We are planning a trip to Hawaii this summer. Here are our criteria:
1. Family of 4 (two children, 3 & 7
2. No expensive resorts, we're just not the type.
3. Quiet, not commerciallized like Honolulu.
4. Calm beaches for the kids.
5. Good snorkling.
Thanks in advance!

Oahu has the best calm beaches. You could try prices at the Turtle Bay Hilton if you don't like the busy city.
Maui beaches depend on the time of year. Kauai can get pretty rough, but you can find lagoons.

I would pick Maui or the Big Island.

It depends whether you have been there or not. To miss out on the sights on Oahu would be a big mistake. How ofter do you visit Hawaii. Pearl Harbor, Wakiki Beach and Hanama Bay are a must see. You may never fly this far again. Do it right and buy yourself a Hawaii travel book. I recommend The Unofficial Guide to Hawaii. Good Luck and don't miss out on Earth's Paradise.

Stay in a condo instead of a hotel. Try www.vrbo.com for lots of condo listings on all islands. The north shore of kauai has lots of calm beaches and good snorkeling in the summer.

Another vote for Kauai (suprise). Agree with xxx that in the summer the north shore will be nice for snorkeling.

You may also want to consider the Coconut Coast area. Inexpensive hotels, condoa, restaurants, movie theater, shopping and you're near Lydegate for sheltered snorkeling. It's also a good mid-way point on the island. Just 30 mins or so from Poipu, P'ville and about 45-60 to Polihale.
Good luck and mahalo,
Kal

I'm a fan of the North Shore of Oahu. Check this place out - right on the beach. I'll be back there in May.
Duane
http://www.cyberrentals.com/HI/BlackOAHU.html

Gotta second Duane's advice above. North Shore Oahu is an awesome destination, and the cottage (link) he gave you is a wonderful place to stay - we rented the same one in Sept. '01. Six paces from beach, lovely grounds, cottage large enough but not too fancy for a family. Quiet rural area, but only 10 min. to Haleiwa with shopping, restaurants, etc. And the beaches on Oahu!!! Too many to count, too much variety, too georgous.....we absolutely LOVED staying here. Itemizing reasons why I'd recommend North Shore Oahu:
- less expensive (usually) to fly to Oahu
- you're out of commercialized Honolulu/Wakiki, in quiet rural area, w/friendly locals
- this cottage is a real bargain - with cleaning fees and taxes it worked out to be about $100/night
- affordable. With your own kitchen (and oceanfront lanai!) you can save a lot of money. I cannot imagine the finest restaurant giving us a better meal than the night we grilled ahi (bought fresh from the fishermen on Haleiwa beach) along with the fresh pineapple (Dole plantation also only 10 min. away) and served on that lanai with the palm trees rustling and the sun setting over the water.....incredible!
- an amazing variety of beaches, from the one in front of the cottage, then driving toward and along the windward shore, and all no more than 5-45 min. away.
- you're only 30-40 min. away from Honolulu with all the culture and sightseeing there
- the Haleiwa harbor (10 min. away) has boat/snorkeling trips for hire - no need to drive too far if you'd like to "get out on the water"
- the sunsets. Oh, those sunsets!.....
- did I mention all of Oahu's great beaches?

Kim, we rented three houses over two weeks in Hawaii (Maui & Kauai). This immaculate beachfront house on calm Anini Beach in Kauai would be perfect for a small family, yet it has some nice amenities for mom & dad: jacuzzi tub, gourmet kitchen, fab stereo, beach toys. Snorkel out the front door, even comes with a neighbor mutt who's adorable!

http://planet-hawaii.com/daystar/anini.html

Hens4th,
STOP IT! I have to wait until May to go back. I am having a hard enough time waiting without you reminding me how great it is :~). Going to spend 5 nights on the Big Island and then another 12 at the duplex. I can't wait.

You nailed all the reasons we like to be there. The best being dinner on our own Lanai at the oceans edge and being so far away yet so close to everything.
Thanks for the reminders.
Duane

Go to Maui - stay at the Hale Hui Kai - room 211 or one of the front rooms - you will not regret it. We had a great time.

Duane:
Easy for you to say - at least you have a definite trip to look forward to. I'm only 1/3 of the way to my savings acct. goal for next Sept. (and hoping that that ol' income tax refund will put us "over the hump"). And I still haven't found what looks like the "perfect" Kauai rental (it's gonna be hard, when we're comparing everything to that wonderfully perfect Oahu vacation.....)

I probably SHOULD quit raving about North Shore Oahu, so as to keep the crowds away for those of us that really appreciate it. Seriously, thanks for the great 5:00 am chuckle!

There is a great beach for kids called Ko´Olina, it´s about 20 minutes from Waikiki. J.W Marriott it´s located there. If you want to be relax and calm with your kids you should tray it.
Have a nice trip!

Calm beaches and good snorkeling..sounds like the north shore of Kauai to me. We also rented a house in Anini Beach. It was quiet and allowed us relatively short distances to some of the best beaches on the Island..if expense is not a big concern see if you can find a house on Tunnels Beach.

Kim how long are you going for? I usually go to Kauai but truth be told each island offers something special and different. Oahu has interesting cultural and historical sites. They also have sealife park, zoos, the aquarium. You can also excape to the piece and quiet of the North Shore or windward sides.

Big Island and Kauai have incredible outdoor hikes, snorkle and landscape diversity. Big Island is big and Kauai is more compact.

Maui I think is a blend of piece and quiet and activity. I really don't think you can go wrong with any choice.

That is the way I see it anyway, each island has it's own charm, sometimes this is not something you can pick up in a 3 day stay. The only problem I see is if you do the island touring option. I did that with kids and we just felt like it was too much moving around. That was 2 islands in two weeks. We stayed at 3 different locations in the second week. Also people were disappointed if we moved to a location that was not a beautiful as the last.

Lesson learned the following year we did one island two weeks, THE BEST TRIP EVER!


Came on this thread to find out about the big Island. I have been but not in about 5 years. I was hopping to hear about family trips that focused on this island. You do need two weeks here.

that would be peace and quiet and escape!! and all the others I missed.