Visiting Hawaii with kids - Kauai-Include Oahu or not?
 

We are thinking of visitng Hawaii over spring break. After reading these boards, I've pretty much concluded that our family would enjoy Kauai most. Our kids would be 15, 13 and 10 and it will most likely be our only family trip to Hawaii.

Should we include Oahu or skip it? I've been to Waikiki once, as an adult. In my mind it is one huge tacky vacation "paradise", lots of cheap souvineer shops, mongolian barbeque joints, and a bit of a beach. I'm thinking that it would be fun for the kids for a day or two. What do you think?

Oahu is my favorite of the islands. I find the view of Diamond Head and that curve of beautiful beach is quintessential Hawaii. There is much more to Oahu than just the busyness of Waikiki, but your kids will probably like it there. In addition, they need to visit Pearl Harbor for the history, as well as the Iolani Palace and Punchbowl Cemetery.

Drive around the island and see the beautiful beaches, the Blow Hole, beautiful Haunama Bay, . Hike to waterfalls. Drive up the Tantalus Highway. Very non-tacky.

Oahu is the best island.

There is much more to Oahu than Waikiki.

There are nice isolated beaches on Oahu if you get away from Waikiki.

Pearl Harbor is not to be missed.

I do not like Waikiki at all. Just another big city. The North Shore is very beautiful and I would tend to stay there instead.
Have you considered Maui? My favorite island.

We spent three days on Oahu and a week on Maui last year with our kids ages 7 and 11 and they loved Maui's beaches, but if you ask them what they really liked about the trip, they say Pearl Harbor and climbing Diamondhead. Maybe it is because they have been to a lot of beaches in various locations, but there's only one PH and DH. They also enjoyed Waikiki (we stayed at the Marriott -- loved it), it is much more upscale now than it used to be. We didn't have enough time to do the rest of Oahu -- that's for the next trip!

I agree that Waikiki is tacky -- but I also agree that Oahu should not be slighted. Our highlights (kids ages 11 and 13) included Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor/Arizona, Hanauma Bay, the Bishop Museum ( Hawaiian history and culture) and Iolani Palace. We also had fun on a trip to the North Shore, pineapple plantation, maze, etc.

I am born and raised on the North Shore of Oahu and been to all the islands. They are all unique and special. As for things to do with a family Oahu by far has the most things to do with kids.

I love Waikiki. I disagree that it is "one huge tacky vacation paradise" but it seems you have a pretty negative image of it already from your one visit.

Personally I think there is more to do on Oahu than any of the other islands. A mix of outdoor activities and city busy-ness that I'm guessing would appeal to kids that age.

It's where I always go because I'm often traveling solo and sitting around on a quiet beach by myself somewhere like Kauai wouldn't cut it for me. I like to have lots of things "to do". And I LOVE the beach at Waikiki, I'd hardly call it a "bit of a beach"... it's kind of famous you know
:-)

Depends on what your kids like to do. there is a lot to do on Kauai horseback riding, snorkeling, tubing, surfing, swimming, hiking, just beaching it, bike riding, kauai museum in Lihue is excellent and the beauty of Kauai is worth everything. the shopping is the pits but most kids don't like that anyway. Dh and I have been 12 times and never get tired of Kauai...waikiki is okay if you like to shop HOWEVER, there is much history - Pearl Harbor with the Missouri and the Arizona memorial are very important. Beaches on the North shore of Oahu are cool but it takes so long to get there and the traffic...Yipes!

I'd stick with Kauai and you will not be bored. the night life isn't as rockin as Waikiki but by the end of the day, you will be ready to just sit on the lanai and watch the sun go down with your martini in your hand Hope you plan on staying in a condo so you have more room with the kids.

I HATE to shop... But I still like Waikiki ;-)

For the OP & for this trip though, I vote skip Oahu and just go to Kauai. I don't see any reason to tack on Waikiki if no one's especially keen on going there.

Since this is only a spring break trip, I would stay on Kauai the whole time. Your kids will be plenty happy there for that amount of time.

I, too, dislike central Honolulu. I don't like all the souvenir shops, and even the Ala Moana Center does not appeal to me. But the rest of Oahu has plenty worth seeing on another trip. haleiwa on the North Shore is a nice little town, for example.

Any particular reason you topped this 2005 thread, BabyTravel?