Kauai or the Big Island

[DawnCt1]

Thanks everyone!!

It's so hard to decide.

For everyone that says just two islands, what if the only reason we are going to Oahu is to see Pearl Harbor. We were only thinking two nights there and the rest of the days between two other islands. It does seem though that we should plan on a full 14 days.

I just hate to go all the way there and not see as many of the islands as possible. My dh and I may get back to Hawaii someday, but probably not until the kids are grown and on their own. There are so many places we want to take them, that we aren't ones that tend to go back to the same place twice.

I do appreciate all the advice and help. Anything anyone wants to add or say is greatly appreciated

We usually do not stay more than 2 or 3 nights on Oahu, so seeing Pearl Harbor, the Bowfin and the Missouri, maybe taking a hike up Diamond Head and then heading to Maui for 5 days, and the BI for the remainder should work out fine.

 

[NCRedding]

Now we are starting to wonder if we should do the Pride of America cruise for 7 days to get to all the islands, and then add on 5 or 6 days at one place for relaxation.

Any advice?

We did an NCL cruise around the islands several years ago, and loved it. Our itinerary called for far less in port time than the Pride of America. We sailed from Honolulu, went to Hilo, Kauia, Maui and Kona. We rented cars at each point and drove ourselves everywhere we wanted to see. We wanted to get a flavor of the islands, so that if we ever returned, we'd know which island we wanted to focus on.

After the cruise, we stayed a few days in Honolulu so we got to see Pearl Harbor, Diamondhead, the Polynesian Cultural center, etc.

My choices to go back would be Maui and/or Kauia.

 

[punkin]

Not to hijack the thread, but since I am going in two weeks, what do you guys think of the Polynesian Cultural Center?

 

[wvjules]

Not to hijack the thread, but since I am going in two weeks, what do you guys think of the Polynesian Cultural Center?

For the Luau or the whole day experience?

We did Geramaines for the Luau and it was awesome. I can't compare it to any other since it is the only one we did.

Have a great time! I'm jealous. 18 months until we go back. lol

 

[punkin]

For the Luau or the whole day experience?

We did Geramaines for the Luau and it was awesome. I can't compare it to any other since it is the only one we did.

Have a great time! I'm jealous. 18 months until we go back. lol

I don't know. What do you think is better? My girls don't want to go to any luau since they think it's "corny". They just want to lie on the beach and maybe take surfing lessons, but two weeks of nothing but beach will probably drive me bonkers. Right now I have planned on Oahu: Iolani Palace (do we need the guided tour or is an audio tour enough?), Pearl Harbor and Missouri. On Hawaii: coffee plantation tour and volcano.

My Disney Commando family wants to do absolutely nothing for two weeks and I am itching to plan.

 

[trip]

I don't know. What do you think is better? My girls don't want to go to any luau since they think it's "corny". They just want to lie on the beach and maybe take surfing lessons, but two weeks of nothing but beach will probably drive me bonkers. Right now I have planned on Oahu: Iolani Palace (do we need the guided tour or is an audio tour enough?), Pearl Harbor and Missouri. On Hawaii: coffee plantation tour and volcano.

My Disney Commando family wants to do absolutely nothing for two weeks and I am itching to plan.

Take the guided tour of the Iolani Palace - our guide was wonderful. Also, we liked the guided tour of the Missouri (they have different levels). If you tour the Bowfin the audio tour is great.

 

[wvjules]

I don't know. What do you think is better? My girls don't want to go to any luau since they think it's "corny". They just want to lie on the beach and maybe take surfing lessons, but two weeks of nothing but beach will probably drive me bonkers. Right now I have planned on Oahu: Iolani Palace (do we need the guided tour or is an audio tour enough?), Pearl Harbor and Missouri. On Hawaii: coffee plantation tour and volcano.

My Disney Commando family wants to do absolutely nothing for two weeks and I am itching to plan.

We are going to alternate "nothing" and activity. Get up in the morning and go to Diamond Head, after that is accomplished then spend the afternoon at the beach, Then dinner at Duke's (Hula Pie....yummy!!!!!).

Next day do the Palace tour (we didn't do a tour just did a self-guided walk around), beach time, dinner.

Etc, Etc


Visit the Ala Moana shopping center.

Take in the night activity in Waikiki.

Hike Manua Falls.

For a nice dinner eat at the Original Roy's (Kalanianaole Highway) and/or Top of Waikiki (a rotating restaurant). http://www.topofwaikiki.com/

Pearl Harbor will take up a full day.

If they think the Luau is corny then don't do the PCC all day, but definately try to get them to a Luau...it was an awesome experience.

Go to the North Shore to get some shaved ice at Matsumoto and visit Turtle Bay.

On the Big Island we drove all the way around the island. The climate changes were incredible. Its hard to even describe. Hot, humid and sunny one minute, then cold and rainy the next.

Also try to get to the southern most point in the US. Its not spectacular at all but it is the southern most point in the US.

One thing I was a little disappointed about was it got dark EARLY!

have a great time!

 

[punkin]

Thanks for the ideas. I appreciate it.

 

[daughtersrus]

Then dinner at Duke's (Hula Pie....yummy!!!!!).

Next day do the Palace tour (we didn't do a tour just did a self-guided walk around),

Visit the Ala Moana shopping center.



For a nice dinner eat at the Original Roy's (Kalanianaole Highway) and/or Top of Waikiki (a rotating restaurant). http://www.topofwaikiki.com/

Pearl Harbor will take up a full day.

If they think the Luau is corny then don't do the PCC all day, but definately try to get them to a Luau...it was an awesome experience.

Go to the North Shore to get some shaved ice at Matsumoto and visit Turtle Bay.

We leave in about a month for DD's Make-A-Wish trip. Since the trip is only a week (really 5 days if you don't count the arrival and departure days), we decided to only do 1 island. Since everyone wanted to see Pearl Harbor, Oahu it is!

Make-A-Wish is arranging a luau and a dolphin encounter for DD and we're planning on going to Pearl Harbor/Missouri on our own as well as snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. My older DD and DH are going to take a surf lesson (not sure where yet). We're thinking about going to Turtle Bay as well.

Do you know if the Palace and Hanauma Bay are wheelchair accessible?

Also, can you give me an idea how expensive the restaurants are that you suggested? Make-A-Wish won't give us a budget until 2 weeks before we leave. They said that they've never had anyone run out of money but when I found out that the breakfast buffet at the hotel is over $25 each, I'm starting to panic.

DD LOVES Sluprees so we've promised her as much shaved ice as she wants. Any suggestions where to get the best ones?

We're staying at the Hyatt Regency on Waikiki Beach and will have a rental van.

Thanks!

 

[NCRedding]

I don't know. What do you think is better? My girls don't want to go to any luau since they think it's "corny". They just want to lie on the beach and maybe take surfing lessons, but two weeks of nothing but beach will probably drive me bonkers. Right now I have planned on Oahu: Iolani Palace (do we need the guided tour or is an audio tour enough?), Pearl Harbor and Missouri. On Hawaii: coffee plantation tour and volcano.

My Disney Commando family wants to do absolutely nothing for two weeks and I am itching to plan.

We did the PCC but were late getting there, so we only got to visit 2 cultural areas before heading into the luau and the closing show. I wish we had had more time to see the center. My DD enjoyed it, but she was 13, a little younger than your girls. We enjoyed the luau for sampling poi and other dishes, but found the entertainment slightly corny. The closing show was gorgeous.

 

[punkin]

We did the PCC but were late getting there, so we only got to visit 2 cultural areas before heading into the luau and the closing show. I wish we had had more time to see the center. My DD enjoyed it, but she was 13, a little younger than your girls. We enjoyed the luau for sampling poi and other dishes, but found the entertainment slightly corny. The closing show was gorgeous.

My DDs are 17 and 11. Do you think it is worth it to see the cultural areas and not do the luau? What is the closing show?

 

[NCRedding]

My DDs are 17 and 11. Do you think it is worth it to see the cultural areas and not do the luau? What is the closing show?

I went to the website and it looks as though they have changed the evening show. We saw a collection of stories that included hula dancers, fire stick dancers, lots of entertaining stuff. The new show appears to have more of a "story" than what we saw.

I felt like the laua had the least amount of value for us, but it was a good opportunity to see and taste Hawaiian food. I would rather have spent more time at the exhibits in the cultural area, but we were there on a convention ticket which offered the meal, so DH was determined that we would go to the luau.

 

[wvjules]

We leave in about a month for DD's Make-A-Wish trip. Since the trip is only a week (really 5 days if you don't count the arrival and departure days), we decided to only do 1 island. Since everyone wanted to see Pearl Harbor, Oahu it is!

Make-A-Wish is arranging a luau and a dolphin encounter for DD and we're planning on going to Pearl Harbor/Missouri on our own as well as snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. My older DD and DH are going to take a surf lesson (not sure where yet). We're thinking about going to Turtle Bay as well.

Do you know if the Palace and Hanauma Bay are wheelchair accessible?

Also, can you give me an idea how expensive the restaurants are that you suggested? Make-A-Wish won't give us a budget until 2 weeks before we leave. They said that they've never had anyone run out of money but when I found out that the breakfast buffet at the hotel is over $25 each, I'm starting to panic.

DD LOVES Sluprees so we've promised her as much shaved ice as she wants. Any suggestions where to get the best ones?

We're staying at the Hyatt Regency on Waikiki Beach and will have a rental van.

Thanks!

Top of Waikiki was fairly expensive but Duke's was more like an Applebee's.

As far as Haumana Bay being wheelchair accessible, not sure. I know they have a big golf-cart type vehicle that goes from teh top down to the beach but I don't think there is wheelchair entry accessible places into the water.

Shaved ice - Matsumoto on the North Shore.

Hawai'i is not cheap.

 

[punkin]

Anyone been to House without a key?

 

[jsmith]

I did not think the luau at PCC was very good really-food wise-although the performance of the Lords Prayer in Hawaiian was very cool-ive been to other much better luau's. The Night show was really amazing-and the cultural sites were very cool. There are much better luaus. Dont let your teen daughters rob you and the of a great experience-go to a luau anyway-they are a blast. Otherwise im kind of in the do nothing camp-we always spend several hours a day in the water when we are in Hawaii.
For the poster asking about places to eat-the Shorebird in the Wakiki outrigger is good-and reasonably priced-and fun.

 

[punkin]

I did not think the luau at PCC was very good really-food wise-although the performance of the Lords Prayer in Hawaiian was very cool-ive been to other much better luau's. The Night show was really amazing-and the cultural sites were very cool. There are much better luaus. Dont let your teen daughters rob you and the of a great experience-go to a luau anyway-they are a blast. Otherwise im kind of in the do nothing camp-we always spend several hours a day in the water when we are in Hawaii.
For the poster asking about places to eat-the Shorebird in the Wakiki outrigger is good-and reasonably priced-and fun.

Can you recommend some, please.

 

[DawnCt1]

My DDs are 17 and 11. Do you think it is worth it to see the cultural areas and not do the luau? What is the closing show?

Yes. I liked the culural areas. If you can get a ticket to the luau at the Hale Koa, it is so much cheaper. Luau food is luau food. The show at the Hale Koa is very good. Glen Medieros (Never Gonna lose my love for you) hosts the show. I think the tickets are less than $40. and if there is availability, you don't need to have a military ID. I would post the link but it seems to be under construction. Call them.

 

[punkin]

Yes. I liked the culural areas. If you can get a ticket to the luau at the Hale Koa, it is so much cheaper. Luau food is luau food. The show at the Hale Koa is very good. Glen Medieros (Never Gonna lose my love for you) hosts the show. I think the tickets are less than $40. and if there is availability, you don't need to have a military ID. I would post the link but it seems to be under construction. Call them.

Thanks. I will try that.