Aloha Reader! I'm just going to be upfront with you: Hawaii is not cheap, and the numbers have gone up. If you've been Googling "how much does a Hawaii trip cost" and getting estimates that feel surprisingly low, it's probably because those articles are using old data. Here's what the realistic picture looks like for a family of four in summer 2026. Flights This is where a lot of families get sticker shock. The old benchmark of $450 to $900 per person roundtrip that you'll still see in a lot...

Aloha Reader! I got a version of this question a lot in February: "We have 10 days in Hawaii. Should we do one island or two?" Sometimes it's "should we do Maui or Oahu for our first trip." Sometimes it's "we really want to see both but we're not sure we have enough time." The wording changes but the underlying question is the same. How do we make sure we're making the right call on something this big? Here's the honest answer: it depends, and the things it depends on are really specific to...

Aloha Reader! Here's something I wish more families knew before they started planning: the activities are not something you figure out once you get there. The good ones sell out. Sometimes months out. And finding out your must-do luau has no availability for your dates is a really deflating moment when you're excited about a trip. So let's talk about what to book, when to book it, and a couple of things to watch out for. Before anything else, check the fine print. If anyone in your family...