Claim OwnershipHawaii Travel Made Easy Podcast—Hawaii travel tips, Things to do in Hawaii, Hawaii vacation planning
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© 2026 Hawaii Travel Made Easy Podcast—Hawaii travel tips, Things to do in Hawaii, Hawaii vacation planning
Description
Hawaii Travel Made Easy is the ultimate Hawaii travel podcast for families and first-time Hawaii visitors looking to plan a stress-free and unforgettable Hawaii vacation. Hosted by a seasoned Hawaii travel expert, this show delivers essential Hawaii travel tips, Hawaii vacation planning advice, and insider insights to help you navigate the Hawaiian Islands with confidence.
Marcie Cheung is a certified Hawaii destination expert by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, runs the popular Hawaii family travel site Hawaii Travel with Kids, and has visited Hawaii more than 40 times.
Whether you're dreaming of your first trip to paradise or planning your return visit, each episode provides budget-friendly recommendations, cultural insights, and must-know Hawaii travel guide information to make your Hawaii vacation planning simple and stress-free. From choosing the right island to finding hidden gems, we'll help you create the perfect Hawaii experience!
New episodes drop every Monday & Wednesday!
105 Episodes
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Why First-Time Hawaii Visitors Should Skip Island Hopping (Unless You Have 10+ Days) Marcie explains that first-time Hawaii visitors should avoid island hopping unless they have 10+ days, because switching islands often costs a full vacation day in packing, airport procedures, short flights, luggage, rental cars, and waiting for hotel check-in, plus added expenses like inter-island flights ($80–$200 each way), multiple rental cars, and repeat shopping. She argues a first trip should be a “sc...
Slow Down: The Key to an Amazing Hawaii Itinerary The script argues that the biggest factor in a great Hawaii trip is slowing down rather than choosing the “right” island or packing in more activities. Based on hundreds of consultations, the speaker says disappointing trips usually come from overstuffed itineraries that ignore traffic, parking delays, and how quickly kids and spouses get tired, even on seemingly small islands like Oahu. They recommend planning just one main thing per day (or...
Is Hawaii Worth $10,000 With Kids? How to Decide (and When to Skip It) The script helps parents decide whether an expensive Hawaii trip with kids is worth it, arguing the answer depends on money, time, and what kind of vacation experience they want. It breaks down typical costs for a weeklong family-of-four trip ($7,000–$12,000+), including flights, hotels plus ~19% taxes/fees (with a new green fee added in early 2026), car rentals, food, and pricey activities like luaus and snorkel tours, a...
Kauai Food Guide: Best Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Shave Ice, and Bucket List Spots Marcie, a certified Hawaii destination expert, shares her organized-by-meal Kauai food guide based on what she orders, opening with her arrival tradition of Mark’s Place near Lihue Airport for takeout plate lunch (especially beef stew). For breakfast she recommends Java Kai, Sunrise Coffee, Holey Grail Donuts, Little Fish, and Passion Bakery malasadas. Lunch picks include Tahiti Nui in Hanalei, Kenji Burger (pl...
Big Island vs. Kauai: Which Hawaii Island Fits Your Trip Best? The script compares Hawaii’s Big Island and Kauai, explaining that both are less crowded than Oahu or Maui but offer very different trips. The Big Island is huge, often requiring significant driving or a split stay between Kona and Hilo/Volcano to see Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, waterfalls, and varied landscapes; it also offers unique activities like the Kona submarine, manta ray night swims, coffee farms, and a cultural ATV ...
Hawaii Booking Myths, Airfare & Hotel Pricing, and When to Use Points (with Travel Agent Kim Tate) Marcie celebrates the 100th episode of Hawaii Travel Made Easy by bringing on her friend Kim Tate of Stuffed Suitcase, a travel agent she trusts to book trips after Marcie’s Hawaii consultations. They cover what confuses travelers most when booking Hawaii: how to judge airfare swings using Google Flights (multiple airports, calendar view, price graph, and typical/high/low indicators), why l...
How to Plan Oahu Day Trips Without Rushing: Pearl Harbor, North Shore, Windward & Hanauma Bay Marcie, a certified Hawaii destination expert, explains how to plan Oahu day trips with realistic pacing by choosing one main “anchor” activity and building around it, since traffic, lines, and logistics often derail packed Circle Island itineraries. She advises treating Pearl Harbor as a full-day experience due to multiple sites, Ford Island shuttles, security and bag rules, and the need to boo...
Kauai West Side Day Guide: Waimea Canyon, Kōkeʻe State Park & Kalalau Lookout Host Marcie Cheung shares a cautionary story about driving to Waimea Canyon in fog, then explains how to plan a full Kauai West Side day around Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe State Park. She describes the canyon’s size, colors, and key lookouts (Waimea Canyon Lookout, Puʻu Ka Pele, Puʻu Hinahina) plus Kalalau Lookout, emphasizing checking the National Weather Service West Mountains forecast, going early, and waiting ...
Hawaii Trip Mistakes to Avoid: Islands, Costs, Reservations, and Safety Tips Marcie of “Hawaii Travel Made Easy” shares common first-timer mistakes that waste money and time in Hawaii, drawing on 40+ trips and hundreds of consultations. She urges travelers to slow down, limit island-hopping (minimum four nights per island; choose one or two for 7–10 days), and avoid costly one-day interisland detours like Pearl Harbor without a multi-night Oahu stay. She warns about illegal vacation rentals ...
What to Cut (and Keep) in a 4–5 Day Maui Itinerary Marcie of “Hawaii Travel Made Easy” warns that many Maui itineraries are overpacked 10-hour logistical puzzles that leave travelers exhausted and miserable, and explains what to cut and what to protect on short trips. She recommends reconsidering Haleakalā sunrise (suggesting summit sunset instead if you’re on the fence), the full Road to Hāna on a four-day trip (offering a partial drive to around mile marker 25 as a middle option), doing mu...
Oahu Luau Rankings: Honest Reviews from a Former Hula Dancer The speaker, a certified Hawaii destination expert and former professional hula dancer who has visited Hawaii 40+ times, gives an honest ranking of Oahu luaus and related shows based on cultural care, experience style, and practicality. Top picks are TOA Luau (family-run, authentic Polynesian cultures, small scale, includes Waimea Valley entry but requires a long drive from Waikiki), Mauka Warriors (large cohesive warrior-themed pr...
Should You Still Visit Maui? A Local’s Take After the Lahaina Fire and Kona Storm Host Marcie addresses listener concerns about whether it’s a good time to visit Maui after the August 2023 Lahaina wildfire and March Kona storm flooding and road damage by interviewing longtime Maui resident blogger and Maui Life Podcast co-host Liza Pierce. Pierce shares what locals want visitors to understand: learn basic Hawaiian values such as aloha as a way of life, malama the land (including packing out ...
Maui Ocean Center: Honest Review, Best Exhibits, Tickets, and Family Tips (Plus Ululani’s Shave Ice) Marcie shares an honest, family-focused review of Maui Ocean Center based on three visits over more than a decade, explaining it features only animals from Hawaii’s waters and includes well-integrated, respectful Hawaiian cultural exhibits. She highlights the 54-foot Open Ocean Tunnel with sharks and manta rays, Turtle Lagoon with Hawaiian green sea turtles, baby shark displays, and the Livin...
Four Slow Days in Maui (Feb 2026): Hyatt Regency Kaanapali, Flytographer, and One Main Thing a Day Marcie shares what a real Maui trip looks like for her and her 12-year-old in February 2026 after five workdays on Oahu: a slow four-day itinerary with one main activity per day, good food, and lots of pool time. After a frustrating Thrifty rental car upsell at OGG, she recommends booking through Discount Hawaii Car Rental. They stay at the Hyatt Regency Maui on points, do a Flytographer sessio...
Hanauma Bay in 2026: Reservations, Parking, Costs, and What to Expect Marcie explains what visiting Hanauma Bay in 2026 is really like, emphasizing that logistics are “half the battle” and why families prioritize it as the most beginner-friendly snorkeling spot on Oahu with calm, protected water and fish visible in the shallows. She details the 48-hour reservation system opening exactly at 7:00 AM Hawaii time (closed Mondays and Tuesdays), entry pricing ($25 ages 13+, kids 12 and under free,...
Oahu Trip Report (Feb): What Was Worth It, What I'd Skip, and a Rental Car Mistake Marcie, a Hawaii destination expert, shares a February Oahu trip report with her 12-year-old, noting some experiences were hosted for honest coverage. They stayed five nights at Hyatt Regency Waikiki (great oceanfront room and smooth check-in; annoying tight, offsite parking and $65/night fee). She covers tips and takeaways from Hanauma Bay reservations and logistics, Kahuku Farms’ full tour and cafe, Cirque d...
Skip-Gen Travel to Hawaii: Grandparents Taking Grandkids Without Parents Marcie Cheung of Hawaii Travel Made Easy discusses the growing trend of “skip generation” (skip-gen) travel, where grandparents take grandchildren to Hawaii without parents, sharing her son’s trips to Kauai at age 3 with grandma and again at 10 flying solo as an unaccompanied minor. She cites survey data showing skip-gen trips help bonding (82% of grandparents) and notes rising multigenerational travel overall, driven b...
Vacation Brain vs. Kona Storm: What to Know Before Flying to Hawaii The speaker records an unplanned bonus episode after witnessing families at San Diego Airport boarding for Maui during spring break as a gate agent sought eight volunteers to deplane due to weight restrictions from a major Hawaii storm, offering a transferable $1,000 voucher, hotel, Lyft, food, and a guaranteed seat the next day. The episode explains the statewide impact of a damaging Kona Low that built for five days: an em...
Choosing Between Maui and Oahu: A Comprehensive Travel Guide for 2026 In this episode of Hawaii Travel Made Easy, Marcy, a seasoned traveler who has visited Hawaii over 40 times, discusses her recent trip to Oahu and Maui with her 12-year-old son. The episode provides a detailed comparison between the two islands, focusing on the differences in daily experiences, accommodations, activities, costs, and the unique attractions of each island. Marcy highlights the scenic beauty and slower pace o...
Planning a Stress-Free Hawaii Vacation with Teenagers In this episode of 'Hawaii Travel Made Easy,' Marcie offers invaluable advice for families planning a trip to Hawaii with teenagers aged 13 to 17. Drawing from her personal experiences and those of her consultation clients, she covers a range of topics including selecting walkable accommodations, managing jet lag, and selecting activities that teenagers will genuinely enjoy. Marcie provides tips on how to balance autonomy and family time,...
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