Swannee

Hello,

We have to plan a quick trip to Hawaii as we have been invited to a destination wedding on Kauai (near Hanalei) in mid March. I was in Kauai ages ago when there was a Club Med in Hanalei and never went to any of the other islands. My husband has never been to Hawaii. I was there over Xmas at the time and it did rain -- but 10 minutes away from Hanalei int was nice.

We plan to start in Honolulu for 3 days then we have 12 days left. The last 3 will be in Kauai.

Questions: 1) Should we do 4 nights (5 days) or three nights ( 4 days) in Kauai?

2) The rest of the time would be split between Maui and the Big Island with a preference to spend more time on the Big Island.

We do not like to sit on the beach or by a pool too long. We prefer adventure travel and visiting historical or natural places as well as sailing.

Would 2 or 3 days in Maui be enough?

What would a good breakdown of time among the islands be?

We have some timeshares which we need to book soon and would like to stay at little inns or B&Bs the other times. Any suggestions.

Thanks

TAW

Are you saying that you're planning on 4 islands in 15 days? Too many, IMO. You will spend too much time checking in/out, packing/unpacking. travel between islands at airports, etc. Do you really want to do that? Maybe just pick Kauai for the wedding and one or two more.

SiteC_er

I agree w/ TAW, limit your trip to 2-3 islands. FYI - you will most one day traveling between islands (not including the days you lose arriving and leaving).

SiteC_er

Sorry, I meant to say you'll lose most of a day when traveling between islands.

Swannee

Hello all,

We want to be in Oahu (basically Honolulu ( see Pearl Harbor and do an Island tour) for two full days. Then I thought I would take the ferry to Maui and spend 2 or three days there.

Then fly to the Big Island and then fly to Kauai. But I wonder what the best time breakdown would be.

We don't want to stay on Kauai too much because of the rain -- unless it is not that bad. And I've been there before.

We would like to see as many islands as possible but it is just a matter of dividing the days.

We don't really want to sit by a pool or on the beach much. Half a day is more than plenty and then we want to see things. Normally we do not do beach vacations unless they are sailing ones. But because of the wedding we are coming to Hawaii and want to see as much as we can.

cheers

Erica_D

I agree with TAW and SiteC_er. I'd concentrate my time in fewer destinations to get a deeper experience of the islands. You'll get the city/urban experience in Honolulu, then the lush forest experience in Kauai, and so -- to round out the experience with the most diversity in islandscape (if that's a word) -- I'd choose the Big Island. I'm planning a trip there right now, and in eight days I can't get done everything I want to do on the Big Island.

It's such an incredible destination -- especially if you're the adventurous type. Hike Volcanoes Park through lava tubes, check out green- and black-sand beaches, go horseback riding at Parker Ranch, go kayaking or snorkel at Kealakekua Bay (and maybe see dolphins), go whalewatching off the Kona coast, tour coffee farms, etc.

You can probably tell that it's my favorite island. I'm not a great "lounging on the beach" type either. Have fun!

Swannee

Thanks Erica_D

I've booked the Kauai and part of the Big Island part. I have one double reservation which I must cancel one part of today where I am debating of doing one night more in Big Island or in Kauai -- I gather that I know what you will choose.

I still would like to see Maui. So I don't know if we can still manage to do all.

Anyway, thanks again

cheers

suze

4 islands in 15 days is too much moving around, in my opinion also. not all parts of Kauai are rainy all the time. no 2 days on Maui is not enough to see everything.

i am not suggesting you sit by the pool all day, but changing islands so many times is a big waste of time & money imho.

Marginal

For 15 days, I'd only do two islands.

I like to enjoy my time in the water, on the beaches, in the pool, rather than in the airport or the car rental lines.

carolyn

There is a lot of stuff to do on Oahu besides Waikiki and Pearl Harbor. It is my favorite island, and I never get tired of it. You might want to go to a bookstore or your library and look at a good travel guide to the islands.

That said, if you want to see the four major islands, then do it! You may lose a little time to travel--but not a whole day between islands--but then you will know what you like best and where you would like to return and spend more time. And most people do want to return, over and over again.

dusty56438

Spend the last 4-5 nights on Kauai. You'll likely "lose" a day or so there because of the wedding.

5 days Oahu & 5 days Maui or Big Island.

Lots of info including sites with free brochures for all islands:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34812564

DebitNM

5 days minimum on each island you choose. You will really lose a day on each switch what with checking out, getting to airport, security, flight, getting to next hotel, unpacking and so on.

We did 5 Oahu, 5 Maui and 3 BI and the 3 on BI was not even close to being enough.

Deb

Swannee

Thanks everyone.

Well, I had to do some quick bookings not to lose my time shares and this is what I've done so far.

3 days in Oahu, 3 days empty to fill (thinking still of trying to go to Maui -- maybe even by ferry,

5 days in Big Island (staying near Kailua-Kona, 4 days in Kauai in Princeville as the wedding is nearby.

Has anyone done the ferry trip from Honolulu to Maui?

I'm sure that there are some awesome sights in all the islands -- and some of you may not like or agree with what I am to say -- but when I was in Kauai years ago, although I found it nice and there were some very, very beautiful places ( and I did do the helicopter flight to the rugged western end of the island and saw the lush part too) I still found it then so very over-commercialized. Somehow I would think it is even more developed now. The following year I went to Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora -- I totally fell in love with place because of the primitiveness. I guess that is what I was looking for. I am sure that Tahiti is also much more developed now. So I would like to see places where there is the least commercialism. We actually were not even thinking of coming to Hawaii at this time and were planning a ski trip in the Alps, but this family wedding came up kind of suddenly so now I want make it a fascinating trip with lots of things to see.

My husband really wants to see Pearl Harbor and since I really never stopped in Honolulu (except for the airport) the first time, we will visit a bit.

I don't know if I should stay on the other side of Oahu or go to Maui, or
stay in another part of the Big Island as my three blank days are between Honolulu and the Kona Coast.

My initial gut reaction was Maui, but after reading your comments I need to do some more research.

cheers

SiteC_er

Oahu is neat for 2-3 days (climb diamond head, pearl harbor, snorkel hanauma bay). Kauai is similar to Maui but much better (more lush & less touristy). Thus, I highly recommend the Big Island (I'll admit it's my favorite). Enjoy!

mark99

I know I will probably catch heat for this....but....my wife and I split up a trip 2 years ago to take 3 days out of our 10 days to see Maui. To make a long story short, we were clawing at the walls by day 3 to get back to Oahu. So I think 3 days is more than enough to find out if it is the Island for you. We found it boring as wathching paint dry....but please Maui lovers...this is our style...so don't get upset!!!

dusty56438

Superferry is not too reliable in the winter months.

It can & does cancel trips if the surf is too high. Many times canceling on the day the trip is scheduled.

Right now it is scheduled to be out of service Feb 2-17.

They claim it is "for its annual drydocking for maintenance and recertification required by the Coast Guard."

However, they just now secured the drydock days?

They took reservations for the days they are now scheduled to be in drydock & will have to refund the $$ or reschedule passengers.

You are much better off flying than taking the Superferry, especially in the winter months.

Swannee

Thanks Mark99 and Dusty56438 -- and others

Re Maui, I will look at options and have a bit more time now as I only have to fill in that gap in the trip.
(and plan events within-- (but that is less stressful)

I can understand about getting bored in a place and certainly don't want to do that. I have heard however, that there are some really lovely spots but I also know that it is VERY touristy -- which is not really my cup of tea.

If one went to Maui, what would be the best area to see and stay in such a short time?

Re the ferry, -- if we went, if would be at the very beginning of March. But I hear you Dusty -- I thought that it would be a more interesting way to travel for part of the journey -- and we love water. But I will take your comments into consideration as that would be a bummer if there were a last minute cancellation.

Would anyone recommend going to Molokai or Lanai for my 3-day gap instead of Maui?

My other option is to explore another part of the Big Island or Oahu.

cheers

sf7307

Sorry, but if you think Kauai is touristy, just skip Maui. You'll hate it.

Swannee

I did not say that I thought Kauai was touristy, but over-commercialized.

In those days somehow I thought of Hawaii as what I found in Tahiti (especially Moorea and Bora Bora) -pristine beauty and very little commercialism- no McDonalds, KFCs, familiar name stores that one sees in major shopping malls etc. I saw that in Kauai and it threw me. I did see gorgeous areas, but I had this idea of paradise and at the time -- Kauai did not do it for me. Since I will be in Kauai this time, perhaps my opinion will change.

But if that's what Maui is like, well ????

Oh, and by the way this is for Dusty53438, thanks for the ferry tip. As much as we thought it would be fun, we decided against it as there is only one ferry per day and we do not want to risk a cancellation. Maybe another time.

Marginal

Maybe you should just skip Hawaii and to to Tahiti.