A Slice of the Island Life

A Hawaiian vacation is tied for the "All Time Best Vacations" award given by my two kids.  When asked what their favorite trips have been they both say, "Disneyland, Hawaii and Cruising", but can't decide which of those is the true favorite.  Hawaii is so loved by kids and adults alike because of the laid-back island vibe that many enjoy.

Once you've decided on Hawaii, the hard part is choosing on what island or islands you want to be soaking up the sun.  Each of the 6 populated islands has a completely different vibe, so thinking about how you want to spend your time is important before deciding.

Our first trip brought us to Maui and Kaua'i, which both provided the relaxation, stunning scenery and Hawaiian traditions we were looking for.  Maui is home to many wonderful resorts, hotels and condos, and while some areas are pretty touristy (Lahaina), there are still so many off-the-beaten-path gems.  Kaua'i is known as The Garden Island for a reason, it's tropical vegetation is lush and beautiful, but with that comes rain.  If your dream of Hawaii includes blue skies and sunshine, stay on the south side in Waimea or Poipu, as it gets about a third less rain than the north side.  Still, at 35 inches of rain a year, it is likely you will see rain in Waimea during your stay.  Thankfully the rain seems to come and go quickly, so you can pop into a shop for a bite to eat and let the rain pass you by.

On our second trip to Hawaii we explored Oahu, population of around 1 million, and found that while the city was busy, there was a good balance between the hustle and the island time.

When planning our trip to Oahu, we wanted to spend some time in Honolulu since there is so much to see and do there, but also wanted to enjoy a relaxed Hawaiian beach vacation.  So, we split our trip into two, arranging lodging in two different parts of the island.  We chose the popular Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort on Waikiki Beach for the first three nights, then booked a condo at Turtle Bay on VRBO for the last seven nights.  This gave us just the right amount of time to tour the city and have the "resort experience", while most of our vacation was spent exploring the slower parts of the island.

The North Shore is as wonderful as everyone says.  There is a pace of life there that gets even the most uptight city-dwellers to unwind.  Haleiwa, the most prominent town on the North Shore, has everything you need to enjoy a day, a week or probably even a life-time.  We were here over spring break and spent Easter Sunday at a sunrise service at Ali'i Beach Park.  Blue skies, a light warm breeze, ukulele worship music, and an enormous white tent with a magician for the kids made it a very memorable Easter.  It was a far cry from the 40 degree, raining sideways sunrise service that we endure in the Pacific Northwest every year (but that is another blog post).  Afternoons on the North Shore are spent looking for whales, eating fresh shrimp from the many trucks and shacks, and trying to find uninhabited beaches (of which there are many).

Our third trip brought us back to Maui but with post-COVID teens in tow. They were in much need of sunshine and nature! A couple nights in Haiku so we'd be near the "must do" road to Hana, and a week in Kaanapali, with a sunset atop Haleakala did wonders.

And our fourth and currently last trip brought us to the Big Island since we'd never explored the five volcanoes that make up this largest island. Kilauea had paused its eruption the day before we arrived but was still actively steaming. And since the sunset on Haleakala was so memorable, we enjoyed the summit sunset atop Mauna Kea at 13,800 feet where there are thirteen different observatories. From wild goats to tall waterfalls to petroglyphs to island honey, this Hawaiian island had some amazing diverse offerings.

Yes, Hawaii will continue to be a favorite for many.  There is something about that relaxed island lifestyle that many of us want to be part of.