Hawaii's Best | Travel Tips and Things to Do in Hawaii for Your Hawaii Vacation

Listener Q&A: Your TOP Hawaii Travel Questions Answered

• Bryan Murphy—Certified Hawaii Travel Expert | Hawaii Travel Tips & Vacation Planning • Episode 173

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Ever feel like planning a Hawaii vacation is just too overwhelming?

In this episode, we break down the top 10 listener questions so planning your Hawaii trip feels less stressful — and a lot more exciting.

👉 Unlock exclusive travel tips and bonus content—join Hawaii’s Best Premium today!

If you’ve ever wondered how far in advance to book airfare, whether a $5,000 budget is realistic for a family, or if it’s OK to bring home lava rocks, this episode is for you. You’ll walk away with practical tips and trusted advice to plan smarter, save money, and avoid common mistakes.

👉 In this episode, you will:

  • Learn the best time to book flights to Hawaii and how to save big on airfare.
  • Find out which islands are best for families, couples, and first-time visitors.
  • Discover how to avoid cultural missteps and make respectful choices while traveling.

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Scroll up ⬆️ and hit play now to get your top Hawaii travel questions answered — so you can plan with confidence and focus on making memories in paradise.

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🤓Chapters:

  • 2:20 - Booking Airfare: Tips and Tricks
  • 5:12 - Choosing the Best Hawaiian Island for Families
  • 7:09 - Cost Comparison: Condo vs. Hotel
  • 8:53 - Travel Essentials: Passports, Budgets, and Rentals
  • 12:28 - Family-Friendly Hotels and Pools
  • 15:56 - Island Hopping and Cultural Respect
  • 19:58 - Key Takeaways and Resources

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This podcast is for travelers looking to plan a trip to Hawaii. Discover travel tips, itineraries, and traveling tips & hacks with guides to help you explore Hawaii. Whether you’re planning a vacation to the Hawaiian islands, dreaming of a Hawaiian getaway, or visiting Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, Oahu, or Big Island we’ll help you travel with aloha.

Edge of the Ocean, Stick Figure (w/ permission)

Ukulele and Chill, Coby G (w/ permission)

173_Listener Q&A- Your Top Hawaii Travel Questions Answered


[00:00:00] Bryan Murphy: Is it really possible to take your whole family to Hawaii without blowing the budget? Or what about how many islands can you realistically visit in one week?

[00:00:09] Listener Q&A: Top 10 Questions About Hawaii

[00:00:09] Bryan Murphy: Well, in this episode, you'll discover the top 10 questions listeners of this podcast are asking right now about planning a Hawaii vacation.

[00:00:22] Bryan Murphy: Aloha, welcome to Hawaii's Best. The podcast helping Travelers Plan an unforgettable Hawaii vacation with insider tips in featuring local voices. I'm Brian Murphy, a husband Data three, and certified Hawaii destination expert. Each week I share local insights, travel tips, and up-to-date news, sometimes with guests across Hawaii and sometimes solo.

[00:00:44] Bryan Murphy: All to help you plan your next trip to Hawaii.

[00:00:52] Bryan Murphy: Welcome to episode 1 73. Today's episode is a little unique. We're doing something a little bit special. It's a full listener q and a. Really, it's about if you've ever started planning the trip to Hawaii and you felt overwhelmed, you're. Definitely not alone and every, you know, everything between airfare.

[00:01:12] Bryan Murphy: Figuring out which island is best for families, which island are best for couples, honeymoons, and even questions like, do you need a passport to visit? Yes. That is a question that a lot of people ask. It can feel like there's a lot and just so much to sort through. A lot of these questions can be, and some of them I've done full episodes on, and I'll reference that as we go along.

[00:01:34] Bryan Murphy: But a lot of these can be full episodes. But I wanted to give you concise, actionable answers to these top 10 questions. And some of the questions that we'll cover today, you know, are how far in advance should you book airfare to Hawaii, you know, for the best price? And can a family of six really take a Hawaii trip for under $5,000?

[00:01:55] Bryan Murphy: Also talk about which hotels actually have kid-friendly pools that don't feel like a crowded theme park. Also talk about some recent news about the Alaska Hawaiian merger and what that means for routes like Boston to Honolulu. So by this episode, you'll walk away with straightforward answers you can trust.

[00:02:13] Bryan Murphy: So planning your Hawaii trip feels less stressful and a lot more exciting as it should be.

[00:02:20] Booking Airfare: Tips and Tricks

[00:02:20] Bryan Murphy: All right, question number one. How far in advance should you book airfare to Hawaii for the best price when it comes to booking flights to Hawaii, timing really does matter, and according to Expedia's 2025 Air Hacks report, the best fairs usually appear one to three months before your trip.

[00:02:42] Bryan Murphy: And for domestic flights, Sundays tend to be the cheapest day to book, and Saturdays are often the cheapest days to fly. I kind of disagree a bit with this report because from my personal experience, I have found that flying on a Tuesday or Wednesday seemed to be the cheapest day, and also booking one to three months out is.

[00:03:05] Bryan Murphy: Pretty tight. When you come across these reports like Expedia, it's important to kind of take it with a grain of salt. From my experience, from traveling Hawaii, some 30 times or so, I usually start looking about six to nine months prior to flying. Now keep in mind, we're in Southern California, so there's quite a few options as far as direct flights to Hawaii, about six to nine months out.

[00:03:29] Bryan Murphy: I start looking, then I start looking at different times of day, meaning sometimes right before I go to bed, that's usually the time that it's cheapest is in the evenings. I always make sure I clear my browser's, history, cookies, things like that. So I'm searching on incognito mode on Google, and that's usually when I find the cheapest flights.

[00:03:50] Bryan Murphy: So about six months out, I see what the options are. And I go ahead and start tracking nothing scientifically I, maybe I should write it down, but just kind of tracking in my head about the costs and then I start tracking it in the next few weeks, and I kind of already know what a low price is. For example, if you're booking on Hawaiian Airlines.

[00:04:12] Bryan Murphy: Miles. Well now Alaska Airlines, they're merging, as you know, but a 17,500 mile flight on points is pretty cheap. So when I know I see that number or around that number, I usually pop on it and I go ahead and book. Now, holidays are the exception for sure. Google's travel data shows that the lowest fares for Christmas trips tend to show up around 71 days.

[00:04:38] Bryan Murphy: Out with the broader sweet spot, ranging between 54 to 78 days before your departure. So that means if you're planning a big family holiday trip, you'll want to secure tickets earlier rather than later. A pro tip is, you know, start tracking Faires with Google flights. I've done this before. It starts to get a little bit overwhelming with all the notifications, but you do get a good report on where the current price trends are.

[00:05:05] Bryan Murphy: Okay. That was longer than I wanted it to be, and maybe I should do a whole episode on on that, but the other questions will go a lot quicker.

[00:05:12] Choosing the Best Hawaiian Island for Families

[00:05:12] Bryan Murphy: So, question number two, which Hawaiian Islands offered the best mix of. Kid friendly activities and family accommodations. So really the truth depends on what kind of vacation you're looking for.

[00:05:24] Bryan Murphy: So on a, you'll find the most variety and the easiest logistics. So there are dozens of lifeguarded. Beaches plus protected lagoons like Colina, where we often stay. That's perfect for young families. It's, it's a great multi-generational area to stay on Oahu. If you're looking for a quieter laidback experience, KA is a strong choice for that.

[00:05:50] Bryan Murphy: Lidgate Beach Park has rock walled ocean pools that make swimming a bit safer for kids, and the island as a whole has. Slower pace if you're looking for a more resort style trip. The Kohala coast on the island of Hawaii, the big island, is really hard to beat. We stayed there a couple years ago at the uh, Marriott up there, and it is such a beautiful area.

[00:06:11] Bryan Murphy: The resorts here often sit on sheltered coves with easy water entry, and one tip would be picket island to use at your home base. So match the island's vibe to your kids' ages and energy levels, so the trip feels more smooth and enjoyable. For everyone. But if you're visiting Hawaii for the very first time as a family, I would definitely recommend looking into Oahu.

[00:06:34] Bryan Murphy: Um, it's gonna probably feel a bit more like home, and it also has a great variety of things to do on Oahu. It's gonna feel. Kind of suburban in some areas, and it's gonna feel country like up on the North Shore a little bit. So you kind of get all of Hawaii and the east side of Oahu is just so beautiful.

[00:06:54] Bryan Murphy: So I would definitely recommend Oahu. The only thing about Oahu is just don't get stuck in Waikiki. If you're gonna stay in Waikiki, make it a point to get out of Waikiki, especially during your time on the island.

[00:07:09] Cost Comparison: Condo vs. Hotel

[00:07:09] Bryan Murphy: Question number three is staying in a condo and cooking meals really cheaper than staying in a hotel.

[00:07:15] Bryan Murphy: So a lot of families assume that renting a condo and cooking meals automatically saves money, but the numbers definitely tell a different story. And according to the Hawaii Tourism Authorities 2025 report, the average nightly rate for a hotel runs between $370 US and $382. While vacation rentals average between 358 and $371, so the base price per night is actually pretty close.

[00:07:46] Bryan Murphy: Where you can save with a condo is in your meals. Resort dining definitely adds up quickly, especially for a family. And the ability to cook breakfast and some dinners at home such as a condo definitely makes the difference. But, uh, don't forget to add in the extra costs that vacation rentals often include.

[00:08:05] Bryan Murphy: Taxes in Hawaii can run about 17 to 18%, and many condos tack on significant cleaning fees that hotels don't. So a tip would be always. Run the math, compare nightly rate and and the taxes and cleaning fees, and then factor in how much you'll actually save by eating in. That's really the only way to know if a condo truly comes out cheaper for your trip, and I can guarantee you once you arrive in Hawaii, doesn't matter which island you're gonna want to eat some of the amazing food there.

[00:08:38] Bryan Murphy: What we typically do is we eat our breakfasts. In, and then what we do is sometimes we'll do an out for lunch, but typically we'll do out for dinner. Maybe we might make a sandwich or something for lunch, but we typically do our outs for dinner.

[00:08:53] Travel Essentials: Passports, Budgets, and Rentals

[00:08:53] Bryan Murphy: Question number four, do we need a passport to visit Hawaii or is that only for international travel?

[00:08:59] Bryan Murphy: This question actually trips up a lot of first time travelers to Hawaii, and since Hawaii is technically. A US state, US citizens do not need a passport to travel to Hawaii. All you need is a valid identification just as you would for any domestic flight. Anywhere else in the country. So as you may or may not know on May 7th, 2025, the TAs say now requires travelers 18 and older to present a real id, compliant driver's license, or another accepted format id, such as a passport.

[00:09:34] Bryan Murphy: Uh, minors under 18 don't need identification if they're traveling. With adults. So a tip would be to double check your state's real ID status before you fly. And if your license doesn't have the star marking, you want to either update your license or travel with another accepted form of ID, such as a passport to avoid any last minute stress at the airport.

[00:09:58] Bryan Murphy: Alright. Question number five. Can a family of six really do a trip to Hawaii on around a $5,000 budget, or is that just. Wishful thinking. Okay, so I might get some hate on this one, but really the short answer is yes, but it depends on where you're flying from and how disciplined you are with your budget.

[00:10:23] Bryan Murphy: For example, eating out and. Maybe getting some souvenirs, but families traveling from the west coast have the best shot to stay under the $5,000 mark. Round ship flights can run between 300 and $400 per person if booked at the right time. So that means for six people, that's roughly 18 to $2,700 of your budget on accommodations, condos or vacation rentals in a family friendly area often costs.

[00:10:55] Bryan Murphy: 275 to $325 per night. So over a week, that adds up to around, you know, $2,000 that leaves the rest of your 5,000 budget for meals. A rental car. Yes, you definitely want to get a rental car, especially on any of the neighboring islands. Wahoo, you might be able to get away without a rental car if you're staying in Waikiki, but you're probably going to.

[00:11:16] Bryan Murphy: At least do a rental car for a day or two if you're staying in Waikiki, so you can get out of Waikiki. But if you're staying on Kauai, Maui, big island, you're definitely gonna need a rental car. Families coming from the East Coast face higher fair, sometimes double the cost, which makes it harder to hit that $5,000 target without making huge sacrifices.

[00:11:39] Bryan Murphy: So a tip would be to make this budget work. Keep your trip to one island. So don't do any island hopping aim for, you know, shoulder season. So traveling in. Either spring or fall and you're gonna want to cook most of your breakfasts and dinners instead of eating out. I will say, backing up a a little bit, I have been noticing that the airfare has gone up.

[00:12:03] Bryan Murphy: I don't know if that's just what I'm seeing. I have seen a lot of people mention that since the Hawaiian Alaska merger seems like prices are a little bit higher, not as competitive. Not sure if that's gonna be a trend. Hopefully things start to level off and come down, but obviously this is kind of peak travel season two.

[00:12:23] Bryan Murphy: We're in Midgut here, so curious to see what happens come September, October.

[00:12:28] Family-Friendly Hotels and Pools

[00:12:28] Bryan Murphy: Alright, question number six, which hotel has a great kids pool? That's fun, but doesn't feel like a crowded waterpark. The Goon news is that there are several resorts across the islands that have this balance on Oahu, our favorite place.

[00:12:44] Bryan Murphy: I've mentioned it many times, Marriott, Coley, and a beach club. That's where we pretty much always stay. If we're on Oahu, they offer some great lagoon style pools. There's a slide in one of 'em. There's a protected beachfront areas that are fun for kids without being overwhelming on Kauai KAA Landing Resort is highly rated for its multiple pools, including one design with families in mind, but it doesn't have this chaos of a theme park setting.

[00:13:13] Bryan Murphy: On the island of Hawaii, the big island, the Fairmont Orchid offers a calmer pool experience along with access to sheltered lagoon. That's perfect for young swimmers. One of our spots. Where do we stay on Maui? We really like the West End. They recently, with the last couple years, redid their pool and it's great.

[00:13:33] Bryan Murphy: So that's another kid friendly spot if you're staying on Maui. But even the most family friendly resorts, like Alani pools are busy midday, so planned swim time in the morning or late afternoon for a calm experience. Question number seven, why is the Boston two Honolulu non-stop flight being canceled, and is that tied to the Alaska Hawaiian Airlines merger?

[00:13:59] Bryan Murphy: It feels like they just started this route, the Boston Honolulu. I guess within the last five years, they've also got rid of a couple other routes. Uh, one that's close to me they got rid of and are replacing it with an Alaska flight. I don't know if I'll do that. I might have to travel to LAX or to San Diego, but the Boston Honolulu was the longest, nonstop flight.

[00:14:27] Bryan Murphy: The US domestic flight, but this route is scheduled to end in November of this year, 2025. Wine Airlines announced the change as part of what it calls network optimization, citing underperformance on the route. In plain terms, demand wasn't strong enough to keep it profitable. AKA. Alaska is pulling a lot of those large flights, the 7, 8 7, and they are hubbing them at their Seattle port.

[00:14:55] Bryan Murphy: Some of them have already began to get a new paint job, which is kind of a bummer. I'm not trying to get salty about the Alaska Hawaiian Airlines merger. I feel like I am starting to get a little salty about it, but I just, I knew that there was gonna be changes made. But some of them, I'm not that stoked on it, said that this decision is not just a direct result of the Alaska Hawaiian Airlines merger.

[00:15:21] Bryan Murphy: And while the merger may eventually influence route decisions, which I think it already has, and we've already seen that Hawaiian has made it clear that this particular cancellation was about financial performance and not merger requirements. Not sure about that, but that's okay. But the main thing is for families traveling from the East coast, if you are, this means planning for a connection through West Coast Hub like Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Seattle.

[00:15:48] Bryan Murphy: So building an extra travel time will now be a part of the itinerary. If you choose on flying Hawaiian Airlines.

[00:15:56] Island Hopping and Cultural Respect

[00:15:56] Bryan Murphy: Alright, question number eight. Is it okay to bring home lava rocks or shells, or is that disrespectful or is it illegal? This is one of the most common questions visitors have, and the answer is really important.

[00:16:08] Bryan Murphy: So removing lava, rock, sand, or. Any other natural items from Hawaii's beaches and parks is illegal in many places, especially in state and national parks. It is also considered deeply disrespectful in Hawaiian culture. Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes is said to bring misfortune to those who take lava rocks from the islands.

[00:16:31] Bryan Murphy: And park rangers often receive packages of rocks, mail backs. From visitors hoping to reverse their bad luck. Whether you believe in Pele or not, the importance of it is being respectful to the land in Hawaii. Now, while shells aren't as strictly regulated, the. Respectful choice is to leave them in place.

[00:16:58] Bryan Murphy: They play an important role in the ecosystem and can actually hold cultural significance. So leave the shells there as well. Really, I guess. Treat all of Hawaii like a national park. If you're familiar, you're going to a national park. You know, you're not supposed to remove anything from the park some. So same thing visiting.

[00:17:17] Bryan Murphy: A place like Hawaii. Question nine, how many Hawaiian islands can you realistically visit in one trip? So I get it. It's tempting to want to see all of Hawaii in a single visit, but less is usually more, especially for your first time. The average visitor stay is around nine days. Realistically, that means you can explore one to two islands comfortably.

[00:17:39] Bryan Murphy: Traveling between the islands involve short flights, usually about 20 to 50 minutes in the air, but the airport process adds up. Taking sometimes a half day each time you move, and if you only have a week, you know, focus on one island. But if you have one. You know, 10 to 14 days, two islands can definitely work.

[00:18:00] Bryan Murphy: That's what we usually do. If we're just doing a week in Hawaii, it's gonna be on one island. But if we have about a two week stay or a week and a half, we usually do multiple islands. But more than that, you're likely to spend. More time packing and transferring than actually enjoying your vacation when you do those travel, especially within a week.

[00:18:21] Bryan Murphy: So a tip would be, you know, pick the island that best matches your family's interests and go deep on that island and explore it rather than spreading yourself so thin across multiple islands. And finally, question number 10, how do you travel between islands and Hawaii? By ferry, by plane, by boat, by train, or by both.

[00:18:43] Bryan Murphy: Inner island. Travel in Hawaii is done almost entirely by plane. Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest both have the market on inner island flights between the major islands and Moko Airlines, or smaller airports, which can be helpful if you're heading. To less touristy heavy areas like Lanai. The most regularly scheduled ferry service is between Maui and Lanai, which takes about 45 minutes.

[00:19:10] Bryan Murphy: There used to be a ferry between Maui and Moka, but that no longer operates as of today. So a tip would be treat inner island flights like you would your main flights from the continental us the mainland. Book them early, especially during busy seasons, to lock in better times and prices. You'll be surprised by how just waiting an extra half hour can save you flights because these inner island flights run like bus schedules.

[00:19:38] Bryan Murphy: So for example, when we were booking over from. Oahu to Kauai. We chose a later flight by half hour, and I think I saved around like 1200 miles, which was pretty substantial by just waiting an extra half hour. So. Play around with that and watch that.

[00:19:58] Conclusion: Key Takeaways and Resources

[00:19:58] Bryan Murphy: Alright, as we wrap up, today's listener q and a, here are the big takeaways.

[00:20:01] Bryan Murphy: Planning a trip to Hawaii doesn't have to be so overwhelming, and I hope you've realized that. And if you focus really on the essentials, booking flights at the right time can save your family Hundreds. Choosing the right island and sticking to just one or two. We'll make your vacation smoother and less stressful.

[00:20:18] Bryan Murphy: And remembering cultural respect, like leaving LABA rocks and shells where they belong helps keep Hawaii's beauty and traditions intact for future generations. So if you found this q and a format. Helpful, and if you liked it, I'd love to hear from you. You can just simply leave a review on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify.

[00:20:38] Bryan Murphy: And don't forget, if you're looking for more tips and resources to plan your trip, head over to Hawaii's best travel.com. And there you'll find our blog, past podcast episodes and other tools to help you get the most out of your time in. The islands without needing a travel agent. That's not needed in 2025.

[00:20:57] Bryan Murphy: So make sure you hit follow on this podcast so you don't miss the next episode. And until next time, as always, live with Aloha

[00:21:09] Bryan Murphy: Maah for listening to this episode of Hawaii's. Best to stay up to date on future episodes. Hit follow on your podcast app. Hawaii's Best is a production of Shore Break media group with editing by easy podcast solutions and music courtesy of our friends stick figure

[00:21:36] Bryan Murphy: again.


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