purduegrad

Aloha! We depart on Friday for our first trip to Hawaii. Two weeks -- six nights on Maui, four nights on Oahu, and four nights on Kauai. I realize this is an ambitious schedule, but DH figures this will be our only trip to Hawaii, so have to make the most of it.

A little background -- DH (mid-60s) and I (mid-50s) are reasonably well traveled, but never been to Hawaii. We enjoy independent travel, and would rather poke a stick in an eye than stay in a "resort." We've rented a condo on Maui, north of Lahaina, not too far from the Kapalua Airport for four nights, and then we have a house in Hana for two nights. Then we have villa in Kailua on Oahu for four nights, and then finally a studio in Hanalei on Kauai for four nights before returning home to Chicago February 11.

We enjoy discovering what it's like to live in a new place (well, as much as you can in a couple of weeks), and I've looked around and found farmers markets, some "local favorite" restaurants, and nearby churches.

However, we like to hit the highlights of touristy things too, especially things unique to the area. So, I've booked the Old Lahaina Luau, and we have plans to go to see the sunrise on Haleakala. And, we're taking the road to Hana (thus the house in Hana for two nights). But other than that, and plans to visit the Arizona Memorial/Pearl Harbor, we're unscheduled.

So, I'm writing to ask the experts about how to best spend our time. We like beaches as well as the next person, and whales and sea turtles and snorkeling. We like culture. We like dramatic vistas. We like hiking. But what should we really try to include to give us as "authentic" a experience as possible in two weeks on three islands?

Much mahalo!

Underhill

Check out the newspapers for hula festivals and luaus put on by local churches and other groups.

BlueSwimmer

Check the schedule at the Maui Cultural Center. When we were there a couple of years ago we stumbled on a slack key guitar festival- it seemed like all local families, sitting on blankets, listening to great Hawaiian music in the sunshine.

Stop in Paia on your way to Hana to stock up on groceries at Mana Foods, to get the hippie/organic/yoga vibe. Paia is a great place for lunch too.

Check my trip report (search Magical Maui Hikes) for two great hikes- one off the road to Hana and one in the west Maui mountains.

montereybob

For authentic local food go to any small eatery that offers an item called "plate lunch". For other popular local foods go to the deli at the rear of Honolua Store on Office Rd. which is fairly close to the area where your condo is. Another local food favorite is called poki which you can get in any grocery store seafood dept. Also don't miss out on the local favorite treat called shave ice. Small stands that serve it are everywhere. It's best with the optional ice cream on the bottom.

montereybob

For authentic and beautiful Hawaiian music, attend a concert that features slack key guitar music.

lcuy

You want to live like a local? Buy a 600sq ft condo for $500,000, spend an hour each morning commuting 8 miles into town and you and your spouse each work two jobs to pay for your mortgage and to send your kids to private school.

\/

Oh, you meant you want the scoops on Hawaii, without having to live here?

Well, On Oahu, I highly reccomend a visit to the Bishop Museum and also a tour of Iolani Palace. From Pearl Harbor, a drive out to Haleiwa on the North Shore ties in nicely, especially if the waves are up. Stop at Laniakea beach to see the turtles, and at Waimea, Ehukai or Sunset beaches are the spots to watch the surfers. Once you've gotten that far, continue clockwise around the island back to Kailua. Its a very scenic ride.

A tough hike is the Olomana trail, but the views are so worth it. Manoa falls trail or the Waahila Ridge trail are both easy and have great views, as does the hike inside Diamond Head Crater..

If you've never done it before, Waikiki is the best place anywhere to take a surfing lesson. Look for the racks of surfboards near the Duke Kahanumoku statue.

Will you be on Oahu Feb 3 or 4? the Punahou Carnival is a truly local event. Friday and Saturday only, 11 am to 11pm. the best time to come is early on Friday and you'll avoid the worst crowds. Get lunch at one or more of the really, truly local food booths. Huli huli chicken, teri-burgers, saimin, noodles, BBQ-sticks, Portugese Bean Soup, and of course the famous Punahou Malasada!

If you walk up to the cafeteria, you can get a real Hawaiian plate lunch- laulau, lomi salmon, haupia- and they have terrific hawaiian and local musicians playing for your pleasure. All those foods are local favorites and prepared by parents and students. Barack Obama, Pierre Omydiyar (eBay), Steve Case (AOL) and my daughters (TBD) all worked in those booths at one time or another.

You can buy Punahou clothing and souvenirs at the Alumni booth, or mango chutney or Lilikoi butter at the Jams & Jelly tent. Just get there early, as the chutney and butters sell out by the early afternoon. The Art Gallery is a great place to see some really nice works by local artists and to have a few minutes of quiet and air-conditioning.

Parking is a bear, but the #5 bus comes straight up from Ala Moana center. Street parking may be available, but watch for 2:30 tow zones. Punahou has free parking off of Punahou/ Nehoa street above campus or you can pay to park at several nearby churches and schools (They close for the day; how could they compete with the Punahou Carnival??)

I will admit this is a shameless plug by a former carnival chair, but it really is about as local as it gets. I'll be there, eating my way down the midway.

Songdoc

I liked the beginning of icuy's response ;-).

On Kauai, be sure to eat saimin at Hamura's. And tailgate (or bring a picnic) at sunset next to the pier at Hanalei Bay.

suze

Lcuy beat me to it. You really don't want to "live like a local". That would mean going to work every day to pay the rent and shopping at the grocery store for your food.

Old Lahaina Luau and Haleakala were highlights on Maui for me.

On Oahu I stay in Waikiki, so that's what I know best. Bishop Museum, Iolani Palace, the Doris Duke Shangri La estate, hiking DiamondHead are all excellent. Lots of free music and dance around if you keep your eyes open for it.

purduegrad

Thanks, everyone. Actually, yes, we are on Oahu Feb 3 and 4, and the Punahou Carnival sounds perfect. Icuy, if you see a couple of pasty white Midwesterners wandering around, that will be us!

And yes, I could buy a similar condo in Chicago and have a similar commute, but with much less lovely weather!

edjim

If you are around on Friday evening, the arts walk in Hanapepe on Kauai is a nice diversion. Even if you're not there on a Friday, you can see Hanapepe on the way back from Waimea Canyon (I hear mornings are less rainy)... hiking in Waimea, too.

Tomsd

When you arrive - pick up the local tourist mags at the airport - and they usually have a lot of events listed, as well as good maps.

On Oahu - suggest you go early - to Hanauma Bay - and snorkel - or just enjoy it. see: http://www.hawaiiweb.com/hanauma-bay...-preserve.html

Driving around Oahu is definitely fun - and you can even break it up into two days- continuing on from Hanamau Bay to finish the southern loop - and then doing the northern loop up to the North Shore.

And on Kauai - you have plenty to do on the beautiful North Shore - and our favorite beach is at the end of the road - Ke'e beach - over 7 one lane bridges. There is a reef protecting the small lagoon/great for swimming/snorkeling - and there is good hiking there - and great sunsets.

One day bright and early - you should drive to the Grand Canyon/Waimea - and you could also make a stop in Poipu to check that out.

Tomsd

Oh yes: To live like a local - eat like a local. We pick up fruit at the local markets/stands and buy a styrofoam container ($5 or so) to have a traveling ice chest for snacks and beverages, and to use in the room if you don't have a small fridge. We sometimes buy sushi for a picnic at the beach - and also fresh fish and sometimes make fish sandiches for lunch - or saute it for dinner. Sometimes - just relaxing in your place - hopefully with a bit of a view - and having a glass of wine/whatever and some pu-pus (appetizers) is as good as it gets.

One thing - with rental cars - don't leave any valuables/belongings in plain sight. Leave most stuff in the room and put the other stuff in the trunk if you stop somewhere.

sf7307

As anywhere where there are a lot of tourists, put the stuff you want to "hide" into the trunk before you get where you're going. If you put it into the trunk when you get there, you're just advertising that you have valuables in there.

Ke'e Beach is absolutely gorgeous.

tom42

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Or one of the 100s of other pasty white Midwesterners that wander around Hawaii. ; )

purduegrad

Thanks very much everyone! What a great list of choices and ideas. Just two more days and we'll have the opportunity to turn from pasty white to lobster red -- just like hundreds of others, too, I suppose! ;-)

Kimberly_Bamford

In Maui, check out the huge Swap Meet at the college and in Kauai, the quaint Hanalei farmers market/swap meet.