Hawaii Travel Made Easy Podcast—Hawaii travel tips, Things to do in Hawaii, Hawaii vacation planning
Hawaii Travel Made Easy is the ultimate Hawaii travel podcast for families and first-time Hawaii visitors looking to plan a stress-free and unforgettable Hawaii vacation. Hosted by a seasoned Hawaii travel expert, this show delivers essential Hawaii travel tips, Hawaii vacation planning advice, and insider insights to help you navigate the Hawaiian Islands with confidence.
Marcie Cheung is a certified Hawaii destination expert by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, runs the popular Hawaii family travel site Hawaii Travel with Kids, and has visited Hawaii more than 40 times.
Whether you're dreaming of your first trip to paradise or planning your return visit, each episode provides budget-friendly recommendations, cultural insights, and must-know Hawaii travel guide information to make your Hawaii vacation planning simple and stress-free. From choosing the right island to finding hidden gems, we'll help you create the perfect Hawaii experience!
New episodes drop every Monday & Wednesday!
Episodes
133 episodes
How to Visit the Na Pali Coast on Kauai— Ep 133
Na Pali Coast on Kauai: Best Ways to See It, Go Haena Permits, and What to PackMarcie breaks down how to experience Kauai’s Na Pali Coast, emphasizing there’s no road access and you must hike, take a boat, fly by helicopter, or drive to...
Where I Actually Eat on Maui— Ep 132
Where I Actually Eat on Maui: Favorite Spots, Road to Hana Stops, and Honest TakesMarcie of Hawaii Travel Made Easy shares the Maui restaurants she personally returns to each trip, starting with fish tacos at Coconuts Fish Cafe in Kihei...
Every Kauai Luau I've Been To, Ranked Honestly — Ep 131
Ranking Kauai Luaus: Marcie’s Honest Top Picks, Best for Families, and What to ExpectMarcie from “Hawaii Travel Made Easy” shares her personal history with luaus and ranks six Kauai experiences she’s attended, noting that her nostalgic ...
How Many Days Do You Really Need on Maui?— Ep 130
How Many Days Do You Need on Maui? Realistic Itineraries, Costs, and Planning TipsMarcie from Hawaii Travel Made Easy discusses how many days to spend on Maui, noting recent state data showing visitor spending up over 26% and arrivals u...
Every Maui Luau I've Been To (And Everything Else Worth Knowing), Ranked Honestly— Ep 129
Ranking the Best Maui Luaus (Plus Updates, Closures, and Alternatives)The host ranks Maui luaus based on four firsthand visits: Feast at Mokapu at the Andaz Maui in Wailea as the top luxury splurge with oceanfront setting and family-sty...
Moloka'i: The Island Most People Skip (And Why You Shouldn't)— Ep 128
Molokai Travel Guide: Flights, Where to Stay, and Must-Do ExperiencesMarcie shares a Molokai trip she took with her mom, describing the island as the least visited and “most Hawaiian,” with no traffic lights, minimal development, and un...
My Most Controversial Hawaii Travel Opinions— Ep 127
Hawaii Travel Hot Takes: Skip the Checklist, Plan What FitsThe host shares Hawaii travel opinions that often surprise clients, arguing that packing too much into a trip backfires. She explains why squeezing multiple islands into a short...
How Many Days Do You Really Need on Oahu?— Ep 126
How Many Days Do You Need on Oahu? (3, 5, 7–10 Day Breakdown)Marcie shares guidance on how long to spend on Oahu based on 40+ trips, recommending 7–10 days if it’s your only island, 5–7 days if island hopping, and noting that five full ...
North Shore Kauai: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go— Ep 125
North Shore Kauai: Where to Stay, Weather Tips, and How to Plan Haʻena State ParkMarcie of Hawaii Travel Made Easy shares a personal guide to North Shore Kauai—Princeville, Hanalei, and Kilauea—covering how the area’s rainier weather sh...
AI Wrote Their Hawaii Itinerary— Ep 124
Why AI Hawaii Itineraries Fail (and How to Fix Yours)Marcie of Hawaii Travel Made Easy explains why AI and generic itinerary tools often produce unrealistic Hawaii plans by relying on outdated blog posts and secondhand information, then...
The Biggest Hawaii Booking Mistakes I See Over and Over— Ep 123
Avoid These Common Hawaii Booking Mistakes (Flights, Islands, Tours, Cars, and Hidden Fees)Marcie shares a Kauai client’s last-minute panic after key experiences like the Go Haena shuttle to the Hā‘ena/ Hanakapi‘ai trailhead and Nā Pali...
What's Actually Happening in Hawaii Right Now— Ep 122
Is Hawaii OK Right Now? June/July Travel Updates: Oahu Shuttle, Kalaupapa Tours, Kauai Closures, Kilauea, and Na Pali Sail-By Return⚠️ UPDATE: Kalaupapa Tours are on hiatus Marcie shares a fast, island-by-island updat...
What First-Time Hawaii Travelers Always Overestimate— Ep 121
Planning vs. Vacation You: How to Pace a Hawaii TripMarcie from Hawaii Travel Made Easy explains how first-time visitors often overestimate what they’ll do in Hawaii and end up wanting a slower trip than the one they planned. Using clie...
The Hawaii Trip Reset: What to Do When Planning Starts to Feel Overwhelming— Ep 120
Stop the Hawaii Planning Spiral: What to Book (and What to Skip)The speaker describes learning the difference between planning and over-planning after a Maui trip spent stuck in parking lots during a toddler’s car naps, and contrasts it...
Your First Hawaii Trip Isn’t a Once-in-a-Lifetime Trip— Ep 119
Plan Your First Hawaii Trip Like You’ll Be Back: Do Less, Enjoy MoreAfter consulting with a first-time Maui family whose seven-day itinerary was packed with a luau, snorkeling, helicopter tour, Road to Hana, kayaking, food tour, and eve...
The One Island I Wouldn't Pick for a 4-Day Trip— Ep 118
Why 4 Days Isn’t Enough on Hawaii’s Big Island (and How to Plan If That’s All You Have)Marcie explains why the Big Island is the one Hawaiian island she would not choose for a four-day trip, sharing a client story and emphasizing its ma...
Maui vs. Big Island: The Decision Most People Get Wrong— Ep 117
Maui vs. the Big Island: How to Choose the Right Hawaii Island for Your TripMarcie of Hawaii Travel Made Easy explains how travelers often choose the wrong island by defaulting to Maui because of social media or choosing the Big Island ...
The One Thing That Actually Makes a Hawaii Trip Feel Luxurious— Ep 116
The Real Luxury in Hawaii: Downtime, Oceanfront Stays, and a Better-Paced ItineraryMarcie argues that what makes a Hawaii trip feel luxurious isn’t an expensive resort or amenities, but having intentional downtime and avoiding an overpa...
The Oahu Itinerary That Almost Always Works— Ep 115
Oahu Itinerary Framework: 7, 10, or 14 Days (Geography-Based Planning + Split Stay Tips)Marcie from Hawaii Travel Made Easy shares her geography-based framework for first-time Oahu itineraries, explaining what 7, 10, and 14 days realist...
North Shore, No Regrets: One Family's Honest Take on Oahu— Ep 114
Honest Family Trip Report: 7 Nights on Oahu’s North Shore After the Kona StormsHost Marcie, a Hawaii travel expert, interviews Kim Fidler about her family’s seven-night spring break trip to Oahu’s North Shore (two adults and three kids ...
How to Get Around Hawaii Without Renting a Car— Ep 113
Can You Do Hawaii Without a Rental Car? Honest Island-by-Island Transportation GuideMarcie from Hawaii Travel Made Easy explains when you can realistically skip a rental car in Hawaii and how to use alternatives like walking, shuttles, ...
Where I eat on Oahu— Ep 112
Where I Eat on Oahu: My Repeat-Favorite Spots in Waikiki and the North ShoreMarcie from Hawaii Travel Made Easy shares her personal repeat-favorite places to eat on Oahu, starting with a tip to skip the dine-in line at Pa’ia Fish Market...
The Comparison Trap: When Other Families Look Like They're Having More Fun— Ep 111
Escaping the Comparison Trap on a Hawaii Family VacationMarcie of Hawaii Travel Made Easy shares how comparing her family’s Hawaii vacation to other families, “perfect” restaurant moments, or Instagram reels made her question choices li...
Hawaii 101: 2026 Edition— Ep 110
Hawaii 101 for 2026: What’s Changed, Reservations, Islands, and Smarter PlanningMarcie updates a “Hawaii 101 for 2026,” warning that much online advice is outdated due to West Maui’s post-2023 fire reality, expanding reservation require...
How to Decide Hawaii vs Mexico vs Caribbean With Kids— Ep 109
Hawaii vs. Mexico/Caribbean: Choose the Vacation You Actually WantThe episode argues that the better question than “Hawaii or Cancun?” is what kind of vacation you want: a resort-style, all-inclusive trip focused on ease and relaxation,...