Considering a trip to Hawaii
- Thread starter cyadict
- Start date
My wife and I loved Maui, great food and some of the best scuba diving we've seen anywhere in the world.
Do it. Go to Maui. It's freaking awesome. Excellent food, tons of fun stuff to do, great weather and really friendly people.
It's a long plane trip, but well worth it.
We're going back for our 2nd trip in March and I'm starting to get pumped again.
It's a long plane trip, but well worth it.
We're going back for our 2nd trip in March and I'm starting to get pumped again.
Things to do:
scuba, whale watching cruise, go to the shops at Lahaina Town, lava fields, watch the windsurfers and surfers, helicopter ride over the mountains, take Highway 340 around the island (long, winding through the mountains...very scenic).
scuba, whale watching cruise, go to the shops at Lahaina Town, lava fields, watch the windsurfers and surfers, helicopter ride over the mountains, take Highway 340 around the island (long, winding through the mountains...very scenic).
Loved Maui for all the reasons already stated by others. Lots of things to do and a beautiful place to just walk and enjoy the evening on Front Street. It is a must-do, IMO.
I enjoyed Honolulu but my wife did not and doesn't want to go back there. It is more of an urban experience than the other islands.
I've heard good things about Kauai. Never been to the big island but I've heard good things about it as well.
We're going back in February and at this time are only planning to go to Maui.
I enjoyed Honolulu but my wife did not and doesn't want to go back there. It is more of an urban experience than the other islands.
I've heard good things about Kauai. Never been to the big island but I've heard good things about it as well.
We're going back in February and at this time are only planning to go to Maui.
We went to both Oahu, and Maui. It depend on what you like. If you want a more relaxing time, go to Maui. If you like the more touristy attractions, go to Oahu and Waikiki beach. There you can go see pearl harbor, sumarine rides, scuba diving, helicoptor to see mountains and waterfalls, but there are many more tourist there. My wife and I liked Waikiki beach because of the fishing barrier in the ocean left the ocean calm enough for us to go in it (neither of us can swim).
Or you can just spend a few days on each like we did
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Hawaii and I'd say it's worth it once, but personnally, I'd say save the money and go to Cancun.
Or you can just spend a few days on each like we did
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Hawaii and I'd say it's worth it once, but personnally, I'd say save the money and go to Cancun.
Last edited:
Go to Oahu. You can go to Pearl Harbor, Waikiki, climb Diamond Head, or play on geat golf courses (if you like to golf). If you want to get away from the city take a short drive to the North side of the island. There are lots of things to do there, we liked to just sit on the beach and watch the surfers battle the giant waves.
Oahu is too congested. Maui is getting there, but is still probably the best choice.
Kauai is beautiful but not alot of action. Big Island as well.
Depends on how many people you want to be around. I'd avoid Oahu and go anywhere else to be honest.
Kauai is beautiful but not alot of action. Big Island as well.
Depends on how many people you want to be around. I'd avoid Oahu and go anywhere else to be honest.
Kauai: more budget friendly than Maui/less commercial, Aloha beach resort still around $100/night, less traffic, nice waimea canyon area w/lots of hikes, Brick oven pizza, good snorkeling, better hiking than Maui. Hanalei bay good for surf lessons.
Maui: nice, but more traffic, road to Hana (nice to do once), bike down volcano mtn/ride, better for water sports/windsurfing, great snorkeling, molokini crater.
big Island/ Kona: can be traffic congested too near city, but go for the volcano, hike across bottom of crater, doesn't seem to be as many beaches due to lava rock, nice beaches north of airport, can see snow capped mountain while swimming in the surf. liked Sheraton Keauou (sp). can spend a lot of time driving around island to other side.
I don't think you can go wrong on these 3 islands, but Kauai is our favorite.
Maui: nice, but more traffic, road to Hana (nice to do once), bike down volcano mtn/ride, better for water sports/windsurfing, great snorkeling, molokini crater.
big Island/ Kona: can be traffic congested too near city, but go for the volcano, hike across bottom of crater, doesn't seem to be as many beaches due to lava rock, nice beaches north of airport, can see snow capped mountain while swimming in the surf. liked Sheraton Keauou (sp). can spend a lot of time driving around island to other side.
I don't think you can go wrong on these 3 islands, but Kauai is our favorite.
We went to Kauai. Was very nice. It is less touristy than the more well known places, however there is still plenty to do. Doing nothing on the beaches there is nice too. We went to a luow (no idea how to spell that) that was fantastic. Took a helicopter tour of the island. Would definitely go again.
I agree with the Kauai push going on here. Been to all most of the islands and enjoyed Kauai the most because its the most "Hawaiian" island. The rest have become too commercial. If you want to relax, enjoy the scenery, and do some of the most amazing outdoor adventure stuff there is to do in Hawaii I woud choose Kauai.
I suggest ATV riding in the mountains. You get to see a lot of places where they have shot movies like Jurassic Park, Mighty Joe Young, Raiders of the Lost Ark, etc... And the Canyon they have on the island is like a mini Grand Canyon. Shaved ice is also a must!
I suggest ATV riding in the mountains. You get to see a lot of places where they have shot movies like Jurassic Park, Mighty Joe Young, Raiders of the Lost Ark, etc... And the Canyon they have on the island is like a mini Grand Canyon. Shaved ice is also a must!
When I went to Hawaii, I went on a cruise and visited Oahu, both sides of the Big Island, Kauai and Maui....Of all of those I like Kauai and the Kona side on the Big Island
I'm a surfer so the North Shore of Oahu was kind of a pilgramege for me (I absolutely loved that area even without the surf). Others have covered things nicely. You will enjoy wherever you go.
You got this correct. been to Hawaii 3 times, the big Island of Hawaii before and after Kilewaeu blew up and destroyed a lot of very interesting black beaches, the queens bath area, Royal Gardens. Stay on the Kona side, we stayed at what was then the new HILTON Wakeluwea, but make the trip over to the volcano and Hilo and see the jungle falls.
maui is ok, Oahu downtown is just like New York city, drunks asleep on the sidewalks at night. way too commercial but do see the Arizona.
you can island hop pretty cheap as I recall by plane.
Kona Village on Big Island. Sure, you will spend a small fortune, but it is worth every penny. Big has almost every ecosystem imaginable, and outside of Kona, it isn't heavily trafficked by other tourists. Put yourself in the mindset that you are a guest and not a tourist, and the days will just drip away. Make time move slow, for you are indeed in paradise.
Due to the logistical purposes, we take trips to the Caribbean on a regular basis. But even then we go out of our way to stay in obscure villas and be content with daily rations of goatwater, mangos and roadside food. I have tried the all-inclusive life in the Caribbean, and when in those waters , I prefer to stay away from idiot party centrals where the masses of pales call home for a week or two. Off all those places, nothing holds a candle to Kona Village.(Jamaica is vastly overrated unless you hit the interior hard.) The only thing NOT included is the alcohol. Beers for 4, drinks for 10.
And now that I have told you about paradise, I sadly inform you that Kona Village was damaged by tsunami waters from the Japan earthquake to the point that the place is deemed inoperable. This saddens me in ways I can't describe.
Kona Village Resort: A Community Helping The Employees of Kona Village
Due to the logistical purposes, we take trips to the Caribbean on a regular basis. But even then we go out of our way to stay in obscure villas and be content with daily rations of goatwater, mangos and roadside food. I have tried the all-inclusive life in the Caribbean, and when in those waters , I prefer to stay away from idiot party centrals where the masses of pales call home for a week or two. Off all those places, nothing holds a candle to Kona Village.(Jamaica is vastly overrated unless you hit the interior hard.) The only thing NOT included is the alcohol. Beers for 4, drinks for 10.
And now that I have told you about paradise, I sadly inform you that Kona Village was damaged by tsunami waters from the Japan earthquake to the point that the place is deemed inoperable. This saddens me in ways I can't describe.
Kona Village Resort: A Community Helping The Employees of Kona Village
I just got back from Hawaii a few weeks ago. It was my first time so I can't do any island comparisons for you but we went to Oahu and loved it.
As someone mentioned, there is a little bit of everything there. If you like the "big city" feel (tons of bars, restaurants, etc) then Waikiki is great. If you like the relaxed, island feel you can head up to Northshore and experience that. I would definitely rent a car for all or part of your trip. We spent one day just driving around and taking in the island and it was well worth it.
As someone mentioned, there is a little bit of everything there. If you like the "big city" feel (tons of bars, restaurants, etc) then Waikiki is great. If you like the relaxed, island feel you can head up to Northshore and experience that. I would definitely rent a car for all or part of your trip. We spent one day just driving around and taking in the island and it was well worth it.
