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 485144 times)

Offline lifetimedeals

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1560 on: November 04, 2015, 01:49:24 PM »
Two islands in nearly two weeks is very doable. Kauai and TBI are a great combination, you'd see the most varied parts of Hawaii that way.

Are you keeping one or two days Shabbos?
Too long two weeks for me, thinking of doing one island and going for Shabbos to CA, maybe los angeles.

Offline lifetimedeals

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1561 on: November 04, 2015, 01:51:47 PM »
I'll likely end up doing Maui, can't figure out a reason to go to Kauai instead
I guess Kauai is more scenery, what do you like more in Maui that you won't get in Kauai?

Offline Emkay

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1562 on: November 04, 2015, 01:53:17 PM »
I guess Kauai is more scenery, what do you like more in Maui that you won't get in Kauai?
The 30 minutes of Google searching couldn't really find me a pro to Kauai over Maui except some terrain

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1563 on: November 04, 2015, 01:54:06 PM »
I guess Kauai is more scenery, what do you like more in Maui that you won't get in Kauai?
What kind of question is that?
They're completely different islands with completely different activities.

Both have many pros and cons.
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 #1564 on: November 04, 2015, 03:48:53 PM »
What kind of question is that?
They're completely different islands with completely different activities.

Both have many pros and cons.
Don't be blasphemous, kauai has no cons

Offline 3yummyboys

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1565 on: November 04, 2015, 09:21:47 PM »

Don't be blasphemous, kauai has no cons


It has one. It's too far from NY :)

Offline lifetimedeals

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1566 on: November 05, 2015, 12:46:47 AM »

It has one. It's too far from NY :)
Big time makes me think I can go to Israel already same flying time.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1567 on: November 05, 2015, 02:33:46 AM »
Big time makes me think I can go to Israel already same flying time.
If not going hurricane season why not look into the Caribbean, there are some islands that are close if not a match for whatever your looking for in Hawaii, unless of course your going to Hawaii Cuz its spelled H-A-W-A-I-I and not C-A-R-I-B-B-E-A-N. Scandalous, yup I know

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1568 on: November 05, 2015, 09:50:50 AM »
Considering a winter trip. Do I go for Kauai again and do the things I missed last time (Kalalau - although winter promises even worse weather than the rain we had on our summer trip, which also means our favorite activity of Queen's Bath might not be possible - and Polihale) or do I go for Maui? Does winter weather affect Olivine Pools or RTH activities like 7 Pools?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1569 on: November 05, 2015, 09:54:55 AM »
I'd go for Maui. The RTH is definitely not affected, but not sure about the olivine pools (Venus pool might be a good alternative).

Also, in winter you can't beat the whale watching around Maui. Sure, you can see them from Kauai and TBI as well, but Maui is still king.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1570 on: November 05, 2015, 10:07:47 AM »
I'd go for Maui. The RTH is definitely not affected, but not sure about the olivine pools (Venus pool might be a good alternative).

Also, in winter you can't beat the whale watching around Maui. Sure, you can see them from Kauai and TBI as well, but Maui is still king.
Thanks. Didn't think about whale watching since I read the books originally when I was planning a summer trip. Good idea. It's been a while since I did my reading... is the Venus Pool the same thing as the 7 Sacred Pools? Or are they 2 different things on RTH?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1571 on: November 05, 2015, 10:10:24 AM »
Why not do TBI?
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 #1572 on: November 05, 2015, 10:14:56 AM »
Why not do TBI?
Only because I've already done the legwork for Kauai and Maui - read through both books and laid out 3-day itineraries for each. Haven't looked into TBI at all and not sure I want to at this stage in the game.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1573 on: November 05, 2015, 10:20:49 AM »
That's a reason to choose a place?
There are itins in the TBI thread.

Though honestly with 3 days from NYC I'd just go to the Caribbean.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1574 on: November 05, 2015, 10:26:18 AM »
That's a reason to choose a place?
There are itins in the TBI thread.

Though honestly with 3 days from NYC I'd just go to the Caribbean.
Yes. I know Maui is great. I know they're all great. I already planned a trip to Maui, so I don't see why not just go there again. My question was if I should try to do more in Kauai before attempting another island.

I haven't seen that recommendation from you before when people find out they got a 3-day psak.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1575 on: November 05, 2015, 10:30:05 AM »
5 days is one thing, but 3?
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1576 on: November 05, 2015, 10:34:05 AM »
5 days is one thing, but 3?
I meant 3 real/full days. Yes, the trip is technically 5 days, but you usually don't land on Sunday until the late afternoon and Thursday means catching an early afternoon flight.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1577 on: November 05, 2015, 10:41:53 AM »
Thanks. Didn't think about whale watching since I read the books originally when I was planning a summer trip. Good idea. It's been a while since I did my reading... is the Venus Pool the same thing as the 7 Sacred Pools? Or are they 2 different things on RTH?

Completely different things. And on the subject of pools, you gotta do Chings Pond.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1578 on: November 05, 2015, 10:42:18 AM »
I meant 3 real/full days. Yes, the trip is technically 5 days, but you usually don't land on Sunday until the late afternoon and Thursday means catching an early afternoon flight.

What's the itinerary you have planned?
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1579 on: November 05, 2015, 10:49:22 AM »
What's the itinerary you have planned?
Technically, this was it before my trip to Kauai. Now that I know how much my wife likes to swim in the pools/ocean, I might have to cut things out just to be more realistic.

- Haleakala sunrise and Olivine Pools/Nakalele (will skip Nakalele after seeing Spouting Horn)
- RTH (return the back road) Would love to spend the night here, but as we've discussed, doesn't seem like a great idea on such a short trip.
- Molokini/Beaches (yay to being comfortable snorkeling now!) Would have liked to add in W&A show, but we were always tired at nights in Kauai, so I doubt we'd be up for going.

I think that was everything. My notes are handwritten and at home right now.