Any Hawaii tips?

[adamak]

Thinking about a 1-week trip to Hawaii this June / July. Even though I loathe travelling in the summer (no kids), DH thinks it may be nice to brace the crowd and go somewhere.

Any tips? At this point, I haven't decided on when / where to stay. Would like to do both Maui & Oahu, but not sure if 7 nights is too rush. I think if we go, it'll be more of a deluxe trip, since we've been working so hard lately.

 

[ElizK]

I've been to Oahu 16 yrs ago for my honeymoon, and we (DH, DD11, DD8) went to Maui this last October. Honolulu is your basic large city, but on a beach. Lots of shopping there, and the beach is very nice. If you go around to the North Shore of Oahu it's much more natural and scenic. Very beautiful. We were there 3 nights, which was enough for us -- we did our honeymoon on a shoestring. Very short on money. Maui was nice. It wasn't as lush as we expected. We expected a lot more green. We did enjoy going up to the Haleakala crater, and the Iao state park was pretty, too. We did a snorkel cruise (that I got horribly seasick on.... but that's another story...). The snorkeling was not great, but when we headed back a pod of dolphins followed us! It was the coolest thing ever! We were in Maui for 4 nts. I wanted to go to the island of Kauai, but we didn't make it there. I'm not sure if I've helped or not. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

Ps... I think doing both islands in 7 days would be fine, not too rushed at all.

 

[parmstrong]

We're thinking of Hawaii too...maybe June, July or August. Also, two islands in 7 days, but the airfare is so high!!! Have you even looked into it??? And we're from CA so it should be better, but it's not.

 

[adamak]

No kidding about the airfare! Plus it's a whole day travelling from NYC. That's why I'm still deciding if I should. Carribean would be closer to us, but the airfare is not that much cheaper. Hotels are very expensive too.

Maybe I should just sit home.

 

[niks81]

We honeymooned in Kauai It is a beautiful island, and in my opinion the most untouched of the Hawaiian islands. It's gorgeous--very lush!! Also, Kauai is not near as touristy as the other islands--this can be a good or bad thing depending on your party! The airfare is outrageous....I could have taken a nice long WDW trip with the airfare money alone LOL

Are you sure airfare to the Caribbean is as much? From what I've seen it seems to be lower. If you've never been to Hawaii, it is definitely worth visiting. It is really nice there, and the people are very friendly. Love the luau's and helicopter tours. But if you want my honest opinion....we thought the Caribbean was a better value for the money. That's not to say anything bad about Hawaii because we truly loved it....but the Caribbean is just as beautiful and more affordable. JMO!!!

The one thing I will say is that the beauty of Hawaii seems more "pure" than the beauty of the Caribbean But both are great....have a great getaway.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

We stayed at the Embassy in Maui. It was very nice. They did the breakfast outside overlooking the ocean! We are hoping to return to Maui in the next couple of years. There is a very nice luau, Paradise Cove or Lahaina. We did 2 but 1 was better than the other, so I'll see if DH remembers. I think the one in Lahaina was the good one which was in Maui. Hawaii is so beautiful and relaxing, enjoy your trip.

 

[4greatboys]

When we went 5 yrs ago I bought "The Idiots Guide to Hawaii". It had a lot of great tip and I found the 2 resorts we stayed at through the book. Booked them myself and got a decent rate. We stayed on Oahu--it was okay but mostly like a big city. Lots of buildings and such. The Polynesian Cultural Center is a great place to go.
We also stayed on the big island and loved it. We visited the Volcano which was really cool. Did lots of snorkeling and a luau. I cant wait to go back.
If you go to more than 1 island maybe a package deal is good too. Airfare between islands wasnt cheap and oddly enough I couldnt find boats that transported you from one island to the next.

 

[mbcary]

I went last April for my best friends wedding and it was beautiful. We stayed at The Outrigger Resort in Wailea (it is now owned by Marriott). I took a day trip to Oahu to see Pearl Harbor and other parts of Oahu. They have planned trips and it was really worth it. Maui was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

It was not a cheap trip since even the food is expensive. It is a lot like the prices at DisneyWorld. Although, I guess like Disney there are ways to eat cheaper.

I was there at the very end of April and the weather was gorgeous.

I'm not sure about the airfare as I used airmiles and flew first class. I would definitely recommend this if it is an option to you since the flights are so long.

Let me know if you decide to go and I will send you info on places to eat.

Melissa

 

[buzzlady]

Originally posted by adamak
No kidding about the airfare! Plus it's a whole day travelling from NYC. That's why I'm still deciding if I should. Carribean would be closer to us, but the airfare is not that much cheaper. Hotels are very expensive too.

Maybe I should just sit home.

Remember that you will gain about 6hrs going. So if you leave around 7:00 am from NY, you will arrive in HI at about 1:00 pm HI time. Coming home you will probably leave late afternoon (around 3:00 pm HI time) and arrive home in NY 9:00 am the next day. This is the way that it worked out for us when we went.

 

[adamak]

How long are boat trips from Oahu to Maui? Or should I only consider flying?

I have only been considering Turks & Caicos , or Nevis in Carribean. Flight there costs cost to $700. Hawaii is about the same. Though if I fly to HNL, I'd seriously consider flying business/ first. It's just way too long. But of course, I'll need to come up with money first.

 

[niks81]

Our flight was around 9 hours

I was nuts by the end. I'd read like four books LOL

But the beauty of the islands more than makes up for it Not sure about the boat trips....but its pretty affordable to fly to the other islands.

 

[mbcary]

I asked about boat trips from Oahu to Maui and was told there weren't any - you HAVE to fly. I really don't think the airfare between islands is that expensive, relatively speaking. My Oahu day trip tour including airfare was less than $200. I think it was around $150.

 

[beachbunny]

Currently, there is no boat/ferry service between the islands. You'll have to fly. It's a half-hour flight. lf you book on-line with either Aloha or Hawaiian, you may be able to book for as little as $59/each way.

On Oahu, try the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort. They have their own beach and fireworks every Friday evening. While on Oahu, visit Pearl Harbor and the Mighty MO., hike up Diamondhead, and go swimming with the fishes at Hanauma Bay (a wildlife sanctuary). Have Sunday brunch at Orchids (located at the Halekulani hotel) - it's a buffet and a bit pricey, but you won't reget it (it's on Waikiki beach and you'll have an awesome view of Diamondhead) - ask for a table on the lanai.

On Maui, I'd recommend any resort in the Wailea area - the two most luxurious are the Four Seasons and the Grand Wailea. Be sure to visit the Maui Aquarium and old Lahaina town. Have dinner at the Waterfront Restaurant (it's near the aquarium) - huge selection of seafood and a terrific wine list - and it's off the beaten track for tourists.

 

[catsrule]

I'm going May 21st and I can't wait. We are going to Oahu for 8 days as I want to see all the touristy stuff. We are renting a car so we can go see the more scenic parts.

 

[stemikger]

I went to Disney on my honeymoon. My sister went to Hawi. She loved it. When she was there (she took a helicopter over a volcano). I don't know why but I have no desire to go there. I'm sure if I went and saw it I would change my mind. If it was up to me I'd never go anywhere else but Disney. I love it that much and the airfare is not that bad.

Forget Europe, I'm going to Disney.

 

[tweety 12]

Loved Maui. Just beautiful. We stayed at the Aston Kaanapli Resorts. This is a condo/hotel property. Close to all the activities etc.. Located right on the beach. If you have the entertainment card, you can use that to get low rates on your room. We enjoyed having a 1 bedroom oceanview condo. Having a condo allows you to cook if you want. This way you can save on dining out. We always fixed breakfast in the morning. Nice to sit out on your lanai (balcony) and have breakfast while watching the sunrise. You'll love Hawaii. It's paradise!! I would love to go again. It's not cheap. The airfare will cost ya alone.
Now, if you want to visit the other islands you can take a 1 day tour over to see them. You can check with your hotel or a tour office. The flights are no more than 20 minutes to each island. We went to Honolulu/Oahu. Nothing special to me. Very city. We were glad we were staying in Maui.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have gone to Hawaii quite a few times. Our favorites are Kauai and the Big Island with Maui close behind. Kauai is the most old Hawaian and the most relaxing. The Big Island is similar, but not great if you are mostly into beaches. We aren't, so it is our favorite. Maui is a lot more commercial than the other two, and a bit more expensive. It is great for golf also! Oahu is mostly a big city, and we only use it for getting used to the time change each way. We usually start out with one night on Waikiki, then go on to our REAL destination island and return to Oahu for a couple nights before flying back home.

I would NOT do it for less than a 2 week trip. We did a 1 week trip the first time, and it was WAY Too short. It takes awhile to get used to the time change, and then you have that LOOOOONG flight! If I have to sit on a plane for 10-12 hours each way, I want to stay longer! Our last trip was just short of 3 weeks, and that was just about right.

 

[DawnCt]

Originally posted by mbcary
I asked about boat trips from Oahu to Maui and was told there weren't any - you HAVE to fly. I really don't think the airfare between islands is that expensive, relatively speaking. My Oahu day trip tour including airfare was less than $200. I think it was around $150.

The only ferry is between Maui and Molokai and perhaps Maui and Lanai. Consider when you plan two islands in the space of one week, that you will easily use up a half a day going from one island to another. Even though it is interisland, they still require a check in and security and there are fewer interisland flights. It used to be that if you missed one, there would be another in 30 minutes. That isn't the case any more. I think one week is a very short time from the east coast. We are going this summer for 15 nights will our DSs. We will spend 3 nights on Oahu, 5 on the Big Island (Kohala coast) and Ka'anapali on Maui. If you only have 7 days, consider either the Big Island or Maui. Both of those islands have a dry side and a wet side so if you want to see lush and tropical flora, it is there. The Big Island offers the most diversity in terms of flora and climate. The Kohala Coast has some lovely luxury resorts and the Hilo side has an active volcano.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

We're going in mid June. We're flying to Honolulu first for 5 days then on to Maui for another 5 days. The airfare is a killer! June must be a peak time because it is easily $200 more per person than some of the rates that I saw in the winter/early spring.

My MIL just got back from there about 2 weeks ago and brought us lots of brochures so we are planning out what we want to do. Pearl Harbor is a must see, along with Hanama (sp?) bay. I think we will drive around the island too and maybe check out the Dole plantation.

Haven't planned too much on Maui yet. Guess I better start figuring out what we are going to do soon

 

[DawnCt]

Originally posted by BriarfoxinWA

Haven't planned too much on Maui yet. Guess I better start figuring out what we are going to do soon

I love the Hana Hwy. Have breakfast at Charlies. If you want to know where all of the hippies of the 60's went, they are sittinga at the bar. We always stop on the mauka side and let the kids jump into the pools. Then we continue on to Waianapanapa State Park and the black sand beach. We usually turn around there because we have stayed too long. We have never actually made to it Hana. Also, Haleakala at sunrise is beautiful and cold. You don't need to spend $100 to ride down on the bikes. The car will do nicely. Stop at the Kula Lodge for breakfast on the way back.