How many nights?

[PaMomofOne]

We are looking at a trip to Hawaii from PA.
My husband want this stay longer on Maui, but our DD and I feel that if we're going to be in Hawaii, then we need to stay at Aluani.
The question is for how many nights? Would 3 nights be too short? We'd also like to do the AZ memorial while we're there.
TIA

 

[PlutoFan10]

If you want to adequately explore Oahu, I think 3 days is too short. We stayed a week at Aulani.

 

[OKW Lover]

We visited Aulani twice so far, with #3 coming up in May. The first visit was 4 nights which was way too short but it did come after an 18-night South Pacific cruise so it wasn't terrible. The second visit was 7-nights after which we did a 7-night Hawaiian Island cruise. After those two experiences we decided that all of Hawaii is really beautiful but we are very happy to spend our time at Aulani now that we've done most of the tourist stuff, so we are spending 12 nights there in May.

To more directly answer the OP's question, yes I think 3-nights would be too short. In addition to going to Pearl Harbor, you are going to want to visit other parts of Ohau like maybe Waikiki, Diamond Head, the North Shore and maybe the Dole Plantation. That's easily 3-days worth of stuff right there and you haven't even experienced Aulani.

 

[dclpluto]

I did 8 nights after the DCL Hawaii cruise in September. 8 nights was about right since I just got done with a cruise. I think next time I will go for 12 nights. I'm a dvc member I wouldn't be saying that if I had to pay them high prices

 

[Fuhnuh]

I would say three nights is a good amount. We go fairly often, but when staying in Waikiki we go early on arrival day and leave late afternoon on check out day. DD15 is older now and we just stayed one night and two full days last time. It would depend on arrival and departure times. The AZ memorial tours seem to take a good part of the day with transport, so I may think 4 is a better number if DD is younger.

 

[jlwhitney]

We are doing 6 nights in end of september. I think it will be good since we are doing 4 nights at Disneyland before hand

 

[PetePanMan]

IMO, given cost and time to get there, 3 nights is too short even if you were staying at resort only with no plans to do anything else. We have been to Oahu and Maui many times and 5-6 nights is minimum for us. BTW....Aulani is incredible but so is Maui.

 

[brimorga]

My advice is unless you are staying over 10 days total, stick to one island. It's such a shame to lose a day checking out and traveling between islands. Last time we did that our flight was delayed and it wasted a whole day. There is plenty to do on one island. If you've never been, your trip isn't that long and you really want to go to Aulani, I'd do just Oahu and stay a few days in Waikiki also.

You didn't say the entire length of your stay and where else you are staying, so it's hard to say. I will say, every day in Hawaii is precious and by the end of my trip I always wished it was longer.

 

[nkereina]

We're going for two weeks in September, starting with 4 nights in Waikiki to accomplish everything in that area, going to Maui for 4 nights, and then coming back to Aulani for 6 nights. During our time at Aulani, we'll visit the North Shore and enjoy the resort. I've been doing lots of planning recently and for us, this seems to be a good amount of time for a mix of relaxation and adventure.

Another thing to consider when deciding how long to stay is the cost of food, especially if you plan to eat at the resort or immediate areas. If you won't have a rental car to go off-site or buy groceries, it would definitely add up.

 

[PaMomofOne]

Thanks everyone!
Oh, we could never fly to Hawaii for just three nights! It takes me at least 3 days to adjust to the time difference, as a result, I slept through the first half of our honeymoon! LOL
Our plan is 8 nights in Maui and then the 3 at Aulani. Might have to encourage my husband to do at least 4 at Aulani!

 

[grumpytx]

Just my opinion, having visited Maui twice. I'd go with 8 nights in Maui for sure!!

 

[Ensusieasm]

We are looking at a trip to Hawaii from PA.
My husband want this stay longer on Maui, but our DD and I feel that if we're going to be in Hawaii, then we need to stay at Aluani.
The question is for how many nights? Would 3 nights be too short? We'd also like to do the AZ memorial while we're there.
TIA

That's a long plane trip fro PA. Stay as many night as you can possibly afford! Enjoy!