We will be honeymooning on Kauai and the Big Island in October. Our flight arrives in Kauai around 12:00pm on Monday. We will spend 5 nights on Kauai and then leave for the Big Island on the following Friday. We will then spend 6 nights on the BI and then back to the mainland around 3:00pm on Saturday. My question is, on the Friday we leave Kauai, should we take an early morning inter-island flight and Spend most of that day on the BI, or take a late afternoon flight and spend most of the day on Kauai? Thanks.

I have found that gataway days are virtually useless at the current location. Getting to the next place is the goal of the day. You have to get packed up and then are limited based on the flight to the next island. I would recommend getting yourself to the BI early with enough time to make it a useful day.

Dear GDE:
Interisland flights leave almost every hour. You can always decide, or change your interisland reservation, once you get to Kauai. If you love Kauai or if the weather is particularly fine, stay as long as possible. If you want to get to the BI sooner, I'm sure you'll have no problem changing your flight reservation.
IMHO, I prefer flying in the afternoon for the simple reason that most hotels do not offer check-in until after 1 PM. Why rush to the next destination?
Plus, I don't like driving around with valuable luggage in the rent-a-car. The bell desk will gladly keep your luggage for you, however, if you arrive early in the morning and your room is not ready.
Best wishes for a wonderful honeymoon,
Aloha,
Kehau

I agree. Plan on that day as being a travel day. Look at when you have to be out of the first hotel and when you can get into the second. You'll enjoy your experience on both of the islands so don't get too intense about scheduling.

I'll have to disagree with the other two posters. I've usually tried to plan or schedule an activity that will last till 2:00 or so and then head to the airport for the short flight to my other island. That way, I still get a nice activity in and spend the late afternoon/evening kicking back on the plane. My view is why waste a day in travel when you can schedule around a "down time" anyway. Anyway, just my not so humble opinion!