Island Hopping
Most flights to Hawaii land at Honolulu International Airport on Oahu, and you must take connecting flights to reach the other islands. The first thing to consider when planning a trip to Hawaii is whether to visit just Oahu, another island or several. One factor is time: island hopping involves extra time flying, traveling to and from the airports, re-packing and checking into hotels. Another is the cost. But the major advantage of island hopping is experiencing the diversity of the islands' landscapes and attractions. Oahu has plenty to keep you busy, but some of Hawaii's best-known sights, like Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island and the Road to Hana on Maui, are on other islands.
Cost
People who have never been to Hawaii might be surprised at the high cost of food. It's very expensive to eat restaurant food at every meal, especially when traveling with a family. Look into accommodations with a kitchen, like condo rentals. You can stock up on food at a local market and prepare at least some of your own meals. If you are staying in a hotel, bring a collapsible cooler or buy a disposable one there and get ice from the hotel. Stock up on drinks, snacks and basic sandwich ingredients so you can pack lunches to take with you and avoid high prices at popular tourist attractions.
Golf
Hawaii's many golf courses, from nine-hole municipal facilities to the most luxurious resorts, all have in common some of the most scenic surroundings in the world. Each island has notable courses: Oahu boasts the "hardest golf course in the world," Koolau Golf Club; the Big Island has Volcano Country Club, where the links are located on the side of an active volcano; Kauai is known for the Princeville Resort, which features championship Ocean and Lake courses.
Koolau Golf Club
golflink.com/golf-courses/course.aspx?course=1455356
Volcano Golf & Country Club
golflink.com/golf-courses/course.aspx?course=268545
Princeville Resort
golflink.com/golf-courses/course.aspx?course=267445
About The Author
Joanne Lewis is a freelance writer who has written for newspapers since 2005. She is currently the editor of a weekly community newspaper in Los Angeles, Calif. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Science in politics from the University of Bristol, England.
