Hi all, I'm looking to take my family of 6 to Hawaii for the ten days after Christmas this year. I know it's an extra expensive time, but it is what it is with the kids in school and us wanting to do Christmas with extended family before we leave.

My thoughts are five days each in Maui and Kauai. Fwiw, kids are 6-14. Goals would be lots of beach time, some cool hikes, and just generally seeing badass stuff. Am I on right track with these goals? Hoping to book airfare and vrbo's soon so would appreciate help especially on areas of island to avoid or focus on. Thanks!

On Kauai stay on the south side of the island because this time of year storms coming from the north Pacific can make the north side very rainy with rough surf. The south side is usually great weather as the mountains block the rain coming from the north.

Thank you! I assume when you say "this time of year" you mean that December/January time?

OilManAg91 said:

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On Kauai stay on the south side of the island because this time of year storms coming from the north Pacific can make the north side very rainy with rough surf. The south side is usually great weather as the mountains block the rain coming from the north.

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That said, don't skip the north side. Spend a day up there at Tunnels or Kee. You can hike the trail at the end of the road at the Kee beach entrance. Finish off with a swim in the protected reef area (if conditions are good). It's beautiful up there.

Grand Hyatt on Kauai is really nice with a super pool area that would be good for the kids. Can sit and have breakfast and see whales breaching. Hyatt is a little pricey but we thought it was worth the cost. Lot of hikes that would be fun for kids.
We did the Blue Hawaiian helicopter Kauai tour of the canyon and coasts - very pricey but also worth the cost (pay the extra to sit in the front).
The Hyatt on Maui is also a great place to stay. The road trip to Hana is a must do just to be able to say that you have done it, very twisty road with great views.
Also highly recommend the Kauai and Maui Revealed travel guides/apps - can help you make your plans.
We downloaded the Shaka Tour App for Kauai and enjoyed it, tells about the island history and tour stops.
Kauai is our favorite island so have fun!

Thanks all! Do you agree with splitting the time between those two islands? It's the first time there for all of us.

Yes...November - January timeframe. But as noted above, the north side of the island is still fantastic and worth the 1.5 hr drive for a couple of daytrips as it is beautiful and there is lots to do. But if you stay there you risk being stuck in your VRBO for multiple days with flash flooding, etc if you get a bad weather pattern.

The Grand Hyatt is an awesome place when bringing the kids. We stay there for a few days on every trip before heading north to the condo we like. If we didn't have a kid with us, we might rent a condo on the south side and cook fresh fish every night from the market. But the Hyatt is just so damn convenient and easy. We may always stay there (we have enough Hyatt points to live there for a few months so it's an easier call).

aggiefan2002 said:

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Thanks all! Do you agree with splitting the time between those two islands? It's the first time there for all of us.

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For a first Hawaii visit, absolutely split time. Do more time on each if you can. It's time consuming and expensive to get there so make it worthwhile. We typically do a year with just Kauai for a few weeks and the next year will be split between Kauai and another island. Obviously, we like Kauai. But Maui and the big island are great too. You can't go wrong. We haven't done Oahu yet but will spend a few days on the north shore there next year when we pass through.

Our family of 4 went to HI a couple years ago.

I always plan out trips and have gotten pretty good at it. I even manage an annual guys trip by myself.

That being said, I got into planning out 10 day trip to HI and after some time decided to see what a travel agent could do for me.

I have to say, it was a great decision. I used this lady I found out of the metroplex (just coincidence she was from Texas) named Laura@hawaiintravel.com

I have no affiliation with her at all but would definitely recommend her


I actually think she saved us money. Got us free breakfast everyday (big savings considering the cost of food in HI) and sizable discounts on excursions.

I mainly got her so we didn't waste time and had someone with local knowledge, which she delivered on. The surprise was the savings. I think she saved me money and greatly enhanced my trip

Take that for what it's worth, but I was pretty sold on the idea of using a travel agent.


As I've gotten older, I realize I can't keep thinking I'm gonna go back to do these trips again and make them better. There's a lot of places I may go and it will be the one and only time I do go and I need to make the best of it.

Thank you! I just emailed her.

How is the beach at the Hyatt?

AgOutsideAustin said:

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How is the beach at the Hyatt?

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It's pretty. But it also faces an open ocean so the waves can be powerful (like many beaches down there that don't have a cove). We typically hang out near the cliff on the east end and watch people jump. My son likes to get beat up by the waves so he loves it. It gets rockier as you move west. The great thing about the Hyatt is that the pool area is massive and very well manicured so it's a pretty place to hang out, too.

One thing: don't do the Hyatt luau. It has gone downhill since covid. They hired a new production company and it just has no soul.

Thanks.

And don't count out Oahu. Lots to do there with kids - Kualoa Ranch has ziplines, four wheeling, horse riding.

Hanauma Bay snorkling is great plus the blow holes and northside big waves.

Northside food trailers.

Have not done Pearl Harbor yet but plan to soon.

Stay at Ko'Olina Disney Resort would be my suggestion for kids. Great pool and beach!

Question for you Hawaii folks:

Looks like we'll have basically 8 full days when you back out travel days. Would you divide them 4/4 between Maui and Kauai or would I be better off just trying to do one of those for longer?

4 and 4 is good, and you will nearly lose one day traveling between the islands.

Splitting up is just fine and not a big deal, especially if you're unsure if you'll ever make it back. Kauai is worth it even for 2 days just to see the Napali coast.

8 days on just Maui seems too long, especially knowing it hasn't fully recovered. Kauai is the best short trip/split trip island since it's not that big.

We actually took a boat tour down the coast from Hanalei bay probably 25 years ago. They stopped at a scenic place where lots of movies were filmed and anchored up over a reef and we got to snorkel for an hour or so too. We jumped off the boat into clear blue tinted water full of these black and white trigger fish all around us. Very cool.

We use Napali Catamaran for this. Since it leaves from Hanalei, you don't waste a lot of time traveling to Napali.

We did 6 days in Kauai. Stayed in Kapaa. That was a good move because it allowed access to both the north and south. We don't do hotels or resorts. I'm an airbnb superhost, and find much better deals doing that.

Flew one day to Honolulu and came back in the evening.

The speedboat raft trip to Napali was awesome, unless you get seasick.

Driving up the canyon was beautiful.

Made my own sushi bowls from Pono Market.

Kauai is all about the outdoors, being in nature. Really my kind of place. I don't have any interest in traveling halfway around the world to be served cocktails at a perfectly manicured beach in front of a high rise.

Waikiki Beach was a joke. Glad we were there to see the Memorial and eat.