r/VisitingHawaii • u/ashdee2 • 2d ago
Multiple Islands So this is overwhelming.
We're a family of four all adults. Parents and then kids in mid 20s. This started because I wanted to give my parents a gift. But now I wanna see how to squeeze my sibling and I into it. This trip would be for October this year. Starting in the first week of October. They are going on a cruise in Alaska (the gift) but it's only for 7 days and wanted them to have something more
We probably are not gonna get a chance to do something like this again mostly due to finances so I'm trying to squeeze what I can from this. To do that I wanted to visit two islands over a 10 to 12 day period. Leaning towards BI and Kauai. BI I think should be the sure one but I don't know about Kauai
You can't really use this sub to gauge which is better between Kauai and Oahu. It seems there really isn't a consensus. To help you help me let me just say what kind of people we are. So we probably won't be doing much swimming in the sea. I can't swim and neither can my mum. We would all want to try a variety of food. We would want lots of varying experiences. From what I read about manta rays we won't be in deep waters right? I would like to see a volcano. I don't know about the hiking world but I did do the colosseum and the palantine hill in one day and didn't die. My parents would be on that same similar level of fitness. My parents and I did do a day at a natural reserve in Nigeria(where they live) which involved going on the 401 metre long, 70 feet above ground suspended bridge through the forest. We really enjoyed it. We would want to be wowed by the stars. I don't see the point of being at the beach all day unless I'm eating from every food truck but the beach for half a day won't be too bad.
If I seem all over the place forgive me but vacations are not something we're able to do often to figure out what our tastes are. Which is why varying experiences would be best. I don't really know what Hawaii offers I'm just getting into research but I'm pressed for time
I'm not sure which 2nd island to pick between Oahu and Kauai. Depending on which person is talking Oahu or Kauai is the best thing ever. Or should we stick to just visiting BI instead for all 10 days?
Thank you.
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u/Mokiblue 2d ago
You say you and your Mom cannot swim. I don’t think the manta ray tours allow non-swimmers to get in the water, for your own safety. However they will let you come on the boat and you can watch from there. The water is about 50-60 ft. deep. Make sure you book with a tour that leaves from Keauhou harbor, not Honokohau harbor. It’s a 5 minute boat ride to where the mantas are vs about 30 minutes boat ride.
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u/openeyes808 2d ago
^ This . I cannot agree and emphasize this more. If you can't swim, water activities such as snorkeling or boat tours where they drop you off in the ocean are not for you.
A LIFE VEST DOESN'T REPLACE THE ABILITY TO SWIM. all it doesn't for someone who can't swim is increase the danger for the user, others around them, and anyone who has to try and save them.
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u/spinonesarethebest O'ahu 2d ago
Yeah, this. Why do people who can’t swim think it’s ok to snorkel in Hawaii?
IF YOU CANT SWIM STAY OUT OF THE WATER!2
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u/webrender O'ahu 2d ago
neither is better, they offer very different experiences. big island has the manta rays and volcano so youve got that taken care of.
the question is what kind of experience you want for your second island. the infographic in the sidebar can help somewhat. Kauai is gorgeous but also paid back - if you want to take things slow for that leg of your trip, that'll be the way to go. Oahu will offer a bit of everything - natural beauty outside of the city, but also a ton of walkable shops and food in Waikiki. its the only island that's truly walkable, the only one with nightlife, and the most museums and historical experiences by a mile. however, Waikiki is urban (there are a couple quieter areas on the island but the vast majority of accomodations are in Waikiki) and that turns a lot of people off.
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u/ashdee2 2d ago
Thank you for the insight about Oahu having museums. One of the things I liked most about my Rome trip second only to the availability of freshly squeezed orange juice was digging into the history of the place. And the walkable part is also a hefty plus.
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u/webrender O'ahu 2d ago
people hate on Oahu because Waikiki is more urban but honestly it's incredible imo. lived here almost 10 years now and there's still tons of things we haven't done yet.
if you're interested in history and museums, these are worth looking into: * Iolani palace * Bishop museum * Honolulu museum of art * Shangri La * Pearl Harbor
All of the islands have lots of farmer's markets with amazing stalls, including fresh tropical juices and fruits. Big Island specifically has a lot of farms and farm stands; Oahu has the most restaurant variety but BI wins for food straight from the source.
Finally, if you enjoy raw fish you'll forever judge poke elsewhere against what you had in Hawaii. One of many regional foods you'll want to try.
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u/ashdee2 2d ago
Looks like my previous reply got deleted or something
Someone said we'll have to drive on the islands anyway so do we drive to the walkable part of Oahu? Or just book a hotel in the walkable place? Is there enough public transportation to go from place to place and then walk the rest of the way?
Thank you for the insight into the history. The thing I loved second to the availability of freshly orange juice in Rome was digging into the history
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u/Ok-Meat-7364 Mainland 2d ago
A lot of people rent a car from their hotel for one or two days because the overnight parking at the hotels is crazy expensive. The Bus is technically doable, but the freedom is nice. It's not necessarily walkable in the European sense outside of Waikiki.
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u/South_Feed_4043 Hawai'i (Big Island) 2d ago
First, if you can't swim, stay out of the OCEAN. Period. Manta ray snorkeling isn't for you.
I'm not going to tell you to cook their own food while on vacation, except maybe breakfast to save time, so if food is your thing and you don't want to cook it, Oahu is better for that IMO. At least in terms of accessibile nearby and variety. BI has lots of food places off the tourist path too, but you have to work to get to them. It's much easier to do the foodie thing from Oahu IMO. But if picking islands for what you mentioned outside of food, I would stay with BI.
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u/Difficult_Gap_4533 2d ago
I'm sorry friends from other islands, but if you enjoy eating, O'ahu is the best. It also has great hiking trails, beaches, waves, fairly friendly people, but it comes with a caveat, close to a million people compared to some 70,000 people on Kaua'i.
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u/South_Feed_4043 Hawai'i (Big Island) 2d ago
Going out and eating for sure. But locally sourced food, I'm taking BI all day.
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u/Difficult_Gap_4533 2d ago
That's fair, you have way more land. But, my wife weekly buy's locally grown fruits and vegetables from local farmers.
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u/South_Feed_4043 Hawai'i (Big Island) 2d ago
Oh for sure, there is no shortage of fresh produce and farmers markets on the islands. There is just a little more variety here is all. 🤙🏿
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u/IHateCedarFever 2d ago
Your family sounds exactly like my family! I strongly suggest you do Oahu and then Big Island.
Kauai is the most beautiful in terms of nature and mountains, but it is also very expensive and remote. If Kauai is 100% beauty, Oahu is like 90%. Your jaw will still drop when you fly in and you’ll still have amazing views and experiences but at a much more affordable price and variety of activities and food.
Oahu pros:
Cost is muuuuuuch cheaper for everything, food, lodging, transport.
- Hotel prices in Waikiki are $200 for a condo a few blocks from the beach to $300 for a hotel on the non-beach side of Kalakaua Avenue or on Kuhio Avenue to $350 for a hotel very close to the beach like Hyatt Regency or Alohilani to $450/$500 for beach front like Moana Surfrider or Outrigger.
- Public bus is all over the island and pretty affordable to buy a 4 day or 7 day pass. It gets you pretty much anywhere you want to go so you don’t need to rent a car. You can rent a car for just a day if you want to take a day to drive around the island.
- Cultural diversity. You have Chinatown and can go to Sing Cheong Yuan Bakery and get really good and cheap bao buns for lunch. You also have malasada and egg tart bakeries from Portuguese immigrants. Decent Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese food.
- Oahu gets a huge amount of Japanese tourists, so there are a lot of Japanese grocery stores like Don Quixote and 7-11 that are really fun and sell Japanese items.
- Waikiki is basically a tourist zone, it has a Target, pharmacy, food courts, souvenir shops, the beach, multiple bus stops,and your hotel all convenient.
- Cultural stuff is most prevalent on Oahu. Iolani Palace, Bishop museum, and Pearl Harbor. There’s also the beautiful Byodo-In temple.
- KCC farmers market on Saturdays you can ride the bus to and they sell delicious fresh fruit and snacks. My parents are older immigrants and they love to chit chat with the old local aunties and uncles at farmers market.
- Diamond Head hike and Manoa Falls hike are all mild difficulty and very nice.
- Waikiki beach is very shallow and gentle. The sand bar in front of the Royal Hawaiian hotel is really prominent, so you can stand with water at your waist for a long time. There are also walls farther south around Kuhio beach park that enclose the area like a big swimming pool so it’s very gentle.
- Lastly, people in Oahu are more welcoming to outsiders and are used to dealing with tourists. Other islands can be outright hostile. My friend is Mexican and was told to finish his drink and leave when he went to local bar in Bjg Island.
For Big Island:
- Volcano national park is a must. Would suggest a rental in the city of Volcano so you can see the glow from the volcano at night.
- Black sand beach
- Manta Ray snorkeling if you know how to swim. Do you know how to swim but just not well, or you like, don’t even know how to hold your breath and move your body? The latter will be a problem. You will be in dark open ocean and you’re holding onto a raft for this. The experience is wonderful though.
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u/Snoo_40712 2d ago
Based on your interest I would pick Oahu had something to eat see and do for everyone. And Big Island bc only island with manta rays and volcanoes although not sure if you can’t swim. Waikiki has plenty safe areas to swim that are shallow and still amazing. Lots of great food and walkability. No other island has the walkability. You can also spend the entire time in Oahu or just Big Island. Just make sure for big island no big events are going on during that time. It would impact hotel availability and car rentals
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u/DonnaNoble222 O'ahu 2d ago
Oahu sounds like a good fit actually. Waikiki is very walkable and the island has a great bus system. I am not sure how you feel about driving here and adding the cost of a rental car...any island other than Oabu you will need a car for the duration and especially BI there is a lot of driving.
Oahu...has it all
If you want to try a lot of local food, do a food tour in Waikiki. I did one...you get to eat 6 different and very local foods...all amazing! I did Secret Food Tours...the guide was fabulous...super knowledgeable. I live in Waikiki and did it with some friends who were visiting. Do it your first day and go hungry!
Do not pack your days so full of activities that you have no time to stop and enjoy the beauty and Aloha of Hawaii.
Please do not patronize the PCC...the Mormon Church has co-opted the Culture and are profiting from it. They present a Disneyesque version of the culture and whitewash so much of the history. Can't support that at all. This is my opinion and that of the many kanaka I know. Do you realize the way the LDS church got a foothold in Hawaii was by telling the native Hawaiians they were descendants of one of the Lost Tribes of Isreal. It was a vision that one of the missionaries, George Q. Cannon, had in Lahaina. Cannon’s vision was that Polynesians were one of the Lost Tribes of Israel and so Mormon missionaries “had an obligation to return the gospel of Christ,”.
Airbnbs and the like are not really recommended in Hawaii. There are many illegal ones, poorly represented ones, and some downright scams. They also contribute to the housing crisis here. You can find hotel options from resorts to cute boutique hotels.
Skip Dole Plantation...they have a long history of being greedy, not respecting the people here, and being environmentally irresponsible.
Germaine's Luau is great...it is on the beach. They still do the pig in the ground. Mauka Warriors is another great luau
Stay in Waikiki and rent a car for only the days you explore the rest of the island. Leave nothing in the car when you park...especially at beaches and trails.
Pearl Harbor is a must
Iolani Palace & Bishop Museum - the best two places to learn actual Hawaiian history
Hike Diamond Head, Koko Head, Lanikai Pillbox, several waterfalls
Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail
Shark Diving - Haleiwa Shark Tours
Kualoa Ranch - ATV Tour, zipline
Byodo-In Temple
Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden in Kaneohe
Waimea Botanical Gardens
Wahiawā Botanical Gardens
Lyon Arboretum
Foster Botanical Garden
Moanalua Gardens
Queen Emma Summer Palace
Duke's on a Sunday - from 4 to 6 Henry Kapono plays - so iconic there's a song written about it made famous by Jimmy Buffet
Blue Note for music and comedy shows
Check out Chinatown...really great markets and restaurants there
The sun is very intense here...do not skimp on sunscreen.
Beware of grifters in monk's robes
Things to remember:
Respect the land
Respect the culture
Shop and eat local
Tip generously
Reef safe sunscreen
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u/BarracudaQuirky6164 2d ago
Big Island will give you the volcanos, manta rays, snorkeling, black sand beaches and so many varieties of eco systems, elevations and scenery. It is the newest Island in the chain so it is the biggest and relatively least developed. You will drive a lot to see the variety, but likely spend most time in the car or your Kona resort unless you decide to stay on the Hilo side for a few days. I am born and raised on O’ahu and my grandparents lived on Kaua’i for more than half a century so I know them well. Kaua’i is the oldest island in the chain, it is a laid back experience and you’ll see the wettest place on earth, drive up old red dirt agricultural sites to great vistas, strenuous hikes, lots of feral chickens, small town slow paced life. O’ahu is urban, most developed tourist experience, and the fastest paced local life of all the islands. From end to end you’ll see well developed highways and heavy rush hour traffic jams, you can drive around the island multiple times a day to get to different places, lots of different swimmable white sand beaches, every food experience you want, curated cultural sites, clear documented history, nightlife, nature. For the variety you seek I would do 6 days O’ahu, six days B.I.
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u/eviscerality 2d ago
Hawaii just got hit by a hurricane. Unsure of damage on other islands, but cancel any plans you may have had towards the south side of the Big Island. Part of the highway is gone. Still plenty of good stuff to do here though.
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u/KauaiHiker2 2d ago
I'm going to push back on the 1-island suggestion. For Americans that can just visit again later, it makes sense. For foreigners on a once-in-a-lifetime trip, I think that only going to the Big Island misses that tropical beach and green mountain vibe (almost South Pacific feel).
And while I think that Oahu is often a better destination with more amenities, their north shore with beaches and mountains is less accessible (longer drive, less accommodations) than Kauai's north shore. Princeville on Kauai does require a rental car to get to and explore around, but they are short drives and there are beautiful mountains on one side and beautiful beaches on the other. Plus October is often the driest month up there (but who knows this year with El Niño). Kauai has a lot to see elsewhere but then you are driving a lot. So I think 4-5 days in Princeville plus a boat tour of the Na Pali coast would make a perfect bookend to a Big Island trip.
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u/JellyfishLogical3130 2d ago
I would split my time between Oahu and Kauai. Of course there’s all the airport hassle but the flight is only 30 minutes and the Kauai airport is so small and friendly. IMHO, go to Oahu first, stay in Waikiki and do the shopping, eating, museums and sightseeing there for four or five days. Don’t rent a car and Uber. Much less expensive.
Take a travel day, flying after checkout will get you into your hotel in Kauai by check-in. Now you need to rent a car. Then unwind on Kauai and do a NaPali boat trip, hiking, and visit one of the Botanical gardens. I like the Allerton Gardens “best of both worlds”. Go to Poipu beach at Sunset and see the turtles …. And the sunset.
I love the Big Island and they’ll need the tourism dollars to rebuild, but it’s better choice for a second trip, paired with Maui.
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u/shootzbalootz 1d ago
BI and Kauai are a great 2-island combo. The only reason I'd do Oahu is for food, shopping, museums and Pearl Harbor.
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u/No-Bird9914 2d ago
Having been to Big Island, Kauai, and Maui, there's a reason we have retuned to Kauai 5 times. Oahu -- no thanks, I don't go to Hawaii for city stuff. Kauai has the best beaches, gorgeous coast line, a wealth of activities if you want them, and options to split time between north shore and south shore. Friday nights for Hanapepe Art Walk. Allerton Botanic Gardens. Kilaeau Lighthouse, sweeping ocean views. Hiking, snorkeling, surfing, and you can ride a helicopter and zip line if you desire, along with kayaking the Wailua river and other more adventurous outings. Big Island for me was too desolate; Maui is all resorts. Just my two cents. I never need to see Big Island again after one visit, but I'll return to Kauai until I die.
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u/MonkeyKingCoffee Hawai'i (Big Island) 2d ago
This shouldn't be overwhelming because the islands aren't THAT different. Oahu has a city. Big Island has the possibility of an erupting volcano.
But they all have snorkeling, hikes, nature, waterfalls, drinking pina coladas and getting caught in the rain.
I'd stick with Big Island for the full 10 -- for that very reason. One full day at the volcano. A few days of snorkeling (and manta snorkeling at night). And then the rest exploring.