Planning a trip to Hawaii - Would appreciate input!

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

I am planning a roughly 2-week vacation to Hawaii in the summer of 2024. I plan to fly to the Big Island, spend a week there and travel to another island - not sure which one, to spend the other week before going back home. Basic information:

I will have DW and multiple pre-teen kids with me.

My family really enjoys outdoor stuff - hiking, scenery, etc. I'm ok with city stuff, but that's not the priority. Swimming is fine but not really interested in just hanging out on the beach or surfing. Not really interested in Luau-style touristy events. Really want to see the volcano, rainforest, etc.

My biggest question is what other island would be the best? I'm also curious about what would be the most can't miss things along the lines of what I've mentioned. Of course, any money-saving tips (best way for lodging, car rentals, etc.) or just any input, in general, would also be appreciated.

I may not have included enough information, and I'd be glad to add anything that would help. Thanks!

[Zamboni]

Sounds like a fun trip!

Watch some youtube videos on things you should remember to bring with you to Hawaii. Sounds like you won't forget your hiking boots!

These are the most remote islands in the world . . . so food is ridiculously expensive. Kids eat A LOT, especially when one of them discovers the joy of the poke bowl while in Hawaii.

Polynesian culture is quite interesting. Even though you want to avoid a touristy luau (which my kids loved, by the way), you probably would enjoy a trip to a Polynesian cultural center.

Have a fun time!

[srrb]

Although a little morbid, we enjoyed visiting subdivisions and highways destroyed by lava. It was an interesting topic that led to bigger conversations with our teens about risk, the power of earth processes, government response and support, due diligence buying real estate, etc. ...

[sonofsven]

I've been to many of the islands but my favorite for vacation is Maui. It's got amazing beaches and great rain forest hikes and it's small enough to get around easily. And it has a Costco by the airport.
Avoid going out to dinner to save money, stay in a place with a kitchen.
I like the Kihei area. Easy drive to Big Beach/Makena and you pass multiple stores on the way there and back where you can get groceries (I like Times supermarket).
I know you said you're not interested in hanging out on the beach (which is crazy to me!) but there's some great beaches for young kids in the Wailea area (Ulua beach, Polo beach) where they will have a great time snorkeling and boogie boarding. Big beach the waves are a little too big for young kids.
The aquarium is also good for kids (and adults).

[snic]

I haven't been there in 15 years, but Molokai has a wonderful, relatively unspoiled rainforest. There are some beautiful hikes and drives through it. Its remoteness, lack of top-notch beaches and lack of tourist infrastructure make it quite a different experience from the other islands. Maui was crowded wherever we went, but we hardly ever ran into another tourist on Molokai. We rented a beach house which, at the time, was quite affordable, and had the little beach (palm-fringed, with a view of Maui) practically to ourselves. There was a reef a few hundred feet out you could snorkel out to. Of course everything was expensive and we mostly cooked our own food rather than eat out. I have no idea what the situation is now in terms of cost and availability of accommodations, but if it's affordable for you it might give you a very different experience for one of your two weeks.

[Catbert]

Book a rental car early and then keep checking back.  I like to book through Costco bc you select a pickup location and it will show you a grid of all the major rental agencies and classes of cars.  Easy to see which is the cheapest to book at the particular moment.  Rental car prices bounce around a lot but can be cancelled without cost.

As someone else mentioned Maui has a Costco conveniently near the airport.  I'm not sure about other islands, but definitely check. 

[kpd905]

Once you do rent the car you can put your reservation info and price into Autoslash and it will alert you anytime the price drops, so you can rebook.

[cheaplynn]

Exciting! I've visited the Big Island, Oahu, and Kauai -- about a week on each island. I loved my time on the Big Island; personally, I would spend the full two weeks there. It's less crowded than the other islands, but you can have experiences that are very similar to the more touristy locations.

Kauai is very pretty, but felt very 'resort-y.' There IS a lot of hiking, but it's pretty intense and a lot of the trails aren't super kid friendly.  The North Shore of Oahu is cool and feels a little more laid back. Nice beaches, some pretty areas to hike. It's probably the most 'family friendly' area of Hawaii I've visited (and I was there was a niece and nephew--ages 4 and 6 at the time--they loved it!)

The Big Island has lots of different landscapes--some areas look like the Mediterranean, some like Wyoming. It's genuinely cool to drive through huge fields of lava. The east coast is dense jungle. The beaches are a little 'wild' but we found some places to swim. The whole island feels kind of rural...but everything is at most 40 minutes from everything else. Hilo is a little rough around the edges but very cool. The Kona side is more traditionally touristy--still very pretty. Grocery stores are expensive, but the farmer's market at Hilo is insanely cheap. We ate great the whole time we were there.  Everyone we met and chatted with was very friendly and had lots of recommendations. I would go back to the Big Island in a heartbeat.

[Telecaster]

Here is my quick breakdown of the various islands:

Big Island:  BI has a little bit of everything and lot of some things.  An active volcano is pretty cool, as well as lush rain forest, near desert conditions, lots of historic lava flows, hiking, nature, and good snorkeling.  BI also has beautiful beaches, but they aren't nearly as accessible as other islands.  For example, Makalawena is one of my favorite beaches in Hawaii but you have to walk about 15 minutes through a lava flow.   So you probably won't be bringing a cooler.   And in general you'll be doing a lot of driving to see things.  Costco is in Kono, where you likely will be staying.

Oahu:  IMO, Oahu is the most scenic--if you could just move all the people off the island.  But still has great beaches and nature, tourist destinations and attractions like Pearl Harbor, and a thriving food and bar scene which the other islands lack (and I'd argue, most other American cities lack).   There are several Costcos on Oahu.

Kauai:  Kauai is all about nature.  It has got some nice beaches and snorkeling, although the latter can be hit or miss due to all the rain.  But the main thing is the lush, wide open scenery makes it feel like a movie set.   Kauai has a very laid back island feel, with a lot of ma and pa operations.  It kind of feels more like Hawaii than the other islands, if that make sense.   Northern beaches can be rough in the winter.  Forget about night life.  The whole island is in bed at 9:00 pm.   Costco is in Lihue by the airport. 

Maui:  Maui checks all the boxes.  It has everything, especially plenty of great, accessible beaches, but lots of great (and unique) nature too.   Downside is everyone knows it checks all the boxes, so it is a popular destination.   There are two main areas where tourists stay: South Maui (Kihei) and West Maui (Lahaina).   It is hotly debated which is better, but I prefer West Maui.  Lahaina has a good food and arts scene.  Kihei not so much.  But Kihei is closer to upcountry, Haleakala, etc.   A big plus for Maui is whale watching in the winter.   You can see whales from other islands, but not like Maui.  On Maui, most bars stay open all the way until 10:00.   Costco is in Kahului by the airport. 

General tips:

Buy some roll up bamboo mats at the ABC store.  They are great for the beach.

I like microfiber towels (like they sell at REI for camping) for beach because they don't collect sand like beach towels.

I strongly recommend getting rash shirts for everyone.  You'll use way less sunscreen, and the tropical sun is no joke.

Speaking of sunscreen, Hawaii requires reef safe mineral sunscreen.   There are no sunscreen police, but that's the right stuff to use.

Most resorts and larger condo complexes have give and take boxes where people can leave their beach chairs, mats, beach boys, etc. for the next guest (less so since COVID).   It is totally hit or miss, but you can score big.   So check there before you buy anything.  Pro tip:   You don't actually have to stay at the complex to raid the box.   Just ask the front desk where the box is. 

Similarly, there are various Facebook groups for people checking of their condos and leaving food behind.

Sign up for the snorkel report.   You can rent snorkel gear (along with beach chairs, boogie boards,  and such if you like) at various places like Boss Frogs or Snorkel Bob's.   You can drop off at any location.

If so inclined, Costco is a great place for Aloha shirts.  They are $20, nice fabric, pocket pattern matches the shirt, etc.   

Pack everything you think you will need, then dump out half of it.   You won't need it.  Some t-shirts, flips, and some shorts is all you need. 

[jeromedawg]

Here is my quick breakdown of the various islands:

Big Island:  BI has a little bit of everything and lot of some things.  An active volcano is pretty cool, as well as lush rain forest, near desert conditions, lots of historic lava flows, hiking, nature, and good snorkeling.  BI also has beautiful beaches, but they aren't nearly as accessible as other islands.  For example, Makalawena is one of my favorite beaches in Hawaii but you have to walk about 15 minutes through a lava flow.   So you probably won't be bringing a cooler.   And in general you'll be doing a lot of driving to see things.  Costco is in Kono, where you likely will be staying.

Oahu:  IMO, Oahu is the most scenic--if you could just move all the people off the island.  But still has great beaches and nature, tourist destinations and attractions like Pearl Harbor, and a thriving food and bar scene which the other islands lack (and I'd argue, most other American cities lack).   There are several Costcos on Oahu.

Kauai:  Kauai is all about nature.  It has got some nice beaches and snorkeling, although the latter can be hit or miss due to all the rain.  But the main thing is the lush, wide open scenery makes it feel like a movie set.   Kauai has a very laid back island feel, with a lot of ma and pa operations.  It kind of feels more like Hawaii than the other islands, if that make sense.   Northern beaches can be rough in the winter.  Forget about night life.  The whole island is in bed at 9:00 pm.   Costco is in Lihue by the airport. 

Maui:  Maui checks all the boxes.  It has everything, especially plenty of great, accessible beaches, but lots of great (and unique) nature too.   Downside is everyone knows it checks all the boxes, so it is a popular destination.   There are two main areas where tourists stay: South Maui (Kihei) and West Maui (Lahaina).   It is hotly debated which is better, but I prefer West Maui.  Lahaina has a good food and arts scene.  Kihei not so much.  But Kihei is closer to upcountry, Haleakala, etc.   A big plus for Maui is whale watching in the winter.   You can see whales from other islands, but not like Maui.  On Maui, most bars stay open all the way until 10:00.   Costco is in Kahului by the airport. 

General tips:

Buy some roll up bamboo mats at the ABC store.  They are great for the beach.

I like microfiber towels (like they sell at REI for camping) for beach because they don't collect sand like beach towels.

I strongly recommend getting rash shirts for everyone.  You'll use way less sunscreen, and the tropical sun is no joke.

Speaking of sunscreen, Hawaii requires reef safe mineral sunscreen.   There are no sunscreen police, but that's the right stuff to use.

Most resorts and larger condo complexes have give and take boxes where people can leave their beach chairs, mats, beach boys, etc. for the next guest (less so since COVID).   It is totally hit or miss, but you can score big.   So check there before you buy anything.  Pro tip:   You don't actually have to stay at the complex to raid the box.   Just ask the front desk where the box is. 

Similarly, there are various Facebook groups for people checking of their condos and leaving food behind.

Sign up for the snorkel report.   You can rent snorkel gear (along with beach chairs, boogie boards,  and such if you like) at various places like Boss Frogs or Snorkel Bob's.   You can drop off at any location.

If so inclined, Costco is a great place for Aloha shirts.  They are $20, nice fabric, pocket pattern matches the shirt, etc.   

Pack everything you think you will need, then dump out half of it.   You won't need it.  Some t-shirts, flips, and some shorts is all you need.

This is an *excellent* write-up and summary! Definitely something to earmark for anyone considering a vacation to Hawaii and in need of advice.

OP, if you're into nature, it sounds like Kauai might be the place for you. Although, Maui would also be great too, in particular Haleakala and Road to Hana (where you can stop-off and multiple points and explore everything from beaches to rainforests and waterfalls... the drive can be pretty windy though, so a word of caution if any of you are prone to carsickness).

[clifp]

This is an *excellent* write-up and summary! Definitely something to earmark for anyone considering a vacation to Hawaii and in need of advice.

OP, if you're into nature, it sounds like Kauai might be the place for you. Although, Maui would also be great too, in particular Haleakala and Road to Hana (where you can stop-off and multiple points and explore everything from beaches to rainforests and waterfalls... the drive can be pretty windy though, so a word of caution if any of you are prone to carsickness).

I agree, it is very rare for me to not nitpick a Hawaii guide from somebody who hasn't lived here a long time.  I'll just reiterate Costco is your friend for saving money. On the mainland, Costco typically gets 3 times as much for twice the cost. In Hawaii, it's generally twice as much for the same amount, so a gallon of milk or two dozen eggs, at Costcois the same as 1/2 gallon or dozen eggs at many supermarkets.

As far as nature goes the Big Island is the best and also the least crowded. I'm personally not a huge fan of Kauai, except for couples. My friends who've visited it found the kids were bored.  Between Oahu and Maui, Maui will be more expensive but also less crowded. If you spend a day or two visiting Volcano National Park on the Big Island, I'm not sure you'll really get that much out of going to see Haleakalā on Maui, but upcountry Maui is lovely and the road to Hana will be an adventure.   Waikiki is generally a blast for kids, even if it is bit much for parents.  Oahu has Sea Life park, and water park. Maui has a very nice aquarium. Both islands have plenty places to hike.  Oahu has more affordable restaurants, and better shopping.

[jeromedawg]

This is an *excellent* write-up and summary! Definitely something to earmark for anyone considering a vacation to Hawaii and in need of advice.

OP, if you're into nature, it sounds like Kauai might be the place for you. Although, Maui would also be great too, in particular Haleakala and Road to Hana (where you can stop-off and multiple points and explore everything from beaches to rainforests and waterfalls... the drive can be pretty windy though, so a word of caution if any of you are prone to carsickness).

I agree, it is very rare for me to not nitpick a Hawaii guide from somebody who hasn't lived here a long time.  I'll just reiterate Costco is your friend for saving money. On the mainland, Costco typically gets 3 times as much for twice the cost. In Hawaii, it's generally twice as much for the same amount, so a gallon of milk or two dozen eggs, at Costcois the same as 1/2 gallon or dozen eggs at many supermarkets.

As far as nature goes the Big Island is the best and also the least crowded. I'm personally not a huge fan of Kauai, except for couples. My friends who've visited it found the kids were bored.  Between Oahu and Maui, Maui will be more expensive but also less crowded. If you spend a day or two visiting Volcano National Park on the Big Island, I'm not sure you'll really get that much out of going to see Haleakalā on Maui, but upcountry Maui is lovely and the road to Hana will be an adventure.   Waikiki is generally a blast for kids, even if it is bit much for parents.  Oahu has Sea Life park, and water park. Maui has a very nice aquarium. Both islands have plenty places to hike.  Oahu has more affordable restaurants, and better shopping.

Oh yes, I fully agree on the repeated suggestions of stopping by Costco. If you don't want to buy in bulk, Walmart is another option too (well, at least it is for us when we go to Maui). As a side: the only time I ever usually buy steaks is when we go to Costco in Hawaii...LOL. It's always good picking up a pack, seasoning with Hawaiian pink salt and throwing them on the grill with some sweet onions and pineapple. 

If in Maui, don't neglect to check out Iao Valley too.

[Telecaster]

Oh yes, I fully agree on the repeated suggestions of stopping by Costco. If you don't want to buy in bulk, Walmart is another option too (well, at least it is for us when we go to Maui). As a side: the only time I ever usually buy steaks is when we go to Costco in Hawaii...LOL. It's always good picking up a pack, seasoning with Hawaiian pink salt and throwing them on the grill with some sweet onions and pineapple. 

If in Maui, don't neglect to check out Iao Valley too.

Ioa Valley is great.   At the base is Kepaniwai Park, which has a Japanese Temple along with exhibits about Hawaii's immigrant past, and very lovely themed gardens and a great place for a picnic lunch.  All for free. 

Even if you are not doing doing sunrise or sunset, the Haleakalā park pass includes the Pipiwa Trail, which is a highlight on the road to Hana.  You can get a Hawaiʻi Tri-Park pass, which will certainly benefit the OP who is going to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes park anyway.  The Hawaiʻi Tri-Park pass is upgradable to a National Park Pass as well. 

The Wal-Mart in Kahului is...kind of a dump.  You can get better everything at the Kahului Target, or the Safeway/Times/Foodland in Kihei or Lahaina. 

[jeromedawg]

Oh yes, I fully agree on the repeated suggestions of stopping by Costco. If you don't want to buy in bulk, Walmart is another option too (well, at least it is for us when we go to Maui). As a side: the only time I ever usually buy steaks is when we go to Costco in Hawaii...LOL. It's always good picking up a pack, seasoning with Hawaiian pink salt and throwing them on the grill with some sweet onions and pineapple. 

If in Maui, don't neglect to check out Iao Valley too.

Ioa Valley is great.   At the base is Kepaniwai Park, which has a Japanese Temple along with exhibits about Hawaii's immigrant past, and very lovely themed gardens and a great place for a picnic lunch.  All for free. 

Even if you are not doing doing sunrise or sunset, the Haleakalā park pass includes the Pipiwa Trail, which is a highlight on the road to Hana.  You can get a Hawaiʻi Tri-Park pass, which will certainly benefit the OP who is going to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes park anyway.  The Hawaiʻi Tri-Park pass is upgradable to a National Park Pass as well. 

The Wal-Mart in Kahului is...kind of a dump.  You can get better everything at the Kahului Target, or the Safeway/Times/Foodland in Kihei or Lahaina.

Didn't know that about the National Parks Pass! So does that mean that if you have the National Parks Pass you can gain entrance into the Hawaii parks too?

Yea, the Walmart there is a dump now that you mention it (just like how most of them anywhere else are) hahahaha.  I was just mentioning it out the convenience location wise, but yea I'm sure there are much better places worth shopping at than there now that you mention it.

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

Sounds like a fun trip!

Watch some youtube videos on things you should remember to bring with you to Hawaii. Sounds like you won't forget your hiking boots!

These are the most remote islands in the world . . . so food is ridiculously expensive. Kids eat A LOT, especially when one of them discovers the joy of the poke bowl while in Hawaii.

Polynesian culture is quite interesting. Even though you want to avoid a touristy luau (which my kids loved, by the way), you probably would enjoy a trip to a Polynesian cultural center.

Have a fun time!

Great idea about items to not forget. I hadn't thought that far, but that makes a lot of sense. The food cost is something I would imagine would be expensive, so I was hoping to be strategic with eating out and do most of the rest as cooking/quick sandwich type meals. The poke bowl sounds interesting and something that I'll need to try at least once. I'll keep the Polynesian culture aspect in mind. I'm not super against a luau - the kids would probably enjoy it, good point. It just seemed really expensive, and I'm not sure if we would enjoy it enough to be worth it.

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

Although a little morbid, we enjoyed visiting subdivisions and highways destroyed by lava. It was an interesting topic that led to bigger conversations with our teens about risk, the power of earth processes, government response and support, due diligence buying real estate, etc. ...

That does sound interesting. The power of nature is a fascinating topic.

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

I've been to many of the islands but my favorite for vacation is Maui. It's got amazing beaches and great rain forest hikes and it's small enough to get around easily. And it has a Costco by the airport.
Avoid going out to dinner to save money, stay in a place with a kitchen.
I like the Kihei area. Easy drive to Big Beach/Makena and you pass multiple stores on the way there and back where you can get groceries (I like Times supermarket).
I know you said you're not interested in hanging out on the beach (which is crazy to me!) but there's some great beaches for young kids in the Wailea area (Ulua beach, Polo beach) where they will have a great time snorkeling and boogie boarding. Big beach the waves are a little too big for young kids.
The aquarium is also good for kids (and adults).

Thanks for the plug for Maui. That's definitely one of the top two or three ideas for places to go, and the way you describe it - rain forest hikes, beaches, and ease of getting around sounds great. I'll have to look into the Kihei area.

Thanks for the information on beaches. That part of it does sound fun. I do like the beach. We go semi-regularly, to the point where a "beach day" in general is not as appealing, especially since we go so much. The kids may be able to handle a little snorkeling, though, and boogie boarding is also fun, so some of those beaches you mentioned for the younger kids could definitely provide some fun.

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

I haven't been there in 15 years, but Molokai has a wonderful, relatively unspoiled rainforest. There are some beautiful hikes and drives through it. Its remoteness, lack of top-notch beaches and lack of tourist infrastructure make it quite a different experience from the other islands. Maui was crowded wherever we went, but we hardly ever ran into another tourist on Molokai. We rented a beach house which, at the time, was quite affordable, and had the little beach (palm-fringed, with a view of Maui) practically to ourselves. There was a reef a few hundred feet out you could snorkel out to. Of course everything was expensive and we mostly cooked our own food rather than eat out. I have no idea what the situation is now in terms of cost and availability of accommodations, but if it's affordable for you it might give you a very different experience for one of your two weeks.

Oh cool, that does sound intriguing! It sounds like something I would love to do with DW, especially but that could also be fun with kids. I haven't heard much about the island (which makes sense given your description), but I'll look into it.

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

Book a rental car early and then keep checking back.  I like to book through Costco bc you select a pickup location and it will show you a grid of all the major rental agencies and classes of cars.  Easy to see which is the cheapest to book at the particular moment.  Rental car prices bounce around a lot but can be cancelled without cost.

As someone else mentioned Maui has a Costco conveniently near the airport.  I'm not sure about other islands, but definitely check.

Thanks for the information and ideas! Renting a car on the island was something I was curious about. We don't have a Costco membership, but it might be worth getting one for the trip.

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

Once you do rent the car you can put your reservation info and price into Autoslash and it will alert you anytime the price drops, so you can rebook.

Very cool. I had never heard of this but sounds very useful!

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

Exciting! I've visited the Big Island, Oahu, and Kauai -- about a week on each island. I loved my time on the Big Island; personally, I would spend the full two weeks there. It's less crowded than the other islands, but you can have experiences that are very similar to the more touristy locations.

Kauai is very pretty, but felt very 'resort-y.' There IS a lot of hiking, but it's pretty intense and a lot of the trails aren't super kid friendly.  The North Shore of Oahu is cool and feels a little more laid back. Nice beaches, some pretty areas to hike. It's probably the most 'family friendly' area of Hawaii I've visited (and I was there was a niece and nephew--ages 4 and 6 at the time--they loved it!)

The Big Island has lots of different landscapes--some areas look like the Mediterranean, some like Wyoming. It's genuinely cool to drive through huge fields of lava. The east coast is dense jungle. The beaches are a little 'wild' but we found some places to swim. The whole island feels kind of rural...but everything is at most 40 minutes from everything else. Hilo is a little rough around the edges but very cool. The Kona side is more traditionally touristy--still very pretty. Grocery stores are expensive, but the farmer's market at Hilo is insanely cheap. We ate great the whole time we were there.  Everyone we met and chatted with was very friendly and had lots of recommendations. I would go back to the Big Island in a heartbeat.

Thanks for the perspective on Kauai and Oahu. That's awesome about the Big Island. I hadn't thought about spending two weeks there, but it sounds appealing. The differing landscapes are something that's always appealed to me about Hawaii, so I'll definitely have to do some driving and see the differing scenery. Great idea about the farmer's market - wasn't thinking of that at all.

[jeromedawg]

If you go to Maui in particular, keep your eyes peeled for the "huli huli chicken" or "huli huli" pop-up tents with a big rotisserie and fire going. Its worth stopping for... Unless you're vegan or hate eating chicken lol. The other islands probably have this too but for some reason I've noticed its a bigger deal on Maui.

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

Here is my quick breakdown of the various islands:

Big Island:  BI has a little bit of everything and lot of some things.  An active volcano is pretty cool, as well as lush rain forest, near desert conditions, lots of historic lava flows, hiking, nature, and good snorkeling.  BI also has beautiful beaches, but they aren't nearly as accessible as other islands.  For example, Makalawena is one of my favorite beaches in Hawaii but you have to walk about 15 minutes through a lava flow.   So you probably won't be bringing a cooler.   And in general you'll be doing a lot of driving to see things.  Costco is in Kono, where you likely will be staying.

Oahu:  IMO, Oahu is the most scenic--if you could just move all the people off the island.  But still has great beaches and nature, tourist destinations and attractions like Pearl Harbor, and a thriving food and bar scene which the other islands lack (and I'd argue, most other American cities lack).   There are several Costcos on Oahu.

Kauai:  Kauai is all about nature.  It has got some nice beaches and snorkeling, although the latter can be hit or miss due to all the rain.  But the main thing is the lush, wide open scenery makes it feel like a movie set.   Kauai has a very laid back island feel, with a lot of ma and pa operations.  It kind of feels more like Hawaii than the other islands, if that make sense.   Northern beaches can be rough in the winter.  Forget about night life.  The whole island is in bed at 9:00 pm.   Costco is in Lihue by the airport. 

Maui:  Maui checks all the boxes.  It has everything, especially plenty of great, accessible beaches, but lots of great (and unique) nature too.   Downside is everyone knows it checks all the boxes, so it is a popular destination.   There are two main areas where tourists stay: South Maui (Kihei) and West Maui (Lahaina).   It is hotly debated which is better, but I prefer West Maui.  Lahaina has a good food and arts scene.  Kihei not so much.  But Kihei is closer to upcountry, Haleakala, etc.   A big plus for Maui is whale watching in the winter.   You can see whales from other islands, but not like Maui.  On Maui, most bars stay open all the way until 10:00.   Costco is in Kahului by the airport. 

General tips:

Buy some roll up bamboo mats at the ABC store.  They are great for the beach.

I like microfiber towels (like they sell at REI for camping) for beach because they don't collect sand like beach towels.

I strongly recommend getting rash shirts for everyone.  You'll use way less sunscreen, and the tropical sun is no joke.

Speaking of sunscreen, Hawaii requires reef safe mineral sunscreen.   There are no sunscreen police, but that's the right stuff to use.

Most resorts and larger condo complexes have give and take boxes where people can leave their beach chairs, mats, beach boys, etc. for the next guest (less so since COVID).   It is totally hit or miss, but you can score big.   So check there before you buy anything.  Pro tip:   You don't actually have to stay at the complex to raid the box.   Just ask the front desk where the box is. 

Similarly, there are various Facebook groups for people checking of their condos and leaving food behind.

Sign up for the snorkel report.   You can rent snorkel gear (along with beach chairs, boogie boards,  and such if you like) at various places like Boss Frogs or Snorkel Bob's.   You can drop off at any location.

If so inclined, Costco is a great place for Aloha shirts.  They are $20, nice fabric, pocket pattern matches the shirt, etc.   

Pack everything you think you will need, then dump out half of it.   You won't need it.  Some t-shirts, flips, and some shorts is all you need.

Wow! Thanks so much for the comprehensive overview! There's a lot here I'm going to look into, but my first thought/question is would you say that Oahu or Maui is more crowded?

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

Here is my quick breakdown of the various islands:

Big Island:  BI has a little bit of everything and lot of some things.  An active volcano is pretty cool, as well as lush rain forest, near desert conditions, lots of historic lava flows, hiking, nature, and good snorkeling.  BI also has beautiful beaches, but they aren't nearly as accessible as other islands.  For example, Makalawena is one of my favorite beaches in Hawaii but you have to walk about 15 minutes through a lava flow.   So you probably won't be bringing a cooler.   And in general you'll be doing a lot of driving to see things.  Costco is in Kono, where you likely will be staying.

Oahu:  IMO, Oahu is the most scenic--if you could just move all the people off the island.  But still has great beaches and nature, tourist destinations and attractions like Pearl Harbor, and a thriving food and bar scene which the other islands lack (and I'd argue, most other American cities lack).   There are several Costcos on Oahu.

Kauai:  Kauai is all about nature.  It has got some nice beaches and snorkeling, although the latter can be hit or miss due to all the rain.  But the main thing is the lush, wide open scenery makes it feel like a movie set.   Kauai has a very laid back island feel, with a lot of ma and pa operations.  It kind of feels more like Hawaii than the other islands, if that make sense.   Northern beaches can be rough in the winter.  Forget about night life.  The whole island is in bed at 9:00 pm.   Costco is in Lihue by the airport. 

Maui:  Maui checks all the boxes.  It has everything, especially plenty of great, accessible beaches, but lots of great (and unique) nature too.   Downside is everyone knows it checks all the boxes, so it is a popular destination.   There are two main areas where tourists stay: South Maui (Kihei) and West Maui (Lahaina).   It is hotly debated which is better, but I prefer West Maui.  Lahaina has a good food and arts scene.  Kihei not so much.  But Kihei is closer to upcountry, Haleakala, etc.   A big plus for Maui is whale watching in the winter.   You can see whales from other islands, but not like Maui.  On Maui, most bars stay open all the way until 10:00.   Costco is in Kahului by the airport. 

General tips:

Buy some roll up bamboo mats at the ABC store.  They are great for the beach.

I like microfiber towels (like they sell at REI for camping) for beach because they don't collect sand like beach towels.

I strongly recommend getting rash shirts for everyone.  You'll use way less sunscreen, and the tropical sun is no joke.

Speaking of sunscreen, Hawaii requires reef safe mineral sunscreen.   There are no sunscreen police, but that's the right stuff to use.

Most resorts and larger condo complexes have give and take boxes where people can leave their beach chairs, mats, beach boys, etc. for the next guest (less so since COVID).   It is totally hit or miss, but you can score big.   So check there before you buy anything.  Pro tip:   You don't actually have to stay at the complex to raid the box.   Just ask the front desk where the box is. 

Similarly, there are various Facebook groups for people checking of their condos and leaving food behind.

Sign up for the snorkel report.   You can rent snorkel gear (along with beach chairs, boogie boards,  and such if you like) at various places like Boss Frogs or Snorkel Bob's.   You can drop off at any location.

If so inclined, Costco is a great place for Aloha shirts.  They are $20, nice fabric, pocket pattern matches the shirt, etc.   

Pack everything you think you will need, then dump out half of it.   You won't need it.  Some t-shirts, flips, and some shorts is all you need.

This is an *excellent* write-up and summary! Definitely something to earmark for anyone considering a vacation to Hawaii and in need of advice.

OP, if you're into nature, it sounds like Kauai might be the place for you. Although, Maui would also be great too, in particular Haleakala and Road to Hana (where you can stop-off and multiple points and explore everything from beaches to rainforests and waterfalls... the drive can be pretty windy though, so a word of caution if any of you are prone to carsickness).

Thanks for the information. If we go to Maui, that sounds wonderful. Thankfully, no one has any car sickness issues, so we should be good, and a scenic drive with stop off points sounds great.

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

This is an *excellent* write-up and summary! Definitely something to earmark for anyone considering a vacation to Hawaii and in need of advice.

OP, if you're into nature, it sounds like Kauai might be the place for you. Although, Maui would also be great too, in particular Haleakala and Road to Hana (where you can stop-off and multiple points and explore everything from beaches to rainforests and waterfalls... the drive can be pretty windy though, so a word of caution if any of you are prone to carsickness).

I agree, it is very rare for me to not nitpick a Hawaii guide from somebody who hasn't lived here a long time.  I'll just reiterate Costco is your friend for saving money. On the mainland, Costco typically gets 3 times as much for twice the cost. In Hawaii, it's generally twice as much for the same amount, so a gallon of milk or two dozen eggs, at Costcois the same as 1/2 gallon or dozen eggs at many supermarkets.

As far as nature goes the Big Island is the best and also the least crowded. I'm personally not a huge fan of Kauai, except for couples. My friends who've visited it found the kids were bored.  Between Oahu and Maui, Maui will be more expensive but also less crowded. If you spend a day or two visiting Volcano National Park on the Big Island, I'm not sure you'll really get that much out of going to see Haleakalā on Maui, but upcountry Maui is lovely and the road to Hana will be an adventure.   Waikiki is generally a blast for kids, even if it is bit much for parents.  Oahu has Sea Life park, and water park. Maui has a very nice aquarium. Both islands have plenty places to hike.  Oahu has more affordable restaurants, and better shopping.

Thanks for the Oahu/Maui comparisons. I need to try to plan some stuff more for the kids like a water park/aquarium, so that stuff is good to keep in mind.

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

Oh yes, I fully agree on the repeated suggestions of stopping by Costco. If you don't want to buy in bulk, Walmart is another option too (well, at least it is for us when we go to Maui). As a side: the only time I ever usually buy steaks is when we go to Costco in Hawaii...LOL. It's always good picking up a pack, seasoning with Hawaiian pink salt and throwing them on the grill with some sweet onions and pineapple. 

If in Maui, don't neglect to check out Iao Valley too.

Ioa Valley is great.   At the base is Kepaniwai Park, which has a Japanese Temple along with exhibits about Hawaii's immigrant past, and very lovely themed gardens and a great place for a picnic lunch.  All for free. 

Even if you are not doing doing sunrise or sunset, the Haleakalā park pass includes the Pipiwa Trail, which is a highlight on the road to Hana.  You can get a Hawaiʻi Tri-Park pass, which will certainly benefit the OP who is going to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes park anyway.  The Hawaiʻi Tri-Park pass is upgradable to a National Park Pass as well. 

The Wal-Mart in Kahului is...kind of a dump.  You can get better everything at the Kahului Target, or the Safeway/Times/Foodland in Kihei or Lahaina.

Great information here! I, too, am curious if a National Park Pass would work, but even if not, it's probably going to be worth it to get the Tri-Park pass, which I hadn't heard of.

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

If you go to Maui in particular, keep your eyes peeled for the "huli huli chicken" or "huli huli" pop-up tents with a big rotisserie and fire going. Its worth stopping for... Unless you're vegan or hate eating chicken lol. The other islands probably have this too but for some reason I've noticed its a bigger deal on Maui.

I definitely like chicken, as does the family. That kind of thing specific to Hawaii or a section of is something I like to try when going places. Thanks!

[Telecaster]

Wow! Thanks so much for the comprehensive overview! There's a lot here I'm going to look into, but my first thought/question is would you say that Oahu or Maui is more crowded?

For sure Oahu.  Oahu has a far bigger resident population and much bigger tourist census and a somewhat smaller island.   But that's not all bad.  There are a lot more dining/shopping/tourist experiences that go along with that. 

[GilesMM]

Maui has it all. You don’t really need to visit other islands, but no harm.

[Telecaster]

Didn't know that about the National Parks Pass! So does that mean that if you have the National Parks Pass you can gain entrance into the Hawaii parks too?

Yep, they are all part of the National Parks system.  I forget how it works exactly, but a day pass to a single park is like $30, but an annual Hawaii park pass is like $60.  And you can credit that to upgrade later to a National Parks pass too. 

The poke bowl sounds interesting and something that I'll need to try at least once. I'll keep the Polynesian culture aspect in mind. I'm not super against a luau - the kids would probably enjoy it, good point. It just seemed really expensive, and I'm not sure if we would enjoy it enough to be worth it.

My wife an I sometimes joke that we don't mind doing touristy stuff when we travel...because we're tourists.   That said, I held off doing a luau for ages.  That idea just seemed a little too touristy/fakery for me.  But I finally did and it was great!   The food was good, but the dancing was really top notch.   Outstanding performance.  I get the expense part though.  It isn't cheap, and taking the whole family might be cost prohibitive.  Cool experience though.   

Re: Food.  My fave place to get poke is the Times Supermarket.   Seems like a poke place would be better, but I like the grocery store stuff.   It is fun to get a couple different varieties and share.

[snic]

Once you do rent the car you can put your reservation info and price into Autoslash and it will alert you anytime the price drops, so you can rebook.

Very cool. I had never heard of this but sounds very useful!

You can also use Autoslash to find a rental (not just track it). You enter your info and a few minutes later it sends you an email with a list of options. The delayed response is a bit odd, but it has reliably saved me money probably a dozen times or more. The only exception is that in some car rental markets, small local companies give much better value than the international chains, and they aren't always listed by Autoslash. But if it's a standard market, such as a big US airport, I don't even bother looking elsewhere anymore.

The price tracker feature is also great - that has also saved me money.

[GilesMM]

Once you do rent the car you can put your reservation info and price into Autoslash and it will alert you anytime the price drops, so you can rebook.

Very cool. I had never heard of this but sounds very useful!

You can also use Autoslash to find a rental (not just track it). You enter your info and a few minutes later it sends you an email with a list of options. The delayed response is a bit odd, but it has reliably saved me money probably a dozen times or more. The only exception is that in some car rental markets, small local companies give much better value than the international chains, and they aren't always listed by Autoslash. But if it's a standard market, such as a big US airport, I don't even bother looking elsewhere anymore.

The price tracker feature is also great - that has also saved me money.

Hawaiian Rent A Car on Maui is amazing.  You will never use a chain place again; Hawaiian has amazing service, local-style cars, and great prices.  I wish I had found them years ago!

[Archipelago]

Another poster suggested it above, and I'll agree. Big Island has what you're looking for and there's no need to visit another island. Stay the whole 2 weeks on the Big Island. You'll save $ that way by getting a better rental housing deal, fewer flights, fewer car rental fees, etc. Save your money and put it towards other things. I.e. renting snorkel equipment, staying a day in Volcano, going up to Mauna Kea for stargazing, etc.

Another thing - one week on each island would feel like you need to squeeze in a lot of things in each day and have a really tight schedule. Hawaii is not a place that can be appreciated that way. I'd suggest a loose schedule and giving room for exploration time. You never know when you'll find a random cave or forest that isn't normally touristed.

I can't emphasize this enough - Big Island is underrated IMO and not generally the island Hawaii is 'known for'. 2 weeks is the minimum for a trip there.

My wife and I visited BI for a month and did a lot, and by the time we went back to the mainland, we felt that there were still TONS of things to do. Big Island is cheaper, less touristy, and less crowded. You will not run out of things to do, and there are plenty of teen-friendly things.

I'd suggest staying on the Kona side. There's a Costco there and the weather is gorgeous. Completely different weather, rainforests, etc. are only an hour drive to the other side of the island.

Start saving Chase Ultimate rewards points now. You can book things through the Chase Travel Portal and get good point redemption value that way. If you have a Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve card, even better bonuses.

The number one thing there I'll suggest is Pololu Valley. Seeing that place changed my life. You get a good understanding of Hawaiian culture and why the land is sacred. Insanely powerful experience.

Another mandatory thing? Watch the sunset every day, no exceptions or questions asked.

I could give a whole list of spots to visit and activity suggestions depending on specific interests in your group. I could also give suggestions for 'hang loose' itineraries that are very basic planning but enough time baked in to explore. I could talk about Hawaii for hours haha.

My wife and I were on the Big Island 2 years ago this time and it changed our lives forever. You will absolutely love it.

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

Didn't know that about the National Parks Pass! So does that mean that if you have the National Parks Pass you can gain entrance into the Hawaii parks too?

Yep, they are all part of the National Parks system.  I forget how it works exactly, but a day pass to a single park is like $30, but an annual Hawaii park pass is like $60.  And you can credit that to upgrade later to a National Parks pass too. 

The poke bowl sounds interesting and something that I'll need to try at least once. I'll keep the Polynesian culture aspect in mind. I'm not super against a luau - the kids would probably enjoy it, good point. It just seemed really expensive, and I'm not sure if we would enjoy it enough to be worth it.

My wife an I sometimes joke that we don't mind doing touristy stuff when we travel...because we're tourists.   That said, I held off doing a luau for ages.  That idea just seemed a little too touristy/fakery for me.  But I finally did and it was great!   The food was good, but the dancing was really top notch.   Outstanding performance.  I get the expense part though.  It isn't cheap, and taking the whole family might be cost prohibitive.  Cool experience though.   

Re: Food.  My fave place to get poke is the Times Supermarket.   Seems like a poke place would be better, but I like the grocery store stuff.   It is fun to get a couple different varieties and share.

Thanks for the info on the National Park stuff and the Times Supermarket info. If I end up anywhere near a Times Supermarket, I'll have to try it! I'll definitely keep the luua in mind. It does sound fun, albeit expensive.

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

Once you do rent the car you can put your reservation info and price into Autoslash and it will alert you anytime the price drops, so you can rebook.

Very cool. I had never heard of this but sounds very useful!

You can also use Autoslash to find a rental (not just track it). You enter your info and a few minutes later it sends you an email with a list of options. The delayed response is a bit odd, but it has reliably saved me money probably a dozen times or more. The only exception is that in some car rental markets, small local companies give much better value than the international chains, and they aren't always listed by Autoslash. But if it's a standard market, such as a big US airport, I don't even bother looking elsewhere anymore.

The price tracker feature is also great - that has also saved me money.

Hawaiian Rent A Car on Maui is amazing.  You will never use a chain place again; Hawaiian has amazing service, local-style cars, and great prices.  I wish I had found them years ago!

Thanks for the recommendation of this and Maui in general!

[hdatontodo]

Ride the submarine in Maui.

I've been there 3X.

There is this blue covered guidebook that I use.

Maui Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook https://a.co/d/ehNsYxh


Sent from my SM-G991U1 using Tapatalk

[clarkfan1979]

I will echo similar comments about over-scheduling yourself for a Hawaii trip. You will plan some activities. Try to allow more time inbetween the activities so you are not rushed. If you are rushed, it kind of ruins a Hawaii vacation. You will also be fighting against the local culture if you trying to race everywhere.

If you go to Kauai, "island cars" rental agency is a cheaper option than the airport rentals. They are scratch & dent rental cars. I never understood people who book $1200/night rooms at fancy hotels and spend all their time away from the hotel. In my personal opinion, if you are paying big bucks for a nice hotel with a pool, use it. If you will only be sleeping at the hotel, you don't need to go big on fancy hotel.

If you end up going to Kauai, feel free to email me any specific questions. I lived on Kauai full-time from 2015-2019 and still visit about 2-3/times per year.