Here is my dilemma. Me, my wife and 5 year old will be staying in Honolulu for a week. We would like to stay for another week but we aren't sure whether to stay somewhere else on the island or go to a different island. We have been to the Big Island before. Any recommendations for staying somewhere else on the island? Any opinions about traveling to a different island?

Thanks,

T

If you decide to stay on Oahu, try Kailua. You can rent a house on or near the beach (no hotels). www.vrbo.com From Kailua you can explore Lanikai and the north shore. This area is totally different from Honolulu.
That said, I would try another island. You would love Maui or Kauai. Through the previous web site you can find a condo rental, great for traveling with a 5 year old.
If you haven't made you plane reservations yet, you could fly into Honolulu and return from a second island. That way you only have one inter island flight.

Agree with everything rpowell said. Kailua/Lanikai are gorgeous beaches, fairly close to Waikiki but a world apart in atmosphere. I think I'd go to Maui or Kauai though. Will you have time to explore Oahu (beyond Honolulu) during the first week you are there? If so, I'd definitely go to a different island for the second week.

Thanks for the input!
sf7307 - I will be working part of the time but the rest of the family will probably be site seeing. That is why I brought up the question. I feel like during the week there we will get to see a fair amount of the island??

If you have 3 afternoons free, I'd spend one in the Kailua area, one in the Haleiwa/North Shore area and one in Waikiki. If you have a free morning, try to go to Pearl Harbor (I don't do much "cultural" sightseeing when in Hawaii, but I consider this sort of a "must" for all Americans -- we took our kids when they were 4 and 2 and they had a great time, however, I'm not sure kids that young are allowed out to the memorial). Then spend your next week on Maui or Kauai (which depends on your interests -- this is how I describe the islands "nature" in brief: "Oahu is the island with Honolulu (big city) and Waikiki (great beach, but on a crowded stretch -- stores and hotels), other parts of the island are much less developed and are beautiful (the north shore and the east side beaches). Oahu has more actual "sights" to see than any of the other islands. Maui is the most "resort-feel" of the islands, with developments of nice hotels, good beaches, restaurants, small towns. Kauai is the most gorgeous nature-oriented island, but also the "quietest". Hawaii (the Big Island) has an active volcano, but fewer gorgeous beaches"

"we took our kids when they were 4 and 2 and they had a great time, however, I'm not sure kids that young are allowed out to the memorial"

All kids are allowed on the memorial. I think strollers have to remain in the visitor's center.

Some info:

http://www.nps.gov/valr/planyourvisit/index.htm

No hotels in Kailua/Lanikai area.

Only Turtle Bay Resort on North Shore.

Lots of private lodging for both areas:

http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/hawaii/oahu

Lots of info:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...trip-to-hi.cfm

You can now order free brochures for Oahu, Maui, Kauai & Big Island from 1-800-GOHAWAII

Thanks again for the input. I am starting to like the idea of Kauai. I have spent some time on the Big Island (I am a geologist). I know a few people that have been to Kauai and loved it. It sounds like flying between then islands is pretty much our only bet. I'll start looking at Maui or Kauai.

I have done two islands (Oahu and Maui) in two weeks and was disappointed.I wish we would stay on one island the whole time. Besides, one week is not enough time to enjoy and explore any of the islands. You lose precious time on packing/unpacking, driving to/from airport, going through security lines, rental car pick up/return etc....It seems that it's a short flight and you won't lose much time but you actually lose at least half a day or more. (Our hotel check in time for 3 pm but when we arrived our room was not ready and we had to wait another hour. The room they gave us was facing a very busy restaurant with live music). I am a light sleeper so we had to wait for another room- more time wasting)
My advice is just stay on one island. You will not run out of things to do in two weeks. If Waikiki is too busy and touristy for you, do what other people suggested- move to a different part of the island. There are so many nice beaches and parks that you and your child will enjoy much more than the hassle of the island hopping.

You certainly have enough time to see another island. Nothing wrong with Needsun's advice, either.