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Hawaii Family Travel Blog

From the best luau’s to where to swim with turtles, our Hawaii family travel blog explores the best things to do in Hawaii with kids

What To Pack For Hawaii Travel

Explore The Island Paradise Of The Hawaiian Islands

There is no destination more idyllic for family travel than the state of Hawaii. This tiny chain of 8 islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean seem almost designed to be the perfect vacation getaway. The weather is amazing year-round. It rarely experiences tropical storms. And the local customs are among the most welcoming in the world.

Surrounded by topaz-blue water that is teeming with life, the Hawaiian Islands feel like a lifetime away from the continental United States. And, with their remote location, they kind of are. It takes a minimum of six and a half hours to reach Honolulu from the Mainland. But once you get there, you can relax in a paradise that almost always surpasses expectations.

The main island in the Hawaiian chain is Oahu. It’s home to the capital of Honolulu, Diamondback mountain, and the famed Waikiki Beach. The Island of Kauai is a raw and beautiful destination that holds the largest canyon on any of the Hawaiian Islands, the majestic Waimea Canyon. It also has a nearly untouched interior where you can experience tubing through sugar plantations and tunnels.

The island of Maui is the most popular of the Hawaiian Islands after Oahu. Centered by the epic but dormant Haleakala Volcano, Maui is home to the most famous road trip in Hawaii, the road to Hana. Maui is laid out as two volcanoes centered by a wide valley. The island is famous as one of the best snorkeling destinations in Hawaii. And it’s also one of the best islands to do whale tours. Maui is also the base for most people looking to take tours of the sparsely populated island of Lanai.

Molokai is the fifth largest Hawaiian island. This island is primarily laid out for agriculture and ranching. But its epic sea cliffs make it a popular destination for explorers and bird lovers. The smallest of the Hawaiian Islands is Kahoolawe. This island is just 45 square miles, and completely uninhabited. The island was once used for military testing, and unexploded ordinances are still being cleaned up.

The most mysterious of the islands in Hawaii is Niihau. This privately owned island is the home to a group of Hawaiian indigenous people who choose to live in the style of their ancestors. Access to the island is prohibited except by a limited number of tour companies and businesses.

The island of Hawaii, or “The Big Island” as it is commonly referred to, is the largest of the Hawaiian Islands. The island is home to the tallest mountain on earth, Mauna Kea. And the highly active Kilauea volcano in Volcanoes National Park is constantly erupting adding more and more land to the raw shores of this spectacular island.

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Tips For Family Travel In Hawaii

Our Hawaii Guide will give you the breakdown for what you need to know about family travel to Hawaii.

  • Capital
    • The capital of Hawaii is Honolulu, which is located on the island of Oahu.
  • Weather
    • Hawaiian weather maintains very consistent year-round. Expect rain showers that are frequent, intense, but often very short-lived. The islands are very mountainous, so if you plan on exploring higher areas such as Haleakala on Maui or Mauna Kea on the Big Island, expect drastic temperature drops and near-freezing temperatures.

Important Words And Phrases To Know When Traveling In Hawaii

There are two official languages in Hawaii, English, and Hawaiian. While English is found everywhere and no visitor will have a challenge finding locals who speak it, even those who move to the country embrace the beautiful Hawaiian language, and it is often intertwined with English as the local dialect.

It’s always helpful to know a few words in the Indigenous language whenever you travel to a new destination. So here are a few important Hawaiian words to know before you visit.

Important Spanish Words To Know:

Yes: Ae

No: Aʻole

Thank You: Mahalo

Thank You Very Much: Mahalo nui loa iā ‘oe

You’re Welcome: Noʻu ka hauʻoli

Please: E ‘oluʻolu

Excuse Me: E kala mai iaʻu

Hello: Aloha

Goodbye: Aloha

Bathroom: Lua

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