Kauai, BI, Need Help??
 

Family with 10, 11 year old kids need help deciding whether to spend 5 days at the Hyatt Kauai or Hilton Waikola before moving on to Grand Wailea for 4 days. Is there more to do in Kauai or Big Island with kids? Is there a little city for evenings (restaurants, shopping) in Kauai like Lahaina in Maui?? Does Hyatt Kauai have water slides or cool pool for kids? I know Hilton does! Suggestions for which part of the hotel to request for Hyatt Kaui, Hilton, or Grand Wailea, if I can. Not paying for premium views. Thanks to fellow Hawaii lovers!!

The Hilton has a lazy river pool and then at least 2 other pools. The Hyatt has a lazy river type pool with small slides to get from one level to the next. Hard on those pool drinks if you carry them ;) It also has a lagoon with a sandy bottom and other pools. It's on a sandy beach unlike the Hilton which is on a rocky outcropping. I'd choose the Hyatt over the Hilton. But that's just one vote!!! Wish I was trying to decide on those choices!!!! :)

The Waikola is heaven for kids. You can kayak, snorkel or paddle boat with the fish, eels, turtles etc. Play in the sand or regular pools. They have a lunch that comes in a sand pail. You ride the tram or boats. Volleyball, hammocks, etc. Waikola is a bit more isolated. You can go to a few shops or drive into Kona.

Hilton is nice. Much quieter and smaller scale. They have a kids camp although I never see it open. Kauai shuts down about 9pm. There are some shops etc. You could go horseback riding next door. In Koloa you can watch them make soap.

Show them the photos. I bet most would pick the BI.

I have been both to the Waikoloa and the Hyatt with kids, both are great. I think for me I would not want to island hop in that time frame and with kids. I was at the Hyatt last August with an 9 year old. At the time I considered it a close second to the Waikoloa but there were no lines and the hotel was at full capacity I wonder if this would have been the case that Waikoloa in August. Hyatt has a waterslide if that is and issue for you. I would choose between the big island and Kauai both are great both have incredible outdoor opportunities (outside the hotel). A bit more car time on the big island to explore fully but you also have the volcano at night which I can't imagine passing up showing to a kid.

In terms of restaurants poipu has enough. We always think about this sort of thing before the trip but find that if we are active during the day in Kauai we are bushed by night fall. Just something to consider.

PS meant to say before our stay at Hyatt we considered it a close second to the Waikoloa. Having stayed at the Hyatt we would no make an decision to stay on the big island based on the Waikoloa. A waterslide is a waterslide and the crowds seems to be under control at the Hyatt when it is full. I don't hear the same about the Waikoloa.