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From sunsets on the seashore 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 street journeys, mountain 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 academic alternatives for our women, and tons of reminiscence making experiences that we nonetheless discuss to at the present time.
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’ll be able to go to: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, and the Massive Island.
Probably the most accessible island to get to is Oahu, which is residence to the capital, Honolulu, and is serviced by direct flights from most main cities within the USA.
Delta Airways fly from cities reminiscent of 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. With regards to travelling between islands, we share extra details about that as we go on.
For now, let’s get began!
Cease 1: Oahu (4 days)
- Tips on 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 residence to the capital, Oahu is the third largest island in Hawaii, and presents just a little little bit of all the things you’d need from a vacation spot – from bustling metropolis life to laid again surf cities.
Assume leisure, journey, seashores, pure wonders, world-class eating (loads of meals choices for fussy eaters) and purchasing.
Some in style issues to do on Oahu are studying to surf at Waikiki Seashore, the most effective spot to take browsing classes, visiting the Pearl Harbour and USS Arizona Memorial, and reenacting Jurassic Park at Kualoa Ranch.
Remember to go to Hanauma Bay Nature Protect to snorkel with turtles and different marine life, take the youngsters to have a wild encounter at Sea Life Park, Waikiki Aquarium, or Honolulu Zoo, or study Hawaiian tradition at The Polynesian Cultural Heart.
Our youngsters loved navigating a large backyard maze on the Dole Plantation.
Cease 2: Kauai (3 days)
- Tips on 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 ambiance 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 in style issues to do listed below are play within the tide swimming pools at Poipu Seashore Park, kayak the Wailua River, snorkel from Poipu Seashore, get pleasure from 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 journey on the Kauai Plantation Railway at Kilohana Property.
If funds permits, get pleasure from a helicopter journey over the Backyard Isle, and picture you’re in a scene from Jurassic Park!
Cease 3: Maui (3 days)
- Tips on 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 chances are you’ll want to vary in Oahu for a extra funds pleasant possibility.
- What number of days to spend: 3-5 days
If it’s your first time in Hawaii, Maui might be the most effective island for households because it has a lot range to discover.
Maui has been voted “Greatest Island within the U.S.” on quite a few events and is legendary for stunning white sand seashores, leisure, unbelievable sunrises and sunsets, nice meals, sea turtles, humpback whales (November by way of April), and the Haleakala Volcano.
Because the second largest island in Hawaii, you need to spend an excellent period of time right here. We suggest visiting for at least three days, ideally 5 days, however in case you can lengthen to every week, you wouldn’t run out of issues to do.
Some in style issues to do in Maui are snorkel with sea turtles at Black Sand Seashore in Wai’anapanapa State Park, take a SUP out at Kaanapali Seashore, and drive the street to Hana, a scenic drive.
In case you get pleasure from mountain climbing as a household, hike as much as the summit of Haleakala Nationwide Park for dawn, have a seashore day on the Na Pali Coast, or go on a whale watching tour.
Cease 4: Lanai (2 days)
- Tips on 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 simply 9 miles from Maui but a world away in relation to tradition.
Identified for luxurious resorts and bouncing alongside the island’s rugged again roads in a 4-wheel-drive car. A spot to search out serenity and journey!
Some in style issues to do listed below 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 fantastic resorts.
Cease 5: Molokai (2-3 days)
- Tips on how to get there: journey 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 residence to the very best sea cliffs on the planet and the longest steady fringing reef.
A excessive proportion of its inhabitants is of Native Hawaiian ancestry, and Molokai is really an island of out of doors journey the place Hawaii’s previous comes alive!
A few of the hottest issues to do listed below are tour a macadamia nut farm, play on Papohaku Seashore (considered one of Hawaii’s largest white-sand seashores), go to Massive Wind Kite Manufacturing facility, and ship an actual coconut from Hoolehua Publish Workplace.
Cease 6: Hawaii Island/The Massive Island (5 days)
- Tips on 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 most effective island for households that love journey and academic experiences, is Hawaii Island – also called The Massive Island.
It’s got volcanic wonders and lively volcanoes, black sand seashores, sea turtles, manta rays, waterfalls, rainforests and luxurious 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 Seashore), 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 you realize the place to go and how one can get from island to island, it’s time to take a look at the logistics of planning your itinerary.
Beginning with lodging! Beneath are our high locations to remain on every island, detailed how one can get across the island, and shared our high ideas reminiscent of when is the most effective time to go to and why.
It’s advisable you guide your lodging as far upfront as you’ll be able to, as you usually tend to get a deal.
Scorching Tip: When evaluating costs and Hawaii household resorts to remain in, needless to say the dreaded resort payment shouldn’t be usually included in marketed room charges. These Resort charges can add $15 to $30 plus tax to your day by day invoice. Learn the fantastic print to see what options the resort payment contains! Does it embrace free Wi-Fi, self-parking, bottled water, health club 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 beneath so you’ll be able to determine on one which’s best for you.
These resorts and resorts supply kid-friendly services and actions like water parks and water slides, lazy rivers, household rooms, hula classes, snorkeling, and beachfront entry.
Additionally, many of those supply day camps for teenagers that give mother and father some much-needed day trip. 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 likely one of the greatest child pleasant resorts in Hawaii. Positioned on 5 miles of beachfront on Oahu’s North Shore, it presents:
- Youngsters keep free! Youngsters keep free when utilizing current bedding
- Household rooms
- 2 outside swimming pools
- Water slide
- Snorkeling and rise up paddle boarding on website
- Babysitting or childcare obtainable
- Horse driving/rental on website
- The Polynesian Cultural Heart is 4 miles away
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Seashore Resort
The Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Seashore Resort is situated on the shores of Waikiki Seashore 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
- Youngsters membership
- Household-friendly lagoon
- Friday evening fireworks
- Quieter finish of Waikiki Seashore (protected by a sea wall and a pure reef so swimming within the ocean is completely doable)
Sheraton Waikiki
Positioned only one minute stroll to Waikiki Seashore 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 contemporary water swimming swimming pools, and a 70 foot lengthy water slide.
- Youngsters beneath 17 keep without cost
- 2 outside swimming pools (youngsters pool)
- Near in style points of interest, Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium
- Youngsters 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 way of Disney magic. It comes as no shock that Disney delivers in relation to Hawaii household resorts.
- Attractive pool space
- Lazy river
- 2 water slides
- Characters wander the grounds
- Dance events on the pool
- Youngsters menus at each restaurant
- Spa therapies even for toddlers
The place to remain on Maui
Kaanapali Seashore Lodge
Acknowledged by the Waiaha Basis as “Hawaii’s Most Kaanapali Seashore Lodge sits on stunning Kaanapali Seashore and presents cultural actions and comfy guestrooms.
Lodge,”- Day by day hula reveals
- 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 most effective resorts for teenagers in Hawaii is the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa.
Positioned on Maui’s west coast with flamingos, cranes, parrots, and penguins on website.
It presents a water park that features swimming pools with a rope bridge and a lava tube waterslide, infinity-edge leisure pool, household pool, and a youngsters’s zero-entry pool.
- 6 outside swimming pools
- 150 foot waterslide
- Youngsters keep free! As much as 2 youngsters 17 years previous and youthful keep free when utilizing current bedding.
- Lei making courses
- Hula demonstrations
- Wildlife excursions
- Stargazing by way of the rooftop telescope
Montage Kapalua Bay
Set in picturesque Kapalua Bay, Montage Kapalua Bay seashore resort condominium caters to everybody and all the things. Spacious suites and full kitchens, an out of doors pool, restaurant and spa and wellness heart.
An excellent selection for households fascinated by snorkeling, sandy seashores and surroundings.
- Youngsters’s pool
- Youngsters membership
- Household rooms
- Soundproof rooms
- Every condominium supplies a kitchen with a fridge
- Leisure employees
The Westin Maui Resort & Spa
The The Westin Maui Resort & Spa is situated on Ka’anapali and options an on-site luau and courses on hula dancing and lei making.
Spend the day enjoyable on the seashore, by the pool, or pampering your self on the full-service spa.
- Youngsters keep free! As much as 2 youngsters keep free when utilizing current bedding.
- Adjoining to Whalers’ Village
- 5 swimming pools
- Waterslide
- Youngsters 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 presents a Hawaiian buffet and showcases conventional Polynesian dance and tradition.
- 24-hour swimming pool advanced with waterfalls, waterslides and volleyball web
- Adults-only swimming space
The place to remain on the Massive Island of Hawaii
Hilton Waikoloa Village
Positioned on 62 oceanfront acres on the Massive Island of Hawaii, the Hilton Waikoloa Village boasts a personal white sand seashore and sprawling saltwater lagoon with dolphin encounters obtainable, a full-service spa, and the World-famous Kings Golf Course.
- 3 swimming pools (youngsters’s pool)
- 150 foot waterslide
- Household rooms
- Personal seashore
- 13 eating places
4 Seasons Hualalai
Positioned in Kailua-Kona, the 4 Seasons Hualalai is close to the airport and on the seashore. That includes seven swimming areas, 5 eating choices, and ocean views.
- Saltwater pool
- Personal white sand seashore
- Household rooms
- Volcanoes Nationwide Park is 2 hours’ drive from the property
The place to remain on Molokai
Lodge Moloka’i
Molokai doesn’t have an enormous vary of lodging choices, however that doesn’t matter, as Lodge Moloka’i presents all the things you want.
Positioned straight on Kamiloloa Seashore, it has oceanfront rooms styled in conventional Polynesian village model. 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 services
The place to remain on Lanai
4 Seasons Resort Lana’i
A lush resort close to Hulopoʻe Seashore, 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 completely 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 most effective 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 12 months spherical is between 75˚–85˚ F (24˚-29˚ C) with summer time (between April and November) being just a little hotter and drier, and winter (between December and March) a bit cooler – however nothing like over on mainland USA!
After all crowds play an essential position whenever you plan your journey.
If you’ll be able to be versatile in when you’ll be able to take your Hawaii trip, good for you! Travelling off peak means much less individuals 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 season (June, July, August)
Bear in mind the main vacation durations within the U.S., as these are additionally busy and costly occasions to go to.
Your greatest probability of getting an excellent 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 sluggish. You would drive your self to 4-5 points of interest in sooner or later, whereas you’d solely have time for 1-2 utilizing a bus.
In case you want a rental automobile, guide on-line upfront and you’ll nearly at all times get a greater deal than in case you simply present up on the counter. It’s because the smaller, cheaper vehicles get booked up early.
The very last thing you need to do after an extended flight to Hawaii is take care of rental automobile corporations on the airport and negotiate a deal.
The quickest solution to evaluate rental automobile costs is to make use of an aggregator website like Uncover Vehicles that searches all the main automobile manufacturers directly and checks which provider presents the most effective costs on your chosen dates and site.
It may well prevent time and cash.
When staying in locations like Waikiki, you don’t want a automobile as you’ll be able to stroll from attraction to attraction, so contemplate renting a automobile just for the day you need to discover different elements of every island.
This manner you’ll save massive bucks in in a single day parking bills at resorts (on common $25 per day).
What to pack for a household journey to Hawaii
Simply enthusiastic about packing for a household journey could be irritating. However the most effective factor to do is pack the naked minimal as a result of you’ll be able to 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 expertise.
Pack versatile, comfy and unfastened becoming garments and impartial colours that may be worn in a number of combos 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 in the course of the day in case of accidents.
Our high 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’ll be doing so you’ll be able to pack appropriately.
- Know the kinds of lodging you’ll be staying at. If you’re staying in resorts you gained’t have to take issues like towels, hair dryers or linen.
- Cost your electronics and cargo up all of your tablets and moveable gadgets with issues to learn, play, watch.
Ultimate Ideas
With a tropical local weather and beautiful seashores, breathtaking waterfalls, beautiful surroundings, and journey actions, Hawaii is what many individuals contemplate paradise.
The Hawaiian Islands are a pure playground with limitless 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 one can plan a visit to Hawaii, we hope you do now.
That’s it. You at the moment are in your solution to an unforgettable Hawaii trip with youngsters!
Extra Hawaii Journey Ideas
Want extra inspiration for a visit to Hawaii? Take a look at these different guides…