Advice for travel to Hawaii

[geist1223]

As someone else said there is a Costco on every Island. Costco Gas can be 60 cents or more cheaper than non-Costco Gas. Also if you like to occasionally drink alcohol Costco alcohol is cheaper. They have Rum Distilleries on at least Mau'i and Kaua'i. The Rum is cheaper at Costco than at the Distillery. Also Costco in the Islands carries POG in gallon jugs. POG is Passion Fruit Juice, Orange Juice, and Guava Fruit Juice. Our favorite drink is 1/3 Dark Rum and 2/3 POG. Remember to try the Loco Moco. On Mau'i we like it at the Kihe'i Cafe - cash only. On Kaua'i we like it at the Snack Shack attached to the side of Seuoka's Market in Koloa. There are Coffee Plantations on Hawai'i, Mau'i, and Kaua'i. To be called Kona Coffee it only has to contain 10% Kona Coffee Beans. If you buy Kaua'i Plantation Coffee it is 100% Kaua'i Coffee. One of our favorite coffees in the whole world is Maui Mokka Estate Coffee. If I remember correctly this particular cultivar of Mokka is only found on Mau'i.

 

[Big Matt]

I agree with pretty much everything posted. Just remember a few things that nobody other than seasoned travelers realize: 1) connecting flights do get missed especially in the summer and winter with bad weather/storms. Taking that non-stop out of Newark is a really good idea or build in a long layover (not intuitive) somewhere like Houston or Denver to avoid missing connections and not having luggage arrive when you do.....even worse if you fly into Oahu and then puddle jump to another island. 2) You will almost certainly be on a red eye on the way back if you are connecting anywhere at all. 3) you will be jet lagged, and it is worse the longer you are there. Going there isn't too bad, but on the way home it could be as much as 6 hours different so you will be wide awake at 3:00 am eastern time (since it is only 9:00 pm in Hawaii).

My advice is to go for either two or three weeks and spend at least three or four days in California or Arizona on the way back. Two five hour flights over a four day period is nothing like a 12-14 hour flight back with jet lag. You ease your way back into the east coast time zone. As for the Islands, you really need to decide what type of vacation you want. I, like other posters would avoid Oahu. It is too much like Miami, Florida, etc. and parts of it are mobbed and there are interstate freeways and toll roads. Maui is my favorite and has a little of everything and different micro climates. Hawaii is probably the most diverse in terms of geography and changes in micro climates, but it huge and spread out. Kauai is beautiful, but might be too slow. Not nearly as many restaurants as the other islands. If it were up to me I would stay for a week in Maui and another four in San Francisco on the way home for your first visit.

For me, I think you pay a fortune to go to Hawaii in terms of money, time, and inconvenience. I much prefer a quick flight to Florida's west coast or a longer flight to Mexico or the Caribbean.

 

[DaveNV]

For me, I think you pay a fortune to go to Hawaii in terms of money, time, and inconvenience. I much prefer a quick flight to Florida's west coast or a longer flight to Mexico or the Caribbean.

A valid point, except that Florida, Mexico, and the Caribbean are destinations unto themselves, and they are most definitely NOT Hawaii. I've been to them all, and I know there is a very real difference in the experience. If all OP wants to do is lay on a beach, then sure, most any beach with sunshine will do. But if they're interested in Hawaiian history and culture, there's only one location that will do.

Dave

 

[WalnutBaron]

A valid point, except that Florida, Mexico, and the Caribbean are destinations unto themselves, and they are most definitely NOT Hawaii. I've been to them all, and I know there is a very real difference in the experience. If all OP wants to do is lay on a beach, then sure, most any beach with sunshine will do. But if they're interested in Hawaiian history and culture, there's only one location that will do.

Dave

Hear, Hear! I heartily agree with Dave. There's a reason Hawaii is one of the most desirable destinations in all the world--a combination of immense natural beauty, gentle trade winds and highly consistent and predictably mild weather 99% of the time, the true hospitality of both the Hawaiian people and the haoles who live there, and the incomparable Aloha spirit. Nowhere else are all of these elements combined in one location. There's no doubt that those of us who live here on the West Coast have a big advantage in getting there, but I'd still make the trip, even if I lived on the East Coast (which I have). It's worth the extra expense and time--at least for me.

 

[JIMinNC]

Hear, Hear! I heartily agree with Dave. There's a reason Hawaii is one of the most desirable destinations in all the world--a combination of immense natural beauty, gentle trade winds and highly consistent and predictably mild weather 99% of the time, the true hospitality of both the Hawaiian people and the haoles who live there, and the incomparable Aloha spirit. Nowhere else are all of these elements combined in one location. There's no doubt that those of us who live here on the West Coast have a big advantage in getting there, but I'd still make the trip, even if I lived on the East Coast (which I have). It's worth the extra expense and time--at least for me.

I agree 100% as well. Hawaii is most certainly worth the cost and the long flight - IMHO there is no way Florida or the Caribbean compares to Hawaii. They are certainly very nice in their own right, but in my opinion, nowhere compares to Hawaii. It is a very special place with an aura that I haven't found anywhere else.

 

[Big Matt]

For everyone quoting my post, thanks for pointing out what you like. I do love Hawaii and agree that it is very different, but from where I live (DC metro area) it is more of a once every ten year trip. It isn't the cost either, it's more the time and hassle. I would have a very different view if I were on the west coast.

 

[JIMinNC]

For everyone quoting my post, thanks for pointing out what you like. I do love Hawaii and agree that it is very different, but from where I live (DC metro area) it is more of a once every ten year trip. It isn't the cost either, it's more the time and hassle. I would have a very different view if I were on the west coast.

I think we were just trying to point out a different perspective for the benefit of the readers. Clearly, different folks have different priorities and different tolerance for flight times and trip length. We're on the east coast just like you, and for a long time went to Hawaii about every other year. We started going when our kids were toddlers. We haven't been in six years because when our kids got to be teenagers, they wanted to take friends with them on vacation. So we've stuck to drive-to locales in recent years. With empty-nester phase coming up in a few months, we hope to get back to our every-other-year Hawaii rotation. To us, a 12-hour flight is more than worth it to see the West Maui Mountains!

 

[Fredward]

We will be heading to Ko'Olina for the first week of April 2018. We are in the thick of air travel planning as the 11 month booking window is about to open. Any suggestions are welcome. We will likely be traveling via FF miles. So, our choice of carriers may be limited, but experiences with different carriers are welcome advice. Thanks.

We have used FF miles on American/US airways four times to Hawaii. We've been able to get good flights at the 11 month mark but, our last trip didn't work out as well as it was after the merger. To get a Milessaver flight, we initially booked a flight that involved a stopover in San Diego and then connecting to Alaskan Airlines, a code share partner. When Alaska changed their flight time, the connection wouldn't have worked and once they have you on a cochair airline, they couldn't put us on any AA flight-just Alaskan. We ended up finally taking a much earlier flight from the east coast and had a four hour layover in San Diego. Not only is it a terribly long day going over, the unforeseen layover made it really bad. We are now considering the options of a two day trip westbound. We got a great deal miles wise, but in hindsight it wasn't worth it. It probably took us an extra day to recover before we were able to enjoy Maui.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[NTP66]

Personally, I prefer using my AA miles on first class upgrades so that I can get the exact flights that I want, as I'm very picky.

 

[PA Pilot]

I've made 5 flights to Hawaii in the last 4 years from Philly and the best routing that has worked for me was a recent one booked through Google Flights on AA. It was a late evening flight with an overnight flight to LAX. I stayed at the Airport Marriott arriving at 11 pm PST with an 8:30 am departure to HNL. It may have been psychological but I felt better than any other trip (besides a four day stop in LA). Rather than a brutal 11 hours ordeal it was broken up with the ability to lay flat in a bed and get some sleep. This is also possible via DFW, but it's not quite the 50/50 split PHL LAX HNL offers.

Regardless how you get there, the time difference and jet lag are real. Don't expect late nights, and expect early mornings for the first few days. Use this to your advantage in Oahu for sight like Pearl Harbor which open early. I believe Pearl Harbor is a mandatory visit for any American. Also, you can book a reservation and tickets 60 days in advance via the US Parks website.

I also concur with other that you will want to visit at least two islands. And most likely you will fall in love with the islands and be back again.

When we go for vacation it is always for 2 weeks and we try to return on a Friday (with a Saturday arrival) to ensure some recoup time. I personally don't find the recovery on the return that tough, but mainly that's because I'm thrusted back into work.

 

[JIMinNC]

Regardless how you get there, the time difference and jet lag are real. Don't expect late nights, and expect early mornings for the first few days.

I personally don't find the recovery on the return that tough, but mainly that's because I'm thrusted back into work.

It's really interesting how different people react to the travel times. I've read so many people say, just like you, that when they go to Hawaii they can't stay up late and wake up really early for days. I have never had that problem. We usually leave the east coast in the 7-9am time frame and get to Hawaii mid-late afternoon Hawaii time. We'll be tired, but usually go out and grab a bite to eat or at minimum go to the grocery store and get stuff to eat in that first night. By the time we're done and settled into the room, it's often after 10pm Hawaii time. Sometimes we don't get to bed that first night until 11 or after. The next morning I always seem to wake up in 8-9am timeframe like I do at home, and I'm fine for the rest of the trip and go to bed around midnight or so and up by 9am or so (unless we have an early AM activity to do). I'm normally sort of a night owl anyway at home, so that probably helps me on the westbound trip.

Now eastbound is another story...I'm worthless for like two days after getting home. Can't go to sleep at night until 3 or 4am and want to sleep until noon. It's sometimes taken me three or four days to get back to normal.

 

[WyldSmurf]

I have traveled to Hawaii 3 times (Oahu twice and 2 week trip Maui then Kauai) and have done multiple connects and once a direct flight from ORD. I lived in rural WI so we traveled to MSP or ORD (3 hours in car) based on best fare/schedule. I like the single travel day and most direct flight schedule.

You will most likely leave in the early morning and arrive late/afternoon to evening in Hawaii. We would eat then I would run to the grocery store and get to bed at amount the same clock time as we would at home and sleep in and pretty much be ready for the vacation but we would always spend the first full day at the beach/pool.

The first trip we made the mistake of only being 7 days and getting back mid-afternoon Sunday and were very tired at work on Monday, so the following trips have been 14 and 12 days. Since coming back leads to an overnight flight I have changed how when we leave to allow for 1-2 days rest at home. I have done this by scheduling the trips to end Thursday leave Hawaii so we would get back Friday (or Saturday due to a mechanical failure once) so you have some time to recover before you are back to the grind.