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 484977 times)

Offline Joe4007

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1460 on: July 30, 2015, 10:29:46 AM »
If arriving 2:03 PM with UA, can I fly out 3:23 PM with HA? And how do I arrange the luggage to go straight to LIH?
I believe UA will only interline if the HA leg is on the same PNR. If you have to recheck your bags, looks like it'll be tight.
No way you can recheck bags with less than a ~75 minute connection.

Offline ygygold

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1461 on: July 30, 2015, 11:00:42 AM »
How do I get it on one pnr?

Offline Yola

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1462 on: August 05, 2015, 11:10:08 PM »
Hi everyone, I'm a somewhat novice here despite being an avid DansDeals fan for years and years. My wife and I are trying to plan a trip to Maui with our kids (who will be 3 and 1 IY"H) next year in late June or July 2016 and we live in Los Angeles. I have two quick q's if anyone can give me some guidance.

1) I want to book with Avios and everyone says that's the best deal flying to Maui from the West Coast (25k round-trip), but I'm looking almost a year in advance and although AA only had June 2016 dates up right now, there is almost nothing available to book via Avios. Most days either have no Saaver awards or the ones they do are the stop-over flights that can't be used with Avios. If anyone can put my mind at ease and/or let me know if it's reasonable to believe that we'll eventually find the award tickets available, I'd really appreciate it. Just don't know if and when to look.

2) Does anyone have a suggestion on which is the best rental car company (i.e. Avis, Enterprise, etc.) to book with when flying into OGG for 4 or 5 days in late June or July with our 2 little ones and assuming we'll probably need an SUV? I understand there are some corporate/discount codes that are good to use but not sure where to find them.

Thank you soooo much in advance. I really appreciate it.

Offline 3yummyboys

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Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1463 on: August 12, 2015, 08:27:41 AM »
1) awards may open in advance, you should check daily
2) Chabad of Hawaii has passed on a corporate rate for rentals at Enterprise or National in Hawaii that provides better rates, waives underage fees, and waives different location drop-off fees.
The company name is Hawaii Kosher Weddings. The contract number is XZ36016 and the pin is HAW

Or try discounthawaiicarrental.com
« Last Edit: August 12, 2015, 08:32:09 AM by 3yummyboys »

Offline 3yummyboys

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1464 on: August 17, 2015, 10:27:11 AM »
Is there any way to get a United flight and a Hawaiian flight on the same PNR?

Offline Sola

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1465 on: August 17, 2015, 01:16:07 PM »
Hi Everyone,
I'm looking for some help in planning an upcoming honeymoon/anniversary trip to the Big Island (we had to delay our honeymoon, but better late then never!) in November.  I'd like to book Hawaiian air through Korean awards, flying direct from JFK, and I'd like to build in a stopover/open jaw if I can.   I thought for our itinerary, we would start in Hilo and work our way east to Kona.  Can I book JFK > HNL > ITO (stopover) > KOA and then the return as KOA > HNL > JFK?   If I do this, am I missing out by flying rather than driving from Hilo to Kona?

I have a reservation on hold with American (JFK > HNL round trip, for a little more miles), and 2 more days until it expires, so I'm trying to figure out my best bet.

Much thanks in advance from a couple who really needs a vacation!

Offline alpicone

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1466 on: August 17, 2015, 04:57:15 PM »
Is there any way to get a United flight and a Hawaiian flight on the same PNR?

I don't think you can get it on the same reservation. The only way to get it check through all the way is to interline the baggage and have United tag it all the way through. You will need a united agent who knows have to do it and the ticket numbers for both legs.

I haven't done it with United so I can't comment but I was able to successfully interline my bags flying Delta and Hawaiian in both directions. This was 1 year ago and it took finding someone who knew how to do it. Most curbside agents don't know how and instead of saying "I don't know how to" say "you cant do it".

Offline chff

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1467 on: August 18, 2015, 12:39:56 AM »
Is there any way to get a United flight and a Hawaiian flight on the same PNR?
If it's booked together

Offline Buruch

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1468 on: August 18, 2015, 01:11:52 AM »
1) awards may open in advance, you should check daily
2) Chabad of Hawaii has passed on a corporate rate for rentals at Enterprise or National in Hawaii that provides better rates, waives underage fees, and waives different location drop-off fees.
The company name is Hawaii Kosher Weddings. The contract number is XZ36016 and the pin is HAW

Or try discounthawaiicarrental.com

Who is the rate intended for? Do they give any problems?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1469 on: September 01, 2015, 04:51:24 AM »
If I have a one day aa admirals pass can I access the JAL lounge if I'm not flying one world?

Offline 3yummyboys

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1470 on: September 02, 2015, 09:48:02 PM »
We've officially been bitten by the Hawaii bug. We've been home for less than 12 hours and I'm already trying to plan our next trip

When we got off the plane in Newark we couldn't help but wonder why all of the colors look so muted :)

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1471 on: September 02, 2015, 09:49:42 PM »
I've had it for almost 10 years now.
I will see if NW realized just how many people would go to Hawaii because I got on that glitch?
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1472 on: September 02, 2015, 10:13:48 PM »
I find it so fascinating that I just wasn't taken by Maui. It was really nice, but I don't know...
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1473 on: September 02, 2015, 10:20:28 PM »
Who said to go to Maui?
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1474 on: September 02, 2015, 10:22:16 PM »
You always said don't go to HNL and that LIH vs. OGG vs. KOA is a matter of preference
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1475 on: September 02, 2015, 10:24:39 PM »
Not my preference ;)

TBH though, Hawaii with kids and no babysitter is overkill.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1476 on: September 02, 2015, 10:27:33 PM »
We had a babysitter. He just ended up being not all that helpful. And my wife being eight months pregnant didn't help either..
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1477 on: September 02, 2015, 10:29:56 PM »
I'm talking about a babysitter competent enough to allow for full day trips.

But going in the summer and with a pregnant wife doesn't help either.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1478 on: September 02, 2015, 10:31:49 PM »
All true points. But while the trip would obviously have been drastically different, I still don't think I would have been taken
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1479 on: September 02, 2015, 10:37:48 PM »
Perhaps.
 
But it reminds me of the moshel of the guy who tries to have his wife replicate the kings favorite dish without having any of the key ingredients and then says the king has bad taste.

Go back in the winter, go whale watching, Haleakala, etc...
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