Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2
Planning a Family
Trip to Hawaii
I
f you have enough trouble getting your kids out of the house in the morning,
dragging them thousands of miles away may seem like an insurmountable chal-
lenge. But family travel can be immensely rewarding, giving you new ways of
seeing the world through smaller pairs of eyes. This chapter will give you the
nuts and bolts information you need to plan an affordable, safe, and memorably
fun family vacation.
1 Choosing the Perfect Island
Although Hawaii has eight islands,
only six are available to visitors: Oahu
(where Honolulu and Waikiki are
located), Maui, the Big Island of
Hawaii, Molokai, Lanai, and Kauai.
The island of Niihau is privately
owned and off-limits to nonresidents.
Kahoolawe, used as a bombing target
by the military, has been returned to
the state of Hawaii and is still being
cleared of bombs.
Each island offers a different experi-
ence for families, so be sure to read
each destination chapter before you
make up your mind which island is
perfect for your family vacation. Plan
to see no more than one island per
week; there's plenty to do on each
island and because the islands are so
far apart, it will take all day to fly from
one island to the next.
OAHU
This island is home to
world-renowned Waikiki and very
urban Honolulu. Millions of tourists
flock to these well-known areas every
year. Here's the place of sand and sun-
shine, historical and cultural activities,
the Honolulu Zoo, the Waikiki
Aquarium, and the Bishop Museum.
There's also another side to Oahu: On
the north shore, big waves roll ashore
every winter into the tiny communi-
ties on the more rural part of the
island. The Polynesian Cultural Cen-
ter offers a day's worth of fun. Just
being out in the country, hopping
from beach to sandy beach, should be
on every family's list.
MAUI
Maui is one of Hawaii's more
popular vacation spots, perfect for
families. The “Valley Isle,” as local res-
idents call it, offers luxurious hotels
and resort areas, bargain condos for
large families, and plenty of activities
for all ages (from watersports like
snorkeling and kayaking to coasting a
bike down the 10,000-ft. dormant
volcano Haleakala). Even the daylong
ride along the windy, two-lane Hana
Highway is an adventure. Maui does
not have an urban center like Hono-
lulu and Waikiki, but it offers a vaca-
tion for active families as well as a
place just to kick back and relax.
MOLOKAI
The “most Hawaiian
island” is a small, slipper-shaped rural
community of mainly Hawaiians.
This is for families seeking a quieter,
more relaxed vacation. Certainly not a
place for shopping or fine dining,
Molokai is country. Only two hotels
