We're going to Hawaii!!!!

[Disney Hot Mama]

I just booked a trip in mid-July for Hawaii for me and the kids. DH wants to stay home - he hates Hawaii (go figure)
Well the kids and I leave from LAX and land in Honolulu and stay for 7 nights. Now onto planning our activities while there. I have searched the posts for threads and idea.

Tell them more about your trips, what to do etc.
PS The kids are DS (10) & DD (8)

Looking to do the Arizona Memorial, Sea Life Park, snorkeling, shopping, beach days and more. I think we will not have a rental car but take the city bus as it is cheap.

Aloha.....

 

[taekwondo mom]

We just booked a trip to Hawaii today for Oct.. for DD 14th birthday
2 days island then cruise for 7.. So be sure to post a trip report..

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

Woohoo Laurie and family!!!

I Hawaii!!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Awesome--we are going in October for TWO weeks!!!


I was there for my sisters wedding in 2004--I would HIGHLY recommend booking a rental car for at least ONE day before you go.

So many beautiful things on the island. Sure a tourgroup could take you around, but with your own car, you would be at your own leisure and schedule.

I know the Marriot and Hilton have a rental car agency on site--but booking in advance will save you money.

We booked one on the day we wanted it once there and it was expensive.

I recommend that DOLE pineapple plantation. You can get Dole whips Not sure if they'd be too old for the train--but they do have the pineapple maze.

You can use public transportation to get to parts of the island--but I wouldn't know the first thing about routes. But if you rent a car--that could just be on your roaming the island day. .

There's the flea market at Aloha stadium. Only on certain days, it is open on Wednesdays, but I'd have to look up the other days.

There is a budget hawaii thread on the budget boards some where and a bunch of us have been chatting about our trips and passing back and forth tips and such. Really good thread.

 

[Pop Daddy]

I just booked a trip in mid-July for Hawaii for me and the kids. DH wants to stay home - he hates Hawaii

do you need a man to carry the luggage or to yell at when things go wrong, Im here for you

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

do you need a man to carry the luggage or to yell at when things go wrong, Im here for you

Pop Daddy,

Come along and join us. The more the merrier. I booked a one bedroom with a full kitchen so we have lots of room. I am one of the wierd ones who like to cook even on vacation. We do at WDW too. It saves us lots of $$ and forces us to take a swim break at the hotel. We usually do lunches out and several dinners too.

I might need someone to yell at since my DH won't be there........
yes but I have the kids. I really think it is DH who gets the vacation not me since I have the kids and he has only the cat.

I am in the planning mode now searching the net for places to go and things to do. I'll post a summary when we get back the end of July.

 

[mommytotwo]

Don't forget to try some of the local foods.

 

[Pop Daddy]

count me in, I do laundry too

 

[bekkiz]

I really, really, really suggest getting a rental car. It is sooooo much easier to get to the "off the beaten path" places. You could try priceline or hotwire to save some money. I just can't imagine wanting to ride a bus after being in the ocean for hours and hours!

This is one of my favorite places: http://www.matsumotoshaveice.com/

Also, the Dole Plantation is a hoot, and the pineapple maze is super fun! You can get Dole Whips there, just like at Disney

 

[ChristmasElf]

The Polynesian Cultural Center has a great luau and your kids would love that place as well. Your hotel will be able to get you the info on that.
The bus that travels around Oahu is very cheap and goes everywhere too!
The Ala Moana Mall is nice and the markets are fun to go to as well.
The Supermarkets are high prices but we found a few deals at WalMart. Sadly, no SuperTarget there
Orange Juice is very high when we were there it was over $12 for 96 ounces!! compared to Florida that was nuts!!! (especially since the containers all say FLORIDA Orange Juice)

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

Woohoo for you! We will be there 2 weeks from today. I have our snorkel tour booked and we are definitely planning on the Dole Pineapple Plantation (and Haunama Bay and Sharks Cove). Dh went there as a kid and is looking forward to sharing some of his favorite vacation memories with our kids.

We got our rental car off Priceline.com. It was quite a bit cheaper (40-60% less) then quotes we were getting from the rental places. We did that last time we were there too about 2 years ago and it worked out great then.

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

Woohoo for you! We will be there 2 weeks from today. I have our snorkel tour booked and we are definitely planning on the Dole Pineapple Plantation (and Haunama Bay and Sharks Cove). Dh went there as a kid and is looking forward to sharing some of his favorite vacation memories with our kids.

We got our rental car off Priceline.com. It was quite a bit cheaper (40-60% less) then quotes we were getting from the rental places. We did that last time we were there too about 2 years ago and it worked out great then.

Have a great trip. Who are you using for a snorkle tour? There are so many on-line places to go with. I am definately thinking of the Dole tour and Hanauma Bay. Will need to check on the Sharks Cove as by name that sounds neat. May rent a car for one or two days to get out of Honolulu and around the island.

If you have time when you get back can you post your do's and dont's? I have until July 19th.

Thanks

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

There is a nature tours group (I have to look up their real name)--but they do really nice tours.

 

[Rhonda922]

Let me chime in - We're going to Hawaii too!!! We leave for Maui the first week in October. This is our first time going and I cannot begin to tell you how excited we are. I just wish that the time would pass quicker.

P.S: How can anybody hate Hawaii?!

 

[LuvTigger]

I live on Oahu, so I'd be happy to offer any information that might be useful! Here's a link to "The Bus": http://www.thebus.org/

Maybe you could do some research ahead of time on the routes, etc. The bus is an extremely convenient way to get around, although you may want to rent a car for at least one day. One of my favorite things to do, even though I live here, is drive around the island. I have friends who eat their way around Oahu! On the north shore there's Matsumoto's Shave Ice, as one of the other posters mentioned, and the next building over is Aoki's Shave Ice, which some people would argue is better! And there are "shrimp shacks" on the north shore too that are very popular.

I would also like to give a plug to my favorite beach, where I spent a LOT of time growing up, Lanikai. Kailua Beach is also very nice, and Lanikai is just beyond it, and it is somewhat secluded (although everyone knows where it is). You actually have to walk on pathways between houses to get to the beach.

If you like to hike, I would also recommend walking up to the Makapuu Lighthouse, which is close to Sea Life Park. The view up there is absolutely breathtaking! Diamond Head is another popular hike, though I've never done it myself.

Happy planning to all of the Hawaii travelers! Please let me know if I can be of assistance!

 

[teril]

I would love to hear about your favorites places to go, the crowds and any sites you found for research when you return. We are going to hawaii in july 2007 and wonder what to expect and look for.

Feel free to pm me.

 

[DawnCt1]

The Hale Koa sometimes takes reservations from non eligible vacationers who want to attend the luau. If you want to save money, its a good choice for about $34 pp. Don't forget to hike up Diamond Head but start early. It gets hot!

 

[barkley]

cool-we're heading to maui for a week in november. i just finished watching a show on the travel channel 'hawaii faq's' that gave some good info. on all the islands (re-running all month), and i've got that show from the cooking channel '$40 per day'-on maui set up to record on tivo.

when we went years ago we found that we got some great deals by researching some of the travel guides-they listed when places did their specials, and happy hours (did'nt matter if you drank or brought kids-awsome appetizers for 1/2 off!, we'de order a few and make a meal out of it).

i'm currently checking out the stuff that is available to do at the resort we've booked (both fee and non fee) and have found some pretty cool stuff-activities for the kids like lei and shell necklace classes, presentations by naturalists on the native habitats of hawaii...they also have a deal wherein if you don't think the kids will enjoy the full blown luau experience, you can pay a fee and the kids go over to the on-site luau for just the entertainment (might be good for my ds who unless they've added chicken nuggets and pizza to the luau buffet would not find much to eat ).

i'm gonna hit barnes and nobles to see if they have any 'kids guides to...maui"-that series tends to be great!

 

[DawnCt1]

Barkley, When is the $40 per day (Rachel Ray) on Maui on??? Thanks,

 

[barkley]

my tivo schedual shows it running a couple of times on july 11th (i think it shows here at 6 and 9 p.m.).