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 485035 times)

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2400 on: September 04, 2019, 06:08:38 PM »
cheapest interisland travel method (1 way)? I have Delta, AA, United and Chase UR points so can definitely do 7.5k AA/7K United.

any way to avoid paying $25 pp luggage fee on Hawaiian Airlines (excl JJ if still doing)?

WN most likely
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2401 on: September 04, 2019, 06:15:06 PM »
WN most likely

you mean southwest? was thinking about that, but they only offer $69 ow flights with a stopover on my travel dates + times not so convenient.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2403 on: September 05, 2019, 10:16:04 AM »
cheapest interisland travel method (1 way)? I have Delta, AA, United and Chase UR points so can definitely do 7.5k AA/7K United.

any way to avoid paying $25 pp luggage fee on Hawaiian Airlines (excl JJ if still doing)?
check southwest

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2404 on: September 05, 2019, 11:36:12 AM »
check southwest

thinking about that, but all their flights ($69) from OGG-LIH have a stopover + times are not so convenient.

I figured it may be worth spending the 7.5k AA or 7k United instead, for for a nonstop flight on a more convenient schedule.

for example ---

if i travel on a Thursday via southwest, I would have to leave OGG at 11am to arrive in LIH at 2:30pm, in order to make it before "Shabbos". this would effectively cost me an entire day of touring.

however if I redeem AA/United miles, I would be able to take the 3:45 nonstop from OGG-LIH which arrives at 4:30, giving me an extra half day in Maui.



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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2405 on: September 24, 2019, 11:08:05 PM »
Looking for comments on my 11 day January trip travel plans on United using Turkish miles. Once I have this set, then can figure out where to stay and what to do. If wasn't worried about losing fight availability, then would base amount of time needed on each island with whatever I plan on doing.

1) My plan is to split the trip and spend equal time (4 full days excl Shabbos) on both islands: M-Th on island #1 and S-W on island #2.

2) Start trip in Maui by flying nonstop into OGG on Sunday arriving 4pm. Alternatively, I could fly into LIH with a 2:30pm arrival. My only reason for starting on Maui rather than LIH, is because it's a nonstop flight saving me 2.5 hrs of travel time. The flip side is that Kauai's accommodations seem to be cheaper than Maui, so may be worth staying here for 7 days vs 4.[/u]

3) Fly SWA interisland the Sunday after at 8am. Could fly on Thurs before Shabbos, but not like traveling middle of day since it destroys a vacation day. And to leave on Thursday morning, would've given me only 3 full days on Island #1.

4) Fly home leaving from LIH the following Wednesday @ 8pm. Alternatively, could leave OGG @ 9pm.

Thoughts? No need to be gentle.
« Last Edit: September 24, 2019, 11:55:48 PM by nirc »

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2406 on: September 24, 2019, 11:10:37 PM »
Sounds like a good plan to me.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2407 on: September 24, 2019, 11:14:23 PM »
Looking for comments on my 11 day January trip travel plans on United using Turkish miles. Once I have this set, then can figure out where to stay and what to do. If wasn't worried about losing fight availability, then would base amount of time needed on each island with whatever I plan on doing.

1) My plan is to split the trip and spend equal time (4 full days excl Shabbos) on both islands: M-Th on island #1 and S-W on island #2.

2) Start trip in Maui by flying nonstop into OGG on Sunday arriving 4pm. Alternatively, I could fly into LIH with a 2:30pm arrival. My only reason AT THIS TIME for starting my vacation in Maui rather than LIH, is because it's a nonstop flight saving me 2.5 hrs of travel time. Silly I know.

3) Fly SWA interisland the Sunday after at 8am. Could fly on Thurs before Shabbos, but not like traveling middle of day since it destroys a vacation day. And to leave on Thursday morning, would've given me only 3 full days on Island #1.

4) Fly home leaving from LIH the following Wednesday @ 8pm. Alternatively, could leave OGG @ 9pm.

Thoughts? No need to be gentle.
Sounds good. Can't stay until the following Thursday?
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2408 on: September 24, 2019, 11:19:48 PM »
Sounds good. Can't stay until the following Thursday?

would love to except need to be at work on Thursday. already pushing my luck :) by arriving back in CHI around noon.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2409 on: September 25, 2019, 11:22:46 AM »
If davening with a minyan on shabbos is important to you, you'll have a better chance in Maui, which publicizes a minyan* in Wailea (not guaranteed, and starts at 10:15, so potentially would have zman tefillah issues).

I would personally do shabbos wherever I could get better/cheaper accommodations. So if you do marriott 5th night free on one island, that could tip it, but it would really boil down to  your circumstance.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2410 on: September 25, 2019, 01:07:10 PM »

I would personally do shabbos wherever I could get better/cheaper accommodations. So if you do marriott 5th night free on one island, that could tip it, but it would really boil down to  your circumstance.

Planning on doing Marriott 5th night free as my thinking is to stay on island #1 from Sun-Sun. Just need to decide which should Island should that be. Am currently leaning towards Kauai, as accommodations seem to be cheaper than Maui + can stay right near Chabad for Shabbos meal/davening (Courtyard at Coconut Beach).

But the few dollars I might save + Shabbos meal/minyan is not enough reason to make definitive choice unless it's really a case of "Six Of One, A Half Dozen Of The Other".


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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2411 on: September 25, 2019, 03:12:47 PM »
Planning on doing Marriott 5th night free as my thinking is to stay on island #1 from Sun-Sun. Just need to decide which should Island should that be. Am currently leaning towards Kauai, as accommodations seem to be cheaper than Maui + can stay right near Chabad for Shabbos meal/davening (Courtyard at Coconut Beach).

But the few dollars I might save + Shabbos meal/minyan is not enough reason to make definitive choice unless it's really a case of "Six Of One, A Half Dozen Of The Other".
At this point it sounds like you want someone to make the decision for you.  Neither option is significantly better than the other, but might depend on where you plan to stay on Maui.
44/50, 46/63

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2412 on: September 25, 2019, 04:46:49 PM »
Is ha f worth 130k hnl-jfk? Amex currently has 25% bonus

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2413 on: September 25, 2019, 05:12:24 PM »
Is ha f worth 130k hnl-jfk? Amex currently has 25% bonus
OW or RT?
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2414 on: September 25, 2019, 05:18:51 PM »
OW or RT?
Ow
I think that's the standard. I don't know of they have saver

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2415 on: September 25, 2019, 05:20:35 PM »
Ow
I think that's the standard. I don't know of they have saver
Ripoff.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2416 on: September 25, 2019, 06:57:10 PM »
Ripoff.
Is there a better option? Only other direct is ua so options are SO or plan b

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2417 on: September 25, 2019, 07:00:26 PM »
Is there a better option? Only other direct is ua so options are SO or plan b
cash rates should be better than 105k Amex one way

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2418 on: September 25, 2019, 07:31:03 PM »
cash rates should be better than 105k Amex one way
2k for my date

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