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 569655 times)

Offline Jayy

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2580 on: May 12, 2024, 01:32:56 PM »
Any Red Eye flights from NY to Hawaii with one stopover or minimal total duration of flight? trying to fly there without killing a day. Thanks

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2581 on: May 12, 2024, 01:44:45 PM »
Any Red Eye flights from NY to Hawaii with one stopover or minimal total duration of flight? trying to fly there without killing a day. Thanks
No such creature.
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 UKinNYS

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2582 on: May 12, 2024, 02:28:16 PM »
Any Red Eye flights from NY to Hawaii with one stopover or minimal total duration of flight? trying to fly there without killing a day. Thanks

B6 711 ex JFk or UA2038 ex EWR 8/8.30 pm  to LAS connecting to HA 17 1.50am LAS-HNL landing 5am

Offline Jayy

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2583 on: May 30, 2024, 09:20:18 PM »
No such creature.

 ;D Thanks! booked for July on Hawaiin non-stop. Best place for car rental on Maui and Kauai ?

Offline yoohoo

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2584 on: May 31, 2024, 08:26:20 AM »
;D Thanks! booked for July on Hawaiin non-stop. Best place for car rental on Maui and Kauai ?
https://turo.com/us/en/drivers/5882385

I’ve rented with him in Kauai and have nothing but praise for his service. He’s eager to please.

Offline TravelMoshe

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2585 on: September 30, 2024, 03:19:25 PM »
I've been reading through lots of the master threads on Hawaii. The place looks amazing & certainly worthy of a good visit. The fact that @Dan has gone back so many times attests to the value it has so I'm considering making that this summer's family trip. But tons of the information on the master threads are completely outdated. A large amount of links come up as errors, numerous places seemed to have closed down, etc. I am wondering if there's a way to filter out to get the information & links that are still relevant for 2024-2025.

Offline wanderwave4

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2586 on: October 07, 2024, 03:23:05 PM »
I've been reading through lots of the master threads on Hawaii. The place looks amazing & certainly worthy of a good visit. The fact that @Dan has gone back so many times attests to the value it has so I'm considering making that this summer's family trip. But tons of the information on the master threads are completely outdated. A large amount of links come up as errors, numerous places seemed to have closed down, etc. I am wondering if there's a way to filter out to get the information & links that are still relevant for 2024-2025.

I don't know exactly how to do that, but I would definitely recommend watching recent YouTube videos about the island you're interested in travelling to. Always plenty of fresh information on what's fun to do and what places to go to. Occasionally I check out r/VisitingHawaii as well, and there's a lot of info being shared there daily on places to check out. Really helped in preparing for my trip!

Offline dreaming

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2587 on: October 28, 2024, 09:42:42 PM »
I would like to go to Hawaii but I am not able to rent a car. Is it still worth it to go to Hawaii if I can't rent a car? Is Uber or other taxis popular in Hawaii? Is there tourist busses ?What island is recommended to go if I will not rent a car? I have marriott points. 

Offline shaulyaakov

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2588 on: November 04, 2024, 06:29:58 AM »
I would like to go to Hawaii but I am not able to rent a car. Is it still worth it to go to Hawaii if I can't rent a car? Is Uber or other taxis popular in Hawaii? Is there tourist busses ?What island is recommended to go if I will not rent a car? I have marriott points.
Maui is doable without a car.

You can book excursions for Road to Hana/Haleakala and whatever else you might want to do.

Honolulu is also possible to do without a car obviously, as it is a city.

Offline dreaming

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2589 on: November 04, 2024, 04:44:03 PM »
Maui is doable without a car.

You can book excursions for Road to Hana/Haleakala and whatever else you might want to do.

Honolulu is also possible to do without a car obviously, as it is a city.

Thank you so much for answering.  Which island do you recommend? The Honolulu or Miaui, since I don't have a car?

Offline dreaming

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2590 on: November 04, 2024, 04:45:23 PM »
How would I get from the airport to the hotel? Is there Uber or something similar in Hawaii?

Offline MelJamin

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2591 on: November 26, 2024, 03:02:54 PM »
Hi All! First Post!! Thinking of Maui in Feb 25. Looking to stay at the Andaz in Wailea. Has anyone been recently? Did the fires affect the area?