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 485168 times)

Offline PBaruch

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #900 on: August 27, 2014, 11:35:12 AM »
Well this is the "which island to visit?" thread :P...

Indeed it is.  You know which island I love the best but I am not interested in getting into that heated discussion again.   :)
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Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #901 on: August 27, 2014, 11:40:17 AM »
Well this is the "which island to visit?" thread :P...
lol exactly.

So 1 vote for Maui and 1 vote for the Big Island... lol not sure how else I should be deciding this.

Offline PBaruch

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #902 on: August 27, 2014, 11:44:53 AM »
lol exactly.

So 1 vote for Maui and 1 vote for the Big Island... lol not sure how else I should be deciding this.

If you do decide on the BI, and depending when in January you plan on going, at least 2 DDF folks (besides you) will be there.   :)
What do you do after your dreams come true?

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #903 on: August 27, 2014, 11:45:26 AM »
lol exactly.

So 1 vote for Maui and 1 vote for the Big Island... lol not sure how else I should be deciding this.

If you're not interested in hiking or running around too much I think Maui is a better fit.
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Offline Dan

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #904 on: August 27, 2014, 11:45:37 AM »
lol exactly.

So 1 vote for Maui and 1 vote for the Big Island... lol not sure how else I should be deciding this.

In that case I'll throw in a vote for Kauai though my wife would say Maui.

And SF told you Lanai earlier, so add that to the tally.

Truth is though you should probably looking into something like the Andaz Costa Rica...
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #905 on: August 27, 2014, 11:47:44 AM »
And I forgot to mention, the BI has 2 WM's with ATMs - one on each side of the island.   ;D
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #906 on: August 27, 2014, 11:50:47 AM »
And SF told you Lanai earlier, so add that to the tally.

Once he said that he wants to do some activities I recommended Maui instead. Lanai's amazing for klutzing and relaxing, but there's not too much to do.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #907 on: August 27, 2014, 11:51:37 AM »
Once he said that he wants to do some activities I recommended Maui instead. Lanai's amazing for klutzing and relaxing, but there's not too much to do.
He's looking for activities to be yotzei zayn because we harassed him about flying so long for a beach ;)
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #908 on: August 27, 2014, 11:56:55 AM »
If you do decide on the BI, and depending when in January you plan on going, at least 2 DDF folks (besides you) will be there.   :)
If I can work it out, the week of the 11th.

And I forgot to mention, the BI has 2 WM's with ATMs - one on each side of the island.   ;D
I'm a cashier kinda guy. ;)

He's looking for activities to be yotzei zayn because we harassed him about flying so long for a beach ;)
I think that's right. After getting harassed for Disney, now I'm getting harassed for going to the BEAUTIFUL HAWAII!! How is CR coming into the picture? lol

I thought getting CC's was hard, then I thought spending was hard, then I thought booking award flights/hotels was hard, then I thought planning an itinerary was hard. NOW I know that dealing with you guys helping me decided where to go is hard. :-p

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #909 on: August 27, 2014, 11:59:29 AM »
He's looking for activities to be yotzei zayn because we harassed him about flying so long for a beach ;)
Was thinking the same thing. Next time he should just listen to DW.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #910 on: August 27, 2014, 12:00:46 PM »
Was thinking the same thing. Next time he should just listen to DW.
True, find a house around TPA on the beach and go to Disney for a day.
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #911 on: August 27, 2014, 12:01:23 PM »
I thought getting CC's was hard, then I thought spending was hard, then I thought booking award flights/hotels was hard, then I thought planning an itinerary was hard. NOW I know that dealing with you guys helping me decided where to go is hard. :-p
With all those things there's a workaround, with DDF there's NO workaround.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #912 on: August 27, 2014, 12:06:30 PM »
Was thinking the same thing. Next time he should just listen to DW.
and go to FL? She wasn't pushing that more than HI just that she definitely wants to go there at some point in her life.
True, find a house around TPA on the beach and go to Disney for a day.
When we do Disney, I plan to do it all out, a park a day and/or some Universal time.

What do you go to HI for? I'm honestly curious. Because I want this trip to be a no-thinking trip. I want to fly F and stay in the top Hyatts like everyone writes on here. But I don't want to spend time online finding the cheapest way to make a reservation for activity X and renting a car to go for a 3 hour drive to do activity Y, etc. etc. If that's all HI is about with just enjoying the beach for an afternoon, then I guess I'm wrong in my expectations of the place.

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #913 on: August 27, 2014, 12:11:42 PM »
What do you go to HI for? I'm honestly curious. Because I want this trip to be a no-thinking trip. I want to fly F and stay in the top Hyatts like everyone writes on here. But I don't want to spend time online finding the cheapest way to make a reservation for activity X and renting a car to go for a 3 hour drive to do activity Y, etc. etc. If that's all HI is about with just enjoying the beach for an afternoon, then I guess I'm wrong in my expectations of the place.
[/quote]

I go to Hawaii for this:

What do you do after your dreams come true?

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #915 on: August 27, 2014, 12:18:41 PM »
I'll toss in a vote for Kauai too. Though I might be biased, voting while watching sunrise on the beach here ;)

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #916 on: August 27, 2014, 12:21:08 PM »
I'll toss in a vote for Kauai too. Though I might be biased, voting while watching sunrise on the beach here ;)

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #917 on: August 27, 2014, 12:25:05 PM »
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/6088
I knew it!
Quote
Or just open up your own Starwood AMEX to start earning to the most valuable and flexible travel currency around!
lol
Okay, reading now.
I go to Hawaii for this:

Very cool!

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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #918 on: August 27, 2014, 12:33:55 PM »
I knew it!  lol
2009...that was like 3 devaluations ago and was before Chase UR even existed.
And there were still FFNs :D
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Re: Hawaii Master Thread: General Questions And Which Island To Visit?
« Reply #919 on: August 27, 2014, 12:42:50 PM »
2009...that was like 3 devaluations ago and was before Chase UR even existed.
And there were still FFNs :D
lol

Just finished reading. Well, Kauai sounds awesome! But, from your activities list, I think only the helicopter ride, snorkeling, and Polihale Beach/Queen's Pond would be of interest to us. I guess that is enough activities for 2-3 days though and then 2-3 days at GHK would be nice. If I choose Kauai, does that make sense?