Anybody been to Hawaii?

[Calgary Flames]

If this season is killed, we're going to use our season ticket money on a Vacation to Hawaii... Anybody been there? What part is usually the best place to go?

any reccomendations?

[ratech]

I have been there lots. What type of vaction are you looking for? Each of the islands are unique in what they have to offer.

[JBR]

Oahu is OK, Waikiki etc. It's a liitle busy there for me, but you will get your fill of the regular tourist stuff. Beaches are good, some good snorkeling spots and a pretty good marketplace at Aloha Stadium. May be a good place to experience a lot if it's your first time there. Make sure to rent a car and drive around the island. See a luau also, and don't miss Pearl Harbour.

Kauai is much nicer. Slow pace, small towns, good beaches and a wonderful national park and helicopter tour.

Maui is the popular choice. The beaches are great and it seems a little bit more tropical than commercialized Oahu. Definately a great place to relax and enjoy yourselves.

You should probably send a few days at the beginning or end of your trip in Honolulu (Oahu) and the rest of your vacation in Maui or Kauai.

Have fun.

[Mr. Ski]

I've been to the Honolulu / Waikiki area twice. It's pretty cool, with a mix of typical North American comforts and mixed with the tropical setting. We stayed right on the Waikiki Beach in the Outrigger Main hotel. (There's about a dozen or so Outrigger hotels within about six blocks of there. Directly accross the street from it is the International Market. A must visit for all of your typical Hawaii type stuff - Surf Shirts, Pearls, Carved Candles, etc, etc. Also a block from Perry's Smorgie restaurant (said at the time to be the world's largest buffet). Pretty good food too (and cheap, relatively speaking).

Best part of our trip though was getting out of the Touristy areas, hopping on Highway H1 going around the Island. The north shore is really beautiful and you can see some amazing surfing action and Whaimia Beach and the Bonzai Pipeline. The other must visit area is the Polynesian Cultural Centre. It's loosely run by the Morman Church (through Brigham Younge University), but don't let that disuade you. It's excellent.

Other things to see...

Hard Rock Cafe - Pretty cool if you've never been to one (the one in Calgary doesn't count; different company)

Pearl Harbor - Lots of history there.

Dole Pinapple Plantation - Surprizingly interesting.

[Calgary Flames]

The vacation is just to relax and get away from Calgary and to see some nice tropical type stuff that you don't see everyday, take pictures, ect.

Nothing out of the ordinary...

[hah]

Aloha Jordon

Go to Maui as pictured below.

I like the West part of Maui and the Kaanapali Beach area. It is beautiful. Very relaxing. Maui/Hawaii are quite expensive, but worth going to at least once.


Mahalo

[Cowperson]

Originally posted by hah@Feb 3 2005, 07:21 PM
Aloha Jordon

Go to Maui as pictured below.

I like the West part of Maui and the Kaanapali Beach area. It is beautiful. Very relaxing. Maui/Hawaii are quite expensive, but worth going to at least once.


Mahalo

You know, I THOUGHT that picture in your sig was Big Beach on Maui!!

Been to Maui three times, staying at between Lahaina and Napili.

Kaanapali Beach is great.

Lots of quirky things to do on Maui if you have a bent, scoping out a sunrise on the volcano, risking getting slapped by your rental car company and the natives and driving the off-limit road that completes a circle of Haleakala via Hana, the places you can just pull of the road onto the sand and start snorkeling, a great aquarium there, hey the nude swimming at Little Beach, the Tedeschini Winery, the Kula Gardens, the windsurfing at Hookipa, the Io Needle, visiting Lindbergh's grave, yada, yada . . . .

Cowperson

[Table 5]

If you go to Oahu, stay the hell away from a place called Sandy Beach. Within 30 minutes that place injured 3/4 of my family, and left us with a trip to the hospital! It's beautiful as hell, but deceivingly dangerous....in fact, according to the doctors, its the number one beach in the US for back and neck breaks.

[Wookie]

I've been to Maui twice in the last three years.. I loved it.

Stayed in Kannapalli, Lahina.. etc.. I loved that area..

Moose Magilicuddy's is a great bar on tuesday or wednesday..

It's so relaxing..

friendly, etc..

Can't say anything for the other places, as I've never been, one parental unit was in Honalulu and didn't like it..

[Buff]

Aloha,
I've been to Oahu (stayed in Waikiki), Maui and Kauii. I loved Kauii the best. It was so laid back and peacefull. Lots of good snorkelling, good beaches. The helicoptor tours were beyond spectacular.

The first time I went to Hawaii I was a bit young to truly appreciate it, but we stayed on Maui for 11 days and Waikiki for 3 days. I was 10 and only wanted to swim in the ocean.

The second time I went we stayed in Waikiki for 3 days, then went to Kauii for 7 days. This trip was this past September.

I recommend at least 2 weeks in Hawaii, 3 can be too much but not if you switch Islands. Stay in Waikiki for at least 2 nights. Kauii for a week and Mauii for a week.

Pearl Harbour on Oahu (Oahu is the Island, Waikiki is the main tourist part of Oahu) is a must see. I saw Pearl Harbour both times I was in Hawaii and I want to go back again. You can take the free tour of the Arizona Memorial, and/or the paid tours of the Bowfin submarine and the Missouri Battleship. You can spend a good portion of your day there. I've never been to the Polynesian Cultural Center, but I've been told that it isn't as great is it is made out to be. My cousin says that it is good to see, but it isn't all that special. My friend confirmed those sentiments as well. I've been told you can go to a better luau elsewhere.

I've actually put up some pictures on my own little website of my last trip to Hawaii, it is down at the moment but I'll put it back up tonite when I get home (if I remember). I'll post the address later as I don't know what it will be yet (again, if I remember). I've got some great pictures from a Helicopter tour and stuff.

I have the Hawaii bug in me. I want to go back in the worst way. I'd have to say that it is my favorite place in the world. For our next trip we want to stay on the Big Island.

The people in Hawaii (especially on the smaller Islands) are very friendly. They understand that their main money maker is tourism and they go out of their way to make you welcome.

If you stay on Oahu you can get away without having to rent a vehicle as it is probably cheaper to take the shuttle buses. There is a tonne of shuttles so it won't be hard to find one. For the smaller Islands I recommend renting a car.

I'll be glad to help answer any specific questions you have about Hawaii.

Mahalo

[Calgary Flames]

Don't really have any specifics, Just looking for input, on your experiences there. Would love to see those pics too!

[Flashpoint]

If you choose Maui, do the drive on the road to Hanna. It is twisty, and runs along the coast through the jungle. We did it a couple times and it was fantastic. There is also some pretty cool hiking around Hanna through a bamboo forest.

[Calgary Flames]

Originally posted by Flashpoint@Feb 3 2005, 03:12 PM
If you choose Maui, do the drive on the road to Hanna. It is twisty, and runs along the coast through the jungle. We did it a couple times and it was fantastic. There is also some pretty cool hiking around Hanna through a bamboo forest.

This kind of stuff I love! I'm not really into the tourist stuff. I want to go off the beaten path.

Once I get there from leaving Calgary there's probably some element of Culture shock no? I know when I went to Phoenix the first day was a blur. Everything was so different but I loved it!

[Reaper]

Originally posted by Mr. Ski@Feb 3 2005, 11:58 AM
Hard Rock Cafe - Pretty cool if you've never been to one (the one in Calgary doesn't count; different company)

Calgary hasn't had a Hard Rock Cafe for about 5 years.

To boot, all of the Hard Rock Cafes in Canada are the real deal now as the Rank Corporation (owner of Hard Rock Cafe America) purchased Hard Rock Canada in 1996.

[JayP]

Originally posted by Wookie@Feb 3 2005, 08:24 PM
I've been to Maui twice in the last three years.. I loved it.

Stayed in Kannapalli, Lahina.. etc.. I loved that area..

I was just in Kannapalli area over Christmas. Great time - very relaxing. If you do decide to go to Maui give me a PM. I'll give you a list of places to eat, things to see, etc.

[Buff]

Ok, Here is my site with pictures from Hawaii. My wife didn't want her picture shown off to strangers and I didn't argue, so yes I know that there are some dead links to the pictures. I just couldn't be bothered to change the source code.

Oh, and I build this site in 3 hours of total work so don't be expecting anything fancy, it is basic html code. I'd do the site differently if I had the time but I don't.

Aloha!

[Wookie]

Stay away from Mi tie's.. or whatever they're called, apparently they're triples so if you drink 4 of them as fast as you can because they taste so bad you're going to end up a little sick..

man they're HORRIBLE!!

[Incogneto]

Originally posted by JBR@Feb 3 2005, 11:53 AM
Oahu is OK, Waikiki etc. It's a liitle busy there for me, but you will get your fill of the regular tourist stuff. Beaches are good, some good snorkeling spots and a pretty good marketplace at Aloha Stadium. May be a good place to experience a lot if it's your first time there. Make sure to rent a car and drive around the island. See a luau also, and don't miss Pearl Harbour.

Kauai is much nicer. Slow pace, small towns, good beaches and a wonderful national park and helicopter tour.

Maui is the popular choice. The beaches are great and it seems a little bit more tropical than commercialized Oahu. Definately a great place to relax and enjoy yourselves.

You should probably send a few days at the beginning or end of your trip in Honolulu (Oahu) and the rest of your vacation in Maui or Kauai.

Have fun.

Good Post.

I prefered Maui over Oahu. IMO, Honolulu was lack-luster, and over populated.

Maui was the most relaxing place I have ever been...

[Cheese]

Another idea to spend your money on is Cuba. Before Castro dies and Cuba becomes Hawaii east it would be a great idea to visit now.
Awesome people, awesome beaches, spectacular scenery.....

[JohnnyO]

I would go to Mexico. Cheaper, Warmer, Nicer. (Cancun Side) Meals included, no need for a rental car, free booze etc.

But if you are going to go to Hawaii. Maui is your best bet. You will need to rent a car. Stay in or around Kannapalli as mentioned above.

And trust me don't climb over the black rocks at Wailea, the images will be burned into your retina for a life time. Nothing sexy about nude, wrinkley old people.