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 485263 times)

Offline shaulyaakov

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2320 on: May 22, 2019, 11:22:47 AM »
I'd split between Maui and Kauai. I'm saving TBI and Molokai until my kids are older.
If going for shorter, which one of the 2? Or is it too close to call?

Offline Joshuat

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2321 on: May 22, 2019, 11:24:30 AM »
I'd split between Maui and Kauai. I'm saving TBI and Molokai until my kids are older.
Cool thanks. I'll check to see which has availability for my dates. Is sun-thur enough time for either one?

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2322 on: May 22, 2019, 11:30:38 AM »
Cool thanks. I'll check to see which has availability for my dates. Is sun-thur enough time for either one?
Enough for what?
Enough to have a good time? Sure.
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 Joshuat

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2323 on: May 22, 2019, 11:31:30 AM »
Big Island (I explain upthread my reasoning), but could depend on their exact ages.  As much time as possible, not less than a week/5 days excluding Shabbos.
Missed this. Thanks!!
Kids are 4&2

Offline akivaporty

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2324 on: May 22, 2019, 11:31:42 AM »
I don't know where you are seeing that HI hotels are bad.

Maui has some fantastic ones (Grand walia, walia Beach, Andaz, Hyatt regency). Kauai has the Grand Hyatt. Either island has plenty to do for 5 days.

Oh nice thanks!

Any nice options in Kona?

Which of the 3 small islands would you recommend for a honeymoon?

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2325 on: May 22, 2019, 11:33:45 AM »
Oh nice thanks!

Any nice options in Kona?

Which of the 3 small islands would you recommend for a honeymoon?
We went to 4 HI islands on our honeymoon.

In retrospect though, we should have traveled farther out.
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 akivaporty

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2326 on: May 22, 2019, 11:34:57 AM »
We went to 4 HI islands on our honeymoon.

In retrospect though, we should have traveled farther out.

If you would have sun-thurs which would you recommend?

Offline shaulyaakov

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2327 on: May 22, 2019, 11:34:59 AM »


Oh nice thanks!

Any nice options in Kona?

Which of the 3 small islands would you recommend for a honeymoon?

Don't know TBI that all. People like to spend more time there because things are further apart.

I did honeymoon in Maui. Looked like the beat balance between touristy and rual, with good beach and snorkel options, as well as things to do.

Offline Joshuat

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2328 on: May 22, 2019, 11:36:15 AM »
Enough for what?
Enough to have a good time? Sure.
Enough time to do/see most thingss on the "can't miss" list

Offline SSLPhD

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2329 on: May 22, 2019, 11:36:57 AM »
Missed this. Thanks!!
Kids are 4&2
Oahu probably has the most for kids and adults to enjoy together, but it's not too relaxing, and the driving situation (which you can't really avoid, especially with kids) is awful.

I haven't found Kauai to be very kid-friendly.

Maui is OK, but things like sunrise on Haleakala, I wouldn't want to do with kids. And the RTH has like one thing of interest to kids.  In my mind, kids get to sit in the car for hours.  Maybe the train on the West side is something they'd enjoy.  I haven't done it, because it sounds extremely boring for adults.

The BI, on the hand, has quite a bit for kids to enjoy. Read through @PBaruch 's TRs; he covers a lot. https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=101581.0
I don't think he mentions the zoo, which I believe is mentioned in another TR, I forget whose.  Also, an octopus farm, which looks interesting.

Your kids are the perfect ages to do the Wee Tots program with Dolphin Quest, one per parent.  For that alone, I'd go to the BI.
44/50, 46/63

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2330 on: May 22, 2019, 11:37:02 AM »
If you would have sun-thurs which would you recommend?
My wife prefers Maui, I prefer Kauai. There's no right answer, other than join Chabad and go for longer ;)
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 mmgfarb

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2331 on: May 22, 2019, 11:51:18 AM »
My wife prefers Maui, I prefer Kauai. There's no right answer, other than join Chabad and go for longer ;)
There are non-chabad poskim who say you only have to keep one day.
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2332 on: May 22, 2019, 11:54:59 AM »
There are non-chabad poskim who say you only have to keep one day.
Best of both worlds as then you can eat Lapperts.
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 akivaporty

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2333 on: May 22, 2019, 02:49:39 PM »
Can anyone recommend a good hotel in Kona?

Offline SSLPhD

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2334 on: May 22, 2019, 02:59:55 PM »
Can anyone recommend a good hotel in Kona?
How do you define "good" and how much do you want to spend?
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2335 on: May 22, 2019, 03:00:36 PM »
Four Seasons
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2336 on: May 22, 2019, 03:00:50 PM »
How do you define "good" and how much do you want to spend?

Good - is clean, neat, good service, nice decor...

Offline shaulyaakov

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2337 on: May 23, 2019, 07:54:26 AM »
Best of both worlds as then you can eat Lapperts.
I am in this group. Lapperts is A+

Offline Flash613

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2338 on: May 28, 2019, 10:31:24 PM »
Hoping to plan a trip in December to Hawaii -- two adults, on Southwest (companion pass ;-) which appears to fly to Oahu, Maui, and Kona.  Does anyone know what flights may be available in December?  Any recommendations on which two islands to go for?  We enjoy hiking, but not too much public beach time.

Offline shaulyaakov

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2339 on: May 30, 2019, 09:00:08 PM »
Hoping to plan a trip in December to Hawaii -- two adults, on Southwest (companion pass ;-) which appears to fly to Oahu, Maui, and Kona.  Does anyone know what flights may be available in December?  Any recommendations on which two islands to go for?  We enjoy hiking, but not too much public beach time.
Southwest only Flys from a few places for now and won't sell connecting flights from anywhere else.