Holiday to Hawaii with kids

[RosieLeaLovesTea]

Hi all
It’s DHs 40th birthday this year. We are thinking of going to Hawaii with our 2 kids: 8 and 6. Has anyone done this trip? Recommendations on places to stay and things to see?
Thanks!

It’s a loooong way! I think a friend said 18 hours. She didn’t think it was wonderful. Preferred Caribbean. Why Hawaii?

The flight is long. Really long. When I went, we flew 10 hours to Seattle then 6 hours to Honolulu. Not a journey I’d want to make with young children.

It was amazing though and I definitely want to go back.

There's much nicer places for a big holiday!

It's a v v long flight away, high rise hotels and full of American tourists. Not the tropical paradise I was imagining!

The only people I know who went there said that it wasn't worth the long flight.

Go to Mexico instead.

We went in 2018 - was amazing! Flew to San Francisco and stayed 3 nights - went to Alcatraz and golden gate bridge at dawn Thanks to jet lag

Flew to Big Island for a week. Fab beaches and really recommend Lava Lava beach club restaurant.

Took a small plane to Maui. Road trip to Hana and eucalyptus trees wonderful. Fantastic first trip snorkeling on the monokini crater. Pacific whale foundation have their own bbq on the boat. Then took a helicopter trip around Maui. Amazing

My kids were 13 & 9 and none of us will ever forget it.

Research and go for it.

It is very expensive once you are there. Groceries and eating out is eye watering. But a real once in a life time trip.

Avoid Oahu. Waikiki really could be anywhere. Nice beach, high rise hotels etc. Think you might get a more Hawaiin experience on one of the other islands.

I live in a suburb of Vancouver and there's a local joke that if you go to Hawaii on holiday, you see all of your neighbours there too. I haven't been for years but it's a very popular destination.

My dbro/DSIL went to hawaii on holiday and said it was soulless and dull. They much preferred carribean or bali. They ended up out in hawaii on the big island, not the main holiday one, for a couple of years on a secondment a few years later and said it is a great place to live in the ex-pat community and getting involved in the local communities once you get used to the place but terrible for holidays. We did plan to visit while they were there but ds was going through exam years and we couldnt get long enough off to make it worth the trek over, my dsis went and said it was nice enough to visit but wouldnt go back.

I love the Hawaiian islands, I’ve been all over Maui, Big Island, Kauai & Oahu and the only place that’s full of high rises is Waikiki. So please don’t listen to people who say that’s all there is, they are very wrong.

There’s tons to do with kids, especially if they like the outdoors and being active. Why not tell us a bit more about what you love to do as a family then we can start to narrow down some reccys for you?

What’s your budget? It’s a very expensive holiday. No point in people telling you about island hopping and helicopter rides if your budget is £10k

I went to Oahu as part of a big USA trip...honestly was a bit disappointed! We stayed in a couple of places including Waikiki and travelled around a bit. It just felt a bit...soulless? However some of the natural scenery was gorgeous. Pearl harbour was really interesting, and I personally loved kualoa ranch (Jurassic park was filmed there) and we saw a surf comp at north shore (and Lost being filmed) but it wasn't what I'd hoped. I'd consider Mexico or somewhere in the Far East (Bali, langkawi, etc) myself. Or even a USA road trip and do LA/Vegas/canyon lands/San Fran.

Dear lord ignore all the people who only went to Waikiki

Hawaii is incredible - go to Kauai which is more off the beaten path and has one reasonably sized hotel in the whole island, get an AirBnB right on the beach, swim in natural sea pools, hike Waimea Canyon or go to the Big Island and get a AirBnB a 5 min walk from a black sand beach, see the volcanoes, go star gazing in one of the best spots on earth, swim with manta rays at night

Hawaii is magical

Another recommendation to avoid Honolulu and go to the other islands.

Echo PP that its a long way and disappointing.

Whats the appeal of Hawaii for your DH?

Tropical beach getaway? Maldives does it better.

Lush forests and wildlife ? Costa Rica better.

Other options:
Thailand/Indonesia - amazing beaches/great food/great culture
Ditto Mexico.

For me Hawaii is my favourite holiday destination and I’ve been to the Caribbean, Bali and Thailand among others too
My DC were around the ages of yours first time we took them and had no problems with the flights but they had done long haul before, it takes us 24 hours door to door with around 17 hours in the air.
Hawaii is an island chain and each one is unique and your pick will make a huge difference to your trip
Oahu - the commercial isle, with skyscrapers and many people. Plus Waikiki beach, north shore, Pearl Harbour, and filming locations.
Maui - the honeymoon isle, big hotels, expensive, nice beaches, great scenery
Kauai - the garden isle, green, less commercial with wonderful beaches
Hawaii - the big island, dramatic volcanic scenery, quiet (although much more developed than first time we went), active volcano, amazing beaches.

Go to the Galápagos Islands. They are easier to get to. No high rise and amazing animal life..

"Hawaii is an island chain and each one is unique and your pick will make a huge difference to your trip
Oahu - the commercial isle, with skyscrapers and many people. Plus Waikiki beach, north shore, Pearl Harbour, and filming locations.
Maui - the honeymoon isle, big hotels, expensive, nice beaches, great scenery
Kauai - the garden isle, green, less commercial with wonderful beaches
Hawaii - the big island, dramatic volcanic scenery, quiet (although much more developed than first time we went), active volcano, amazing beaches".

This comment from Onthegrid sums up the Hawaiian Islands pretty well.

Many people do fly from the West Coast to Oahu which is where Waikiki Beach is; its really America on Sea. High rises abound but the island of Oahu is also not without its charm and away from the city of Honolulu its a lot quieter in feel".

Like the Galapagos Islands there are no direct flights from the UK so they are not necessarily any easier to arrive at either. Travelers must fly from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos Island (these are owned by Ecuador). You would have to break the journey overnight in LA or SF for both for arrival and departing from the islands. Its a further 6 or so hours on from these West Coast cities to Oahu.

You would also have to take a flight to travel between islands and there's only one inter island carrier (Hawaiian) so fares can be quite expensive.

@AttilaTheMeerkat
When visiting the Galápagos you fly via Madrid to Ecuador. Yes it’s lengthy but it’s much nicer!! Ecuador is wonderful too. I would pick it over Hawaii any day. Ditto Costa Rica, BVIs, Japan etc.

I went to Hawaii on my honeymoon - O'ahu. It's far. I've never experienced jet lag like it. Hawaii is beautiful but extremely expensive. The whole place reminded me of Spain if I'm honest, particularly the beach.

@KobaniDaughters

Dear lord ignore all the people who only went to Waikiki

Hawaii is incredible - go to Kauai which is more off the beaten path and has one reasonably sized hotel in the whole island, get an AirBnB right on the beach, swim in natural sea pools, hike Waimea Canyon or go to the Big Island and get a AirBnB a 5 min walk from a black sand beach, see the volcanoes, go star gazing in one of the best spots on earth, swim with manta rays at night

Hawaii is magical

Agreed. We went to Kauai, and it was everything we'd hoped it would be. It's the only genuinely awesome place I've visited.

We went to the Big a island and loved the scenery and outdoor activities. But found the food expensive and disappointing. Would not go again or take kids due to distance.

We loved it! And there's so much to do. We didn't have kids so maybe a little less stressful on the flight but I would defo say it's worth it. We did Honolulu, Maui and Kauai which was my favourite.

We went in august and the weather was amazing but I don't remember being overly hot like I've been in other countries. We did all air bnbs which was nice as food is expensive. To be fair everything is expensive!

Please ignore the people who say it’s soulless… if you travel around and get out of Honolulu and big resorts then it’s a wonderful place with a rich culture and history.

We travelled around Oahu, Maui and Big Island for 3 weeks and it was the best trip I’ve ever been on. Stayed in air bnbs and a wonderful eco lodge outside Hilo on Big Island that blew us away.

It’s a long way to travel with kids but once you’re there it’s incredible. Prepare for expense though.

Rent a jeep and travel around, get off the beaten track a little and explore!

@RosieLeaLovesTea

I’ve just noticed DC are 8 snd 6. Hawaii is not really sensible for them. There are some great other options though.

We took ours on a family friendly safari at that age in Kenya. They loved it. We went to family friendly lodges and had a bit of R&R in a lovely lodge by a Rift Valley lake.,

The Galápagos Islands trip was when they were 13/10. Definitely better to wait.

If you can go in late August (it is winter there) South Africa might interest you. It’s not overly expensive and the DC might love to see whales off Hermanus (they are very close to the shore) and you would enjoy Cape Town. You can then fly to the Kruger area for a safari. Tee them up with David Attenborough programmes and they will love it. SA has overnight flights too.

Costa Rica is very family friendly and not too far to travel. Our girls also liked the BVIs on a yacht. Absolutely idyllic. We went when they were 8 and 5. Fly to Antigua and then to BVI Tortola. It was a family friendly yacht and all inclusive. We went to hidden beaches and swam off the yacht. We then rented a villa on Virgin Gorda. It’s a very special holiday and DH wouldn’t be disappointed.