Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island Trip Plan Itinerary
question
My husband and I will be traveling to Hawaii this summer for 3 weeks. We plan to stay 5 nights each on Oahu, the Big Island, Kauai, and Maui. I have searched and searched the internet for the best things to do on each island, and I have tried to put it all together in an organized, practical way. I typed up an itinerary, and I wondered if you could look it over and offer suggestions. I know this is asking a lot, but I would really appreciate your help. I definitely want to get the most out of my vacation. Thank you so much for your time.
Thursday, June 22nd · Fly to Honolulu · Pick up rental car · Explore Honolulu and Waikiki · Check in at Kahala Mandarin Oriental Resort
Friday, June 23rd – Central and South Oahu · USS Arizona Memorial · Punchbowl National Cemetery · Hike Diamond Head ($5 to park; $1/person) · Hanauma Bay
Saturday, June 24th – West Oahu · Waimea Valley Audobon Center ($8/person; $2 to park) · Sunset Cruise ($35/person)
Sunday, June 25th – East Oahu · Atlantis Submarine Tour ($105/person) · Valley of the Temples / Byodo-In Temple ($2/person)
Monday, June 26th – North Oahu · Dole Plantation (opens at 9:00 am; $5/person for Pineapple Maze) Polynesian Cultural Center (begins at 12 noon; Ambassador package; $110/person) § 2:30 pm Rainbows of Paradise Canoe Pageant § 5:00 pm Luau § 7:30 pm Horizons show
Tuesday, June 27th · Check out of Kahala Mandarin Oriental Resort · Fly to the Big Island
Hawaii – The Big Island Tuesday, June 27th - Kohala District · Fly to the Big Island · Explore · Pololu Valley Lookout · Check in at Waianuhea – Bed and Breakfast Inn Wednesday,
June 28th - Kona District · Napo’opo’o Beach Park · Pu’uhonua o Honaunau (best time to see is an hour before sunset; $5/vehicle)
Thursday, June 29th - Ka’u District (South) · Volcanoes National Park (open 24 hours; visitor center open 7:45 am – 5 pm; $10/vehicle) · Green Sand Beach · Punalu’u Black Sand Beach
Friday, June 30th – Hilo District and Puna District · Rainbow Falls · Pe‘epe’e Falls · Wai’ale Falls · Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden ($15/person) · Champagne Pond · Akaka Falls (best seen early in the day)
Saturday, July 1st – Hamakua District · World Botanical Gardens (Umauma Falls; $8.50/person) · Waipio Valley (best to see in the afternoon) · Mauna Loa · Mauna Kea
Sunday, July 2nd · Check out of Waianuhea ·
Fly to Kauai Kauai Sunday, July 2nd – North Kauai Fly to Kauai Explore Check in at Hale Lani Cottage – Secret Beach Queens Bath Tunnels Beach Lumahai Beach Hanalei Bay / Pier Hanalei town Kilauea Lighthouse (open Monday – Friday; 10 am – 4 pm; $3/person)
Monday, July 3rd – North Kauai (continued) Ke’e Beach Hanakapi’ai Beach Kalalau Foot Trail Bali Hai Na Pali Coast sunset sail (Captain Sundown; 4 pm – 7 pm; $120/person)
Tuesday, July 4th – West Kauai Polihale State Park Glass Beach Koke’e State Park Waimea Canyon
Wednesday, July 5th – East Kauai Wailua River (kayak and hike to Secret Falls) Wailua Falls Kipu Falls Opaeka’a Falls Fern Grotto Mt. Waialeale (wettest spot on earth)
Thursday, July 6th – South Kauai Poipu Beach Shipwreck Beach Maha’ulepu Beach (walk from Shipwreck) Spouting Horn
Friday, July 7th Check out of Hale Lani cottage Fly to Maui Maui Friday, July 7th – · Fly to Maui · Check in at The Fairmont Kea Lani ‘Ulalena (Producer’s package; $69.50/person + tax; CENTER; Row H, Seats 1-2; #30068; pick up tickets at Box Office; pay when tickets are picked up)
Saturday, July 8th – West Maui · Banyan Tree Park · Ka’anapali Beach · Nakalele Blowhole · Olivine Pools
Sunday, July 9th – Central Maui · Iao Valley State Park (open 7 am to 7 pm daily; best seen in the morning) · Hana Highway (waterfalls are best before 11 a.m.)
Monday, July 10th – East Maui · Haleakala National Park (open 24 hours; $10/vehicle) · Venus Pool · Wailua Falls · Infinity Pool · Oheo Gulch
Tuesday, July 11th – South Maui · Wednesday, July 12th · Fly home
answer
Wow, it actually looks really good, although I must remark that you don't seem to have any 'relax and take it easy on the beach time' - I'll just assume you two aren't 'lay on the beach' type of people.
Ok, I can't really remark on Kauai. I live on the Big Island and just don't go to Kauai enough to know I am really telling how it is - so we'll focus on the other islands.
Oahu - looks good. I just want to mention 2 things
1. I just don't know if you'll have a lot of time for Hanauma Bay on your Hanauma Bay day -- maybe though. Their parking lot fills up quickly, so either go first thing or in the afternoon to find parking.
2. Beware of traffic on Oahu. Avoid going towards Honolulu till after 9 or 10, and avoid going out away from it after about 3.
Big Island
This island is really big and you are looking at a lot of driving. Are you flying into Hilo or Kona? Hilo to your Inn will be just over an hour. Kona to your Inn will be just under 2 hours. I assume you are flying into Kona since you will be doing Pololu Valley Lookout that same day -- you know, I am tempted to tell you to just skip it since you will be so close to Waipio Valley and don't have anything else planned around Hawi.
On your Kau district day - Volcanoes National Park will be a two hour drive, Punaluu will be another half hour past, and green sand beach will be another half hour plus 2 mile walk both ways if you don't have a 4WD. Total driving time back to Honokaa will be almost three hours from green sand beach.
The Hilo Tropical Botanical Garden is nice, but I don't see a need for you to do both that and the World Botanical Garden. The champagne ponds are a 45 minute drive past Hilo FYI, plus, if you don't have a 4WD, or the gate is closed you'll have to walk a mile to get there. Ahalanui is just as far away, but there is no walking. It's not quite as nice but it is also heated.
You have Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on your list - but there is no access to either of them from Hamakua - Mauna Kea is accessed via Saddle road in Hilo, Mauna Loa via Mauna Loa Rd near the Volcanoes national Park. Is there something you wanted to see up on either of them?
On Maui
You have all those pools and the Oheo Gulch on your Haleakala Nat Park Day - but although they are part of the park, they are not accessible from the entrance station up on the mountain - they are past Hana. They should be done on your Hana highway day.
I hope this helps you - enjoy your vacation! Lisa
My husband and I will be traveling to Hawaii this summer for 3 weeks. We plan to stay 5 nights each on Oahu, the Big Island, Kauai, and Maui. I have searched and searched the internet for the best things to do on each island, and I have tried to put it all together in an organized, practical way. I typed up an itinerary, and I wondered if you could look it over and offer suggestions. I know this is asking a lot, but I would really appreciate your help. I definitely want to get the most out of my vacation. Thank you so much for your time.
Thursday, June 22nd · Fly to Honolulu · Pick up rental car · Explore Honolulu and Waikiki · Check in at Kahala Mandarin Oriental Resort
Friday, June 23rd – Central and South Oahu · USS Arizona Memorial · Punchbowl National Cemetery · Hike Diamond Head ($5 to park; $1/person) · Hanauma Bay
Saturday, June 24th – West Oahu · Waimea Valley Audobon Center ($8/person; $2 to park) · Sunset Cruise ($35/person)
Sunday, June 25th – East Oahu · Atlantis Submarine Tour ($105/person) · Valley of the Temples / Byodo-In Temple ($2/person)
Monday, June 26th – North Oahu · Dole Plantation (opens at 9:00 am; $5/person for Pineapple Maze) Polynesian Cultural Center (begins at 12 noon; Ambassador package; $110/person) § 2:30 pm Rainbows of Paradise Canoe Pageant § 5:00 pm Luau § 7:30 pm Horizons show
Tuesday, June 27th · Check out of Kahala Mandarin Oriental Resort · Fly to the Big Island
Hawaii – The Big Island Tuesday, June 27th - Kohala District · Fly to the Big Island · Explore · Pololu Valley Lookout · Check in at Waianuhea – Bed and Breakfast Inn Wednesday,
June 28th - Kona District · Napo’opo’o Beach Park · Pu’uhonua o Honaunau (best time to see is an hour before sunset; $5/vehicle)
Thursday, June 29th - Ka’u District (South) · Volcanoes National Park (open 24 hours; visitor center open 7:45 am – 5 pm; $10/vehicle) · Green Sand Beach · Punalu’u Black Sand Beach
Friday, June 30th – Hilo District and Puna District · Rainbow Falls · Pe‘epe’e Falls · Wai’ale Falls · Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden ($15/person) · Champagne Pond · Akaka Falls (best seen early in the day)
Saturday, July 1st – Hamakua District · World Botanical Gardens (Umauma Falls; $8.50/person) · Waipio Valley (best to see in the afternoon) · Mauna Loa · Mauna Kea
Sunday, July 2nd · Check out of Waianuhea ·
Fly to Kauai Kauai Sunday, July 2nd – North Kauai Fly to Kauai Explore Check in at Hale Lani Cottage – Secret Beach Queens Bath Tunnels Beach Lumahai Beach Hanalei Bay / Pier Hanalei town Kilauea Lighthouse (open Monday – Friday; 10 am – 4 pm; $3/person)
Monday, July 3rd – North Kauai (continued) Ke’e Beach Hanakapi’ai Beach Kalalau Foot Trail Bali Hai Na Pali Coast sunset sail (Captain Sundown; 4 pm – 7 pm; $120/person)
Tuesday, July 4th – West Kauai Polihale State Park Glass Beach Koke’e State Park Waimea Canyon
Wednesday, July 5th – East Kauai Wailua River (kayak and hike to Secret Falls) Wailua Falls Kipu Falls Opaeka’a Falls Fern Grotto Mt. Waialeale (wettest spot on earth)
Thursday, July 6th – South Kauai Poipu Beach Shipwreck Beach Maha’ulepu Beach (walk from Shipwreck) Spouting Horn
Friday, July 7th Check out of Hale Lani cottage Fly to Maui Maui Friday, July 7th – · Fly to Maui · Check in at The Fairmont Kea Lani ‘Ulalena (Producer’s package; $69.50/person + tax; CENTER; Row H, Seats 1-2; #30068; pick up tickets at Box Office; pay when tickets are picked up)
Saturday, July 8th – West Maui · Banyan Tree Park · Ka’anapali Beach · Nakalele Blowhole · Olivine Pools
Sunday, July 9th – Central Maui · Iao Valley State Park (open 7 am to 7 pm daily; best seen in the morning) · Hana Highway (waterfalls are best before 11 a.m.)
Monday, July 10th – East Maui · Haleakala National Park (open 24 hours; $10/vehicle) · Venus Pool · Wailua Falls · Infinity Pool · Oheo Gulch
Tuesday, July 11th – South Maui · Wednesday, July 12th · Fly home
answer
Wow, it actually looks really good, although I must remark that you don't seem to have any 'relax and take it easy on the beach time' - I'll just assume you two aren't 'lay on the beach' type of people.
Ok, I can't really remark on Kauai. I live on the Big Island and just don't go to Kauai enough to know I am really telling how it is - so we'll focus on the other islands.
Oahu - looks good. I just want to mention 2 things
1. I just don't know if you'll have a lot of time for Hanauma Bay on your Hanauma Bay day -- maybe though. Their parking lot fills up quickly, so either go first thing or in the afternoon to find parking.
2. Beware of traffic on Oahu. Avoid going towards Honolulu till after 9 or 10, and avoid going out away from it after about 3.
Big Island
This island is really big and you are looking at a lot of driving. Are you flying into Hilo or Kona? Hilo to your Inn will be just over an hour. Kona to your Inn will be just under 2 hours. I assume you are flying into Kona since you will be doing Pololu Valley Lookout that same day -- you know, I am tempted to tell you to just skip it since you will be so close to Waipio Valley and don't have anything else planned around Hawi.
On your Kau district day - Volcanoes National Park will be a two hour drive, Punaluu will be another half hour past, and green sand beach will be another half hour plus 2 mile walk both ways if you don't have a 4WD. Total driving time back to Honokaa will be almost three hours from green sand beach.
The Hilo Tropical Botanical Garden is nice, but I don't see a need for you to do both that and the World Botanical Garden. The champagne ponds are a 45 minute drive past Hilo FYI, plus, if you don't have a 4WD, or the gate is closed you'll have to walk a mile to get there. Ahalanui is just as far away, but there is no walking. It's not quite as nice but it is also heated.
You have Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on your list - but there is no access to either of them from Hamakua - Mauna Kea is accessed via Saddle road in Hilo, Mauna Loa via Mauna Loa Rd near the Volcanoes national Park. Is there something you wanted to see up on either of them?
On Maui
You have all those pools and the Oheo Gulch on your Haleakala Nat Park Day - but although they are part of the park, they are not accessible from the entrance station up on the mountain - they are past Hana. They should be done on your Hana highway day.
I hope this helps you - enjoy your vacation! Lisa
Labels: big island, itinerary, kauai, maui
posted by Lisa at 3:06 PM
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