Have you been to Hawaii?

[Connie of Trenton]

We are planning to visit my nephew in Hawaii next winter. He will be living in Oahu. He suggested we also visit Maui and Kuai while we are there. Anyone who could give me some good input about any of these islands-it would be appreciated?

 

[Pop Daddy]

I never been there but I like Magnum PI

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Nope!

 

[Feralpeg]

I was there about 20 years ago. I visited all 5 islands. They are each unique in their own way. Oahu is okay, but it Honolulu is just another big city. Pearl Harbor was cool.

Kuai is the most lush. There are some beautiful canyons with waterfalls. We took a helicopter tour and it was beautiful. It is pretty quiet. The fern grotto is neat.

The big island is of Hawaii is neat because it is the newest and it looks so different from the others. There are lots of lava flows. You can tell their age based on the color. The older ones are more red looking due to oxidation. Kiluaea (I don't know if that is the right spelling) is an active volcano.

Molakai is the island that very few people visit. It is small and very quiet. There are no cities there. There are a few tiny stores and a few hotels. It was very pretty, but kind of boring.

My favorite was Maui. The city of Lahaina (again probably not spelled correctly) was beautiful. Very layed back. Great shopping. Great beaches. You can go whale watching from there. Neat!

Hope this helps!

 

[Megan's Mom]

We went this March and it was wonderful. I would suggest that you do visit the Big Island. It is very laid back and relaxing and the weather/vegitation changes every few miles. we enjoyed Oahu that is where more of the touristy things are but the Big Island was also very enjoyable. If I ever go back I think I am staying.

 

[Dan Murphy]

What Feralpeg said. About 25 years ago for us. We enjoyed the big island, Hawaii the best, by far.

 

[*Fantasia*]

We were there 2 yrs ago in Maui. It's a beautiful island. It's very laid back and very quiet. We stayed at Kaanapali Shore just north of Lahaina. We stayed at the Marriott...very very nice resort. Of course we got a room- ocean front view! You can hear the waves and the coconut trees swaying. The Molakai island is just across from us. It was a beautiful view!! We did a dinner cruise in Lahaina. We rode the helicopter to Hana which is where all the waterfalls. We drove to Haleakala- the Mountain with craters. We visited the aquarium. We went to some local malls. And we also went to this place...I can't remember what it is called now. We did the luau at the #1 place it's called "Old Lahaina Luau." We enjoyed our time there.

I would like to travel to Oahu and visit Maui again.

 

[catsrule]

Leaving May 21 for Oahu. I started packing already.

 

[Alice28]

I have been to Hawaii 3 times...in 1984, 1991 (for 8 weeks), and 1997. Maui, then Kauai, then the Big Island of Hawaii. If I could go back to only one, I would go to Maui. Very diverse, lots to see, great beaches. The Big Island has some great tours and snorkeling, but at least on the Kona side (west) not a lot of great lounging beaches. Kauai I have a different attitude towards- it is very lush, very beautiful, but I spent 8 weeks there that were not very happy weeks. Perhaps if I visited it from a tourist's point of view I would have enjoyed it more (I was 19 years old and a nanny for a not very happy family...yuck....no car and they lived on a very remote part of the island).

So, my vote---Maui!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

From your signature line, it looks like you enjoy cruises. Why not book a cruise that leaves out of Honolulu and goes to all the islands? You could spend some time with your nephew either before or after. It's a great way to see Hawaii if you've never been before and allows the opportunity to decide which islands you would like to return to for a longer visit. My DH and I have been to Hawaii several times and just love it. There's just something about stepping out of the airport and feeling that balmy, tropical breeze that can't be duplicated.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have been to Hawaii several times. The last just 2 years abo this month. Our favorite island is the Big Island of Hawaii. Kaui is a close second followed by Maui, and lastly, Oahu. Definitly see more than Oahu. The long flight makes a longer trip necessary, in my book. I no longer go to Hawaii for less than 3 weeks at a time, and I only fly first class when I go there. It's just too long a flight, and my arthritis doesn't like siting in coach that long.

Oahu has so many historic places that are not to be missed, including not only the Arizona, but also the Bowfin, The Palace, and a wonderful museum that can take most of a day all by itself! It's also great to drive around the island and go to the north shore and see the surfers (in the right season) and the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Maui has lots of great sights, but is a bit commercial, so some of the charm that it used to have is now lost. Kaanapali Beach area north of Lahaina is the best place to stay here, and Haleakala crater and the road to Hana are not to be missed. If you are there from January to May, whale viewing boats are also good. It is also a great place to golf.

Hawaii (our personal favorite) retains a lot of the old Hawaiian culture, and has so much variety! The north side is where the huge Parker Ranch is, along with the beautiful town of Waimea (SP?). The Kohala coast is possiblly the best sunset watching anywhere! Volcanos National park is wonderful, and taking a flight in a helicopter or small plane around the active volcano is a must! The eastern side of the island has the most gorgeous water falls and lava coasta areas. Hilo is the flower capital of Hawaii and can be very quaint. Our prefered place to stay on Hawaii, is the Kailua/Kona area because it is central enough to make driving to the other areas easy, and there is a LOT of Polynesian history in that area, not to mention all the coffee plantations!

Kauai is also very old Hawaian, and has an ordinance against high rise buildings, so you can still see the beauty. It is called the Garden Isl, because it is the oldest and thus more green. Wildlife here is amazing, and there is great diversity in the weather on the various sides of the island. You can go from Wiamea Canyon with lots of rain and lush valleys to a desert at the bottom! We prefer staying on the north side of this island, in Princeville or Hanalei. Hiking is really fun here too!

Have a fun trip!

 

[WDWLVR]

Went to Hawaii many years ago before getting married. Did Oahu and Kauai. DH and I have been talking about going and are waiting for NCL to launch The Pride of America. That ship is supposed to do 4 day cruises to the islands and would still leave us a couple of days on Oahu to do that. I guess there has been a problem with the ship in the shipyard so our 2005 plans for Hawaii have moved back to 2006.

For someone wanting to do a 7 day cruise the new Pride of Aloha will be sailing full time starting this July. Much nicer than the old cruises that used to have to spend part of the time going to Fanning Island.

 

[GailT]

I flew over it when I went to Australia, does that count?

 

[KrnB]

We went to Kauai for our honeymoon (it will be one year ago in two weeks, wow, that went fast!). I would recommend it in a heartbeat - I can't wait to go back!

We rented a jeep and drove everywhere on the island to explore. We also went on helicopter tour, a luau at Smith's Tropical Paradise, Fern Grotto, horseback riding, snorkeling on a catamaran tour.

The highlight for me was watching the sunset on Polihale Beach, which is a secluded beach about 5 miles off the southern end of the road (the main highway is a backwards C). The jeep definitely came in handy getting there and back, and the view was breathtaking.

 

[loisg1]

DH and I lived there for one year (1973-'74) when we were first married. We were stationed at Pearl. Would have loved to have taken in the other islands, but our three year stay was cut short due to my medical issues. It was so beautiful and there is so much there besides just Honolulu.

Have a wonderful time!
Lois