Upcoming trip to Hawaii...

[bigfoot]

Looks like we'll be taking a trip to Hawaii this summer. Looking at Kauai, Maui, the Big Island, and Oahu as potential spots. Ideally we'd like to stick to one island and spend the rest of the time relaxing and exploring.

From what I've read, Kauai sounds like it's a quieter island with lots of scenery, Maui is pretty popular with the college students, the Big Island has a little bit of everything, and Oahu is home to the most people and urban areas.

The condos have been recommended as a good way to save money versus hotel rooms and expensive meals.

Curious if anyone here on the forums has any recommendations on, well, just about anything there. Thanks in advance!

(And it probably goes without saying I'll be bringing a few EDC items.) :)

[bindibadgi]

I had a few weeks in Hawaii a couple of years back.

Apart from the fact that I got to meet up with some of my forum buddies on Oahu, I'd have to say that by far I felt more relaxed and in the holiday spirit while on the Big Island. I spent just one week on the Big Island, and two weeks on Oahu. Oahu is fine if you stay out of Honolulu (not much you can do there which you can't do in most cities - probably even just around where you live).

If I went again (and I'd love to), I'd try to spend as much time as possible on the Big Island, but keep in mind that I've never visited any of the islands beside Oahu and Hawaii, so YMMV.

Cheers, and I hope you enjoy the trip!

[onlyonespyderco]

I spent 10 days on Maui. Just beautiful, and very relaxing. I did get a condo and I agree it's the way to go if you don't want to spend a fortune. I stayed in Kihei. Haven't been to any of the other islands.

[Mark123]

Bigfoot,

I spent 3 years in Hawaii-was in Oahu, Kauai, and in the Big Island. You didn't mention whether or not you were bringing kids, budget considerations, etc...I could write pages, but just a few recommendations:

A few tips:
1. Visit Oahu first and go to Honolulu-no city like it in the world, lots of tourists (Americans, lots of Japanese, etc...) and expensive, but nothing like it in the world. Walk the beaches, get a drink at Duke's on the beachfront, soak it in, beautiful people, etc...visit at night to see the most beautiful callgirls in the world. It's all safe and out in the open, so no worries.

2. Visit Kualoa Ranch if you have the money/time. Located on Oahu-filmed Jurassic Park, Mighty Joe Young, George of the Jungle, etc.. there. Fantastic...you can explore on 3 wheelers, horses, etc...

3. Big Island-to state the obvious, visit the volcano park, travel to the lava flows-understand these are trickles, not "flows" like in teh movies, but still fascinating. Other than that, an outdoor paradise.

If on a budget:
1. One cool thing about being a liberal state, is ALL beaches are public land. Wake up early and you can have any beach to yourself. Ensure you drive to the North Shore, have one of the famous snowcones, burgers-go to Lonnies/Chuns Reef beachese and you can pet sea turtles that come right up to the shore.

2. Visit Waimea Waterfall-a short walk through a bamboo rain forest to the waterfall-not a jurassic park type waterfall, but pretty cool- and free.

Avoid:

1. Kauai-unless you have SPECIFIC reasons for visiting. There is the "Hawaiian Grand Canyon" which doesn't hold a candle to the real thing, but otherwise, rundown redneck towns in paradise, this blew my mind, nothing wrong with redneck, I'm from NC, but in paradise?

2. The Leeward, or western coast of Oahu-all locals, very territorial, homeless people living on the beach, and trust me, the locals don't play around-never surfed down there.

3. The Budget jetski/scuba/parasail/etc.. operations. They operate out of little buildings in Oahu. These are bubba operations. My brother dragged me into one of these...watched a Japanese tourist in a bikini get groped while "learning to scuba", paid for a jet ski ride, which was in a circle in the ocean...stupid...went scuba diving in pollution infested Pearl Harbor Bay...

4. Whale Watching Cruises: You'll see a fin, maybe some splashing---ripoff---terrible food-when it was time for the on ship "luaui (SP?), the crew changed clothes and started dancing around. Hilarious, but not in the way you might think.

I intentionally avoided Maui-nothing more boring that a PERFECT paradise, but to each his own.

Send me a personal message if you want more info...but have a great trip!!!

[temujin]

My $0.02 worth:



...visit at night to see the most beautiful callgirls in the world. It's all safe and out in the open, so no worries.

But please don't touch. Unless you are into transvestites/transsexuals (which is what those "beautiful callgirls" were). Whatever floats your boat, but in the interest of full disclosure, I thought I should warn. Please don't come to my town for the criminal lowlife.



If on a budget:
1. One cool thing about being a liberal state, is ALL beaches are public land. Wake up early and you can have any beach to yourself. Ensure you drive to the North Shore, have one of the famous snowcones, burgers-go to Lonnies/Chuns Reef beachese and you can pet sea turtles that come right up to the shore.

Please don't hassle the honu (sea turtles). They are a federally protected specie. What you think of "petting" can be stressful for wild animals. Enjoy the view and let them rest. The same goes for the Hawaiian Monk Seals.



Looks like we'll be taking a trip to Hawaii this summer. Looking at Kauai, Maui, the Big Island, and Oahu as potential spots. Ideally we'd like to stick to one island and spend the rest of the time relaxing and exploring.


What sorts of activities are you interested in? Kaua'i and Hawai'i (the Big Island) are probably the most quiet and relaxing. Rush hour traffic can be horrendous there, however, so time your driving accordingly. (I know, I used to have to fly out there to work.)

As to outdoor activities, pay heed to signs and lifeguards (if at the beach). They will warn you of the hazards. Probably the majority of injuries in outdoor activities here are due to people disregarding the lifeguards and signs Box jellyfish here are not fatal, but they will ruin your beach day. Fortunately, they are predictable, showing up 8 to 12 days after each full moon. If you go hiking, please stay on the marked trails. If there are gray clouds in the mountains, avoid the streams or gullies. Flash floods happen.

[bigfoot]

Folks -- thanks for all the great tips! Feel free to keep 'em coming...

This will be a honeymoon trip, so no kids and we will definitely be looking to relax somewhere quiet.

Some specific ideas for activities would be snorkeling, a luau, and visiting an aquarium. A nice hike and scenic drives would be cool, too. Oh, and some beach time & sunsets! :cool:

[onlyonespyderco]

Folks -- thanks for all the great tips! Feel free to keep 'em coming...

This will be a honeymoon trip, so no kids and we will definitely be looking to relax somewhere quiet.

Some specific ideas for activities would be snorkeling, a luau, and visiting an aquarium. A nice hike and scenic drives would be cool, too. Oh, and some beach time & sunsets! :cool:


Sounds like you want Maui! It was very chill and non-commercial. There was great snorkeling (off a boat was better and we got to see whales, too) and an AMAZING aquarium (http://www.mauioceancenter.com/). Really really amazing. The luau we went to was nice but nothing special. Haleakala was really great. People tend to go for sunrise, but we went for sunset and it was beautiful. We also saw some gorgeous sunsets just sitting in restaurants. We didn't get around to going on the road to Hana (http://www.maui-vacation.net/hana.html), but that's supposed to be a great drive.

[Mark123]

[/font]
But please don't touch. Unless you are into transvestites/transsexuals (which is what those "beautiful callgirls" were). Whatever floats your boat, but in the interest of full disclosure, I thought I should warn. Please don't come to my town for the criminal lowlife.

Not the $500 ones on the main strip who target Japanese tourists. Of course on the back and side roads, you get the "Dog the Bounty Hunter" variety. But I agree with the above-Look, don't touch! I made teh mistake of making eye contact, with my wife no less, and was followed for about 1 block. (Imagine a twenty-something Lucy Lui lookalike)



Please don't hassle the honu (sea turtles). They are a federally protected specie. What you think of "petting" can be stressful for wild animals. Enjoy the view and let them rest. The same goes for the Hawaiian Monk Seals.

Just a figure of speech...which reminds me one time I was surfing alone at Lonnies near the Norht Shore and a large sea turle broke the surface about 4 feel to the left of my board. My heart literally stopped :shocked: as I'd never experienced anything like that before. Another time a friend of mine went out at night, alone and he said a "black shadow" perhaps 4-5 feel long moved directly under his board. Said it took him about 30 minutes to regain his composure and surf in...no more surfing at night or alone!!

[ChopperCFI]

I have been several times to different islands. No matter what island you choose, I recommend the "Revealed" series such as Oahu Revealed (http://www.amazon.com/Oahu-Revealed-Ultimate-Honolulu-Revisited/dp/097172797X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1202958050&sr=1-1) or Maui Revealed. Following are my thoughts on the islands I have visited.

Oahu
If it's your first time, there is plenty of stuff to do on Oahu to fill a couple of weeks. Don't get a rental car. Many activities include shuttles. For those that don't, there are van shuttles to many common spots and the bus system is easy to use.

Recommended:
- Pearl Harbor Memorial/USS Arizona. It's free but get your ticket early to avoid a long wait.
- USS MIssouri & Submarine Bowfin are near the Memorial and open for tours. Pay the extra couple of bucks for the guided tour of the Missouri.
- Aloha Stadium Flea Market also near the memorial. Open on Wednesdays and Saturdays, it fills the parking lot around the stadium. You can get clothes and souvenirs for one fourth of the price everywhere else. Take lots of water.
- Hike to the top of Diamond Head. It's a bit strenuous, but the view of Waikiki is outstanding. Takes lots of water.
- Enjoy a luau. Germaines and Paradise Cove are my two favorites. Germaines is more intimate and Paradise Cove has more pre-dinner activities. Both provide transportation.
- Polynesian Cultural Center. Takes a full day and includes a great evening show. Don't miss the Samoan fire making demonstration. It's impressive and hilarious. Transportation provided.
- Circle Island Tour. Takes a full day, but lets you see most of the sites so you can determine what to come back to.
- Make a lei. Outrigger Reef on the Beach let's you make your own lei for a couple of dollars. They also have the cheapest pre-made fresh leis.
- Sunset Catamaran Sail. Take one of the smaller boats without the dinner. We liked the one that launches from the beach behind Outrigger Reef on the Beach.
- Snorkel Hanauma Bay. The snorkeling has always been poor in my opinion, but the area is beautiful. Take the city bus.
- North shore turtles as mentioned by others. Don't touch. There is frequently a cop nearby watching.
- Golf. One of the toughest but most beautiful courses in the US is Koolau on Oahu.

Overated:
- International Market. Collection of booths and kiosks with high priced junk. Walk to it.
- Parasailing. Fun to do but scenery is just ok. Maui is better.
- Submarine Ride. Real sub goes down 100 feet to a sunken ship. Not much to see since there are no natural reefs nearby.
- Horseback riding. It's ok on the north shore, but other islands are better.
- Hilo Hatties store. Nice distraction if you happen to be nearby.

Since this is getting long, I'll add the other islands in a separate post.

[ChopperCFI]

Island suggestions continued from previous post.

Maui
Need a car here. Cheapest gas by a huge margin is Costco near the airport. Slower paced than Oahu, but getting overbuilt.

Recommended:
- Old Lahaina Luau. Very good. Supposed to be the most authentic. Make a reservation several weeks before you go.
- Old Town Lahaina. Nice area to walk around and shop.
- Snorkel Black Rock. Great beginner spot in a very protected cove with lifeguards. Walk off the beach and 20 yards out are many beautiful fish. Public parking is limited to about 8 spaces. Better to park at the shopping center a few blocks away and get your ticket validated at any store.
- Helicopter ride. Best island for varied scenery.
- Road to Hana. Be patient. Don't leave anything in your car when you stop to walk up to the waterfalls and pools. Consider leaving the car unlocked. Organized groups break in as soon as you are out of sight. Despite all the rental car company warnings, the road past Hana is quite drivable and saves a lot of time.
- Bike down Haleakala. Sunrise at 10,000 feet is beautiful, but freezing even in Hawaii. I prefer the mid morning start. You coast from 10,000 feet to sea level in less than three hours with a lunch break. I only had to pedal about 100 yards.
- Iao Valley. Beautiful area with a paved walking path.
- Parasailing is best here.
- Horseback riding is best here.

Hawaii (Big Island)
Need a car here also. Cheapest gas is Costco again, but it's a little hard to find. With only a few days here, I haven't seen the whole island.

Recommended:
- Volcano national park. Tour the park early afternoon then head down the road to the lava flow parking. It's easiest to see the flow after dark. When I was there, it was a 2 hour walk from parking. Plan on walking out at dusk, hang around until dark and then head back. The hardened lava is like walking on broken glass. It shreds shoes and skin. Wear long pants and good shoes; no sandals or flip-flops. The terrain is rugged and falls are likely. Consider wearing leather gloves. Take twice as much water as you think you will need and don't forget the flashlights for the return. In the dark, it is impossible to tell directions. Even following the crowd may lead you out of the way. When there is no crowd, it's down right scary. Consider a GPS or compass.
- Black sand beach. Near the road and very cool looking.
- South Point. As the name suggests, it's the southern most tip of the US and it is very windy. On the road in, you pass a huge wind farm and huge trees that grow horizontally because of the wind. No beach here. It is shear cliffs.

Overrated:
- Green sand beach. Neat to see, but long walk in a very isolated area.
- Some ancient ruins on the southern shore. Complete waste of time.

Kauai
Also need a car here. Frankly not worth the inter-island airfare.

Recommended:
- Waimea Canyon is scenic.
- Chickens running everywhere are cute.
- Giant waterfall. Long hike from state park where the road ends.

Thats all I can think of at the moment. Enjoy your trip.

[bigfoot]

So much good stuff to read here, thanks again everyone!

I think we are leaning towards either Maui or the Big Island. We will have to check out those "Revealed" guidebooks, too.

[bindibadgi]

I second the "Revealed" books. They seem to tell it like it is. If something is not worth visiting, they'll say so.

If you can, buy the book(s) before your trip, so you're not trying to decide too much on the spot.

Also, don't do more than one or two things in a day. Sure, you'll miss out on a few things, but you will find more enjoyment in the things you do manage.

As an aside, on the Big Island I went snorkelling in Kona at a little place which was sheltered from the ocean by a wall, so it was quite calm (can't remember it's name, but location was 19.579134, -155.967187). The snorkelling was quite good there, and there were sea turtles everywhere! It was actually hard work not to touch them (split infinitive intentional ;D ).

I went on a little snorkelling cruise as well and we snorkelled at Kealakekua Bay (where Captain Cook was killed). The snorkelling was very good there, and we saw some dolphins too.

[Gush]

As a Maui resident, I have to add my $.02 ...

The "Revealed" guidebooks may offer what seem to be good suggestions, but the book sometimes encourages bad behavior, like trespassing onto private property. This book has been a source of contention between tourists and locals, so proceed with caution when following the activities! In fact, I would recommend that you not carry it around with you, or at least don't let anyone see it on you. I've seen some people do a total 180 attitude change when approached by tourists carrying the book, from being friendly, to openly hostile.

I know it's not the book buyers' fault, but the book makes it seem like you would be entitled to do the activities described within, and sometimes it's not the case. Very irresponsible of the authors, IMHO. :thumbsdown:

ChopperCFI has some excellent recommendations. Couple points to clarify though:
No gas at our Costco. We've been waiting for Costco gas for so long! Our gas prices are amongst the highest in the nation, with all our taxes. $3.89 for a gal. of regular. :brickwall:

Biking down Haleakala has been suspended for the time being, due to a few recent fatalities. I guess a couple of people who hadn't been on a bike in many years decided to try it, and weren't physically able to negotiate the roads. You can still take a bike tour, but it starts outside of the National Park area.

I'm not sure what to recommend, because I'm not sure what you want - is it to do stuff or "decompress?"

If you want to "get away from it all" I would suggest Lanai, where Bill Gates got married. Very rural, in fact, there's not even a traffic light on the island. It's the polar opposite of Waikiki.

Anyways, whatever you choose to do, I hope you have a wonderful vacation!

[bigfoot]

Noted and thanks for the tip; we will keep the guidebook tucked away! And we definitely don't want to be trespassing onto private property.

The "sticker shock" of $3.89 a gallon won't be so bad for us, since we're already on the West Coast, heh. :green:

We are looking for a little of both -- some quality time to relax and also take in a few sights and touristy stuff (aquarium, luau, maybe newbie snorkeling).

Which area of Maui for lodging would you folks recommend for being far enough away to have a little peace & quiet, but close enough (maybe 15-20 mins.) to drive to stuff? Likewise for the Big Island, if anyone happens to know.

Again, a huge thanks!

[Gush]

Well, it might not be "peace and quiet" but Kihei, to me, is the best place to stay in terms of convenience. It is a tourist destination, so there are a bunch of strip malls, but Kihei also has some of the nicest beaches on the island. Big Beach in Makena is pretty much pristine, and beaches in Wailea are nice too. Go early, because it can get really windy in the afternoon. It's located in South Maui, but not too far from the aquarium and other activities. It's maybe a 20-30 minute drive to the airport, depending on the time of day.

West Maui (where Kaanapali, Kapalua and Lahaina are) is nice too, but the biggest drawback is the road there. There have been times where the road shuts down for hours if there's an accident. I still suggest going out there, but allow for the travel time. The scenery during the drive is just stunning. It's about a 30-40 minute drive to Lahaina from Kihei.

I don't know if I would consider it "newbie," but the snorkeling at Molokini is exceptional. It's a crater off the coast of Makena, and you take a boat there. It's a marine sanctuary, so there a lots of fish. Lots of tours to go there as well.

One of the best things for me, is the dining options in Kihei.

Top suggestion: Sansei. They serve sushi and other Japanese/Pacific Rim foods, but prepared in a not so traditional way. The sushi is not just the raw fish variety, so no need to be too afraid. ;)

Other Notables: Roy's - The fish dishes here are awesome, but kinda pricey. Sad to say, I've left here hungry.
Nick's Fishmarket - This is in a resort, so it's pretty expensive, but the food and service are excellent.
Da Kitchen - A "local style" eatery with massive servings. One plate luch can be several meals. Not the best, but for the money, it's great. Try the Hawaiian plate! O0

[onlyonespyderco]

There's a place in Kihei called Alexanders which is kind of a dive but has great fish 'n chips. We saw a gorgeous sunset from an Irish place called Mulligan's.

One note: the waves are MAJOR. I don't know how you get them on the West Coast, but the Atlantic is like a swimming pool compared to Hawaii. Be safe.

[medic808]

Another local resident here.

IMHO Kauai has the best beaches. There are a bunch of vacation rentals there to choose from. Lots of trails to explore, world class golf courses (if you are into golf), Waimea Canyon. Try Hamura's saimin stand and Brick oven pizza for some local tastes.

Big Island

I honeymooned there, spending a few days in Hilo, Honokaa, Keahou, and Volcano each. We kind of worked our way around the island staying at small hotels and B&B's. Lots of natural scenic sites there, Akaka falls, Rainbow falls, boiling pots, Waipio Valley, Pololu Valley, Chain of Craters road, and I am sure you get the idea. Home to Kona coffee.

Oahu

Lots of fun stuff to do here also. Alot has been mentioned already. Try and eat a "local " plate lunch at Rainbow drive inn or L&L.

I tried to concentrate on the positive things. There are some opinions that I disagree with, but if you like you can PM me and discuss further. Like anyplace in the world there are places one should avoid when you have no business there.
Hope this helps. :luck:
I am sure you will have a nice time here on whatever island you choose to celebrate your honeymoon. O0

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/6376/home042copymt9.jpg
http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/2551/puakinikini2co2.jpg

Aloha From Hawaii

[Grits]

Great place for a vacation. Been there May05

[bigfoot]

Many thanks to all, this thread has generated a lot of great info for us!

[Sgt. LED]

Find McGizmo when you go.
Oh wait that's my dream!

[temujin]

Lots of fun stuff to do here also. Alot has been mentioned already. Try and eat a "local " plate lunch at Rainbow drive inn or L&L.


I'm not a big L&L fan. But that's just me. Rainbow's is ono, though.

I'd recommend the shrimp truck (http://www.portaloha.com/SecretsOfHawaii/Giovannis.htm) on the North Shore. All the visitors that have been there told me they enjoyed it. It will also get you out of the city, which is a good thing.

The local plate lunch has its origins in Hawaii's agricultural past. It started as the working man's lunch. As such, it's heavy on the carbs and fat. It's as eclectic as the local culture. In it's original form, it was the Japanese bento or box lunch. So it starts with rice. Not your fluffy Uncle Ben's, this is the Japanese-style medium grain rice. Throw it against a wall and it will stick. From there, the standard side is macaroni salad. This will vary from tasty to mundane to vile.

Then there is the meat. Sky's the limit: Korean kalbi, Filipino pork adobo, American hamburger, Japanese teriyaki and more. The king is the "mixed plate" where you have the aforementioned starches and three entree items. Another classic variation is the loco moco. A bowl of rice topped with a hamburger patty, then a fried egg, all drowned in brown gravy. Makes a poutine almost look healthful.

Some of the great plate lunch places have closed. Operated by familiies or even one person, many had no one to carry on to the next generation. Others succumbed to pressure from McD's and Burger King and many could not keep up with rising rent costs. Another tough thing is that some of the better plate lunches are in industrial areas that aren't really tourist-friendly. Not that there's any hostility, rather that they are un-scenic, parking difficult and you might have some trouble with the local dialect.

Also, check the Food Network and Travel Network schedules. They recently filmed episodes of Anthony Bourdain's and Robert Irvine's shows and Andrew Zimmern is supposed to do likewise. Might give you some ideas.

[Dirty Bob]

Some great info; I'm taking notes!

My wife and I visited in Nov. 2004 and are going again later this year.

One surprise for us on Oahu was at the Ala Moana (sp?) Mall. We were on our way back to the airport and time was kinda' short. We bought an Asian takeout lunch from a place in the downstairs part of the mall, then walked across the street to the park to enjoy it. Because of the beautiful day and the better-than-expected food, we look back on this as one of our most enjoyable meals of the trip! We also had a fun time shopping in Chinatown. A real highlight was visiting the palace on Oahu and learning about the history of the royalty of Hawaii.

This time we plan to just hang out on the beaches of Kauai. Not very ambitious, but we plan to enjoy every beautiful minute!

Regards,
Dirty Bob

[temujin]

You discovered one of the local secrets. When I worked in the downtown financial district (Bishop St.), I used to hop in the car, get something from a lunchwagon and have lunch there under a shady tree. Makes even a stressful day tolerable.

Kauai is a good place for relaxation. No night life, but great for cruising on the beach.

[mongo]

Seems to be a little bad-mouthing of Kaua'i... I spent my honeymoon there 10 years ago, and had a great time. I liked the fact that it wasn't "touristy". Nightlife? Bah, I made my own! Nothing like stocking up at a liquor store, making your own blender full of mai-tais and hitting the hot tub with the Mrs. Scenery was fantastic, and there was much to do that we missed. I need to go back.