First-time itinerary - how does it look?

I am planning a family vacation to Oahu, Maui, and Kauai and would appreciate any insights or recommendations to my travel plans. I’ve been reading the boards here for a while and most of my ideas have come from the excellent advice I have read.

We will be leaving Feb 29th for 10 days in Hawaii with our 2 children, ages 7 and 5. We will spend 2 nights in Waikiki, 2 nights in Ko’Olina, 3 nights in Maui, and 2 nights in Kauai. Now, before you yell at me, I know this is not the way a first-timer should see Hawaii. I know that we will spend a good deal of our vacation packing, unpacking, driving, checking in/out, and waiting around the airport. HOWEVER, thanks to points accumulated over the past 10 years, we have free hotel stays in a Marriott resort in each location for all 4 of us. We weren’t going to pass that up! So we will have to deal with island-jumping, but we are really looking forward to seeing just a little piece of each island. Does the itinerary below sound like too much or too little? I want to see as much as possible, but do realize that we are traveling with young kids also and want to take time to just relax. We are the kind of family that can take only a few hours at the pool/beach before we are sunburned and bored, so keep that in mind!

Our itinerary for Oahu is as follows:

Day 1 – arrive in the morning, spend the rest of the day at the pool and beach and relaxing. Hopefully we can make it to the Royal Hawaiian or somewhere else for live music at night.

Day 2- head out early to Diamond Head. My 7-yr old is pretty adventurous and energetic, so I don’t think we will have a problem with her, but I don’t know if my 5-yr old will make the climb. I’ve read conflicting reports of how easy/hard the climb is. After that, take a scenic drive, stopping at the blowhole, and then Lanikai beach for a picnic lunch. Drive back to the hotel stopping at Nu%26#39;uanu Pali Lookout and the “drive-thru” rainforest.

Day 3 – head out early to the USS Arizona. Back to the hotel to pick up luggage, then on to our next hotel at Ko’Olina. Enjoy the resort and beach the rest of the day/night.

Day 4 – We’ve reserved a tour with Dolphin Excursions, we are soooo excited about that. After that, make the drive to Haleiwa for lunch, then on to the North Shore to watch the waves. If there’s time, stop at the Dole plantation on the way back to the hotel.

Day 5 – Head to Maui! (haven’t figured out the Maui and Kauai itineraries yet, but will post those later).

Thanks for your advice!!!

First-time itinerary - how does it look?

Wow, Kmme looks like you%26#39;ve done your research well. I think it looks great! May I suggest taking your kids to the Waikiki Aquarium. I hear the kids love it. I don%26#39;t see any Luau%26#39;s there. If you don%26#39;t have time to see PCC. Try Paradise Cove. It is absolutley beautiful. The kids will LOVE the roasting pig, the arts %26amp; crafts and the beach scene not to mention the dancing and hawaiian themes. I think the Luau finishes the Hawaiian trip off. It%26#39;s a definite don%26#39;t miss! Othere than that rest and have fun!!

First-time itinerary - how does it look?

You%26#39;re certainly going to be busy. I would take my five year old grand-kid up DH. The kids probably won%26#39;t enjoy the view and history of it as much as an adult but we%26#39;ve always enjoyed it at the bottom too, just being in a volcano is pretty cool. You can go at your own pace. I always take water in my back pack, wherever I go.

Ko%26#39;Olina is a great place for beach time. The coves are absolutely beautiful and being semi enclosed it%26#39;s a great place for kids to learn to snorkel or just swim. You%26#39;ll most likely see some turtles in the water and there is grassy areas in addition to the beach.

I wasn%26#39;t that impressed with the Dole Plantation, but maybe the kids would like it.

You%26#39;ll have a great time.

';Day 3 – head out early to the USS Arizona. Back to the hotel to pick up luggage, then on to our next hotel at Ko’Olina. Enjoy the resort and beach the rest of the day/night.';

While I don%26#39;t normally recommend leaving luggage in the trunk of your car, it will be safe at USS Arizona Memorial parking lot. They also have a place to check luggage for about $3 per bag if you don%26#39;t want to keep it in your car.

USS Arizona Memorial is about 1/2 way between Waikiki %26amp; Ko%26#39;Olina. Seems like a waste of time to drive back to Waikiki to check out of your hotel.

Your 5 year old will not have any problem with Diamond Head. I see kids 3, 4 years old going up there all the time.

Lots of info including sites with free brochures for all islands:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g29222-i37-k647862…

I think you have a great itinerary but the Diamond Head climb could be tough on your 5 year old. Depends on whether you think he can tough it out. The problem is if he tires out before the top do you head back? It would be a real burden if one of the parents had to carry him up(and down). Bring water!

Your scenic drive afterwards may be scenic for you but your children may be fast asleep in the car after their climb.

I do not know how fit you are, but a climb up Diamond Head may tire you out just when your day is beginning. (I may be a wimp, so trust your judgement)

I did it in my 20s and was easy, but my uncle who came with me was in his 50s, vowed never again! (It was his idea...) The view is amazing though!

Your drive around the east coast of Oahu is very beautiful with many scenic points where you can snap some photos.

Rather than climb up Diamond Head, why not go out early and hit Hanauma Bay, you are going that way to the blowhole anyway. The water at the beach is very calm and shallow so even your 5 year old can wade in. Your 7 yr old may enjoy snorkeling, if she swims, she would see fish immeadiately even in the shallow parts.

The view of Hanauma Bay is great as it also is an ancient volcano(sunken). There is a parking fee and an admission fee and an educational video to see, but it is worth it in my opinion.

But then again you may not want to get wet for your scenic drive. Anyway it may be worth the trip to the Bay even if you don%26#39;t swim. Just pay the $1.00 parking fee and you can view the Bay from the top.

I agree with Dusty, check out and take your luggage with you to the Arizona, don%26#39;t waste precious time driving back to Waikiki for it. It will take longer than you think and you will hate yourself. After the Arizona it will be a short drive to Koolina and beach time.

I think you 5 year old will be fine on Diamond Head. I traveled with an 8 and 6 year old last Jan 2008 and my six year old made it no problem. During our hike we met up with a 90 year old man who was climbing it, and he made it too. He just took his time. A Japanese woman in a dress and heels made it too.

One thing our kids really enjoyed was the outrigger canoe ride we took on Waikiki. It was $15 pp to ride 3 waves in. Two beachboys go with you in an 8 man canoe. They will find paddlers to compensate for the kids. Paddling is not strenuous at all. My 8 year old paddled and my 6 year old was the ';navigator'; so he just watched. It was a thrill to watch the waves rise up and you ride the wave in. It was a taste of old Hawaii. We went with Star Beachboys and you will find them near the Duke K. statue on Waikiki beach.

Going to a luau is expensive for a family of four, but every Friday night Hilton Hawaiian Village offers a free Polynesian show at their Super pool. There is a one drink minimum to sit poolside. The show is complete with a torch lighting ceremony, Royal Procession, Royal Precision Drill Team, Polynesian dance from all over Polynesia, fire knife dance and they top it all off with a fireworks display on the beach. Non guests of HHV are welcome. All this for the cost of 2 drinks that we enjoyed. This was our ';luau.'; It starts at 6:00pm

On the North Shore be sure to get a shave ice from Matsumoto%26#39;s. My kids loved that too and it is a must for my trips to Oahu. It is just pure, messy goodness. The store is in Haleiwa and it%26#39;s easy to find. It%26#39;s the store with the line going out the door.

I hope the big waves are in town for your trip. Our entire family loved watching the waves curl and thunder on the beach. It%26#39;s wonderful.

I would skip the Dole Plantation. The only memories you will get there is of your empty wallet and not so interesting snapshots.

You will have a fantastic time. Your trip is ambitious, but it will be worth it.

I agree with a lot of the advice you%26#39;ve already received...

- Skip the Dole Plantation. It%26#39;s very kitschy and a total tourist trap.

- Definitely, definitely spend some time checking out the North Shore. It%26#39;s one of the best parts of Oahu, IMO.

- Your luggage should be OK at the Arizona Memorial--there is a lot of security there. Just don%26#39;t leave any valuables in plain sight.

- Plan on at least 2 hours for the Diamond Head climb. It%26#39;s a good workout, but well worth the hike. I%26#39;d also question whether or not your 5 year old could make it up, so you may want to have an alternate plan.

I think your itinerary looks good! One thing that I%26#39;d recommend is that you pace yourself and soak in all of the relaxing Hawaiian atmosphere. You%26#39;ll love it.

I like Dole Pineapple.

But I do not do the maze, train or garden tour. I also do not spend any $$ in the gift shop.

If you are in the area, it is worth a stop. Go behind the gift shop %26amp; stroll through the pineapple garden. It is free %26amp; will give you an idea of how pineapples grow.

Also a koi (carp) pond there that kids like.

I%26#39;m so glad to hear there is someone else out there doing three islands in 10 days. My husband and I are going in May for our 10 year anniversary and are also doing Oahu, Maui and Kauai.

We stressed over this a lot because, like you said, the majority of people on this website say don%26#39;t do it. We know we will be doing alot of traveling but there are things on each island we really want to see. Between our full time jobs, kids, vacation time who knows when we will be able to take another 10 day trip.

Safe travels!!!!!!

Thank you so much for the wonderful advice. I had read previously that it was not very safe in the Pearl Harbor parking lot, so that%26#39;s why I thought we would drive back to the Waikiki hotel, but if it is ok in the trunk, then we will just do that. I am all for saving some driving time.

I think we will be ok on Diamond Head, we are going to try it anyway. My 7-yr old is SO excited to tell her friends that she was at Diamond Head. If the 5-yr old doesn%26#39;t make it, it won%26#39;t be the first time that her dad has had to carry her, or we have had to take turns waiting with her while the other parent went with the 7-yr old. It%26#39;s worth a shot anyway.

Thanks again, these boards have been a huge help!

KMme, if your 7 year old is excited about going then by all means go! The view is amazing and you do realize that Diamond Head was a volcano.

As long as you pace yourselves and can care for your 5 year old you should be fine then.

Sorry if I got you worried about the climb.