Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

Or is that just insane

We have been planning a trip to Disney next October but our plans may now be changing. One of my aunts has now moved back to Hawaii from Florida permanently. She has been begging our family to come and visit her there. My mom mentioned tonight going to Hawaii to visit for Thanksgiving as opposed to going to Disney.

I am ok with the switch...just wondering if the plane ride, time change and entire idea of a trip to Hawaii is feasible for 2 small kids or will it be more stressful for us??? We would be staying at my aunts house (she has a big house by the beach) so we wouldnt need hotels unless we decided to visit the other islands, which we would.

I guess I will have to do some research and check out sight seeing and what not. If I'm going to Hawaii I'm going big because we probably won't go back anytime soon

Re: Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

Hawaii is an amazing trip, but it is a 10 hour plane ride. It is hard for me, but if you think that your kids can handle it, go fo it.

My own kids, no way! I don't even like taking them both to Stop and Shop.

Re: Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

My sister now lives there with her family. She has made the trip by herself so many times. The last time she tried it with her kids. They were 3 years old, 4 (going on 5), and 7. Her step son was 11. It was a long trip, but they made it. Each way, she changed planes three times for a rest in between, bathroom, food. She planned the longest flight over the ocean during the kids sleeping hours (so they would sleep through). She took an entire carry on with food (all was eaten). Another carry on had toys and books.

With the difference in hours, it is harder going here to there. The first day everyone will be tried. But with the time change you will all be up at 3 am (really like 8 or 9 am here)lol.


I say go for it. Have fun!

Re: Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

No way, no how. Not with that long of a plane ride. I panic for the 2 hr plane ride to Disney with my kids.

Re: Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

I've done that flight twice. It is long for an adult. If you do it with the kids, see if you can break up the second flight-stay in CA for a day. If not, at least a longer break in the airport, at least 2 hours so they can run around.

Re: Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

I absolutely LOVE Hawaii and dh and I contemplate this all the time. The real problem is the airplane ride. Its way too long! Why not try Aruba. Its great there as well and much closer.

Re: Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

I think they'd be OK after a day with the time change. I think the flight would be the only big stress. I hated that flight so I can only imagine it for not one but two kids. I thought about it for our 5yr anniversary with Nate but after going only 3-4 hrs to the DR when he was 8mos old, DH said no way What if you plan a LONG layover to let them run around somewhere and break it up?

How long would you go for? I'd def try to go longer than a week since traveling eats into the long trip.

Re: Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

Re: Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

Since you're going to visit family, in a beach house, and not just going for a relaxing/romantic vacation I don't think it's insane to bring the kids -

Re: Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

No way! I would go alone with DH only.

Re: Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

That's a pretty long plane ride for toddlers. I probably wouldn't do it. 5 hours is probably the longest I'd go with kids that age.

Re: Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

I would. I've been to Europe a few times with my two - 8+hr flights.

Re: Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

Posted by november12003

Posted by avamamma

I don't even like taking them both to Stop and Shop.

Re: Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

No way I would ever go on a plane for that many hours with a 2 and a 4 year old. I have been to Hawaii and could hardly stand the long plane ride myself. It also depends on your kids. My son is good, but can have a melt down at any given time of the day. He is pretty big on being on a schedule as far as naps and bed time, so I just don't think he would handle no nap very good. Also, he wants to get up and walk, run at all times. Having him sit for the plane ride would be impossible. I would maybe consider it at 4 years old, but no way at 2.

Just a FYI, when we went to Hawaii it took 15 hours to get there. Are plane out of NY was an hour and a half late taking off, making us miss our connecting flight. Then we had to take an additional hour flight to LA and then another flight to Hawaii. Awful!!!

Message edited 11/22/2010 12:38:25 AM.

Re: Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

Re: Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

I couldn't do it. The idea of Hawaii sounds great and if given the chance I would probably jump at it...but I would kick myself in the end for going, I know it. My girls (2 and 3 1/2) can barely make it 5 minutes in the car before having a major meltdown, they hate it.

Every year we go upstate (about 2-3hrs away) and EVERY year I want to pull my hair out after just 30minutes in the car. I can't imagine a 10hr plane ride.

But, only you know your boys. Have you ever done a plane ride with them before, even a short one? Or a long car ride? Can they easily be entertained with snacks and toys? Are they good sleepers, do you think they would sleep most or half the flight if it were around their bedtime? I guess these would be the questions I'd have to ask myself before making a decision.

Re: Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

we just went to hawaii on our honeymoon. We flew direct so the way there it was 10 1/2 hours. There were a bunch of young kids/babies on our flight and they were all really good. I never heard any of them crying or fussing. The parents just made sure they were getting up and walking around with them pretty frequently. I definitely think its do-able!

Re: Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

we made the trip my whole family with several little kids and it was fine. We travel a lot and really enjoyed it! I say go for it!

Re: Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

usually I'd say yes. but my sister just got back from hawaii with her 2 year old. She flew with her husband and mil and fil. So there were 4 of them to take care of the 2 year old. She said she would never do that flight again with a 2 year old. LOL. So now I'd wait till they are older or go somewhere closer.

Message edited 11/29/2010 4:19:51 PM.

Re: Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

I would go. We flew to Argentina (11+ hours with our connections it was close to 14) and we were fine. The flight was overnight and Emilia slept the entire flight there. DD was 2 at the time and DS was 4.5.

Re: Would you go to Hawaii with a 2 yr old and 4 yr. old?

My MIL and may other members of DH's family live in Hawaii. We planned on taking DS for his 1st bday, baby luau. Our situation has changed and we are now allocating all money to a house. DH and I want to go home with DS as soon as we have the funds. DH's aunt also moved to NY and has been going "home" with her kids from the time the kids were 1. Hawaii is totally kid friendly. I say enjoy.