A podcast listener’s email prompts Aloha Bruce to unpack the question “how long should my Hawaii vacation be?” on this Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast. He will also talk about what it means to be a respectful visitor during a Hawaii vacation.

Bruce talks a bit about some changes to the home office and studio and laments the poor performance of his beloved Miami Dolphins. Bruce says most testing/vaccine restrictions remain in place in Hawaii and are likely to for the rest of the year. Most Hawaii restaurants require proof of vaccination, Bruce notes, explaining that several clusters have been found to have started in eating establishments. He notes the HAT Hawaii COVID Travel Facebook group as a great resource for updates on the situation on the ground.

A traveler from the UK wrote asking about a 3-week Hawaii vacation/wedding in June and which islands to visit. Bruce mentions the HAT condo at the Luana Waikiki as a great place to make a home base for an Oahu stay.

“You really don’t want to try to do too much on your Hawaii vacation,” Bruce says, suggesting paring down planned activities to make more room for flexibility. “It really comes down to budget and dates.” He suggests setting an “all-in” budget for your Hawaii vacation and making your plans around it.

For a one-week vacation, Bruce suggests picking an island and immersing yourself in what it has to offer. Knowing what activities (enjoying the ocean, helicopter tours, history tours) you want to try will help you decide which island to choose, although each island offers many of the same types of activities as every other island. Oahu is great for history buffs, Bruce says, the Big Island for geology enthusiasts, and Maui for ocean activities. Bruce notes new regulations regarding spinner dolphin encounters in Maui County.

Bruce moves on to discuss planning a vacation with kids, mentioning Disney Aulani and the Sheraton Waikiki on Oahu. He suggests 8 nights, 9 days for a two-island Hawaii vacation. “I want you to have a full experience,” says Bruce. “You can’t get it all in a one-week vacation anyway! Come back again and again!”

Bruce also talks about a listener with a multi-island vacation planned and how to make it happen. He notes Oahu’s “touristy” attractions compared to more rural Kauai and the Maui resort experience.

Listener Claire asks about being respectful during a Hawaii vacation, and Bruce offers some important insight about what to expect as Hawaii tourism rebounds (and throws in a plug for Sweet E’s breakfast joint on Oahu). Choose local, says Bruce. “Try to stay local and to buy local”, Bruce says, emphasizing the importance of being mindful during a Hawaii vacation.