I'm taking my son to Hawaii this August - we'll be visiting a friend on the Big Island for 7 days. It's such a long trip - I wonder whether there's anywhere else we should stop before heading back home (to NY). All suggestions welcome, including nice, reasonably priced hotel options. For example, is it worth it to stop on Oahu to visit Pearl Harbor? Is there another spot that's especially kid friendly that we shouldn't miss? Thanks so much!

No, if you only have 7 days stick to one island, Big Island is bigger than all the other islands combined. Also not sure how much a six year old would get out of Pearl Harbor.

Big Island is big enough for more than one week. If your friend lives Kohala area, that's where you'd do beaches; tour Waimea and Waipio Valley, spend some hours at Hilton Waikoloa. Then you could spend a couple nights in Volcano.

Summer is a great time to visit the most gorgeous northern part of Kauai, too. Oahu's north shore is lovely, and Honolulu has many attractions in addition to Pearl and Punchbowl. (Our DGS, then nine, was crazy about Pearl; a Six may not be.) Maui has its 'walk-in' volcano and tons of easy-access beaches.

I'd keep an eye on the dengue fever outbreak currently on Big Island -- mostly Puna district.

I'm on the Big Island right now and there has been no mention anywhere of a dengue fever outbreak. I'm visitng with a friend from Hilo tomorrow - I'll ask her what she's heard.

it's been reported for at least a month!!! Don't ask your friend, turn on the news! And use bug repellent!

http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/20...t-rises-again/

Although I wouldn't be worried about dengue fever next august

I read it as you have 7 days visiting w/ your friend on the Big Island and are asking if you should add some more time and hit another island . . . not whether you should squeeze another island into the 7 days . . . right?

If so, then sure I'd add 3 or 4 days on Oahu, lots for kids and he'd enjoy the Polynesian Cultural Center http://www.polynesia.com , Waikiki, Hanauma Bay, and more.

Thank you. And yes - I mean that I'd stay on the Big Island for a full 7 days, then add 3 or 4 more someplace else. Oahu sounds good - with the Polynesian Cultural Center. Any suggestions for centrally located, inexpensive hotels?

Inexpensive is in the eye of the beholder . . . what is your actual budget?

OK, that is different, then yes you have time for another island. It would help if you can provide a budget per night for housing, maybe with a six year old a condo would work out better, so the child has his own sleeping area if he needs to go to bed earlier than you want to.

I think a Six would like boogie boarding, a short trip out on a boat, *maybe* Bishop Museum, the Iolani Palace (doubles as police headquarters in "Hawaii Five-O"), maybe surfing lessons, and yes, for sure, the PCC.

It's a treat just to experience Island Time and the Aloha. As a visitor once posted, "People here walk on flower petals every day and never give it a thought!"

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

Of course inexpensive is in the eye of the beholder! Thanks for your patience. Clean, safe, easy to get around. Think I'd prefer a hotel to a condo. How about $200 and under per night.

My favorite Waikiki hotels are: Waikiki Sand Villa, White Sands Hotel, and the Royal Grove. They are all centrally located in Waikiki and in the $150/night range.

I'm no expert, but wouldn't a 6 year old prefer spending time at the beach, in the parks, at the hotel pool (more than going to a museum or whatever)?