Hawaii vacation ideas

[disneygirl1971]

We are looking into the idea of a Hawaiian vacation/vow renewal for our 20th anniversary in 2012. Although this is far from a budget trip, does anyone have any ideas of the best places to even begin looking for trip ideas? When is the best/cheapest time of the year to go and the best places/things to do? Also the best deals for airlines. We don't want to break the bank but at the same time want to have a good time and get the most out of it since it will be a once in a lifetime trip. TIA!

 

[mrsklamc]

It depends what kind of Hawaiian vacation you are looking for. Do you want to see volcanos, or is the beach the big draw? Active outdoorspeople, or want to learn about history and culture? A specific island you want to see?

 

[soccerchick]

Expensive seasons are summer (family season) and winter/holidays (Nov. - Feb. - not sure of exact beginning and ending/rate change dates, but you should be able to ascertain these from looking at hotel rates, VRBO, and airfare).

Check out touring books from the library (Frommers, Ultimate Guides, DK etc) and check out TripAdvisor.

As far as ways to save money once there:

Beaches are free and you can take your snorkeling gear w/you. Hikes are free.

Costco and Walmart are on the islands, so you can get souvenirs, groceries and gas there. Eating out is expensive. Groceries are expensive.

You can do lots of expensive activities. Some will give you a discount if you book online and/or in advance. Prices we saw last month per person were: Surfing lessons- $50 on up, Windsurfing lessons - $75 and up, etc. Boat cruises - $100. Tubing and ziplining are popular on Kauai and are $100/person. You can rent kayaks and paddle surf boards more reasonably. We rented a paddle surf board for 2 hours for $20. Did another half day for $40.

 

[Tiana]

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[Tiana]

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[alyssa810]

My brothers and I took our mom to Maui for her 60th birthday. We also brought spouses, children, our dad, and my brother's in-laws. Making so many different "agendas" was quite a challenge, but we did manage to do some cool things.
One day, my DH and I took my parents to Pearl harbor; we spent the day there seeing sites, and the memorial. The rest of the time we stayed on Maui; mostly spending time apart LOL. We drove the road to hana (free!), we visited the Maui pineapple plantation (free-I think!), a vineyard (free!), Lahaina, and we drove to the top of the halekaleah crater (FREE, but my DH had altitude sickness!) so there is plenty of free and beautiful things to do. We did the luau at the hyatt- (not free ), and we had a fantastic meal at Ruth Chris, also not free.
We stayed at the westin Ka'anapali- it was very beautiful. We did snorkling right at the beach and got terrible sunburns but the water was amazing. The waves were incredible too. We have a starwood amex card, so we also had 5 of our 8 nights -wait for it- FREE! which helped with the budget.

 

[Gigi22]

If the OP lives on the east coast of continental US/Canada, simply flying to Hawaii can be a long trip. The time difference can take a while to adjust to as well. For those reasons, I think you need to spend at least 10 days in Hawaii to have enough time to explore and enjoy your vacation.
DH and I have been on a land vacation to Hawaii once--2 weeks, one week on Oahu, one on Maui. Had a great time. We took two cruises to Hawaii, with 5 stops each time.
Maui and Kauai are both incredibly beautiful.

 

[disneygirl1971]

Thanks for all the great ideas! Please keep them coming! We are in Illinois if that helps. The beach is a must, history and culture not so much. Just natural beauty, what you think of when you think of Hawaii...

 

[Green Tea]

Just natural beauty, what you think of when you think of Hawaii...

Kauai is your island then

 

[jstbcuz]

When we went for my mom and dads 40th anniversary, (7 of us) we flew to Oahu for a couple days and did Pearl Harbor one day, Punchbowl National Cemetary, and took a tour of the island which included things like the North Shore, Dole Plantation, etc.

Then we flew to Maui for the rest of the vacation. I think it was 7 days there. We got a place thru VRBO.com and stayed right on the beach at Lahaina (Stayed at Pu'amana). Some of the activities we did were: Ziplining, snorkeling, Hana Road, Luau. My favorite was the Road to Hana........free, but beautiful.........tho I have to admit it is very curvy, very slow, and I lost my lunch both ways which normally doesnt happen. Still the highlight of my trip.........beautiful waterfalls, and just lush green scenery.........stopped at Lindburghs grave, and hiked to Fagans Cross.

Have fun!!! My reccommedation is Maui.........I would love to try Kuaui but I know it is the rainy island, and I dont want that on my vacation. LOL

 

[TnTWalter]

Kauai and/or Big Island.

I'm leaning towards a 10-14 day trip to accomodate both islands.

We're also thinking of beginning or ending in Oahu so we can do Pearl Harbor, etc.

I"ve had many people tell me just to go to the Caribbean...flying from the midwest [Indiana here], you lose about 2 days flying. So part of me wonders if there's any truth to that. We have traveled to several Caribbean islands and the Mayan Riviera [my fave for affordable and easy to get to and around].

Trish

 

[bevgray]

No. In no way can the Caribbean compare to Hawaii in either the beauty of the islands or in the spirit of the place. Now, don't mistake me. The Caribbean has lovely beaches, warm aqua waters and a rich history. For a special anniversary, however, if you can manage the cost, Hawaii will just give you more.

Oahu is the primary economic island and, although it has a lot of history and beauty all its own, to get the magical tropical feel you really need to go to Kaui or Maui. Big Island (Hawaii) has its own beauty but, due to being the youngest of the major islands with an active volcano, it has a starkness to it in many locations.

 

[bmb3]

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!!

 

[daughtersrus]

Please, please, please don't make Oahu as the main destination for your once in a lifetime trip. Just a suggestion.

We lived in Hawaii for 3.5 years, on Oahu. I always felt SO bad for people who saved up for years, to make this "once in a lifetime" trip, and then spent the whole time on the most crowded and congested island.

We visited Kauai for our 1 yr. anniversary and it was absolutely WONDERFUL!!! It's everything that you expect Hawaii to be.... I've heard Maui and the big island are the same way. Not to say that Oahu is a dump, LOL, but it's..... just...... let's just say it's not like that idea that you have in your head that Hawaii will "be like". It's definitely worth visiting; Waikiki, Diamond Head, the North Shore, Ko Olina, Pearl Harbor, etc. are all nice places.... but it's not awe-inspiring paradise either. I only felt that way about Kauai....

Just my personal opinions, no flames please

I have agree with this. We spent a week on Oahu for my DD's Make-A-Wish trip. It was not all all what I expected. Don't get me wrong, we had a great time but the only place that we had "this is the most beautiful place in the world" thought was looking down on Hanauma Bay. Besides that, it was like a "little Chicago" on the ocean instead of Lake Michigan. We did enjoy the few hours we were able to snorkel, see the sea turtles on the North Shore and seeing Pearl Harbor was a huge hit for DH and my older DD. It just wasn't the relaxing beautiful paradise that you think of when you hear Hawaii.

MAW did offer for us to see more than 1 island but the logistics of it, just didn't work out. We would still have only had 5 days there (plus the day we got there and the day we left) so we would have wasted one packing, checking out of the hotel, returning the rental van, sitting at the airport, getting the new rental van and checking back in at a hotel. There was also a lot of specialized stuff that we needed for DD.

If I had it to do over, I would have asked if we could have extended our stay at our own expense so that we could have seen both.

Thanks for all the great ideas! Please keep them coming! We are in Illinois if that helps. The beach is a must, history and culture not so much. Just natural beauty, what you think of when you think of Hawaii...

Kauai and/or Big Island.

I'm leaning towards a 10-14 day trip to accomodate both islands.

We're also thinking of beginning or ending in Oahu so we can do Pearl Harbor, etc.

I"ve had many people tell me just to go to the Caribbean...flying from the midwest [Indiana here], you lose about 2 days flying. So part of me wonders if there's any truth to that. We have traveled to several Caribbean islands and the Mayan Riviera [my fave for affordable and easy to get to and around].

Trish

We're from IL. I will tell you that we had a horrible time adjusting our body clocks when we got back. The non-stop flight was just under 8 hours but there's also a 5 hour time difference. We left HI at 4 in the afternoon and landed at O'Hare at 5 am. I'm not kidding when I say that it took me over a week to where I was feeling normal again. I just couldn't get over loosing an entire night of sleep.

We had no problem adjusting when we were in HI. We left Chicago around 9 am and had a quick lay over in San Francisco landing in HI around 3 (which was 8pm our time). We ended up staying up to about 10pm (3am) but had no problem getting up.

As for budget, MAW planned and paid for our trip but we did get a breakdown. The flights were a little over $1,000 each, the dolphin encounter for DD was $500, the luau was $107 a person, the rental car was just under $400, parking at the hotel was $33/night, Pearl Harbor and the boat ride to the Arizona Memorial is free but we did pay $20 each for DH and the 2 older girls to take the tour of the MO. (I stayed at Pearl Harbor with DD as they said it would be difficult to get her wheelchair around). MAW gave us $2850 to spend while there for everything else (food, drinks, gas, tips, baggage fees...) I was afraid that it wasn't going to be enough money but it was. We actually ended up having about $1,000 left but we didn't eat at fancy restaurants. Most of the meals ended up being around $100 for a family of 5 so it wasn't too bad. We stayed at the Hyatt on Waikiki Beach. I'm not sure what the room charges were (they gave us 2 rooms) because it was all taken care of my MAW. Gas wasn't much more than it is here. I think that it was about $3.25 and at the time it was about $2.90 here.

Have a great time!

 

[winnyis]

We are looking into the idea of a Hawaiian vacation/vow renewal for our 20th anniversary in 2012. Although this is far from a budget trip, does anyone have any ideas of the best places to even begin looking for trip ideas? When is the best/cheapest time of the year to go and the best places/things to do? Also the best deals for airlines. We don't want to break the bank but at the same time want to have a good time and get the most out of it since it will be a once in a lifetime trip. TIA!

I am also planning my 20th anniversary trip to Hawaii in 2012. I was there for 10 days in April of this year and LOVED it. We went to Oahu and the Big Island so we could see the volcanos. I got great airfares in April over my kids spring break from school ($550 a person R/T from FL to Honolulu). I spent about 8K total for the of us. I got excellent hotel deals using priceline (105 a night beach front for a resort category - Hyatt Regency and Sheraton Waikiki) and rental cars for 15 a day so that allowed me to splurge on the other things. I also bought an entertainment book that had coupons for Pearl Harbor and the PCC and Dole Plantation.

My family really enjoyed Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Surfing Lessons, Polynesian Cultural Center, Driving to the North Shore. The volcano was really cool but I wouldnt go back.

Our next trip will likely be in July 2012 so that we can go for longer than just spring break. One bit of advice, if you can afford it or have the miles to do it - Upgrade to first class. Our flights, took almost 15 hours over 3 legs to get from Tampa to Honolulu and were packed so it was a bit uncomfortable on those long flights.

Enjoy!

 

[punkin]

I actually LOVED Waikiki and Oahu in general. There was lots to do and see. We really enjoyed walking around Chinatown, Pearl Harbor, Hanauma Bay, etc...The North Shore is gorgeous and you can stop at a different beach (each better than the next) every 10 miles or so.

We also did the Big Island. IMO, the best beach in the universe is Hapuna in Waicoloa. The volcano was also amazing, but if you are looking mostly for a beach vacation, I would probably skip this island.

We were there in late June, early July and had an absolute ball for 14 days. Jet lag coming back was just awful. It took almost a week to get back to some semblance of normal. My DH and DDs acclimated back in only 2-3 days.

 

[soccerchick]

When we went for my mom and dads 40th anniversary, (7 of us) we flew to Oahu for a couple days and did Pearl Harbor one day, Punchbowl National Cemetary, and took a tour of the island which included things like the North Shore, Dole Plantation, etc.

Then we flew to Maui for the rest of the vacation. I think it was 7 days there. We got a place thru VRBO.com and stayed right on the beach at Lahaina (Stayed at Pu'amana). Some of the activities we did were: Ziplining, snorkeling, Hana Road, Luau. My favorite was the Road to Hana........free, but beautiful.........tho I have to admit it is very curvy, very slow, and I lost my lunch both ways which normally doesnt happen. Still the highlight of my trip.........beautiful waterfalls, and just lush green scenery.........stopped at Lindburghs grave, and hiked to Fagans Cross.

Have fun!!! My reccommedation is Maui.........I would love to try Kuaui but I know it is the rainy island, and I dont want that on my vacation. LOL

Kauai is an amazing island and your bold statements are a misconception. The mountain in the middle of the island gets tons of rain. It supplies all the rivers throughout the island. The north shore (Hanalei, Princeville) is rainy in the winter. The south side is arid - you'll see cacti growing. In the summer, you'll get a passing shower, but it is unlikely that you'll get a full day of rain. In fact, you can probably just beach hop if it's raining where you are and find a sunny beach. The weather is crazy localized. If you stay in Poipu on the south side at any time, you'll get little if any rain.

Also in the winter, the north shore has dangerous surf. Hanalei is full of surfers. In the summer, it's pretty placid and Hanalei is full of boats.

If you stay in Poipu, you probably won't get any rain, no matter the time of year.

OP ~ there have been a lot of threads about Hawaii this summer -be sure to search for them for additional info.

 

[RodBelding]

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!

 

[mookie]

I've been to Hawaii 3 times....we are also from IL. Maui is (IMO) the best....you have the beauty but also plenty to do, and it is still layed back. I liked Kauai, but I didn't think there was as much to do there. I agree if you go to Kauai, Poipu is the place to be to insure it doesn't rain. We have biked down the volcano in Maui, drove the Road to Hana, layed by the beach and snorkled on Kaanapali beach, and went diving with turtles in Kiehi. We have done Wiamea Canyon in Kauai, as well as ziplining and the coastal tour. While it's nice...I still don't think Kauai has the diversity of things to do that Maui has. I think the beaches are nicer on Maui, and the restaurants and nightlife are waaay better. HOWEVER, my sister did get married on Kauai and had a beautiful reception at the Beach House in Poipu. It was really nice!

And I do agree with the other posters about Oahu...it's like a glorified Chicago. Not something I really wanted in a Hawaiian vacation.

As for flying...we've done both....straight thru and a layover in LA. Both take you a long time to get there, but it is kind of nice to get off the plane and stretch your legs for a bit. Have a great time!

 

[MEM]

I actually LOVED Waikiki and Oahu in general. There was lots to do and see. We really enjoyed walking around Chinatown, Pearl Harbor, Hanauma Bay, etc...The North Shore is gorgeous and you can stop at a different beach (each better than the next) every 10 miles or so.

We also did the Big Island. IMO, the best beach in the universe is Hapuna in Waicoloa. The volcano was also amazing, but if you are looking mostly for a beach vacation, I would probably skip this island.

We were there in late June, early July and had an absolute ball for 14 days. Jet lag coming back was just awful. It took almost a week to get back to some semblance of normal. My DH and DDs acclimated back in only 2-3 days.

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!