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 484918 times)

Offline Ergel

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1240 on: February 08, 2015, 03:46:18 PM »
How long did you go for?
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Galitzyaner

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1241 on: February 08, 2015, 03:48:15 PM »
How long did you go for?
Was there for ~5 days.

Offline Ergel

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1242 on: February 08, 2015, 03:50:28 PM »
Including shabbos? And you went to KOA LIH and HNL? And you weren't impressed? I'm shocked
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1243 on: February 08, 2015, 03:54:18 PM »
Write a trip report and we'll tell you what you did wrong ;)...
« Last Edit: February 08, 2015, 04:15:12 PM by Something Fishy »
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Offline Galitzyaner

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1244 on: February 08, 2015, 03:57:37 PM »
Including shabbos? And you went to KOA LIH and HNL? And you weren't impressed? I'm shocked
I know. I was too! :D
I know some here will think I'm crazy, but there's really not a doubt in my mind.
I really had high expectations. And I've been around the world somewhat...'

I can't wait to go to Banff, cuz that really looks neat!

Offline Ergel

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1245 on: February 08, 2015, 03:59:30 PM »
You mean the inside if the airport/airplane isn't prettier in Hawaii?
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Galitzyaner

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1246 on: February 08, 2015, 04:14:49 PM »
Write a trip report and we'll tell you what your did wrong ;)...
Of course I must have did something wrong, I knew it ;D .

Was Waimea nice? Yes. Are the volcanos cool? Super cool! Was Mona Kea nice? Gorgeous! Was Waipio valley lookout nice? Yes. Do Hawaii fruits taste good? Yum!

But I still hold by my opinion overall.

Offline Galitzyaner

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1247 on: February 08, 2015, 04:18:09 PM »
You mean the inside if the airport/airplane isn't prettier in Hawaii?
Ha ha! Went around quite a lot.

But actually, that does bring to mind... Why does nobody talk about those airports (besides HNL)? Just for that it was worth going! ;) They're so awesome!!

The Hawaiian Islands are very nice, I just wouldn't rate them number one.

Offline MC

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1248 on: February 08, 2015, 04:19:53 PM »
Ha ha! Went around quite a lot.

But actually, that does bring to mind... Why does nobody talk about those airports (besides HNL)? Just for that it was worth going! ;) They're so awesome!!
LIH was far from awesome.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1249 on: February 08, 2015, 04:21:41 PM »

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1250 on: February 08, 2015, 04:23:06 PM »
Why?
Lol, the day we left was unseasonably hot and humid. I would have been quite happy with an indoor airport at that point.
But I do hear the appeal.

Offline Galitzyaner

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1251 on: February 08, 2015, 04:27:36 PM »
Lol, the day we left was unseasonably hot and humid. I would have been quite happy with an indoor airport at that point.
But I do hear the appeal.
I get you. I asked the employees what they do in bad weather (I thought they perhaps have some walls that come down or something), and they say they just live with it.
I guess it's only fun in nice weather :) .

Offline 3yummyboys

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1252 on: February 08, 2015, 05:56:49 PM »
Including shabbos? And you went to KOA LIH and HNL? And you weren't impressed? I'm shocked

You spent 5 days including shabbos on 3 islands? How did you do anything?

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1253 on: February 08, 2015, 06:25:46 PM »
You spent 5 days including shabbos on 3 islands? How did you do anything?
No offense, but תפשת מרובה לא תפשת
A big part of the beauty is allowing it to seep into your east coast bones.  3 islands in 4 days is just foolishness.  Trying to go to more than 1 island in that time period is a critical error.
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 efflpetzel

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1254 on: February 08, 2015, 09:11:16 PM »

Thank you SomethingFishy, Dan, and everyone else here for all your help with trip planning. Winded up going to Kauai, Big Island, and then a bit of HNL, all in the small time-frame I had.
Frankly, I still don't understand why people think Hawaii is the prettiest place on earth, but maybe I'm just an outlier, or I missed the best parts?, dunno.
So you'll probably tell me I didn't spend your "minimum" time "required" to spend on an island?! Eh. I'm not running back.
Don't get me wrong, it's very pretty, but... there is prettier.
I do agree that the air in Kauai is beyond description.

You may think I'm off my rocker, but IMHO beaches in the Caribbean (and for that matter Miami :o ) are nicer than Hawaii's.
It boggles my mind how Hapuna Beach can be rated one of the nicest beaches in the world.
  Having gone in the winter (to KOA), I can now tell you that he didn't have a minyan (daytime, nighttime there was a minyan) in the winter either (at least the week I went).

Not sure how your cousins felt, but I came away from this shul very disappointed (no, not because he didn't have a minyan).
i think you're off your rocker.
How did you think you were going to enjoy yourself rushing around like that

Having just come back from my own 10 day trip to LIH-KOA, it's hard to put into words how amazing the islands are,

& Shabbos with Rabbi Chaz was also super nice

Offline TimT

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1255 on: February 08, 2015, 09:23:04 PM »
Having just come back from my own 10 day trip to LIH-KOA, it's hard to put into words how amazing the islands are,
Does that mean no TR ? :(

Offline Galitzyaner

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1256 on: February 08, 2015, 11:15:36 PM »
You spent 5 days including shabbos on 3 islands? How did you do anything?
How did you think you were going to enjoy yourself rushing around like that
We actually didn't rush at all, we took our time at all sites. Though just keep in mind we didn't do any water sports.
We drove everywhere very leisurely, stopping at interesting sights etc.
A big part of the beauty is allowing it to seep into your east coast bones.
IMHO, if someone goes to a place and is in awe of it's beauty -unless you're rushing somewhere- you usually by default stick around a gaze at the beauty of where you are standing until you feel you have fully 'swallowed' and 'digested' the wondrous marvels of nature, at which point you can get back into your car and continue on your journey.
That is how I ventured around. So, I'm not exactly sure what we needed to do to allow it to "seep in".
If you want to say, I didn't see this and this place and ahah -that's why you I didn't appreciate it as much, meileh. But I honestly think I allowed the beauty to seep in.

No offense, but תפשת מרובה לא תפשת
3 islands in 4 days is just foolishness.  Trying to go to more than 1 island in that time period is a critical error.
Well not everyone has the ability to always at all times of year just pick themselves up and go on long vacations -for what ever the reasons may be.
And there comes a point where one must decide, I either get a half a loaf now, or I don't know when the next opportunity will come.
I obviously did't cover all the 3 from top to bottom, but did get in some of the biggest highlights.
And as I wrote earlier, HNL we just did a bit.
& Shabbos with Rabbi Chaz was also super nice
I'm glad you enjoyed. But our experience was super ugly. :-X   I guess it's a hit or miss. ::)
Having just come back from my own 10 day trip to LIH-KOA, it's hard to put into words how amazing the islands are,
Agree. But I still don't think it's a number one. Hashem created a very large universe. The list of beautiful places is very long.
i think you're off your rocker.
It's ok. I knew that's coming. As predicted :D .

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1257 on: February 08, 2015, 11:21:46 PM »
But, see, that's exactly the point. Doing three islands in as many days isn't "half a loaf," it's no loaf.

Better to experience something the way it was meant to be than nothing the way it was not.


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Offline efflpetzel

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Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1258 on: February 08, 2015, 11:24:31 PM »
I'm glad you enjoyed. But our experience was super ugly. :-X   I guess it's a hit or miss. ::)
do you mind elaborating about Shabbos?,

Also I'm curious what things you got to do in Koa as the place involves lots of driving

Offline Ergel

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1259 on: February 08, 2015, 11:46:40 PM »
But, see, that's exactly the point. Doing three islands in as many days isn't "half a loaf," it's no loaf.

Better to experience something the way it was meant to be than nothing the way it was not.
And that doesn't mean not going. It just means not going to three islands in four days


Do you think someone would enjoy four days on the east coast in NYC, DC and Boston?
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.