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 485092 times)

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1880 on: July 15, 2016, 10:32:50 AM »

Hopefully the locals I received info from lead me right. But even for regular swimming.
Maui Revealed are locals.
« Last Edit: July 15, 2016, 01:16:53 PM by @Yehuda »

Offline Emkay

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Offline Emkay

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1882 on: July 17, 2016, 09:42:44 PM »
You're going to take a garbage F product with no KSML
no KSML,
FWIW (not much), no KSML in HA.
FTR they do provide kosher meals.

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1883 on: July 17, 2016, 10:21:49 PM »
TR+Pics please.
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 EJB

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1884 on: July 17, 2016, 10:23:52 PM »
TR+Pics please.

Of the KSML, or of everything :)

Offline Matovu

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1885 on: July 18, 2016, 11:10:14 AM »
Hawaii with a newborn. Needs a passport or not ?

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1886 on: July 18, 2016, 11:13:54 AM »
Hawaii with a newborn. Needs a passport or not ?
Depends if by Hawaii you mean Kenya.
Otherwise I have no idea what you're question is.
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 Matovu

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1887 on: July 18, 2016, 11:27:43 AM »
Depends if by Hawaii you mean Kenya.
Otherwise I have no idea what you're question is.
You Obama hater !
Love it.

Offline shulem92

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1888 on: August 01, 2016, 02:32:08 PM »
how many pieces do u get when flying to Hawaii? looking into united

Offline shaulyaakov

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1889 on: August 01, 2016, 04:28:07 PM »
how many pieces do u get when flying to Hawaii? looking into united

Regular domestic rules. So $25 for 1st, $35 for second for non-credit card, non elite.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1890 on: September 10, 2016, 10:14:19 PM »
   If I am going to Maui in November is it better to stay in Lahaina or Wailea? Also, has anyone gotten a good deal at a hotel in Maui or Kauai by showing interest in a time share- if so which hotel and how did you go about it? TIA

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1891 on: September 11, 2016, 10:25:31 AM »
   If I am going to Maui in November is it better to stay in Lahaina or Wailea? Also, has anyone gotten a good deal at a hotel in Maui or Kauai by showing interest in a time share- if so which hotel and how did you go about it? TIA

Get Maui Revealed, read "Where Should I Stay" beginning on page 29 in the 6th edition, then read the rest of the book.
44/50, 46/63

Offline efflpetzel

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1892 on: September 11, 2016, 12:42:24 PM »
If I am going to Maui in November is it better to stay in Lahaina or Wailea? Also, has anyone gotten a good deal at a hotel in Maui or Kauai by showing interest in a time share- if so which hotel and how did you go about it? TIA
Wailea has the best weather in maui, Lahaina is a cute tourist trap

Offline sarahb

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1893 on: September 11, 2016, 03:50:18 PM »
Wailea has the best weather in maui, Lahaina is a cute tourist trap
Dan mentions in the winter Wailea can be windier so wondering if thats risky in November?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1894 on: September 11, 2016, 03:53:52 PM »
Dan mentions in the winter Wailea can be windier so wondering if thats risky in November?
{{Citation needed}}
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 #1895 on: November 06, 2016, 05:36:16 PM »
help please. i am trying to find the post with instructions how to us 25k UR points, to book a RT trip from cont USA to hawaii on korean air (via delta)?
TIA


http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/62063

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1896 on: November 07, 2016, 01:30:21 PM »
To repeat an island or go for a new one? Winter trip. Thinking of only a few activities and mostly pool/beach time.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1897 on: November 07, 2016, 01:31:02 PM »
To repeat an island or go for a new one? Winter trip. Thinking of only a few activities and mostly pool/beach time.

New

What are the options?
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Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1898 on: November 07, 2016, 01:48:00 PM »
New

What are the options?
Well, it'll be Sun-Thurs. I guess that leaves Oahu and BI. Kauai and Maui fit pretty well into the 4 day trip schedule. FWIU, BI can't be "done" in a 4 day trip (not that that rules it out). My concern is with having to read another book and plan a whole 'nother trip, while 1) I already know what there is to know about K and M, and 2) DW specifically wants a lot of relaxing time this time, so it would not be 3 days of running around and 1 day of pools. Probably the exact opposite. Which leads me to believe if I only have 1 day or so for activities, BI might make sense to see the lava flow (assuming it's still happening then).

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1899 on: November 07, 2016, 01:52:31 PM »
Well, it'll be Sun-Thurs. I guess that leaves Oahu and BI. Kauai and Maui fit pretty well into the 4 day trip schedule. FWIU, BI can't be "done" in a 4 day trip (not that that rules it out). My concern is with having to read another book and plan a whole 'nother trip, while 1) I already know what there is to know about K and M, and 2) DW specifically wants a lot of relaxing time this time, so it would not be 3 days of running around and 1 day of pools. Probably the exact opposite. Which leads me to believe if I only have 1 day or so for activities, BI might make sense to see the lava flow (assuming it's still happening then).

BI could definitely be "done" in 4 days.

And if you want melt-your-bones relaxation Lanai is the place to go.
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