Oahu Family Vacations

Catch a flight to Hawaii and you'll land on lava rock where "Just chill brah" rules the day. Total strangers wave and smile. Just grin, wave back, and thank your lucky stars that you've brought your family to the most relaxed and friendliest place on the planet: the land where the Aloha Spirit reigns.

Of the eight Hawaiian islands (two aren't open for visits), Oahu is the third largest and the only one that has an honest-to-goodness teeming city with towering buildings, awesome eating, crowds everywhere, a car to go with every person, lots of fun shopping (from ultra-deluxe to three-for-$5), resorts galore, and an abundance of activities for the family like snorkeling in the world-famous Hanauma Bay and visiting can't-miss historical sites like the USS Arizona Memorial.

You won't find major league sports in Hawaii, but locals fill the 50,000 seats in the Aloha Stadium to cheer on the University of Hawaii's football team. And the stadium is home to many more activities, including motor cross, mud races, tractor pulls, concerts and carnivals. Check the stadium schedule for more information.

Recently, those who love visiting the islands regularly watched with concern as Aloha Airlines and ATA dissolved, driving up the cost of getting to paradise. The exciting news for those on a frugal family budget? Hotel and condo rooms are way down in occupancy these days, creating great deals for those willing to search and haggle.