[Dec. Thread] Your opinions...Hawaii/Maui, Kauai/Maui or Maui/Maui

[taffy19]

I am thinking of booking two weeks in a row next year for our annual Hawaii trek. I am toying with the idea of island hopping so that we can experience another island with the kids. Our travel dates will be Easter week (April 11-18) and the week afterward (April 18-25). With the kids going on 7 and 10, which would you recommend?

1. Hawaii/Maui (HGVC Waikoloa and Westin Ka'anapali)
2. Kauai/Maui (Waiohai and Westin Ka'anapali)
3. Maui/Maui (Westin Ka'anapali North, Westin Ka'anapali)

If your kids like the beach, I would vote for #2. You will like the resort and the weather should be nice. Two weeks to HI is the only way to go or even longer.

 

[ceejay2005]

The Waiohai is a beautiful resort, and the ocean by it has good snorkling. Plenty of "stuff" for the kids to do, and for you to do whatever you want to do,

[SPAM deleted - TUG has a strict rule against self-promotion.-DeniseM Moderator]

 

[LisaRex]

I'm biased towards Maui, too, but the world is a big place so I'd vote for expanding your horizons. If your kids are okay with sitting in a car for a long time, I'd opt for Big Island because there are more places of interest on BI, esp the active volcano. Surely that's something they'll remember for years to come. I'd go there first so that you'll end your vacation someplace that feels like a second home.

I've never been to Kauai, but I picture it being like St. John. The geography is beautiful and great if you are a "seek your own adventure" kind of family, but there's not a lot of touristy things to do. If your kids would be content hiking, snorkeling, and cold chilling then I'd consider this as a viable option. If they wouldn't then I'd opt for BI.

 

[Kona Lovers]

It's naturally hard to suggest anything to someone else. We love it whatever island we go to. Of your choices, if we didn't do number 3 to stay on one island, then it would be number 1 simply because of an easy island hop. Sometimes the island hops can take up too much vacation time if they go to Honolulu first then to the other island. FWIW

You don't have a bad choice whichever way you go. Have a great vacation!

Marty

 

[Henry M.]

I've done 1 & 2 (but stayed at the Sheraton hotel in Hawaii) and I am doing 3 his year. We usually go 1 week to one of the islands followed by 2 weeks in Maui. I sought out an exchange from Starwood into the Waiohai because I wanted to be in Poipu and I like an ocean front resort. The Waiohai resort was very nice though the service wasn't quite to Starwood standards. There were also a lot of locals coming by to surf and it is the only time in Hawaii that I have had something stolen from the beach (a pair of nice flip flops).

Much has to do with what your kids like. I think the volcano national park is great, but it is quite a trek from Kona. When I go to Hawaii the next time I'll probably just go a few days and stay in the Hilo side or near the park. I prefer the other islands for actual beach activities (but I don't know the Hilton location, perhaps the beach is OK there).

There are only a couple of direct flights from Kauai to Maui. If you stop in Honolulu you need to add a couple of hours to your connection, but it is not too bad. You can't check into WKORV until the afternoon anyhow so you might as well stop at Costco.

I would definitely do another island and Maui. Which one would probably depend on where I can find accomodations and air travel (I usually go with frequent flyer miles). Hawaii would probably be easier for me since I use American Airlines and they seem to have better choices into the Big Island, especially on FF miles.

No matter what you'll be in paradise.

 

[missmarie]

beach fun...

For what it's worth, the drive from Waikaloa to Mauna Kea or Hapuna seemed well worth it. The kids with us ranged from 4-14, and some of the adults were prone to motion sickness. (tough crowd). They all spent hours in the water at Hapuna. If you go to Mauna Kea, you have to get there early or they run out of parking.