Anyone have any ideas on how to do Hawaii on a strict budget?

[Skatermom23]

Woo Hoo! I am going to Ohau Jan. 10th ! to see dd and new grandaughter!
I might be boring you all with some baby photos!!!

Have a wonderful time!!!

 

[Longsx3]

Woo Hoo! I am going to Ohau Jan. 10th ! to see dd and new grandaughter!
I might be boring you all with some baby photos!!!

Can't wait to see you, PM me with your flight time because I might be at the Airport at the same time.

 

[DMRick]

We went in September..I was in this thread somewhere. We did a Norwegian cruise, and loved, loved, loved it. We got to go to several Islands..we just went to bed at night, and woke up with our "hotel" there LOL! We rented cars at three islands (very inexpensive) and took a couple of the ships tours (like the Road to Hana and a snorkeling trip). We spent a couple days in Waikiki Beach, and our night after the cruise..and took the car all over the place in Honolulu. We saw so much, that we feel it's one of the few places we won't have to come back..we've seen and done all we wish too. The ship was very inexpensive, as was our airfare..free! thanks to SW rewards (we sold our awards for mega bucks on ebay (well, we sold a shirt and gave away the awards) and used it to buy ding rates on SW, and then used the left over to buy seats on ATA..which gave us so many reward points, since they just combined with SW, after our next trip this week, we'll have 2 more free awards to sell!

 

[Hermosa11]

We went in September..I was in this thread somewhere. We did a Norwegian cruise, and loved, loved, loved it. We got to go to several Islands..we just went to bed at night, and woke up with our "hotel" there LOL! We rented cars at three islands (very inexpensive) and took a couple of the ships tours (like the Road to Hana and a snorkeling trip). We spent a couple days in Waikiki Beach, and our night after the cruise..and took the car all over the place in Honolulu. We saw so much, that we feel it's one of the few places we won't have to come back..we've seen and done all we wish too. The ship was very inexpensive, as was our airfare..free! thanks to SW rewards (we sold our awards for mega bucks on ebay (well, we sold a shirt and gave away the awards) and used it to buy ding rates on SW, and then used the left over to buy seats on ATA..which gave us so many reward points, since they just combined with SW, after our next trip this week, we'll have 2 more free awards to sell!

Cool! Sounds like you had a fabulous time! -good planning, etc.

 

[trip]

Hi Everyone we are headed to Hawaii in Jan for 12 days of relaxation and fun!

Here is what we have planned so far:

We will be staying at the Hale Koa and renting a car.

Day 1; Sounds crazy but I have a dental appt and and a hair cut scheduled, we live on Okinawa. Shopping!
Food ?

Day 2: We will either do the wild thing reef adventures or Mokulua Kayak tour
Food?

Day 3: Probably Hanauma Bay , My Dad & GF arrive at 450pm
Dinner at Duke's

Day 4: A drive to Punch Bowl Cemetery Maybe a Duck tour and Some shopping at Pearl Harbor for my Dad. Photography on the beach at 430.
Food: Dinner at Sam Choy's

Day 5: Brunch at the Hale Koa then a drive to the Dole Pinapple Plantation then we will head to the North Shore and hopeully see the suneset.
Food: Dinner Haleiwa Joe's

Day 6: PCC in the morning, Pool time in the afternoon. Hale Koa Lua for Dinner

Day 7: DH will have a conference to attend, DD will Surf, Dad and GF will go to Pearl Harbor and I will relax.
Food: Dinner at Oceanarium

Day8: DH will attend conference, DD has Day 2 of surf lessons, and the rest of us may go to the Botanical Gardens.
Food ?

Day 9: DH will work again and everyone else may go for a drive up to Diamond Head and show Dad & GF Hanauma Bay.
Food?

Day 10: Shopping, Dad & GF Leave today. DH works.
Food?

Day 11: DH, DD and I will fly Aloha Air to the Big Island. Our goals is to see the Volcano and Black Sand Beaches. We arrive back in Oahu at 8pm
Food: Kens for Bk and Cafe Pesto for Dinner

Day 12: Fly Back to Okinawa!

Opinions Please!

Your trip sounds wonderful. We spent 6 months in Waikiki and can't wait to go back. The only suggestions I can make are to make the RSVP's for the Hale Koa luau and Oceanarium as soon as possible. Table placement for both are based on when the RSVP's are made.

The front row tables at the luau are best but don't have a cover over them so you do take a chance weather-wise. Great value for the money!

Half of fun at the Oceanarium is sitting next to the fish so be sure and book early.

 

[DW mouser]

I am soooo glad that I found this thread again!! I need to go back and read it all again since it's been awhile since I've seen it. I may be planning a trip to Hawaii this year!!! This thread will help a lot!!

For those of you that have done NCL, which ship where you on? I've heard Pride of America is the best. Just wondered if that was because it was the newest? Pride of Aloha is the less expensive.

 

[dvcnewgirl]

deleted

 

[DMRick]

We were on Pride of Hawaii, which was the newest when we went on it. We had started with PoA and switched midway in the planning.
I still can't get over their wonderful prices. Our room was very nice..had a fridge, so we brought on our own soda. The entertainment was nice, although we were so tired from touring, we usually fell asleep.

Just as a fyi, there is no casino, which didn't bother me at all.

For those of you that have done NCL, which ship where you on? I've heard Pride of America is the best. Just wondered if that was because it was the newest? Pride of Aloha is the less expensive.

 

[Longsx3]

Your trip sounds wonderful. We spent 6 months in Waikiki and can't wait to go back. The only suggestions I can make are to make the RSVP's for the Hale Koa luau and Oceanarium as soon as possible. Table placement for both are based on when the RSVP's are made.

The front row tables at the luau are best but don't have a cover over them so you do take a chance weather-wise. Great value for the money!

Half of fun at the Oceanarium is sitting next to the fish so be sure and book early.

Thanks for the advice, at the urging of other we decided to do Paradise Cove instead of Hale Koa...we are getting Deluxe Seats so I hope it is worht it.

When I called for our Oceanarium reservation they guaranteed me an aquarium seat for booking at 5pm, which works because I also have a 25% off coupon before 6.

I am so excited only a week until we leave!!

For those of you that have done the NCL cruises, I really wanted to do one this trip but with DH gone most of December he could not take enough leave but I definitely plan on doing one...maybe January of 2008.

 

[rparmfamily]

Just wanted to add we move to O'ahu in about 5 weeks...so excited!

 

[klfrech]

Glad to see this thread again! Planning a trip for July 07 from the East Coast. Has anyone ever flown into LAX and spent a few days than continued onto Hawaii? I would love to know if this is reasonable thing to do.

 

[Skatermom23]

Glad to see this thread again! Planning a trip for July 07 from the East Coast. Has anyone ever flown into LAX and spent a few days than continued onto Hawaii? I would love to know if this is reasonable thing to do.

Well not quite, but we did fly from Virginia to Phoenix and spent a day before going on to Honolulu. It did make the time adjustment easier.

 

[DMRick]

We flew into Oakland and spent a few days San Francisco area. We rented a car and went to Sacramento, Monterey, and Yosemite and stayed in very reasonable hotels. Then onto Honolulu, where we stayed several days.
Doris

 

[lucky1]

I love the Hilton on the big island of Hawaii but I understand it looks better when you do not stay there. I have heard complaints from people who have stayed there. Any thoughts? I need hotels with lots for the kids to do including cool pools. It will be my 50th birthday and also my wedding anniversary so I would like it to be somewhat special even though I have kids with me.

I will give my thoughts on the Hilton on the Big Island. We hated it. We had spent 5 nights at the outrigger down the street and while the room was not as plush, it just felt more hawaiian. When we moved over to the Hilton, we got a big Shock, everything cost extra. Parking, Access to the fitness room, breakfast and it was very crowded. There wasn't a good Beach there like at the outrigger, but there are enough pools to keep you happy. The resturants at the Hilton were very expensive. It is a very big resort and just did not feel like a relaxing vactions. For kids this might be great, with the monorail, boats, dolphins and the pools, but you pay for everything else.

 

[monorailsilver]

Glad to see this thread again! Planning a trip for July 07 from the East Coast. Has anyone ever flown into LAX and spent a few days than continued onto Hawaii? I would love to know if this is reasonable thing to do.

We flew from the east coast in 2000 for our Honeymoon.

We didn't make a pit stop though we just wanted to get there.

We flew from Hartford to Atlanta & then from there it was direct to Honolulu & then the reverse we went from Maui to Honolulu to Atlanta & then Hartford.

They were both long days & I am glad we got them over & didn't stop on the way out or back.

Also if you stop for a few days, the airfare may be more since you'd be stopping & then starting back up again.

I wish I lived closer so I could go more often or should I say again but I don't.

 

[Hermosa11]

Hey everyone! I am looking for the right photo to print for myself. Specifically, I am looking for a VERTICAL photo of general hawaiian life. Floral, ocean...scenery...etc. (no family members, please ) The group of Sr's. arriving at the hotel looked just too adorable to not grab a shot of.

Thanks!
Let's hope none of us hip DISER's look like this while in Hawaii (I am so mean, sorry).

 

[rparmfamily]

Bumping!

 

[rparmfamily]

Bumping for someone looking for info about Hawaii on a budget!

 

[rparmfamily]

adding that I live on O'ahu now so if anyone has any questions I might be able to help. We went to O'ahu in 2006 on vacation totally unaware the Navy would send us a year later LOL!

 

[Mi3stooges]

adding that I live on O'ahu now so if anyone has any questions I might be able to help. We went to O'ahu in 2006 on vacation totally unaware the Navy would send us a year later LOL!

I started reading this thread a long time ago. Actually it gave me the idea to go(last Feb '07)
Like you I didn't think I would be going back so fast, but my DD was picked to be in the NFL Pro-bowl half time show!!!
We just found out that we will be staying at the Waikiki Beach Marriott!!! I'll find out where my brother is staying (which is only about 7 blocks) and ask for some advice....thanks!!!