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 484926 times)

Offline robi

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #360 on: January 01, 2013, 07:13:31 PM »
Evenly, though shabbos in Kauai.
Doesn't matter.
if you're interested in minyan, you probably have a better chance in Maui. Contact the rabbi there, very nice fellow
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #361 on: January 01, 2013, 07:20:46 PM »
If you want a minyan then HNL is where you want to be.
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 avi h

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #362 on: January 01, 2013, 07:22:08 PM »
What about a car I see everyone writing about the need for a 4x4. is it really necessary (I hate Jeeps) and is there a difference in that between Kauai and mauai

Offline robi

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #363 on: January 01, 2013, 07:24:20 PM »
What about a car I see everyone writing about the need for a 4x4. is it really necessary (I hate Jeeps) and is there a difference in that between Kauai and mauai
the only place you would need a jeep is the road to Hanna in Maui, even then only if you do the full loop. Although if you to get to some private beaches in Maui or Kauai it'll come in handy
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Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #364 on: January 01, 2013, 07:26:01 PM »
You do not need a jeep anywhere on Maui. You can do the Hana loop in any car. On Kauai they can come in handy but you don't need it.
« Last Edit: January 01, 2013, 07:41:55 PM by Dan »
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Offline Yossi.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #365 on: January 01, 2013, 07:39:01 PM »
the only place you would need a jeep is the road to Hanna in Maui, even then only if you do the full loop. Although if you to get to some private beaches in Maui or Kauai it'll come in handy
+1

Offline avi h

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #366 on: January 01, 2013, 07:49:39 PM »
About airlines which is my best option using millage between aa avios or continental.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #367 on: January 01, 2013, 07:57:57 PM »
You do not need a jeep anywhere on Maui. You can do the Hana loop in any car.
+1 - cannot figure out why anyone feels differently.

Offline lfas25

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #368 on: January 02, 2013, 08:20:23 PM »
You do not need a jeep anywhere on Maui. You can do the Hana loop in any car. On Kauai they can come in handy but you don't need it.

This is correct, I was there at the end of November I rented a Mustang convertible and did the whole loop on the road to hana, had no problem.
I hope to have my trip notes finished shortly and will post then.
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Offline cherylnlajolla

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #369 on: January 03, 2013, 11:50:54 AM »
We went to Kauai this past Thanksgiving - LOVED it!

Where should we go next Thanksgiving - - - should we try another island, or go back to Kauai?  We have 4 kids and love surfing and hiking (we bring our own food in boxes and rent a condo).

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #370 on: January 03, 2013, 11:52:43 AM »
We went to Kauai this past Thanksgiving - LOVED it!

Where should we go next Thanksgiving - - - should we try another island, or go back to Kauai?  We have 4 kids and love surfing and hiking (we bring our own food in boxes and rent a condo).
I wanna move to San Diego
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Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #372 on: January 03, 2013, 11:54:50 AM »
We went to Kauai this past Thanksgiving - LOVED it!

Where should we go next Thanksgiving - - - should we try another island, or go back to Kauai?  We have 4 kids and love surfing and hiking (we bring our own food in boxes and rent a condo).
Definitely another island.
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 cherylnlajolla

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #373 on: January 03, 2013, 01:18:21 PM »
Dan - which island would you recommend for hiking & surfing?

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #374 on: January 03, 2013, 01:24:38 PM »
Dan - which island would you recommend for hiking & surfing?
They all fit that bill.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #375 on: January 03, 2013, 05:03:03 PM »
thanks guy im all set for kauai in the hyatt going the last week of jan.. better option than the st regis correct?

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #376 on: January 03, 2013, 05:03:42 PM »
thanks guy im all set for kauai in the hyatt going the last week of jan.. better option than the st regis correct?
Depends what you're interested in.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #377 on: January 03, 2013, 05:04:35 PM »
thanks guy im all set for kauai in the hyatt going the last week of jan.. better option than the st regis correct?

Better/Different.


You COULD split it up if you don't mind transferring hotels in the middle of your stay.

I stayed at the Hyatt but it would have been fun to stay on the north side as well. Though I prefer the atmosphere at the Hyatt more than the St. Regis.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #378 on: January 03, 2013, 05:07:35 PM »
Depends what you're interested in.

well my wife and I would love to relax on the beach but we dont mind doing some day trips as well like taking the helicopter tour and visiting other beach etc.
id rather save my spg points for europe since they have a better presence than hyatt

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #379 on: January 03, 2013, 05:09:06 PM »
well my wife and I would love to relax on the beach but we dont mind doing some day trips as well like taking the helicopter tour and visiting other beach etc.
id rather save my spg points for europe since they have a better presence than hyatt
True, but the Hyatts that are in Europe are just fantastic.
If you have the time the idea of splitting between the 2 hotels is a good one.
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