Would I have enough time to drive to the top and also do the Zipline at line 9:30 or so?
Thoughts...
9:30 AM??
I guess it depends on when you leave. I did the zipline at like 2:30p or 3pm... and I got to the top of the crater around 11am I think. Plenty of time to look around at the top and all, but if you were planning on walking down the trail, I didn%26#39;t have enough time to go nearly as far as I would have liked.
i am staying in the hilton village and am wondering it is cheaper to get a taxi or the tour buses to the outlet centre....the bus is about $23 each and there are 2 of us?
thanks
Thats a great Question , Im Staying at the Ohana Waikiki West theres one of me!, Is the ';Tour'; a good idea or what about ';The Bus'; does it go there
Thanks in Advance%26#39;%26#39;
John
For two people at $23 each, the total cost of a bus trip to the outlets reaches the point where a one day car rental should be considered.
A car would provide freedom to range beyond the outlet centre, which is not a %26#39;full day%26#39; mall, to see the great beaches and other sights of the north shore at your own pace.
For ozJOHNau (not the famous AussieJohn, I assume) perhaps others can advise on the practicality of public transit to get to the outlets and back.
Agree we figured this before and if a visit there is necessary than a rental car would make more sense than trolley or taxi, since it is further than the airport which is around $35 o/w by taxi to Waikiki. You could get a compact or midsize for the day and crusie on to north shore and hit the beaches there or shop in Haleiwa or go skydiving at Dillingham.
irishgal .... taxi to the Waikele Premium Outlets, also known as the ';mega center'; is approx. $60 one way. THEBUS operated by the city is $2.00 one way. Shuttle bus are the rates quoted. If you decide on the city bus, I will provide you with what busses to take.
The ';mega center'; offers an impressive list of manufactureer direct stores from exclusive designers and brand names. There is a free trolley car to ride between the center%26#39;s two shopping complexes. If you have a AAA card, you may go to the information booth and get a discount book. Don%26#39;t know other ways to get the discount book, but, you can approach them and ask. Located on the mountain side of shops.
The best is to rent a car for the day and make a trip out of it. Go sightseeing first and when you are returning after going around the island, stop at Waikele on the way back to Waikiki. Don%26#39;t have to log your shopping in the car while sightseeing.
Hope this helps.
The Bus information would be great , I can then choose which way to go!
Thanks%26#39;%26#39;
John
hi there,
i would definately recommend a shuttle bus-have a look in any of the numerous coupon books when you get there and you will find $12 return per person to waikele outlets from your hotel-just phone them and book -they are very prompt and reliable-at least the ones we had were!we did this and trip was about 45mins and very direct-however i had to return and could not get a shuttle later in the day (long story) and caught %26#39;the bus'; -took 2 hours each way-definately not worth the amount of money you ';save';. loved the outlets-lots of bargains!
have fun-i am sooooo jealous!
I live in Waikele and driving from town without traffic will only take 20-30 mins, during peak traffic over an hour!
Don%26#39;t get too excited about the outlets here, it%26#39;s very small compared to mainland outlets!
But it%26#39;s halfway to the north shore or the West side with great hiking trails, beautiful beaches, fun shops and restaurants, so I%26#39;d recommend a rental car to explore more of the island.
Aloha!
just saw the last post regarding waikele outlets-maybe not great for usa mainlanders but being an aussie and the current state of the us dollar i found the outlets very good value for money for items that you cannot buy at home or are much more expensive in australia.
I agree , compared to Australia there should be some good specials
John
simple way to use the city bus to Waikele.
From Waikiki on Kuhio Avenue, Saratoga Road or Kalia Road heading away from Diamond Head, board #42 (Ewa Beach) and ride to Waipahu Transit Center on Hikimoe Street. Get off the bus and cross the street to the opposite side and transfer to #433 (Waikele Shopping Center). When you return, do the opposite. Total bus fare $4.00 round trip. Don%26#39;t forget your transfers.
Depending on the time of the day, expect a few hours to get there. Nice ride sightseeing the neighborhood and the plantation town of Waipahu.
Good luck,
We have only 1 1/2 full days in Oahu in July. We plan on going to USS Arizona early, taking Pali Highway to Kailua beach, have lunch, and head around Makapu%26#39;u point back to Waikiki. Which hike?
Up to lighthouse at Makapu%26#39;u? OR Up Diamond head?
What would be the more unique hike? How long would each one take? I know Diamond Head is more popular and busy, the length of time of each and uniqueness are our criteria.
Thanks so much, getting really excited
Depends on what you want to see. Makapu`u will have an ocean/beach view and Diamond Head will have a city view. Both are fabulous. Diamond Head hike is HOT,HOT,HOT. Don%26#39;t go if anyone in your party can%26#39;t take the heat. There is a small fee to enter Diamond Head now, I think (?)
I think after such a full day Makapu`u would be my choice if you take the short way up. They just finished a nice parking lot.
Pull up..State of Hawaii-Dept of Land and Natural Resources..they have a nice on line brochure of Diamond Head and the trail.
with a new parking lot at Makapu%26#39;u and a easier hike, Makapu%26#39;u will offer more in terms of a hike. Enjoy the beautiful Pacific Ocean, on a clear day look over the horizon and witness Molokai, Lanai and if on a very clear day, the mountain of Haleakalau on Maui. Check out the Makapu%26#39;u lighthouse as you seat and day dream as you look out to the ocean. A wonderful hike. Take plenty H2O.
Thank you both. I was leaning toward Makapu%26#39;u, and you helped me confirm. Only 5 weeks to go!
I would choose Diamond Head Hike.
Both will take a little oven an hour round trip.
I like to Hike Makapuu Lighthouse trail in the winter, because it is a great place to see whales.
In the summer, you can see much of the area from Makapuu Lookout, Halona Blowhole Lookout %26amp; Lanai Lookout. The view from above Makapuu Lighthouse is nice, but considering your limited time on Oahu, I%26#39;d skip the hike.
I%26#39;m with Dusty!
I did both in January of this year. Both will be HOT since it appears you are planning this for mid to late afternoon. Take lots of water.
I believe both would take you about the same about of time. We made it up to both in 45 minutes (down in about an hour) since we took our time on the way down.
We actually did both very early in the mornings so that we could see a sunrise from each place. Your experience will be different at that time of the day.
If I had to select one, I believe I%26#39;d go with Diamond Head. Only because its a volcano crater and how many times to do get to do that? I loved Makapuu Point and Lighthouse but the hike was up a cliff side and to be honest, you could probably find that type of hike elsewhere (the hike itself, not the view) The view was amazing.
It was just a different experience for me knowing that I was hiking up the side of a crater.
Good luck in your selection
We did the Diamond Head Hike two weeks ago and don%26#39;t be mistaken, it is a real hike and I recommend doing it in the morning. We went at 9am and even with a couple of sprinkles, it was very hot. I think ideal conditions would be to hike early in the morning, like 7am. It%26#39;s a great hike though - highly recommend it.
The last comment about Diamond Head being a real hike is 100% true. I get a laugh out of folks who think it is a stroll in the park. My 13 year old tossed her cookies due to the heat, but still made it to the top of Diamond Head. Leave the sandals at the beach and bring plenty of water.
What is the weather like in November. How are the beaches and ocean in November?
This past November was wonderful, even the north shore beaches. This November? Hard to tell this far in advance. It%26#39;s winter, and it should be somewhat rainier and cooler, especially on the north shore, with high surf up there. If you have any qualms, plan to stay south shore, or east side and travel a bit.
We have stayed in November several times -- weather was great each time. However, we usually stay south during this period.
We were on Kauai last November for our honeymoon. The weather was great, but the snorkleing was a bit splotchy. We were able to get our best snorkleing in at Lawai beach in the South. Tunnels, Ke%26#39;e and almost all the North shore spots were too rough and murky for snorkleing.
We did however, have an amazing time exploring the island. We did have one awesome rain storm on our way back to our condo in Kapaa from the Beach House. Torrents of rain coming down! It was quite an experience and I was glad my husband was driving. That was at night, though and the few rain showers during the day didn%26#39;t disrupt us at all.
Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!
Well since we are currently in a drought situation with some areas being asked to conserve water use -- obviously it has been dry, dry, dry for quite some time - including last November.
Normally, November is a pretty good month -- we can get some good rainfall since it is the start of the winter season, but there just isn%26#39;t anytime that I%26#39;d say stay away because we get lots of rain -- there is just no telling -- altho%26#39; obviously the winter months have a higher change of rainfall.
The surf is winter surf in November, which means high surf conditions and possibly dangerous ocean conditions on the North Shores of all islands. The South and West facing shores will have the small surf and better swimming conditions. This is just our normal pattern.
Hope this helps!
Malama Pono,
Janet
Will I be running into construction traffic when I am driving from the airport to the Grand Hyatt?
I woudn%26#39;t worry about it. You might see some traffic down near Poipu, depending on what time of day you are coming in. But not a bigh deal.
people flap too much about traffic on Kauai. It%26#39;s noting like LA. If you happen to hit the peak of the mess in Kapaa heading south in the evening you might get hung up for an extra 20 min. Same time of day heading to Poipu you might spend 20 min getting through the lights in Lihue. If you drop down around the harbor and come back up you might be able to shave a few min. or go the real back way around Kipu.
It%26#39;s really not that big a deal. Just avoid traveling 4-5 PM and you won%26#39;t spend much time in traffic.
Dave820 wrote: or go the real back way around Kipu.
Heavens Dave - don%26#39;t tell everyone the secret! This is the only way we go. I whole heartly agree - too much hoopla regarding the traffic and construction. I understand the people of Kauai look at it differently but here on the mainland those conditions are not new. Go have a blast and hang loose!
You can totally avoid the main construction areas in Poipu if you take the bypass road which is a left hand turn , off of the Tree Tunnel road, right before you hit the town of Koloa. Just turn left on Ala Kinoiki (sp?) right before Koloa. But yep, like Dave said well, too much flap about all this. Most of all are probably used to worse driving conditions on the mainland. Depending on what time of day you arrive you could run into a little flare up of traffic from Lihue through Puhi area. Again, not a big deal. Cars will be moving slower but still, no big deal, comparatively speaking. And it doesn%26#39;t land for very long. Kick back and look at the scenery if this is the case (oops-don%26#39;t take eyes off of road though).
Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!
To avoid the construction traffic in the Koloa - Po%26#39;ipu Beach area.
Coming from Lihue, turn onto Maluhia Rd. (Tree Tunnel Rd.) -- after you get to the ';flats'; at the bottom, look for the intersection with a sign to ';Po%26#39;ipu'; on your left -- this is Ala Kino%26#39;iki Rd. -- turn left here, stay on the by-pass which will take you to the intersection of Po%26#39;ipu Rd. right by the Hyatt -- turn left and the Hyatt is about one block on your right side.
Malama Pono,
Janet
Which hotels or resorts are oceanfront with the best beaches?
What time of year do you plan to come?? You see, the ocean and the beaches change with the season . . . some are calmer during the winter (south) and some are calmer during the summer (north). I would always go for the North, because of the drop dead gorgeous scenery! :)
I think that the Sheraton has the best beach hands down- unlike other hotels, the beach is swimmable and is right there on the ocean. It is my favorite!
Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!
Well on the South Shore you have the Grand Hyatt -- it is oceanfront on a lovely stretch of sand -- the drawback is that it is only for experienced surfers, body boarders, etc. They make up for that by having several different pools on property, one a saltwater pool that you can kayak on!
The Sheraton Kaua%26#39;i is along Po%26#39;ipu Beach - which is a swimmable beach -- it is not a ';luxury'; resort, but moderate. There are two sides to the property, intersected by Ho%26#39;onani Road. The ocean wing looks out over the ocean - the pool wing looks out over the pool area and ocean. The garden side has views of lushly landscaped gardens and koi ponds -- they also have their own small, low-key pool.
The downside of the Sheraton is that it is in the heart of the major construction area of from 11 to 15 properties, all in the same stage of construction (they started about 2/3 months ago) -- the property immediately mauka of the Sheraton is scheduled to be developed this summer (as far as I%26#39;m aware) which will impact the resort quite a bit. The closest construction is the very large Koloa Landing Development, which is on Kapili Road - 1/2 block from the Sheraton.
If you were to spend most of your time either away from the property or down on the ocean - I don%26#39;t know how much if any noise you would get from this and the roadwork on Po%26#39;ipu Road.
If you want to avoid this altogether, the Princeville Hotel up on the North Shore is a luxury property and is located directly on their own man-made beach overlooking Hanalei Bay.
Good luck!
Malama Pono,
Janet
We will be there in Nov or Dec this year
in nov or dec probably either the Sheraton in Poipu or condo on same beach or consider Marriott at Kalapaki. Also pretty sheltered beach.
apparently Janet hasn%26#39;t lived on Kauai long enough. If she would have realized that back in 1972 all those areas were zoned as resort areas. Possibly she would have moved to Princeville. Kauai has just been slow in doing catch up. Here is part of an article regarding the boom in Koloa and Poipu:
The problem is, Kauai Mayor Bryan Baptiste said this week, most of the area was zoned for resort development in 1972, when the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance was implemented.
Erin
Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!
Thank you Erin for your very kind and considerate reply.
But I%26#39;ll decline at this time to be ';baited'; into an argument with you.
Your postings speak volumes.
Malama Pono,
Janet
';Ku ka liki o Nu%26#39;uanu i ka makani';
Hi!
We are finally leaving tomorrow for our trip - we are so excited! I%26#39;ve noticed high surf advisories for Kona - what exactly does this mean? Does it mean we shouldn%26#39;t go to the beach at all or not into the water, no snorkeling, etc.? My kids are not strong swimmers.
Thank you!
Onederland,
Straight from NOAA:
A high surf warning means that damaging surf is expected or already occurring along the affected shorelines. A high surf advisory means that waves along the affected shores will be higher than normal. Residents and visitors are urged to avoid entering the water due to the dangerous wave action and strong rip currents.
Don鈥檛 ask me, to me it still means grab a sponge or surf board and get out there early!
Good luck and happy travels!
Thank you for the clarification! I truly appreciate the help.
Alice
Depends how high and which beach. The wave height map has 4-6 feet coming onto the shore north of the airport today, higher south. Don%26#39;t know how accurate that is, but the surf is up...
Some beaches are in sheltered lagoons, e.g. up in some of the Kohala hotels. Those might be splashable but not snorkelable (they would be stirred up anyway). They will close beaches like Kahaluu if it/s really high because of the rip current. When you get there, check around.
Kiholo lagoon will be calm, if cold and a bit cloudy. We like it a lot, but it%26#39;s a half hour or more hike from the highway.
to me it indicates you should plan to keep your kids out of the water at all but safest beaches. Defer snorkeling and hope for calmer water. The high surf shouldn%26#39;t continue without a break.
Where are you staying?
';Kona'; alone is not helpful as it%26#39;s a very long shoreline and many people use it for the whole west side of the island.
Kailua-Kona = the town
Kona means the whole district including up through Hualalai and on to Kohala.
Actually there is North and South Kona.
Kohala (South) for your purposes starts at the Waikoloa Beach Resort and points north.
Indicate your turf and we can tell you the calmest beaches.
Do not let your children swim during high surf conditions on a beach, read all the signs, familiarize yourself with current and rip tide locations on that beach. Watch the ocean for at least 15 minutes before you get in to see what the highest sets are doing. Be aware that sleeper waves are real.
Go in the water with your children and stay near them. If a current grabbed them or undertow you will be too far away up on the beach.
Of course you can still go to the beach. How old are your children?
We are staying at Sea Village, but don%26#39;t mind driving to a good, safe beach or snorkel spot. The kids are 13, 9, and 6 - the 6 year old does not swim, so we will be next to him at all times. None of them have snorkeled before. Which places do you recommend?
Thanks : )
hi, well the fallback for beginner snorkeling is Kahalu%26#39;u beach but it can be dangerous in high surf times (as Honu said).
There%26#39;s a place called Baby Beach that is supposed to be extra calm and I haven%26#39;t been to it.
A-Bay is generally safe to swim near shore when othe beaches are too rough.
This is not a good time of year to come for beginning snorkeling by so-so swimmers. May to October is so much calmer. It is winter, and yes, our winter is warmer than your winter by far, but the ocean thinks it%26#39;s winter.
Here%26#39;s the problem with snorkeling -- you put your face down in the water and you can%26#39;t see what the ocean is doing, and waves can sneak up on you. You drift, and suddenly are in a current. You get surge and it slams you against the coral, bad for you and death to the coral. Unless the water is sort of a bathtub you need to know what you%26#39;re doing in the ocean.
I know that sounds like a downer but people drown here because they come to snorkel from shore and they do it in the wrong conditions.
The southern beach at the Mauna Lani is very protected near shore, but last weekend I went and they did have the high surf warning up. It was definitely choppy; only a couple people had snorkels on.
I think your best bet is to go to the calm beaches, enjoy the sun sand and swimming near shore, do your other activities, and then see if the water calms down at Kahalu%26#39;u. Let your children get used to Hawaii beaches and ocean and then let them try snorkeling.
A-bay is also a good place to let them practice getting the hang of it. The trouble with A-bay is simply not much of anything to see underwater in the calmest parts of it, and when the ocean is choppy if you go down to the coral heads you can get bumped against them.
So, to sum up, it%26#39;s a lot easier to learn to snorkel away from rocks and coral just as a way to master technique.
Also, they sell inflatable snorkeling vests and probably they rent them too, could be an excellent precaution.
Thank you again! Can%26#39;t wait to get there!
Information please about Sea Village unit 3212. This is unit
we have rented from owner from June 20 to July 2nd.
We are still a bit aprehensive about renting from someone we do
not know. We are renting from Howard Page. Is this the same owner you rented from ????
aloha
If things get wild go here
Kikaua Point Beach aka baby beach
located approximately 10 miles north of Kailua-Kona, adjacent the Kukio Golf Resort. Coming from Kailua, turn left at Kukio Nui Road, enter via the gate house - just tell the guards ';public beach access'; and they will let you Shady trees surround the beachin.
Any idea how early one would need to arrive before the parking lot is full at baby beach?
Thanks in advance!
My kids need to rent boogie boards for my week in Kauai.Is there a place by the Grand Hyatt that would do weekly rentals?To much of a hassle to bring them.
Fully understand about trying to drag them on a plane. Try here, it is down the road from the Hyatt. www.nukumoisurf.com/surfshophawaii.html
Right accross the road from Poipu Beach. I would also check with the concierge at the Hyatt. They are wonderful in replying to emails. Most resorts/condos do have boogie boards available for rent.
Erin
Erin is right on. You can rent boogie boards at Nukumoi, just across from Poipu Beach, and next ti Poipu Beach is Brenneckes Beach , the popular boogie boarding beach on the south shore.
Denny
Our kids are 10 years old. We looked into renting boogie boards for a week at Snorkel Bob%26#39;s. It cost around $30. We decided to just buy them at K-Mart for half the price and leave them at the hotel. But they enjoyed them so much they had to bring them home on the plane. No problem, airport packaged them up and checked them in for us.
Since we had seen items on the news recently I was wondering what the current hiking time to the lava flows is. Anybody?
Approximately 3 weeks ago, they were estimating the hike at 4-5 miles if you wanted the chance to see lava (note that there%26#39;s no guarantee since the flow is changing constantly). We decided it wasn%26#39;t worth it once we saw what we would have to hike over for 4-5 miles one way (way back would be in the dark if you wanted the best chance to see lava glow).
Well I%26#39;ve finally found a place that seems ideal to rent next March......owner seems very polite and professional.....but before I actually send the deposit, I wanted to check with anyone who may be familiar with the area........
I had read that there was a big flood through this region last year.......have the natural plants grown back over the flooded area.....also the owner says you can walk down a trail to the Rock Quarry Beach from the rental.........was the trail effected by the flood.........Of course it all looks gorgeous on the website, but those pictures were not taken recently........Thank you in advance for any information you can provide.......
mombear the floods and broken dam were quite an issue on the island. Very sad indeed. you can actually go to www.kauaiworld.com and they have a photo gallery that show pictures. very devasting situation it was.
Erin
Wow ! That really was a catastrophe..........Is it still a muddy mess up that way ??
Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!
If you hadn%26#39;t been here at the time and seen all the mud and damage, you wouldn%26#39;t even know it had ever happened.
That is how quickly the island renews itself!
Malama Pono,
Janet
Thanks Janet.........Thats the way it is here in our rain forest, so I was hoping that the plants would grow back quickly.......I really appreciate all your posts and have learned a lot......Thanks again for the prompt and timely posts........
Can any one tell me what the trees are called that are currently blooming in purple? We saw lots of these trees the way down from Haleakala and were mesmerized by the color. There was a huge one in bloom at the Kula Lodge.
Just curious as to what they are.
Mahalo.
LJ
Do you mean the jacarnada trees?
They sure are beautiful and add interest to photoghraphs. People always ask when they see them in a picture.
Jacarandas are my favorite. Our street is lined with them. So beautiful.
yes they ARE jacaranda..I love them..but it is too cold to grow them where we Iive :(
Thank you! Yes, they are just lovely. But the pictures I have don%26#39;t do them justice.
Now another question....what are the trees that are blooming orange?
Definitely Jacarandas and definitely NOT native. I believe that they are native to South America or somewhere like dat ....
They are exploding upcountry something fierce :)
Not sure where you saw the orange flowering trees but possibly you saw ';African Tulip'; trees. They have large cup like flowers that are a brilliant deep orange color. Not native and we have a zillion of them.
If you saw a tree with deep yellow/gold flowers (almost like harvest gold appliances!!) near the Jacaranda trees on Maui you saw a ';Silver Oak'; tree. Non- native also. The ';flowers'; are odd sort of long spikey things that look sort of unreal.
There are other trees with orange flowers but those two are the most common.
Ok, African tulip is what we saw. A deep orange colored bloom. Very pretty. I%26#39;ve seen these in bloom on Kauai as well but just never knew what they were.
Seeing the jacaranda blooms were a first that I can remember. Awesome color. Reminds me of the movie What Dreams May Come.
Thanks for helping!
LJ
Jacarandas... A common sight here in Southern California. Beautiful when in bloom but a super messy landscape tree.
Has anyone done any shopping here? Is it any good?
How do you get there? Is it easy from Ala Moana?
How do you get there from the Swap meet?
Thanks
bump
Ward center/Ward Warehouse/Ward Complex is OK it is quite large spread out over several blocks and about a block deep. lots of variety shops and a large movie theater complex a few good restaurants it is not far from Ala Moana you could walk or just jump on THE BUS it is a long way from the swap meet but if you are staying in Waikiki it is on the way to the swap meet between Ala Moana and restaurant row
It%26#39;s only about 3 blocks past the end of the Ala Moana shopping center to the start of the Ward complex. It%26#39;s about 15 minutes walk from the HHV end of Waikiki to get there, but it would be quite a distance from the Diamond Head end. Just head straight down Ala Moana Blvd., you can%26#39;t miss it.
What can you say about a shopping center? It has some interesting shops (SoHa has wild %26amp; interesting furniture I%26#39;ve never seen anywhere else). Kaka%26#39;ako Kitchen is one of the best casual food (modestly priced) places in Honolulu. Brew Moon and Big City Diner are both worth a visit. The complex has movie theaters as well as a Dave and Busters. Basically its a shopping center, spread out over several city blocks. Here%26#39;s a link:
http://www.victoriaward.com/
Can you please tell me, what is a Dave and Busters?
Dave %26amp; Buster%26#39;s is a mixed pub, game arcade and restaurant.
See:
http://www.daveandbusters.com/
Ward Center is OK for shopping. As stated, Dave and Busters is a combination arcade and restaurant/bar. Buca Di Bepo is another good place to eat there. It%26#39;s a family-style Italian restaurant that serves HUGE portions!
Hi BeckAussie .. you lucky thing going back at Chrissy! Very envious!
Last week I shopped at Nordstram Rack which is just behind the Ward Centre. We walked from Ala Moana Shopping Centre to the Ward Centre .. took about 10 mins ...
I also bought most of my clothes from American Eagle which is at Ala Moana.
Aloha
Pull up...';THEBUS.ORG';......
They have a page for ';visitors/attractions'; that lists all the stuff you need and how to get there.
Swap Meet is listed....Wed/Sat/Sun...I love it and go early to beat the heat.
Love Dave and Busters...eat downstairs then go upstairs to the ';arcade';. Whether you play or not it is very amusing and interesting.
Bucca de Bepo has always been so busy I have never gotten in the place. If you do go, be ready to share dishes. I heard they are family sized.
Yesterday was 86 degrees and killer hot. We are in a drought so I would bus it where possible.
My boyfriend and I just booked a trip to Maui in January, and we%26#39;re already so excited. I was wondering if anyone did any of the horseback riding tours, and how it was. Any reccomendations for ';must do'; or ';must see'; activities?
we just had our own ';first'; to maui.. amazing place here are my must do%26#39;s
1:Pack then unpack half of everything you brought, you won%26#39;t need it!
2:Rent a convertable.. a must! So worth it.
3: Have a lava flow at Moose%26#39;s.. the best! Hula Grill is not bad either.
4: Reserve a spot on the Zip line.. books way out so do this early
5:Drive the west maui loop... beautiful and won%26#39;t use your whole day
6 the most important thing... hang out at the beach and RELAX.. the MOST fun!
there are other things but these seem to be the main things that stand out!
If you are planning on going to the Old Lahaina Luau, book ASAP! The earlier you book, the better seats you get.
Also, start doing as much research as possible by picking up a couple of books. This helped me a lot. I planned my vacation(s) months ahead of time as well and I had plenty of time to make notes and make online reservations to activities, i.e. snorkeling, sailing, etc. I also printed out directions from my hotel to my destinations so I wouldn%26#39;t get lost. :)
mld,
I also live in Philly and we%26#39;re heading out to Maui next week for about 5 days. My best friend%26#39;s wedding or we wouldn%26#39;t be going for such a short time. I%26#39;ve been once before and my girlfriend lived and taught on the island for a short period, so the short stay doesn%26#39;t sting as much.
So you%26#39;re heading out in January. It%26#39;s a great place. My suggestions would probably mirror just about everyone else%26#39;s. My girlfriend took me on the ride around the north shore to Kaanapali. Beautiful, but drive carefully. We did the Road to Hana and hiked through the bamboo forest to the waterfall. Very cool. Be aware, I wouldn%26#39;t drive around the southeast corner of the island to get back from Hana. The views are great but the road is rough. The Old Lahaina Luau was awesome. In fact, we%26#39;re going back next Saturday. We really enjoyed the snorkel trip out to Molokini. The water is so clear and the crew took us on a short tour to La Peruse to see spinner dolphins. We doing this trip again as well. As far as horseback riding. I%26#39;m not really into that but my girlfriend is. I%26#39;ve successfully avoided it to this point. I know she%26#39;s ridden with Mendez Ranch though and really enjoyed it.
Will you be heading straight out, or breaking the trip up. Our first trip we stayed in Los Angeles for a few days over New Years. Then headed out. That worked out well. This time it%26#39;s a straight shot through Dallas. Long trip, but very much worth it.
We will be heading straight there...7 nights/8 days
Get out and explore the rest of the island! Don%26#39;t just stay in Kaanapali or Wailea or whatever part of the island you%26#39;re staying at.
Good suggestion by Umaga! Also, don%26#39;t forget to go up to Haleakala Crater.
I also went to Iao Needle on my first trip and loved it. It doesn%26#39;t take a whole day and yet you get to see great scenery and learn some good cultural info. We will be going there again in July for a little refresher. Link it together with some other ';in-town'; activities to make good use of your time...
Hey everyone!
My first post here and getting everything ready for my trip to Honolulu the 1st week of July. I%26#39;ve been there before, but now experiencing it as an adult.
My question is... I was thinking of getting a rental car for about 2 to 3 days. Do you think it%26#39;s best to reserve it now or will it be hard to get a rental when I get there? My husband says to wait until we get there since we don%26#39;t exactly know when we want it yet. But I%26#39;m afraid that it being July (busy time!) it may be hard for us to get a rental car.
What do you all think?
Do not wait until you get here to rent a car, book it online ahead of time because you will get much better rates and avoid any hassles and problems when you arrive. If you rent the car at least you will know when you have it so you can begin to make plans around it.
Thank you.
I figure it will be much easier too.
Thanks again!
Hi i just wondered if anyone has heard of this company? You hear alot about internet fraud these days so just want to make sure as its genuine before i book with them as bit far to go to get money back! ta
a member of the Hawaii Better Business Bureau (BBB), Discounts Hotel Hawaii has brochures in racks as you arrive into the baggage area of the Honolulu Airport. Rates will be cheaper and they are reputable. Give%26#39;um a try, you are only going to get a cheaper rate with some better hotels.
Good luck. ';Live Aloha';
We are traveling to Hawaii in two weeks. We will only be in Honolulu for two days and of course, we want to visit Pearl Harbor. I%26#39;ve read about an ocean theme park where there is a whare and a wholphin, but also about a smaller aquarium on a coral reef. Any suggestions as to which would be better?
I%26#39;d also like to tour the Dole Pineapple Plantation, but we are also staying at Kapalua for a few days, and thought I might get to see the pineapples there.
Check out ...';sealifeparkhawaii.com';.....small but very nice aquarium/ocean park. The drive out there is spectacular.
We have a small aquarium in Waikiki near Diamond Head...';waquarium.org';.
You%26#39;ll see pineapple growing on Maui but they don%26#39;t have a visitor center (to my knowledge) like Dole Plantation on O`ahu.
thanks, Sheila8.
About 4 or 5 yrs ago my husband and I rented a house on K-bay with another couple for 5 nights. We rented kayaks for the full time, kayaked and snorkeled every day, and absolutely loved it. Wonderful dolphins two days (who certainly didn%26#39;t seem to be behaving as though they were stressed or wanted to get away from the kayaks). From what I%26#39;ve been reading on this forum, things have been deteriorating. Damage to coral from careless kayakers, disturbed dolphins, fewer dolphins...
We are coming to the Big Island again next Jan, and were thinking of renting on K-bay again ,but I am somewhat discouraged by these reports (and also by the prospect of possible bans on kayaking across the bay). I am considering Kapoho as an alternative, both for its allegedly good snorkelling and its reasonably easy access to VNP. But, how likely are we to see the sun in January? And just how bad is the situation at K-bay? Are there any restrictions in place at this time? (I couldn%26#39;t find any on the hawaii.gov website).
Any alternative suggestions are welcome. We like to hike, kayak, and snorkel---lying on a sandy beach is not a priority.
Thanks.
Kapoho has Kona-like weather year around and you will see the sunrise every morning. Kapoho Beach Lot is a gated subdivision with more nicer homes than the Kapoho Vacationland subdivision next door. You can search this forum for K-Bay information. (Part of the bay is closed and off limits, no legal kayak rental by the bay.) I personally would go to Kapoho instead of K-Bay, there is much more to see and do on the East side of the island and I love the dining options in Hilo and Pahoa much more than in Kona.
The two areas are very different. TT has already described quite a bit.
You can%26#39;t kayak out of Kapoho, I can%26#39;t imagine. The tidepools are protected and then the violent east side ocean breaks at the edge. There are dolphins who frequent the bay down at Kehena.
Whether or not the dolphins are trying to flee the kayaks, dolphin habits are well known to marine biologists. They are nocturnal hunters and they rest during the day in sandy-bottomed bays where they can see the shadows cast by sharks who are their main predator. They do not sleep when they rest because they are never safe enough to sleep. They shut down one half of their brain at a time (or so I%26#39;ve read), while the other side remains vigilant.
If people came in YOUR bedroom and wanted to party while you were asleep, even if you joined in the fun, if you still had to go out and hunt but without rest, you can imagine the lack of sleep would catch up to you. The dolphins are being deprived of needed rest and it throws their rhythm off, whether or not they appear to be fine with the contact. The numbers are down, the births are down, and they have been known to behave aggressively.
For all you know, what appears to be playful interaction may be their way of protecting their space. Humans call it ';playful'; but that%26#39;s our interpretation.
Kayaking is ruining the environment there. The government here has to balance the commerical/tourism interests against environmental concerns, which is why it isn%26#39;t shut down and may not be until it%26#39;s too late to save the coral and the dolphins. Make your own decision, but do not justify your decision with the fact the government still permits it ... it won%26#39;t be the first unique marine resource in Hawai%26#39;i that was permitted to be utilized to death in order to encourage tourism.
If people keep it up, eventually it will be like Hanauma Bay ten years ago and in danger of being dead so they%26#39;ll have to step up and try to nurse it back to health by putting regulations in place.
We don%26#39;t seem to be able to learn to restrain ourselves when we want to have fun until they make laws against stuff.
Back to Kapoho, the Beach Lots have walking access to the Champagne Pond which is nice for kids but nothing to see snorkeling. Good place to practice.
Tidepools fronting vacation land have limited public parking, so there%26#39;s an advantage to Vacationland that you can walk to snorkeling if you rent close enough to the pools. As TT said, the places are older and funkier than the high end Beach Lots, which are a gated subdivision.
You can kayak on the west side where the water is calmer without stressing out Kealakekua, for example Kiholo Bay or Keauhou Bay.
In January, the ocean can be subject to northwest swells and quite violent, so keep in mind this isn%26#39;t the best time of year for snorkeling excepted in protected areas.
Thank you, TT and KK.
I understand that the two areas are completely different, and am glad to hear that we might get good weather in Kapoho (though I know there are no guarantees!). I am also fully aware of the power of the ocean in Hawaii (one of the things I%26#39;ve always loved about K-bay is how calm it is).
Much as I love K-bay, I guess I don%26#39;t want to be part of it being loved to death, and will have to consider myself fortunate to have experienced it on two separate trips (the first trip we hiked down). I don%26#39;t like big snorkel boats with 50 of my closest friends, so I guess snorkeling there is out for this trip. After K-bay, though, would you think the snorkeling at Kapoho would be disappointing? Then there%26#39;s always the nasty bacteria I keep reading about. I%26#39;m hoping that problem is exaggerated by paranoid people and the press.
Is there anywhere else you%26#39;d suggest? I was originally planning to split our time between K-bay and Volcano, but when I read about Kapoho, it sounded as though we might be able to do several dayhikes in VNP while staying there, instead. Maybe another ocean location (kayaking, snorkeling) and Volcano would be a better choice? We definitely want to rent a house/cottage---the resort scene is not for me. Restaurants are not important, either. Last time we loved grilling fish, making a salad, and eating on our own lanai.
Kapoho is nice. Just go out farther than the first pool, which doesn%26#39;t get much water exchange and the babies do their thing there.
The bacteria issue is everywhere, and it%26#39;s real, so just don%26#39;t go in if you have an open cut. The Kapoho snorkeling is supposed to be remarkable. I will be checking it out later this month.
There are at least two tours that take small groups to K-bay, if you want an intimate tour (which sounds better to me!).
Thanks. Sounds like Kapoho might be a good choice for us.
Ok were already planning for spring of 08 trip. This time with the kids. 13,8,4,2 ( ages they will be next year) We want.. NEED a condo, and I want to hear what your favorites are.. not just names but unit numbers. We want ocean front with a great lani, pool is nice but a nice beach is better. I love west maui, but we are open to southern maui too. We really like snorkeling at honolua bay. We stayed at the Maui Kai.. amazing unit 1008.. just looking at other options too :) We would like a 2 bedroom.. but believe it or not we fit ok in a 1 bedroom too. We lived in a Haitian ref. villiage in a very small space so my kids squish well :) We are outside most times. AC is preferred but good fans is ok too :) THanks for all the tips. Daniele
Hololani B204 - we this rents for $240 but I ask for the special and any other return guest discount and get it closer to $200/night. 2 bedroom units here. The second bedroom has a shoji screen separating it from the living room and it has a Murphy bed. The master has a king size bed. 2 large bathrooms, one with a bathtub. Washer/dryer in the unit so we pack extremely light. The beach isn%26#39;t very wide but it is usable. Kahana Gateway has Outback Steakhouse, Roy%26#39;s of Kahana, McDonalds, Fish and Game Brewing Co %26amp; Rotisserie, a Whalers General Store and a gas station.
Best thing about B204 is the sunset views from the living room and back bedroom and the sound of the ocean crashing at night.
Hmmm.... if I answered that one, I%26#39;d never be able to book it for myself!! SOOOO self-centered, MauiNKO is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
;-)
very wise of you!
We are choosing to stay in Menehune Shores. I have never been before, so I will let you know when we get back. It had good reviews here on TA. We have a 3 Brd Oceanfront condo and are paying a little over 200.00 per night. The pictures for our unit look awesome, so I hope they live up to it. But, watch for my full trip report which, hopefully, will come sometime after the 27th. I will let you know what we thought.
LL,
From my observations, you%26#39;ll like Menehune Shores, however, it%26#39;s not on the best beach on Maui by any stretch. OP says they prefer a nice beach. DS#1 and his entorage have a 3 br on the 5th floor reserved for October. We%26#39;re excited for them!!
I can understand your resistance to sharing your condo finds? So why not just leave me a message on trip advisor privately....? I promise not to spead the word :) Thanks to those who shared with me so far.. Amazing trusted info :) Can%26#39;t beat that :)
We stayed in Makena Surf Unit F 210 and it was fantastic...
Right on the Water and by 2 great beaches...
We saw many weddings on the beaches and Boogie Boarded, Swam and Snorkeled every day right from our unit...
The Unit itself was beautiful and the Pools and Grounds really nice...It also had a Full size Weber gas grill on its large lanai...
Air conditioning and 2 bedrooms and baths...
You can google it...it is on VRBO and few oterhBy owner sites as well as being listed with a local proerty manager...Book through VRBO to save a few bucks...
For us , this place was the BOMB...
All the best,
Dennis
Thanks so much... I will check it out :)
You may be willing to ';squish';, but most condos have rules about how many guests can stay in a 1 BR, 2 BR, etc. Most 2 BRs will sleep six.
Makena Surf IS lovely, but not cheap! None of the oceanfront condos in S. Kihei/Wailea are inexpensive. They may be old, but they are still ';oceanfront'; and charge for it.
S. Kihei oceanfront: Kihei Surfside, Mana Kai Maui, Hale Pau Hana.
Wailea oceanfront: Makena Surf, Polo Beach Club, Elua, Ekahi. (I won%26#39;t get into Wailea Beach Villas due to cost.)
Now, you can get oceanfront on not-so-great beaches (for swimming, snorkeling) in N. Kihei, or you can save a lot by staying across the road from excellent Kamaole I, II, III in S. Kihei. Sugar Beach is an option in N. Kihei.
You can%26#39;t stay at our favorite for two reasons. It%26#39;s too small for your family (1 BR 2 bath) and it%26#39;s not allowed to advertise here!
(DH and I had only one visit to Haiti -- early 1960s -- when our cruise ship was in port for a day. Such beauty! Such poverty!)
I am visiting Maui for a few days and want to do the Skyline road. I have a rental car but need one more person. We rent two mountain bikes and one more rental car for 1 day (price is 45 for each bike and 20 for the car). Drop a car off at the bottom of the skyline road, then take the other one and the bikes to the top early morning. We bike down the road to the car that we dropped off.
If you don%26#39;t know about this road it%26#39;s one of the most spectacular ever, going across craters and very little inhabited areas. It%26#39;s not very challenging so you don%26#39;t have to be an advanced rider.
If interested please e-mail me (dan_tm2000@hotmail.com) or call my cell 617-792-7844.
Thanks!
When are you planning this for??
bumping this one. I just find it interesting that the bikes are twice as expensive as the car for a day rental.
I%26#39;m interested in joining. I will be there from Jun 30 to July 7
I just reserved two rooms at the Royal Hawaiian for next July as resorts are already starting to fill up this far out on the calendar. We%26#39;re celebrating our son%26#39;s graduation and our anniversary with the family so I%26#39;m pretty excited, hence my procative planning!
The ';Pink Palace'; appealed to me on many levels. (especially since it%26#39;s featured now on the Travel Channel) However, this decision wasn%26#39;t as easy to make as one might think because there are so many nice properties to choose from. I%26#39;m hoping that I%26#39;ve made the right choice and since I booked quite early I can always make changes in time without penalties.
So, I%26#39;d appreciate feedback from those who%26#39;ve stayed at this place. (I guess I%26#39;m just looking for positive reinforcement on my decision.) But- would like to get the ins and outs from those who know best.
Thanks!
bump
I love the Royal. So much so that I will be there in 3 weeks for a 4 night stay. I like the historic Royal Ocean view rooms. They have the tall ceilings and hand carved doors. The room I was in last time was huge, with a huge walk in closet.
Be forewarned, it is not a modern hotel, it was built in 1927. You will not have a balcony in the old part of the hotel. I like to sit in the hotel, room or lobby, and think about all of the very famous people that have stayed there.
BTW, the Moana Hotel is very nice too, and older.
Thanks stevendm. We, too, have reserved Jr. family suites in the original section of the hotel for the same reasons...I find the nostalgia of it all so interesting and chic. I think that my parents and mother-in-law will appreciate that too.
Everyone say%26#39;s to head over to Dukes? What other good restaurants are recommended and close by?
The Royal is a very nice hotel that has a lot of history to it. Like an earlier post said, it%26#39;s an older hotel but it still is very nice, clean and it has an old world charm to it. I stayed in the older part of the hotel and enjoyed my stay there. The beach is right outside. The MaiTai Bar is right on the beach. You can check out the other Sheraton properties like the Sheraton Waikiki (right next door) and the Moana Surfrider (two hotels down the other way). Sheraton used to have this ';stay at one play at all'; kinda deal. You could use the other properties pools and you could make charges back to your hotel room. I think you can still make charges but as far as using the pools, it%26#39;s not anymore. If you want to use the Sheraton Waikiki pool, just introduce yourself to the pool attendant. Let them know you%26#39;re staying at the Royal and if it%26#39;s not busy, they might just say go ahead.
One thing I recommend doing is taking a surfing lesson if you haven%26#39;t done that yet. I always tell guests that you can%26#39;t come to Hawaii without trying surfing.
You have made the right choice! My husband and I stayed in the historical wing for our 25th wedding anniversary. It is the 2nd oldest hotel in Waikiki. The Moana being the 1st. It is just beautiful. The staff are warm and very friendly and will do whatever they can to make your stay enjoyable. We found ourselves waking very early in the morning, before 5:00am. We would go out by the pool where the coffee was already brewing and take it out to the beach in front of the hotel. It was empty!! What a great way to watch the sunrise over Diamond Head. Have fun. This is a decision you will definately NOT regret.
My family has just returned from 10 days at the RH! We loved it. We stayed in a family suite in the historic wing. The rooms were huge, and housekeeping outstanding. The hotel is older but that didn%26#39;t bother us at all.
For breakfast, we ate at the hotel, as well as Duke%26#39;s, Hula Grill, and the Shore Bird. All were great! If we wanted a lighter breakfast, we headed to Honolulu Coffee at the Moana. Lunch was often at the pool. We also enjoyed the RH Luau. We ate a few times at the Cheesecake Factory, that seemed to be by far the busiest restaurant in the area.
I think the HHV has a nicer pool, but we liked having both the pool and beach very close. It was great to have the lounge chairs on the sand. Also, after walking over to the Sheraton Waikiki, I realized that the RH is a lot quieter, less busy.
Let me know if you have any specific questions, but my entire family really enjoyed our vacation!
Do the units in the high-rise have washer and dryers in them? Or are there facilities on the property? I can%26#39;t find the info on their website and no one is answering th phone over there
does anyone know? i am packing right now...
No, the one draw back is no in unit washer and dryers. There is a coin laundry right by the office though. If you need clean towels in between days that they change them you can just go to house keeping and they will give you fresh ones. Same with beach towels.
I just got back from Hawaii last week :-(
I am going back to Hawaii this Christmas and wondering if there are any more good shopping places, I went to Ala Moana, Waikele Outlets, Ross Dress for Less near Walmart and the Swap Meet.
I am not after the top designer stuff, just everyday things.
Any other suggestions to visit?
I believe there%26#39;s a mall in Pearl City. Other than those previously mentioned, I don%26#39;t know.
Ward Warehouse and Ward Center, and associated development, house hundreds of shops and restaurants just off of Ala Moana Blvd midway between Waikiki and Downtown. Very popular among locals and tourists with plenty of selection in a modern setting.
See: http://www.wardcenters.com/index.html
Between Waikiki and the Waikele outlets is the Pearlridge Shopping Mall. It%26#39;s not like Ala Moana with all the ';designer'; stores. They have stores like the Gap, Macy%26#39;s, Borders, Longs Drugs, Foot Locker, Town and Country Surf Shop, and Hollister. They also have a movie theater, some nice restaurants(Verbano%26#39;s is a nice little italian restaurant), and Hawaii%26#39;s only monorail. It connects the two sections of the mall. It%26#39;s a shopping mall not catered to tourists, that%26#39;s all.
www.pearlridgeonline.com
Thanks A4ce, that%26#39;s the short of shopping mall I am after, things that the normal person can buy not $600 wallets from Gucci.
How do I get there on public transport? Do u know which bus no from Waikiki? I will be on Kuhio Ave.
Thanks
PEARLRIDGE SHOPPING CENTER in Aiea, HI
It has a monorail and Hula shows given by area Halaus.
and plenty of food places AND a movie theatre multi-plex,
It is just down the road from the Swap Meet on the right hand side.
Halau is Hawaiian for School for one of its definitions.
I think the Kahala Mall would be a lot closer and easier to get to from Waikiki than Pearl Ridge via public transit. I know it%26#39;s not as big as Pearl Ridge, but it has all the standard mall stores. I%26#39;m sure you could find directories online and see if it would be OK. These are the directions for the bus:
4211 Waialae Avenue
Bus to Board:
22 or 58 Hawaii Kai-Sea Life Park
Along Kalia Road, Saratoga Road or Kuhio Avenue heading in the Diamond Head direction, board the 58 Hawaii Kai-Sea Life Park bus. On Kuhio Avenue, you could also board the 22 Hawaii Kai-Sea Life Park bus. Alight on Kilauea Avenue opposite Kahala Mall.
Bus to Return:
22 Waikiki Beach and Hotels
58 Waikiki-Ala Moana
To return, board either the 58 Waikiki-Ala Moana or 22 Waikiki Beach and Hotels bus on Kilauea Avenue. Buses run about 30 minutes apart. The last bus on Kilauea Avenue back to Waikiki on weekdays is 7:55 p.m. and 7:22 p.m. on weekends.
For buses to shopping and other attractions pull up....';thebus.org'; ...Go to ';visitors';...';attractions';...';shopping';....it will give you all the shopping and how to get there.
Don%26#39;t forget the Swap Meet at Aloha Stadium(Wed/Sat/Sun)..fabulous....go early because it gets really hot.
AND....Chinatown...Maunakea Market Place is really great. If you don%26#39;t get to the Swap Meet it has some of the same stuff, just not as much.
I%26#39;ve never noticed a lot of difference between Pearlridge %26amp; Ala Moana Shopping Centers.
Both are much better than Kahala Mall.
You can compare the shops:
http://www.alamoanacenter.com/direc.htm
pearlridgeonline.com/pearlridge2/shopping.php
Help please:
Couple in their lae 50s/early 60s.
What do you suggest:
Sheraton
Marriott
Outrigger
Aqua Waikiki Wave????
We would like to be near, if not on water, and IF possible not tooooo busy - I know it is Waikiki - but relatively.
We just got back from a stay at the Hawaii Prince which is just across the street from the Ala Wai yacht harbour (all rooms have a harbour view) and just a 5 minute walk from the Ala Moana Beach park. We loved it. It%26#39;s a friendly, efficient, clean, the rooms are big and the bathrooms are fab. The only thing that it does lack a little is the sense of aloha that we found at my brothers hotel (he stayed at the Aqua Palms a 5-10 min walk away). We are in our 30%26#39;s and 40%26#39;s but I must admit we found the centre of Waikiki a bit full on for us. Some of my favourite moments were spent walking along Magic Island or just sitting under a tree at Ala Moana beach park listening to the waves and watching the world go by. If you want to walk about 10 mins in the other direction you have access to Waikiki beach through the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
On the water and not too %26#39;busy%26#39; - take a look at the Kahala.
The Aqua Wave is not on the water, it%26#39;s a good block away. That%26#39;s the only one I can really speak for. It is a decent hotel for the price though, but it is right in the heart of everything, probably considered busy....
Of the ones you listed, the Sheraton (I assume you mean the Waikiki Sheraton - there are a few Sheratons on Waikiki) and the Outrigger are right on the beach and both are nice properties, both are busy. The Marriott (Waikiki Marriott) is across the street from the beach and busy as well. The Waikiki Wave is a block away on Kuhio, behind the Int%26#39;l Market Place and also pretty busy.
I stayed at the Wave in November and it was a nice place - great value for the money. I personally love the location because it%26#39;s not AS busy as being on Kalakaua (as the other 3 are) but it is close to everything. The staff is wonderful there too. If you stay there be sure to request a room on one of the higher floors to avoid noise from the street below.
My parents recently stayed at the Sheraton Waikiki and really enjoyed it.
The Kahala may be more what you%26#39;re looking for, or maybe the W.
Hope you have a good trip wherever you end up staying.
If you have done Waikiki many times then I would suggest you try the north shore and stay at Turtle Bay Resort. I stayed at there and the Marriot in April. Marriott is nice but if it%26#39;s peak season then all the major hotels will be busy. Maybe look into the Waikiki Parc as well. I stayed there 5 years ago and it%26#39;s nice but Lewers Street can get really noisy.
Thanks everyone - we are going noth to Haliewa first, then to Kauai and back to finish our holiday in Waikiki. You have all given me some more to think about. Must be more decisive. thank you again - Janet
Janet,
Haleiwa and then Kauaii...you may be ready for a little more liveliness. (o: its not wild or anything...just alot of interesting things to see. My parents are in their 60%26#39;s and love being in the middle of it all...if not to have to walk to far, having more options of restraunts close be, and people watching is fun too.
I would suggest the outrigger Waikiki on the Beach or the Sheraton Moana Surfrider.
However, if you want away from the middle of Waikiki, the Hilton Hawaiian Village is on the far west edge of it all...and it is walking distance to Ala Moana Mall and Beach.
I do suggest visiting Ala Moana Beach Park too...it is a great beach! Families, picnicing, volleyballing, peaceful, trees and greenery...Very Beautiful. Jump on the bus....no more than 3-5 minutes.
I totally agree with jordon girl. Waikiki has a kind of neat atmosphere. It is fun to be there.
I want to get my future wife something special from Hawaii as her wedding gift. We%26#39;ll be staying on The Big Island and Maui. I%26#39;ve already booked us couples massages so we can eliminate that as a suggestion. I%26#39;d prefer to get something tangible that she can take home with her. My budget is up to $500. Any ideas would be appreciated!
Jewlery usally works.
Perhaps a nice charm bracelet that she can add charms to as you two journey through life.
How sweet!
Does she like jewelry?
In Hawaiian Ku`uipo, means sweetheart
There are many pendants, rings, bracelets and charms with ';Kuuipo'; engraved or designed on them. Some will have plumeria, Maile or turtles along with it.
Walmart, Kmart, even Costco offer selections here on the Big Island. I have found some wonderful pieces at the International Market in Kona.
It is just outside of town by HPM in the Old Industrial center. Fun place to walk around in. For our 25th my husband took me there and got me a
Ku`uipo charm with a Honu, I just adore it. We had a great time picking out just the right thing together.
Have a wonderful visit!
Hawaiian heirloom jewelry or coral jewelry. There are some very nice jewelry stores in the tourist areas of Maui. Can%26#39;t speak to BI as I have never been there. I would let her look around a store and if she really falls in love with something, say ';Let%26#39;s get it.'; What a hero and she doesn%26#39;t have to know you planned it. Mrs. S. and I bought her wedding band in Hawaiian heirloom style in Maui before we were married.
Since $500 won%26#39;t buy real estate in the islands, and she can%26#39;t take it home anyway...
Perhaps the most tangible asset you could acquire would be a Niihau Shell Lei. While Maui and the BI are not the absolute best places to find one, they are available.
Not only are they beautiful and rare (appreciating over time), it is something which can be handed down over generations as a memento of your Hawaii wedding. $500 to $800 will get you a reasonably nice one.
Alternatively, go up to Tedeschi Vineyards/Maui%26#39;s Winery and buy four boxes of your wedding year%26#39;s vintage. One to drink at your first anniversary, one at your tenth, the third at your 25th, and (hopefully) the fourth at your 50th.
I second Amberloo%26#39;s thought about getting a Ni`ihau shell lei. They%26#39;re unusual and rare, especially in NJ. People on the mainland are fascinated by mine once you show them that they%26#39;re tiny shells, not beads, and tell their story.
You are in the same boat as me. We are getting married on the Big Island then honeymooning in Maui. I was looking at something made of Koa wood - picture frame (for our wedding photo), bowl, who knows. There are many artists on the Big Island who create some incredible things with it. And the wood itself is beautiful.
But Amberloo has me interested in these Niihau Shell Leis. At the risk of highjacking the thread (please forgive me myviclsslow) where are the best places to get these?
The Hawaiian Heirloom jeweltry (enamel on gold) is very nice.
Other options would be the ';slipper'; necklaces--some have gem stones--or a gold turtle or dolphin or whale tail hanging non a necklace. I love my turtle...wear it almost every day. I got mine from Maui Divers (a jewelry store).
You%26#39;re not hijacking this post at all labhunter71. In fact, I was going to ask the same question. The Ni`ihau shell lei sounds like a wonderful gift. Where would one get these on the Big Island or Maui?
I second the idea of letting her find something she loves, and then surprising her by buying it. My hubby did that for me, and it was a huge surprise (I had no idea he had saved up the money). Plus, he tucked a little something silky and unmentionable (here at least) in our suitcase for me to find when I unpacked at the hotel.
Browse the jewelry stores. I have 2 gold bracelets, one from Waikiki and the other from Kauai. The Kauai one is 14 kt gold and it has maile leaves making up the entire bracelet. It doesn%26#39;t look necesarily Hawaiian, but it is. I think it was around 300 dollars.
The other bracelet I got at a jewelry store in the Waikiki Outrigger hotel. I love this bracelet. It is a bit different looking than just a gold bracelet. I got both of these bracelets on 2 different trips to Hawaii. Next trip in 2008, I hope to purchase again, maybe on Maui. I wear mine all of the time. They are everyday reminders of wonderful trips to Hawaii.
My DH is wondering if there are any good bars close by. We are staying at Hale Pau Hana in Kihei and he would like to go out at night for drinks...any suggestions?
WHat about Hapa%26#39;s Brew Haus? Has anyone ever been there?
You can walk across the street and find several bars. Moose McGillicuddy%26#39;s is there and several others. (Be careful crossing the street on the way back!)
Fred%26#39;s mexican and Mooses are right across the street. Cafe O%26#39;lei also has a bar and you could walk down the road to Kalama Village for more nightlife. Or, you could do what we do and blend up drinks in our unit and enjoy them on the beach,
Have a wonderful time
Carol, Fred%26#39;s has a pretty good fish taco too. Yummy yummy... Their margaritas are great,
Bada Bing is in that same general area too. The food isn%26#39;t good according to some condo mates, but a decent bar.
Hapa’s is no more. Bada Bing is a ways up the road at Kalama. If you are going to go there I’d recommend Lulu’s, Duck %26amp; Dog, Tiki Lounge, even Life’s a Beach before Bada Bing!
The first few days weren%26#39;t too bad..it was warm and sunny here and we took a weekend camping trip last weekend after we got back but now I am feeling a little blue and a little homesick feeling for Hawaii. Maybe the fact that it%26#39;s raining here doesn%26#39;t really help either.
Hey addicted! I%26#39;ve been back 2 weeks and I%26#39;m still feeling that Maui Blues (isn%26#39;t that a eating place in Kehei?)
But with much advice from TA people, I realize that I need to regroup and get it together for my next trip. So that%26#39;s what I%26#39;m doing...planning for the NEXT time...and Hell YES there will be a next time for all of us!
Maui is the best!...
Know exactly what you mean! That%26#39;s why I pretty much have the Maui TA forums on one screen nearly all the time while I%26#39;m working!! Sounds pretty lame, but it%26#39;s about the only thing that keeps me sane!!!
Hey, at least you can print %26amp; frame your reservations for next year %26amp; look at them when you get too blue!!!
;(
Maui post departing depression???
Try to concentrate on helping others on this forum and avoid thinking of your own problems...... ;-)
Yea Maui! Do you think we can all just travel to Maui all the time and enjoy the Valley Isle. Have some caring and help the caddyshack out of his Maui blues OK?
I%26#39;m sorry about that Seattle rain also...maybe it is good for tourist brochures. (My only west coast experiences are LA and San Fran...via Yosemitte....AWESOME!)
well senility has set in again...that post was for addicted...but at this point, it%26#39;s for anyone who wants to chime in....(except for you Bud!)
Well, since I%26#39;m the official self-titled ';Dr. Phil'; of TA Maui forums, I%26#39;ll try %26amp; assist with any psychological issue related to The Valley Isle...
%26#39;Guess it helps when the Dr. also suffers from MPDD....
We%26#39;re making progress already! On our 1st day of therapy, we%26#39;ve coined a new diagnoses, MPDD = Maui post departing depression!
;D
Dr. Phil....I%26#39;m very confused and I don%26#39;t understand why I%26#39;m not STILL on Maui....and I%26#39;m angry about that...help me.....
I%26#39;m feeling it Broddder and i havent even left yet-Wifey cried on the way to the airport home in 94......
30 days to Maui!!!!!
mex25
It appears there are a number of with GFM syndrone (Gone from Maui syndrone) I hope I never get over it. Help me Doctor Phil Maui Dude if you can....If my worst problems are dreaming about being on Maui, then you know....I think I%26#39;ll be OK.....
God! Some day I%26#39;m going to learn how to type...I%26#39;m sorry about the spellings...
We are getting married on July in Kauai - just 2 of us. We would like it to be a beach wedding on North shore, but the question is how crowded are the North side beaches during July (Saturday midday)?
Is it possible to find some nice quite beach location with easy car access where we could have our ceremony and photos without people in the background? Any ideas welcomed.
Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!
I think that if you contact a good wedding photographer here on the island and explain what you want -- he or she undoubtedly will have suggestions for you as to the type of beach that you want.
Wedding photographers here are very skilled and knowledgeable about all the beaches that are good for wedding photographs and which will have the amenities you describe.
Good luck!
Malama Pono,
Janet
I can%26#39;t decide between the Sugar Beach Area or Kannapali area. Which do you prefer and why? What are the pluses and minuses. Aren%26#39;t the beaches/weather better in Sugar Beach?
Kaanapali is more of a resort area than Sugar Beach. It%26#39;s a great area to stay, close to Lahaina and the beaches are great. It is more expensive than the Sugar Beach area and more touristy. For a good swimming beach you will want to stay right in Kaanapali resort area, anything north will not have very good swimming beaches until you get to Napili. The Honokowai area just north and the Kahana area have many oceanfront complexes to choose from for less $$$.
I also love Sugar Beach for the weather and the cost, it is located at the north end of Kihei. The beaches just south of Sugar Beach until you get to the Kamaole beaches in South Kihei tend to be a little rocky but there are still many many great places to stay. If you are looking at The Sugar Beach Resort area, that beach is perfectly acceptable for swimming and the beach is long, you can walk for miles. It does tend to be slightly more windy there but it can be windy anywhere on the island at any time. It%26#39;s also a quieter area. Some people may like that and some might not.
There are many places to stay in Kihei that are also great and affordable. You may also want to explore South Kihei as well.
Quite a few places on Maui (West and South) are ON beaches, but not directly on beaches that are good for swimming/snorkeling. If you are considering Sugar Beach, I%26#39;d also look farther south to S. Kihei and Wailea to find the best beaches for swimming/snorkeling. They begin with the Kamaole beach parks and extend south through Wailea.
Aloha! Sorry, but I must chime in here.... While more of the beaches in South Maui are continuous, I MUCH prefer the diversity and selection of beaches to the North (West)!
I honestly feel that once exposed to the nicer beaches either South (Kihei-Wailea) OR North(Kaanapali-Kapalua) of Sugar beach, you would feel cheated hanging there. (JMHO!!)
Keep in mind, in West Maui, Kahekili/Keka%26#39;a (or ';Airport';) beach is located on the Kaanapali/Honokowai border %26amp; is one of the cleanest, nicest beaches on the island. Also, you are a VERY short drive to: Kapalua beach, Napili beach, DT Flemming (excel boogie boarding), Oneloa, Slaughterhouse, Honolua bay..... and, of course famous Kaanapali beach....etc etc...
Lastly, you will be less than 15 min from Lahaina %26amp; %26lt;10 to Whalers Village! While Kihei has some ';interesting'; bazzar-type shopping, I don%26#39;t care for the ';Shops at Wailea'; vibe...
Remember, I make no bones about being a (north) West Maui purist, and there are many who will say it%26#39;s best to be South!!! (eh, Sue??)
They are both great. If you are on a budget and want to stay on a good swimming beach and in an oceanfront condo then I would opt for Sugar Beach.
The Mahana in West Maui is another great place to stay oceanfront although the beach is not good for swimming.
The up side to staying on a beach that is pretty to look at and walk on but not good for swimming is you tend to get out an explore more. When we used to stay at The Mahana we would explore other beaches alot. Now we barely leave the property we stay at.
Thanks for the advice. I think it is making me more confused though. I was looking at Kaanapali shores (good price), but it appears that it is actually north of Kaanapali. So I was thinking to stay within that price range maybe it would be better to go down to Sugar beach. Would Kamaole area better? I don%26#39;t need to be in the middle of everything, but it would be nice to have a few stores/restaurants within walking distance.
Problem is, stores and restaurants get established where there%26#39;s a customer base -- traffic. Kaanapali has a lot of high rises. Lahaina has a touristy Front Street. So...businesses want those venues.
I don%26#39;t do a lot of walking on Maui that isn%26#39;t on beaches. It%26#39;s hot on the concrete and I%26#39;m not on Maui to shop, but to enjoy Maui. If I want to shop I drive to shopping. That%26#39;s just me, of course. There are vistors who want to ';mingle'; and want to ';people watch'; from their lanais.
The Lahaina/Kaanapali area is the more densely-populated area of West Maui. Farther north in Kahana, Napili, Kapalua it is quieter. Wherever you are in West Maui, you are out on the NW lobe of the island -- a bit more of a trek to sightsee the rest of Maui.
Sugar Beach is kinda all-by-its-lonesome there at the north end of Kihei. You will definitely be driving to *anywhere*. But...it%26#39;s a nice central point from which to tour the island.
South Maui has been our choice: S. Kihei and Wailea.
Do remember that Maui is a small island. You can cross the valley in 30 minutes. You can travel from Wailea to Lahaina in less than an hour.
the area just before kihei and after it seemed more trashy... trash on side of road etc.. the parks looked a bit dirty too IMO. The west maui area seemed a bit cleaner and better maintained. It might not always be that way but it was for the 3 times we drove south.. so my vote is for Kanapali area or north.. But we will always want to be near honolua bay for the great snorkeling :) We like the honokowie ( sorry about spelling) area.. we stayed at the maui kai and loved it but the mahana looked nice too. The beach worked fine for us to swim at.. and we could also snorkel there too :) Just my opinion :) I think I am a west maui snob though :) But hey you are on maui and it is all good anyways :)
Wailea is very pretty just south of Kihei if you have the $$$ to spend. Kaanapali Villas is located on a great swimming beach. You would probably like it there. You just won%26#39;t have a unit very close to the ocean like you would at Sugar Beach.
If you do decide on Sugar Beach, you won%26#39;t be isolated. You can drive to The Maui Ocean Center where you will find a variety of restaurants. Practically around the corner. You can also drive into Kihei for lots of places to eat and shop.
Guess what Chisue...... An ABC store opened a couple of weeks back in the old Suda Store. Right across the street from the Kihei Canoe Club Hale. There is also a sign up that says Suda is opening a new place off the Piilani Hwy.
Shawna,
If you%26#39;re confused it%26#39;s because you%26#39;ve managed to step into the West Maui-South Maui debate that happens on this forum when someone poses a question like yours. My take on it is this:
Both West and South Maui are among the most beautiful vacation spots in the world and most people would have a wonderful time in either. There are some differences between them but they%26#39;re minor compared to the total experience of just being in Maui. I personally like West Maui better but that%26#39;s entirely a matter of personal taste and preferences. I can understand why some would like South Maui better and I also like some things about South Maui better myself.
My recommendation: Stay a few days in both places if you have time. If not stay in one and explore the other on day trips. That way when you come back you%26#39;ll have developed your own preference.
Enjoy your time in Maui whatever you decide.
My $0.02.
Is it safe to go horseback riding while pregnant?
Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!
Not quite sure why this question is posed in this forum, but --- when I worked for a horseback riding stable here on Kaua%26#39;i, we would not take pregnant women - unless they had a Doctor%26#39;s note saying that it was alright, and even then, it was sketchy. Why take the risk?
Maybe someone else more equestrienne-savvy than myself could answer your question.
Malama Pono,
Janet
This website might be insightful as it addresses it....
womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/pregnancy/fit.cfm
When I was pregnant, I would not risk it.
As a fellow pregnant woman, can I suggest that you talk to your doctor/midwife about this and not a message board!!!!
I will tell you that my OB told me that it was okay to do some things that I would consider risky early on in my pregnancy (like ride rollarcoasters...which I chose not to do). I personally prefer to error on the side of caution with this sort of stuff. Talk to you health care provider!!!
This is for the trip I am planning in May 2008, so I have some time. We%26#39;re purchasing our Chicago to Honolulu tickets with miles (part of the reason that I%26#39;m planning so far out!), but we are paying out of pocket for the inter island portion to Lihue since it will cost us an additional 10,000 miles each to add the Hawaiian airlines portion. Our other (no additional cost) option was to fly to Lihue through LAX, but I decided against that one because the flight doesn%26#39;t get in until 8:30pm. That doesn%26#39;t seem like a good idea when you are traveling with a baby and a preschooler!
Here%26#39;s my question...the inter island flights seem pretty reasonable to me (but what do I know) at $39-59 for the outbound part of our trip. Should I be purchasing the inter island tickets when they ticket my Honolulu flight or should I be waiting?
Also, I don%26#39;t know if anyone knows the answer to this...it%26#39;s not a Kauai question, but it seems like there are a lot of people here that use their miles for their flights. We%26#39;re getting 4 seats on the flight from Chicago to HNL so the baby has a seat. I was thinking about not buying a seat for the baby on the Hawaiian flight. Is that going to screw us up in anyway? The only thing I could think of that might be a problem is baggage. I%26#39;d need to make sure that the gate agent doesn%26#39;t check any of our bags under the baby%26#39;s ticket.
They have been running specials (limited number of tickets of course) for as low as $9. It really doesn%26#39;t matter how far out you book them, just get them when they are cheap if you can. $39 is the ';normal'; price for a one island hop but even still, those tickets can be gone if you wait too long.
As to the baby question the island hops are short duration so there really isn%26#39;t a need to book a seat for the baby if you are ok with one on your lap for say a 1/2 hour or so.
Regarding the baby question... like you said, don%26#39;t check bags under the baby%26#39;s name for the originating flight. If they codeshare, then they can be checked to final destination. Ex: AA and Hawaiian codeshare, so when we leave next week, we will show our AA confirmation along with our Hawaiian confirmation at checkin so bags will be checked through to our final destination. Our 9-month old does not have a seat on either flight (AA was with AAdvantage miles, HA was with $39 fare). Therefore no bags will go in her name either way. (Also make sure to check on the ';legal connect time'; with your original airline for the HNL airport before booking your interisland leg.)
Keep an eye out for those $9 fare wars. Sure, we spent ';too much'; by jumping on the $39 fare a while back and saw other options for $9 - but oh well. We did take advantage of the $9 for a day trip over to the Big Island to see the volocano during our first week in Hawaii.
Have fun!
Another thing to keep in mind, is that airlines tend to change flight times periodically. So by the time next May rolls around the Chicago-Honolulu flight may have changed it%26#39;s flight times 30-60 minutes. So I find it best to wait till it is 2-4 months before the trip to buy the inter-island portion of the flights. Hawaiian Air will now charge you if you need to change the flight time after you have purchased the ticket.
If you%26#39;re able to go online and find the $19 specials or the next lowest fare of $39 one-way, I%26#39;d grab it. These two lowest fares go fast. After that they go up to $59 one way and then $79. You%26#39;ll see that as time ticks on the fares available for purchase are going up. This is GENERAL RULE OF THUMB. Now that%26#39;s not to say that they won%26#39;t throw out a doggie bone now and then for a flight that has has some seats left still. That usually happens with flights that are earlier a.m. or later evening. Most folks from the mainland are arriving around crunch time, that is high noon and early afternoon. This is when it%26#39;s hard to get the cheaper fares so if you are also arriving at crunch time grab the best deal you can find, fast.
We%26#39;ll be arriving at crunch time. If we can get flights for $39, I%26#39;m going to grab them. If there aren%26#39;t any $39 flights left, should I be holding out for a sale or just go for the $59?
Okay...so I just went back to the Hawaiian Airlines website to look at the flights and now the only fares available for my outbound flight are the $59 ones. Will they release more of the $39 ones or are they gone? Seems crazy that the $39 fares are gone for next May when it looks like $39 fares are available for next week!
I agree that it might be better to wait. Our flight for the end of June was booked in January and has changed 8 times by as much as two hours!
sdfjhalkf....Do you have any United Air miles? You can purchase R/T Aloha Air inter-island flights for 5000 United miles. If you can get the $39 special it%26#39;s probably not worth using miles but if it%26#39;s higher it may be worth it.
I would hold up and see if any of the $39 fares show up again. May is low season. Also remember that the airlines do not release all of their seats at one time. They do it in dribbles. Chances are pretty good you might see a lower fare than the $59 one way. But Hawaiian airlines just announced some major money issues and had to go through some cost cutting measures. This could go one way or the other.
Last year I booked a package in March for a trip in November. The inter-island carrier was Island Air. By the time September rolled around, they had eliminated that flight, and the next closest (available) flight was four hours later. Very luckily, we were able to fly direct and get a refund. So be careful if your itineraries are not linked. I%26#39;d recommend waiting until about 3-4 months out to start watching fares. Plus, if the wars are down to $9 now, you know it%26#39;s not too long before go! will be giving out their flights for free.
