maryrm

Hi all,

We r heading to Hawaii for the first time with our kids (12 & 7). We have plans to visit Oahu-4 nites, Maui-5 nites, Kauai-3 nites. However, a majority of the feedback has been to stick to 2 islands only. My kids r great travelers and we had planned to bring only carry-ons etc to cut back airport time but I'm getting worried that it would b too much & can change plans. We don't care if we miss sights but would like a combo of activity and relaxation. Any thoughts? Also, if we choose only 2 islands it Wud b Oahu & Maui - how do u suggest we split this? I'm concerned staying on one island may be boring for 8 nights (I know how ridiculous it sounds! Lol).

Thank you for your feedback.

jamie99

I agree, stick to only two islands, interisland airfares are pricey these days.

voyager61

Two islands is plenty...you will not get enough relaxation and beach time with 3 islands, and with two islands, you can probably rent a condo and have food for the kids anytime, vs. eating hotel food constantly, which is expensive and not always great. There is PLENTY to do on Maui and Oahu for 6 nights each, although I would probably do 7 or 8 nights Maui, 4 or 5 nights Oahu. Your kids are the perfect age for this trip; we took our son there for years and years and it is still his all-time favorite destination. Just be very careful with them around the ocean and heed all warnings about surf conditions. Have a great trip.

maryrm

Thank you so much! This is very helpful Other thoughts/input?

Voyager61, it is nice to hear our kids are a good age for this trip! I was thinking something similar for two islands 4nights in Oahu & 8nights in Maui. Do you think 8 nights is too much for Maui?

Thanks again everyone.

voyager61

I don't think it's too long on Maui, but we go to Maui for 10 days to two weeks usually and are fine. Get a Maui guidebook and you will find that there are many things to do...I assume you are going in the summer since you are bringing the kids, so the weather should be fine everywhere and you can probably go up the top of Haleakala one day (always check weather reports on-line first so you don't waste what is a rather arduous drive up.) There is the road to Hana if you are up for it, Iao Valley, different beaches all over the island, the marine aquarium in Lahaina, a trip to Molokini for snorkeling or other boat cruises, and more. And just spending the day on the beach with boogie boards or skim boards is great for most kids and adults. Try to find a condo that has backpack beach chairs and beach towels for the family so you can day-trip to different beaches (many of them do) but that is also within walking distance of a good beach when you don't want to get in the car. If you provide budget information, you will likely get recommendations for accommodations from me and others. I am familiar with Napili and Wailea and can answer questions about either.

Rent boogie boards and other beach stuff at Snorkel Bob's, located throughout the island.

Tomsd

You could also see how it goes - and if you think you still have the energy/wanderlust - after kicking back on Maui for a while - you could get over to Kauai for a couple days at the end - seeing the incredible beauty of the "Garden Isle".

suze

I would stick with Oahu and Maui, split the time equally.

Tomsd

Are you counting the 13th day as when you arrive or when you leave?

If you have half a day or so free - and since that would be on Oahu/Honolulu/Waikiki - I would only spend 2 nights there (easier to return on a package deal to discover more of Oahu) - and then say 5 or 6 nights on Maui - and then wind up on the beautiful North Shore of Kauai for the last 4 or 5 nights.

Getting from one island to another is an easy flight (20 to 30 minutes or so) - and the inter-island airport at Honolulu is easy to navigate/get around, and the outer island airports are small and easy to get to the rental cars, etc.

And while a number of people seem to think that is a hassle - getting from one island to another - to me it's just another part of seeing the sights.

Tomsd

And as for Snorkel Bob's - I believe you can rent snorkeling gear on one island and turn it in at another - or at least - you can rent it for a week plus and get credits on other islands.

Check out: http://www.snorkelbob.com/ and if you and the kids want to snorkel - and haven't done so - suggest you first practice at home in a pool - getting used to wearing/using/breathing with the mask and snorkel.

wekewoody

Why do people worry about being bored when they visit Hawaii?

I've never understood that.

nelsonian

We are going to Hawaii in May and will be there for 15 nights/14 days. We are spending 4 days on Oahu, 5 days on The Big Island, and 5 Days on Maui. However we won't be travelling with children and won't be spending a lot of time on the beach. It may not have a lot of downtime but we want to make the most of our visit.

Tomsd

Nels - very doable IMO.

suze

Clearly everyone's different.

To me checking out of a hotel, transsportation to the airport, waiting for a flight, taking the flight, transportation to next hotel, checking in to hotel (what happens when you change islands each time) isn't "part of seeing the sights". I more consider it 1 day subtracted from the vacation, each time you move islands.

ChiSue

In summer you could have a wonderful time right on Oahu, splitting time between buzzy and historic Honolulu and the quiet north shore -- Turtle Bay or Haleiwa?

I see the interisland travel much the same was as Suze. The only sane way to see highlights of three islands in a short time, IMO, is the NCL cruise that departs Honolulu every Saturday afternoon, stopping at Kauai, Maui, and Big Island.

We have never stayed LESS than two weeks on any of the four major islands -- since our first three week trip to four islands back before TSA made air travel a time-waster. It's also expensive to move four people around at $100 pp one way.

People come to Hawaii and keep coming back, not to check sights off on a list, but to get on Island Time and soak up the Aloha. Also, Hawaii doesn't RUN on mainland time, so you might as well go with the flow!

wekewoody

People come to Hawaii and keep coming back, not to check sights off on a list, but to get on Island Time and soak up the Aloha.""

AMEN sister.

WhereAreWe

<Why do people worry about being bored when they visit Hawaii?

I've never understood that.>

I went with a group of friends. One of them was bored after 4 days and actually changed his flight so he could leave early. He didn't like outdoor activities and wound up sitting around watching tv for the last couple days. Why he even went is still a mystery.

As for the OP, no way I would go to 3 islands in 12 days. Especially with the itinerary you posted initially - 3 nights on Kauai with 2 of those 3 days being travel days....that doesn't give you a chance to relax and experience the atmosphere. And that, as already stated, is a huge part of going to Hawaii.

nelsonian

This will be probably the only time we go to Hawaii so want to see as much as we can. This is no different to people coming to New Zealand and doing wanting to do Australia and New Zealand in three weeks or less!!! Normally it is possible to convince them to concentrate on one country or one island.

We are flying from Ohau to Big Island on Tuesday evening, and Big Island to Maui early in the morning, back to Ohau from Maui on the last day at 5pm, we don't fly out until 11pm. I don't think we are wasting to much time at all.

Tomsd

I don't think it's any problem. I think of the inter-island flights as another sight-seeing opportunity - and the inter-island terminal in Honolulu is easy to find your away around - and the outher island airports are small - with easy to get to rental cars, etc.

Tomsd

BTW - we have it down. We can leave our hotel/condo - and be at the airport - usually in under half an hour - sometimes maybe 45 minutes - and then I drop off my wife at the inter-island terminal while I return the rental car.

She checks in - and then I usually zip through and join her - (but Maui can be a bit more crowded than the other airports) and after our short flight to another island (20 minutes to Kauai - 30+ to Maui - 45+ to Big Island - whatever) - when we land - she gets the suitcases (however - now we pretty much go with a carry-on - as how many clothes do you really need in Hawaii?) - and I go to get the rental car - and then we are in the next place usually in half an hour to an hour.

Piece of cake.

wekewoody

More than the time expended when moving islands (which is considerable), there is the mental mind set (which usually starts the day before) of moving that is brutal for many of us. I don't want to think about leaving anywhere until I have to get ready to go home.