Home
Hawaii was welcomed into the United States in 1959 creating a no-passport tropical getaway for Americans. Visitors are drawn to the Aloha spirit with floral leis and a hula skirt, compliments of the renowned Hawaiian culture. Millions of travelers continue to escape the mainland for a tropical beach vacation on the six distinctive main islands of Hawaii. To help you choose an island for your family vacation, take a look at the following overviews of Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Maui and Hawaii's Big Island.
Cozy is the word my son used to describe our room at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Not the first word that usually comes to mind when you describe a 22-acre property with 3,500 rooms. It’s a testament to Hilton’s commitment to creating a family friendly environment at their enormous property. Camp Penguin engages the 5-12 year olds and snorkeling, stand up paddle boarding, an onsite submarine, and so much more keeps everyone busy. 
With two tickets to paradise, my son and I took a whirlwind visit to O‘ahu and discovered that we love surfing like abalone and don’t really need to repeat brunch.
Aina Kai means land and sea and it is the name of one of many homes offered by The Parrish Collection. We loved this house. Even though our suite was enormous at the Grand Hyatt, the kids liked having their own room. At the Parrish home, we could hang out by our pool, go downstairs and play video games or board games or gaze at the ocean from our deck. 
Famous for the kid’s pool that has slides, a volleyball net and a lagoon as well, it was the rooms that our family loved. We stayed in a 2 room suite adjoined by a living room. My son claimed the walk out patio and my daughter would not share her hammock which was a few steps away. We all made the most of The Lounge -- a room stocked with drinks, games, breakfast snacks and a lovely staff who are available to help you plan your days. It costs a little extra but it is absolutely worth it if you are traveling with kids. Each time we embarked on a journey, the staff would pack us up with water and healthy snacks and they were always happy to share information about what they love to do on Kauai. The kids liked it because they could go hang out there without us.
While the other boys golfed, my tween son opted out of Camp Hyatt (for kids under 12) and chose to hang out in the room. My daughter and I spent a few hours at Anara Spa where we each received a massage in a private outdoor bungalow. The professional treatments were wonderful but it was the environment that made the experience special. I floated on the slight breeze, birds chirping and fresh air that surrounded me, melting my tension and worries away away. Nearby, there is a lap pool and a serene yoga studio where a wonderful instructor teaches an eclectic and professional kind of yoga where even the locals take classes.
If Oahu is the Gathering Place then PoiPu on the south shore of Kauai is the relaxing place. It’s called the sunny side of the island because it gets less rain than the north shore. Even though you could pack up your days with activities there is no rush and everyone has a perpetual smile. 
Stargazing is right up my alley and something you can do on property at the Fairmont Orchid on Hawaii's big island for a small fee per person, if the weather permits. We opted for the free stargazing at the observatory at Mauna Kea, a 9,000 foot mountain. The Visitor Information Station has a group of volunteers who shared a short presentation and their telescopes of all strengths and sizes.
Head to Hawaii and you likely expect to see a lush tropical paradise, not the surface of the moon. But that was the vista that greeted us when we arrived at Kohala Coast, with its lava rock landscape.
It took a while to get used to the idea that Hawaii wasn’t all green foliage and blooming red birds of paradise. Once we did, we saw the beauty in the black sand beaches. It helped that the desert landscape of Kona is dotted with stunning oases along the coast and all of the resorts have gorgeous rooms, beautiful bays and restaurants, each has its own unique personality. We visited several resorts on the west side of the island and drove the Kohala Coast from the airport to Polulu Bay, where the road ended at a must-do hike that winds down to a gorgeous black sand beach.
                  | ||
