help eliminate one island
 

We are planning a trip to Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island for July with our two children (ages 15 & 13) for 13 nights. But looking over the plans, with all the airports, car rentals, hotel check-ins, we are now thinking that we should drop one island. But which one? Its our first visit as a family and can't say for sure we will be back again together (so many other places to visit in world). Thanks for any suggestions.

This is a tough question. I would suggest if your family is comfortable with rugged hiking (as found on Kauai)then eliminate the Big Island. If your family is more excited by visiting a relatively easily accessible, active, lava generating volcano then eliminate Kauai. I would not eliminate Maui because it has the most potential family activities of all three islands.<BR>

What a difficult decision to make. I loved Maui when I was a tad younger and wanted to kick up my heels! Now, I love Kauai for the sheer beauty and relaxtion. But,The Big Island would probably appeal to you and the children.....so I would probably go with Maui and The Big Island for your group. Then send the kids home and you and the significant other head it on over to Kauai and kick back.<BR>What a wonderful problem to have. Wish I was there now.

Very interesting, because once again this is all about personal preference, so here's my two cents... When I travel I like to pack and unpack once: at my house. I like to get somewhere and spend the duration of my trip there, especially somewhere that takes all day to get to such as Hawaii---------thus my selection would be to take Maui, and eliminate the other two. <BR>p.s. JohnD was right, Maui is great for families.

When we were in Hawaii, we went to all 3 of the islands, you mentioned. If I had to drop one it would have been Maui - a little too &quot;busy&quot; for me.<BR>BUT with kids as a consideration, there really are more activities suitable for families in Maui - so in your case I would not drop Maui.<BR>Dropping Kaui or Big Island - hard decision.<BR>Kaui - in my opinion - best beaches and best scenery<BR>Big Island - Volcano complete with flowing lava!

Once you've seen the lava, and mile after mile after mile of black lava rock, you've seen the Big Island. Really. I suggest you buy the video of the B.I. and skip the island. Maui and Kauai are terrific. We're taking our 3 children to Maui in November. I love Kauai, but, I fear it's too tame for my brood.

For 13 days, why would you drop an island?! I think you have plenty of time to take full advantage and visit each because you will find a vast difference with each island. The kids, and you, will be awestruck with the devastation and scenery caused by the lava on the Big Island (3 days?) but there are also horse ranches. Let them leave some &quot;rock graffiti&quot; (you'll see). Go to the north coast of Kauai (3 days?) to see very lush tropical beauty. Maui(7 days?) is more developed with access to more &quot;normal&quot; things to do. Just pack lightly so you can move easily. Plan and reserve your interisland travel well and you'll be true island hoppers. Your kids are at a great age to be more independent and each person can be responsible for their own suitcases which will really help with the packing strategy (just think, everyone on the next island will not have seen what you wore on the last one!). You might want to look into a condo on Maui as a home base and take overnight B&amp;B trips to the other islands with little luggage. If you won't be back in HI again soon, this is a great opportunity to see it all, together. You won't regret having squeezed in the three, you might if you settle for two. Have a great family adventure.

i've only been to the Big Island and and seeing lava flowing five feet away from me is the most amazing thing I have ever experienced in my life. <BR>www.wizardpub.com The Revealed guidebooks may help you make up your mind.

gee! I read your Title and thought you were wanting to 'nuke' one of our<BR>Hawaiian islands! LOL. :)

13 and 15 is tough; if they're anything like ours, their attention spans are pretty short-lived.<BR><BR>In which case, I'd go for the maximum variety. The north coast of Kauai is really wonderful, and if you prep them for the area with a couple of videos (Jurassic Park, say) they might get a kick out of the area. Maui has plenty of beaches and malls to hang out on, but is way overdeveloped for our tastes. The road to Hana is fine for a day, but if they're not happy car passengers for hours at a stretch I'd question the wisdom.<BR><BR>The Big Island IMO offers the greatest variety, plus it offers the greatest exposure to Hawaiian history, culture, modern life, and industry. Yes, an active volcano with a dynamite interpretive center and lava walks, including up to the hot parts if you want (or better, chopper or plane flight over the lava flows). (A bonus is the fact that the national park HQ is at 4000 feet or so, around 20 degrees cooler than in Hilo down below.<BR><BR>Plus the BI has tropical rainforests, wonderful waterfalls, the Parker Ranch, coffee plantations, funky villages, a wonderful little painted church, the Place of Refuge monument, black sand beaches, the observatories at the top of Mauna Kea (open for visits, 14,000 feet up - cold up there), and a couple - not many but a couple - of the most beautiful beaches in the islands. I'd definitely NOT skip the BI, and in fact I would tend to emphasize it.

I think we ought to invade and get rid of Castro next!