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 484940 times)

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1920 on: November 23, 2016, 04:21:41 PM »
10 days is awkward amount of time.

You get island fever after 8 days but it's hard to "do" 2 islands in less than 12 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 Buruch

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1921 on: November 23, 2016, 04:46:18 PM »
My wife likes hiking/touring, and I enjoy anything as long as I am not sitting still (little ADD). I choose Hawaii bec wanted someplace warm (Zika free) that could relax for 10 days.

Skip Maui. Do Kauai and either BI, Oahu or Molokai for a couple days.

Offline Cat18

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1922 on: November 27, 2016, 02:35:00 PM »
What is best/cheapest way to fly from nyc-ogg-koa-chi? i wanted to do korean for 25k redemption, but they require RT.

i could always fly to chicago for the originating flight, but that still wouldn't be RT (chi-ogg-koa-chi). my current working theory is:

one way to chi
RT chi-ogg (korean)
RT ogg-koa (HA)

but this seems needlessly complex and wasting miles.
« Last Edit: November 27, 2016, 04:07:40 PM by Cat18 »

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1923 on: January 05, 2017, 02:26:59 PM »
Hi. I plan on going to Hawaii  (first-time) from a Sunday-Sunday, flying in and out of HNL. awaiting psak re 1-2 days shabbos. I definitely want to go to Maui. Here are my options.

1-Just stay in Maui whole time
2-fly straight to Kona/Hilo (to check out Volcano National Park) - for 2 nights (Sunday and Monday) and spend the rest in Maui.
3-Go straight to Maui and then spend shabbos in Oahu/Honolulu/Waikiki.

After reading many of the posts in this thread, I understand that you can't 'do' an island in 2 days. But, as this is my first time in Hawaii, I'd like to see as much as I can. Are options 2 or 3 doable/worthwile? or is it best to just spend all of my time in Maui?

TIA

Offline 12HRS

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1924 on: January 05, 2017, 03:15:15 PM »
Hi. I plan on going to Hawaii  (first-time) from a Sunday-Sunday, flying in and out of HNL. awaiting psak re 1-2 days shabbos.

hope you don't have tickets yet. some people say to leave before sundown on thursday

ETA: stick to one island. hopefully you will get the chance to do more down the road but don't wast time changing islands.

Offline Z56

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1925 on: January 05, 2017, 03:24:40 PM »
Can someone recommend me  a driver in maui

Thanks in advance
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1926 on: January 05, 2017, 03:28:10 PM »
Hi. I plan on going to Hawaii  (first-time) from a Sunday-Sunday, flying in and out of HNL. awaiting psak re 1-2 days shabbos. I definitely want to go to Maui. Here are my options.

1-Just stay in Maui whole time
2-fly straight to Kona/Hilo (to check out Volcano National Park) - for 2 nights (Sunday and Monday) and spend the rest in Maui.
3-Go straight to Maui and then spend shabbos in Oahu/Honolulu/Waikiki.

After reading many of the posts in this thread, I understand that you can't 'do' an island in 2 days. But, as this is my first time in Hawaii, I'd like to see as much as I can. Are options 2 or 3 doable/worthwile? or is it best to just spend all of my time in Maui?

TIA

Don't waste your time in Waikiki.

Offline SSLPhD

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1927 on: January 05, 2017, 03:56:52 PM »
Hi. I plan on going to Hawaii  (first-time) from a Sunday-Sunday, flying in and out of HNL. awaiting psak re 1-2 days shabbos. I definitely want to go to Maui. Here are my options.

1-Just stay in Maui whole time
2-fly straight to Kona/Hilo (to check out Volcano National Park) - for 2 nights (Sunday and Monday) and spend the rest in Maui.
3-Go straight to Maui and then spend shabbos in Oahu/Honolulu/Waikiki.

After reading many of the posts in this thread, I understand that you can't 'do' an island in 2 days. But, as this is my first time in Hawaii, I'd like to see as much as I can. Are options 2 or 3 doable/worthwile? or is it best to just spend all of my time in Maui?

TIA
Out of curiosity, why do you have your heart set on Maui?  Any of the 3 options are doable/worthwhile, but Maui for a week gets boring, IMO.
44/50, 46/63

Offline Reis

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1928 on: January 05, 2017, 04:00:32 PM »
Out of curiosity, why do you have your heart set on Maui?  Any of the 3 options are doable/worthwhile, but Maui for a week gets boring, IMO.

It was highly recommended from a few friends. I also wouldn't mind some relaxing beach time!




Offline efflpetzel

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1929 on: January 06, 2017, 12:16:01 PM »
Out of curiosity, why do you have your heart set on Maui?  Any of the 3 options are doable/worthwhile, but Maui for a week gets boring, IMO.
-1, loads to do in Maui for a week

Offline Flying Fish

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1930 on: January 07, 2017, 09:23:34 PM »
It was highly recommended from a few friends. I also wouldn't mind some relaxing beach time!
While Maui is a blast, many people enjoy Kauai even more. It's more serene and much less commercial.
I suggest you skim some trip reports on Maui and Kauai, decide which intrigues you more, and spend your whole trip there. Mix activities with beach/pool time and you will have a dream vacation.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1931 on: January 07, 2017, 10:57:03 PM »
See the wiki for my thoughts on Maui vs. Kauai, although I should update it now that I've stayed at the Grand Wailea and see how it's just as nice if not nicer than the GHK.

Offline efflpetzel

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1932 on: January 07, 2017, 11:16:52 PM »


although I should update it now that I've stayed at the Grand Wailea and see how it's just as nice if not nicer than the GHK.
you're comparing apples to oranges


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Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1933 on: January 08, 2017, 01:25:11 AM »
See the wiki for my thoughts on Maui vs. Kauai, although I should update it now that I've stayed at the Grand Wailea and see how it's just as nice if not nicer than the GHK.

The hotel should not at all be the deciding factor as to where you want to stay IMO. My days over here are filled with activities and memories from morning until evening that are completely detached from my hotel experience (as it should be).
Work hard, Play harder!

Offline Z56

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1934 on: January 08, 2017, 01:35:55 AM »
Can someone recommend me  a driver in maui

Thanks in advance

Bump. Any recommendations??
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1935 on: January 08, 2017, 07:31:40 AM »
Bump. Any recommendations??

What exactly do you mean by "driver"?  A chauffeur for the duration of your stay?  Regardless of the answer, the Maui thread may be a better place for the question.
44/50, 46/63

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1936 on: January 08, 2017, 07:33:13 AM »
What exactly do you mean by "driver"?  A chauffeur for the duration of your stay?  Regardless of the answer, the Maui thread may be a better place for the question.
“I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success. Great things come from hard work

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1937 on: January 08, 2017, 01:21:21 PM »
The hotel should not at all be the deciding factor as to where you want to stay IMO. My days over here are filled with activities and memories from morning until evening that are completely detached from my hotel experience (as it should be).
Did you read my post in the wiki or just this one comment on the hotels? I laid out the popular activities in both places, so one can see what types of activities interest them. Then, I also explained how Kauai had the GHK which is a nicer hotel than what Maui has to offer. I retract that one comment since I now know that Maui has an equally nice hotel.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1938 on: January 08, 2017, 04:50:38 PM »
How does the andaz Maui compare to the GHK?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1939 on: January 08, 2017, 06:10:52 PM »
Did you read my post in the wiki or just this one comment on the hotels? I laid out the popular activities in both places, so one can see what types of activities interest them. Then, I also explained how Kauai had the GHK which is a nicer hotel than what Maui has to offer. I retract that one comment since I now know that Maui has an equally nice hotel.

It had just been that post. Again, when going to anywhere in Hawaii, I don't see why anyone should be spending too much time in any given hotel.
Work hard, Play harder!