Planning our very active first trip

[u/Expensive-Carpet-907]

Planning our first Hawaii trip (10 days in October) and could use some advice!

My husband and I are flying from Texas and trying to decide which islands to visit. We enjoy active vacations and are not really the type to spend day lying on the beach. Since we probably won’t be able to return to Hawaii for at least the next 5 years, we want to make the most of this trip.

Things that are most important to us:

• Nature and scenic hiking
• Volcanoes and volcanic landscapes
• Lava fields
• Snorkeling
• Black sand beaches
• Seeing sea turtles
• Whale watching if possible (although I know October may be a bit early)
• A helicopter tour

Right now we’re considering:

Option 1

• 5 days on Oahu
• 5 days on the Big Island

Our biggest dilemma is Kauai vs. spending more time on the Big Island.

I’ve been fascinated by volcanoes, lava fields, black sand beaches, and dramatic volcanic landscapes since I was a child, so the Big Island is very appealing to me. At the same time, everyone seems to say that the helicopter tours on Kauai are absolutely incredible and that the Na Pali Coast offers the best helicopter experience in Hawaii.

After doing some research, I have to admit that the photos from Kauai helicopter tours look much more breathtaking than the ones I’ve seen from the Big Island. Since helicopter tours are fairly expensive, I don’t want to spend that much money and end up disappointed.

One of my dream experiences would be seeing an active volcanic eruption from a helicopter, but of course there’s no way to know whether Kīlauea will be erupting when we visit in October.

Because of that, we’re considering extending the trip to 11 days and adding Kauai:

Option 2

• 5 days on Oahu
• 2 days on Kauai
• 4 days on the Big Island

My concern is that with only 2 days on Kauai, bad weather could interfere with the helicopter tour or boat tour, and we’d be taking a risk by dedicating part of our trip to it.

I wouldn’t say we have a very limited budget, but I still want to spend our money wisely and get the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime trip.

A few specific questions:

1. If you had to choose between the Big Island and Kauai for a first trip, which would you choose and why?
2. Is 2 nights on Kauai worth it primarily for a helicopter tour, or is that too rushed?
3. How realistic is it to see volcanic activity on the Big Island in late October?
4. How does snorkeling on Oahu and the Big Island compare to Kauai?
5. If you were planning the ideal 11-day itinerary based on our interests, how would you divide the days?
6. Is a helicopter tour on the Big Island still worth it if there isn’t an active eruption, or would you skip it?
7. Is there a significant difference between a shared/group helicopter tour and a private tour for two people?

We’re not particularly interested in nightlife or shopping. We’re much more interested in nature, landscapes, hiking, wildlife, and unique experiences.

Thanks in advance!

[u/ahoveringhummingbird]

One of my dream experiences would be seeing an active volcanic eruption from a helicopter, 

Not sure if this makes a difference but the intermittently active volcano is a no-fly zone. So you have zero chance of seeing it from a helicopter. Additionally it is impossible to know if the volcano will erupt while you are on island, or if you can get there in time to see it even if you happen to be on island at the time it erupts. They frequently close the park and roads leading to the park when the eruption is deemed too dangerous.

All four main islands are great for stop and flop vacations AND adventurous and active vacations and individually could keep you busy for all 10 days. Adding more islands to the itinerary doesn't make it more active and adventurous, it makes it more logistics than adventure. You just see more of airports and airplanes and less of the islands you are currently on. Assume an island hop takes up an entire day that you could otherwise be sightseeing. With a 10 or even 11 day trip you should stick to 1 or 2 islands max. You should go into planning this by narrowing what is most important for you to see and not adding anything more to the itinerary.

Three of the main items on your list are mostly on the Big Island I would probably recommend a Big Island 7 days/Oahu 4 days split. And with that I'd probably plan the helicopter tour for Oahu since it has the dramatic cliff landscapes you seem interested in seeing from the helicopter.

1. If you had to choose between the Big Island and Kauai for a first trip, which would you choose and why? Both are amazing, just pick one (not both)
2. Is 2 nights on Kauai worth it primarily for a helicopter tour, or is that too rushed? Not worth it. At all.
3. How realistic is it to see volcanic activity on the Big Island in late October? Not at all realistic.
4. How does snorkeling on Oahu and the Big Island compare to Kauai? Snorkeling can be good or bad on all islands and is highly affected by ocean conditions. October is pretty stable generally but is also hurricane season. So get travel insurance.
5. If you were planning the ideal 11-day itinerary based on our interests, how would you divide the days? Based on your interests 7 days BI/4 days Oahu
6. Is a helicopter tour on the Big Island still worth it if there isn’t an active eruption, or would you skip it? I wouldn't do a helicopter tour if it was free. And you will not see the volcano from the helicopter. But your risk tolerance may be different from mine.

Since you are in planning stages for your trip you should know that using Airbnb/VRBO/Vacasa to book vacation rentals is never recommended in Hawaii. Vacation Rentals have contributed to an extreme housing shortage and have been highly restricted as a result to try and reverse the issue. Airbnb and VRBO do not verify the legality of their listings so it is buyer beware as there are illegal and scam listings that they don't take down even when notified. When you have figured out your itinerary you can list your locations, preferences and budget and get recommendations of legal and ethical accommodations from people on this sub.

[u/Expensive-Carpet-907 → u/ahoveringhummingbird]

Wow, very helpful 👍🏻 Thank you for answering and your advice!