First Trip to Hawaii for East coasters...

["Roger"]

A vote for at least considering an overnight stay in LA.

Start by doing a price comparison. I don't know how it will come out, but on some trips, I have been able to stay overnight and save money. The savings going in two legs was enough to pay for the hotel. Since I left LA fairly early in the morning, I got to Hawaii much earlier in the day than a straight through flight. That made the first day in Hawaii more relaxing and that carried through for the whole trip.

Well worth it in my opinion.

 

[Hawaiibarb]

Trying not to repeat....

I agree with just about everything people have said. I'm as used to the long flight to NJ as I guess one can be (I have family there), so plan how you'll pass the time. For me, reading works. I would skip the cruise because when you get into port, you don't really have a chance (or the time) to see that island well; I see visitors just poking around in the nearby shops. All the islands are wonderful, for different reasons; that's why the "Revealed" books are so helpful. If you stay at Ko Olina, plan your driving as much as posible to avoid rush hour, because that stretch into Honolulu is wicked! If you stay in Waikiki itself, enjoy the shops and restaurants, but get out of Waikiki to to drive up to the North shore and enjoy the real beauty of Oahu. Lots of people have mentioned it, but I do have to say that Pearl Harbor is very special.....don't miss it!

Don't let the long flight deter you from coming back as often as you can....Hawaii is very special! Somedays I still marvel at my luck that I ended up here to live!

 

[hibbeln]

One last thought then I'll shut up.....

I remember the first time we went with the kids (ages 3 & 6), sometime around the last 2 hours of the flight (a solid 17 hours of travel time) I thought "This is so stupid, there is no way I would ever take this long flight again."

Many years and 4 trips later with the kids.......we're still making that flight and don't mind it one little bit. So worth it!

 

[mepiccolo]

Because you are from the east coast I would not recommend Oahu because if you want the big city feel you can easily go to New York, and if that is the vacation you wanted I think that's where you would go for that type of vacation. I also strongly disagree that the most beautiful beaches are on Oahu. The only memorable beach we saw on Oahu was the one on the military base which is only open to the public on weekends. Other than that we couldn't wait to get to Kauai and considered our 3 days on Oahu a big disappointment (partly due to the rainy weather we had, but mostly due to how crowded everything was, the trafic, the litter, the high rises, the commercial feel everywhere you looked (Subways ON the beach, yuch!) I live in Southern California so I'm not from a small town and I'm used to a lot of people being around so when I go to Hawaii I don't want MORE people than where I'm leaving I also disagree that Maui and Kauai are the same. Kauai is paradise, laid back, friendly and way more tropical than Maui. There is more to do in Maui and the water is calmer and warmer in Maui-it is a little more of a "planned" tourist area whereas Kauai is lush and overgrown. If I was traveling all the way from the east coast to see Hawaii my first time I would be very disappointed with Oahu. I only flew 5 hours from California the first time I went there when I was 18 and I was disappointed, and my second trip back didn't impress me any more than that first visit. I also think a 9 year old may not appreciate the history of what she is seeing at Pearl Harbor, and the surrounding area of Pearl City is really depressed, graffiti ridden. When I was 18 I fell asleep during the tour...it was just way too long of a wait to get in. I mean, remember it's a 9 year old....on vacation. I think as an adult you appreciate more what you are seeing and have more patience to wait hours in line.

 

[auntdef]

Now maybe my (at the time) 10 year old daughter is (was) very mature for her age, but she understood and was very moved by Pearl Harbor. The film touched her and she related it to 9/11 in her lifetime. She was insistent that we toss petals from our leis into the water in memory of those who perished.
She also climbed Diamond Head (with 9 stitches in her knee) and certainly didn't complain anymore then I did (the adult) !

Hawaii is beyond incredibly beautiful with the worlds best beaches, but it also has a facinating history (Hawaiian, American & Hawaiian American) and you should take advantage of more then just the beaches.

The first time we went to Hawaii, we did the BI, Maui & Kauai, when we returned home everyone asked us what we thought of Pearl Harbor. I hadn't realized until then what a mistake we made (we didn't know at the time when, if ever we would be going back) not going to Oahu...our 2nd trip took care of that! On our third trip we spent 3 days at the Ihilani before moving on to Maui & Kauai for 2 weeks...... we are going back this summer and just flying thru HNL.

 

[aliikai2]

Well, were from the west coast

and we go to Kauai almost every year for 2 to 3 weeks.

In 2004 when we brought our oldest and our 3 grandkids, then 11,8.4 they had a great time.

When we tried to take them some place to see something, they always had the same response, do we have to go?
Can't we just stay here and swim or play ?

I have always felt the same, if you want to do things go to Disney.

Going to Hawaii isn't to do, it is to be.

Aloha time is the spirit of the islands, and nothing moves fast, service is average to slow.

Once you have reached the state of Aloha, you will be back.

We have been to all the other islands, they all have their own charm, deciding on your favorite is a personal choice, and you will find many assorted opinions here, so go and enjoy, and develop your own.

jmho,

Greg

 

[Luanne]

Going to Hawaii isn't to do, it is to be.

So, so true.

 

[pharmgirl]

Because you are from the east coast I would not recommend Oahu because if you want the big city feel you can easily go to New York, and if that is the vacation you wanted I think that's where you would go for that type of vacation. I also strongly disagree that the most beautiful beaches are on Oahu. The only memorable beach we saw on Oahu was the one on the military base which is only open to the public on weekends. Other than that we couldn't wait to get to Kauai and considered our 3 days on Oahu a big disappointment (partly due to the rainy weather we had, but mostly due to how crowded everything was, the trafic, the litter, the high rises, the commercial feel everywhere you looked (Subways ON the beach, yuch!)

Maybe better to substitute Honolulu in this comment above for Oahu - the island is not just the city of Honolulu. Fantastic beaches on Oahu - try gorgeous lagoons at the Marriott KoOlina and North Shore. Both are away from Honolulu and waikiki

 

[alanraycole]

Go For It!

My first trip, I hit all four of the major islands because I had to see "it all." Going to Hawaii had been a life-long dream and I didn't know when I might ever be back. I am extremely glad I did it. It satisfied the itch and gave me a few new itches.

If you dream of Hawaii as I did, live your dream. See as many islands as you are tempted to see. You may return home exhausted, but not disappointed. For someone who has never been to Hawaii, but has been dying to see it, I don't think disappointment is a possibility.

I have been back to Hawaii many times since and I have a set plan now. My favorite island, by far, is Kauai. I plan on at least two weeks per trip there. Then, I pick another island for variety's sake each trip. I have been to the Big Island and Oahu several times each. The Big Island is probably my second favorite island because it has a beauty all of its own.

This year my add-on island was Maui. It was only the second time I visited Maui because the first time I visited it, I thought it to be the least interesting, an opinion that was reaffirmed during my latest trip. The main reason I chose it this time was to use it as a launching site to Molokai and Lanai... islands I had never seen. Technically, this means I again hopped around four islands, but only stayed on two.

Yes, I recommend island hopping... as long as one of the islands is Kauai! Kauai is by far the most naturally beautiful. I never said Kauai was the best of everything... just the best of what counts to me... absolute beauty that offers memories that keep me smiling all year long till my next trip. Walk the trails, swim under the waterfalls, sail its seas, and sit on its sea cliffs while absorbing the life that surrounds you.