What an arrival coming into this airport! It’s totally surrounded by lava (actually, the airport is built on lava!) and is a completely outdoor airport. There are flights to numerous other destinations including other Hawaiian islands, mainland U.S. locations, Canada, and Japan. It was a great airport, super-efficient, and really functional. We arrived in Kona from San Francisco and went back through Denver. Additionally, we caught a flight to Honolulu for an overnight trip through Hawaiian Airlines. Hawaiian Airlines is probably my new favorite airline! Plus, it flys an insane .....amount of flights to other Hawaiian destinations – it goes to Honolulu 15-20 times a day, every day of the week. Show less

The number of luxurious hotels in Hawaii are endless. In Kauai, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency, which is my favorite hotel, ever. The main lobby was massive with views out over the coastline, the food was excellent, and the grounds of the hotel were beautiful. This place was paradise. We spent a day in the spa being pampered, which was perfect the day after our long Napali Coast Hike. Another great hotel was the Kea Lani Resort and Spa, located in Maui. This was another slice of Hawaiian paradise .....in a very upscale area of the island. Show less

The reality is that every traveler’s visit to Oahu will be a different experience. It all depends on your interests, your budget and even where you stay. Hopefully the Oahu itinerary suggestions above will serve as a starting point for your own travel plans. If some of our ideas don’t strike your fancy, there are plenty of other choices around!

Head to Koko Head Cafe for breakfast, which is a popular pan-Asian brunch restaurant owned and operated by Celebrity Chef Lee Anne Wong.

In contrast to the mellow North Shore is bustling Honolulu, Hawaii’s capital. Located in Honolulu’s south shore is Waikiki, a lively beachfront urban oasis with a range of hotels, shops, restaurants, and entertainment. The open-air International Market Place has everything from convenience stores to a bevy of shopping and dining options.

West of Honolulu is Pearl Harbor, site of the WWII’s 1941 bombing attack and home to the USS Arizona Memorial. The attack on Pearl Harbor is one of the defining moments in United States and world history. You can explore on your own or book a tour. Either way, be sure to reserve your tickets well in advance online. If taking the self-guided Pearl Harbor tour, plan to arrive by 7 a.m. with everyone in your group present. This is a very popular attraction and tickets go fast!

At a towering 442 feet tall, Akaka Falls is Hawaii’s largest waterfall. It’s located in Akaka Falls State Park, about 11 miles north from Hilo. Entry into the park costs only $5 per car.

If you want to know what to do on the Big Island first, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. In the Hawaiian religion, Pele is the goddess of fire who lives in the active Halemaʻumaʻu crater of Kilauea Volcano.

Our Hawaii vacation began on Oahu’s rustic North Shore. But we hardly roughed it. Named for the resident sea turtles, the oceanfront Turtle Bay Resort is situated on 850 acres with five miles of beaches and a tropical forest. Turtle Bay offers many amenities and activities, such as golf, horseback riding, and surf lessons. It also has a spa.

Have some time while you’re on the island? The road to Hana is roughly 3 hours and 15 minutes away from the Ka’anapali resort area but is well worth the drive. Ranked as one of the most gorgeous scenic drives, a picture is worth a thousand words here, and your picture could be free (or come at the cost of one fill up at the gas pump)!

Once rated America’s best beach, Kaanapali Beach is three miles of white sand and clear water and out of all the places to visit in Hawaii, Kaanapali is the one place that most calls us to return to and soak up that Hawaiian sunshine.

Take a look at this list of 11 beaches that offer ADA amenities. This is practically unprecedented in other parts of the world. Hawaii certainly wants to make you feel welcome. They are listed in order of north to south and are beaches that are featured on the Big Island of Kona.

Oahu’s most popular landmark, Diamond Head Crater is visible from virtually every place in Honolulu, Hawaii. The volcanic national landmark gives the town a dramatic backdrop. Diamond Crater Volcano which is now extinct was formed over 200,000 years ago.

Maui – it was famous long before the Moana character, possibly the most famous of the Hawaiian islands… well, apart from actual Hawaii itself. It is BEAUTIFUL.

Kualoa is a beautiful, tranquil place that was made famous by countless Hollywood blockbusters. At least 79 TV shows and movies have been filmed at Kualoa Ranch. The likes of Jurassic Park, Jumanji, Hawaii Five-0, 50 first dates, and more.

Southwest will fly to four Hawaiian islands- Kauai (LIH), Oahu (HNL), Maui (OGG) and the Island of Hawaii (KOA). Southwest tickets to Hawaii are on sale currently for Honolulu,  Kahului, and Kahlua-Kona Hawaii. Service for Lihue on Kauai will be released shortly.

The North Shore of Oahu encompasses the 17 miles of North-facing coastal areas between Keana and Kahuku. The Northshore is popular for Big Wave Surfing. Storms thousands of miles offshore cause the huge waves experienced at its beaches, that surfers love so much.

The North Shore of Oahu encompasses the 17 miles of North-facing coastal areas between Keana and Kahuku. The Northshore is popular for Big Wave Surfing. Storms thousands of miles offshore cause the huge waves experienced at its beaches, that surfers love so much.

My go-to restaurant is called Uncle Bo’s Pupu Bar. The original one is right near Diamond Head and they’ve opened another location on the North Shore. The one near Diamond Head is a fun, sort-of fancy-ish atmosphere (which is pretty rare for Hawaii – most people who live there pretty much live in flip flops and denim shorts). They have yummy cocktails and one dish that I especially love called the Seafood Trap. It’s a bunch of fresh seafood that’s been soaking in a yummy broth and they give you .....plenty of bread to soak up every last drop. It’s rich and creamy and out-of-this-world! Oh, and the Bo’s Big Nachos are insane as well. Show less

The water of Kealakekua Bay is crystal clear, and full of colorful fish and coral reefs. It’s also where Captain James Cook, the first Westerner to visit Hawaii, was killed in a skirmish with Native Hawaiians.

Whether on a day trip or a drive around the island, it’s a pleasure to explore Oahu’s less touristy beaches about 20 miles from Waikiki. My family’s favorites are Kailua and Lanikai beaches. Straight out of a postcard, these calm beaches are a perfect place for a picnic and swim.

An absolute must on Maui is a hula show or luau. The Whalers Village at the Kaanapali Beach Resort has free hula shows, as do some hotels such as the Westin Ka’anapali Beach Villas. If you have a dancer in the family like we do, catching a hula show should be at the top of your list for things to do in Maui with kids.