The Hawaii Vacation Guide

Flashback: Kauai, 2010. No kids, no cameras, no idea that Hawaii would become our best job ever

We’re taking this Saturday off to put the finishing touches on something big. Season 8 of The Hawaii Vacation Guide premieres next Saturday. Our first video is "Your First 24 Hours on the Big Island (Land with a Plan)."

Hit the notification bell so you don’t miss the first episode.

Mahalo for watching! It was a great Season 7!

6 days ago | [YT] | 310

The Hawaii Vacation Guide

Our first-ever Q&A video drops on Saturday morning!

After 7+ years of making Hawaii videos, we’re finally answering the questions you keep asking about us:

• Why we moved to Hawaii twice, and why we left
• How we started the channel and website
• How we actually make money (spoiler: YouTube pays almost nothing)
• Why we pay for 95% of our tours and hotels ourselves
• Our #1 must-do on Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island
• Why Jordan talks so fast 😅

Watch it here 👉 https://youtu.be/cj7_57QAKtc

What should we answer in the next Q&A? Drop your questions below 👇

3 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 208

The Hawaii Vacation Guide

The coconut may be gone soon. Hawaii has experienced big storms this year. From the Kona Lows in the spring to the tropical storms and hurricanes this summer and fall. Our hearts go out to those impacted by the storms over the past months. As we speak, Tropical Storm Nolo is strengthening south of the Island of Hawai'i. NOAA has issued a hurricane watch for the Big Island, with high winds and rain expected by Friday night. Maui and the Big Island may get 5" to 10" and 15" to 20", respectively. For the most accurate forecasts and advisories, head to the NOAA Hurricane Center: www.nhc.noaa.gov/
If you're planning a trip to the islands, we'll keep sharing what to expect and how to support local. See here to learn more: thehawaiivacationguide.com/should-you-cancel-your-…
Mahalo and stay safe this weekend!

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1 month ago | [YT] | 71

The Hawaii Vacation Guide

We're home after two wonderful weeks in Hawai'i! Thanks to everyone who said hi when they stumbled upon us while we were enjoying shave ice, a luau, or the beach. We left right before Hurricane Lala hit. We wish the Big Island a fast and safe recovery.

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2 months ago | [YT] | 216

The Hawaii Vacation Guide

Feedback requested! We are on a trip right now, and I’m feeling frustrated with my bag situation. I pack a lot of bags, and nothing is ever quite right. I haven’t found the perfect personal item carry-on that does double (or triple) duty: on the plane, on my days out sightseeing. It’s light enough to carry yet retains structure. I can take it with me to dinner or to the beach.

Right now, I carry a cross-body bag for important things, a fold-up tote for the beach/days out, and my personal item bag from the plane sits in the hotel room.

Does anyone also struggle here? If you do, I’d love to hear more! I’m dreaming of solving this rather than keep buying bags that don’t meet the mark.

If you care to share your packing experiences with me, I have a form with 5 questions. I appreciate any insights/frustrations/challenges/solutions you share!

forms.gle/bE5cpDJbARerZvQ29

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6 months ago | [YT] | 100

The Hawaii Vacation Guide

Should you cancel your trip to Hawaii? Storm update: Here’s what travelers should know before their trip.

No, I wouldn't recommend canceling your trip. Popular visitor destinations are open. See our article for an update on what is open on each island, plus a list of websites to better understand what is happening in Hawaii.

thehawaiivacationguide.com/should-you-cancel-your-…

As of today, here is the status of popular visitor destinations:

- Maui's Road to Hana opened on Wednesday to non-Hana residents (aka, tours have started again)
- Maui's Haleakala National Park is opening this weekend
- Maui's beaches are improving, with West and South Maui beaches good for snorkeling (details are below)
- Kauai was mostly spared from the storms, and everything is open for visitors
- Oahu's Waikiki, Honolulu, Ko Olina, and other popular visitor destinations were not damaged, and everything is open
- Oahu's North Shore, specifically neighborhoods in Waialua, are closed due to flood clean-up (map below)
- Big Island's Kona and Kohala districts in West Hawaii were not seriously affected. - - Most of the rain was in Puna and Ku'a in the south.
- Big Island's Māmalahoa Highway in Kona's coffee belt will reopen after resurfacing on March 29th, 2026
- Big Island's Volcano National Park is open

7 months ago | [YT] | 170

The Hawaii Vacation Guide

I made you a mix tape. Our ​Hawai'i Christmas Spotify Playlist​ will make you feel poolside with a mai tai. My favorite Hawaii Christmas song? That would have to be the 12 Days of Christmas (Hawaii-style).

Add our Christmas Playlist to your library: open.spotify.com/playlist/6qzido5NEElzdYHw15ewIy?s…

Why am I showing a picture of Lahaina Harbor before the fire? More than two years after the August 2023 fire, the Lahaina Harbor is open. A significant milestone in Lahaina's recovery. We booked a whale-watching and sunset sail with Sail Maui for February. We're excited.

If you're visiting Maui for the holidays, consider supporting the local community by going on a tour!
Learn More: thehawaiivacationguide.com/activities/maui-whale-w…

Lahaina is still closed. Please keep your cameras down till your tour starts.

Closed since the 2023 wildfire, Canal, Wharf, and Hotel streets will reopen to pedestrians and motorists but remain no‑parking zones. Drivers are asked to follow new signage, and the area will remain closed nightly at 6 p.m. as electrical and other infrastructure repairs continue.

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10 months ago | [YT] | 52

The Hawaii Vacation Guide

Aloha! Thanks for noticing, we are back with Season 7 of The Hawai'i Vacation Guide. As this is peak summer planning season, we are sharing our favorite hotels and vacation rentals this December and January. Every Tuesday, we will share a quick hotel or vacation rental review alongside our yet-to-win-an-award Saturday videos.

Have a happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your Hawaii vacation planning or a virtual escape from the cold.

We are here to help with your planning. See our Where to Stay directory for our reviews:
thehawaiivacationguide.com/stay/

11 months ago | [YT] | 216

The Hawaii Vacation Guide

That's a wrap for us on Season 6 of The Hawai'i Vacation Guide. Thanks for watching this past year. We will be back with long-form, super helpful Hawaii travel-planning videos before Thanksgiving. It is a short break but we will miss you!
Our twice a month newsletter will keep going strong, sign up here: thehawaiivacationguide.com/newsletter/

1 year ago | [YT] | 204

The Hawaii Vacation Guide

We finished an 11-hour private Road to Hana tour yesterday! It was wonderful to meet so many viewers at the stops. Thanks for taking the time to say hi! to us.

We did the tour in a Bronco convertible! The kids loved riding with the top down, we enjoyed the waterfall swim, and our guide Joe was a wealth of entertaining stories. Thanks to Jasmine and Gus, the local owners, for hosting us. We will have a video sharing our experience. We did their Hana Bound! tour, which is the classic Hana and back route. They offer three other routes, including a Pipiwai Trail hike that beats the crowds. You can learn more about their tours below. We hope you can experience the Road to Hana during your trip to Maui. Get on the Hana Highway anyway you can: DIY, with an audio guide, with our itinerary guide, or with a private tour.
Learn more and book here: thehawaiivacationguide.com/activities/private-road…

1 year ago | [YT] | 169