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 484893 times)

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1960 on: February 14, 2017, 08:50:11 PM »
Biz Plat is your solution.
49k for the way there and 56-58k for the way back, not cheap.
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

Offline benjie1305

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1961 on: February 14, 2017, 08:51:31 PM »
49k for the way there and 56-58k for the way back, not cheap.

Plus miles earned and no hassle worrying about award release. Actually not that bad.
Work hard, Play harder!

Offline mochjas

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1962 on: February 14, 2017, 08:54:56 PM »
49k for the way there and 56-58k for the way back, not cheap.
try hidden city as well

Offline shmebeble

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1963 on: February 14, 2017, 09:07:40 PM »
I'm thinking about going to OGG for a week at the end of March, there isn't any award space available and it's very unlikely that any will open up, is it worth flying in Y or should I plan another trip for now and save HI for another time where I can fly in J?
I might be on your flight if you are x-nyc

Offline mmgfarb

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Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1964 on: February 14, 2017, 09:08:18 PM »
I might be on your flight if you are x-nyc
Nope, where you staying?
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Offline shmebeble

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1965 on: February 14, 2017, 09:09:56 PM »
Nope, where you staying?
going to LIH- but was thinking about flights to HNL. GHK... as if I had another option

Offline ushdadude

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1966 on: February 14, 2017, 09:12:24 PM »
I'm thinking about going to OGG for a week at the end of March, there isn't any award space available and it's very unlikely that any will open up, is it worth flying in Y or should I plan another trip for now and save HI for another time where I can fly in J?

Even with a stop?

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1967 on: February 14, 2017, 09:15:07 PM »
Even with a stop?
I'm flying out of WAS so there has to be a stop anyway and yes, I didn't find anything. My itinerary would look like this, WAS-OGG-CLE although I could start or end in NYC and take a positioning flight at the beginning and/or end if I had to.
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

Offline ambr0se

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1968 on: February 14, 2017, 10:19:08 PM »
Planning a trip to the big island and Maui in May. I'm looking for good hotel deals or point/cc award options, would appreciate any feedback or PM.

Offline ambr0se

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1969 on: February 14, 2017, 10:20:45 PM »
I took out the chase hyatt to get 2 nights at any category property but the Andaz Maui doesnt seem to let me book unless im staying for 6 or 7 night minimum. Anyone find a way around it? seems a waste to use it on the Regency (and I dont want to reroute trip to go to GHK just for that).

Offline shmebeble

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1970 on: February 14, 2017, 10:44:34 PM »
I took out the chase hyatt to get 2 nights at any category property but the Andaz Maui doesnt seem to let me book unless im staying for 6 or 7 night minimum. Anyone find a way around it? seems a waste to use it on the Regency (and I dont want to reroute trip to go to GHK just for that).
call in to do that. no guarentees but you can try. Also, maybe try to book 6 if you have points and then cancel the non-cc nights.
but def. call them

Offline shmebeble

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1971 on: February 14, 2017, 10:45:15 PM »
Planning a trip to the big island and Maui in May. I'm looking for good hotel deals or point/cc award options, would appreciate any feedback or PM.
look into time share presentations possibly. I know Hilton on the big island has very reduced prices, but YMMV. I might get some slack here, but depends on your cc situation

Offline yoshapman

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1972 on: February 21, 2017, 11:44:31 AM »
Not sure where to post this, but is there any way to use Singapore miles to fly on United to Hawaii, but have a stopover on the way for a round trip ticket? Contemplating Hawaii for next year but would like to break it up for a couple days by stopping in LA. Singapore miles are already in my account so would rather use those over my United miles, since I'd save 50K.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1973 on: February 21, 2017, 11:46:58 AM »
Not sure where to post this, but is there any way to use Singapore miles to fly on United to Hawaii, but have a stopover on the way for a round trip ticket? Contemplating Hawaii for next year but would like to break it up for a couple days by stopping in LA. Singapore miles are already in my account so would rather use those over my United miles, since I'd save 50K.
If you find United saver space on all legs, then Singapore should be able to book a stopover on a roundtrip ticket.

Offline yoshapman

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1974 on: February 21, 2017, 11:49:35 AM »
If you find United saver space on all legs, then Singapore should be able to book a stopover on a roundtrip ticket.

Ok thank you, I saw something on TPG regarding Singapore's rules for stopovers on partners, and that they did not allow stopovers on Domestic flights within 1 country or something like that, but is that not the case for Hawaii? It's still all within the US so I figured that was the problem. 

Offline 12HRS

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1975 on: February 24, 2017, 12:11:47 AM »
If you find United saver space on all legs, then Singapore should be able to book a stopover on a roundtrip ticket.

are you sure they don't charge 100 singapore dollars for a stopover greater than 4 hours?

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1976 on: February 24, 2017, 07:37:57 AM »
Ok thank you, I saw something on TPG regarding Singapore's rules for stopovers on partners, and that they did not allow stopovers on Domestic flights within 1 country or something like that, but is that not the case for Hawaii? It's still all within the US so I figured that was the problem. 
are you sure they don't charge 100 singapore dollars for a stopover greater than 4 hours?
I believe you guys are right. Still, $100 is not bad considering that if you break up the trip and book the legs separately, it's a minimum of another 12,500 miles that you'd have to use.

Offline Shua

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1977 on: March 02, 2017, 11:37:04 PM »
Looking to go to OGG and LIH in August. As I am trying to figure out the itinerary, I was wondering which place would be better to stay over shabbos. In LIH I would stay at either the GH or the St Regis. In OGG would be at the Andaz.

Pros for GH: Sunny, walkable to Poipu.
Pros for st regis: close to chabad, will be booked on a SPG platinum elite account (guest of honor) so shoould hopefully will have suite which will be nice for shabbos. Cons: can be rainy
Pros for Andaz: Nice boardwalk/beach stroll in front of Hotel

Anything that Im missing?

Offline efflpetzel

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1978 on: March 03, 2017, 12:28:27 AM »
Looking to go to OGG and LIH in August. As I am trying to figure out the itinerary, I was wondering which place would be better to stay over shabbos. In LIH I would stay at either the GH or the St Regis. In OGG would be at the Andaz.

Pros for GH: Sunny, walkable to Poipu.
Pros for st regis: close to chabad, will be booked on a SPG platinum elite account (guest of honor) so shoould hopefully will have suite which will be nice for shabbos. Cons: can be rainy
Pros for Andaz: Nice boardwalk/beach stroll in front of Hotel

Anything that Im missing?
Are you booking with points

Offline Shua

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #1979 on: March 03, 2017, 12:40:21 AM »
Are you booking with points

I have Chase points, so either by transferring them into hyatt points or through the portal. SPG will be thorough points as well