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 555292 times)

Offline Ergel

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1580 on: November 05, 2015, 10:51:56 AM »
Technically, this was it before my trip to Kauai. Now that I know how much my wife likes to swim in the pools/ocean, I might have to cut things out just to be more realistic.

- Haleakala sunrise and Olivine Pools/Nakalele (will skip Nakalele after seeing Spouting Horn)
- RTH (return the back road) Would love to spend the night here, but as we've discussed, doesn't seem like a great idea on such a short trip.
- Molokini/Beaches (yay to being comfortable snorkeling now!) Would have liked to add in W&A show, but we were always tired at nights in Kauai, so I doubt we'd be up for going.

I think that was everything. My notes are handwritten and at home right now.
To me seems crazy to fly halfway across the world for 3 days
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Offline Marco Polo

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1581 on: November 05, 2015, 10:53:06 AM »
To me seems crazy to fly halfway across the world for 3 days
I may agree if going with kid/s, but as a single person or a couple, why not.
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1582 on: November 05, 2015, 10:58:50 AM »
To me seems crazy to fly halfway across the world for 3 days
After having done it once, my first thoughts were, "We had a great time, but it was kinda sucky to have to leave so soon. Next time, I'd rather just go to some other beach place." But, this time, we'd be continuing the trip for some time in other places before going home, so hopefully it'll feel like a longer vacation.

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1583 on: November 05, 2015, 11:00:15 AM »
Why don't you just stay for the 2 day shabbos?
Your itin misses out on chunks of Maui and doesn't have any planned downtime. Going to be a repeat of the issues you had in Kauai.
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Online Something Fishy

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1584 on: November 05, 2015, 11:01:10 AM »
Technically, this was it before my trip to Kauai. Now that I know how much my wife likes to swim in the pools/ocean, I might have to cut things out just to be more realistic.

- Haleakala sunrise and Olivine Pools/Nakalele (will skip Nakalele after seeing Spouting Horn)
- RTH (return the back road) Would love to spend the night here, but as we've discussed, doesn't seem like a great idea on such a short trip.
- Molokini/Beaches (yay to being comfortable snorkeling now!) Would have liked to add in W&A show, but we were always tired at nights in Kauai, so I doubt we'd be up for going.

I think that was everything. My notes are handwritten and at home right now.

Sounds good. My only comment is that Nakalele is far more powerful and interesting (generally...). Definitely worth a stop IMO.

Also, remind me why you're not going for Shabbos - what psak did you get?

ETA: I see Dan beat me to that question...
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Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1585 on: November 05, 2015, 11:01:50 AM »
Sounds good. My only comment is that Nakalele is far more powerful and interesting (generally...). Definitely worth a stop IMO.
+1,000.
Spouting horn is boring and commercial compared to Nakalele, though everything depends on the season and tides.
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Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1586 on: November 05, 2015, 11:24:11 AM »
I also forgot about the hike to Nakalele which probably makes it more interesting than parking in a parking lot.

Rav said not to stay at all for Shabbos because of the Safek. What chunks am I missing? Thought those were the highlights. The only things I can think of are more hikes like Red Sands and the highway one (Kings?), but l'maissa we barely got in any hikes in Kauai, so I'm okay if our "hikes" are the "hikes" on RTH and West Maui.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1587 on: November 05, 2015, 11:29:12 AM »
If that's what your rav said then that's that. I'm just getting the impression lately that people are terrified of a 2-day Shabbos, when in fact it's a wonderful experience.

Kings Highway/Keawanku beach hike is a full-day affair. While incredible, I wouldn't recommend it for anyone on a short trip.
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Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1588 on: November 05, 2015, 11:33:34 AM »
If that's what your rav said then that's that. I'm just getting the impression lately that people are terrified of a 2-day Shabbos, when in fact it's a wonderful experience.

Kings Highway/Keawanku beach hike is a full-day affair. While incredible, I wouldn't recommend it for anyone on a short trip.
I would definitely be down for a 2-day Shabbos.

Yeah, it didn't capture my attention like some of the other activities in Maui, so I didn't consider it in my "must-do"s.

Offline Emkay

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1589 on: November 05, 2015, 12:12:49 PM »
Why not do TBI?
Not enough time for him to plan. He needs at least 6 months

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1590 on: November 05, 2015, 12:15:03 PM »
Not enough time for him to plan. He needs at least 6 months
Without kids it's the first place I'd go. So much there that can't be done with kids.
Very happy I went there when I did.
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Offline PBaruch

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1591 on: November 05, 2015, 12:16:40 PM »
Without kids it's the first place I'd go. So much there that can't be done with kids.
Very happy I went there when I did.

Like what?  :)
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Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1592 on: November 05, 2015, 12:27:47 PM »
Like what?  :)
I'll let you tackle that ;)
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Offline Emkay

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1593 on: November 05, 2015, 12:30:59 PM »
Without kids it's the first place I'd go. So much there that can't be done with kids.
Very happy I went there when I did.
Hopefully this summer I'll be headed to to Hawaii with my wife. Will be leaving offspring by in-laws hopefully for the first time .
I thought Maui was a given, you think I should go for TBI? Haven't been to any yet

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1594 on: November 05, 2015, 12:39:38 PM »
Not enough time for him to plan. He needs at least 6 months
;D ;D ;D But seriously... I do.

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1595 on: November 05, 2015, 12:49:51 PM »
Hopefully this summer I'll be headed to to Hawaii with my wife. Will be leaving offspring by in-laws hopefully for the first time .
I thought Maui was a given, you think I should go for TBI? Haven't been to any yet
I don't see why any island is a given. They're all very unique and 4 people will prefer 4 different islands.
How long are you going for?
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1596 on: November 05, 2015, 12:51:36 PM »
I don't see why any island is a given. They're all very unique and 4 people will prefer 4 different islands.
How long are you going for?
No concrete plans yet but originally was gonna be sunday-thursday but in the last 10 minutes I decided maybe I'll do a two day shabbos also

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1597 on: November 05, 2015, 12:53:01 PM »
With 2 weeks TBI + Maui or Kauai is perfect.
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Offline sam28

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1598 on: November 05, 2015, 01:13:29 PM »
does all the island in Hawaii have the shale of 2 day Shabbos or only Kauai and Maui ?

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1599 on: November 05, 2015, 01:14:22 PM »
does all the island in Hawaii have the shale of 2 day Shabbos or only Kauai and Maui ?
All. As do Japan, New Zealand, Bora Bora, etc.
AYLOR
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