Aloha Reader!

I just got back from Oahu and Maui and I have been trying to figure out where to even start with this email.

I'll start with parking, because I'm still a little salty about it.

I've parked in Waikiki before. I know it's not free. But when I pulled into the garage at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and the total came to $65 for self-parking, I had to just sit there for a second. That's one day. The garage is also so tight that on one afternoon there were zero spots available. I was just circling, waiting for someone to leave. In Hawaii. In a parking garage.

So hear me on this: if you're staying in Waikiki, you do not need a car for your whole trip. Rent one for a day or two when you're heading out of town, return it, and book activities that include transportation. Waikiki is walkable, and the activity operators will get you where you need to go. That $65 could be an acai bowl fund. (More on that in a second.)

The highlight of the trip (and I mean this) was the Cirque du Soleil Auana show. So many of you emailed asking me to review it, and I'm so glad you did because I might have skipped it otherwise. My 12-year-old got a little overstimulated partway through, which honestly I was watching him for. But at the end he turned to me and said "this was totally worth staying for." That's the review. If your family has any love for Cirque, go. Full post and podcast episode coming soon.

He also insisted we get acai bowls almost every day. "You know, for research." I can't argue with that logic.

On to something I've been getting a lot of questions about lately: luau prices.

I was a hula dancer for 20 years. I grew up going to luaus. I will never stop recommending them as one of the most meaningful things you can do in Hawaii with your kids. But I also can't pretend the prices aren't genuinely painful right now. A family of four can easily spend $600–$800 or more once you add it all up, and I keep hearing from families who want to go but are trying to figure out if they can make it work.

Here's something that surprised even me: several Oahu luaus offer a show-only option. You skip the buffet and just attend the performance, which cuts the price significantly. If your family eats dinner beforehand or you'd rather grab something else after, it's a completely legitimate way to experience the show. Mauka Warriors, Na Lei Aloha at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, Aha'aina Luau at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Lū'au at Waikīkī Beach Marriott, and Rock-A-Hula all have this option on Oahu right now. More detail on this coming in an upcoming post, but I wanted to get it in your hands while you're still in planning mode.

Speaking of planning mode: if a summer trip is on your radar, I want to be straight with you about timing.

Families who lock in their accommodations now are in a genuinely different position than families who wait until May. Waterfront properties fill up, popular areas like Ka'anapali and Wailea on Maui get picked over, and the pricing on what's left gets hard to look at. For summer travel, I'd have accommodations booked by the end of April at the latest, and honestly earlier is better.

For flights, you're in a good window right now. Two to six months out is where you want to be, and the earlier side of that range is where you'll find the better seats. There's also some actual good news on the flight front for 2026. Delta and Alaska are adding and expanding nonstop routes, including Boston to Honolulu and seasonal Burbank to Honolulu service. If you've always had to connect through the West Coast, check what's flying direct from your home airport this year. More nonstop options tend to mean better pricing, and that's been in short supply lately.

If you're a first-timer trying to plan a summer trip and you're not even sure which island to start with, that's exactly the kind of conversation I have in consultations. Which island fits your family, how long you actually need, where to stay, what activities are worth the money for your kids' ages. I've done this enough times with my own family that I can usually save people from the mistakes that cost the most.

If that sounds like what you need right now, you can book here.

And if you have a quick question first, just hit reply. I actually read these.

Aloha,

Marcie