Are you going to try to put 4 adults in one hotel room or two?

We usually stay in the Kapaa area on Kauai.
Midpoint to all "ends of the road" so you'd spend less time in a car.

Helicopter ride is a must for a first timer.
ATV tours on Kauai were also a good time.

At the Grand Hyatt we can get one room with two Queen beds so that will work to save some money there. So I think we could do a large room with 2 queens or a King and nice sofa bed or even a one bedroom if the price isn't too high.

Unless you want to look for a condo, the Kea Lani is a good choice. Having a suite would really be the best way to go in my opinion. When we had an overnight guest there, he took the pullout mattress off and slept on it on the floor. But the mattress on our King was heaven. I'm sure they can also offer a roll away.

yoiks. $500 for 4 adult people crammed into a room? You could get a 2 bdrm condo for half that:

http://www.outrigger.com/reservations/select-room?rates=16%2C17%2C29&hotelCode=pwr&iNgts=7&utm_source=pwr_outrigger_leadqual.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=notset&utm_term=notset&utm_campaign=notset&checkIn=12%2F09%2F2012&checkOut=12%2F16%2F2012&numAdults=4&numChildren=0&x=123&y=12

I'd do the helicopter trip on Kauai, beautiful island.

We just returned from our first trip to Kauai from Maine. We are two couples in our mid-50's. We rented a condo while staying in Princeville for a week. The highlight of that island for us was seeing the island and NaPali coastline in a helicopter. We used Jack Harter and they fly out of Lihue. Amazing views with the doors OFF! About $269/pp. Great narration, we got awesome pictures, and never once did I feel like I was going to fall out. A gorgeous place.

We used Jack Harter on our first trip over in '89.

We actually got him as the pilot.
A gentle man who OBVIOUSLY loved the island and shared his love and knowledge with you.
Sounds like his pilots were trained the same way?

We went on another one "post Iniki" to see what damage was done and made the mistake of not going with Harter again.
This guy thought he was TC in Magnum PI.

Pardon me while I completely rearrange your trip to Hawaii.

You don't have enough time to make it worthwhile to spend the time flying between islands. One week = One island. Ten nights = Two. I would choose Oahu + Maui. I would skip two nights in LA, and make this trip all about Hawaii. Most young women would enjoy the 'buzz' of Waikiki on Oahu and Kaanapali on Maui. *I* would just do Maui -- in a condo. Oceans will be calmer off South Maui, but weather should be fine from Kahana on south.

This is a poor season for Kauai. Wind and rain will be affecting the most beautiful north shores, and the ocean will be rough there. Some years the rain extends south to Poipu.

This is THE least expensive time of year to visit Hawaii. You should find some bargain lodgings and rental cars.

I like this site for South Maui condos: www.mauiownercondos.com At your price point, look at Wailea Beach Villas, Polo Beach Club, Wailea Ekahi and Elua. The Kea Lani is nice, but we don't share a BR or bath with our kids at home and don't want to do it on vacation either. Living on Island Time is easy with a 'home away from home'.

In West Maui, I like this agency: www.chasenrainbows.com The Honua Kai is a very large, new condo-tel just north of the main stretch of Kaanapali beaches.

We are in South Kihei every winter. I look for 767's or other widebody aircraft and nonstops for one long leg to Hawaii from our home near Chicago. I avoid 757's and west coast connections.

Unfortunately we already have our flights to Maui/Kauai/La and then back home and it would be a fortune to change plus my husband can't take anymore time than that. I know it's a shorter trip than I would like but we do want to be home for the holidays. Do you have suggestions on what to do in Maui with the girls. The Wailia Beach Villas look great! But are they too far from kaanapali beach where you say young women would like to go. Or is it centrally located and easy to get around with a rent a car. Are there any tours you would suggest? Is it easy to just drive around to see waterfalls and swimming holes? Is there a good place to see the whales or do we need to take a tour? Sounds like from others that we should save the helicopter ride for kauai? What about a luau? Surf lessons? snorkeling? I know, lots of questions but we want to get as much done as when can while we are there. We are pretty active and can relax more when we get to Kauai.

<<<The Wailia Beach Villas look great! But are they too far from kaanapali beach where you say young women would like to go.>>>

You cannot reasonably go back and forth between Wailea and Kaanapali Beach - it's probably a 45-minute drive each way.

And the beaches all along that part of the coast (Wailea) are absolutely phenomenal!

I'd suggest the Honua Kai if you want to be near Lahaina's Front Street (shopping, restaurants and a leetle bit of history left from the town's days as a whaling port). There are more restaurants and shops at Whalers Village mall. There is a boardwalk between the many hotels.

*I* would prefer Wailea. It's not as though there's nothing there! Three of Maui's top hotels are in Wailea, each with restaurants and bars, and Shops At Wailea has yet more. Immediately north is the beachtown of Kihei, with a more casual atmosphere.

It is more convenient to tour Haleakala, Road to Hana and Iao Valley from South Maui, but you can drive up to Kapalua in West Maui one day, stopping at Lahaina. If your girls were over 21 I'd be stronger for Kaanapali, but they are under-age for the nightlife.

I suggest a snorkeling expedition along the Maui coast or over to Lanai. If the whales have arrived, you'd see them that way. Or, take a dedicated whale-watch. (You are a tad early for their usual Jan. - Mar. season, when we see them often from shore.) Best snorkeling is from sandy beaches on Maui. Kauai and Oahu have the least good sealife; Big Island has the best. Blue Water Rafting departs the Kihei small boat launch near Wailea, and there are also opportunities out of Maalaea Marina.

Yes, it is easy to plan DIY touring, but you don't have all that much TIME, and your first day will be a blur as your body adjusts to the time change. You might do Haleakala and Upcountry plus Iao Valley in one go. You can drive Road to Hana or take a tour -- it's a 12-hour day if you make at all the scenic stops and hike the bamboo jungle. Do the drive up to piney Kapalua and south past Makena to where the bare lava meets the blue ocean. Great snorkeling beach in front of the Makena Beach Resort hotel -- almost always sea turtles. Wailea is one beach after the other.

Kauai and Big Island are my two *musts* for air tours, but weather may be a factor on Kauai in December.

Best luau in the state is a toss-up between Old Lahaina Luau and Feast At Lele, but don't feel you must do a luau -- or *anything*. Maui is good for surf lessons. There are ziplines. You can rent kayaks.

The best thing about Hawaii is just being there. (You'll be back!)

<<<The best thing about Hawaii is just being there.>>>

That's the truth!

I write this from our room in Kauai. in the past 3 days we have done the following
1) napali coast boat ride - Liko kauai
2) Tubing the canal - Kauai Backcountry Adventures
3) kayaking the Wailua river to waterfall - Wailua Kayak Adventure

All excellent adventures that I would probably do again if I came back to kauai

JNE
If you havent had enough of the beach in Kauai and Maui the Shutters in Santa Monica is fabulous. Santa Monica is full of fun and life in LA. Walking distance to the pier, downtown, the promenade, etc...We live in Southern Cali and it always delivers. Expect to see celebrity's lunching, dinning and maybe staying a day or 2.

http://www.shuttersonthebeach.com


Thanks for this thread...we will be on Maui Dec 14-25th. Was thinking of a couple of days on Kauai but with the weather posted here maybe we will just stay put? Will be with family on the island but want to stay either in Lahina, Kaanapali or Wailea for 5 days or so...cant decide. Like the night life but also like the upscale serene away from the noise. Condo is more spacious. So many choices. Flights out of San Diego were only $274 rdt pp during the holidays.

this is my style....yummm but do I want to stay in Hana away from Kaanapali or Lahina?

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60636-d1102016-Reviews-Paia_Inn_Hotel-Paia_Maui_Hawaii.html

Cyn, isn't that hotel in Paia, not Hana? If so, it's a very good location - Paia is a laid-back beach town fairly near the airport, before the road to Hana.

Paia Inn is right on the main drag. Tiny rooms. Enough noise that they provide a 'white noise' machine! Consider the cottages at Mama's Fish House if you want this (rather 'hippy') area. Not a good swimming/snorkeling area but a wind surfer's heaven.

This just isn't the best time to enjoy Kauai. Hana will be getting wet, too. (Also Hilo on Big Island.) I'd stay from Kahana south on Maui. Actually *I* stay in South Kihei Jan. - Feb. I prefer a low-rise, low-density condo to the tall buildings and touristy traffic in Kaanapali. If you want quiet and a beach, you don't want to stay IN Lahaina Town. (Much of Kaanapali has a Lahaina zip code though.)

You should find inexpensive lodgings and rental cars in early December. (Just as you found bargain air!)

Hana?? I've heard mixed reviews on if we should go or not since it's an entire day?
And suggestions on where to take the surfing lessons?

cynlapuma - Shutters looks awesome. I do wonder if we will have enough of the beach but as busy as we might be, it could work out to just hang around there and relax! We've been able to get a one bedroom at one Island and two rooms at the other but I'm not sure we will be able to get two at shutter at $600.00 per night, we may not be able to stay for that reason. Our budget will be running thin by then! : ) We don't mind staying with the girls since we don't see them much and it gives us more time with morning coffee and late night chat so I'll see if they will let us share a room with them. I think we would love it with the way you discribe it and with the things to do around it.

We stayed at both the Fairmont Kea Lani and Honua Kai in Maui. The Fairmont has a fabulous beach. The resort is VERY expensive (food, drinks, etc). We had a room with a king bed in one room & a sleeper sofa in the other. My kids are young, so it was fine for the 4 of us.

The Honua Kai was fabulous! We had a 2 bedroom, 2 bath with full kitchen. It was gorgeous! The beach was great & the restaurant (Dukes) was fantastic and a good value. The pools are also nicer than those at the Fairmont.

The better location would depend on what you are going to do. We didn't do lots of excursions, since the kids are young. We were able to snorkel right off the beach near the HK (not at the Fairmont). We were there in July, so I don't know how time of year changes things. We also did the road to Hana (AMAZING and long day....LOVED IT!!!! Drove all the way around in a Jeep), and did the sunset on Haleakala (also AMAZING!!!!). We walked around Lahaina, which is a cute town & teenagers would probably like it.

In Kauai, we stayed both in Princeville & at the Grand Hyatt. Liked the North Shore much more, but the GH was the nicest resort we have ever stayed in. We had a huge suite, so I think that helped The beach at the Hyatt is not really swimmable, but the pool is fantastic. We did a Napali boat tour from the South (Captain Andy's Southern Star) & it was just unbelievably beautiful. The yacht is one that is rented out to celebrities, so it is very nice compared to the others that we saw (not that it really matters, because it's the view that you are going for).

We just loved Hawaii Can't wait to go back.

We stayed in CA on both ends of the trip, but we stayed near Disneyland so that we could go there (Hyatt Orange - which was a great place to stay).

Have fun!