My family wants to travel to Hawaii from Ohio for a vacation. The last time I was there was 25 years ago when we visited Lanai. We would like to go in August 2015 if we can find a good flight fare and if we can find accommodations. Our interest is the Big Island, perhaps adding Maui or Kauai to the trip.

Are returning flights from Hawaii to Ohio (Cleveland or Akron airports) always an overnight flight? Also, please tell me what is a good flight fare for round trip from Ohio to Hawaii and back?

Thank you for your help!!!

You will need connecting flights on the mainland. www.kayak.com is a good place to look at flights.

My DH and I fly from Chicago to Hawaii. I look for at least the longest leg on a wide-body aircraft (767 or better). I avoid 757's. United flies a nonstop into HNL from ORD. However, our miles are on American, and we use them to upgrade to first class. We fly ORD-DFW for two hours on a small jet, then board a 767 DFW-OGG or DFW-HNL. It's a short connection at Dallas, but our overall time is about 12 hours out and 11 hours back.

Most return flights are redeyes. Most flights with west coast connections involve two 757's. On returns, these dump you on the coast around midnight, and you face another cramped 757 flight home. Hawaiian Airlines flies a wide-body from Oakland, but not every day of the week.

Many airlines offer 'coach plus' seating that is forward of the rest of coach and has more legroom. It's worth the extra money, but you only get meals in first class.

Over the last decade, our tickets have been as low as $700 and as high as $1400. Our tickets ORD-OGG and back for early 2016 are $1096 w/taxes and fees.

I'd caution you about island 'hopping'. TSA has made flying a time-consuming chore. A 30-minute flight time between islands now includes the need to be at the airport 90 minutes prior to departure to be sure you get through security lines.

I'd also be sure you have all flights in and out of Hawaii on a single ticket so that you can through check your luggage to your Hawaiian destination and to home. We sometimes 'float through' HNL without leaving security when going on to another island or when returning home. Allow two hours at the airport.

I think you need at least ten nights to stay on two islands. You might try three islands in two weeks -- not if one is Big Island and you want to stay both sides.(Fly into KOA and out of ITO.) I'd prefer to see a at least three weeks for three islands. Hawaii is less about checking off "Sights Seen" -- more about getting on Island Time and soaking in some Aloha.

Hotels have added big 'resort' and 'parking' fees to already high rates. Taxes add about 14%. You can figure another $100 on the daily room rates at some hotels. Few condos have these fees, but taxes are also in play, and there is often a single 'cleanout' fee. IMO a condo makes most sense for stays of at least a full week; longer stays may see the cleaning charge dropped.

This site has aerials, reviews and rates on almost every lodging in Hawaii: www.hawaiirevealed.com

You will see big changes on Oahu, Maui, and even Kauai. Big Island is still largely undeveloped. We don't know what Ellison will eventually make of his island, Lanai.

The ticket prices I posted are for coach. We pay extra fees to use miles for upgrades to first class.

Hi ChiSue,

Thank you for your wonderfully detailed reply. Very thoughtful of you!

Yes, I needed to hear everything you said, as I feel very green acting as my family's Hawaii travel agent.

You said it best - soak up some Aloha. This is exactly what my family needs. We plan to enjoy at least 10 days in Hawaii.

So far my experience with checking flights has felt unacceptable - long night flight back and sometimes long layovers at connecting airports. I did not check on plane size either.

I'll return to Kayak.com, armed with your info, and try to find something within your helpful guidelines. It may be that Hawaii has to be next summer.

Also, I think we should stay in a condo when we go. Thank you for the heads up on fees at hotels and for the helpful website Hawaiirevealed.

Thanks again!

You're welcome. The 'getting there' is so expensive and time-consuming that there is some 'economy of scale' in staying at least 10 - 14 nights.

I was done with hotels after one night of trying to read in a hotel tub at 2 a.m. while I was wide awake but DH was sleeping. Now I can get up and make myself some a snack and read in the condo living room. Having a kitchen, washer/dryer, two bathrooms, parking space steps from the front door -- home from home, but in Hawaii!

We visit in winter to escape weather at home, but I wouldn't book anywhere in Hawaii at any time of year unless the unit had A/C. Some condo owners do not provide it because electricity is about four times as expensive as it is on the mainland. When the Trades die, no ceiling fan is going to keep you comfortable.

Can you travel other than August? The very least expensive time is early December; same weather people pay highest fees for over Christmas and at the height of Whale Season in February (Maui and Big Island). September is a shoulder season, but also Hawaii's hottest month. May *used* to be less, but it doesn't seem much cheaper lately; I blame retired Baby Boomers. Summer is expensive, along with any other time mainland schools are on vacation.

Good luck with your planning!

Hi!
I attend college in Indiana and I am also a resident of Hawaii. I can tell you that I always travel back and forth from Chicago to Honolulu and the most expensive flights I have are during the month of August. As mentioned by chisue, the later months of the year are a lot less expensive. Don't let the price of airfare get you down though! If this is your dream trip and you can't travel any other time then go for it. There is so much to do on the islands that you will find yourself enjoying every minute of it to begin with.