Trip to Hawaii next summer...

I keep trying to write a review of 3 trips to Hawaii in the last 3 years but the website keeps refreshing. I’ll put it in ETA pieces

3 years ago: Kona Hilton. Mid tier hotel on the ocea. with an amazing tidal lagoon for snorkeling, swimming, and hanging out. There’s an actual beach a short walk away. The kids loved the lagoon so much we really didn’t get to explore the island all that much but supposedly there ls a lot to do.

2 years ago: Hyatt Kauai. Very nice hotel on the beach. Kauai is awesome. Very relaxed. Lots of mom and pop food places. Napali coast boat ride is a must. Poipu is next door and has an awesome beach.

This year: Wailea Fairmont Maui. Luxury hotel, all suite rooms, everything was very nice. Very few kids even during spring break. Wailea is very expensive, most of the restaurant food was mediocre, and $300ish for 4 people to sit down for basic stuff. There’s a big food truck scene which we enjoyed exploring after striking out at the restaurants. However Mamas Fish House is a must. It’s expensive ($1k+ for 4 adults enjoying themselves) but absolutely worth it. Road to Hana is a shell of its former self and not worth it anymore IMO. Blue Water Rafting is a must for a snorkle/Molokini trip. I don’t need to go back to Maui

The best advice I can give is to book through the American Express Fine Hotel program. Breakfast for 2 each day and $100 onsite credit are great benefits, but the 4p guaranteed is a game changer. Due to most flight going back to the mainland being late in the evening, many people find themselves checking out at 11a just to sit around the hotel holding their bags. That 4p checkout essentially gives you another full day of vacation.

If you want to experience all the islands maybe look into a cruise

Otherwise I would probably limit it to two islands
For example fly into Oahu and stay there for half and then fly to another for rest of trip
You really can’t go wrong with any of the islands
Maui is very laid back
Oahu is the big city but plenty to do

We flew into Honolulu and took the Norwegian Cruise. We had a blast. No packing and unpacking every couple of days. Someone else sailed us to other islands while we enjoyed ourselves. Food always available and included in cruise fare, and we booked excursions at every island through our cruise. Someone picked us up for those and brought us back to the ship. It was hassle free, especially taking kids with you.

All of that resulted in a fun and relaxing vacation.

Flights from island to island will run between $60-80 one way, just depends on from which islands. Hawaiian airlines and southwest will be the two. Oahu has direct flights to all islands and I know Hawaii and Maui have direct ones to each other. Big island and Kauai two island trip would be my choice. You would see two completely different islands, the old and the new. Only one I don’t recommend is Oahu, unless you are going to see Pearl. Honolulu has over a million people, to crowded.

Plenty to do in Oahu besides Pearl Harbor, but yes it is the big city feel in Honolulu but other areas are worth visiting, that's why I would spend first part of trip doing the sightseeing then you could go somewhere else for the relaxing nature Hawaii can provide

island hopping is fine but by the time you pay for airlines rent vehicles, transportation, meals etc the costs can add up

if you want a relaxing trip then limit the island hopping
we did Maui and Oahu and I could have been just fine on Maui the whole time

my parents did the cruise and saw a lot but if they had to do it again they would have just limited their island hopping because it was too much going and doing and not just relaxing

We’ve been to 3 of the islands. My favorites in order are Maui, Hawaii (Big Island) and Oahu. On Maui someone mentioned Mama’s Fish House. That’s a must. Watch the surfers just down the road. The road to Hana was tough for me because I get carsick. I gave my favorites in order but I would go back to any of them.

My wife went a long time ago and Kauai was her favorite then.

We flew to Maui for 5 nights and hopped to Kauai for 4. We rented a jeep and explored both island daily. Ended up drive over 1000 miles and saw everything under the sun with no real timeline or schedules.

I cannot tell how. Much fun we had visiting sites, parks, cruising, snorkeling, swimming and hanging out on those islands and then catching great food in the evening before go to our condo each night.

With the time zone changed we were on the road before sunrise almost every day. Incredible. The north/west side road in Maui past the blowhole was about the scariest road I ever drove and the road back past Hana was so beautiful theday we went I could never forget it.

That said I’m not sure Kauai was even better. Every day was amazing.

Hiking the Napali Coast

Awesome, and thanks to everyone for the recommendations.

Right now it looks like we will do O'ahu, Lanai, and Maui, and will stay at the Four Seasons on all islands. I plan to load up on excursions, like Pearl Harbor, sunset cruise, snorkeling adventure, maybe even a helicopter tour. 12 nights but I may make it 14. I like to have days where we don't leave the room and rest, so we go on longer vacays.

Doing research the past week made me realize how nice that state is. So glad they are part of the USA.

I heard Kauai is the best island for scenery, but it seems like a get your shirt dirty, ziplining, outdoorsy adventure. I have two kids 10 and 8 and we can't do that. I am open to convincing.

Kauai is must see. NaPali coast and Waimea Canyon and pollyHalle beach are three of the prettiest places on Earth.