It’s wild to me that I have taken my family to Hawaii twice in the past two years. If I can do it, so can you

Flights / Transportation

Roundtrip Kansas City (MCI) to Kauai using our Southwest Companion Passes and points. The cost for the 4 of us to fly was just under $45. Check out this blog post if you want to learn how to earn Southwest Companion Passes on Repeat. If I had paid cash for our flights, it would have been $4,865.

I booked our rental car using Chase Travel℠. I always pay $5-$10 for my rental car with my Chase Sapphire Preferred since it offers excellent rental car coverage, and the rest is taken care of with Chase Ultimate Rewards. I paid 30,000 points for a midsize car for the 6-night stay this time.

Stay

We transferred Chase Ultimate Rewards to Hyatt and booked the Grand Hyatt Kauai for six nights using 25,000-30,000 points per night. The total cash value of the hotel room would have been $6,700! Thanks to points, we stayed at this luxury resort without the hefty price tag.

The resort fee covers complimentary sunscreen, beach chairs, activities for kids, a lobby scavenger hunt, and more. My daughter especially loved the bracelet and lei-making activities, and she got a free souvenir—a stuffed sea turtle!

Activities & Excursions

Snorkeling in Kauai

My number one goal on this trip was to help my daughter become more comfortable snorkeling. We hit some incredible beaches:

• Poipu Beach – Saw the most sea turtles
• Anini Beach – Had the entire beach to ourselves; magical
• Ke’e Beach (Haena State Park) – Stunning shades of navy and turquoise (requires a parking pass)
• Tunnels Beach – Calm waters, sand bottom, and beautiful fish

✅ Want to experience incredible snorkeling? Book the Ultimate Na Pali Coast Zodiac Boat Snorkeling and Sea Cave Tour!

Hiking Adventures

We did a short hike near Waimea Canyon, recommended by my favorite tour guide app, Guide Along. However, my favorite was Heritage Trail, right next to the Grand Hyatt Kauai. The views were incredible, and the hike was easy to moderate.

🚁 For a breathtaking aerial view of Kauai’s rugged terrain, book the Private Kauai Experience: Doors-Off Helicopter Tour.

Food & Dining on a Budget

Thanks to my Hyatt Globalist status, we ate breakfast at the hotel lounge every morning and grabbed dinner or snacks there about half the time.

Here are some budget-friendly restaurants we visited:

• Puka Dog – Across from Poipu Beach
• Porky’s – Great for Hawaiian BBQ (OMG!!! So good!)
• Koloa Pizza – Delicious local pizza
• Koloa Mill Ice Cream – Refreshing dessert
• Eden Coffee & Taco Truck – Affordable and tasty options

Must-Do Excursions

🚁 Don’t miss a thrilling helicopter ride over Kauai’s stunning waterfalls! Book the Kauai Deluxe Waterfall Safari Helicopter Tour.

🚤 Want an epic ocean adventure? Secure your spot on the NaPali Boat Tour on the Amelia K before it sells out!

Final Thoughts: How We Made This Possible

Before I started traveling with points and miles, I never thought Hawaii would be within my budget—let alone at a luxury resort. Thanks to strategic use of points, we are taking our family on incredible adventures with no plans to stop!

Cards That Made This Trip Possible

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
• Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Thank you!

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