[keekee1006]

I am doing research for vacations for 2010 and wanted to know if any of you have been to Hawaii. Where did you stay? How did you like it? What did you do? Any tips would be appreciated.

[oceanica]

That is the most fabulous vacation ever! I loved it. I can't remember where we stayed on Hawaii, but it was in Hilo and we kept driving to Kona every day. That was a pain but the Hilo side was much prettier without all the lava. On Honulu we stayed in military housing with bil, so I can't help there... lol, it's probably an option you wouldn't want anyway! But you have to go to a Luau and go snorkeling. We just bought snorkel gear at walmart and went in and it was amazing what we could see. The water's really cold though compared with florida at least! We went to the mac nut farm (I'm going through a serious craving right now just talking about it bec you can't get them fresh like that here!) And you'd have to see the volcano and some of the beautiful parks with waterfalls. It's so amazing that orchids just grow by the side of the road like wildflowers! It is so beautiful, I know you will have a great time no matter what you end up doing.

[Steph-Jason]

Nope... no suggesions..... just wanted to tellyou to have fun. That sounds woderful!!! I'm green with envy for you! I never get to go on vacations so I'm jealous of anyone that does Although I am going to Florida in April so I guess I'll finally get to go somewhere!!

Have a blast. Can't wait to hear about it!!!

[loveajax]

Keekee, dh and I went to maui for our honeymoon eleven years ago. It was one of the best times of my life. We stayed at a place that was kind of "cheesy" but really reasonable and in a gorgeous location (same beach as the five star hotels)...kanapaali (kaanapaali?!) beach hotel. Also, it was a super long flight from the east coast!! So iif you are on the east coast, I'd suggest going for at least 10 days. How fun! Very jealous!

[socialkat78]

I stayed with friends on the Big Island. It was amazing! There is volcano national park, Akaka Falls, Hilo and Kona and both great. Spent a lot of time on the black sand beach near Pahala. Got lots of great pics of the sea turtles. We also flew over to see Pearl Harbor for a day. Make sure you bring some good walking shoes and a jacket, you will be surprised how cool it gets there at night.

[momraine]

We went on our honeymoon. We stayed on the big Island, it was a lot less crowded and a little less commercial, though we still did the cheesy luau and the dinner cruise that sounded romatic, but was super cheesy. We loved the Wapio valley. We did a horseback tour there and walked there and also did a helicopter tour. We did the volcano park too. It was wonderful.

[Cjmeck]

I lived there for 3 years, on Oahu. If you chose to stay downtown in Waikiki, the Hilton Hawaiian Village is a fabulous hotel. Although, Waikiki beach is kind of too commercial for me, and most people think the same thing. However, you can see Diamond Head from the beach. Haunauma Bay has some great snorkeling. I think the best areas to stay on Oahu are on the North Shore. The biggest waves, less populated, most natural and scenic beaches on Oahu. Its near the pineapple fields (dole pineapple plantation), some little Hawaiian towns with cute shops and restaurants. I haven't stayed there, but Turtle Bay Resort is on the North Shore and looks beautiful. No matter where you stay on Oahu, its pretty easy to get around (aside from Waikiki traffic) and you can get from one side of the island to the other in no time at all.
I've also been to the Big Island for a day trip, so no hotel experience. We visited the volcano national park (I think that's what its called). There are beautiful black sand beaches.
I miss it soooooo much. Have fun!

[keekee1006]

Thank you everyone I love reading your post and am looking forward to this trip. I try to take at least one big trip per year (trying to do as much as I can before my little one finds me). Please continue sending me your tips. What were your favorite restaurants to go to there? I would LOVE to go to a Luau.

[MamaS]

I took two teenagers and we stayed directly across from Wakiki Beach. The view of the beach, the city, and Diamondhead were indescribable. If you want a luau, take the all-day tour to the Polynesian Village. Fun, educational, and finishes with a luau. You don't need a car in downtown -- the Honolulu Zoo, the Aquarium, the International Market, Hard Rock Cafe, all are within easy walking distance.
As for restaurants, if you like sushi, walk into one of the sushi bars where you pick and choose from a moving trolley.
Even if you end up at McDonalds, they serve Portugese sausage and rice for breakfast, fresh pineapple, and pineapple pie. Everything is more fun in Hawaii.

[WizardofOz]

I adopted my Hawaiian daughter at birth. She was born in Honolulu and until my ICPC was approved, we stayed in Kauai. What a great way to spend your wait for ICPC aproval !

They don't call Kauai the "Garden Island" for nothing! I have never seen a more beautiful and lush vegetation.
I stayed in Lihue and went to day trips. One day, I went to fabulous Hanalei beach, the other I was strolling through Poipu gardens, the third day I went to see the famous Shiva Temple etc. There was something to do every day, even with a newborn baby!

In contrast to busy Honolulu, Kauai is not very commercialized and I really, really liked that.

[SupaModel]

I LOOOOOVE Maui!!!! I stayed at the Hilton in Kanapali beach and it was FABULOUS!! I have also stayed in wailea side of the island at Maui Prince Hotel. It was nice but it seemed to rain at some point everyday. I have also stayed in Kihei and that was much cheaper but my vote out of all 3 is the Kaanapali beach area.

How fun!!!

[jcm]

Originally Posted by Cjmeck

I lived there for 3 years, on Oahu. If you chose to stay downtown in Waikiki, the Hilton Hawaiian Village is a fabulous hotel. Although, Waikiki beach is kind of too commercial for me, and most people think the same thing. However, you can see Diamond Head from the beach. Haunauma Bay has some great snorkeling. I think the best areas to stay on Oahu are on the North Shore. The biggest waves, less populated, most natural and scenic beaches on Oahu. Its near the pineapple fields (dole pineapple plantation), some little Hawaiian towns with cute shops and restaurants. I haven't stayed there, but Turtle Bay Resort is on the North Shore and looks beautiful. No matter where you stay on Oahu, its pretty easy to get around (aside from Waikiki traffic) and you can get from one side of the island to the other in no time at all.
I've also been to the Big Island for a day trip, so no hotel experience. We visited the volcano national park (I think that's what its called). There are beautiful black sand beaches.
I miss it soooooo much. Have fun!

My husband and I went to Oahu last year. LOVED it, by far the best vacation I have ever taken.

The Dole Plantation, cheesy as it sounded, was an unexpected delight. Pineapple soft serve ice cream?? Truly awesome!

The only thing we absolutely hated, was the luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center. It was like a really poorly done Epcot. The Mormon's run the place (don't flame me), and it's all a bit creepy. I couldn't shake the feeling that the Mormon's were congratulating themselves on "liberating" the indigenous peoples they were supposedly celebrating.

The luau was awful. Think of 1000 people shoved into a tight space, eating off of a buffet. The food was just dreadful. To top that day of fun off, the bus broke down, and could only go 20 miles an hour the whole way back to the hotel. Year later, and it's still a scorching memory...lol.

If you want a luau experience, make sure you go through one of the hotels, ask the concierge, and have one that limits seating to 40 - 50 people. It is WAY better, and worth the money!

We stayed at the Marriott at Waikiki. It was nice, but I would have preferred to stay somewhere a little more off the beaten path. Turtle Bay sounded really nice.

Whatever you do, you must get the shave ice. Yes. "SHAVE"...don't at a "D" at the end, it's a local thing...lol. On our last day we rented a car and drove the island. Wished we would have done that earlier in the week. It was just awesome.

We did take an island tour ( Pearl Harbor Tours, Oahu sightseeing tours and other Personalized Sightseeing activities and adventures from Oahu's Tour Experts ), and it was great (the Circle tour, I think). The guide was terrific, and we got to see a lot of the island (Dole Plantation, drove thru North Shore, etc). This gave us a good base to do our own driving tour, and we went back for that divine pineapple ice cream at Dole The bus tour also stopped for lunch at a roadside, shrimp shack. It was probably the best shrimp I have eaten...but NEVER would have stopped at a place like that on my own.

We loved it so much, we really have been looking into jobs there. IT industry is booming in Honolulu. And who couldn't love living in a place that has NO indigenous snakes???

Good luck planning your vacation! I am really excited for you! Aloha!

[oceanica]

It's been fun reading everyone else's posts... I just wanted to add a couple things. We did not do a tour or have any guidance when we went, and the food could be questionable at some places so pick and choose your restaurants. Definitely do not order spam at any restaurant! Oh also I was surprised by all the crime and graffiti in Honolulu so just be aware of things when you are there. I can't remember which Luau place we used but I thought it was neat.... only about 20 people were there, the food was good and the dancing was amazing, and we got to learn a few moves. They explained what some of the gestures/hand motions mean. Got to talk to some of the beautiful looking (and handsome looking) dancers.. that was fun. The outfits were neat. I wish I could wear grass skirts all the time! As far as Waikiki, maybe this was a while back, but it didn't seem that commercial at the beach... we sat out on a pier and watched local kids/teens sitting for a while, jumping in and floating to shore, and repeating. It seems they do that all day! All the while a guy was softly playing banjo a little ways away. I thought it was fun. North shore was very fun too and we saw an art festival there. Shave ice is great! There are a lot of places that are not touristy which you can find out about and go to which are really neat. We went to parks and gardens and such. I wished I could take a botany course there because there are so many neat plants. I brought home a plumeria but it didn't live.
Black sand beaches are OK... I like the white and pink.
I think it was on Hawaii that we went to find a green sand beach.... it was NOT worth it! Long hike (like 5 miles one way) in the scorching sun with no shade through dead grass with very few other people around only to see it way down a cliff was not great.
We also stopped in a town and talked to someone who's house was eaten by lava. He really didn't seem that broken up about it... very interesting. Seeing the flowing lava was an experience that I'm glad I got to have. But it is hot and sulphury.

I hope Butta will jump in here for some advice from a local!
Sorry to monopolize... I really like hawaii... if I can give any more info you can pm, although some of the others I'm sure can help a lot more.
Which Islands are you going to?

On a side note, I read "Hawaii" by James Michener and learned a lot about the history of Hawaii... it was really interesting although huge, and was heartbreaking at times.

[keekee1006]

Oceanica, I was looking into Oahu but I'm open suggestions. I thought about a cruise but I didn't find any that would allow me to really see Hawaii. I want to stay where there is alot to do. I would love to be walking distance to as much as possible. After seeing these responses I definitely want to see the Dole plantation, black sand and the volcano park.

[Gwen72]

We love Hawai'i and go every other year. we have gone to all the Islands at one trip or another but we've never seen all the islands in one trip. In January 2010 we are flying to Honolulu and taking Norweigan Cruiselines inter island cruise. It departs Honolulu, goes to Maui, Kauai, Hilo (Big Island) and Kona (Big Island). It does not stop on Lanai or Molokai but you sail past them and and they are beautiful. If you go in the first 3 or 4 months of 2010 you will be able to see the humpback whales as they come to Maui and Kauai to give birth. For more suggestions on places to stay and save money in the islands check out Hawai'i Magazine. You can't go wrong no matter which island you choose to visit. You are going to see the most beautiful thing you've ever seen and have a great time.