Hawaii

[MoneyGuy]

I've been to all the main islands and the ones I'd go back to next are Hawaii and Maui. When we drove the road to Hanna we rented a tape tour. Do it. If not, you'll miss most of the stuff that you can't see from the road and won't even know is there. I remember there was a store in town that rented the tapes. If you ask around town I'm sure you'll find them. REgarding Hawaii (the big island), it's terrific. We were on a cruise ship and saw a volcano erupting and molten lava spilling into the ocean. I really love the Caribbean. The weather is better. Hawaii is terrific. For a first-timer, I might suggest Ohahu. All the main islands are terrific. You'll have a great time.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by Kryzsky

Great info, thanks.

I'm leaning towards Kona on the big island, simply because I'm thinking there will be more to see and do. I can't stay put for long when travelling, might also jump on a ferry to see another island also.

I don't drink or smoke, just interested in hiking, seeing volcanos, swimming in warm water and trying to surf.

Sounds like my kind of vacation. I went to the Big Island and stayed in Kona - it was great.

My recommendation if you're going to hike to the lava on Kilauea. Start your hike in the daytime so you can get through at least an hour of it before the sun starts setting. It's a pretty tough hike in complete darkness both ways (took me 8 hours total). Lots of jagged rocks. Pretty cool once you get there, though. Plus, bring a flashlight, extra batteries and lots of water.

http://www.letsgo-hawaii.com/volcano/hiking.html

If you go to Maui, a good Scuba Diving site is in and around the Molokini Crater, Turtle Town, etc.

Flights were cheap several years ago - $50 each way including tax between Kona and Honolulu and Kona/Maui.

[Stormy Lancer]

I go to Hawaii at the end of every football season and love it. Here are a few of my reccomendations. First and foremost go to Kauai. It is very lack back and relaxed and almost empty every time I have gone. If you are feeling a little bit gutsy check this out:
http://www.bestplaceshawaii.com/tips...blue_room.html

Also pre-rent a car. you get much better deals that way. here is the one I use:

http://www.discounthawaiicarrental.com

Also make sure if you are going to Ohau to drive to the North Shore to check out the Pipeline. Amazing stuff...

[Stormy Lancer]

Oh...interisland travel is dirt cheap. Moukelele Go! is the only airline left hopping between the islands but they are 50.00 or so a person.

[Russic]

My cousin was married on the North Shore last year. We went in April and it was windier than hell. If I recall the locals said it was usually windy, but that was a little worse than most years.

Big giant waves. I could have spent my entire vacation just sitting on the beach taking pictures of people wiping out. It was awesome. I'm not totally sure I'd recommend that particular island though ... many of the guests ventured to other islands and had really nice things to say.

We were told to go to Hanauma Bay for snorkeling, which turned out to be a really bad decision. Extremely crowded and unpleasant for the most part. There was much better snorkeling in front of the convenience store where I bought my gear and in front of a hotel we stayed at. Hanauma pops up on every "places you must see" list when you google hawaii, but I didn't see the appeal.

Here are some photos of my trip:

http://gallery.mac.com/russfee#10017...w=mosaic&sel=0

[aaronck]

I've been to Maui 3 times in the past 2 years-freaking amazing place.

Great destination for families with kids-slow pace, great food and all the comforts of home, but with better weather and beautiful beaches everywhere! The Road to Hana was not the greatest experience-lots of car sickness for all the passengers and the weather was not great that day, but found a fantastic beach just past Hana, and met Weird Al that day as well. Did the Volcano as well, but in the middle of the day. The past trip we spent 2 weeks doing nothing but being beach bums-drinking beer and walking back and forth to the beach whenever we wanted (we stayed 2 minutes away from Charlie Young beach) Perfect Vacation!

[aaronck]

Charlie Young Beach, Kihei, Maui-December 1 When Calgary was buried under the biggest snowfall of the year (so far)

[Bigtime]

I guess I should recommend the place we stay in Maui, right next to the big Fairmont Kea Lani is the Polo Beach club condos:

http://www.polobeachmaui.com/

Great beach right in front, a view towards Molokini and having the resort right next door you can always walk over for a nice breakfast/lunch/dinner if you don't want to make it at the condo.

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by Russic

We were told to go to Hanauma Bay for snorkeling, which turned out to be a really bad decision. Extremely crowded and unpleasant for the most part. There was much better snorkeling in front of the convenience store where I bought my gear and in front of a hotel we stayed at. Hanauma pops up on every "places you must see" list when you google hawaii, but I didn't see the appeal.

Couldn't agree more, unless you love getting kicked in the face and looking at dead and ruined corral stay away from this place. Molokini Crater on Maui has much better appeal. I've snorkled in some pretty amazing places (koh Phi Phi Thailand, Cabo, the Carribean) and I would say Hanauma Bay was absolutely one of the worst.

I'll contribute to the OP though. We usually go to Maui for Christmas every two years or so and I've been to Oahu a few times as well.

I Maui, as mentioned, Molokini Crater and turtle town for snorkeling were pretty cool. Whale watching is also good but generally the whales aren't around as much at the time you are going but you still may encounter spinner dolphins. Last time we went we went Zip lining in Haleakala crater and that was awesome, you can also do trail rides, and bike down from the top.

In Oahu anyone who says Pearl Harbour is overrated doesn't know what they are talking about. It's an important piece of history and given the opportunity should be seen at least once in a lifetime. Oahu also has the Polynesian cultural center which is interesting and should be seen if you want to see some Fijian women shaking their hips like you've never seen before! If you go to Oahu check out some of the day excursions. We went on an eco tour with a hike, body boarding and snorkelling, normally I stay away from this sort of thing but my wife at the time wanted to go on it and it was great with some hidden waterfalls and off the map snorkeling spots.

Cheers and have fun, Hawaii really does have something for everyone.

[Torrie the Whaler]

Kauai Chickens
http://www.paradisekauai.com/KauaiChickens.jpg

Just wanted to show you a picture of the wild chickens in Kauai. I guess after a hurricane about 10 years ago. Domestic chickens got loose and without predators....they are everywhere

really cool

[The Goon]

I think reading this thread after just returning is adding to my post-vacation blues.

[Engine09]

You guys sold me, just booked our flights. We're off to Kona in April for 7 days. Will do some searching over the weekend and find a hotel, rent a jeep and make plans to hit at least 1 other island.

[gargamel]

If you don't care about the nightlife, you can't go wrong with Kauai, especially if you're going with a girlfiend/wife. It's much more calm than the other popular islands, but it's beautiful and has nice beaches and hiking. If at all possible, take a helicopter tour with one of the companies that will go up with the doors off. Even if you have to cut your trip a day short to make it work financially, it's worth it. Years from now, you won't remember whether you spent 8 or 9 days in Hawaii, but I guarantee that you'll remember the helicopter ride.

The Big Island is also really nice, but it doesn't have the beauty of some of the other islands. Still, it's worth visiting so that that you can see lava. Again, if you can, see it from a helicopter. The Mauna Kea observatory is also a must see.

And if you go to Honolulu and want to take a bus to Waikiki Beach, make sure that you don't take the one that goes through the air force base . They won't tell you that you need military id until you get to the edge of the base, then they'll kick you off the bus.

[mykalberta]

There is a tour from Oahu that includes flight and Road to Hana tour for $300 pp, for those who have done that one Maui would it be worth it or would something else be better.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

There is a tour from Oahu that includes flight and Road to Hana tour for $300 pp, for those who have done that one Maui would it be worth it or would something else be better.

I forgot to mention that in my post. There are tours where you catch a quick flight to one of the other islands for a day.

Going back to my post. On Kauai the helicopter tour was beyond phenomenal. I've heard the same for the helicopter tours on the big Island as well, especially since you get to fly over (or at least somewhat over) the volcanoes.

A bit of an anecdote on our helicopter tour on Kauai. We were very luck to have had the clouds lift and the pilot flew into the old volcano where the side blew out. It got cloudy quickly though and we had to fly out in a hurry. He said he doesn't get to go in there very many times, maybe a handful of times per month if he is lucky. That was the wettest spot on earth. Only 7-10 days per year can you see the top of that mountain/volcano because it is constantly raining on it.

And the best advice for people asking which island to stay on should be to stay on any of them, because you can't go wrong with any of them.

[redgreen 59]

Maui is great, stayed at a place located at www.relaxonmaui.com couple guys from texas. Nice place, great location. A bit expensive compared to mexico but very civilized and can't beat the weather. Did the Hana road, not much at the other end and the trip takes about 5 hours round trip. very slow and kind of boring. I wouldn't bother. Go up to Lehina, nice town, lots of action.

[chummer]

Originally Posted by redgreen 59

Maui is great, stayed at a place located at www.relaxonmaui.com couple guys from texas. Nice place, great location. A bit expensive compared to mexico but very civilized and can't beat the weather. Did the Hana road, not much at the other end and the trip takes about 5 hours round trip. very slow and kind of boring. I wouldn't bother. Go up to Lehina, nice town, lots of action.

Kind of fits in the "glad you did it but wouldn't do it again" categories.

Make sure you leave early in the morning,the traffic gets pretty heavy.

[BuzzardsWife]

Scariest flight I ever took was Aloha Airlines from Oahu to Maui. One of those flights where you drop what seems like 100 feet every five mins, swaying, turbulence. I thought for sure I'd die.

[BuzzardsWife]

Originally Posted by Stormy Lancer

I go to Hawaii at the end of every football season and love it. Here are a few of my reccomendations. First and foremost go to Kauai. It is very lack back and relaxed and almost empty every time I have gone. If you are feeling a little bit gutsy check this out:
http://www.bestplaceshawaii.com/tips...blue_room.html

Also pre-rent a car. you get much better deals that way. here is the one I use:

http://www.discounthawaiicarrental.com

Also make sure if you are going to Ohau to drive to the North Shore to check out the Pipeline. Amazing stuff...

I've never been to Kaui, but my sister, who has travelled ALOT of the world said Kaui was the most beautiful place she's ever been.

[arloiginla]

Originally Posted by BuzzardsWife

Scariest flight I ever took was Aloha Airlines from Oahu to Maui. One of those flights where you drop what seems like 100 feet every five mins, swaying, turbulence. I thought for sure I'd die.

Haha good ol Aloha, where I'm positive the pilots were drunk, I've never seen such a scaring landing in my life. They hit the runway seemingly at full throttle and it provided quite a bounce.

The guava juice you got served on the ~20-minute flight was good at least.