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From sunsets on the seaside to hikes up a dormant volcano, there are tons of bonding experiences available on a household trip to Hawaii.
We spent three weeks hopping across the Hawaiian islands with our two daughters, embarking on highway journeys, climbing jungle trails, snorkeling the coral reefs and moving into the true Aloha spirit.
Ohana (household) is deeply essential within the Hawaiian tradition making it an ideal household journey vacation spot.
It’s a various and laid-back vacation spot, with ample instructional alternatives for our ladies, and tons of reminiscence making experiences that we nonetheless speak about to today.
In case you’re considering of a household journey to Hawaii, however undecided the place to go or what to do, right here is our recommended 3 week Hawaii itinerary for households that ticks off the highlights!
The Final 3-Week Hawaii Itinerary For Households
Earlier than we share the itinerary, it’s essential to notice there are six main islands in Hawaii you may go to: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, and the Huge Island.
Probably the most accessible island to get to is Oahu, which is house to the capital, Honolulu, and is serviced by direct flights from most main cities within the USA.
Delta Airways fly from cities akin to Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, whereas Hawaiian Airways fly from Boston. Outdoors of the U.S., yow will discover direct flights from Auckland NZ, Japan, Fiji, and South Korea.
So, we start our itinerary from Oahu. In the case of travelling between islands, we share extra details about that as we go on.
For now, let’s get began!
Cease 1: Oahu (4 days)
- Find out how to get there: get a direct flight from the U.S. to Daniel Ok. Inouye Worldwide Airport
- What number of days to spend: 4-7 days
Though house to the capital, Oahu is the third largest island in Hawaii, and gives a bit little bit of every little thing you’d need from a vacation spot – from bustling metropolis life to laid again surf cities.
Suppose rest, journey, seashores, pure wonders, world-class eating (loads of meals choices for fussy eaters) and procuring.
Some widespread issues to do on Oahu are studying to surf at Waikiki Seaside, the very best spot to take browsing classes, visiting the Pearl Harbour and USS Arizona Memorial, and reenacting Jurassic Park at Kualoa Ranch.
Make sure to go to Hanauma Bay Nature Protect to snorkel with turtles and different marine life, take the children to have a wild encounter at Sea Life Park, Waikiki Aquarium, or Honolulu Zoo, or study Hawaiian tradition at The Polynesian Cultural Middle.
Our children loved navigating an enormous backyard maze on the Dole Plantation.
Cease 2: Kauai (3 days)
- Find out how to get there: get a direct flight with Island Air from Oahu to Kauai
- What number of days to spend: 4-7 days
The fourth largest island is Kauai, and is famous for laid-back environment and wealthy tradition present in its small cities.
Kauai the place to get away from all of it.
Draped in emerald valleys, sharp mountain spires, and jagged cliffs with tropical rainforests, forking rivers and cascading waterfalls, it’s a nature lover’s paradise.
Some widespread issues to do listed here are play within the tide swimming pools at Poipu Seaside Park, kayak the Wailua River, snorkel from Poipu Seaside, take pleasure in a sundown from Hanalei Bay, zipline above Kauai’s lush valleys, discover Waimea Canyon, be taught to hula dance at one of many many Luauas, and experience on the Kauai Plantation Railway at Kilohana Property.
If funds permits, take pleasure in a helicopter experience over the Backyard Isle, and picture you’re in a scene from Jurassic Park!
Cease 3: Maui (3 days)
- Find out how to get there: get a direct flight from Island Air, who’re the one service to supply a continuous between Maui to Kauai. It may be costly, so you could want to vary in Oahu for a extra funds pleasant choice.
- What number of days to spend: 3-5 days
If it’s your first time in Hawaii, Maui might be the very best island for households because it has a lot range to discover.
Maui has been voted “Finest Island within the U.S.” on quite a few events and is legendary for stunning white sand seashores, rest, unbelievable sunrises and sunsets, nice meals, sea turtles, humpback whales (November by means of April), and the Haleakala Volcano.
Because the second largest island in Hawaii, you wish to spend a very good period of time right here. We suggest visiting for no less than three days, ideally 5 days, however if you happen to can prolong to every week, you wouldn’t run out of issues to do.
Some widespread issues to do in Maui are snorkel with sea turtles at Black Sand Seaside in Wai’anapanapa State Park, take a SUP out at Kaanapali Seaside, and drive the highway to Hana, a scenic drive.
In case you take pleasure in climbing as a household, hike as much as the summit of Haleakala Nationwide Park for dawn, have a seaside day on the Na Pali Coast, or go on a whale watching tour.
Cease 4: Lanai (2 days)
- Find out how to get there: get a ferry with Lana’i Expeditions, which takes roughly one hour and 10 minutes. Search for ferry occasions right here.
- What number of days to spend: 2 days
The smallest inhabited island in Hawaii, Lanai, is barely 9 miles from Maui but a world away in terms of tradition.
Identified for luxurious resorts and bouncing alongside the island’s rugged again roads in a 4-wheel-drive car. A spot to seek out serenity and journey!
Some widespread issues to do listed here are chill out within the tide swimming pools at Hulopoe Bay, go horseback driving, have a household picnic at Dole Park, or simply have pool time at considered one of Lanai’s positive resorts.
Cease 5: Molokai (2-3 days)
- Find out how to get there: experience the ferry to Maui, after which catch the Molokai Princess ferry from Maui to Molokai from the identical dock which takes about 90 minutes. See occasions for the Maui to Molokai ferry right here.
- What number of days to spend: 2-3 days
Molokai is the fifth largest island and is house to the very best sea cliffs on the planet and the longest steady fringing reef.
A excessive share of its inhabitants is of Native Hawaiian ancestry, and Molokai is actually an island of outside journey the place Hawaii’s previous comes alive!
A few of the hottest issues to do listed here are tour a macadamia nut farm, play on Papohaku Seaside (considered one of Hawaii’s largest white-sand seashores), go to Huge Wind Kite Manufacturing unit, and ship an actual coconut from Hoolehua Put up Workplace.
Cease 6: Hawaii Island/The Huge Island (5 days)
- Find out how to get there: get a direct flight from Molokai Airport (MKK) to Kona Worldwide Airport (KOA).
- What number of days to spend: 5-7 days
The most important island, and possibly the very best island for households that love journey and academic experiences, is Hawaii Island – often known as The Huge Island.
It’s got volcanic wonders and lively volcanoes, black sand seashores, sea turtles, manta rays, waterfalls, rainforests and plush valleys of the Hilo and Hamakua Coasts.
Don’t miss an opportunity to discover Hawaii Volcanoes Nationwide Park, see inexperienced turtles on Punalu’u (Black Sand Seaside), swim in manta rays at Keauhou in Kona, sip on a neighborhood Kona espresso, go snorkelling at Kealakekua Bay, and see Akaka Falls.
Household-friendly locations to remain in Hawaii
Now the place to go and how you can get from island to island, it’s time to have a look at the logistics of planning your itinerary.
Beginning with lodging! Beneath are our prime locations to remain on every island, detailed how you can get across the island, and shared our prime ideas akin to when is the very best time to go to and why.
It’s beneficial you ebook your lodging as far prematurely as you may, as you usually tend to get a deal.
Scorching Tip: When evaluating costs and Hawaii household resorts to remain in, take into account that the dreaded resort payment is just not sometimes included in marketed room charges. These Resort charges can add $15 to $30 plus tax to your day by day invoice. Learn the positive print to see what options the resort payment contains! Does it embrace free Wi-Fi, self-parking, bottled water, gymnasium entry and many others?
We stayed at just a few child pleasant resorts in Hawaii, so we’ve shared the locations we’ve stayed at under so you may resolve on one which’s best for you.
These lodges and resorts provide kid-friendly amenities and actions like water parks and water slides, lazy rivers, household rooms, hula classes, snorkeling, and beachfront entry.
Additionally, many of those provide day camps for teenagers that give dad and mom some much-needed outing. And reap the benefits of keiki (youngsters’s) packages that vary from lei-making to scuba classes.
The place to Keep in Oahu
Turtle Bay Resort
Turtle Bay Resort is without doubt one of the finest child pleasant resorts in Hawaii. Situated on 5 miles of beachfront on Oahu’s North Shore, it gives:
- Children keep free! Youngsters keep free when utilizing current bedding
- Household rooms
- 2 outside swimming pools
- Water slide
- Snorkeling and rise up paddle boarding on web site
- Babysitting or childcare out there
- Horse driving/rental on web site
- The Polynesian Cultural Middle is 4 miles away
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Seaside Resort
The Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Seaside Resort is situated on the shores of Waikiki Seaside and on 22-acres. It options over 20 eating places and lounges, 90 retailers and boutiques, and a 5,000-square foot household exercise pool.
- 5,000-square foot household exercise pool
- 5 glowing swimming pools with waterfalls
- Longest water slide in Waikiki
- Children membership
- Household-friendly lagoon
- Friday evening fireworks
- Quieter finish of Waikiki Seaside (protected by a sea wall and a pure reef so swimming within the ocean is completely doable)
Sheraton Waikiki
Situated only one minute stroll to Waikiki Seaside and 4 miles from the Diamond Head Crater is Sheraton Waikiki.
It has two oceanfront swimming pools, an adult-only infinity pool and Helumoa Playground that includes two recent water swimming swimming pools, and a 70 foot lengthy water slide.
- Youngsters below 17 keep at no cost
- 2 outside swimming pools (youngsters pool)
- Near widespread sights, Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium
- Children camp
- Waikiki Buying Centre is simply 2 minutes’ stroll away.
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
The Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa is the place to remain for an lodging that immerses you in native tradition by means of Disney magic. It comes as no shock that Disney delivers in terms of Hawaii household resorts.
- Beautiful pool space
- Lazy river
- 2 water slides
- Characters wander the grounds
- Dance events on the pool
- Children menus at each restaurant
- Spa therapies even for toddlers
The place to remain on Maui
Kaanapali Seaside Resort
Acknowledged by the Waiaha Basis as “Hawaii’s Most Kaanapali Seaside Resort sits on stunning Kaanapali Seaside and gives cultural actions and cozy guestrooms.
Resort,”- Each day hula exhibits
- Lei making
- 3 minute stroll to Whalers Village
- Easy accessibility to whale watching, rise up paddle boarding and snorkeling.
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa
One other of the very best lodges for teenagers in Hawaii is the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa.
Situated on Maui’s west coast with flamingos, cranes, parrots, and penguins on web site.
It gives a water park that features swimming pools with a rope bridge and a lava tube waterslide, infinity-edge rest pool, household pool, and a youngsters’s zero-entry pool.
- 6 outside swimming pools
- 150 foot waterslide
- Children keep free! As much as 2 youngsters 17 years outdated and youthful keep free when utilizing current bedding.
- Lei making lessons
- Hula demonstrations
- Wildlife excursions
- Stargazing by means of the rooftop telescope
Montage Kapalua Bay
Set in picturesque Kapalua Bay, Montage Kapalua Bay seaside resort apartment caters to everybody and every little thing. Spacious suites and full kitchens, an out of doors pool, restaurant and spa and wellness middle.
An important alternative for households concerned with snorkeling, sandy seashores and surroundings.
- Youngsters’s pool
- Children membership
- Household rooms
- Soundproof rooms
- Every apartment gives a kitchen with a fridge
- Leisure workers
The Westin Maui Resort & Spa
The The Westin Maui Resort & Spa is situated on Ka’anapali and options an on-site luau and lessons on hula dancing and lei making.
Spend the day enjoyable on the seaside, by the pool, or pampering your self on the full-service spa.
- Children keep free! As much as 2 youngsters keep free when utilizing current bedding.
- Adjoining to Whalers’ Village
- 5 swimming pools
- Waterslide
- Children membership
The place to remain on Kauai
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa
Set amidst river swimming pools and tropical gardens, the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa boasts 7 eating places, and the Luau Present on Wednesdays and Sundays gives a Hawaiian buffet and showcases conventional Polynesian dance and tradition.
- 24-hour swimming pool complicated with waterfalls, waterslides and volleyball internet
- Adults-only swimming space
The place to remain on the Huge Island of Hawaii
Hilton Waikoloa Village
Situated on 62 oceanfront acres on the Huge Island of Hawaii, the Hilton Waikoloa Village boasts a non-public white sand seaside and sprawling saltwater lagoon with dolphin encounters out there, a full-service spa, and the World-famous Kings Golf Course.
- 3 swimming pools (youngsters’s pool)
- 150 foot waterslide
- Household rooms
- Non-public seaside
- 13 eating places
4 Seasons Hualalai
Situated in Kailua-Kona, the 4 Seasons Hualalai is close to the airport and on the seaside. That includes seven swimming areas, 5 eating choices, and ocean views.
- Saltwater pool
- Non-public white sand seaside
- Household rooms
- Volcanoes Nationwide Park is 2 hours’ drive from the property
The place to remain on Molokai
Resort Moloka’i
Molokai doesn’t have an enormous vary of lodging choices, however that doesn’t matter, as Resort Moloka’i gives every little thing you want.
Situated straight on Kamiloloa Seaside, it has oceanfront rooms styled in conventional Polynesian village type. Some standout options embrace:
- an out of doors swimming pool with shallow finish
- an oceanfront restaurant, Hiro’s Ohana Grill,
- scuba diving and snorkeling gear for lease
- BBQ amenities
The place to remain on Lanai
4 Seasons Resort Lana’i
A lush resort close to Hulopoʻe Seaside, 4 Seasons Resort has scenic views of the Pacific Ocean and has tons of family-friendly facilities. Together with:
- Two swimming swimming pools with views of the ocean
- In-room eating
- A non-public terrace with suites
- Twice-daily housekeeping service
- Eleven totally different therapeutic massage rooms for mother and pop
- A golf course
- Three tennis courts
- An observatory to gaze up on the stars
- Onsite restaurant, One Forty.
- A cocktail bar for mother and pop
- A sushi bar
- A non-public lounge at Honolulu Worldwide Airport
When is the very best time to go to Hawaii?
Anytime is an effective time to go to Hawaii, which is why most individuals go to within the winter to flee the chilly temperatures within the U.S.
The common temperature yr spherical is between 75˚–85˚ F (24˚-29˚ C) with summer time (between April and November) being a bit hotter and drier, and winter (between December and March) a bit cooler – however nothing like over on mainland USA!
In fact crowds play an essential function while you plan your journey.
If you’ll be able to be versatile in when you may take your Hawaii trip, good for you! Travelling off peak means much less folks and decrease costs.
For lodging and flights, typically the most costly occasions to go to Hawaii are:
- Peak Season (Dec 22 – January 3)
- Excessive Season (January, February, March)
- Summer time (June, July, August)
Take into account the foremost vacation intervals within the U.S., as these are additionally busy and costly occasions to go to.
Your finest probability of getting a very good deal for Hawaii could be in Spring (mid-April to mid-June) and Fall (September to mid-December).
Driving in Hawaii
When planning a visit to Hawaii, it’s essential to contemplate your transportation choices.
I extremely suggest renting a automobile and driving, as public transport is gradual. You could possibly drive your self to 4-5 sights in at some point, whereas you’d solely have time for 1-2 utilizing a bus.
In case you want a rental automobile, ebook on-line prematurely and you’ll nearly at all times get a greater deal than if you happen to simply present up on the counter. It’s because the smaller, cheaper automobiles get booked up early.
The very last thing you wish to do after a protracted flight to Hawaii is cope with rental automobile corporations on the airport and negotiate a deal.
The quickest technique to examine rental automobile costs is to make use of an aggregator web site like Uncover Vehicles that searches all the foremost automobile manufacturers without delay and checks which provider gives the very best costs on your chosen dates and placement.
It will probably prevent time and cash.
When staying in locations like Waikiki, you don’t want a automobile as you may stroll from attraction to attraction, so think about renting a automobile just for the day you wish to discover different components of every island.
This manner you’ll save large bucks in in a single day parking bills at lodges (on common $25 per day).
What to pack for a household journey to Hawaii
Simply fascinated about packing for a household journey may be demanding. However the very best factor to do is pack the naked minimal as a result of you may at all times purchase it there!
Encourage your youngsters to decide on and pack their very own garments to attenuate complaints and to show journey planning abilities.
Pack versatile, snug and unfastened becoming garments and impartial colours that may be worn in a number of mixtures so if one thing will get soiled you solely have to vary a part of the outfit.
For toddlers, pack a change of garments for dinner, pajamas, or what is required throughout the day in case of accidents.
Our prime 5 packing ideas embrace:
- Know the anticipated climate, which helps scale back over-packing.
- When flying to Hawaii with youngsters take a change of garments in your carry-on simply in case your checked-in baggage doesn’t arrive with you.
- Know the actions you may be doing so you may pack appropriately.
- Know the varieties of lodging you may be staying at. If you’re staying in lodges you gained’t must take issues like towels, hair dryers or linen.
- Cost your electronics and cargo up all of your tablets and transportable units with issues to learn, play, watch.
Remaining Ideas
With a tropical local weather and gorgeous seashores, breathtaking waterfalls, beautiful surroundings, and journey actions, Hawaii is what many individuals think about paradise.
The Hawaiian Islands are a pure playground with infinite snorkeling, kayaking, rise up paddle boarding, zip lining, and volcano exploration. Plus wildlife encounters with sea turtles, manta rays, whales and dolphins.
After which there are the cultural actions like studying to hula dance, attending a luau, and visiting essential museums like at Pearl Harbor.
In case you didn’t know how you can plan a visit to Hawaii, we hope you do now.
That’s it. You at the moment are in your technique to an unforgettable Hawaii trip with youngsters!
Extra Hawaii Journey Ideas
Want extra inspiration for a visit to Hawaii? Try these different guides…