Aloha! I’m Kristin Vetter, a luxury Hawaii travel advisor specializing in custom trips for families, couples, and multi-generational groups.I work with busy travelers who want a beautiful Hawaii trip without spending nights comparing resorts, room categories, islands, and dozens of conflicting reviews. My job is to understand how your family actually travels, then help you choose the right island, resort, room, and pace.

Why I do this

I’ve been a travel advisor since 2022, and I found this work while planning my own Hawaii elopement and honeymoon. I spent weeks digging through blogs, Facebook groups, resort websites, and island maps trying to piece everything together. Then, while waiting for a plate lunch at a food truck on Oahu’s North Shore, I started talking with the owner. He told me where local families went to snorkel: calm water, uncrowded, and free.That conversation stuck with me. I loved finding the details and local knowledge that never seemed to show up on page one of Google. I came home wanting to help other people plan Hawaii with that same level of care.

My Hawaii experience

I’m a Certified Hawaii Destination Expert and have traveled extensively throughout the Hawaiian Islands, including Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and the Island of Hawaii. My first trip was to Kauai in 2009, and Hawaii has been the destination I keep returning to. I visit resorts, see room categories, walk the beaches, eat at the restaurants, and pay attention to how a property actually feels once you’re there. Those details shape the recommendations I make. I also travel Hawaii the way many of my clients do: with kids in tow. My son Drew was 3 and his little brother was 6 months old & my step-son was 17 on our first Hawaii trip as a family. So when I talk about the flight, the time change, nap schedules, or keeping a toddler happy on a travel day, it comes from experience. I watched Drew see sea turtles on the sand for the first time and do a full happy dance at the top of Diamond Head after climbing it. Those are the trips I love helping families create.

How I plan Hawaii

Before we talk about resorts, I want to know how you travel. Pool people or beach people? Slow mornings or a full day out? Toddlers, teenagers, grandparents, or all three on the same trip? A resort can have every amenity on paper and still be wrong for your family. Location matters. Room setup matters. The beach matters. And in Hawaii, every hour spent driving is an hour you could have spent in the water. I also build in breathing room on purpose. Some of the best parts of Hawaii happen when there isn’t a reservation every 2 hours. One of my favorite trips to plan was a 40th birthday celebration for 18 people, ages 1 to 75, across Oahu and Maui. I coordinated the resorts, dining, activities, a luau, and a Road to Hana day while keeping the different ages and travel styles in mind. 

Multi-generational Hawaii is some of my favorite work because the right plan lets everyone enjoy the same trip in their own way.

A few questions I get a lot

Which Hawaiian island is best for families? It depends on who’s coming. For many first time families with younger kids, I often lean toward Maui for its resort options and family friendly beaches. Oahu is a great fit when you want more restaurants, history, and things to do away from the resort. Kauai suits families who want a slower pace and more time outdoors. The Island of Hawaii is a favorite when you want space and a mix of resort time and exploring.

Do I only plan Hawaii? Hawaii is my specialty and the destination I know best. I also plan luxury family travel to Mexico, Caribbean & Europe, often for the same clients who come back when they’re ready for their next trip.

One fun thing about me: the day before my own wedding, I went cage diving with sharks off Oahu’s North Shore. I was nervous on the boat and completely calm once I was underwater.

If you’re planning Hawaii and already have too many tabs open, tell me who’s coming, what matters most to you, and how you like to travel. I’ll help you narrow down the islands and resorts and build a trip that fits.