trajeang

Hi! I'm looking for help in planning our Hawaii honeymoon in late March/April.

We are flying from NYC, so will probably fly direct to Oahu to take advantage of non-stop flight. We plan to stay on Oahu for a couple of nights -- want to see Pearl Harbor, Diamondhead, Waikiki beach etc. Do we need more than 2 days/nights to do this? Should we arrange a rental car in advance? Do we really need a car for sightseeing on Oahu? (we look forward to taking a vacation from driving...nyc traffic takes its toll).

Also, would you recommend the Halekulani as the best hotel for honeymooners? We like to be where the action is, but I like a little luxury.

Then we're off to Maui for 8 nights. Four Seasons comes so highly recommended. But I'm nervous about being swarmed with too many kids at the pool in April? The Hana-Maui also looks lovely, but I'm worried it's too remote from the rest of the island.

Also, same question about car rental for Maui. We definitely want to drive to Hana and do some exploring. But do you recommend that we rent a car for the entire 8 days? I assume hotels charge for parking. We'd hate to pay for a car/parking if it goes to waste while we spend time at the beach, pool, etc.

Thanks for your advice, o'wise travelers!

JohnD

Always a good idea to reserve cars ahead of time when travelling to Hawaii. For some islands, like Kauai, it is not unusual for the major companies to sell out. Suggest a convertible on Maui for the Road to Hana, try reserving online, you can always cancel with no charge if you find a better rate elsewhere. I find
it hard to believe you are considering staying at the 4S and are concerned about renting a car for a few days vs a week.

trajeang

Thanks for your response! We are saving our sheckles like most honeymooners for trip of a lifetime. Can get a room at 4S for $345/night, which seems to be close to the going rate on Maui.

It's not that we can't afford to rent a car. we're just trying to gauge how long we might need it--and if we should make those reservations in advance.

JohnD

I vote for a car the whole time, suggest you check online at Alamo or Dollar websites, they periodically have special rates for Hawaii. Congratulations on your Honeymoon! You will love Maui, we spent our honeymoon last year on Kauai-for us it was paradise.

bogart

For us, having a car every day was essential. We reserved a jeep ahead of time. However, friends just got back from honeymooning at the 4S - they did not reserve a car in advance. They got a car at the 4S on days that they needed one...

Lori

While I have not stayed at the 4-Seasons I've been to Maui about 14 times and each and every time we had a car for the whole time. You need it unless you plan on just staying at the hotel, and while the hotel is lovely I'm sure you want to see the island. Having a car gives you the freedom to come and go when you want to without a set schedule.

I do not think you need a car on Oahu, traffic there can be pretty bad and you can always take a tour to Pearl Harbor if you want to. They have buses that run up and down Waikiki and it's easy to get around. A car is a real bother in the Waikiki area I think.

Halekulani is lovely, but the beach is non-existant if that is important to you.

puddy

We took the same Continental flight... it was great.

For Oahu, two full days should be good for what you want to do. You could do Pearl Harbor one morning and Diamondhead the next and the beach each afternoon. Or both Pearl Harbor and Diamondhead the same day and beach the next. You don't need a car here. There are shuttles to both places. We actually just took the bus to Diamondhead. As for the Halekulani, it's supposed to be one of the nicest. We stayed at the Hyatt which we were happy with... kind of in the middle of everything and right across the street from the beach.

For Maui, definitely get a car. You'll want to explore the island and you'll have to drive to restaurants etc (eating at the 4S for every meal will really blow your budget). Also, w/o a car, just getting to the hotel from the airport would probably be the cost of one day's rental.

Have a great trip... we loved it.

islandmom

Ack- I think I will pass out reading about all these people missing the best parts of Oahu. There is no grander view of the aqua water and white sand than span between Sandy's and the North Shore.

No less than three nights in my opinion. I divide it up by
1) Honolulu, Waikiki and Pali
2) drive the coastline from Waikiki all around to the north shore back through Dole and around. (Do not miss Bellows beach for lovin' and photos!)
3) Pearl Harbor, west shore

I could go on and on and keep you busy for two weeks. And with only two days you should really get a car and not waste time.

turn_it_on

Do not stay for 8 days in Hana. We were in Maui for 7 days last month and spent the last two night in Hana...we absolutely loved staying there, very serene and romantic, perfect for a honeymoon...but too too far from the other side of the island, you could never use it as a base. I would suggest Hana only if you're really into hiking to see awesome pools and falls...to me, you need to be active to really enjoy the area...at night however, nothing could beat sitting in the tub on our porch looking at the incredible stars at the Hana Hale Malamalama...but if you really just want to relax all day, you'd be better off in West or South Maui where you can be right on a beautiful beach and there's just more services and stuff to be had. You can "get away from it all" in South Maui or in Hana, they're just two different kinds of getting away. Does that make sense? If you click on my name, you can read my trip report, it has lots of details about Hana.

And yes, you need a car the whole time in Maui. There's too much exploring to do. Even if you just want to try a restaurant up the coast for an evening you'll need it.

Congratulations!

love
roxy

olivia

I agree that more than 2 days in Hana is too much. If you like to be where the action is, you won't find it in Hana, but it is terribly romantic.

Kid74

Don't worry about kids at the 4S, especially in April. The kids program at 4S is excellent and part of what makes it so great is it keeps the kids secluded from the adults! We also stayed there for our honeymoon this past July (also stayed in the mountainview room) and absolutely loved it. Be sure to request a room upgrade when you check in, and if there isn't anything available, ask to be put on a list for if an upgrade becomes available. They will check in with you each day to let you know if something becomes available. You will not be disappointed, the 4S service lives up to its reputation. Be sure to try Spago's while you're there too and we loved our couples massage by the oceanside!

bquarre

As some of the other posters have said, Hana is lovely, romantic and laid back. It would be a nice way to end your stay in Maui. I would recommend staying at the Hotel Hana Maui for two nights in one of the Sea Ranch Cottages with a spa on the deck. I have spent entire vacations in Hana and love it there, but this probably would not be the best course for you. Try it out in small doses and if you like it enough...go back! You will need a car...get a jeep or a convertible.
Congratulations and have fun!

vivi

Yes, Halekulani is perfect for a honeymoon. Very upscale,maybe the finest hotel in Waikiki plus it's easy to walk to all the "action."

Yes, I would definitely rent a car for the whole time on both islands.

bashfulLV

I just got back from two weeks in Waikiki. The Halekulani is lovely and would be great for a honeymoon. As far as their beach goes, I used to go to that particular beach nearly every day. It's small, but very nice and no rocks like you'll find on some of the other beaches near it. If it's too crowded for you on their beach follow the beach next door to the Sheraton Waikiki or better yet the Royal Hawaiian - that's one nice thing about all the beaches in Waikiki being public - you can go anywhere and it's just a short walk between them.

As far as renting a car - parking is a premium in Waikiki - very little of it and pretty expensive if you find some. My advice would be to rent a car just when you need it to drive out to see the rest of the island. Don't miss Waimanalao Bay beach - we went out there (my boyfriend lives over there) and it was virtually deserted and absoultely beautiful. As was the North Shore - even on a Saturday my guy managed to find a truly lovely spot with no one there. Have a great honeymoon and enjoy the islands.

trajeang

Was poking around the site while planning our next vacation. Thought I'd post an little feedback on our honeymoon this past March-April.

We flew direct from Newark to Honolulu -- 11 hours made less painful because Continental had TVs on all the seats. Stayed at the Outrigger Waikiki on Oahu. Okay hotel, not fabulous. Rooms were nothing special. Had I known, I would have chosen the Sheraton next door or the Hilton Village or someplace super-swanky like the Mandarin Oriental. Because you only live once (and hopefully only go on a honeymoon once). We were only there for 3 days, so it was fine.

THE ABSOLUTE BEST was the Four Seasons Resort on Maui. We were there for 8 days. Absolutely phenomenal, just as everyone says! Service is great ? they set up your chairs at the pool or beach, spritz you with Evian water if you?re too hot, bring cold towels, strawberries, popsicles, etc. the restaurants including Spago, are wonderful. We also ventured around the island for a few other places to eat including Sarento's where we saw Humpback whales breach out of the water at sunset from our romantic, outdoor table. we did the road to Hana, went to a Old Lahaina luau, etc.

A total riot was that while we were there so was Gov "Ahnuld" Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver & their brood. My husband ran into him first in the locker room of the 4 Seasons spa ? thank God they had towels on (what an unnecessary shocker that would have been!) We didn?t hear about Gov saving a swimmer's life on the 4 Seasons beach until after we got home (we were right there at the pool that day, but no one was talking about it. I suspect his publicist made it up). I can share this gossip: their kids are good looking & have excellent manners. Maria?s not as skinny-minny as she appeared on tv, she looks normal. Arnold in a speedo is a scary sight (gravity obviously takes its toll on everyone, stardom or no stardom).

For honeymooners----Not to end on a down note, but we got sick on our honeymoon. We both came down with respiratory infections the minute we landed in Oahu. Maybe from the 11 hour flight. Maybe from kissing 150 relatives at the reception (beware of 83 yr old Aunts who kiss you & everyone else on the lips!) So if you ever find yourself in need of a doctor in Honolulu, sad to say I can recommend the walk-in clinic at the Hyatt Regency. The dr was great and she put us both on antibiotics right away. Sort of a downer, but what better place to recuperate in each other's arms than Paradise??? We didn't let it spoil our lovely trip.

klw25

The 4S in Maui must be one of Arnold and Maria's favorite spots--they were there with their kids when we were there for our honeymoon in August '95! I also can't say enough about the hotel--it's incredible. And as far as kids at the pool go, if I remember correctly, there are two separate pools, one near a kiddie pool. We went to the other one and never saw one child in the pool in 12 days. Actually, I lie. Arnold's daughter, Katherine, did jump at the pool once, but he immediately yelled at her to get out. Boy, did every head turn!
As far as parking goes, you didn't have to pay to park. We always valleted, but I think you can park yourself if you choose. Go with a convertible, there's nothing like driving down the road in Hawaii at night with the top down. And yes, I agree that you'll want a car the entire time. We drove to Hana, Lahaina to shop and for the luau, to other beaches, and to a different restaurant every night (with so many wonderful places to eat, how can you not take advantage?).
Also, take advantage of the concierge at the 4S. They were wonderful. Everyone they recommended--from the helicopter tour (no doors on the copter) to the horseback riding through the rainforest (lunch and swimming by a waterfall)--were fabulous and all were the same companies that were highly recommended in Fodor's and other guidebooks.
Congratulations and enjoy! And warning: you won't want to leave!