r/VisitingHawaii

A couple friends and I are headed to Japan in April, and on the way back chose a flight with a 28 hour layover in Honolulu.

We will be arriving at 9 am and then leaving at 1:30 pm the next day.

Any suggestions of what to do and where to go to make the most of it? Should we stay in Honolulu or go elsewhere on the island?

Any tips are greatly appreciated!

Hey recently concluded our awesome trip and had an amazing time

As an Aussie traveller getting used to the tipping conventions was quite an adjustment

Typically though the service provided to us was great and we were always happy to give average 20% tip. Comparing to service quality in Australia, where tips are not commonly expected or deserved

Only 1 time I was caught off guard by a "included gratuity" charge attached to one of our bills. I was a bit confused what this meant at the time and it resulted in me not including an additional tip! I've just gotten around to researching this and as it happens I should have added a tip on top of this?!

Just wondering if anyone can explain the logic behind included gratuity in addition to tipping, why is it used in some places and not others, and why should I pay it and a tip? In my case it would have been $235 + $40 IG + $45 Tip, which my on the spot assessment deemed too much in addition to the menu prices

We had 5 adults and 3 children aged 4 and under. At a burger restaurant for lunch

Did I stiff the wait staff?

Thanks for any help!

Looking for suggestions on areas to stay on the Big Island with two kids. We’d love to be near the beaches but away from heavily touristy spots. Ideally, we’d like a charming small town where we can take evening walks and explore nearby places. Any recommendations on areas or specific place?💕

I know Kona has some options, but I’m on the other side of the island! I’m really hoping to try some local food but have to be careful about cross contamination and sauces. Any suggestions? Thanks!

My husband and I are planning a trip to Hawaii in January or February. We’ll be there about a week. I know weather can be iffy around that time in certain areas so just looking for some insight. Open to all areas!

Hoping to book a resort through Costco if possible. We’d like sunny warm weather (in Jan/Feb), beach access, and primarily adults. We just want a vacation to relax!

Any recs appreciated!

I know it's been asked but wanted to get any updated recommendations for Oahu with a 3 and 6 year old. We will most likely stay at the resort most of the time, so resorts with great kid pools, waterslides, etc are preferred. For reference, last year we stayed at Hyatt Regency Maui and the kids loved it.
Unfortunately, Aulani is not an option and we aren't set on Waikiki, however, I'm assuming the south of the island will be better for winter.

Any suggestions are welcome!

We (luckily) did not book this hotel during the strike. There were noisy protests going at least until 10pm last night. I do not know how long this will be going on, but it is worth checking if you are planning to stay there soon.

We just loved Kauai, but the waves were intense for my kiddos as they tried to swim and play. I was pretty nervous watching them get tossed around. A person recommended Lydgate Beach and we ended up visiting twice. It has a rock wall encircled this cove allowing for wading and snorkeling in the enclosed spaces. The waves break against the rocks and the cove is tranquil water perfect for little ones. There are also a ton of fish swept into the cove so snorkeling is a blast and super easy.

My wife and I have permits to camp 2 nights at Halepe. I've heard the best route is to take the Keahou trail there, then the Puna Coast trail back out. However, we only have 1 vehicle, so I'm not sure if logistically this is possible for us. Is there a shuttle bus that runs through the park that we could hop on and hop off? Looking at the map it looks like it would be a long walk on Chain of Craters Road to get back to our vehicle at Mau Loa o Maunaulu. Any insights would be appreciated (I've tried calling and emailing the park, but with no response). TIA!

I have walking sandals, running shoes and full on waterproof hiking boots. Only looking to do the first 2 miles. Will totally turn back if it gets too hard. Do I need my full hiking boots?

Looking for a great little local spot to enjoy fresh cooked fish during our visit. Don't want to spend $50 at an oceanfront resort. Any suggestions? We'll be staying 5 days in Lihue and 5 days in Poipu.

Hello everyone. I’ll be in O’ahu next week and would love to bring some sweet pineapples home for my family. I’ve had the Kauai Sugarloaf pineapples before and they were spectacular. It’s my understanding these aren’t sold on O’ahu. Can anyone point me toward a similar pineapple? TYIA

My fiancé and I were gifted a honeymoon in Waikiki. It’s always been a dream to go to Hawaii. We’re staying at the Prince, and really want to experience a Hawaiian Luau I’m looking for some advice on the best one with the most delicious food! We’re huge foodies and down to try anything, also looking for recommendations on the best Poke places in the area, and anything unique and awesome you think we must do! We’ve been together 5 years and are super adventurous. I’d love to go parasailing! We leave in a few days!

I don't know if my google Fu skills are sub-par but I was hoping maybe folks on this subreddit have some insight.

I have a wedding coming up next year which my wife and I will be attending. Our toddler is coming along, but won't be attending the wedding, although they will be in Oahu with us since one of the grandparents mentioned they would be able to stay and look after our toddler(2 year old) while we attend the wedding. Essentially free childcare for a day. The other days we will be together exploring.

Only concern is that, grandparent which is coming, isn't the most agile, and has hip problems(can't walk for long). Meanwhile our 2 year old is buzzing with energy and can take off like Usain Bolt when they want to. Main concern are the bodies of water while we are not around.

I was looking on the HHV website and googling , but it seems like, besides the water and club penguin(which is 5+ years old ) there is really nothing much for the grandparent to do on site other than shops etc near by. Are there any small playgrounds or swing sets on the property ? Arcade within the property, or a kids room which they can play in. Don't need anything fancy.

FWIW - Looking at the Alii tower but may get a cheaper one.

Aloha! We are heading to Hawaii later this week and would love to get some local art to bring home. We have prints from Michal from Kauai and love her style... Anyone know of any similar artists? Or any favorites we should seek out? Thank you!

Visiting family in the Kapolei area. There’s other family coming in from town, so it’s kind of a family reunion. We were thinking of doing a luau but it’s so expensive now. Last time I went was Paradise Cove over 10 years ago. All the other luaus would be fun but also expensive.

One idea was just getting takeout from zippys and just meet a ko olina. Looking for other ideas on where we can meet and eat or places that are like family style and affordable. Thanks in advance!

Hey all, my wife and I are planning our honeymoon in Hawaii in December. We're both pretty adventurous and plan to do a lot of hiking and camping. We're not interested in luxury resorts, and not really interested in beaches either (although we'll probably check out one or two).

Kauai is definitely going to be one of our islands but we're struggling to decide on Mauai vs. BI for our second island. I know both have a lot in common (and with Kauai as well). Some considerations:

* I visited the Big island a few years ago for about a week and saw a lot of the main attractions, but my wife hasn't been to Hawaii at all so it would be new to her.

* We're planning 4-5 days per island.

* We plan to rent a car.

* We both like the rural/smalltown vibe that I remember BI having. I know Maui is rural as well but I don't know how it compares (e.g. it could be more touristy).

* We're not outright against "tourist" activities (it's kind of become a meme to say that in the past few years) but they have to be genuine. Would rather spend the day exploring a small town than go to something cheesy just to check a box.

* I like interacting with locals when I travel - random conversations, going to bars, etc. If one of the islands is known for being friendlier, I would lean towards that one.

* I have a friend we could stay with on the BI, which would save us a lot of money on accommodation. So if all else was equal between the two islands, I would lean toward BI for the financial aspect. But if Maui is a much better fit, then we would be willing to spend the extra money.

So in November my family is going to the island of Oahu and I was wondering if I am allowed to take shells or rocks or any cool natural things back home? As much as i think the shells and rocks look very pretty l want to make sure I respect all the rules and traditions as much as possible

Aloha friends. Me and my wife are visiting Maui for the first time for Thanksgiving. We will be there for seven days and are split between two options. The first option is near Maalaea Bay (Airbnb), the second option is The Whaler. We are a couple that enjoy isolation and nature, but also enjoy the benefits of being closer to a commercial zone that is made for tourists. We would love to get this community’s advice on what they would recommend for first time visitors and what we should be considering between these two options. Thank you so much.

I haven't had a vacation in a few years and am planning a trip to Oahu around early March as I can get the time off work.

As Hawaii in general is much more expensive than other trips I have been on I wanted to check I wasn't making any silly mistakes before booking. Any help or guidance you can provide would be super helpful!

Flights:

• LAX to HNL (around $350 each)

Hotel/Airbnb: (splitting it up to see different parts of the island and mix costs)

• Kahaluu - Paradise Bay Resort (3 star) - $~800 for 4 nights

• Kahuku - Tiny Home Airbnb (3.5 star equivalent) - $900 for 3 nights

• Turtle Bay - Airbnb Loft (4 star equivalent) - $900 for 2 nights

Car Rental:

• From the airport $~500

Food & Drinks:

• Aiming to budget $100-150 per day

Activities:

• Keen to do a movie tour ($150pp)

• Helicopter Tour ($350pp)

Loosely we're looking at $5k all in and probably my biggest holiday for a while.

Is there anything that should be holding me back from booking?

I’m house sitting for some relatives in the Hilo area and they don’t have a water filtration system. They told me not to drink the water because of rat lungworm, but they wash their dishes in it. Is that safe? Or should I not do that? Also I recently got my ear pierced and I’m wondering if the water might infect it? Thank you!

Hello!!

We are looking to plan a trip somewhere and were thinking Hawaii! We have exchange points through RCI that we just never use because we are busy but really want to go somewhere soon. What are some traveling tips for traveling to Kaua'i? Has anyone ever stayed at the Club Wyndham Bali Hai Villas? Are there things that we should or should not do? This would be our first time going to Hawaii and just want to feel prepared and ready to explore rather than feel like we have no clue what is going on. I am a big planner so if someone has any tips on how they planned their trip I would love to hear about it!

I'm going to travel to Oahu, specifically stay in the Waikiki area.

I am a solo traveler and I don't know anyone in Hawaii, I'm also not planning on renting a car.

I'm looking for a relaxing holiday but at the same time I don't like sitting around too much and I like to stay active and do things. I love snorkeling and swimming but I'm not sure I can do that for 5 days in a row.

I'm staying in a private room and I've heard that hostels are better for socializing, but I would prefer to have my privacy.

My question is is it better to stay for longer and what are the good places to meet people? For example bus tours? Do you have any recommendations for those? And will I be alright without a car? And is it wise to travel to other islands if I stay for longer?

I would really appreciate your help, as I've never been to the US and am quite nervous about traveling 🤍

Hi everyone! Heading to O’ahu soon for my honeymoon for 7 nights, and would love feedback on our tentative itinerary! I tend to want to do it all (which I know isn’t possible), so especially looking to see if this is too crazy, or if there’s anything I should add. Thank you in advance!

Note: Traveling October 19-26, staying at Outrigger Reef

Day 1:

• Flight lands at 2:03

• Check in at hotel, relax, walk around beach/surrounding area

Day 2: Beach/Pool Day

• Lunch at Monkeypod

• Pick up rental car

• Go to Costco

Day 3: 5:45AM - Arrive at Diamond Head 8:00AM - Finish hike, head to Pearl Harbor

• Pearl Harbor

• Return Rental Car

Day 4:

• Pick up rental car

• Kualoa Ranch Tour

• Lunch at Waikane Store

• Manoa Falls Trail

• Return Rental Car

Day 5:

• Golf at Royal Hawaiian

• Lunch at ??

• Halona Beach Cove

Day 6: Waikiki Day

• Lunch at Hula Dog

• Sunset Hike? - Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail (debating between sunset and sunrise/during day)

Day 7:

• Spend morning around hotel/Waikiki

• Lunch at House Without a Key

• Head to North Shore (Beaches, Waimea Falls)

• Toa Luau

Day 8:

• Checkout

• Lunch at ??

• Flight home