Here is our itinerary. We would really like some suggestions on what to do when we are at these places for the time we'll be there.

2 nights-Waikiki,Oahu (Sheraton)
3 nights-Lahaina,Maui (Kanapaali Beach Hotel)
6 nights-Waikoloa,Big Island (Hilton Village)

Thoughts? Suggestion? Thanks in advance for all the help you have given us.

Big Island
1. Volcanoes Nat'l Park (possibly, red hot lava at end of chain of craters road-conditions vary, Thurston Lava Tube)
2. Snorkeling Boat Trip to Captain Cook Memorial, on Fairwinds II from Keauhou (near Kona)
3. Snorkeling at Honaunau, visit ancient Hawaiian Park next door
4. Visit Hilton Waikoloa village, for dinner for example.

Maui:
1. Road to Hana (dinner at Mama's Fish House)
2. Sunrise at Haleakala
3. Whalewatch from Lahaina, (or snorkeling trip if summer)

Oahu
1. Visit Pearl Harbor Memorial, tour WWII submarine
2. Drive around island, stop at Dole stand in North.
3. Hike Diamond Head (early in the morning, well before 10AM)

Enjoy your stay in paradise

I'm doing a similar trip, but in reverse order and I'm splitting my Big Island trip 3 nights in Hilo, 3 at the Hilton Waikoloa.
Big Island:
- Volcano - tons of hiking, or drive around and check out the varied viewpoints. This is a full day from Kohala. You could check out some othe water falls along the way (Ranbow falls, Akaka, etc.)
- Dolphin Encounter - right at the Hilton, you get to play with the dolphins, but it's pricey
- beaches - Mauna Kea & Hapuna (not too far north) are always in best beaches lists
- snorkeling - lots of places along the Kona coast: Kahuluu, Kealakakua, Honauna, and more
- snorkel or whale watch boat trip
- coffee farm tour, south of Kona
- Pololu and Waipio valley lookouts, drive up, look around, can also hike down to the beach/valley.
- horseback riding in Waipio valley
- tour up to Mauna Kea summit. Best place to star-gaze.

Maui:
- snorkel or whate watch tours - TONS of different companies here. Trips that go to/near Lanai leave from Lahaina
- luau: Old Lahaina or Feast at Lele
- drive around West Maui
- drive to Hana (full day)
- got to Haleakala (though I'm going to Volcano and the Mauna Kea summit, so I'm going to skip this)

Oahu:
- Pearl Harbor
- Diamond head - you can easily hike to the top of this volcano
- finding the best Mai Tai bar
- people watching on Waikiki
- surfing lessons

While in Oahu drive out to Kailua one morning and have breakfast at Boot & Kimo's - they have the BEST macadamia nut pancakes EVER! Plus then you could see some of the prettiest beaches you'll ever see (Kailua, Lanikai). Kailua Town is a cute little town and so different from Waikiki.

Also while in Waikiki, be sure to stop by Duke's (in the Outrigger) and have a drink. It's a great bar overlooking the beach - good food too. The beach bar at the Moana Surfrider is also excellent.

I like the way you start of in Waikiki. If you are at the Moana you will have an excellent introduction into Hawaii. That is a great old hotel.

Maui is pretty also but for me I would cut that part of the trip and add it to the big Island. The road to hana alone takes a day. I don't see how you can really appreciate the island without this trip.

It is a long day trip to and from the Volcano if you are staying on the Kona side. Absolutely 1-2 nights hilo side of the big Island is important. I would really want to take in that Volcano at night at least twice. You also will want to check out Maunakea for star watching, Waipio for simple vista look or a day hike. This does not even include all the sights right around the volcano like Thurstons lava tube, sulfur beds, rain Forrest, black sand beaches, green sand beaches.

I have stayed at the Waikoloa, it is fun for about 3 days and then it gets boring in my opinion. Fun hotel though, have a great time. There are always a zillion things to do on any island. You have a lot right around you on the Kona side.

Volcano at night though should be on your must see list. Just make sure it is flowing, a good reason to keep current reservations but cancel nearer to the date if the volcano continues to flow.

Try writing your itinerary in with all the travel time and then see if it is something you would like to do. Remeber most trips will take up entire mornings. I have waited for my rental car upwards of 45 minutes at times.

Wow, great suggestions, thank you all so much. We're both very excited!

Make sure to leave a lot of unscheduled time for hanging around, snorkeling, swimming, having drinks, etc. I learned in November that sightseeing in Hawaii may be good, but the clear water and relaxed atmosphere are the real stars. Better to spend time in the water than in a car.

In Oahu - The Battleship Missouri is also very interesting. You can take a tour or self-guided. It was enjoyable to spend as much time as you wanted snooping. Big fans of Diamond Head hike and Hanauma Bay. Driving up the windward coast or going up the North Shore is great. Whatever you do, you can't miss.

Maui Ocean Center is great - allow 2-4+ hours depending on how much time you spend at each exhibit.
Whale watch is a must in Jan - March.

Opportunity to swim with the Dolphins at the Ocean Park in Oahu. Make reservations in advance. Have done it twice and it is a great experience and much less expensive than Sea World.

If you are on Oahu during the weekend go to Bellows beach. Drive the whole island shoreline. Stop in Kailua and Haliewa. See the Pali lookout. Swim and relax. Snorkel Hanauman Bay.

Hi there! My husband and I will be visiting Hawaii for our first time in April. We are bringing our twins, who will be 16 months old. We realize we will have some limitations, but we bring our babies everywhere. We are staying at the Westin Maui for 5 nights (heard great things about their babysitting service which we may use once or twice) and with a niece for 2 nights in Honolulu. Any thoughts? Anybody brought their babies there before? Thanks much!

LSUsajani - On my previous post I forgot to mention the cool tour they give - for free - at the Moana Hotel. It's really interesting - I think it's offered MWF at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. if I remember right. The tour guide knows all kinds of things and stories about Waikiki and Hawaii, not just about the hotel. It's a beautiful hotel and fun to learn how it all started.

The Iolani Palace tour near downtown is really good, too. This one costs $20 per person and is worth every penny. The palace is beautiful and the guides are very knowledgeable. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Afterwards I walked the several blocks to Chinatown and spent the afternoon browsing from stand to stand and store to store - the produce was amazing and so were the prices. There are leis - fresh, beautiful,inexpensive - pastry shops with lots of yummy things - seafood - all kinds of things and it's just really fun to wander through there. Up on Hotel Street - near Chinatown - are lots of "local" style food places.

Sunscreen, hats, I think hotel hopping is best when you have very small kids like that. They like being a controlled environment. You will be indoors more than childless couples and it sounds like you chose the perfect hotels. I think it sounds great.

look for community events in the paper, the calendar at Hawaii visitors bureau is nice but often community events cater more to families, certainly families with young children.

Dixie Grill is good for kids because they have a sandbox to play in while you eat. They have also started serving breakfast on the weekends.

The zoo, aquarium and sea life park have activities for kids.

Ala Moana beach park is safe for them to play in the water.

The Childrens Discovery Center would be fun for them also.