GOING TO HAWAII WITH A MILITARY FAMILY: A FULL Itinerary and Trip Cost Reveal | Hale Koa to Aulani

[@DianaPaulenka]

Yes we want to hear about Disneyland!!! We are all Disney/military people here! 😂

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

🤣 I hear you, Diana! Lol I’ll make a separate video about Disneyland. 👏🏼 Thank you for confirming what I believed…there’s more Disney/military people than we think out there 🧐 I’m glad there’s a space for us. Thank you for leaving a comment! 💕

[@cdiesel0]

Finally, a video to prove to my wife that I'm not the only one who tracks every cent on vacation. Love it.

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

Ha! We are a special kind of folk 🤣 Maybe you’re like me then…I’m a visual person and spending has blindly become too easy…tap your card here, link your account there…I need to SEE what I’m spending 👀 to hold myself accountable.

[@mcsbotelho]

Wow! Just wow! I found your channel last week while researching for information on shades of green. And now I learned that there 3 other resorts for the military in the world, including Hawaii!! We have no means to go to Hawaii any soon, but I’m saving this video to watch it again when the time comes. I love your organization skills and I’m learning a lot from your videos. Thank you for taking the time to share this knowledge with military families!

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

Thank you so much for the kind words!! A lot of meticulous planning went into that video so I appreciate you saying these things :) I was JUST as shocked as you when I found out about these places...and more blown away that not many people talk about them (or at least as much as they deserve to be discussed :) We are trying to plan out our next trip as well...and it will take some time and saving...because we all know nothing is cheap these days! But these wonderful resorts make it a little more achievable for us military families to travel 🙌

[@louc8782]

Yes, we really liked Hale Koa (this past February), especially the Magic Show with Mark, the AMAZING Magician and that Luau, beyond stunning,especially the part where our lost Brother and Sisters in Arms were memorialized. We’re Going back in September for a Daddy Daughter 10 day fun trip. I am sooooooo glad that we can go to all of the AFRC Resorts and receive the retiree’s cost level. Only took the Military 50 years to FINALLY declassify enough of my records to allow them to say “Opps, we made a mistake, here’s some shut up money, now go away”:). Keep up the great, fun and informative videos. Aloha and Mahalo from Maine:)

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

Oh my gosh how fun!!! A daddy daughter trip sounds incredible! Mahalo, Lou! Always great to hear from our friend in Maine!

[@louc8782]

@@battlegroundbiscuits And Tim will appreciate those Daddy Daughter trips in about 25 years too;) also, don’t forget on your next Hawaii trip to go see Mark and his magic Show, Story will be blown away too if she’s there with you guys, Aloha for now;)

[@TheDesertRoseRanch]

Great video. I can certainly appreciate needing to watch a budget. Thanks for the detail.

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

Thank you! What will be really interesting is coming back to this video several years down the road to see what kind of “bargains” we were getting in 2023 😂 At the rate everything is increasing who knows what we will be spending in 5 years or so. Thanks so much for taking the time to watch and comment!! 💕

[@kellywaldron9485]

Very informative and well detailed. Love how you included the dollar amounts so i have an idea on what to Budget for a Hawaii trip

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

Thank you so much! It definitely took a lot of time to organize but its worth it if its helpful to others :)

[@BarryLubrant]

Thank you! Thank you for your most informative video. (I think we've watched pretty much all your Hawaii trip videos.) Love y'all's commentary on all. We're planning on visiting Honolulu (for our 40th anniversary celebration) next year. Already made reservations at Hale Koa. We've gotten the biggest kick from your videos in addition to a bunch of info. Thank you! Best wishes for the future!

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

Thank you, Barry! We truly appreciate the kind words! I’m so glad we could be helpful with planning such a big celebration for you!

[@courtneydykman943]

What an incredible trip! I’ve really enjoyed your videos on Hawaii, thank you for putting REAL numbers out there…yeah, total sticker shock, but better to know ahead of time what to expect. Currently planning an anniversary trip for end of June, our first time to Hawaii and we are so excited!

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

Thanks so much Courtney! Oh you’re going to have an amazing anniversary!!! My hope is that by sharing it might help people like you know what kind savings goals to set for their trips. It really was a shock to see the total cost but makes me cringe thinking what it COULD have been without the savings. Money aside though…a trip to Hawaii just does something to you….it’s a priceless feeling. Enjoy every minute!

[@DearYadira]

Disney/Military mom here! You can definitely save & still experience a lot of the same things you guys did. The Hale Koa has less expensive room options & you’re able to book a character breakfast at Aulani without having to stay there. But what a great video with so much detail! I’m doing a similar split stay in a couple weeks & we’re all so excited!

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

Hey! 👋🏼 Welcome! Yes we absolutely had a boujie trip this round 😂 Since we were celebrating our ten years we splurged a bit lol Next time when we bring our daughter it will definitely be more budget friendly. And with it being our first time at both places we wanted a full experience 🙌🏼 Next time we will know where we can cut corners without losing the experience 🥰 I hope y’all have the best time! We can’t wait to go back 😩

[@paulapomposelli4513]

Hi! I just want to say that I love watching you and your husband. You are fabulous duo! You explain everything so thoroughly. I too have military benefits. Shades of green is so beautiful! Heading there again in November! I think my next trip will be to Hawaii! Thanks for sharing!!! ♥️

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

Aww thank you so much for taking the time to leave this comment! 🥹 You’re so sweet! If you see us at Shades please say hi!!! I want our next trip to be Hawaii too lol We cannot wait to go back! How fortunate we are to have these resorts! 🙌🏼💕

[@thswsup]

This is the most informative video I’ve watched since researching Hawaii!! Thank you so much for pricing everything out, it really helps with how we budget for our vacation. Thank you!!

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

You’re so welcome! It’s a large trip for a lot of us so I felt like it was important to share. I’m so happy to hear it helps!

[@OMGAPLATYPUSs]

Thanks a million for your Amazing and incredibly Thoughful tips...You totally ROCK!!!

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

You’re totally welcome!!! Thank YOU for watching and for the kind words 🥰

[@julie-l3p]

All your videos are honest upfront , great tips ! Made my husband subscribe ,watched it all together . Felt like we were watching a confessional , trying to guess the price before you gave the total …😅 Glad you didn’t add the Ca expenses. 😊

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

🤣 A confessional! LOL 😮‍💨 Sounds about right! In all honesty though we did do a LOT within those financial boundaries. I can still say it was worth it and can’t wait to go back with Story 🥰 We just need some time now to let our bank account recover lol Thanks for the kind words, Julie!

[@SakuraSpring]

May I suggest going to the Navy Exchange, Navy commissary and Costco on Dillingham Blvd and the Aiea Swapmeet for the majority of souvenir, gifts, foods to bring back home and snacks for better savings. If you’re staying on the Leeward side (Aulani), instead of eating at the resort, go to Broke Da Mouth restaurant in Kapolei for real local style good grinds. Next trip, take a road trip further west to the Nanakuli, Maile, Waianae and Makaha side of the island where the road meets the sea...the farthest west you can go to see Makua cave and spend time at the Pokai Bay Army cottage and beach area along with Makaha beach where surfers love the ride. You can book cottages right on the water at Pokai Bay similar to Bellows.

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

Thank you SO much for these suggestions! We learn more and more about things to do on our next trip and I’m already making a list thanks to comments like yours! I appreciate you taking the time to share! 🫶🏼

[@SakuraSpring]

You’re very welcome. 😊

[@ahhc21]

I just wanted to drop a quick note of thanks to you because I look at your video just before we were leaving to go to Hawaii and your tip about using the military star card paid off big time for us. It was a savings of $300.

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

That’s amazing!!! I hope you were able to use that extra savings for all the shave ice, malasadas and Mai tais your heart desired 🙌🏼 Thank you for sharing!!! So glad it helped! Mahalo🫶🏼

[@amandamedina2296]

Total cry baby- and I feel like I know both of y’all just by watching your videos- let me just tell you- when you posted your first picture- why did I cry lol that picture was absolutely gorgeous!!!! I was in awe. Y’all are just gorgeous inside and out! Wow! Thank God for yall! Like breath of fresh air! Thank you so much for this video, I’ll be reaching out to you soon

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

You are too sweet!

[@eprohoda]

how awesome trip~catch you later- colleague~😲

[@jollygreen4662]

100% p&t can stay in this hotel like in Orlando?

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

Yes! You can! 😎 www.halekoa.com/about-hale-koa-hotel/eligibility

[@katiegreen9320]

Awesome video Ty

[@thswsup]

How many points did you use for your flight? We’re coming from the East Coast too!

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

Oooo that’s a great question…it was through American Airlines and I want to say it was somewhere around 40-45,000 but I can’t remember exactly 😬

[@teresitafernandezsharp1341]

Where did you buy your dress? The dress you wore at Aulani

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

It was from Tuckernuck! I don't know if its still available but it was a collaboration with Cameran Wimberly Eubanks...i think it was called the wild azalea edisto dress. I don't think its in stock anymore though sadly so I would check Poshmark and resale sites to see if you can find it. The colors were SO pretty!

[@bernadette4934]

Aloha, Mahalo for the great review. 👌

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

Mahalo for watching!! 🫶🏼🌺

[@auroradavid7055]

Question, does Hale Koa charge for the entire stay upon check-in. I can’t seem to get a clear answer.

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

You pay for one night when you book with your deposit. Then you’ll pay for the rest of your stay on check out day 😊

[@auroradavid7055]

Thank you, someone on trip advisor had mentioned that they were charged the remainder on check-in so I figured I’d ask.

[@conniecox2197]

Thanks so much for all the information! My husband and I are going in May for our 40th anniversary and we both turn 60 so I was able to get some valuable info. Im so excited to do this with my highschool sweetheart.

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

You're SO welcome! Happy anniversary AND birthday! You have so much to celebrate and there are plenty of ways to do it in Hawaii! Have the absolute best time!

[@Jose_Jimenez]

Forget staying at the Hale Koa if you have three kids. You will have to get two rooms.

[@battlegroundbiscuits]

Have you called about the suites? We have not stayed in it before but I've seen pictures. I would recommend calling and asking about room 314. It sleeps 8 and has a small kitchen, one bathroom and includes a balcony. It was going for $399 per night but that could change next week since prices always increase in October. It would be worth looking into because its not listed on their website. Hope that helps!