Hawaii vacation- please help:)
 

Hi,

I know we're trying to squeeze a lot into a little time, but we're 24y/o and hoping to channel our energy and power through packed days!

Any advice on what order to go, what to skip etc. all advice welcome and needed:)

Monday: Honlolulu- Maui 6am flight: Do the road to Hana
Tuesday: Halakela crater ( any advice on hiking or tours appreciated!) is there time to then drive to Ioa needle?
Either take a Tuesday night flight or Wednesday morning.

Not sure yet about flying in and out of Kona vs. Hilo, but these are some the activities we were thinking we wanted to do/see. Is it possible? What order do you suggest?
- Volcano National Park
- Waipio Valley (we most likely won't be renting 4x4, so tour/horse/bike options welcome!)
- Mauna Kea (I know they're different, but not sure in terms of what, which would you recommend for a night activity Mauna Kea vs. Mauna Loa)
-Snorkeling or Kayaking or some fun water activity somewhere
- Akaka falls Vs. Rainbow falls? if there's time, or if you would suggest it over another activity.

Friday morning: 7am flight to Kauai, not sure on activities yet, hopefully some kayaking and hiking, again recommendations welcome!
We'll be leaving here Monday morning back to Honolulu.

Thanks for all the help!

Well, you can power through. Not sure how much fun it will be but you know your vacation style best.

For what you want, fly into Hilo on Tuesday. Rent a car and drive to VNP. Spend the day doing the hikes, driving Chain of Craters Road,etc. Stay overnight in Volcano and see the glow from the crater from the Visitor's Center that evening.

Wednesday, do more hikes within VNP if that is your interest or start your drive to the west side of the island. You can see Akaka Falls on the way (what time of year? If it hasn't been raining, there isn't a ton to see.) Then journey on to Waipio and do the horse/bike/whatever there. Spend the night somewhere along the Kohala Coast.

Thursday, spend the day snorkeling along the Kohala Coast. Maybe do a combo kayak/snorkel tour. Go down to Kona and visit Place of Refuge and snorkel there? I would do the manta ray night snorkel this night and bag Mauna Kea but maybe you have a huge interest in astronomy. I know tours have been cancelled the last several evenings due to the protests over the new telescope so beware of that issue.

Friday, hit any remaining stops and then board flight to Kauai. There are no direct flights from the Big Island to Kauai so it is going to be a long day connecting via Honolulu. Even though they are short flights, all the time it takes to check in, fly, connect, fly, get bags and rental car eats up a lot of your day.

Happy Planning!

Your trip is way too rushed IMO, stick to one island so you can get on "island time" and feel and enjoy the aloha.
Sounds like you have one week? You could do Big Island although 8-10 days is better, otherwise pick one of the smaller islands. Being under 25 you may have to pay an underage fee for your rental car (which you need).

I am far from a "slow traveler" and even I think this is way too jam-packed. With 7 days, I'd stick to two islands at most.

Just a note (becuase we did it last year) that the hike into Haleakala crater is great and different, well, because it's a dormant volcano. We drove up mid-morning (not at sunrise - we'd done that many years earlier, and it's not worth it to me to get up that early, and to freeze in Hawaii), hiked about 5 miles round-trip, then drove back through upcountry (including the cute little town of Makawao), had a couple of hours and dinner in Paia, and then made our way back to our accommodations in Kaanapali.

Whoa! Even if your home is Honolulu, this looks like too many hours in airports and getting to or from them. The 'in transit' times between islands will eat four to six daylight hours, door to door. You'll also pay about $100 pp for each leg unless you are military.

You could check off your list of sights by taking the NCL cruise that departs Honolulu every Saturday afternoon for Kauai, Big Island and Maui. You could take ship's tours, avoiding high costs for rental cars (because you're under 25). This isn't fancy cruising -- but it gives you room, board and transportation without hours of 'doing time' in airports.

Where is your home? Even if it's west coast US, your first day in Hawaii can be a little wasted as your bodies try to adjust to the time change.

4 islands in a week is a crazy busy plan even if you want to have "packed days". I think you are underestimating the time it takes to get from island to island, and from place to place on the island. And not realizing how little time you'll have at each sight or activity.

You don't need a tour for Haleakala just drive yourself up there and look around. Don't miss some of the stop on the way up, before you get to the summit, there's some pretty walks and short hikes along the way.

Are you planning to see anything on Oahu? Or just using it for your arrival and departure flights? If only for flights, have you looked into flying into one of the islands you want to see & out of another one (and save the time going thru Honolulu twice)?

to each his own but this is NOT my idea of a fun trip. Too much moving around, too much time in airports, too much time getting to and from hotels, to much packing and unpacking but like I say..."to each his own" Listen to and take advice from experienced Hawaii travelers and rethink your trip.

Thanks for all the advice!
Based on all of the advice, I think we're leaning towards skipping Maui, and spending thurs-sunday in oahu, monday-thurs (morning) in Big Island, and Thurs- Monday (morning) Kuai.

Any other advice and recommendations are greatly appreciated!

Ten nights in Hawaii is enough to enjoy staying on TWO islands.

Every transit between islands will eat 4 - 6 daylight hours, door to door and airfare will cost $100 pp.

Day One in Hawaii isn't a full day because your body is adjusting to the time change from your home. No departure day is a full vacation day.

You also need to be aware that Hawaii runs on Island Time -- not at the pace you want to set for it.

Agree with ChiSue, two islands.

I hardly ever agree with ChiSue and find her holier than thou, my opinion is superior too be inflexible, uninformed and off-putting. I mean who do you think you are demanding that you know best?

I like to park for 10 days but who am I to tell someone that wants a wirlwind taste of the islands that they are wrong? And not all of us are blessed with the means to visit the islands more then once.

The OP dropped an island. But that doesn't stop the preaching. And just because it takes her a full day to get on island time, I have travelled with others that have gotten off the airplane running, literally with more energy then I had on my third day.