ngaioparr

Hi There,

My husband and I will be visiting Hawaii as we are presenting at a conference in Waikiki and we were able to tack on an additional seven nights at the beginning to explore. We arrive 6am on Feb 10, and fly out 6am on Feb 25th - and are stuck in Waikiki for the conference from the 18th - 23rd. That gives us seven nights before the conference and one afterwards (where I thought we'd just drive to Kailua for the day probably).

We aren't interested in shopping/traditional tourist activities, and would like to spend our time taking in as much natural wonder as possible (swimming, hikes, volcano etc). We are Australian as although we love beaches, we live right on one of the best beaches in the entire world so other natural activities are more likely to amaze us - though we would love to visit some beaches and love ocean activities it is something we can do all year long. I would really like to fit in Big Island (even though we probably couldn't do both main area and just do Volcanoes perhaps?) and Kauai. I know if is rainy season in Kauai in this time and to stick with the south accommodation wise - but otherwise that is all I know/have planned.

Is this possible at all? Shed some light!

Thank you!

ChiSue

If you press on to Island #2 on arrival at HNL, you'd have a week there. This is enough to stay on *one* of Kauai or Maui or Big Island.

Kauai -- stay Poipu and tour north.

Maui -- stay Kahana on south and tour Napili/Kapalua. Hana area is likely to be wet. (I prefer Wailea/South Kihei in winter.)

Big Island -- stay Kohala Coast area for sun and less vog and stay one or two nights in Volcano. VNP is likely to be wet.Fly into one side and out of the other (KOA and ITO).

Every transit between islands will consume about half a day, door to door. Day One is largely spent adjusting to the time change.

You need lodging, rental car on Island #2, and interisland flights. Hawaiian airlines is most reliable. If you do 'press on' when you arrive, allow time to clear customs, claim luggage, re-check luggage, go through TSA security at HNL.

jamie99

With 8 days stick to one of the two islands, that time of year I would probably pick Big Island even though I love Kauai. Be sure to reserve your rental car in advance as February is high season.

Patty

I think you could squeeze in the BI and Kauai if you just did VNP on the BI and flew in/out of ITO. Otherwise, just limit yourself to the two sides of the BI.

kanunu

I have to agree, that doing just 2 islands would make for a much more efficient - and less hurried vacation. I've done 3 islands over 15-16 nights several times, but don't anymore.
I don't think you could go wrong with any of Big Island, Kauai or Maui... and from Maui, you could easily toss in a day trip to Molokai or Lanai, for a bit of variety. It's much less hassle taking the ferry, or say a Trilogy excursion from Lahaina, than enduring yet another airport experience.
Decisions, decisions..... but as I said, you can't go wrong, all the islands are great!

Inakauaidavidababy

Careful Kanunu, Uncle Larry is basicaly shutting down his fiefdom this year to renovate the recently renovated 4Seasons when they were bought out from Sheraton a decade ago.

kanunu

I would assume that the ferry would still have to run to Lanai, with lots of local people needing the service, and that Trilogy would probably still go over, too?
When I was on the Trilogy day trip, we drove by both hotels, but never went in either. I can't see any logic to depriving all the non-Four Seasons businesses of revenue. Doesn't seem democratic!
But, as you implied, it seems that Lanai is now a bit of a dictatorship. Who knows what the future holds. I suppose they could always do what Bill Gates did, for his wedding.... shut access to the whole island down.
Hmmm..... Molokai is still an option!

Inakauaidavidababy

I wouldn't be surprised if Uncle Larry tried to buy the ferry. He bought Island Air and crippled it while having grande plans of opening the airport which he owns to larger planes. The man is not young for such dreams of grandeur and the caretaker of an island population. The construction workers will be housed at the Lodge or commute on the ferry, so seats may be slim pickings. Where will he house them after to renovate the Lodge after their work is done in Manele?

It would have seemed a simple solution to set up military housing for the renovators.

I actually wish Bill Gates had stepped in. I'm sure they were both in negotiations.

Shar

Rainy season? I have been to Kauai several times in February and have never been caught in the "rainy season." Sure it rains periodically but it passes. Perhaps I have been lucky. The waves on the North shore are more dangerous in February but the Whale watching is fantastic. We generally stay on the South Shore in Poipu which has better weather in winter. 8 days, u could do a couple of islands but it will be a lot of packing, unpacking, airports, pick up and turn in rental car, drive time to the next hotel, 1+ hour ahead of flight at airport to get to next island and all of that cuts into any time you would have to enjoy the island. BIG ISLAND Kohala is our preferred area but many like Hilo or Kailua-Kona but K-K is a bit too funky for us.
BIG ISLand is BIG and takes quite a bit of driving to get anywhere, so keep that in mind as well....

sf7307

Many years ago, we arrived at Poipu Beach on a glorious early March day. We went down to the beach and people there told us it had been raining "non-stop" for FIVE WEEKS!