Hawaii vacation ideas

[Steve BWV'99]

We have been both to Maul (Kapalua) and Kauai (Poipu) and both were excellent trips. Kapalua Bay Hotel was a beautiful resort but its not around any more and that part of Maui (NW) was very lush but can get some rain. Next time we would like to stay in Wailea where it's more dry. The weather differences in the different parts of the island is pretty amazing. I found Kannapali a little to busy for our tastes but there are lots of activities and hotels to choose from.

Our next trip we will be going to Maui again and like others have mentioned above, we have no desire to go to Oahu other than maybe a day trip to see Pearl Harbor, etc.

 

[ccdoster]

If you have questions about the big island - let me know! I just returned last weekend from 10 days there (with 16 teenagers!) Do keep in mind that the big island is mainly lava rock - so not many of the white sand beaches you think of However, there is still plenty to do!!

I would love to hear more. We are going to Kona in November for about 9 days. We rented a condo for the first week and then are going to the Hilton the last 2 so that the kids can do the Dolphin Quest. My kids are 7 and 5...any suggestions would be great.

 

[punkin]

I remember when you were planning this trip - you had just scored a great deal on airfare. Can you share more details with us? Best places you ate, where you stayed, etc? We plan to go in 2012 when the DVC resort at Ko'Olina is open. Thanks!

We tried to do this budget so not a whole lot of high end places as far as food. We frequented a lot of Ramen shops, Genki Sushi, and chinatown plate lunch places. You really can't go wrong. There are shrimp trucks on the north shore which are great (and cheap). In Haleiwa we went to Kua 'Aina (sandwiches and burgers) which was really good but probably a million calories. Our "hotels" really condos had kitchens so we ate in a lot.

We had breakfast at "Duke's" once which is right on the beach and priced accordingly.

In Oahu we stayed at the Aston Waikiki Banyan which was fine for the price, and in a good location near Kuhio beach, but it was dated, small and I would not generally recommend it unless you were really tight on budget.

On the big Island we stayed at Aston Waikoloa Colony Villas and that was really fabulous. We also stayed for 2 days near Volcano in a private house (really bungalow but very nice) that we got off VRBO.

HTH.

 

[Tiana]

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[cheerky]

Ko Olina is absolutely beautiful!!! The lagoons are beautiful and you can swim there. Many of the beaches in Hawaii have lots of coral and the swimming isn't that great. Ko Olina has prestine beaches and grassy areas to sit and relax. I was just there last month. The disney resort is coming along nicely... it will be fabulous when it opens!!!

We spent the night at Turtle Bay Resort. The resort is lovely but it is WINDY! VERY WINDY!

If you go to the North Shore on Oahu, may I suggest eating at Opal's Thai Truck. Opals is parked in a lot with the shrimp trucks. The food is absolutely delicious and about $8 a plate.

The swap meet at Aloha Stadium was fun. Tons of vendors, lots of stuff, inexpensive... great place to buy souveniers.

My advice is to really watch the airfare. I watched for about 6-8 months before I bought tickets. We ended up paying $525 rt from Charlotte, NC to Honolulu (1 stop) for travel in June.

Lastly, if you are military, the ITR at Schoffield Barracks is wonderful. We were visiting family stationed there.

Have a great time...Aloha!

 

[bmb3]

I would love to hear more. We are going to Kona in November for about 9 days. We rented a condo for the first week and then are going to the Hilton the last 2 so that the kids can do the Dolphin Quest. My kids are 7 and 5...any suggestions would be great.

We stayed in both Hilo and Kona...and liked Kona MUCH better! There is a main drag along the ocean that has a ton of souvenier shops and restaurants!

As for activities, here is what we did:

- Bicycle tour of National Volcanoes Park, Place of Refuge & Wiamea Valley
- Imiloa Astronomy Center (it has exhibits relating to astronomy and Hawaiian culture, they also have a garden tour that explains the Hawaiian plants and uses, and a planetarium show)
- University of Hawaii-Hilo (having high schoolers with us, we took advantage of touring a college campus!)
- Akaka Falls (a large waterfall on the Hilo side)
- Hapuna Beach (a beach in which they had white sand imported in - it has lifeguards as well)
- NELHA (a natural energy lab where they explain the renewable sources of energy they are trying to create using water, solar, and even waste!)
- Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation (toured an organic Kona coffee plantation)
- Fair Winds Snorkel Cruise (a boat takes you to a calm bay to snorkel, and it includes breakfast and lunch!)
- Royal Kona Luau (we stayed at Royal Kona, and the luau was yummy and entertaining)
- Mauna Kea Visitors Center (an EXCELLENT place to stargaze - 9200 feet on Maunea Kea!)

If you have any other questions, let me know!

 

[Halloweenqueen]

We just got back from Hawaii this morning! We spent 9 days on Oahu. We only went into Honolulu/Waikiki for one day to see Pearl Harbor and the aquarium. Oahu is beautiful, with plenty to do for families. We rented a house for 4 days in the North Shore. The weather was perfect. Great snorkeling at Shark's Cove and Three Tables. Delicious meals in Haleiwa...yes Opal Thai is the BEST! The beaches there are very calm in the summer. Remember the time of year is imporant.

We then spent the rest of our vacation on the windward side, in Lanikai. PARADISE!

We went for the afternoon to Ko Olina to check out the area and the new Disney resort....a very pretty area.

Oahu is beautiful. Most of the activiites we did were free. I highly recommend a video blog called Wayde's World's Poor Man's Guide to Hawaii. He highlights many wonderful beaches, hikes, and attractions in Oahu.


http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=WAYDESWORLDHAWAII#g/u

 

[disneygirl1971]

Thanks again for all the great ideas! It's so nice to hear all of the different things everyone has done in Hawaii. I guess my one question for everyone would be is what is the one thing/place you were most glad you did/visited while there or would absolutely do again?

 

[rparmfamily]

Any questions, let me know! I'm on O'ahu, lots to do here, though it is very populated, nearly 1 million people on a TINY island!

 

[winnyis]

I went to Kauai and Maui for my honeymoon, and our 2 favorite activities were also the cheapest, to be honest... #1. We took surfing lessons in Maui, which was a blast! I think it cost $25 each for a 2 hour lesson. The taught us how to get up, ride the wave and everything, it was terrific. #2. We grabbed a local "Plate Lunch" for dinner and split it on the beach watching the sunset. The local meals are HUGE and only about $8-10 per meal, which is easily split by 2 people. Any beach town will have plenty of these places to choose from. My favorite meal is the chicken lau lau... give it a try!

Have a blast!

Wow thats a great deal for surfing lessons. I paid over $300 for my husband and kids to learn with Hawaiian Fire.

 

[winnyis]

Thanks again for all the great ideas! It's so nice to hear all of the different things everyone has done in Hawaii. I guess my one question for everyone would be is what is the one thing/place you were most glad you did/visited while there or would absolutely do again?

My husband and kids would vote for surfing lessons as their favorite. We really enjoyed everything we did (OK well hiking Diamond Head was definately not my favorite- LOL).

 

[daughtersrus]

Thanks again for all the great ideas! It's so nice to hear all of the different things everyone has done in Hawaii. I guess my one question for everyone would be is what is the one thing/place you were most glad you did/visited while there or would absolutely do again?

DD would vote for surf lesson as well. I did a lot of research before going and the prices were all over the place. She ended up taking a lesson right on Waikiki Beach from Star Beach Boys. The lesson was $40 + $5 for a board shirt. She could rent the board for $5/hour after the lesson.

Another high point of the trip was snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. Again, it was pretty cheap. $1.00 per car and $7.50 each to get in. They rent snorkel gear there. It was $9.00 for a mask and fins but you can bring your own it you'd like.

The view was UNBELIEVABLE! If you go, you have to get there early and don't leave ANYTHING in your car. We got there are 7:30 and left by 10:30 (it was our last full day and we wanted to drive up to the North Shore). They had already closed the lot because it was full and there had to be over 100 people in line at the ticket window. You have to watch a short video before you're allowed to go to the beach.

We also enjoyed seeing the sea turtles come up on shore at Laniakea Beach on the North Shore.

 

[Justsyd2]

I lived on Oahu for a year. It is beautiful, and there is plenty to do! My DH has never been, and we are planning a trip for 2012. Here's what we are doing - taking a cruise that stops at all of the Islands! We get to see each Island, we don't have to fly between Islands and/or unpack, our meals are pre-paid, and it will be paid for when we get there, plus it's less expensive!