We're planning on staying 2 nights in Hana and would like to get feedback if the road trip is too much for a 1 yr. old? Our child does well in cars (if that makes a difference). Thanks for your input!

Have done the Hana thing, but not with a child. I have done several car trips with my daughter, who is now 2 1/2. If your child does well in cars, as mine has always done, then you shouldn't have any problem at all to drive the road. It is not like it takes all that long anyway. If I remember, it took us about 1 1/2 - 2 hours, but that was many years ago.

I nearly puked riding in the back seat on the road to Hana. The road is really twisty and windy. I've spoken to other people who had a similar experience on the road. Not sure if a baby would have the same reaction, or if she/he would be oblivious to the car movement.

I would not recommend the road to Hana or Hawaii to anyone who is traveling with a 1 year old. Hawaii is very romantic and magical with its natural beauty and gorgeous sunsets. To experience the road to Hana and the sights generally means getting out of you car to observing them, experience the places and taking pictures, etc.... I saw some people at the hotels with crying babies. When they should have been having the times of their lives, they were changing diapers feeding them pablum and doing things that I did not do when my children were infants and toddlers(I chose to not take these types of trips at a yopung age as I have seen how miserable the people were in the hotels and on the flights. I want to get things out of my travels not continue my daily existance. I have two wonderful children I adore, but they will not be going to Hawaii until they are teenagers.

Some parents can't leave their little bundles of joy at home, but my children were able to stay with their grandparents(we take 1-2 trips each year without the children to remeber why we continue to be so happy together)when we went to Hawaii 2 weeks ago. We even fly them half way across the country or give travel vouchers as holiday gifts to encourage their grandparents.

I would not take a child on the road to Hana or to Hawaii. Take this trip for yourself.

Don't do it.

—Driving & Discovering Hawii Books

Eric, how can you say taking kids to Hawaii is a bad idea? I'm LOL because I think this must be a joke, right?

Deb, will you child suffer from car sickness on windy roads or will he/she fall asleep? We just drove the very windy roads in the Cinque Terre in Italy with our kids (older, ages 7 and 8) and luckily the one who usually gets carsick slept the whole time and was fine.

And, by the way, don't listen to Eric. Hawaii is the perfect travel spot for families with children. The Hawaiian people welcome children with open arms and it is our very favorite place to take our kids. I could sit on the beach and watch my kids frolic in the waves all day long. Go and enjoy!

Keep in mind: traveling with a 7 and 8 year old is far different than traveling with a one year old.

It depends on if you child is an "older" 1.

Are you aware that East Maui is in the midst of a dengue fever outbreak? There have been over 30 confirmed cases there. Until that's under control, I wouldn't take myself or my child to the eastern side of Maui. Just search the archives of the Honolulu Star Bulletin at http://starbulletin.com

Susan- you explained why children should not go on these trips. Yours fell asleep and missed some of the adventure of the trip, the travel and scenery. One year olds poop and pee their pants, 7-8 year olds tell you when they have to go and likely sleep through some of the adventure and are exhausted. Do you take time without your kids and enjoy your marriage on a vacation? Seven and eight year olds are usually mature enough to behave, a one year old may be a screamer in the hotel and restaurant and bother others. Having class and the foresight to know when children belong and when they don't is part of being an adult. This is why you are a vacationer and not a traveller. There is a significant difference!

I would agree that the road to Hana may be a bit much - it's a narrow, twisted road that needs a drivers' attention, not distraction, if your child acts out or has a bout of car sickness. My own husband got carsick from the bumpy motion on that ride - it's hard to tell what one's constitution will take. I also agree, to a point, with other "posters" - when traveling with children, there are adult places & family places. Please don't confuse the two, and ruin someone's romantic dinner with your precious one's "cute" antics. It's hard to enjoy your dinner as adults with the odor of a diaper wafting in the air or gleeful shrieks piercing the evening's breeze. As much as we love the little ones, please be considerate enough to patronize the more family-oriented establishments.

Eric, did it ever occur in that narrow mind of yours that not everyone is fortunate enough to have family willing or able to care for their children? I am, but if I didn't, it wouldn't stop me from traveling. Are you implying that Deb and her husband stay home for the next 18 years? Some people are actually capable of coping with the inconveniences of traveling with small children and of even enjoying themselves while doing so. Personally my children loved being in the car and this would have been easy with them. I have driven the road and while they weren't with us, I think they could have been without much trouble.

To curious- The problem with many of those advocating your position is that they don't understand children and are the ones that are narrow minded. I can't get away from their whining child and they are imposing an inappropriate burden upon other travellers. I travel with my children to appropriate family places. I have also taken the road to Hana sans children. The question asked for my feedback and I gave it. I did not advocate not travelling with children, but travelling with a 1 year old to Hana is one of the stupidest questions I have ever heard. If you don't like the feedback. Tough, because when I was in Hawaii I saw what happens to unhappy, tired, young children and it wasn't pretty. So if you don't like the feedback, don't ask a silly question. End of story!

Sorry Curious, I agree with Eric 100%. Children are not the problem, parents are. As he says, it's the difference between being a vacationer and a traveler. You can do either with a small child. My experience has been almost all have been vacationers.

Some places children belong or can be accomodated. Some places, the parents should get a clue.

XXX

Eric-You sound as if every parent has absolutely no discretion as to where they take their children. Some of us, actually do take our children traveling and are considerate at the same time! What a concept. I will be going to Kauai in a week without my kids, and do treasure that time with my husband, however, I do not feel that Hawaii isn't for children, how ridiculous! Maybe those parents you pitied were having the time of their lives.
Deb asked about the road to Hana, not about the finest restuarant and whether they have a childrens menu or changing tables.
I hope the next time you travel childless you get stuck very near a screaming child, all the way to France! You would deserve it.

Eric- Deb obviously did not consider her question silly, nor do I. She asked because she didn't know, is that so wrong?????? I was always told "there is no such thing as a stupid question, if you really don't know the answer".

Calm down and give it rest.

Monique, an "older" 1 year old??? How old would an older 1 year act? Like he/she is 18 months or maybe 2 years?? Still alot different than a 7 or 8 year old.

I still think Hawaii IS an appropriate family vacation spot. Now if Deb asked if she should take her 1 year old to the Louvre I would disagree but Hawaii innapropriate? No. And again, as a mother I most certainly do understand children. If Deb's child does well in cars I don't see why she would have a problem, after all she knows her child, not you. I would have taken my children to Hawaii but wouldn't dream of subjecting them or other passengers to them on an 11 hour flight. We have taken my children to Bermuda and the caribbean, and those vacations were enjoyed by everyone. They have also driven 8 up to 9 hours in a day without a problem. When my son was 11 weeks I drove to D.C. to meet my husband - 5 hours without stopping and without so much as a whimper. Deb I think you have to consider your child and be prepared to be disrupted. I really don't see how Deb's taking her child in her car is "imposing an innapropriate burden on other travelers", as you stated. Please tell me how in gods name she could possibly bother anyone else by driving to Hana with her child? I'm puzzled by that one.

Eric, I'm very curious, since you feel that Hawaii (which is basically one giant sandbox), is an innapropriate spot for a family vacation, where do you take your children on vacation? Please tell me what is an "appropriate family place" is. I'd love to hear from a real traveler where we all should be taking our children.

Yes, please Eric tell us?