travelling between the islands of Hawaii

Can anyone suggest the easiest way to transfer between Oahu,maui and the big island?

Boat,plane or car?

There are 5 person%26#39;s travelling 2 adults and 3 kids.

I would like to get to each of the islands by the quickest and easiest route possible and i need to finalise the trip in Honolulu to trasfer back to Australia.

travelling between the islands of Hawaii

Since there are no roads between the islands (!) and no ferry boats between the major islands of Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii, your only choice is to fly. I like Aloha or Hawaiian airlines for interisland trips.

travelling between the islands of Hawaii

Yep the only way to the other Islands is air. We have flown both Aloha %26amp; Hawaiian as well (probably like Hawaiian better). The longest interisland flight is probably Oahu to Big Island, being around 40 mins.

May I suggest, if you are planning on travel to the other islands then I recommend doing these the first leg of your trip. Usually flying from Australia you arrive Honolulu International around early/mid morning. As most hotels do not allow check in until after 2pm, this would allow you to catch a flight to the other islands and arrive around lunch or there after. That way you can almost check straight in at your hotel, then catch other connecting flights in the afternoon to try and get the most out of your day.

Doing the Oahu leg of the trip last means you dont have to worry about catching early flights back to Oahu, just getting to the Airport from your hotel. Otherwise you would be catching early flights from inter-islands to catch the early/mid morning flight back to Australia.

Check out the website www.iflygo.com, they fly to the other islands for usually $39.00 one way. This past summer they ran specials of $29.00 o/w.

Dear Hawaii 50,you sound like an expert.

Can you please suggest an itinerary for my trip to Hawaii.

There will be 2 adults and three kids 8,9 and 11 years old.

Would like to do 4 nights Oahu,5 nights Big island and 5 nights Maui. Staying in 4/ 5 star resorts with good pool and Kids facilities.

Taking into account the scheduled departure and arrival times in and out of Oahu from Melbourne/australia.

How would you constuct this trip?

Is 2 islands too many to visit?

Please let me know your thoughts.

Hi Seeyoulater,

Thanks for the compliment, not an expert just an Aussie girl who is a very big Hawaii fan !!

What airline are you flying to Hawaii, Qantas, Jetstar or Hawaiian ?

By the way, where abouts in Melbourne are you from (being a previous Melbournite myself !!).

Hawaii50 :-)

We took our family of six, ages 8-20, to the Big Island for four nights, and then Maui for four nights. The day we flew from Kona to Maui was a full day of travel, not just a quick flight over like I thought it would be. Started out leaving our hotel at 9:00am and didn%26#39;t get checked into our Maui hotel until10:00pm. Three Islands would have been very hard to do.

When I was planning our trip the hotels on the Big Island sounded like a good fit for our family, but I also was told that the Big Island wasn%26#39;t as lush and pretty as the other Islands. This is true, but the Big Island is so unique that it does have a beauty all of it%26#39;s own, it just isn%26#39;t like you picture Hawaii to be.

I would pick one island to stay at, and not spend a whole day of vacation at the airport, we would just settle in and then it would be time to go again. If you pick the Big Island the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is beautiful, we loved it there. They have a great childrens program, and a casual beach feeling even our teen enjoyed. The pool is simple and small, but my kids didn%26#39;t seem to notice. Very safe and relaxing.

However, without question, I would close your eyes when looking at the price of the Four Seasons on the Big Island, and book your room there, and soon, because it fills up fast. It is everything your family is looking for, and worth the long flight to get there. It is very expensive, but worth every penny. Hope this helps you!

lov2vacation, how in the heck did it take you 13 hours to get from a hotel on the big island (the four seasons, no less?) to any hotel in Maui? You didn%26#39;t have a direct flight?

dear hawaii 50,we are using Jetstar from Melbourne and return.

Is it true that the travel between islands takes far too long?

Could you please recommend an itinerary for me?

I am looking at the Grand wailea in Maui and the Hilton Waikoloa in The big island.

With 14 nights, you won%26#39;t have any problem with two or even three islands. Just keep in mind it will take 4-6 hours each time you go to a different island.

Oahu has much more to do than any other island. Oahu is also the most kid friendly.

Lots of info:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g29222-i37-k647862鈥?/a>

www.bigisland.org

www.visitmaui.com

www.mauihawaii.org

Other airlines have matched prices of go! Airline.

www.iflygo.com

www.alohaairlines.com

www.hawaiianairlines.com

Right now, the specials are through the end of the year, but they will probably be extended.

Hi seeyoulater,

From our experiences, I dont think that air travel takes that long between the islands.

With 14 nights, you can quite easily see 2 or 3 islands.

We like to do things one day, then have a relaxing day the next. So you could spend a whole day doing something, then just relax at the resort pool the next. Enjoy your holiday, dont rush it.

Go to a bookshop %26amp; buy the Lonely Planet guide to Hawaii, costs about $35 and is great. This will give you detailed info on heaps of things to see in Hawaii. Alternatively, go online and buy the blue bibles (the Revealed books) on Oahu, Big Island %26amp; Maui. These are fantastic (we bought them over in Hawaii) and give really good info on places %26amp; accommodations. www.wizardpub.com

OK, so flying Jetstar you will arrive quite early at Honolulu International 7.45am. This is alot earlier than what Qantas flys in at (10.00am) so you have plenty of time. I would allow anywhere up to 2 hours to get through Customs %26amp; Immigration. I say this because I dont know how many planes come into Honolulu around this time. Once through %26amp; collected your luggage I would recommend going to the Big Island for your first part of the trip. Transfer to the Inter-island terminal by Wiki-Wiki bus and check in for a flight, maybe around 12 noon. This will allow you extra time if you need it for customs/transfers etc. Flight to Big Island is around 40 mins.

I agree with you for Big Island staying at Hilton Waikoloa Village. It is beautiful with lush tropical gardens and great pools etc for your kids. The kids will love the idea of having to catch the little boats to your accommodation blocks. My niece spent heaps of time in the pool here on the waterslide !!!

I would probably hire a car on Big Island, there is plenty to see. You could do a circle Island tour one day, driving around and just stopping %26amp; seeing things along the way, like coffee plantations, waterfalls, beaches etc.

I would allow a whole day for the volcano national park. There is heaps to see %26amp; do there and you can spend the whole day exploring the lava flows etc.

Another good day is to spend in Kona, just looking around the shops, snorkelling and see the Place of Refuge.

Most hotel check-out is 10-11am, so check out as late as you can to the hotel check-out time and then drive to the airport. Catch a 1-1.30pm interisland flight to Maui, so you will arrive around 2.30pm.

Again, in Maui I would hire a car and yes I think you would probably like the Grand Wailea Hotel. Sorry I am not familiar with the ins %26amp; outs of this hotel (we stay at the Sheraton) but from the webiste it looks beautiful and possibly what you are looking for.

Spend the rest of you day getting familiar with the hotel and relaxing etc

On Maui, you could quite easily spend a day in Lahaina. This is a nice town with lots of shops %26amp; restaurants.

Also on Maui, take the drive to Haleakala Crater %26amp; Volcano, which is 10,023 feet above sea level. This is really spectacular to see early in the morning watching the sunrise over the mountain %26amp; clouds. It is also very pretty during the day.

Another nice part of Maui is IAO needle %26amp; park. It is very tropical, lush and green with waterfalls etc. It is very pretty.

If you hire a car, spend a whole day on the road to Hana. Take your time to explore the beaches and landmarks along the way. There are a lot of bends in the road (about 600 !!) so drive carefully.

I would make your final part of the holiday on Oahu. As I said previously, this allows you to catch a mid/later afternoon flight back to Oahu then check-in around 3pm. Oahu hotels are different to the more expensive ones on the other islands, I would say they are a little more laid back. If you are after a resort feel on Oahu, I would probably think the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It is spread out with lovely gardens and about 2-3 pools. It is at the end of Waikiki, towards the marina %26amp; Ala Moana Shopping Centre. It has several towers to stay in, so I am not familiar with which one is the best. I have read the Al%26#39;ii tower is a good one which it%26#39;s own check-in desk and not as busy, so maybe someone who has stayed here could help you with this.

Definately while you are on Oahu a trip to Pearl Harbour, Missouri and Bowfin sub. I would also say the Polynesian Cultural Centre, the kids should love that. These could easily take a day each, taking your time to explore. Perhaps do the luau %26amp; Horizons show at the PCC. If the kids like the beach, an outrigger canoe ride is only $15 each for 3 waves and fun for kids. Watch the Friday night fireworks at HHV on Friday nights (free) and the free Hula Show on the Waikiki beachfront every night. There is lots of shopping on Oahu as well International Marketplace, Aloha Stadium Swapmeet, Ala-Moana (like a huge Westfield). Perhaps even a morning at Waikiki Aquarium or half day at the Honolulu Zoo for the kids. Hire a car and drive around the island (Dole Plantation, Haleiwa, Byodo-In temple) and lots more.

Jetstar flys back from Oahu about 8.30-9am, so check-out of your hotel early and head for the airport to return home.

I hope some of this helps, but there are plenty more people out here who Im sure can help you as well.

Hawaii50 :-)