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 485196 times)

Offline dealfinder85

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1160 on: February 02, 2015, 11:24:18 AM »
Or just don't switch.
Arriving Sunday night and leaving Thursday morning isn't all that ideal.
i have never been to hawaii so ill leave the advising to you

Offline myb821

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1161 on: February 02, 2015, 11:24:46 AM »
Or just don't switch.
Arriving Sunday night and leaving Thursday morning isn't all that ideal.
I will be double checking dont worry. But assuming I am holding one day what would you recommend?

Offline myb821

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1162 on: February 03, 2015, 08:40:46 AM »
Bump

Offline AJK

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1163 on: February 03, 2015, 09:51:43 AM »
We're doing LIH for 6 nights. Not gonna mess around with two islands, and from what I've read LIH is where it's at.
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Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1164 on: February 03, 2015, 09:55:35 AM »
from what I've read LIH is where it's at.
Highly debatable.  Ask 4 people and you will probably get 4 responses on which island is best. It's like asking which credit card is best.

Just depends on what you like to do, each island is quite unique.

That being said, unless you have 10 days I'd generally advise sticking to 1 island, though if you have a burning desire to see a volcano then 1 or 2 nights on the BI in addition to another island can make sense.
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Offline myb821

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1165 on: February 03, 2015, 10:05:03 AM »
so if only one island OGG or LIH? Ahhh decisions

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1166 on: February 03, 2015, 10:06:32 AM »
Read through the DDMS links in the Wiki and I'd imagine you'd figure it out.

You won't go wrong with either.
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Offline Joe4007

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1167 on: February 03, 2015, 11:23:50 AM »
so if only one island OGG or LIH? Ahhh decisions
From what I've read it seems that OGG has more to do. If I were you, I'd either do LIH & TBI, or OGG (and maybe throw in LNY).

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1168 on: February 03, 2015, 11:28:01 AM »
From what I've read it seems that OGG has more to do.
-1.
Just depends on what you like doing.
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Offline Joe4007

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1169 on: February 03, 2015, 11:37:12 AM »
-1.
Just depends on what you like doing.
I get that you can spend a month on each island and still not see everything it has to offer, but I was referring to the general must-do's. Doesn't OGG take a day or two longer?

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1170 on: February 03, 2015, 11:39:16 AM »
NIMHO.
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1171 on: February 03, 2015, 11:44:48 AM »
I think a longer stay on OGG is worth it just for the luxury of doing the RTH in two days.
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Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1172 on: February 03, 2015, 11:47:28 AM »
I think a longer stay on OGG is worth it just for the luxury of doing the RTH in two days.
Just remember that 2 days on RTH means either bringing your stuff with you which leaves you vulnerable to break-ins that are common on the RTH. Or it means paying for 2 accommodations for a night and still bringing some stuff with you on the RTH.

Either way you can easily spend a week on any Hawaiian Island and have plenty to do.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1173 on: February 03, 2015, 11:54:40 AM »
Just remember that 2 days on RTH means either bringing your stuff with you which leaves you vulnerable to break-ins that are common on the RTH. Or it means paying for 2 accommodations for a night and still bringing some stuff with you on the RTH.

-1. Our host was more than happy to let us keep our stuff in her cottage once we left. Many hotels will also store your luggage for you.

Additionally, there are a couple of storage places near the airport which will rent you a unit for something like $40-50 a night. Many people have used them to keep their luggage while they went off to Hana.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1174 on: February 03, 2015, 11:57:59 AM »
Still going to have suitcases of stuff with you.  Esp with kids.
I prefer to drive RTH without anything and just leave the doors unlocked, but to each their own. 

I've done the drive 3 times, so whatever I miss I make up the next time.
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Offline 3yummyboys

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1175 on: February 03, 2015, 12:07:25 PM »
Still going to have suitcases of stuff with you.  Esp with kids.
I prefer to drive RTH without anything and just leave the doors unlocked, but to each their own. 

I've done the drive 3 times, so whatever I miss I make up the next time.


 We don't all have that luxury  :)

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1176 on: February 03, 2015, 12:08:26 PM »

 We don't all have that luxury  :)
Once you go once you'll want to return as well.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1177 on: February 03, 2015, 12:12:16 PM »
I don't doubt that! But as you have been saying lately, with kids it's much harder to find the time!

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1178 on: February 03, 2015, 12:16:29 PM »
Indeed.
I haven't done the RTH post-kids, all 3 times were 2008-2010.

Did 2 trips to LIH/OGG with kids, but very different types of trips.
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Offline myb821

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1179 on: February 03, 2015, 12:27:05 PM »
Yea I am planning on going with a baby. But I am planning this trip with friends of ours who also have a kid so we can switch off babysitting if there are some things we want to do without kids.