There are 5 main reasons why Jason (my husband) and I vacation in Hawaii rather than somewhere else warm.
The first time we went to Hawaii was in January of 1992. My parents had a timeshare in Kona on the Big Island and took us for a visit. We stayed 7 days and had our then one year old daughter with us. We loved everything about it. The ocean, the mountains, the smells… As life would have it, we soon had three more babies and were knee deep in raising children on a super tight budget and Hawaii was not on the list of things we could afford.
Fast forward to 2014. Jason had a friend that had recently went to Hawaii and after telling us how much it really cost, we realized our dream was actually doable! So in October 2014, we went back to Hawaii for our 25th anniversary! Since then we have been there 4 more times and visited all four of the main islands, The Big Island, Maui, Kauai, and Oahu. We are headed back next year for our 5th visit and can’t wait!
Here are the 5 main reasons why we love vacationing in Hawaii.
1. It’s not as expensive as people think.
Listen…when we went in 2014, we hired a travel agent (Blue Sky Travel) and spent two weeks, two islands, airfare, and a jeep rental was about $4700. A travel agent who specializes in Hawaii can really help you get the best deal. (If you’ve never been, I highly recommend going this route the first time.) Not to mention, every time we think about going somewhere else like the Caribbean, we crunch the numbers and Hawaii almost always wins or is pretty much the same price.
2. The mountains!
We absolutely love the mountains in Hawaii! Jason contracted a job in Aspen a couple years ago and as beautiful as the mountains are, I didn’t get the same euphoria as when I visit the mountains in Hawaii. As our off road guide from The Big Island said, “Where else can I snow board on a mountain and surf in the same day?!” Driving to the summit of Mauna Loa and visiting Volcano National Park. Hiking through upcountry and breathing in the fresh scent of pine and eucalyptus!
Maui, Hawaii
3. Free things to do!
I really think that’s what makes Hawaii way more economical than a lot of other vacation destinations. From scenic drives, to hiking, to waterfalls and of course the beach! There is so much to do in Hawaii that doesn’t cost a thing! We love driving the switchbacks on the famous Road to Hana. Hiking through a bamboo forest in Haleakala National Park that takes you to an epic 400ft waterfall! Taking in the breathtaking views of the Waimea Canyon on Kauai!
The ‘Iao Valley on Maui
4. The beaches!
One thing to know about Hawaii is there are NO private beaches in Hawaii. All beaches are open to the public, except for a few government areas. This means that I can enjoy the beach area in front of a resort and not have to stay in that particular resort! There are so many amazing beaches in Hawaii and they are all different! If you enjoy walks on the beach then Sugar Beach on Maui is your place!
Jason carved our initials in the sand amongst the lava rocks.
5. The whales!
I feel like of all the things I love about Hawaii, the humpback whales are at the top of my list. Eating breakfast on our lanai while watching the whales is just spectacular! There are only certain times of year when the whales can be seen in the Hawaiian islands. They come to the Hawaiian islands to breed, calve, and nurse their young. You can spot whales from all of the Hawaiian Islands, but the best place to enjoy them is in the Au’au Channel between Maui, Moloka’i and LLana’i.
Jason and I whale watching on a Hawaiian Paddlesports tour.
There are so many more amazing reasons why Hawaii is our favorite place to vacation. If you enjoy this part of my blog, I would love it if you gave me a follow to find out more about our Hawaiian journey! I’ll be sharing more about our favorite places, how we find our places to stay and the best places to eat on a budget. Thank you for stopping by! Aloha!
**I receive no compensation of any kind from Blue Sky Travel or Hawaiian Paddlesports for mentioning them in this blog post.