Topic Wiki

Please post your questions in the correct thread. This thread, as the title clearly states, is for general Hawaii questions only.

If you have any questions that pertains to a particular island, post it in the appropriate island thread. See below for links to all island threads.

You'd get far better answers there, and chances are that your issue was already discussed at length too.

DansMeals: Hawaii For The Kosher Traveler:
-Part 1: General Info And The Island Of Oahu
-Part 2: The Big Island of Hawaii
-Part 3: Maui
-Part 4: Kauai

Related DD Posts:
-Ultimate Hawaii Mileage Chart and Everything You Need to Know About the Hawaiian Islands (2015)
-Trip Notes: Maui No Ka ‘Oi (2014)
-Trip Notes Kauai: Heaven On Earth (2014)
-The Hawaiian Islands. (2011)
-Traveling To Hawaii…With A 5 Month Old (2011)
-View From The Room (2011)
-Pearl Harbor…70 Years (2011)
-Shaloha! (2011)
-Hawaii Trip Notes: Kauai (2009)
-Hawaii Trip Notes: Oahu (2009)
-Which Miles To Use To Fly To Hawaii?

Related DDF Destination Threads:
-Big Island Of Hawaii Master Thread
-Kauai Master Thread
-Maui Master Thread
-Oahu Master Thread
-Lanai, Molokai, and Niihau, Hawaii Master Thread

Background on Hawaiian Islands
You've probably heard of Honolulu. That's the state capital and is located on island of Oahu, the main island with the largest airport. Honolulu hosts the famous Waikiki Beach and if you look at pictures, it looks like Miami. One long beach with a strip of hotels. Most DDFers say to go to one of the other 3 main islands which are less touristy and the hotels are more spread out. In no particular order, the other islands are Maui, Kauai and Hawaii (yes, that's the name of one of the islands. It's also known as The Big Island - confusing because Big Island sounds like it's the "Main Island", but Oahu is the main island). Direct flights from NYC only go to HNL. You can get direct flights from other cities (LAX, SFO, OAK, SJC, SAN, DEN, DFW, PHX, SEA, ORD as examples) to the other islands. Hawaii is amazing - have fun! The main airport codes are:
Oahu: HNL
Maui: OGG
Kauai: LIH
The Big Island: KOA, ITO (2 airports on 2 different sides of the island)

Interisland flights:
Hawaiian is the main interisland carrier and flies HNL, LIH, OGG, KOA, and ITO. They have countless flights each day and are nearly always on time - often even early. Never book a tight connection hoping that the interisland flight will be delayed.

Go and Island Air fly from HNL. Mokulele flies from HNL and KOA, as well as to Kapalua (JHM), Hana (HNM), Molokai (MKK), Lanai (LNY), and Waimea-Kohala (MUE) on the Big Island. Hawaiian's subsidiary Ohana flies HNL to MKK and LNY.

You can also use 5k AA, 6k UA or 7.5k HA miles each way to fly interisland. You can use 15k DL pesos for a RT interisland. United allows a free stopover on a round-trip, so for instance you can fly HNL-LIH-OGG-HNL for just 12K miles.
HA has several tiers, similar to DL, the lowest tier is the only one that's available using partner miles, but with HA miles you can purchase tickets that are otherwise unavailable for additional miles.

@Yehuda's thoughts on deciding between Kauai and Maui:
Here's a list of the main activities on both islands. Decide what interests you, and then you'll know where to go.

Kauai has what many say to be one of the best hikes in the world - Kalalau Trail. Most people will only do the first part, but it's still very highly regarded. The views atop Waimea Canyon are breathtaking, yet Maui also has breathtaking views at Haleakala. Kauai also has some supposedly awesome off-roading on Miloli'i Ridge Road. Sunset at the 12-mile long Polihale Beach is supposed to be quite the sunset. A helicopter tour of Kauai is generally said to be much better than a heli tour of Maui. If the water is calm, Queen's Bath, which is a natural pool in the ocean you can swim in that's protected from the ocean's force by hardened lava, is SICK, but Maui has the same thing by the Olivine Pools. Kayaking down the Wailua River to "Secret Falls" is supposed to be great as well. Of course, the luxurious, tropical amazingness of the Grand Hyatt Kauai is a huge boost for Kauai, except for its beach, but the great Po'ipu Beach is 5 minutes away.

Maui has the Road to Hana, which is an incredible drive through what feels like a rainforest with tons of opportunities to take small hikes to waterfalls and pools. It's just wow wow wow. Sunrise at the top Haleakala is not to be missed. A boat trip to snorkel by Molokini Crater offers what is supposedly some of the best snorkeling visibility in the world. Warren & Annabelle's Magic Show is supposed to be a great night out. The hotels are also magical, perhaps to a lesser degree than GHK, but the beaches by the main hotels are a big plus over GHK's beach. EDIT: The Grand Wailea in Maui is a gorgeous hotel that rivals the GHK (and its lazy river actually moves as opposed to GHK's ). Add in the fact that its beach (Wailea Beach) is swimmable and doesn't require the albeit short drive to Po'ipu Beach that the GHK does, I'm not sure that the GHK should be a reason enough to tip the scales in favor of Kauai over Maui anymore.

So, pick the types of activities you'd want to do and then you'll have your island. I personally liked Maui better mostly because of the Road to Hana, but to be fair, I did miss out on the Kalalau Trail in Kauai due to weather.
« Last edited by jj1000 on December 25, 2023, 10:30:33 AM »

Author Topic: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?  (Read 485078 times)

Online Something Fishy

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1100 on: January 05, 2015, 10:10:43 AM »
No lava at the moment only because the county is restricting people from hiking to it and in some instances they are arresting people that do.  I suppose they are concerned with looters.  Can't imagine its anything else because in years past all you might get is a fine or worst case scenario be banned.  But under certain circumstances you can fly over Pahoa to take in the action.

Hence my weasel word "really". There may be lava, but not something you can hike to.

And then of course in February the situation could be completely different...
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1101 on: January 05, 2015, 10:15:13 AM »
Hence my weasel word "really". There may be lava, but not something you can hike to.

And then of course in February the situation could be completely different...

Unfortunately for me, that's unlikely based upon recent information.   I also heard that the lava flow is far away from the ocean.  So far I only hit the jackpot on one out of five (soon to be six) trips. 
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1102 on: January 05, 2015, 10:27:50 AM »
Unfortunately for me, that's unlikely based upon recent information.   I also heard that the lava flow is far away from the ocean.  So far I only hit the jackpot on one out of five (soon to be six) trips.

The lava won't be hitting the ocean for a long time now. The June 27th flow is basically stalled, and still farfrom the ocean. Even if a new southern vent should open (unlikely) it would still be months before that flow could hit the ocean.

These couple of pages should give you all the info you need on the volcano, other than viewing options:

http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php

http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/maps/

http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/multimedia/
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1103 on: January 05, 2015, 10:29:48 AM »
The lava won't be hitting the ocean for a long time now. The June 27th flow is basically stalled, and still farfrom the ocean. Even if a new southern vent should open (unlikely) it would still be months before that flow could hit the ocean.

These couple of pages should give you all the info you need on the volcano, other than viewing options:

http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php

http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/maps/

http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/multimedia/

Those websites are for noobs.  I get reports straight from the horses mouth.   :)
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1104 on: January 05, 2015, 10:31:34 AM »
I get reports straight from the horses mouth.   :)

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1105 on: January 05, 2015, 11:01:11 AM »
Here's a couple questions for the HI veterans.

We're booked in for 8 nights in HI.  We've already booked the 4 back end nights in a very nice hotel in Maui and we're trying to decide what to do with the first 4 nights.  We're a fairly outdoorsy couple who likes to hike, though we both don't really enjoy watersports (scuba, snorkel, etc).  We've never been to HI and while we're likely to return (especially upon discovering how easy award airfare is to achieve) but with starting a family on the horizon i imagine returning might be in a number of years. I'm considering three different itineraries for the first four nights and want to know if anyone has any input:

1:  Fly directly to OGG upon landing in HNL and stay 4 days in a 4*ish hotel likely in Lahaina area.  This itinerary would likely involve a bus/limo ride to Hana with a helicopter back on the day we switched accommodation to Wailea.

2: Stay in Oahu in a 5*ish accommodation for two nights before flying to OGG and driving to Hana for a two night stay, driving back to Wailea for our back half 4 nights.

3: Fly directly to Kauai upon landing in HNL for a 4 night stay in a 4.5*ish hotel followed by flight to OGG and then a stay in Wailea.

Obvi, this determination will depend on what we think we can "handle" in terms of active/relaxing activity but since so many of y'all are seasoned HI travelers I thought I'd ask for input.  Thanks!

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1106 on: January 05, 2015, 11:04:23 AM »
Hike to Kalalau and spend the 4 nights camping out there :)
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1107 on: January 05, 2015, 11:11:37 AM »
This itinerary would likely involve a bus/limo ride to Hana

What a terrible waste, especially considering

We're a fairly outdoorsy couple who likes to hike

You'd be missing out on the entire point of the Road to Hana - the slow, relaxing drive, stopping at random places and losing yourself. Instead you'd be confined to a bus full of strangers and stop only at the main tourists sites without the ability to take a hike or do something cool.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1108 on: January 05, 2015, 11:16:25 AM »
Have any of the HI-pros figured out an award hidden city to find more avail on EWR-HNL?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1109 on: January 05, 2015, 11:17:26 AM »
Have any of the HI-pros figured out an award hidden city to find more avail on EWR-HNL?

If they did they would never post it here.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1110 on: January 05, 2015, 11:18:35 AM »
Thanks Fishy, that's also a consideration.  I suppose another option would be 3 nights in Lahaina and one night in Hana (or 2 and 2).  As a non-driver I wanted to offer my wife who is the driver options that didn't include her driving all day (out and back same day).
« Last Edit: January 05, 2015, 11:23:00 AM by GTR »

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1111 on: January 05, 2015, 11:24:19 AM »
If they did they would never post it here.
I have found that posting scandalous Q's without asking for a PM sometimes leads to a PM. :)

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1112 on: January 05, 2015, 11:34:42 AM »
Thanks Fishy, that's also a consideration.  I suppose another option would be 3 nights in Lahaina and one night in Hana (or 2 and 2).  As a non-driver I wanted to offer my wife who is the driver options that didn't include her driving all day (out and back same day).

No need for two nights in Hana, one is perfect. If you do that the driving is also far easier.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1113 on: January 05, 2015, 11:47:39 AM »
Cool.  Interesting.  Will definitely consider 3 nights in Lahaina and one overnight in Hana.  My wife seems to be on board with that too.

Would you prefer that and all it entails to 4 nights in Kauai?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1114 on: January 05, 2015, 11:56:43 AM »
Cool.  Interesting.  Will definitely consider 3 nights in Lahaina and one overnight in Hana.  My wife seems to be on board with that too.

Would you prefer that and all it entails to 4 nights in Kauai?
If you decide not to go to Kauai on this trip, consider working in time in HNL for Pearl Harbor. It doesn't have to be an overnight stay, though depending on your itinerary it might be necessary to stay the night. I did it on the way back from Maui, but it sounds like your 'back half' is all set, so maybe when you arrive is better. You'll still have plenty of time in Maui, especially if you're not planning on working in any water sports.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1115 on: January 17, 2015, 02:52:53 PM »
Is it worth going to Hawaii for a couple days with a 2 1/2 month old baby? if yes-which is the best place to go to? Thank in advance!!

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1116 on: January 19, 2015, 12:31:31 AM »
Is there any way to get gas at Costco without a Costco membership?

TIA!

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1117 on: January 19, 2015, 07:01:01 AM »
Is there any way to get gas at Costco without a Costco membership?

TIA!
Bump

They're over dollar a cheaper per gallon than anyone else.
Can someone please help.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1118 on: January 19, 2015, 08:06:55 AM »
Always carry a Costco cash card!

Also Costco memberships are fully refundable anywhere ;)
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1119 on: January 19, 2015, 09:23:11 AM »
Always carry a Costco cash card!

Also Costco memberships are fully refundable anywhere ;)
+1. I had a cash card from the amex promo, my wife went in to a Costco with my mother (who has a membership) to fill it before we went to Hawaii. Naturally she put on less than I asked and we ended up having to go to a second gas station to top off ::)