Ideal time to go to Hawaii
 

I've viewed a few posts that mention that the last week in April is Golden Week in Japan, and that many tourists flock to hawaii at this time.
Has anyone who has vacationed in Hawaii the last week in April noticed large crowds or overly crowded beaches. Just trying to picture how busy.
After all, doesn't Hawaii have tourists all the time.

I live on Maui and April was just another month, no different than March or this month. I did not notice any increase in Japanese visitors. Maybe they all stayed on O`ahu.

As usual Here Today is right. The Japanese have an overwhelming preference for Oahu/ Waikiki. I have never noticed large numbers of Japanese in Maui, even during "Golden Week". Golden Week in Japan imcludes April 29, May 3, May 4, and May 5 and Japanese tend to take extra holidays around these dates. The heavy Japanes travel to Hawaii (Oahu) can be either the last week in April or the first week in May or both. As Here Today noted it is not a major factor in Maui.

BrianM, Hawaii DOES have tourists all the time - every month of every year.

I've heard that, in the last few years, the Japanese "spring invasion" into Hawaii is not what it used to be. (And I've also heard that most who do go, go to Oahu.)

Based on our visits there it seems most Japanese tourists who go to Hawaii hit Oahu. We saw few in Maui and Kauai.

we went to oahu during spring break april 4 - 11 stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and noticed many japanese tourist. talked to some that were very nice and funny. april was a beautiful time of year to go, but because of spring break there will always be the crowds. but in waikiki you will have the crowds....we had a great time. we went around the whole island. what a beautiful island.

The best time to go to Hawaii is ANYTIME, all the time and whenever you have the time and the money. That's when. Aloha!

Ah-so,
Money + Time(free) = Hawaii
B-)

We've been to Hawaii every time of the year, the last several trips dictated by our Kid's school calendar, eg Summer or Christmas. Christmas is very nice, though expensive for air fares and accodations and crowded, particularly in the Lahina/Kaanapauli areas and I presume Honolulu as well. But the Christmas ambience is worth the extra cost at least once.

Summer is less crowded and less expensive, though less a contrast in weather to where we live on the mainland and more expensive than the "low season".

I prefer September/October or January/February (before spring break) as the best combination of the least expensive travel and least crowds;in fact Kailua-Kona can be almost deserted at times.

When our kids no longer go with us in three years or so, we will start going in the winter months again.

I did experience a golden week one time on Maui, very crowded with Japanese tourists, but that was during the hey-day of the late 80's. My guess is that is not such an issue anymore.

thank you all for your replies to my question.
I'll still plan to go to Hawaii at the end of April 2005.