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 Hawaii travel consultant Marcie Cheung, 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 Hawaii travel consultant for families and a Certified Hawaii Destination Expert through the Hawaii Tourism Authority. She runs the popular Hawaii family travel site Hawaii Travel with Kids, has visited Hawaii more than 40 times, and offers one-on-one Hawaii trip planning consultations and itinerary reviews at hawaiitravelwithkids.com.
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 figuring out what's actually worth your time, we'll help you create the perfect Hawaii experience!
New episodes drop every Monday & Wednesday!
Episodes
146 episodes
Do You Actually Need a Whale Watching Tour in Maui?— Ep 146
Do You Actually Need a Whale Watching Tour in Maui?Who this episode is for: Anyone planning a Maui trip during whale season who's deciding between paid boat tours and free shore viewing.What you'll learn: When...
Multi-Gen Magic on the Big Island with Leslie Harvey of Trips with Tykes— Ep 145
Big Island Multi-Gen Trip Recap: Manta Rays, Mauna Kea Renovation, and Planning Tips with Trips with TykesHost Marcie welcomes travel blogger Leslie Harvey of Trips with Tykes back from a multi-generational Big Island trip with in-laws,...
Where Do You Need Reservations in Hawaii? (2026)— Ep 144
Hawaii Reservations You Need to Know: Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, Haena, and MoreWho this episode is for: Anyone building a Hawaii trip around bucket list stops like Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, or Haena who doe...
Fake Vacation Rental Listings: How to Protect Your Hawaii Trip— Ep 143
Fake Vacation Rental Listings: How to Protect Your Hawaii TripVerification steps and regulatory context current as of recording. Hawaii's short-term rental laws are actively changing island by island — verify current rules and...
Hawaii Rental Cars in 2026: What's Changed (Plus My Turo Experiment)— Ep 142
Hawaii Rental Cars in 2026: What's Changed (Plus My Turo Experiment)Who this episode is for: Anyone planning Hawaii rental car logistics and pricing for 2026-2027, including whether to try Turo as an alternative to traditio...
Rental Car Break-Ins: What Every Hawaii Visitor Needs to Know— Ep 141
Rental Car Break-Ins: What Every Hawaii Visitor Needs to KnowWho this episode is for: Anyone renting a car in Hawaii who wants practical, easy habits to avoid becoming one of the thousands of rental car break-in victims eac...
Hawaii with a Baby: Harder Than You Think, Better Than You Fear— Ep 140
Hawaii with a Baby: Harder Than You Think, Better Than You FearWho this episode is for: Parents planning a Hawaii trip with an infant, especially those considering going solo or before their child starts school.Wh...
Hawaii Babymoon: What Couples Need to Know— Ep 139
Hawaii Babymoon: What Couples Need to KnowWho this episode is for: Pregnant travelers and their partners planning a Hawaii babymoon who want practical guidance on timing, airline policies, island choice, and pregnancy-frien...
How Many Days Do You Really Need on the Big Island?— Ep 138
How Many Days Do You Really Need on the Big Island?Who this episode is for: Anyone planning a Big Island trip who's underestimating drive times and considering splitting time between Kona and Hilo (or basing entirely in one...
Maui's Upcountry: Why Most Visitors Skip It and Shouldn't— Ep 137
Maui's Upcountry: Why Most Visitors Skip It and Shouldn'tWho this episode is for: Anyone visiting Maui who's only planning to drive through Upcountry on the way to Haleakalā and doesn't realize it's worth stopping for on it...
Where I Eat on the Big Island— Ep 136
Where I Eat on the Big IslandWho this episode is for: Anyone visiting the Big Island who wants real, repeat-tested restaurant picks organized geographically for easy trip planning.What you'll learn: Marcie's p...
Every Big Island Luau I've Been To (And Everything Else Worth Knowing), Ranked Honestly— Ep 135
Ranking Big Island Luaus: Best Picks in Kona, Kohala & Waikoloa (and One to Skip)The host ranks Big Island luaus and explains the episode differs because they’ve only attended three, noting Big Island has far fewer luau options than...
How Many Days Do You Really Need on Kauai?— Ep 134
How Many Days Do You Really Need on Kauai? (3 vs 5–7 vs 7–10)Marcie of Hawaii Travel Made Easy explains how many days visitors need on Kauai, sharing her personal connection to the island and noting recent tourism data showing higher sp...
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...