Erica’s Bio

Erica is the co-founder of The Hawaii Vacation Guide with her husband, Jordan.

The Hawaii Vacation Guide launched in late 2019, and its YouTube Channel launched in February 2020. With over 400 articles and videos, they have built a community of Hawaii travel enthusiasts.

Erica’s connection to Hawaii

Erica started visiting the Hawaiian Islands when she was about two years old. Her family would take annual trips to Maui to visit her grandparents in Lahaina, Maui.

By high school, she was proficient on a long board but now prefers a leisurely SUP. A better chance to see whales when on Maui!

Erica and Jordan’s path back to Hawaii

Erica met Jordan at the University of California, Santa Barbara. With an economics degree, she joined an accounting firm in San Francisco. Luckily, clients on Oahu required months-long business trips to Hawaii. Jordan would tag along and travel to the neighbor islands with Erica on weekends.

Jordan transferred to a position on Oahu in 2009. Erica and Jordan gained a deeper appreciation for the islands’ life and culture as they made Oahu home.

In 2019, Jordan took a gap year from work, and Erica became a freelance writer. She has been published in Forbes, NerdWallet, Credit Karma, and other financial publications.

They realized their dream of returning to Hawaii when they moved to Maui with their son and their dog, Hattie. Soon after, their daughter was born on Maui.

As it happens, when one moves to a tropical island, friends and family visit. Jordan and Erica realized there was no reliable travel resource they could point them to, so they created The Hawaii Vacation Guide.

What Erica does today and favorites

Erica wants all her readers to have their dream vacation to Hawaii. She excels at identifying relevant topics and providing clear, data-driven travel advice.

Today, Erica writes most of the articles for The Hawaii Vacation Guide and creates their Instagram content. She edits Jordan’s prints and runs the Wayfinder Collection.

Her favorite things to do in Hawaii are coffee tasting in Kona, whale-watching on Maui, relaxing on Kiahuna Beach on Kauai, and playing in the adventure pools in Wailea with her kids.

Erica has been featured in Hawaii Business Magazine, FareHarbor Newsletter, and numerous podcasts.

If you want to contact

Erica:

please email aloha@thehawaiivacationguide.com
connect on social media: YouTube, Instagram and TikTok

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Erica’s

Articles

Author: Erica Gellerman

I'm the co-founder, with my husband Jordan, of The Hawaii Vacation Guide. We have lived on Maui and Oahu and continue to travel, experience, and learn about the Hawaiian Islands. We travel with our kids, Henry and Edith. I am a planner! I love to plan trips from the mainland and island-hopping adventures, excursion days, and everything in-between. I spend a lot of my time in Hawai'i on a SUP and my favorite time of year in Hawai'i is whale season!

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Hawaiian Island Cheat Sheets

We'll share 4 can't-miss activities on each island, a map with the main sights in town, & famous local grindz (eats)!

Oahu Wayfinder Itinerary
$37.00
Is This Oʻahu Itinerary Right for You?

✔ Perfect for: First-time visitors who want to see more than just Waikiki
✔ Trip Length: 5–8 days (flexible if you have less time)
✔ Travel Style: Self-guided with scenic drives, beaches, cultural stops, and iconic sights
✔ Budget Range: Budget-friendly to mid-range to luxury. 90%+ are free and low-cost activities. We provide tour recommendations as an add-on, not part of the excursion days.

Designed for travelers who want to experience the real Oʻahu — without getting stuck in crowds or traffic all week.

Your Oʻahu Trip — Planned Beyond Waikiki

Most visitors stay in Waikiki.

And then… they barely leave it.

But Oʻahu is so much more than high-rise hotels and busy beaches.

It’s dramatic coastal drives.
Turquoise water on the Windward side.
Legendary North Shore surf breaks.
Waterfalls, food trucks, historic sites, and hidden viewpoints.

The problem?

Oʻahu is compact — but traffic is real.
If you don’t plan your days geographically, you’ll waste hours crisscrossing the island.

This isn’t a list of random attractions.

It’s a strategically organized, day-by-day Oʻahu itinerary designed so each excursion flows naturally — minimizing drive time and maximizing experiences.

We’ve mapped out seven curated excursion days covering every side of the island — from Waikiki and Diamond Head to the North Shore, Windward Coast, Ko Olina, and beyond.

Follow all seven days for a full week.
Or pick the days that match your interests.

No guesswork.
No zigzagging across the island.
No “What should we do today?” stress.

Just a clear plan — ready when you are.

On the Fence?

Don’t guess.

Download the free sample – Lanai Wayfinder Itinerary – to see the exact layout, organization, and detail you’ll get in the full Oahu guide.

If it saves you time and makes planning easier, the full itinerary will do that five times over. Is a Hawaii Itinerary Worth the Money?

Do you have questions about the Oahu Wayfinder Itinerary? Email Erica and Jordan at aloha@thehawaiivacationguide.com. We will get back to you ASAP. Mahalo!

Add to cart
Maui Wayfinder Itinerary
$37.00
Is This Maui Itinerary Right for You?

✔ Perfect for: First-time visitors who want to balance adventure and relaxation
✔ Trip Length: 7–10 days (flexible for shorter stays)
✔ Travel Style: Self-guided with scenic drives, beaches, food stops, and bucket-list experiences
✔ Budget Range: Mid-range to splurge-friendly. 90%+ are free and low-cost activities. We provide tour recommendations as an add-on, not part of the excursion days.

Designed for travelers who want to see the best of Maui — without overpacking every day.

Your Maui Trip — Planned Without the Overwhelm

Maui sounds simple at first.

Beaches.
The Road to Hana.
A Haleakalā sunrise.
Snorkeling with sea turtles.

But once you start planning, it gets overwhelming fast.

Should you stay in Kihei, Wailea, Kapalua, or Ka’anapali? Hana?
Is the Road to Hana worth a full day?
How do you plan a trip to West Maui without backtracking?
What’s actually worth booking?

This isn’t a list of 50 random things to do.

It’s a strategically organized, day-by-day Maui itinerary that flows naturally based on geography — so your days make sense, and your vacation doesn’t feel rushed.

We’ve mapped out nine curated excursion days covering every region of the island — South Maui, West Maui, Upcountry, Haleakalā, and the Road to Hana — so you can choose the experiences that match your pace. These are can’t-miss Maui experiences, perfectly planned out.

Follow all nine for a full trip.
Or pick the days that fit your interests.

No guesswork.
No wasted drive time.
No “What are we doing today?” debates.

Just open the plan and go.

Do you have questions about the Maui Wayfinder Itinerary? Email Erica and Jordan at aloha@thehawaiivacationguide.com. We will get back to you ASAP. Mahalo!

Add to cart
Big Island Wayfinder Itinerary
$37.00
Is This Big Island Itinerary Right for You?

✔ Perfect for: First-time visitors who don’t realize how big the Big Island really is
✔ Trip Length: 7–10 days (flexible if you have less time)
✔ Travel Style: Self-guided road trip with scenic drives, volcanoes, beaches, and light adventure
✔ Budget Range: Mid-range to splurge-friendly. 90%+ are free and low-cost activities. We provide tour recommendations as an add-on, not part of the excursion days.

Designed for travelers who want to experience multiple sides of the island — without wasting hours driving back and forth.

Your Big Island Trip — Planned the Smart Way

The Big Island isn’t just about beaches and volcanoes.

It’s active volcanoes.
Black sand shores.
Coffee farms.
Waterfalls.
High-elevation stargazing.
And landscapes that feel like different planets — all on one island.

But here’s the mistake most visitors make:

They underestimate drive times.
They stay on the wrong side of the island.
They zigzag back and forth, losing half a day in the car.

This isn’t a list of “things to do.”
It’s a strategically organized, day-by-day Big Island itinerary designed around geography — so every excursion flows logically.

We’ve mapped out six unforgettable excursion days that take you through the island’s dramatically different regions — without backtracking or guesswork.

You can follow all six days for a full trip, or pick the ones that match your interests and schedule.

Just open it up on your mobile device (you can print it!), get in the car, and go.

On the Fence?

Don’t guess.

Download the free sample – Lanai Wayfinder Itinerary – to see the exact layout, organization, and detail you’ll get in the full Big Island Wayfinder Itinerary.

If it saves you time and makes planning easier, the full itinerary will do that five times over. Is a Hawaii Itinerary Worth the Money?

Do you have questions about the Big Island Wayfinder Itinerary? Email Erica and Jordan at aloha@thehawaiivacationguide.com. We will get back to you ASAP. Mahalo!

Add to cart
Kauai Wayfinder Itinerary
$37.00
Is This Kauai Itinerary Right for You?

✔ Perfect for: First-time visitors who don’t want to waste time figuring out what to do
✔ Trip Length: 5–7 days on Kauai (flexible if you have less time)
✔ Travel Style: Self-guided road trips with curated stops (beaches, food, scenic drives, light hikes). Excellent for all ages. Add-on adventure or family-friendly alternatives.
✔ Budget Range: Mid-range to splurge-friendly. 90%+ are free and low-cost activities. We provide tour recommendations as an add-on, not part of the excursion days.

Designed for travelers who want an amazing trip — without spending hours researching.

Your trip to Kauai is about to get so much easier — and so much better.

This isn’t a generic guidebook packed with overwhelming options.
This is a done-for-you, day-by-day Kauai itinerary that tells you exactly where to go and how to plan each day so it flows naturally.

We’ve mapped out 5 unforgettable excursion days that take you across the island — from the lush cliffs and hidden beaches of the north shore to the dramatic coastline and sunny shores of the south.

No guesswork.
No backtracking.
No wasting half your vacation deciding where to eat.

Each day is strategically routed so you can get in your car and go — with handpicked beaches, snorkeling spots, scenic drives, local food stops, and can’t-miss views.

Have less than 5 days?
Pick the days that match your interests.

Have a full week?
Follow it step-by-step for a seamless Kauai adventure.

This itinerary is for travelers who want the best of Kauai — without spending 20+ hours researching blogs, reviews, and Google Maps pins.

On the Fence?

Don’t guess.

Download the free sample – Lanai Wayfinder Itinerary – to see the exact layout, organization, and detail you’ll get in the full Kauai guide.

If it saves you time and makes planning easier, the full itinerary will do that five times over. Is a Hawaii Itinerary Worth the Money?

Do you have questions about the Kauai Wayfinder Itinerary? Email Erica and Jordan at aloha@thehawaiivacationguide.com. We will get back to you ASAP. Mahalo!

Add to cart

Erica’s Bio

Erica’s connection to Hawaii

Erica and Jordan’s path back to Hawaii

What Erica does today and favorites

Explore

Erica’s

Articles

Aloha! We're Jordan and Erica.

Free Download!

Hawaiian Island Cheat Sheets

Is This Oʻahu Itinerary Right for You?

Your Oʻahu Trip — Planned Beyond Waikiki

On the Fence?

Is This Maui Itinerary Right for You?

Your Maui Trip — Planned Without the Overwhelm

Is This Big Island Itinerary Right for You?

Your Big Island Trip — Planned the Smart Way

On the Fence?

Is This Kauai Itinerary Right for You?

On the Fence?

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