The Hawaii travel podcast that helps you plan a better trip.
New to the show? Start here.
You don’t need to listen to every episode to plan a good trip. Start with the question you’re working through right now.
Planning your first trip? Start with Ep. 264 below.
How To Plan a Hawaii Vacation Step by Step
Browse episodes by topic
Choose your island and budget
2 episodes · Tap to view
Best Island to Visit in Hawaii
Hawaii Travel Tips to Save Your Family Money
Explore the island guides
4 episodes · Tap to view
Oahu Travel Guide
Maui Travel Guide
Kauai Travel Guide
Big Island Travel Guide
Hawaiian language and culture
1 episode · Tap to view
Hawaiian Words and Phrases
Why listen to Hawaii’s Best?
Whether you’re planning your first trip, returning with family, or simply missing Hawaii, you’re in the right place.
Tuesday episodes help you plan a better trip. Thursday episodes help you stay connected to the islands.
Choose the right island for your trip.
Compare islands, places to stay, and things to do based on your budget, interests, and pace. Find what fits your trip, rather than trying to do everything.
Make family travel feel more manageable.
Get Hawaii travel tips for planning with kids, from choosing activities to leaving enough room for beach days, downtime, and the unexpected.
“This podcast has been a wealth of knowledge for us as we're planning a first time trip to HI. … we've learned so much about the culture and have really been able to plan a trip that allows us to experience Hawaii- not just visit.”
Know what to book and what’s changed.
Avoid common planning mistakes, understand reservation requirements, and catch travel updates that could affect your plans, even if you’ve visited before.
Understand Hawaii and travel with aloha.
Learn about Hawaiian culture and hear perspectives from locals and Hawaiian cultural practitioners. Discover local businesses and practical ways to respect the land, ocean, and people who call Hawaii home.
Arrive prepared, not just excited.
What listeners are saying
Better plans. A deeper connection to Hawaii.
“Truly an invaluable resource for planning a Hawaii vacation … This podcast made our trip that much better!”
“Your show completely changed how I thought about my whole island experience. We slowed down and enjoyed “talking story” with locals …”
“Hawaii's Best does a great job educating people on how to travel responsibly and tips to help lessen the impact of tourism on Hawaii's delicate ecosystem.”
“This podcast has been so helpful to listen to you in car rides, commutes, doing dishes, working out. Squeezing in as much information as I can between life to be able to make the most out of every second of our trip.”
Has the podcast helped you? Leave a review.
Meet Bryan
Aloha, I’m Bryan Murphy.
I’m the owner and host of Hawaii’s Best Travel, an independent Hawaii travel media brand. Some of my favorite memories with my wife, Ali, and our three daughters were made in the islands. Those family memories are a big part of why I fell in love with Hawaii.
I started this podcast in 2019 to help you make memories of your own, without turning trip planning into a second job. I bring years of Hawaii travel experience and training as a Certified Hawaii Destination Expert.
Alongside locals and Hawaiian cultural practitioners, I share practical ways to travel with aloha, support local businesses, and enjoy the kind of trip your family will talk about for years.
Follow Hawaii’s Best On:
Choose your podcast app, or listen to the latest episodes below.
A few questions before you listen
Here’s how to get started and keep Hawaii’s Best handy for your next trip.
Which episode should I listen to first?
Planning your first Hawaii trip? Start with How To Plan a Hawaii Vacation Step by Step. Already have a question in mind? Browse the starting episodes by topic for island guides, budget tips, and Hawaiian language and culture.
Is the podcast free, and how do I follow?
Yes, listening and following are free. Choose Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or another app in the listening section. Following keeps the show easy to find. Need a hand with Apple Podcasts? Here’s how to follow the show.
When do new episodes come out?
Tuesday episodes help you plan a better Hawaii trip. Thursday episodes help you stay connected through local voices, stories, perspectives, and timely updates. You can catch up on recent episodes in the player above.
Is this just for people planning a trip?
First-time visitors and families will find plenty of practical help, but you don’t need a flight booked to enjoy the show. Return visitors and people missing Hawaii can hear local stories, discover businesses, and learn more about the islands between trips.
Where can I find show notes and resources?
Check the episode description in your podcast app for links and resources. The starting episodes above also link to episode pages or listening destinations, so you can explore the topic that interests you.
Partner with Hawaii’s Best
Help Hawaii visitors discover your business before they arrive. Let’s talk about a partnership that fits your goals and gives listeners something useful.
Explore a partnershipHave a story to share?
Are you a local business owner, Hawaiian cultural practitioner, or someone with a perspective visitors should hear? Tell me what you’d help listeners understand.
Get in touch about being a guestShow Notes
Ep. 181: 10 Best Local Restaurants on Oahu You Can’t Miss
Tired of overpriced resort food and generic chain restaurants in Waikiki? You're missing out on the real taste of Hawaii. The best local restaurants on Oahu offer something no resort dining room can deliver: authentic flavors, family recipes passed down through...
Ep. 180: What to Pack for Your Hawaii Vacation (Checklist Included)
Packing for Hawaii isn't just about tossing swimsuits and flip-flops into your suitcase. The wrong items—or forgotten essentials—can turn your dream vacation into a costly shopping trip on day one. After nearly 20 years of Hawaii travel and over 30 trips to the...
How to Beat the Post-Hawaii Blues: 3 Simple Steps to Keep the Aloha Alive
Ever stepped off the plane from Hawaii and felt like you just hit a wall? You're not alone. That post-Hawaii crash is real, and it affects millions of travelers every year. One day you're sipping coffee on the beach, the next you're sitting in traffic thinking "that...
Ep. 178: 7 Things Not to Do in Hawaii
Planning a trip to Hawaii? Most travelers focus on what to do—booking tours, finding beaches, packing sunscreen. But knowing what NOT to do can make or break your Hawaiian vacation. These aren't your typical travel warnings. I'm not talking about forgetting your...
Ep. 177: Why September Is the Best Month to Visit Hawaii
Did you know most travelers completely overlook September when planning their Hawaii vacation? While everyone fights for summer dates or winter escapes, September quietly offers some of the best conditions Hawaii has to offer. After years of helping travelers plan...
Ep. 175: 3 First Day in Hawaii Mistakes to Avoid
Grab the First-Day in Hawaii Checklist Did you know simple first-day mistakes in Hawaii can derail your whole trip before day two even starts? For a lot of visitors, the first 24 hours are packed with excitement—and that’s when avoidable slip-ups happen with ocean...
Ep. 174: HawaiianMiles Are Ending: What Hawaii Travelers Lose With Atmos Rewards
Hawaiian Airlines just announced a massive change that impacts almost every Hawaii traveler. HawaiianMiles are ending on October 1, 2025, and they will be replaced by a new program called Atmos Rewards. If you’ve been collecting miles for years like I have, this...
Ep. 173: Listener Q&A: Your TOP Hawaii Travel Questions Answered
Planning a Hawaii vacation can be exciting, but it also brings up a lot of questions. From figuring out how much it costs to take your family, to deciding which island to visit, there’s a lot to think about. In this episode, I’m answering the Top Hawaii Travel...
Be a Guest on the Show
Want to be a guest on Hawaii’s Best? We’re always looking for local voices, cultural experts, and businesses that help visitors experience Hawaii responsibly — reach out and let’s talk story.