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 484993 times)

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2460 on: May 12, 2020, 05:15:02 PM »
Thinking of booking a trip to Hawaii for August as my Europe trip is obviously on hold  :(.
Any tips on which island is best? Will be my first time there and I will be traveling with a 20 month old.
I wouldn't count on Hawaii being open for tourists this summer.
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 #2461 on: June 24, 2020, 10:02:28 PM »
(Cross-posting from the covid thread)
Starting Aug. 1, pre-testing program will allow Hawaii travelers to avoid quarantine!
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/06/24/governor-expected-announce-testing-plan-travelers-part-effort-reopen-tourism/

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2462 on: July 07, 2020, 02:38:55 PM »
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 #2463 on: August 17, 2020, 09:15:23 PM »
Planning my winter trip (Sun-Thurs, 2 day Shabbos) and trying to decide on which 2/3 islands to visit.

Thinking about Big Island for week #1 and Kauai for week #2, based on two assumptions:

1) "Everything" that can do in Maui, can do on Kauai / Big Island, with the reverse not necessarily true. Given that put Maui last.

2) The BI has largest variety of things to do & see. Given that, put BI for week #1 when trying to appeal to a larger age spread.


Will be taking my 2 boys ages 3 & 9 on trip. Will also have along for the ride 2 teenage girls but [/u] only for week #1 (Sun-Sun)[/u].

Right or wrong? Other ideas?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2464 on: August 17, 2020, 09:21:59 PM »
Planning my winter trip (Sun-Thurs, 2 day Shabbos) and trying to decide on which 2/3 islands to visit.

Thinking about Big Island for week #1 and Kauai for week #2, based on two assumptions:

1) "Everything" that can do in Maui, can do on Kauai / Big Island, with the reverse not necessarily true. Given that put Maui last.

2) The BI has largest variety of things to do & see. Given that, put BI for week #1 when trying to appeal to a larger age spread.


Will be taking my 2 boys ages 3 & 9 on trip. Will also have along for the ride 2 teenage girls but [/u] only for week #1 (Sun-Sun)[/u].

Right or wrong? Other ideas?
1. I don't agree with that.
2. I suppose, but it's also the least lush.
3. Don't be surprised if HI doesn't open until there's a widely available vaccine. I wouldn't make hard plans personally.
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 #2465 on: August 17, 2020, 09:31:57 PM »
1. I don't agree with that.
2. I suppose, but it's also the least lush.
3. Don't be surprised if HI doesn't open until there's a widely available vaccine. I wouldn't make hard plans personally. 

1. what would be your suggestion?
2. is why am doing Kauai for week after.
3. thought post September 1 if have negative covid test can visit without being quarantined

another reason to choosing BI for week #1 is the selection of airbnbs at affordable rates, with Kauai coming in second place. maui is double the cost for anything.

« Last Edit: August 17, 2020, 09:36:01 PM by Cat18 »

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2466 on: August 18, 2020, 12:18:09 AM »
3. thought post September 1 if have negative covid test can visit without being quarantined
They said this for August, too, then changed their mind.

Figure out what exactly you want out of your vacation, and see which island(s) offer those things.
44/50, 46/63

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2467 on: August 18, 2020, 12:38:00 AM »
They said this for August, too, then changed their mind.

Figure out what exactly you want out of your vacation, and see which island(s) offer those things.

+/_  14 day quarantine is a concern and why I plan on using points and/or refundable stays.

I've read thru all 3 Hawaii reveal books, and honestly, they sound quite similar (big picture wise). IMO, there is not enough information that allows me to say yes or no to any specific island. If I had time I would visit all 3.

Next step is to read trip reports, but in the meantime I figured to ask what people thought.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2020, 01:06:08 AM by Cat18 »

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2468 on: August 18, 2020, 10:30:13 PM »

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2469 on: August 18, 2020, 10:31:40 PM »
3. Don't be surprised if HI doesn't open until there's a widely available vaccine. I wouldn't make hard plans personally.
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 #2470 on: August 24, 2020, 01:13:11 PM »
Been to Kauai in 2018. It was an amazing vacation. Due to major storms during the previous winter, much of the north/northwest areas were washed out and closed. The Kalalau trail was closed to all as were the many of the beaches, parks and attractions in the north. There were many beautiful areas around the island that were exceedingly remarkable and we loved it. If we were to plan a trip today, the uncertainty of Kauai - there have been more major storms impacting the island infrastructure since and the northwest area Haena State Park is only accessible now with a daily permit which is issued no more than than a month in advance - would lead us to choose a different island.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2471 on: September 17, 2020, 09:31:44 AM »
Hawaii governor David Ige has announced that starting October 15 travelers will be able to skip the mandatory 14 day quarantine period as long as they have a negative pre travel COVID test that is no more than 72 hours old.

https://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroom/latest-news/governors-office-news-release-gov-ige-announces-new-leadership-team-and-realignment-of-covid-19-efforts/

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2472 on: September 17, 2020, 09:50:01 AM »
Hawaii governor David Ige has announced that starting October 15 travelers will be able to skip the mandatory 14 day quarantine period as long as they have a negative pre travel COVID test that is no more than 72 hours old.

https://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroom/latest-news/governors-office-news-release-gov-ige-announces-new-leadership-team-and-realignment-of-covid-19-efforts/

He also said that about August 1st. And September 1st. And October 1st.

I'll believe it when I see it.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2473 on: September 17, 2020, 11:34:59 AM »
He also said that about August 1st. And September 1st. And October 1st.

I'll believe it when I see it.


How many tickets did you have to cancel? ;D

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2475 on: September 24, 2020, 10:15:18 AM »

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2477 on: October 08, 2020, 08:08:05 AM »
“Big Island opts out of pre-travel testing program”

This is getting crazy. Am really thinking about just giving up on visiting this January.

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/10/06/hawaii-news/big-island-opts-out-of-pre-travel-testing-program/?




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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2478 on: November 05, 2020, 11:35:43 PM »
“Big Island opts out of pre-travel testing program”

This is getting crazy. Am really thinking about just giving up on visiting this January.

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/10/06/hawaii-news/big-island-opts-out-of-pre-travel-testing-program/?

Update: guess they opted back in. Only difference is mandatory 2nd test upon arrival.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #2479 on: December 08, 2020, 11:19:35 AM »
United recently made a bunch of changes to their departing flights starting January 2021.

Biggest noticeable change is that are no flights leaving the Hawaiian Islands (OGG, LIH, KOA, ITO) to NYC or Chicago between approx 2:00 - 11pm.

For me that means either you lose most of the day touring (2pm flights) or sit around HI with limited options after dark and cranky over-tired kids (11pm flights).
« Last Edit: December 08, 2020, 11:40:24 AM by nirc »