Just back from Hawaii.

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by shortbun
I can just smell the lava reading your post! If Kilauea is still
erupting next time you go, I highly recommend a helicopter tour
over the caldera! It's amazing!
[/QUOTE

When we were on the BI in 1998, an FAA inspector told us that they had grounded all of the tour helicoptors for failure to consistantly maintain the helicoptors and maintain records the year before. The girl in that worked concierge told us that her father, who is in law enforcement on Kauai has to fly helicoptors but doesn't feel they are safe in the islands due to the up and down drafts and shifting winds. Given the crash record of tour helicoptors and the ones that go down abruptly that do not get recorded, I will stick to fixed wing planes. Thanks any way.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

Sounds like you had a great trip! I'm also fascinated by Molokai and the saga of the lepers. you described it so well.

I also love Mauna Kea with the huge observatory. I've got to go there next time!

Put up your pics, okay!

 

[skiwee1]

Sounds like a wonderful trip! We went on our 10th anniversary and loved it. Of course that was over 8 years ago and I'd love to take the kids next time. Your report brought back great memories!!

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by aprincessmom
Hi Dawn...

I kept wondering if we'd run into you since we were there at the same time. Did your sons go surfing on Maui? We ended up taking the Pacific Whale Foundation snorkel trip to Molokini and then over to Lanai and it was fabulous!

Welcome back to reality

My DS did rent a surf board for one day. The waves weren't that good and he could have used a lesson just to improve his skills but he's 16 and he still knows everything. I had a little incident with the board. I was fastening the leash and a wave shoved the board back, causing the keel to strike the instep of my right foot resulting in a short, but deep laceration. The "fat" was sticking out. Only my DS was around when I did it so I walked up the beach to the Westin, (it was the closest), rinsed it out and they had a first aider there who bandaged it and recommended sutures. By the time I walked back to our room at the Marriott, through ocean, sand, dirt, DH and I decided that stitching it up wouldn't be the best thing. He bought steri strips, tincture of benzoine and bandaides and I am healed. I was glad it was on the next to last day. I tried going in the pool with a plastic bag but it didn't work well.

 

[aprincessmom]

was fastening the leash and a wave shoved the board back, causing the keel to strike the instep of my right foot resulting in a short, but deep laceration.

YOUCH!!!

DD and I had booked private lessons but the area they were being held at was just wild and filled with some real hot doggers who were just learning so it was pretty scary. We went down the day before to check it out and she felt really uncertain (she's 8) so I figured we should just cancel. We did and they couldn't have been nicer about it.

Ended up going to Big Makena that day and body surfing...I still have the scrapes to prove it but it was awesome!!!

After being there I can understand why you love it so. We have already begun planning our next trip back...looking to Maui and Lanai this next time.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Aloha! Glad you had a wonderful time in Hawaii. I enjoyed your trip report, mahalo.

I've been to Maui a couple of times. It is a beautiful Island. I say, it is defintely made for honeymooners! It is so romantic and very peaceful and very relaxing.

We stayed at Mariott in Kaanapali, is that where you stayed? We had the ocean front. It was just gorgeous. I don't think I would have it any other way, I think it's the only way, it's worth every penny.

I would love to go back to Maui and also visit the other Islands, especially O'ahu.

 

[Sandy V.]

Dawn, it sounds like you had a wonderful trip. Thanks for the report - I'm so jealous. I haven't been to Hawaii in 21 years (honeymoon) and I want to go back RIGHT NOW!

By the way, did your kids survive the flight in coach while you lived it up in first class?

 

[shortbun]

Originally posted by DawnCt1

Originally posted by shortbun
I can just smell the lava reading your post! If Kilauea is still
erupting next time you go, I highly recommend a helicopter tour
over the caldera! It's amazing!
[/QUOTE

When we were on the BI in 1998, an FAA inspector told us that they had grounded all of the tour helicoptors for failure to consistantly maintain the helicoptors and maintain records the year before. The girl in that worked concierge told us that her father, who is in law enforcement on Kauai has to fly helicoptors but doesn't feel they are safe in the islands due to the up and down drafts and shifting winds. Given the crash record of tour helicoptors and the ones that go down abruptly that do not get recorded, I will stick to fixed wing planes. Thanks any way.

We flew in 86 with the owner of Mauna Kea Helicopters. At that
time, the pilots were all ex Vietnam rescue pilots and very experienced in all types of weather and conditions. I'm not sure
about their record keeping abilities though! I didn't realize
there had been lots of crashes there recently. There were flightseeing volcano tours in fixed wing when I was there last-
are they grounded too? Too bad about the helicopters-hovering
over the cauldera was an experience I shall never forget.

 

[Jeafl]

Dawn, how far in advance did you trade your miles in for the interisland flights? We just used up 175,000 miles on the 5 free tickets to Maui, and we only have about 45,000 miles left. I would like to wait until we have at leasts 50,000 so we can get the 5 free flights from Maui to the Big Island, but I don't know how long we should wait. We've never done this before, so I'm not sure how it all works. Also, where did you book those flights? On the airline's website, or did you call?

I was pleasantly surprised to find how easy it was to book all 5 of us on the same non-stop flight to Maui with our miles. I was prepared for a hassle, but for whatever reason, it was a breeze.

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by *Fantasia*
Aloha!
We stayed at Mariott in Kaanapali, is that where you stayed? We had the ocean front. It was just gorgeous. I don't think I would have it any other way, I think it's the only way, it's worth every penny.

I would love to go back to Maui and also visit the other Islands, especially O'ahu.

We did stay at the same Marriott. I couldn't have been happier with the hotel and the room. Big improvements there since our stay in 1998. In 2001 we stayed at the Marriott Outrigger in Wailea. Another good choice.

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by shortbun
I didn't realize
there had been lots of crashes there recently. There were flightseeing volcano tours in fixed wing when I was there last-
are they grounded too? Too bad about the helicopters-hovering
over the cauldera was an experience I shall never forget.

Hi Shortbun, Nothing is grounded at this time, but the record over the years is not good. Lots of crashes in all of the islands. Someone posted a long list on fodors. I remember an entire family perishing on Maui, on Kaui and a very rough landing in recent months on the Big Island.

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by shortbun
I didn't realize
there had been lots of crashes there recently. There were flightseeing volcano tours in fixed wing when I was there last-
are they grounded too? Too bad about the helicopters-hovering
over the cauldera was an experience I shall never forget.

Hi Shortbun, Nothing is grounded at this time, but the record over the years is not good. Lots of crashes in all of the islands. Someone posted a long list on fodors. I remember an entire family perishing on Maui, on Kaui and a very rough landing in recent months on the Big Island.

 

[DawnCt1]

[

 

[DawnCt1]

[triple posts for some reason

 

[mommytotwo]

Originally posted by Hillbeans
Wow....I keep bugging my DH to go to Hawaii, and i've even set up a "hawaii" fund so we can go on our 10th anniversary.

Would you recommend going with smaller children (not babies)?

Coming from someone who lives here on the Big Island, I think that Hawaii is a great family vacation spot. There are lots of ocean activities, many of the hotels have some type of childcare program or babysitting program if mommy and daddy wants to go out to dinner or around the island, and you can bring your kids anywhere you go to, not like Las Vegas.

 

[Galahad]

Welcome Back! Let's see some pics!

 

[*Fantasia*]

Originally posted by mommytotwo
Coming from someone who lives here on the Big Island, I think that Hawaii is a great family vacation spot. There are lots of ocean activities, many of the hotels have some type of childcare program or babysitting program if mommy and daddy wants to go out to dinner or around the island, and you can bring your kids anywhere you go to, not like Las Vegas.

Nov 2002, I was at Mariott Kaanapali...Just exotically beautiful! And yes, they did a multi million renovation on this resort, so I heard from the workers there. The pool is just unbelievable.

Dec/Jan 2003, I brought my children with me and we stayed at Anston Kaanapali Shores, it's a time share condos. I let my children stay at the Kid's Club. They had a nice time. They made leis and also made a key chains out of beads and they played. They fed them. This lady was great, took great care of my kids.
There's enough things to do and things to see for the kids. We all enjoyed our trip.

 

[mommytotwo]

I used to work at a hotel kids camp, and we had all kinds of activities for the kids-they all have alot of fun, and it's a safe place to bring your kids.

 

[RAZ24]

Dawn-we also just got back. I already want to plan another stay.

For the person who asked about small children, there were many little ones. I was amazed at how many young families make this trip.

My family loved the 38 mile bike ride down the volcano on Maui. They left our hotel at 2am to go on this tour with "Tomas". My 14 year old daughter talked about him the entire trip. They watched the sunrise and Tomas gave a great history of the island. Me and my youngest stayed behind for that one.

If you've never snorkled before, and I hadn't, the hotel next to the Ritz in Kapalua (it's a starwoodI know that much) was a lot of fun. Brother in Law says the boats that you go on to snorkle often come to that hotels water area.

If you can stay at a hotel that offers club level that worked out for my always hungry 17 year old son, 14 dd, 6 dd. They provided continental breakfast, a lunch of sorts, apetizers and cocktails, and finally dessert. Sometimes we were to full to eat dinner out. Dinners were very expensive for us.

Front street was a good time. Lots of stores and restaurants. We ate at a Japanese style restaurant and saw "Tapanga" sp.? from Boy meets world. That was huge for our teenagers.

Stayed on the Big Island totally different scenery in Kona then Kapalua. Lots of Lava.

Did the park, the botanical gardens, and the waterfalls that Dawn mentioned.

Young DD swam with the dolphins at the hotel that Dawn stayed at, I believe. That hotel is Huge. The waterfall on the way to the dolphin area was very cool. The children swim with the dolphins for a bout 20 minutes. The hour before, they make a craft and talk about other animals that live in the ocean. They took the cutest picture of DD with a dolphin.

Can you tell that we truly enjoyed our stay as well?
Sorry to go on so long.

Christine

 

[DawnCt1]

Hi Christine, Glad you had a good time. The only way five or six of us get to Hawaii is with FF miles. I am well on my way to saving the miles for the next trip. I found out on Flyertalk.com that some targeted gold cards (Amex) were giving double miles. My DH has the gold rewards card and the double mile dates worked out perfectly for our vacation. We charged everything on his card. We love Front St. too. The DS's thought that the best buffalo wings were at Moose McGillicuddy's! We ate at Kobi's for Japanese and A Saigon Cafe in Wailuku. The place is so popular that the owner doesn't have a sign up with the name. You just have to find it. DH and I ate at Roys. I love Roys. Ka'anapali is a good location for us because they can walk to the Whaler Village or Johnny's Burger joint, etc for affordable meals. We love Leilani's on the Beach and the fish (ono) tacos.