Hawaii’s 2 National Parks

Question

We are just stating to plan a trip to Hawaii… but before I get started I have an overview question.

My daughter wants to go to Kauai.

We also want to see the 2 National Parks on Big Island and Maui.

Would it be doable to fly to Maui go to National Park spend a night.

Next day fly to Big Island go to National Park spend a night. Then. NExt day fly to Kuai where we would spend 4-5 nights, hike and relax?

Or am I expecting too much?

National Parka are important to us and I dont Know that we’ll come back to Hawaii a 3rd time so trying to get it all in ..

I know there are a lot of great other things to do on all the islands but that the National Parks are the main attraction for us then a low key relaxing vacation.

Thoughts? And I would love any other recommendations if you think I’ve lost my mind and this is not doable.

Answer

Your plan to see the two National Parks on Maui and the Big Island, followed by a few nights on Kauai, is ambitious but doable, especially if your primary focus is the parks and you are comfortable with multiple short flights. Here’s a detailed overview of what to expect, plus some tips to make it manageable and enjoyable.

FLYING BETWEEN ISLANDS

The Hawaiian Islands have frequent inter-island flights, mostly on Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest. Typical flight times are:

Maui (Kahului) → Big Island (Hilo or Kona) ~45–60 minutes
Big Island → Kauai (Lihue) ~1 hour 15 minutes

Check luggage rules for inter-island flights — some smaller planes have strict weight limits. Booking early helps ensure convenient flight times.

MAUI NATIONAL PARK

Assuming you mean Haleakalā National Park, here’s how a one-night stay works:

Drive up to the summit for sunrise or sunset — sunrise requires reservations if you want to go early.
Short hikes from the summit area are possible (Sliding Sands Trail or Halemauʻu Trail for partial walks).
Accommodations nearby are limited — staying in Makawao, Kula, or Paia gives reasonable access to the park.

It is possible to do a half-day in the park and still fly to Big Island later, but the experience will be brief.

BIG ISLAND NATIONAL PARK

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (near Hilo) can be done in a single day with an overnight stay:

Drive the Crater Rim Drive, visit Kīlauea Visitor Center, and see highlights like Thurston Lava Tube, Steam Vents, and chain of craters road.
Short hikes (Kīpukapuaulu or Devastation Trail) are possible even in a short visit.
Overnight in Hilo is best; flying out the next day to Kauai is straightforward.

KAUAI RELAXATION

Spending 4–5 nights on Kauai gives you time to recover from the quick pace of the other islands, relax, and do light hiking:

North Shore: Hanalei Bay, small coastal hikes, beaches.
South Shore: Poipu beaches, Waimea Canyon day trip (1-day drive from Poipu).
Consider one day for a Napali Coast boat or short helicopter tour if desired.

CONSIDERATIONS

This itinerary is fast-paced: you’ll have essentially 1 day on each of the first two islands for the parks.
Be prepared for early mornings, airport transfers, and short naps between activities.
Make all inter-island flights and accommodations in advance to ensure availability, especially in May.
Expect to see only highlights at Haleakalā and Hawai‘i Volcanoes; multi-day exploration would allow deeper experiences.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS IF YOU WANT LESS HURRY

Focus on Big Island and Kauai, skipping Maui’s park. This allows more time in each place and less stress with flights.
Spend 1 night near Haleakalā summit, then 2–3 nights in Kauai, using one day for a Napali Coast or Waimea Canyon tour.
Consider staying in one park for a full day and combining with local relaxation near your accommodations.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Your plan is ambitious but not impossible. You will see both National Parks and enjoy Kauai, but it will be a fast-paced “highlight” trip for the parks. If your goal is low-key relaxation as well, you may want to allow an extra night on Maui or Big Island, or accept that the first two days will be busy. Otherwise, for a once-in-a-lifetime visit, it is certainly doable and will let you check all the major parks off your list.

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