Planning a trip to Hawaii - a few questions!

[mouseclick1]

DH and I are hoping to take a trip to Hawaii in spring '07. We'll also be traveling with our boys, who will be 15 and 17 by the time we go. I was hoping some of you expert Hawaii travelers could help me out with a few questions?

1. I definitely want to go to Maui, but would also like to see the lava flow on the island of Hawaii. How difficult is it to split your stay between two islands? I know people do it, but is it worth giving up a day of your vacation to see a different island?

2. If we do decide to split our stay, what would be a good way to split Maui and Hawaii? I'm thinking we'll spend about 8 nights total on this trip. Should we do a 4 day stay on each island, or should we stay longer in one place?

3. DH also wants to see Oahu, but I don't think we'll be there long enough to see all 3. Am I right, or is it a mistake not to go to Oahu?

4. We are pretty much limited to Easter week, which will be the second week in April in '07. Do we still stand a chance of seeing whales at that time, or are they pretty much gone by then?

I'm sure I'll have more questions, but that will at least give me a start!

Thanks!

 

[luvflorida]

DH and I are hoping to take a trip to Hawaii in spring '07. We'll also be traveling with our boys, who will be 15 and 17 by the time we go. I was hoping some of you expert Hawaii travelers could help me out with a few questions?

3. DH also wants to see Oahu, but I don't think we'll be there long enough to see all 3. Am I right, or is it a mistake not to go to Oahu?

Well, I am in no way an expert Hawaiian traveler but maybe I can help you out a little bit. We just spent Christmas vacation on the island of Oahu and I posted a thread complete with a trip report and link to photos. If you do a search under my name you'll find the thread.

We debated whether or not to visit another island and decided against it. If we had had more time we would have visited the island of Hawaii, mainly to tour the volcano park there.

Even just visiting Oahu we wished we had more time to get out and explore. guess we'll just have to go back! We loved Hawaii!!

 

[mouseclick1]

luvflorida - I haven't read through your report, but did look through your pictures before you even posted. They are beautiful! I'll have to go back and read through everything now! Completely off the subject, but I see you are from Maine. We'll be spending a week at Bar Harbor this June. We've never been to Maine before and I'm really looking forward to it!

 

[NCRedding]

We cruised around Hawaii this past summer, stopping at Maui, Kauai, the Big Island, and spending extra time in Oahu. I loved Maui, and would love to go back there some day. On Ohau, we stayed in Wakiki, which is extremely busy. We did get over to the north shore for a day trip, and it is much more beautiful than Wakkiki. I would also recommend seeing Pearl Harbor.

I remember seeing that some places had day trips to other islands. The big island does not look like what I expected--it doesn't look tropical. We toured Volcanos National Park, which is interesting, but not "beautiful" We sailed by the lava flow, at night, and didn't have a great view, but I wouldn't take much time out of my vacation to see it again.

Can't help with the whales, since we went in June/July.

 

[LuvTigger]

I've lived in Hawaii my entire life (on Oahu), and I think where you want to go depends a lot on your expectations and what you hope to see here.

For example, people who come here to get away from city life and those who really enjoy nature would probably like Kauai best. Most people I know love Maui, although I've talked to at least two people who hated Maui and prefer Kauai because it is very quiet and the least developed. Others like the Big Island because it is very diverse and spread out. Oahu has a lot of interesting features and attractions, and I've heard people say that you should visit Oahu at least once to see things like Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head, but after that, they prefer to go to the neighbor islands. From someone who grew up on Oahu and has visited the other islands, Oahu is really over-developed and is not unlike other big cities, although I must admit that we do have some natural features (Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, beautiful mountains and beaches) that make us unique.

As for splitting your time, maybe you should look at exactly what you plan to do if you go to Maui? You might find that you don't have enough to fill up 8 days, but again, it depends on the person. If you go to the Big Island, I think it really deserves more than one day though. Just getting to the volcano area alone will take a while, regardless of whether you fly into Hilo or Kona. Also, check whether there are direct flights from Kahului, Maui to Hilo or Kona, and the times. I think there are now, but the majority of the flights leave from Honolulu. You can check either www.alohaairlines.com or www.hawaiianair.com, those are the two major inter-island carriers.

When you get to the volcano area, you will have to hike if you want to actually see lava flowing, unless you do a helicopter tour.

As for whales, February is usually the prime whale season, but I'm not sure when they all leave. I know Lahaina, Maui, is known for whale tour operators, so you might want to do a search and see how long the season lasts.

Anyhow, I'll let you chew on that for now. I'd be happy to answer whatever questions I can from a "local" view point!

 

[Sandy V.]

If you want to actually see lava flowing into the ocean, be prepared for a long hike!

We just did this 3 days before Christmas. You can only see "steam" from most vantage points during the day. However, to see it at night, you have to hike in and out several miles.

We started hiking around 4:30 p.m. and finally got back to our cars at 9:00 p.m. We were absolutely exhausted the next day, but for us it was well worth it. We are a family of 4 (me, DH, both in our mid 40's and DD18 and DS15).

Take flashlights for everyone in your party. DO NOT BE CHEAP-WE MADE THIS MISTAKE AND IT MADE THE TREK HARDER!! My daughter and I were trying to "share" one and I had a misstep and went down in the dark. Result: 2 skinned knees, a skinned elbow, skinned hand, and an abrasion on the side of my head. (Remember, volcanic rock has glass particles in it!!).

You should wear closed toe shoes; hiking shoes are the best because you really need the ankle support. Take water and snacks as well.

It is an absolutely fabulous sight. Just be prepared, and have fun!!

 

[DawnCt1]

I love Maui and I love the Big Island. I also love Kauai. It would be a shame to go all that way and not see the volcano. I think splitting your time 4 and 4 would be reasonable. Fly into Maui and from Maui into Hilo and home from Kona.
That way you could enjoy Maui, even though rushed for 4 days, spend at least one night on the Hilo side, getting there early in the morning from Maui. Tour VNP and stay one night there. You could hike to the lava flow in the late afternoon and hike out at night. Be sure to take long pants and a flash light for each of you. The next three days you could spend on the Kona side. The Kohala Coast is beautiful and on the way there I would stop at Akaka Falls, the Tsunami Museum and drive up through Waimea and through the Parker Ranch. Kona is only 30 minutes away and the Kailua-Kona is a nice little town. Below Kona is the Place of Refuge. I love kayaking to Captain Cook's monument. If you weren't up for kayaking the Zodiak tours through the caves makes a nice trip. You could stay at a place like the Hilton Waikaloa Village and never have to leave or drive up to Cafe Pesto about 20 minutes north. Its a nice little restaurant in a strip mall in Kauaihae. You will definately need a rental car but it would be worth it to pick it up in Hilo and drop off in Kona. There is an additional fee but its worth it. Pick up the Big Island Revealed and Maui Revealed by Wizard Pub. We are going back to Hawaii this summer; Oahu, Maui and Kauai. I will miss the Big Island but we can't do it all. Sometime I will talk DH into spending three nights on Molokai.

 

[luvflorida]

luvflorida - We'll be spending a week at Bar Harbor this June. We've never been to Maine before and I'm really looking forward to it!

Bar Harbor is a beautiful place to visit. June can be tricky in Maine, sometimes quite cool and chilly, yet other times it can actually be hot! If you have any Maine questions, let me know and I'll try to answer them for you.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I am one who does not like Maui as well as Ohau or Hawaii, so in my case (especially with teenagers) I would vote for a split between Big island and Ohau.

 

[DawnCt1]

I am one who does not like Maui as well as Ohau or Hawaii, so in my case (especially with teenagers) I would vote for a split between Big island and Ohau.

We usually stay on Oahu for no more than 3 days. Honolulu is fun for awhile but our DS's have always loved Maui the best. Maui no ka oi!

 

[FreshTressa]

Not answering your questions...but one of the highlights of my LIFE was looking at the stars late at night on top of the mountain in Maui.

Soooo amazing.

 

[LuvTigger]

Sometime I will talk DH into spending three nights on Molokai.

It's funny, reading your post, we seem to like the same things! Cafe Pesto is a MUST for my BF and I whenever we go to the Big Island! And we always stay at the Waikoloa too!

I just wanted to say that I went to Molokai for an overnight trip once, and even though it was just one night, it was just really amazing to really be away from it all! I stayed at a place called Molokai Shores, I guess it's sort of like a time share where people actually own the units, but they only stay there a few weeks out of the year and rent them out. It's right on the ocean, although there's not really a swimming beach there. But I did see a lot of fishermen! I know people who fly to Molokai just to fish. Anyhow, I loved the feeling of truly relaxing, and I have never seen so many stars at night! A few of us just stood in the parking lot of the hotel (I was there for work and we had a meeting at night), and we just stared at the sky!

And to the OP, I agree with Dawn that a 4/4 split might be a nice amount of time on each island. BF and I have spent a week on the Big Island at least twice and it was about the right amount of time to do just about all we wanted to do. Because it really is "big" it takes time to get around. Kona to Hilo is about a 3 hour drive.

And ditto everything Dawn said about the Big Island. It's pretty much everything I would recommend, down to the Zodiac raft ride! It was really cool, we saw dolphins as we were zipping along! I also really like Hawi, the northern most point of the Big Island.

Anyhow, I could go on and on about some of my favorite things to do, but I guess you should digest all of this information first!

 

[shortbun]

I think Dawn's idea are great! I've done the Big Island several times, once we easily spent a week there. It's pretty unspoiled except for the Kohala coast with the big resorts but you can avoid those. We really like Maui, you can immerse in the activity or you can avoid the rush there, your choice with teens. I've also spent lots of time on Oahu, although it's been years. I don't go back anymore except to fly through. When I was a travel agent, I'd advise that people who were particularly interested in Pearl Harbor spend one night in the beginning of their trip. Two weeks is better if three islands is your goal. You have only a long week, I'd stick to two islands.

 

[DawnCt1]

DH and I spent a short day on Molokai. We flew over in a small six seater from Kapalua on Maui and took the mule ride down to Kaulapapa where Sheriff Richard Marks conducted the tour of the Leper colony. The new name of course is Hansen's Disease but Sheriff Marks calls it leprosy because that it what isolated more than 8000 people from the world. There are over 7000 unmarked graves on the pennisula. It was a very spiritual experience touring the area, seeing where the boat would drop patients off, many who were never reunited with their families again. It was a rainy, misty day that day and added to the eeriness of it. We spoke with the current priest there, saw Fa. Damien's grave site where only his hand remains and the church that he built. Also Mother Marianne's grave. I bought a book there, "A Holy Man" about Fr. Damien and I was so moved that I came home and called Sheriff Marks for further recommendations, which he gave me. He was imprisoned on Molokai as a teenager, escaped a few times and was recaptured in Honolulu, University of Arizona and Chicago. He didn't tell me but a resident "up top" at the airport told me. Very moving. When I first wanted to go to Kaulapapa, there were 67 residents. When we visited there were 35. The youngest is 68 or so, the oldest 92. They were "paroled" in the 1980's although they could come and go before that if they were cured. Their crime??? They had leprosy. Hawaiians were very suspeptible to leprosy and it went through the islands like a brush fire. In the 1800's all they had was quarantine and ultimately it did work. Cures were being sought forever but a real cure wasn't even discovered until the late 1940's in Carville, La. the "other colony". I read a book of first person accounts written in the 1960's when many were still alive. Most interviewed were not angry or resentful, which to me was amazing. If you want short narratives of what it was like, read the Separating Sickness.

 

[Bearvet]

A great travel forum is fodors.com - I've planned many trips based on info I've received from their discussion board. Do a search first (Hawaii) and read through all of the responses you get. Then if you still have questions, you should post, but they're not too kind to posters who ask questions that have been asked over and over again (unlike the Disboards!).

 

[DawnCt1]

A great travel forum is fodors.com - I've planned many trips based on info I've received from their discussion board. Do a search first (Hawaii) and read through all of the responses you get. Then if you still have questions, you should post, but they're not too kind to posters who ask questions that have been asked over and over again (unlike the Disboards!).

I do love fodors but you are right. You can't get repetitive. They are touchy that way. Things change so I don't think its unreasonable.

 

[mouseclick1]

Thank you all for such great information! You have certainly left me with a lot to think about!

 

[mouseclick1]

I've been sharing all of your fantastic information with DH, and now we're more confused than ever! There seems to be so much we want to see and do, and simply don't have the time to do it all!

Does this seem possible, or do you think it is trying to squeeze too much into our stay?

Oahu: 2 nights, mainly because we want to see the Pearl Harbor memorial.

Maui: 4 nights, relax a bit on the beach and see the island.

Big Island: 3 nights, visit the National Park and hike to where we can see the lava flow.

So, what do you think? Too much? Is there any way to adjust the itinerary and still hit all three islands? I've already added one day, but I don't think I could get away with adding any more (due to school schedules - I'm a teacher and both boys are in high school).

Thanks again for all your input - it is so helpful!

 

[nwdisgal]

I do love fodors but you are right. You can't get repetitive. They are touchy that way. Things change so I don't think its unreasonable.

I like the Revealed book series for good info on the islands. Maui Revealed, Oahu Revealed, etc, etc.

I would do a split stay between Hilo and Maui. The Big Island is so immense. You could spend days there if you wanted to. The beaches however, are not what you are going to find on Maui and Oahu.

Kauai is my favorite vacation island. I like to get away from crowds and I love the beauty of the island. Maui and Oahu arguably have the best beaches of all the islands. That said, it depends on what time of year you are traveling, too. Late December to mid March are busy on Maui and in February, it is standing room only. Personally, I would never recommend for people to travel to Maui in February, because it is winter here, the weather is unpredictable, it is extremely crowded this time of year, and you get to pay premium prices for crowds and potentially bad weather, because it is also high season. That is not my idea of a vacation. I've also heard that Kauai is more balanced throughout the year with visitors - less peaks and dips than the other islands with tourism levels.

 

[mommytotwo]

I've been sharing all of your fantastic information with DH, and now we're more confused than ever! There seems to be so much we want to see and do, and simply don't have the time to do it all!

Does this seem possible, or do you think it is trying to squeeze too much into our stay?

Oahu: 2 nights, mainly because we want to see the Pearl Harbor memorial.

Maui: 4 nights, relax a bit on the beach and see the island.

Big Island: 3 nights, visit the National Park and hike to where we can see the lava flow.

So, what do you think? Too much? Is there any way to adjust the itinerary and still hit all three islands? I've already added one day, but I don't think I could get away with adding any more (due to school schedules - I'm a teacher and both boys are in high school).

Thanks again for all your input - it is so helpful!

Your schedule is possible, but you will be on the run most of the time. With having to go to the airport in a timely manner and catching your flights, you will lose time then, and will be more exhausted.
Will you be flying into Oahu, then to Maui, and then flying out from Hawaii?