Hawaii - Is it worth going to Kauai for 1 or 2 days from Honolulu
 

Hi,

I have a 4-day business trip in Honolulu and am taking my husband. It's an award trip so there will be hardly any "business". It's a long way from the Midwest so we'd like to make the most of the trip and stay more than 4 nights. We have been to Maui. Is it worth it to go to Kauai for 2 days (only have 2 extra days at the most to work with), or should we just stay on the Big Island. We are also divers, so maybe work that in on the extra 2 days instead?

This will be our first trip away from our toddler so we don't want to be gone for more than a week total and have to figure in a day each way for travel to and from home.

Thanks.

Honolulu is not on the Big Island. It is on Oahu. Which island will you be visiting and where will you be staying? Its a long flight from the midwest and you will be dealing with jet lag. I would stay in just one place and really explore that rather than jump to another island. Remember, it will take half a day to fly to another island with all hoopla of airports these days. Not sure it is worth it for only one day especially if you only have one week total.

I'm confused are you going to the big island after Honolulu and then considering also going to Kauai?

Unless you can get away for longer, like 10 days, stay on Oahu. Just as a reminder, the four largest (and most visited) islands in the chain are Oahu (where Honolulu is), Hawaii (The Big Island), Kauai and Maui. You can explore different parts of Oahu during your six days, and there is plenty to do during that time. Trying to change islands would ruin whatever relaxation you are hoping to achieve with the trip.

Sorry! We're staying in Honolulu, duh.... Is there a lot to explore on Oahu? I really appreciate everyone's advice about just staying put. We are staying at the Hilton Waikiki. Should we just stay there, and then do day trips.. any suggestions? I definitely want to do helicopter... Is Oahu a good place to do that? Thanks!

Normally, I would say it's worth going to Kauai, but since you only have 4 days, agree with taitai's comment above about the time spent traveling to and from Kauai would take too much of your limited time. If you have even the slightest interest in history, I would strongly suggest spending a day at Pearl Harbor. Be sure to get to the museum which the Arizona Memorial tours leave from just before they open (before the tour buses roll in...boarding on the boats to the memorial is not reserved). But if you do have to wait for the excursion to the memorial itself, the museum is quite an interesting place to spend time. Good additions to this would also be the Battleship Missouri and the Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island.

4 days is good for one island and with jet lag and probably only 3 actually full days, you don't want to go to Kauai and then have to leave it! You would need a car if you were on Kauai and it is hard to say what to do in a day.. Stay put 4 days is a drop in the bucket...
Some suggestions:

..Bishop Museum
..Shangri La (Doris Duke Estate - fabulous place)
..Great Hawaiian music at the Marriott on Thursday and Friday nites especially as they are the best groups..on the pool level
..HH Village also has good entertainment but way more crowded.
Pearl Harbor
..If you have a car then a drive to the North Shore is great wonderful beaches. Very Different than Waikiki.
..outrigger ride on Waikiki Beach.
..This may sound crazy but I really enjoyed the Army Museum in Fort DeRussy Park. history of the islands during ALL the wars starting with the original Hawaiians. It is in an actual bunker...
..Walk around China Town before it gets dark!
..relax on the beach or pool!

Aloha

If you want to go to shangrila. Make reservations now. You can also make reservations for Pearl harbor which I would recommend

There is tons to do on Oahu!!! It's a beautiful and diverse island. Just stay there. Even right within Honolulu/Waikiki there's plenty to fill (and more) a 6 day trip. But you can easily do a day trip up to the North Shore, for starters.

Oops I didn't really answer the question. Kauai is wonderful but I don't see the benefit of trying to squeeze it in on such a short trip, when Oahu has plenty to fill your time without the time and expense of changing islands.

If you stay in Honolulu be aware that most hotels charge really high parking fees if you have a rental car. You can instead just rent a car for the day that you want to explore the north part of the island.
For going out to Pearl Harbor their are shuttle vans that will pick you up at your hotel for a fee.

Enjoy your trip!

Save Kauai for another trip and stay on Oahu. There's plenty to see and do there (Pearl Harbor, Diamondhead, Hanauma Bay, North Shore, etc.).

One week = One island. Oahu is a beautiful, typically tropical island once you venture out of Honolulu environs. You might enjoy spending your extra two nights at Turtle Bay on Oahu's north shore; it *feels* like another island after Waikiki. You only need a rental car outside Honolulu proper.

Neither Kauai nor Oahu have as good sealife as Maui. Big Island of Hawaii has the most/best.

Most people keep coming back to Hawaii to relax and renew -- to get on Island Time, sit back and soak in some Aloha. Go with the flow and take some Aloha home with you!

I only read your post, not all the replies so apologies if this was already said.
YES, go to Kauai and if you can shave any time off Oahu, add it to Kauai.
We have been to Hawaii 8 times and just spent a week in Maui and Kauai in August. While we love Maui, Kauai is even more special in terms of beauty. It is less populated, more laid back. Dont go to any museums - go to an out of the way beach, rent snorkel equipment, bring your camera. Just enjoy the beauty of the island.
Aloha