Anonymous wrote:With kids, Hawaii. There is so much more things to do besides great beaches.

Lots of cool stops, sites and places to see. Great resorts with huge pools and kids clubs. So easy to get around the island with rental car. If you have 2 weeks, you can do 2 islands and both very different.

There's lots to do in Greece that isn't beaches too. We spent a week in Greece and never went to the beach once.

What time of year? If summer definitely not Greece

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Anonymous wrote:With kids, I’d say Hawaii. But Big Island instead of Oahu.

Why do you prefer big island?

DP. We don’t have kids. When we long stay remote we always gravitate toward BI. In addition to everything mentioned, Kauai and Maui start to feel like theme parks. BI has a more unmolested by mass tourism feel. It’s heavily touristed, but more spread out .We spend most of our time working from Oahu but that’s only because we get more housing there. Oahu is fine; we’re no haters. Highly recommend BI.

Anonymous wrote:We've done both within the past 5 years with kids. Hands down, Hawaii is your answer. Greece was fine but there is so much more to do in Hawaii. I also thought the food in Hawaii was better because there was much more variety. I felt like I ate a Greek salad literally every day in Greece.

How did you visit Greece and manage to only eat Greek salad everyday? Tour group the entire trip?

We’ve been to both. Hawaii was logistically easier. My kids loved Hawaii.

You can get amazing food in Hawaii. But it is really expensive.

We've done both within the past 5 years with kids. Hands down, Hawaii is your answer. Greece was fine but there is so much more to do in Hawaii. I also thought the food in Hawaii was better because there was much more variety. I felt like I ate a Greek salad literally every day in Greece.

I hate the time change to Hawaii. I'm awake at 3 am every night for the first week of the trip. With the time change in Europe, you wake up late and stay up late and you can go out to dinner at a more traditional European time. Italy was the first time my little kids slept until 10am in their whole lives. You do get the early wake ups when you return home, but I'd rather deal with that after the vacation is over and I'm in my own home.

We are in Kauai right now, it is fantastic.

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Kids are good travelers - have been to Portugal and Italy. They liked both but really enjoyed Italy (food was a big hit with them)

If food is highly important, Greece no question. Hawaii for nature.

There is some fun food in Hawaii too. My kid loved the fruit markets with fresh papaya and apple bananas.

My kids liked the food in Hawaii - rice, pineapple and fruit, fish tacos, shave ice.

Hawaii has its food. And it can be likable.

However, in the context of OPs kids "really enjoying" Portugal and Italy, singling out the food, there is no comparison here. Manage expectations. Go to Hawaii. It's beautiful. Just don't expect really-enjoying-Italy-food. It's not even remotely close.

I mean they are young elementary school kids. My kid did try a lot of things in Italy when he was there, but let's get very real, shave ice and masalada donuts will be just as loved as any Greek food.

PP. I was reading more of the parents into the comment, a projection. I’m not under the impression the elementary children are well-rounded discerning foodies.

Yes, if you have the culinary sophistication of a 7 year old, Hawaii is no different from Greece, Italy, or Gary Indiana.

To the parents: if you are food lovers of Italy, jar garlic shrimp and syrup ice will be highly disappointing. Go for the beautiful nature.

Greece. Take every chance you can to show your kids the world beyond America.

Go to Hawaii but Oahu is the worst. We lov Kauai and like Maui and the Big Island. But Oahu feels like Vegas with a coast line. It’s bust, touristy and not relaxing.

With kids, Hawaii. There is so much more things to do besides great beaches.

Lots of cool stops, sites and places to see. Great resorts with huge pools and kids clubs. So easy to get around the island with rental car. If you have 2 weeks, you can do 2 islands and both very different.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With kids, I’d say Hawaii. But Big Island instead of Oahu.

Why do you prefer big island?

DP here but population density is a big thing for us.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With kids, I’d say Hawaii. But Big Island instead of Oahu.

Why do you prefer big island?

Not PP but for me the main benefits to the Big Island are Volcano National Park and Mauna Kea observatory (you can't bring kids under 23 to the summit but you can go to the visitor's center and see more stars than you have ever seen before). I have also seen more dolphins swimming near the Big Island (young elementary probably too young for the manta ray dive but that's big Island as well).

Sorry under 13, not 23. Finger slip.