I've visited Hawaii more than 40 times and I know ALL the tips and tricks for planning the ultimate Hawaii family vacation! I offer free Hawaii planning email courses. I also send weekly emails on Fridays where I share my top things to do in Hawaii with kids, the best family resorts in Hawaii, and my ultimate packing lists! Mahalo!
Going to Hawaii this summer? Here's what's actually different.
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Aloha Reader, Someone emailed me last month asking if she should just skip Hawaii this summer and take the kids to Disney instead. I told her absolutely not. But I also told her the truth. Summer Hawaii is a different animal. And if you go in without knowing what you're walking into, it can feel overwhelming fast. Here's what I mean. Hotels that cost $300 a night in May are $450 in July. Sometimes more. Popular beaches are packed by 9am. Hanauma Bay sells out days in advance and you have to reserve online the second the window opens, 48 hours ahead. Dinner at anywhere worth eating? Book those before you even book your flights. None of that means you shouldn't go. Summer is when a lot of families don't have a choice. School's out, schedules finally line up, and some of our best Hawaii memories have happened in July. You just have to plan differently than you would in, say, February. A few things that actually make a difference: Early June is a sweet spot. The crowds and prices creep up as the summer goes on. The first two weeks of June feel almost like shoulder season compared to late July. If you have any wiggle room in your dates, protect that window. Get to the beach by 8am. I know that sounds rough on vacation. But the difference between 8am and 10am at a popular beach in summer is genuinely shocking. We pack a real breakfast, get there while it's still quiet, and are usually packing up right as the crowds arrive. Book your car now if you haven't. Summer is when rental inventory tightens and prices climb fast. I always book through Discount Hawaii Car Rental It's consistently saved us money compared to going directly through the big chains. And if you haven't nailed down your hotel, don't sit on it. Expedia has package deals that can help offset the summer premium. It's worth checking before you book anything separately. I wrote up a full breakdown of what summer in Hawaii actually looks like — specific beach strategy, what to book in advance, and why I still go every chance I get even knowing all of this. If your trip is coming up and you want to talk through the details, I have a few consultation spots open this month. We can cover everything from which island makes sense for your family to what to skip entirely. Talk soon, Marcie |
Aloha! I'm Marcie with Hawaii Travel with Kids
I've visited Hawaii more than 40 times and I know ALL the tips and tricks for planning the ultimate Hawaii family vacation! I offer free Hawaii planning email courses. I also send weekly emails on Fridays where I share my top things to do in Hawaii with kids, the best family resorts in Hawaii, and my ultimate packing lists! Mahalo!
Aloha Reader, I had a consult recently that I keep thinking about. A couple reached out wanting help planning their granddaughter's first trip to Hawaii. They used to live there, and it was clear from the first few minutes that this trip meant everything to them. They weren't asking me to find the best resort deals. They wanted cultural experiences, real moments, things that would make her fall in love with the islands the way they did. They wanted her to feel it. Something about watching...
Aloha Reader! This is probably the question I get asked more than any other, and I'll be upfront: there is no universal right answer. But there is a right answer for your family, and it comes down to a few specific things. Here's how I think through it. Start with your trip length. My general rule is 5 to 7 days per island. Less than that and you're rushing, spending more time in the car than on the beach, and not really getting a feel for the place. If you have 10 days, two islands can work...
Aloha Reader, People ask me all the time how I decide what to book. It's simple: I only put my name behind things I've actually done with my own kids. Here's what we actually keep going back to, island by island. On Oahu, we never skip Toa Luau. It's set in Waimea Valley on the North Shore, it's native-owned, and the whole vibe is more intimate and authentic than the big commercial shows. Your ticket includes access to the botanical garden and waterfall, so we always arrive early and make a...