I have learned so much already from the wealth of advice on this site! So thank you in advance...

We are a family of four (me, hubby, age 14 D, age 10 B) traveling to Hawai'i for the first time in March 2002.

My question relates to time spent on each island: We have 23 days to spend in the islands. Does 3 days Oahu, 6 days Maui (w/ a day trip to Molokai), 9 days BI and 5 days Kauai seem about right? How would you re-structure it and why?

We are an active family, who also likes to RELAX. Enjoying nature's beauty is our #1 priority. Not necessarily into all the "touristy" stuff.

Pretty much already decided on hotels too.

Thank you so much!

Looks good to me. Just wondering if your 14-year old daughter'll be able to take on the rustic lifestyle. O'ahu, in my opinion, deserves more than a 3-day hiatus. There's a lot more going on in O'ahu that would occupy a young person: Hiking Diamond Head crater, Manoa Falls, Bishop Museum, Arizona Memorial, the North Shore (though winter's the time for the big waves), Hanauma Bay, watching the wind surfers off Diamond Head or Kailua Beach, etc., etc., etc.
Even Waikiki, for all its tackiness, can be an interesting place to stroll about....

I think you'll be able to see and do most everything that strongly interests you within those time frames. Sounds like a great plan to me.

Thank you!

You should have an abundance of time. I don't suppose I could talk you into taking me?

David, I'd love to take you if you'd be interested in funding the trip...

Just curious, how do your children get that much time away from school? I'm not worried about it, just wondering!

It sounds like a perfect trip to me. My husband, myself and four boys spent 3 days on Oahu in 1998 and it was fine. We went to the zoo, the north shore, enjoyed the beach, the city and the Polynesian Cultural Center. Our other days were spent on Maui, (5) and the Big Island (7). We are going again this summer, only we will spend 5 days on Maui, 5 on the north shore of Kauai and 7 on the Big Island. Two of the BI days will be in Volcano National Park with the remaining 5 in Kona. I would suggest you divide up your time on the Big Island in a similar way. Both sides have a lot to offer. I know you mentioned a day trip to Molikai. If you are planning on visiting Father Damien's colony, please be advised that the minimum age is 16...for some reason that I don't quite understand.

I would add more time on Oahu don't know what part of the country you are coming from but the exposure to Asian culture on Oahu is extraordinary. You don't see that reflected in these posts that often because I think people just look to beach and hike it. You can do that well on Oahu also. I just think. you are missing a tremendous about of food, temples, festivals and life if you only give Oahu 3 days. I am planning a trip this summer also showing someone around and I worry about too much hiking not enough history (this is what you will find on Oahu). I just think balance is good. You can get morning emails from the Honolulu Star Bulletin they will tell you all the goings on and Hawaii Tourist Beaurea (sp) has a calendar link check out all the stuff that happens on Oahu and compare. I know you will find the Oahu sectioned cramed. China town, byodo temple, Japanese Cutural Center, Bishop Museum, are among my top fav haunts. Good luck

I would go to Oahu first (seeing as that's where the main airport is and you would have to transfer there anyway) and spend more than 3 days there. I would not spend so much time on the big island. Maui is my favorite.

Hi Sheila, My husband and I just returned from Oahu-9days and the big island 10 days..I truly enjoyed Oahu..but 10 days on the big island was too much for us. We should have gone over to Maui for a few days. We really saw everything twice..Once on the circle island bus tours and then we rented a convertible and went round the island 2 more times..we had a great time, but we relaxed too much-if thats possible. I'm not a shopper but did enjoy all the shops in Kona. Make sure you get to hapuna beach, it is just WOW! My husband doesn't swim, so no snorkeling..and I have a fear of deep water. but we did go in the ocean at Hapuna, its beautiful there..There is a small museum to Father Damien in Waikiki near the pacific Beach hotel.Check it out..there lots to do on Oahu..especially in Waikiki-we went to the illusionist show at the Beachcomber, it was super..the kids would love it. Make sure you get next years Entertainment book for Hawaii-we saved quite a bit. The Honolulu zoo is really nice also and so is the aquarium..
hope this helps Dona

Thank you, everyone, again, for the kind replies. I appreciate your input.

Samantha, my children attend a private school in the midwest and get two weeks off of school for Spring Break. I am taking them out of school for an additional week (assuming that they maintain their good grades), after receiving approval from their teachers and headmaster; hopefully, we'll complete their work before we leave. I hope no one spams me for being a bad parent or something... My children's education is our first priority- and I think that this trip will provide them opportunities that they'd never get in a classroom.