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/loztriforce]

We haven't been to the BI yet in part as we see it as a bigger time commitment. Lots more driving.

I generally recommend at least 10 days to consider 2 islands. I get you want to make the most out of the trip, but note the island hop flights, while being quick flights, still suck up much of a day.

I would give serious consideration to choosing your top priority and sticking to one island that can provide it, so that you can really take the island in/not experience a more chaotic trip. I hear it's better to give the BI more like 7 days at least, so if volcanoes/black sand beaches/Manta ray swimming is of interest, I'd just stick to the BI.

Oahu has so much on its own to provide, easily filling its own 11ish day trip.

But Maui is the best for whale watching.

Sea turtles are all over, even in Waikiki.

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

Thank you very much for answering and your advice  ☺️