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 484998 times)

Online Something Fishy

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2120 on: July 10, 2017, 06:16:27 PM »
What's the best website and/or app to check the weather? Specifically to check the Kalalau trail in Kauai, road to Hana and haleakala summit in Maui

KT is lovely and sometimes rainy, which is lovely as well.
RTH is lovely and sometimes rainy, which is lovely as well.
Haleakala is cold and windy and sometimes clouded in.

That's all the forecast you need. Unless there's a hurricane any and all forecasts could now be completely ignored.
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Offline tageed-lee

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2121 on: July 10, 2017, 06:21:37 PM »
What's the best website and/or app to check the weather?

I love the MyRadar app (iPhone)... It shows you live radar of the area. Check it out..

Offline Shua

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2122 on: July 10, 2017, 07:41:54 PM »
KT is lovely and sometimes rainy, which is lovely as well.
RTH is lovely and sometimes rainy, which is lovely as well.
Haleakala is cold and windy and sometimes clouded in.

That's all the forecast you need. Unless there's a hurricane any and all forecasts could now be completely ignored.
Problem with that is that sometimes it rains so much at kalalau that they close the trail. I would rather not shelp all the way north and find out its closed. An accurate forecast would help me decide which day to go. Same can be said about haleakala. If it's pouring would rather not drive 2 plus hours and can't see anything. So while I understand you can say ignore the forecast, practically that doesn't work.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2123 on: July 10, 2017, 07:45:54 PM »
practically that doesn't work.

This is my entire point, but in reference to the forecast. There's no such thing as a practical weather forecast in Hawaii. What they say has nothing in common with the facts on the ground.

You should be able to find out ahead of time of the KT is closed. Also, going to the north shore and missing out on the KT is not a waste, there's still tons to do and see. In fact everyone should go to the north, regardless if they plan on doing the KT or not.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2124 on: July 10, 2017, 09:40:06 PM »
This is my entire point, but in reference to the forecast. There's no such thing as a practical weather forecast in Hawaii. What they say has nothing in common with the facts on the ground.

You should be able to find out ahead of time of the KT is closed. Also, going to the north shore and missing out on the KT is not a waste, there's still tons to do and see. In fact everyone should go to the north, regardless if they plan on doing the KT or not.
Im 100% going up North. However, its not set in stone which day I will go up north. That decision will be made directly due to the weather forecast. So was just trying to see if there was a reliable and accurate weather app for Maui and Kauai. 

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2125 on: July 11, 2017, 12:23:24 PM »
Either Hawaiian Airlines or United Airlines. Not easy to find availability on anything if you're looking for NYC-HNL non-stop. If you're okay stopping around the country, you can find availability, not always lie flat though. Best bet is to use Amex Biz Plat miles.

I am okay with stopping if it gets me First. What is the best place to search for availability in 1st?

Also is Delta the only one who has lie flat seats to Hawaii?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2126 on: July 12, 2017, 09:24:24 AM »
This is my entire point, but in reference to the forecast. There's no such thing as a practical weather forecast in Hawaii. What they say has nothing in common with the facts on the ground.

You should be able to find out ahead of time of the KT is closed. Also, going to the north shore and missing out on the KT is not a waste, there's still tons to do and see. In fact everyone should go to the north, regardless if they plan on doing the KT or not.
100% correct.

There's no such a thing as a accurate weather forecast in Hawaii, as Dan has stated many times if it's raining just drive for 5 min and it'll clear up

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2127 on: August 01, 2017, 06:58:50 PM »
Has anyone ever stayed at the westin nanea villas?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2128 on: September 11, 2017, 10:05:45 AM »
If were going for 10 days to Maui and Kauai, which one would you recommend staying longer in?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2129 on: September 11, 2017, 11:08:02 AM »
If were going for 10 days to Maui and Kauai, which one would you recommend staying longer in?

There is no right answer to your question. Everyone has their own personal preference as to which islands they like better.  I suggest you read some of the trip reports to figure out what appeals to you.
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Offline shaulyaakov

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2130 on: September 11, 2017, 11:33:10 AM »
There is no right answer to your question. Everyone has their own personal preference as to which islands they like better.  I suggest you read some of the trip reports to figure out what appeals to you.

TL:DR - Maui is more developed but also more touristy, but still has lots of nature. Kauai is less developed and more rustic.

Worth noting that the hotel situation in Maui is probably better for a kosher traveler now that GHK doesn't store meals.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2131 on: September 11, 2017, 11:35:52 AM »
Worth noting that the hotel situation in Maui is probably better for a kosher traveler now that GHK doesn't store meals.

Worth noting that Kauai doesn't stand on the GHK.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2132 on: September 11, 2017, 11:39:51 AM »
Worth noting that Kauai doesn't stand on the GHK.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2133 on: September 18, 2017, 09:30:28 PM »
If were going for 10 days to Maui and Kauai, which one would you recommend staying longer in?

Perhaps consider spending some time on the Big Island or Molokaʻi/ Lānaʻi.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2134 on: September 19, 2017, 09:02:33 AM »
Rumors swirling that Southwest is going to launch service to Hawaii with their new 737 sometime in 2018.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2135 on: October 22, 2017, 08:24:05 PM »
Using the chabad code for OGG for 12/17-22, i am getting a weekly rate of $140. When i put LIH for 12/22-28, I get the error that no cars are available.
I then do a search on priceline with rates starting at $1k for the week. I get that its christmas, but any other suggestions for a more affordable rental?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2136 on: October 22, 2017, 09:03:42 PM »
Try DHCR
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2137 on: October 23, 2017, 06:28:03 AM »
does anyone know what level car i would need to get from enterprise or national in order for it to be a convertible? They dont list convertible on there sites when making a reservation

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2138 on: October 23, 2017, 07:10:27 AM »
does anyone know what level car i would need to get from enterprise or national in order for it to be a convertible? They dont list convertible on there sites when making a reservation
if they don't list convertible then it's not available

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2139 on: October 23, 2017, 07:12:55 AM »
if they don't list convertible then it's not available

Hm. That’s what I thought too, so I checked random dates and it sill doesn’t pop up. I guess it must be hard to come by

Does chabad have a corporate rate for any of the other car rental companies?