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 484985 times)

Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #700 on: February 14, 2014, 01:20:04 PM »
You don't need a 4x4 on the BI. I drove up Mauna Kea in a convertible without issue and got a 4x4 for part of the time because I enjoy both.
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 #701 on: February 14, 2014, 01:22:16 PM »
You don't need a 4x4 on the BI. I drove up Mauna Kea in a convertible without issue and got a 4x4 for part of the time because I enjoy both.

Right. I was just reading that in the trip notes. Sorry I missed it. Ok cool I guess my decision has been made for me :-). Gonna start booking everything. Thanks guys. Good shabbos.

Offline runnergirl

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #702 on: February 14, 2014, 01:42:08 PM »
what are the best flights/connections from MIA area to LIH?  All the planes look old! Want to fly on the nice B or F flights. Any suggestions?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #703 on: February 14, 2014, 01:42:37 PM »
UA connecting in IAH
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #704 on: February 14, 2014, 01:58:06 PM »
Looks like if you connect in EWR taking the direct flt to HNL you get BF w/flatbed seating. If I want to leave from FLL can I call UA and have them book FLL-EWR-HNL for same # of miles as FLL-HNL, in other words is the stop over permitted?

Going from IAH-LIH looks like you get BF w/reclining seat :(  Hubby's 50th B-day, want to make it nice for him!  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #705 on: February 14, 2014, 02:12:09 PM »
Looks like if you connect in EWR taking the direct flt to HNL you get BF w/flatbed seating. If I want to leave from FLL can I call UA and have them book FLL-EWR-HNL for same # of miles as FLL-HNL, in other words is the stop over permitted?

Going from IAH-LIH looks like you get BF w/reclining seat :(  Hubby's 50th B-day, want to make it nice for him!  Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Stopover must be >4 hours I believe, but, yes, it's the same cost. Can be booked online as well. For a time they were flying with BF seating out of IAH, I don't know if/when they stopped
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #706 on: February 14, 2014, 02:24:51 PM »
Thanks!

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #707 on: February 15, 2014, 07:36:56 PM »
I know dan says allow plenty of time to switch gates at HNL but if I am going to KOA, is an hour enough? Landing 1:54 and want to know if I should book the 2:50 or the 3:19.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #708 on: February 15, 2014, 07:43:40 PM »
Depends on if you have to recheck your bags or not.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #709 on: February 15, 2014, 07:54:04 PM »
Depends on if you have to recheck your bags or not.

I assume I have to recheck if Im flying Delta to HNL and HA to KOA right?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #710 on: February 15, 2014, 08:05:56 PM »
I assume I have to recheck if Im flying Delta to HNL and HA to KOA right?

That was probably a stupid question. How long do i need if I have to recheck bags?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #711 on: February 15, 2014, 08:07:54 PM »
I assume I have to recheck if Im flying Delta to HNL and HA to KOA right?
I wouldn't assume that.
Anyone else want to post their experience with DL/HA interlining?
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 #712 on: February 15, 2014, 08:22:44 PM »
I wouldn't assume that.
Anyone else want to post their experience with DL/HA interlining?

Ok I guess it wasnt a stupid question lol

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #713 on: February 15, 2014, 08:23:58 PM »
I wouldn't assume that.
Anyone else want to post their experience with DL/HA interlining?
delta made me miss my connection to hnl and I had booked ha with ua miles. So I got ua to switch my ha flight and got delta to check it through all the way Cuz I had one hour to switch from dl to ha
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #714 on: February 15, 2014, 08:44:52 PM »
delta made me miss my connection to hnl and I had booked ha with ua miles. So I got ua to switch my ha flight and got delta to check it through all the way Cuz I had one hour to switch from dl to ha

Would you say thats a YMMV kinda thing and you only got them to do it because of your situation? Or did it seem like a routine thing you can do?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #715 on: February 15, 2014, 08:46:23 PM »
Would you say thats a YMMV kinda thing and you only got them to do it because of your situation? Or did it seem like a routine thing you can do?
originally I was scheduled to stay the night in hnl and them take a morning ha flight. But if you schedule it close to the dl flight, then maybe it will help you if you ask
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #716 on: February 15, 2014, 08:53:28 PM »
originally I was scheduled to stay the night in hnl and them take a morning ha flight. But if you schedule it close to the dl flight, then maybe it will help you if you ask

I hear. And I guess worst case, there are so many flights to KOA, I can get on standby for the next HA flight right? Or should I be safe and book the later one and if I'm earlier then do standby for the earlier flight?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #717 on: February 15, 2014, 08:53:50 PM »
And I assume an hour is enough if I dont have to recheck luggage?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #718 on: February 15, 2014, 09:08:14 PM »
And I assume an hour is enough if I dont have to recheck luggage?
was plenty of time for me.  Even got to hit up the dl lounge.
Open bar Btw  ;)

I think if u use Dan's Corp account, you get free luggage and free standby, so go with the later one maybe
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #719 on: February 15, 2014, 09:16:12 PM »
What about LIH? Arriving on DL and doing HA to OGG. It's only one terminal, so I'd assume it's a faster process than HNL.

(We were planning on splitting between Kauai and Maui, but in the end decided to spend the whole time on Maui. Hence the nutty JFK-LAX-LIH-HNL-OGG routing.)
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