Hawaii Honeymoon Help Please!

[Dr.Cinderella]

Hi everyone! We are starting to make honeymoon plans, and so far we have decided that we are going to Hawaii for a week. Since we will be in Disney for a week as well I dont think we can take any longer in Hawaii. My parents are gifting us 3-4 nights in Oahu at a Disney's new resort- Aulani at Ko'Olina with their DVC points! So we were planning on spending the remaining nights closer to the Wakiki side of the island- we have been looking at the Kahala Resort, a luxury resort located 15 min outside of Wakiki. However, all the research we have been doing has been raving about Maui so now I am wondering if we should go there for the last 3 days instead? Since we will only be in Hawaii for a week so I am just not sure if it is worth the extra time and money to island hop and only spend 3-4 days on each island? If we did this, we would be on the opposite site of Wakiki our whole time in Oahu. We are looking to have a relaxing honeymoon, with some fun activities too- which is why we wanted to stay outside of crazy Wakiki in Oahu. We also just saw the movie "Just Go With It" and Maui looked amazing! I have read things about Maui being extremely expensive compared to the other island as well. Any suggestions from anyone who has been to or is planning on going to Hawaii? I am confusing myself! Thanks!

Marissa

 

[PrincessTinker11]

HI there!

I worked in Hawaii for two years (traveled there every three months from NJ!) and I LOVED it there!

It really depends on what you want to do...if you like doing the night club/bar scene then Oahu is where to be. Waikki beach is amazing, I stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village whenever i was there and you often see celebrities there

We usually snorkeled, went to bars and did daytime activities on Waikki beach. I never stopped over at Maui but the Big Island, Kona, was amazing as well. They have charter planes that can take you over for not too much. My fiance and I did a shore excursion on Oahu where a shuttle took us over to North Shore. We snorkeled with turtles, then wild dolphins and then tropical fish all for 100 each!

If you do go over to the Big Island they have a volcano that is currently erupting, it is AMAZING. I went with a local and actually walked on it, the heat coming up is out of this world. I would do the boat tour of that though, they take you out at like 2 AM and they take a boat over to see the lava flowing into the ocean. It makes this popping hissing noise and lighting in the ocean..OK enough I am missing Hawaii LOL

IF you have any questions PM me but I don't think you will be disappointed with Oahu!

 

[CastlePrincess]

Aloha! Yay for my hometown, Maui! I just PM'd you so feel free to get in touch.

 

[jimfaster]

Please do not make the mistake ever so-common to think all there is to see on Oahu is in Honolulu / Waikiki. At least you'll be staying at Ko Olina for a while, so you can see at least a second part of the island. Many tourists have literally no idea what this island really is because they have never set foot outside of Waikiki, and if they do, they will eat ice Motsumoto shave, take pictures Turtle Beach, and it is about it.

Maui is not a dog, but there's nothing really you can do that can not be done here. Stay in Waikiki, if you want to experience a pleasant location, but to go explore. Out of town and go to rent a kayak and paddle to Mokuluas in Lanikai Kailua (Google images ... you'll be convinced). Contact Kam Highway to windward, where you're always just a few meters from the beach is beautiful. See North Shore, is everything. Get experience in shrimp Kahuku 7 miles a miracle (to stretch all the famous beaches in Haleiwa), snorkel Shark's Cove (you can not bite, promise), weather permitting, to stop you shopping fun in town Haleiwa and good food, chill at Mokuleia / other non-tourist beaches in the country there. And this is only part of what I recommend.

 

[chris31997]

You can definatly split your trip in 2 and do half on Oahu and than do Maui. If you do that you won't really be able to see or do much. But like the PP said if you stay the whole week on Oahu you will have a chance to really explore it. There is so much to do here. There is a mac nut farm, there are the luaus(near Disney resort), the hikes, farms, and the historical places. Not to mention the diving and snorkeling.

 

[*Pixiedust1438*]

I posted in your PJ already, but I will agree with another poster on here to visit Lanikai Beach (In Oahu)! We are doing a day trip there, it is #1 beach in Hawaii on the travel channel, and it looks amazing! Here is a picture:

 

[TheRustyScupper]

From our many vacation and business trips to Hawaii:

1) I recommend Hawaii (aka, The Big Island) for the remainder of the trip.
2) Very diverse county has everything for a honeymoon
. . . good beaches on Kona Coast
. . . snow skiing
. . . surfing
. . . coffee farms
. . . rodeo
. . . paniolo (aka, real Hawaiian cowboys)
. . . volcanoes
. . . golf and tennis
. . . airplane and helicopter rides
. . . submarine rides
. . . bike tours
. . . botanica gardens
. . . observatory


3) In our opinion
. . . Hawaii - most varied scenery and environments, our favorite
. . . Kauai - gorgeous jungle/garden island, low key, our second favorite county
. . . Oahu - too much like visiting Miami Beach, but does have Pearl Harbor
. . . Maui - fun in Lahaina, nice winery, good mountain drive, beaches
. . . Lanai - two golf courses and little else, but very expensive
. . . Molokai - small ex-leper colony island, few visitors
. . . Niihau - no public visitors allowed

 

[chris31997]

From our many vacation and business trips to Hawaii:

1) I recommend Hawaii (aka, The Big Island) for the remainder of the trip.
2) Very diverse county has everything for a honeymoon
. . . good beaches on Kona Coast
. . . snow skiing
. . . surfing
. . . coffee farms
. . . rodeo
. . . paniolo (aka, real Hawaiian cowboys)
. . . volcanoes
. . . golf and tennis
. . . airplane and helicopter rides
. . . submarine rides
. . . bike tours
. . . botanica gardens
. . . observatory


3) In our opinion
. . . Hawaii - most varied scenery and environments, our favorite
. . . Kauai - gorgeous jungle/garden island, low key, our second favorite county
. . . Oahu - too much like visiting Miami Beach, but does have Pearl Harbor
. . . Maui - fun in Lahaina, nice winery, good mountain drive, beaches
. . . Lanai - two golf courses and little else, but very expensive
. . . Molokai - small ex-leper colony island, few visitors
. . . Niihau - no public visitors allowed

I like how you summed up the islands. Although, I woud disagree with Oahu, it depends on where you go. I live on the Windward side of that island and it is nothing like Miami. But I don't like going to the other side towards Honolulu/Wakikiki which is very much like Miami. Kauai is also my fav island, no so touristy in its feel. Each island is so differant and offers differant things and appeals to differant people.

 

[PrincessTinker11]

I like how you summed up the islands. Although, I woud disagree with Oahu, it depends on where you go. I live on the Windward side of that island and it is nothing like Miami. But I don't like going to the other side towards Honolulu/Wakikiki which is very much like Miami. Kauai is also my fav island, no so touristy in its feel. Each island is so differant and offers differant things and appeals to differant people.

I also think the Big Island is great but for a young couple it can get boring...if you are going for night life the Big Island is not that, Waikki is good for that...

Big Island has a more tourist feel in exploring, like going to the volcano and site seeing...When ever I took business trips there I was bored after 7 pm b/c everything seemed to shut down! Waikki had a longer night life...I want to do Maui the next time I go and back to Kona...

 

[pezaddict231]

We went to Oahu and the Big Island and we actually preferred Oahu. For a week, I really wouldn't Island Hop. I'd just pick one or the other. We spent a week on Oahu and still didn't really see a lot of what there was and could have spent both weeks there. We were also extremely jet lagged, and it took a few days for us to get used to the time change. I will say though, that the focus was really more on relaxing, so while I had a few things planned, I didn't plan the way I normally do for Disney.

Lanikai is amazing, and about a 20 minute drive from Waikiki, the drive is scenic so it's really not bad at all. Doesn't get much better than this!

 

[FlygirlHNL]

The Grand Wailea on Maui would be perfect for your honeymoon!

Have fun!

 

[lurkyloo]

I know this is an old thread, but we just did a vow renewal at Aulani, and I have a trip report going with information on all the stuff we saw and did on Oahu: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3068356

Plus tons and tons of photos!

 

[wiigirl]

Maui is so beautiful....hope you have the best time!