas/weather. I think the boys like the idea of Volcanoes National Park, but I am not sure about the rest of the Big Island. We plan to swim, do a bit of snorkelling, take a boat trip, maybe do an ATV tour, and other kid friendly activities. Any assistance with a possible itinerary would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

It sounds like you are planning a great trip! You have enough time to go to 3 islands, if you want to. Getting from one island to another will take a good chunk of a day, so island hopping does chip away at your time available for having fun.

I love Waikiki, and i think 7 nights is not too long to spend there. Waikiki is a lot of fun, with a gorgeous beach that is almost always perfect for playing in the waves. You can buy boogie boards at the ubiquitous ABC stores, and you can take surfing lessons from the beach. Waikiki provides easy access to the rest of the city of Honolulu, and the rest of the island. In Honolulu, I`olani Palace and Bishop Museum are interesting and one can learn a great deal there. Your boys would probably especially enjoy the Bishop. I`olani might not be interactive enough for 8 year olds, but I find it fascinating.

While on O`ahu, do be sure to also get outside of the city and see the rest of the island. O`ahu has some truly gorgeous beaches and other scenery. You may see some huge surf on the North Shore and possibly some very exciting surfing. You could spend the 7 days in Waikiki, then get a rental on the North Shore or in Kailua, for example, and spend a few days based there and exploring the north and east sides of O`ahu. Then go to either Kaua`i or the Big Island.

I haven't been to Hawai`i in January, but have had pretty decent weather in early December and in February. On our last visit, in Feb., the trade winds died down and there was vog on O'ahu. But I think vog could occcur any time of year, and certainly may be encountered on the Big Island.

That sounds like a wonderful trip! We have spent two weeks at a time in Hawaii, and usually saw two islands during a visit. Mostly because packing up/checking out/returning rental car/flying/etc takes up almost a full day.

The good news is that you really can't make a bad choice for locations in Hawaii. All the islands are breathtaking in their own ways.

I don't know much about the water temps in late Dec, but that might be your limiting factor. Perhaps look to the southernmost islands for warmest weather. Check the weather stats.

We were in Kauai one January for a week, and it poured rain every day. Then we went to the Big Island for our second week, and it was much warmer and dry there.

I would pair Maui with Oahu. I think they are the two most "family friendly" islands with the most things to see and do.

Personally - I would start with Oahu - maybe 5 days - and start to wind down - even amid the most populous of the Isles - and then spend 5 days on another island (each has their special merits but all are great) - and end up kicking back on the last outer-island - a more mellow/relaxing approach.

We love Kauai (20 minute flight from Oahu) - and especially the north shore - but if you wanted more liklihood of sunshine - base in Poipu and then "commute" up to the verdant North Shore - an hour or so outside of their "rush hour" - which mainly is going through Kapaa - and there is a detour around downtown Kapaa to cut off a few minutes even.

I would recommend - 5 days Oahu - and 5 days Kauai - and 7 on the Big Island - where there is plenty to see and do - drive around, and on and on. IMO - there is more to do on Big Island than on any other isle.

Why not get a few guidebooks from the library? Then you can look at photographs of each of the islands. Much of Big Island is NOT lush & tropical looking, like most people expect "Hawaii" to be.

I'd stay in Poipu in a nice condo on Kauai and daytrip to the North Shore. As Tom points out, there is a bypass road thru Kapa'a, take it all the time.

Thank you for your suggestions. I think my problem is that I have too many guidebooks and it all looks great and I can't decide!
I am now thinking 6 or 7 nights on either Kauai or Maui, 4 nights on Big Island (just to see VNP and Hilo area) and then last 6 or 7 nights in Waikiki. How does this sound?
Should we go to Kauai or Maui? The guidebooks say that Maui is great for families, but I guess it would be busier than Kauai. But then, are we likely to have better weather on Maui? Decisions, decisions...

Since you are flying back to Australia, ending your trip with time spent on Oahu makes sense.

I agree with aloha that a week on Oahu would be perfect. I've spent weeks there and love it.

In the winter I really love the Kohala Coast part of the BI as the weather is mostly fabulous. There are some wonderful resorts in this area.

I like winters in Wailea on Maui for the same reason. Great weather and a real nice variety of places to stay from luxe to more modest condos. There is a lot for your family to do on Maui.

If your only reason to go to the Big Island is the Volcano, then your three or four nights would be fine.

You could spend your whole time away from Oahu on the BI however as there is so much to do and it is such a varied place. You could do 3 nights in the Hilo area for the volcano and a week at one of the resorts in Kohala.

You have a good problem! Have fun planning!

Coupling the holidays with whale-watching season means crazy busy, especially for Maui, which outside of Waikiki, has more commercial development than all the islands. Too much like a southern California beach for my tastes. Have a look at the Kohala Coast of the Big Island, where you'll find the best snorkeling and the most reliably good weather in the islands. Kauai's great too, but as noted, bad weather is more of a risk there.

If you choose the Big Island, you could easily spend 10 days there; it's huge. Otherwise, I'd suggest you allocate time in week-long blocks, which will get you better rates in condos.

Hi Bubski, I am from New Zealand, and planning a trip to Hawaii in May 2014. We are going to be there 15 days, and decided on 4 days O'ahu, as we fly into there anyway. 5 days on the Big Island, and 5 days on Maui. I couldn't decide on Maui or Kauai but opted for Maui in the finish. I think both islands would be amazing. We plan to stay on both the Kona and Hilo sides of the Big Island.

Maui is a great island - but we prefer Kauai overall for it's sheer beauty.

I think the Wailea/Keihi area of Maui would be great in the winter for families. Maui is a good jumping off point into Hawaii. Honolulu seems too much like a big city, but I agree there is plenty to see in Oahu.

On the Big Island, there are many things to do besides seeing Volcanoes National Park, which is certainly impressive. Just south of VNP, you can see sea turtles resting on the sand at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach. I am guessing, as you are coming from Australia and asked about snorkeling, your 8-year-olds are comfortable with swimming in the ocean. Northwest of VNP, and south of Hilo, is Puna district, where you can snorkel in the Kapoho Tidal Pools (because this side of the island is so volcanic, you should wear reef shoes). There is also a naturally (volcanically) heated swimming pool at nearby Ahalanui State Park.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g6...ide.Pools.html
http://www.hawaii-guide.com/big_isla.../puna-district

Another place to laze on the beach or snorkel (when it's calm) is Richardsons Bay in Hilo. And if you're in Hilo on a Wednesday or Saturday morning, its Farmers Market is a must-see. It's not nearly the size of Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market, but it abounds with tropical fruits and flowers, and other locally grown or produced specialties. The prices are fantastically low.

Maybe you'd enjoy visiting a macadamia nut factory. Even though macadamias are native to Australia, the range of products and prices at Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Visitor Center, outside of Hilo, or Hamakua Macadamia Nut Factory on the Kohala Coast (on the western leeward side of the island), are enticing. Many people also shop for macadamia nuts and other souvenirs at Walmart, but I think the prices are about the same at Mauna Loa.

North of Hilo, on the Hamakua Coast, is Akaka Falls. Found this You Tube of kids at Akaka Falls, which might interest you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhRqoBZGuHM

There's excellent snorkeling on the drier, western, leeward side of the island. We went out with Sea Quest, out of Keauhou (just south of Kailua-Kona). They do Zodiac boat snorkeling tours down to Kealakekua Bay (Captain Cook) and Honaunau Bay (Two-steps). They also pass sea caves and lava tubes on the way or on the return.
http://www.seaquesthawaii.com/

The Sheraton Hotel, also in Keauhou, shines a light onto the water at night (after dark), which attracts plankton, which then attracts manta rays. It's free to go there and watch. The Sheraton is close to Sam Choy's Restaurant, which is great spot for catching the sunset (and eating, of course).

The beaches of Kohala, the coast north of Kailua-Kona, are beautiful. We have stayed at several places around the Big Island, but my all-time favorite is the Mauna Lani Resort. There's a nice little beach with very good snorkeling in front of the The Beach Club in Makaiwa Bay. There's also a parking lot and restrooms there. The nearby fish ponds are worth a look.
Here's a link to a map of that area:
http://www.hawaiirevealed.com/free-t...th-kohala-area

The prettiest beach on the Kohala Coast is Hapuna Beach in front of the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel. The beach parking lot fills up early.
http://www.gohawaii.com/nz/big-islan...topics/beaches

You can do some free stargazing at the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Center, but your kids might get too restless for this. If you go, dress for the cold.

"Hawaii The Big Island Revealed" by Andrew Doughty, is the ultimate guidebook.

I don't think anyone mentioned this, but Hanauma Bay is a top snorkeling spot on Oahu. It's also a gorgeous spot.
http://www.hanauma-bay-hawaii.com/

Here's the link for Mauna Kea Visitors Center.
http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/info/vis/v...mauna-kea.html

As aloha mentioned, vog (volcanic smog) can be a problem, especially if you have asthma. It is worse near VNP or on the Kona side (because it generally blows to that side).

Bubski, regarding the Big Island. I doubt your 8yr olds will be that into VNP. There is no lava flowing into the sea. We were there twice in Feb this year and I was not all that impressed. It was cold one day and the other day it was rainy and cold. Also, in Hilo, you have 70% chance of rain every day, it is greener on that side of the Island because of all the rain but the OTHER side (Kona) is where you will find your sunshine.

My 9 and 10 year old boys really liked VNP. They really enjoyed the Kiluea Iki (sp?) hike into the crater and all the steam vents along the way. They also enjoyed seeing the glow from the crater at night from the Jagger. They enjoyed the drive along Chain of Craters.

CD is correct, there is no lava flowing right now however that could change. However, the only way to really see it, at least over the last couple of years, has been by helicopter or hiking in. THe hike would not be appropriate for kids. Too strenuous and dangerous.

Some of the best snorkeling in Hawaii is on the Big Island. My boys really enjoyed snorkeling from the shore on the beaches around the Mauna Lani and from the boat Fairwinds. They enjoyed boogie boarding from Kuana'oa and Hapuna as well. They liked all the turtles in the ocean and the ancient fishponds. We like the Kohala Coast due to the almost always perfect weather and no vog there. I think the BI is our favorite island. Good luck in your planning.

I think your kids would also enjoy the Thurston Lava Tubes at VNP. The park's website has a page on kids' activities:
http://www.nps.gov/havo/forkids/index.htm
Here's their homepage:
http://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm

There are many diverse microclimates in Hawaii. It rains a lot on the wetter, windward, eastern side of the Big Island, so it's green and lush. The rainforest is thick with vegetation: trees wrapped with vines, huge leaves and flowers everywhere. it's Jurassic-park like. (The canopy of trees near Lava Tree State Park in Puna is especially nice.) The western, leeward side of the island, especially the Kohala Coast has a more desertlike climate, its landscape is volcanic with some coastal greenbelts fed by springs. At the same time, world-famous coffee is grown on plantations around Kona. Near Waimea, toward the north, is cowboy country, with ranches, horses and cattle in pastures. And it can snow on Mauna Kea (elevation: 4,207 m)!

Because of unpredictability of the rain and vog, you might have to play it by ear. if it looks voggy near the volcanoes, maybe head north to Waimea or Hawi (just a suggestion). When driving around the islands, watch your speed, as the speed limits change often.
http://www.gohawaii.com/nz/big-islan...-kohala/waimea