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 485245 times)

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #460 on: March 01, 2013, 04:40:24 PM »
Can't do Plan B with Singapore miles.
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 #461 on: March 01, 2013, 04:47:55 PM »
Can't do Plan B with Singapore miles.

Right. My bad.

  If you want that specific flight you either have to wait or change your dates.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #462 on: March 02, 2013, 07:09:54 PM »
I'm trying to fly to Hawaii for a week (Sunday-Sunday) in May and would like to use my AMEX MR points. I'm trying to find saver availability in business class flying non-stop from Newark on United. I would like to book through Singapore Airlines so I can use my MR points (120k), but when I called they told me there was no availability at all for any Sunday - Sunday in May. Does anyone have any suggestions of how I can go about finding availability or booking this itinerary with MR points?

Just listen to your friend DP7, he's a cool dude.
« Last Edit: March 02, 2013, 07:13:57 PM by DP7 »

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #463 on: March 03, 2013, 12:40:34 PM »
I'm trying to fly to Hawaii for a week (Sunday-Sunday) in May and would like to use my AMEX MR points. I'm trying to find saver availability in business class flying non-stop from Newark on United. I would like to book through Singapore Airlines so I can use my MR points (120k), but when I called they told me there was no availability at all for any Sunday - Sunday in May. Does anyone have any suggestions of how I can go about finding availability or booking this itinerary with MR points?

Why not transfer them to hawaiian air and fly direct from jfk?  You might have to use a couple of more miles but their availability is usually wide open

Offline MEIR613

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #464 on: March 03, 2013, 01:10:28 PM »
Why not transfer them to hawaiian air and fly direct from jfk?  You might have to use a couple of more miles but their availability is usually wide open
If he wants lie flat biz. UA is the way to go.


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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #465 on: March 03, 2013, 01:18:17 PM »
EWR-HNL isn't lie-flat though it's better than HA.
IAH-HNL may be lie-flat depending on the aircraft.
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 #466 on: March 03, 2013, 01:33:44 PM »
Which is so dumb, IMHO.
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Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #467 on: March 03, 2013, 01:41:55 PM »
Which is so dumb, IMHO.
Not at all. There's no premium market demand for HI.  It's known as a very inhospitable place for business in general.
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 #468 on: March 03, 2013, 01:49:59 PM »
Perhaps it doesn't make business sense (that's above my pay grade and if so, the lack of lie-flat make sense), but to imply only business people have a desire/need for lie-flat to HNL doesn't seem right to me.

Heck, I'd love to lie-flat on that route, and it wouldn't be for business :)

Also, once they have the planes to fly it, why not offer it on EWR-HNL which is 25% longer flight than IAH-HNL? Doesn't seem to me like it'd cost them anymore...
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #469 on: March 03, 2013, 02:03:43 PM »
Only business people will pay enough to make a true BF cabin financially feasible.  It's all about the yields ad they generally aren't there for HI. Mileage awards fill seats but don't pay the bills.

As for why IAH has lie-flats on occasion while EWR has "partial lie-flats" and ORD has domestic F, I would venture to guess that the bean-counters have some evidence to support those decisions.
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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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 #471 on: March 05, 2013, 03:25:58 PM »
Android apps now out:
http://www.hawaiirevealed.com/hawaii-revealed-apps

Sure took a while. Can't wait to check it out.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #472 on: March 05, 2013, 03:38:27 PM »
Android apps now out:
http://www.hawaiirevealed.com/hawaii-revealed-apps

I wish these were free for people who bought the books :(.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #473 on: March 05, 2013, 06:47:04 PM »
Android apps now out:
http://www.hawaiirevealed.com/hawaii-revealed-apps
now theyre out! a week after i leave when it couldve helped me kinda - (like for mikva lava hot springs which i never found :) )

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #474 on: March 05, 2013, 11:57:24 PM »
now theyre out! a week after i leave when it couldve helped me kinda - (like for mikva lava hot springs which i never found :) )
Lol, its not exactly a mikva

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #475 on: April 18, 2013, 12:11:15 AM »
I'm not such a frequent flyer and this is my first experience with United miles (just signed up for the card). I want to go to Hawaii this summer, and I just checked United for the first time, and there's no 40/80 deals on the dates I need. Does that change often, or am I messed over?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #476 on: April 18, 2013, 12:56:18 PM »
Where is the best and cheapest place to get the Hawaii Revealed books? They don't seem to have them in the library.
I'm specifically looking for Maui and Oahu.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #477 on: April 18, 2013, 12:56:40 PM »
Where is the best and cheapest place to get the Hawaii Revealed books? They don't seem to have them in the library.
I'm specifically looking for Maui and Oahu.

Ebay/Amazon
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #479 on: April 18, 2013, 02:13:27 PM »
They don't seem to have them in the library.

The ones in the library will probably not be the latest versions. 15 bucks is a small price to pay for the most awesome guidebooks you'll ever read.
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