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 485205 times)

Offline 3yummyboys

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1180 on: February 03, 2015, 12:28:08 PM »
Babies under 1 are generally more portable

Offline dealfinder85

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1181 on: February 03, 2015, 12:30:29 PM »
Yea I am planning on going with a baby. But I am planning this trip with friends of ours who also have a kid so we can switch off babysitting if there are some things we want to do without kids.
beshaa tova?

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1182 on: February 03, 2015, 12:31:17 PM »
Babies under 1 are generally more portable
True, but frankly most of the stuff you're reading about isn't doable with babies/kids.

Forget about Olivine Pools, Blowhole, and Molokini. 
RTH is doable but will be really tough with most kids.

Many babies hate the sand, so at least bring along something like this, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0035W26BQ/?tag=cl03f-20
« Last Edit: February 03, 2015, 12:34:43 PM by Dan »
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1183 on: February 03, 2015, 12:34:26 PM »
I can't tell you how many times I have said to my husband that I wish I discovered DD before we had kids

Offline dealfinder85

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1184 on: February 03, 2015, 12:35:28 PM »
I can't tell you how many times I thought to myself that I wish I discovered DD before starting to work

Offline 3yummyboys

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1185 on: February 03, 2015, 12:37:52 PM »



that too

I don't get how people can get away so often, unless you are Dan

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1186 on: February 03, 2015, 12:38:43 PM »
Many babies hate the sand

My daughter was happy to eat as much beach as she could stuff into her mouth ;D

Chillin' at Honomalino Bay:


Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1187 on: February 03, 2015, 12:39:27 PM »
My daughter was happy to eat as much beach as she could stuff into her mouth ;D
Well, yes. Either they hate it or think it's delicious :D
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline 3yummyboys

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1188 on: February 03, 2015, 12:39:51 PM »
Wow adorable!

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1189 on: February 03, 2015, 12:40:04 PM »
I don't get how people can get away so often, unless you are Dan
Compared to AJK I'm practically a shut-in.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline myb821

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1190 on: February 03, 2015, 12:40:56 PM »
True, but frankly most of the stuff you're reading about isn't doable with babies/kids.

Forget about Olivine Pools, Blowhole, and Molokini. 
RTH is doable but will be really tough with most kids.

Many babies hate the sand, so at least bring along something like this, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0035W26BQ/?tag=cl03f-20
I haven't done my research yet but why are those things not doable with a baby?

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1191 on: February 03, 2015, 12:44:20 PM »
Olivine Pools requires a hike that's difficult for most adults.

Molokini is snorkeling, haven't met too many babies capable of that :D

RTH is a 12 hour marathon that can be especially nauseating in the back seat.  Enough to mess with even good kids that don't need several naps.

Etc.

Don't have parents/in-laws that can babysit for 5 days?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline myb821

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1192 on: February 03, 2015, 12:47:46 PM »
Nope but that's part of the reason we are going with friends. Some days we will just relax and babysit their kid and some days they will babysit ours.

Offline myb821

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1193 on: February 03, 2015, 03:48:26 PM »
So on that note would you have a strong preference to OGG or LIH now that you know I will have a baby with me?

Offline PBaruch

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1194 on: February 03, 2015, 05:08:20 PM »
Just came back from another awesome BI trip.  UA forgot our kosher meals on the F return.  What is the best way to approach them to get a partial refund?  TIA.
What do you do after your dreams come true?

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1195 on: February 03, 2015, 05:12:36 PM »
Just came back from another awesome BI trip.  UA forgot our kosher meals on the F return.  What is the best way to approach them to get a partial refund?  TIA.
Hence, why you'll have 4 opinions when asking which island is best.

Try here: http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=13574

Offline PBaruch

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1196 on: February 03, 2015, 05:14:51 PM »
Hence, why you'll have 4 opinions when asking which island is best.

Try here: http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=13574

Thanks but perhaps I was not specific enough in my question - call, email?
What do you do after your dreams come true?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1197 on: February 03, 2015, 05:18:16 PM »
Just came back from another awesome BI trip.  UA forgot our kosher meals on the F return.  What is the best way to approach them to get a partial refund?  TIA.

UA offers KSML on UA J to HNL?
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1198 on: February 03, 2015, 05:22:07 PM »
UA offers KSML on UA J to HNL?
Yes.

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Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.