Hawaii: Where to go, what to do?

[skymama 37]

My parents are thinking of going to Hawaii in early September. My dad actually asked me to ask you all about where to go and what to do. It's funny how he doesn't mind me being on dz.com at work when he wants something!

Anyway, they'll have about 5 days to see the islands. They want to stay in a less commercial place but still have plenty to do and see. They don't do things like play golf or lay on the beach. They really like to sightsee and soak up all they can about a place. Driving around and flying to different islands won't be a problem for them.

So, do you have any recommendations on which islands to go to, or even hotels to stay at? Any info you can give me would be very much appreciated!

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[adamUK 3]

ohhh... hopefully some of the winter swells will be kicking in (usually doesn't get going until november time) so get yourself (or Dad) to the north shore and if you don't surf, just go and watch if it is a big wave day. Awesome!
also: stay longer. You need at least a month there to get the vibe, okay.. maybe 2 or just go there for the season. Or sell up and live there...

[Stacy 0]

I've never been there, but my parents LOVED kauai (may have spelled that wrong)

__

[DShiznit 0]

I stayed on Kauai for a week, the best vacation I have ever had in my life. It's very scenic, my wife and I spent an entire day touring the island with rental car. We also did the helicopter tour (a must!) and a "sail 'n snorkel" tour with Captain Andy... There was also horseback riding on the beach. That was great as well.

Btw - stayed at the Hyatt Regency Resort.

[Remster 30]

We stayed for a week on the Big Island, on the coast nort of the Kona airport (yes, its insanely expensive, but we didnt pay lol). Truly beautifull there, and very quiet at the resort.

The variety of the land, climate, flora is just amazing on that island. Plus, they have that volcano thingy thats cool.

We really enjoyed the helicopter ride, a bike ride, and a tour of the volcano and forest around it.

Remster

[TheAnvil 0]

Check out Maui. Oahu is OK. The Germaine's Luau is pretty cool and the AZ memorial was nice to see. Maui just kicks ass though. And the big island is just fabulous. I'd at least snorkel Molokili off of Maui - snuba or scuba would be better.

Random thoughts from TheAnvil.

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[foxyroxtail 0]

First - add a week. 5 days is NOT enough to do anything even on one island!! If they want to do more than one it definitely takes 10 + days. The islands look small and close together on a map, but this is deceiving. They aren't.

Kauai is unbelievable. Search for B&B's - almost everybody's house is one, due to the price of real estate there. They are cheaper than hotels, are in residential areas, so you really see the island, and you have an insider right there to help with restaurants and "off the beaten path" ideas for things to do. We stayed at one that had a great pool, view (and sounds) of a waterfall from the bedroom, and the owner was a massage therapist. It was difficult to even leave the house! Kauai has a canyon as deep as the Grand Canyon, fabulous hiking on the Na'Pali Coast east side, the wettest place in the world in the Na'Pali which has higher altitude views on the west side, just truly amazing. The north end of Kauai is so rugged that there isn't a road that goes all the way around - although they did try to build one. The result is a state park and a nice wide hiking trail at the north-west end.
Also - book a helicopter tour. The ones on Kauai are great to do early in the trip so you can decide what you want to see closer up.

Also, I have to second the North Shore comment - on Oahu. The surf is so powerful that you can sit for hours mesmerized by the huge waves. We did the B&B thing there too. Oahu has a Pali area as well with astounding views and in the lowlands has cute little towns and villages, and of course, there's Honolulu (loud & crowded) and Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor is very emotional, and is worth a day just for the Memorial and the Missouri battleship.

OK, obviously I'm ready to go back... sigh.
Pam

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[Jen1129 0]

I lived on Maui for 6 months last year. Visited Kauai, Lanai and Oahu while I was there.

Kauai is beautiful and very rural. If you are looking for somewhere less touristy, that would be the place. Lots of rivers, waterfalls, etc. We went kayaking (one of my favorite activities in Hawaii.)

Maui has about 100,000 people on the whole island so it has a small / medium size town atmosphere. Definitely go up Haleakala and watch a sunset or a sunrise. There are great places to snorkel, one popular option being a day trip to Molokini (a small island off the coast). Lahaina and Wailea are popular places to stay, with Lahaina being more touristy and Wailea more expensive. Both are good snorkeling places also.

Lanai only has two hotels, both VERY expensive. We just went for a day from Maui on a snorkeling boat. (Both Lanai and Molokai are within ferry distance of Maui.)

Oahu is of course the most crowded and touristy. North Shore is nice though... that's where I did my first jump!

Also, if anyone has any frequent flyer miles anywhere, check out if the airline is partners with either Hawaiian or Aloha Airlines. You can get a round trip inter-island ticket for about 5000 miles.

[mfrese 0]

First. I have to agree with FRT. you need more than 5 days. Hawaii should not be experienced as a tour bus thing, you need to take a few days to get on island time and relax.

If they only have 5 days, pick one island...and my choice is Maui. I lived there back in 1979 for a year, and it still has a special place in my heart. Here is a list of things to do that will probably keep them busy but relaxed for 5 days if they choose:

- Checking out the sunrise at Haleakala volcano
- Driving the road to Hana, and checking out the Seven Pools (O'heo Gulch just doesn't have the same ring to it ).
- The Iao Valley
- Hookipa beach (not as impressive as the North Shore, but still pretty awesome witha good swell)
- Take a day sail over to Lanai (kinda too commercial now) or Molokai (Less commercial, still a "small town" kinda place)
- Drive "upcountry" to Kula and go wine tasting (maybe even try the pineapple wine...kind of a novelty, but stil pretty tasty!)

Seriously, you need more than 5 days if you're going to do more than one island, so they should either focus on one or add some time. Either way, they'll have a blast (after about 10 hours in the air from Florida - Yuck!) Hope they have a great trip!

Doctor I ain't gonna die,
Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash

[skymama 37]

Unfortunately, they don't have more than 5 days to spend there. They are going on a business trip to Colorado and are adding on a few days from that trip to go to Hawaii.

So, I guess they should pick one island now. That's a good thing to know.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[Nightingale 0]

all my suggestions are in this thread:

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1100872;search_string=napali;#1100872

[Nightingale 0]

oh... and if they go to Maui, take the Trilogy tour. Catamaran over to Lanai, snorkeling, lots of fun!

[skymama 37]

Oh, thanks...I didn't remember there being another thread.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[Canuck278 0]

They have underwater tours too for people that don't scuba....lil submarines with windows.

Steve
Therapy is expensive, popping bubble wrap is cheap.

[Keith 0]

Look up Leslie aka katzeye (sp?). She lives there and will show you a Rockin Good time. She's a party pal of mine. Trust me, she knows how to have a good time.

Keith

Don't Fuck with me Keith - J. Mandeville

[Remster 30]

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She's a party pal of mine.

Wohooo! Andrea's parents are gonna be tripping!

Remster

[Luna 0]

If they choose the big island, of course Volcano National Park, and the black and green sand beaches would be high priorities. I barely had any time to sightsee and just did an island bus tour, stopping at a coffee plantation and orchid farm, a waterfall, etc.

The one thing I wish I would have done on the big island and didn't is the Mauna Kea tour. There are several companies that run these tours. The Keck Observatory is on top and has the largest telescope in the world. The only thing to beware of with doing this is that it is very high (almost 14K feet), so if they aren't in good health it probably wouldn't be a good idea.

I stayed near Kona at the Hilton Waikaloa Resort, which is fabulous! Expensive, but worth it.

I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

[Remster 30]

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I stayed near Kona at the Hilton Waikaloa Resort, which is fabulous! Expensive, but worth it.

I hate to brag,, but our hotel was better
http://www.maunalani.com/

Remster

[Luna 0]

Wow, yeah, I'll give you that. It's twice as expensive to start, though! The Hilton does has the swim with the dolphins program, but now I know where I'll be staying when I win the lottery! Those bungalows look incredible!

I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information!

[GARYC24 3]

How about "komoniwanalaya"?
I heard about it from watching Grouchier Old Men!

[SarahC07 0]

I just visited Hawaii about a week ago...

I spent a few days in Honolulu (Oahu) and that was enough. People everywhere and its just like a big city with horrible traffic and all... the Polynesian Cultural Center (located also on Oahu) was fabulous- I would plan on spending an entire day there.

I also spent some time on the Big Island- absolutely beautiful. We spent most of our time in Kona, on the west coast of the island. Yes, most of the area is directed at tourism, but the beaches are beautiful and it's not like a big city at all. There is a state park on the Northwest coast of the island that is great for snorkeling or just relaxing on the beach... PLUS they have lava flowing father south and east on the island. Seeing active lava flowing was pretty damn cool.. in fact I have a few pictures that I just uploaded from my camera....

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[jimbarry 0]

5 days, less commercial, plenty to do and see...
Sounds like the big island to me.

--Lots of quiet relaxing snorkeling. Boat tours for that are good. Smaller the boat the better.
--Down at Volcanoes N.P. short hike out to the lava before sunset, hike back after sunset. B&Bs in the area that are nice. Lava is a life-checklist must see.
--Please, there's nothing to see in Hilo, and they don't want mainlanders there anyway.
--Small scale touristy town of Kailua-Kona.
--Punalu'u black sand beach.

Lots of driving so have them get a convertible.

If you do nothing else, please get to amazon.com and get the "Revealed" book for whichever island they pick a couple months ahead of time. Authors Doughty and Friedman. The best.

[Duckwater 0]

Just got back yesterday from Kauai with Dan Cook and Crazy Larry from Perris. It was AWESOME. Get this book:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0963942948/104-0778134-2433552?v=glance

We went on this crazy hike for 10 miles, 5 of it through knee deep mud and the rest through these abandoned tunnels that are EXTREMELY hard to find. The first one is a mile long and you see the other end as a pinprick of light when you go into it. This is not a hike for everyone.

The helicopter and Zodiac tours are a MUST.

Mike