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
119 episodes
Your First Hawaii Trip Isn’t a Once-in-a-Lifetime Trip
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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,...
Day Trip to Lana'i from Maui: The Honest Version
Day Trip to Lānaʻi from Maui: Ferry Logistics, What to Do, and Who It’s ForMarcie Cheung explains how to plan a day trip to Lānaʻi from Maui via the Expeditions Ferry (now from Maʻalaea Harbor), including schedules, booking tips, arriva...
My 12-Year-Old Has Been to Hawaii 14 Times. He Has Opinions.
Owen’s Kid’s-Eye Guide to Hawaii: Acai Bowls, Island Rankings, and Flying Solo at 10Host Marcie welcomes her 12-year-old son, Owen, to “Hawaii Travel Made Easy,” highlighting his extensive Hawaii experience: about 14 trips, visits to Oa...
How Slowing Down in Hawaii Creates the Trips You'll Actually Remember
JOMO in Hawaii: Stop Optimizing Your Family Trip and Leave Room for Real MemoriesMarcie Cheung shares a lesson from a Big Island trip when her five-year-old resisted a packed itinerary, leading them to spend a happy day at the Kona pool...
You Don’t Need to Island Hop on Your First Hawaii Trip
Why First-Time Hawaii Visitors Should Skip Island Hopping (Unless You Have 10+ Days)Marcie explains that first-time Hawaii visitors should avoid island hopping unless they have 10+ days, because switching islands often costs a full vaca...
If You Only Remember One Thing About Planning Hawaii…
Slow Down: The Key to an Amazing Hawaii ItineraryThe script argues that the biggest factor in a great Hawaii trip is slowing down rather than choosing the “right” island or packing in more activities. Based on hundreds of consultations,...
Is Hawaii With Kids Worth It? A Brutally Honest Comparison
Is Hawaii Worth $10,000 With Kids? How to Decide (and When to Skip It)The script helps parents decide whether an expensive Hawaii trip with kids is worth it, arguing the answer depends on money, time, and what kind of vacation experienc...
Where I Eat on Kauai
Kauai Food Guide: Best Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Shave Ice, and Bucket List SpotsMarcie, a certified Hawaii destination expert, shares her organized-by-meal Kauai food guide based on what she orders, opening with her arrival tradition o...
Big Island vs Kauai: What You Actually Need to Know to Choose
Big Island vs. Kauai: Which Hawaii Island Fits Your Trip Best?The script compares Hawaii’s Big Island and Kauai, explaining that both are less crowded than Oahu or Maui but offer very different trips. The Big Island is huge, often requi...
Hawaii Booking Mistakes to Avoid: What a Travel Agent Wants You to Know
Hawaii Booking Myths, Airfare & Hotel Pricing, and When to Use Points (with Travel Agent Kim Tate)Marcie celebrates the 100th episode of Hawaii Travel Made Easy by bringing on her friend Kim Tate of Stuffed Suitcase, a travel agent ...
The Oahu Day Trip Mistake Almost Everyone Makes
How to Plan Oahu Day Trips Without Rushing: Pearl Harbor, North Shore, Windward & Hanauma BayMarcie, a certified Hawaii destination expert, explains how to plan Oahu day trips with realistic pacing by choosing one main “anchor” acti...
Waimea Canyon & the Kauai West Side: How to Do This Day Right
Kauai West Side Day Guide: Waimea Canyon, Kōkeʻe State Park & Kalalau LookoutHost Marcie Cheung shares a cautionary story about driving to Waimea Canyon in fog, then explains how to plan a full Kauai West Side day around Waimea Cany...
10 Hawaii Mistakes First-Timers Make (That Cost Thousands)
Hawaii Trip Mistakes to Avoid: Islands, Costs, Reservations, and Safety TipsMarcie of “Hawaii Travel Made Easy” shares common first-timer mistakes that waste money and time in Hawaii, drawing on 40+ trips and hundreds of consultations. ...
What I Would Cut From Your Hawaii Itinerary
What to Cut (and Keep) in a 4–5 Day Maui ItineraryMarcie of “Hawaii Travel Made Easy” warns that many Maui itineraries are overpacked 10-hour logistical puzzles that leave travelers exhausted and miserable, and explains what to cut and ...
Every Oahu Luau I've Been To (Ranked Honestly)
Oahu Luau Rankings: Honest Reviews from a Former Hula DancerThe speaker, a certified Hawaii destination expert and former professional hula dancer who has visited Hawaii 40+ times, gives an honest ranking of Oahu luaus and related shows...