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 485076 times)

Offline shmebeble

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #580 on: December 28, 2013, 09:19:11 PM »
Ask here.
thanks.
I meant to search for that thread  :)

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #581 on: December 28, 2013, 09:27:46 PM »
Everyone -

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. Click the "+" sign on top to open the thread wiki, and you'll find links to all island threads.

You'd get far better answers there, and chances are that your issue was already discussed at length too.
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Offline shidduch

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #582 on: December 28, 2013, 11:15:12 PM »
First off, thank you dan for the delta tickets to Hawaii :)

My wife and I have been to Hawaii before.  However, my 3 older sons (9.7,3) have never been there.  We went to Oahu, THe big Island and Maui last time.  We are arriving on a wed night and staying through the following Thursday after noon so we have a week there.  We were planning on staying in Oahu through Shabbos and then flying to another Island on sunday or Monday and then returning to Oahu back for our flight home. The question is, which Island is most kid friendly and has enough to do for 3-4 days. Last time we stayed only 2 days on maui and 2 on the big island and I felt it wasn't enough, but it seems like there is not that much to do to occupy 4 days on the big Island.  We definitely don't want to spend most of our time on the beach we would like to activities that little boys would enjoy. I figured the big island was good because what could be more fascinating than volcanoes to little boys.  But maybe someone else here can suggest an alternative that we hadn't considered.  WHat I really liked about Maui was Molokini which was awesome for snorkeling but only my oldest would be able to go snorkeling with me.  We also enjoyed the whale watching on the way to Molokini.  Are there humpback watching boats on any of the other islands. What else can we do with little boys that would be fun on Maui. What about Kaui?

thanks for your help guys.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #583 on: December 28, 2013, 11:17:26 PM »
also, we were thinking it would be best if we got a room with a kitchen. We have tons of spg points and could probably obtain points for other programs as well.  Which hotel points program would enable us to get a room with a kitchen?

Offline mochada

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Shabbos in Hawaii- When? What Island?
« Reply #584 on: December 31, 2013, 08:08:47 AM »
If you are going to Hawaii- what shabbos will you be spending there? which island do you plan on staying on?

1/31-2/1- Kauai but may fly to the big island

Offline moish

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Re: Shabbos in Hawaii- When? What Island?
« Reply #585 on: December 31, 2013, 08:34:04 AM »
If you are going to Hawaii- what shabbos will you be spending there? which island do you plan on staying on?

1/31-2/1- Kauai but may fly to the big island
are you asking for yourself or taking a poll?

Offline mochada

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Re: Shabbos in Hawaii- When? What Island?
« Reply #586 on: December 31, 2013, 09:04:47 AM »
are you asking for yourself or taking a poll?

General info.
If people overlap, maybe Hawaii DO.

People can also share their experiences on different islands.
« Last Edit: December 31, 2013, 11:15:03 AM by mochada »

Offline shimmy

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Re: Shabbos in Hawaii- When? What Island?
« Reply #587 on: December 31, 2013, 09:35:19 PM »
if your going for the weekend their should be a poll of which day you will be keeping shabbos  :P

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Re: Shabbos in Hawaii- When? What Island?
« Reply #588 on: December 31, 2013, 10:13:52 PM »
I'm in! Which island? Oahu has chabad with davening in Waikiki.

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Re: Shabbos in Hawaii- When? What Island?
« Reply #589 on: December 31, 2013, 10:39:33 PM »
if your going for the weekend their should be a poll of which day you will be keeping shabbos  :P

the poll should be more like "what are you schlepping for the shluchim"

I have a case of wine in ny, la or miami that needs to get to hawaii, help me help the shluchim

i'll be on kona iyh shabbat march 29. please before you travel, ask the shluchim what they want and need

Offline mrnamressaw

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Re: Shabbos in Hawaii- When? What Island?
« Reply #590 on: December 31, 2013, 11:16:31 PM »
the poll should be more like "what are you schlepping for the shluchim"

I have a case of wine in ny, la or miami that needs to get to hawaii, help me help the shluchim

i'll be on kona iyh shabbat march 29. please before you travel, ask the shluchim what they want and need
I can't agree more... Especially since allot of people are on bussnies class .. And can take three suitcases

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #591 on: January 01, 2014, 11:49:15 PM »
Landing at 1:31pm to HNL and want to take a 2:42pm connection with Island Air (no interlining agreement with Delta).

Enough time to get luggage, change terminals, recheck bags and make the flight? (Going with 2 kids so I may be moving slower)

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #592 on: January 02, 2014, 01:06:57 AM »
That would be too tight even without kids.
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 #593 on: January 02, 2014, 05:33:56 AM »
That would be too tight even without kids.
thanks. is another 20 min fine? Cause after that it's a few hrs.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #594 on: January 02, 2014, 12:20:05 PM »
I am planning to be 2 sabbes in Hawaii which island should I be in have to be near a shul . Also which hotel is near with points ?
]The only one that clearly has all 3 things you might want for shabbos (shul, food/meals, and hotel with points) is Chabad on Oahu (in Honolulu). The shul has minyanim and pay-per shabbos meals (or you can order catered shabbos meals). There are 2 Marriots, 2 Hyatts, 4 Starwoods, at least 4 Hiltons, etc within walking distance.

Past that, the rest are missing at least one piece. Chabad on the Big Island has a shul in Kona with Shabbos minyanim as well as par-per shabbos meals, but no hotels on points. Chabad on Kauai has a 'shul' in Princeville with Shabbos minyanim and there's a Westin (SPG points) within walking distance, but no mention of options for Shabbos food/meals. Chabad on Maui sells Shabbos food, but doesn't appear to have a shul or minyanim.

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Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #596 on: January 02, 2014, 08:20:54 PM »
Oahu/Waikiki shabbos minyan: 100%.
Big Island/Kona shabbos minyan: 90%
Kauai/Princeville shabbos minyan: Rarely, but been getting close thanks to tourists of late. 
Maui has no shabbos minyan but has a Mon/Thurs minyan in upcountry/Kula.
« Last Edit: January 02, 2014, 08:24:22 PM by Dan »
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 #597 on: January 02, 2014, 08:23:51 PM »
Oahu shabbos meals: $70/adult, $54/kid.
Big Island shabbos meals: $54/$45 kid.
Kauai shabbos meals: Call in advance to check.
Maui sells complete shabbos food for a $180 suggested donation.
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 #598 on: January 02, 2014, 08:26:09 PM »
Am I the only crazy person that takes enjoyment in cooking my own food fresh on vacation?

Offline sky121

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #599 on: January 02, 2014, 08:34:19 PM »
Am I the only crazy person that takes enjoyment in cooking my own food fresh on vacation?

I don't think they're going for the food. I think it's more the company.
I'm with you. I like doing my own thing.
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