I have a confession...and a follow-up question about Hawaii.
Sep 19th, 2007, 05:48 AM
#22
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EJ,
Some Kaua'i must dos are:
Spouting Horn,Queen's Bath,Waimea Canyon (on a clear day),Wailua Falls,Napali Coast heli tour,Ke'e Beach snorkeling,Anini Beach snorkeling,Secrets beach (shellcombing),Kileuleu lighthouse (sp?)
Wow! This is making me miss Kaua'i! It is a very unique island with different terrain for a smaller island.
My best friend lived there for 5 years and gave us all of the information that I just gave you.The day that we went to Waimea Canyon it was very foggy so it was useless..we could not see anything.
June should be the best time to visit Ke'e beach for snorkeling...the reef offshore breaks the waves for some pretty calm water for snorkeling.
BTW...have you checked into the Princeville yet?
Christie
Some Kaua'i must dos are:
Spouting Horn,Queen's Bath,Waimea Canyon (on a clear day),Wailua Falls,Napali Coast heli tour,Ke'e Beach snorkeling,Anini Beach snorkeling,Secrets beach (shellcombing),Kileuleu lighthouse (sp?)
Wow! This is making me miss Kaua'i! It is a very unique island with different terrain for a smaller island.
My best friend lived there for 5 years and gave us all of the information that I just gave you.The day that we went to Waimea Canyon it was very foggy so it was useless..we could not see anything.
June should be the best time to visit Ke'e beach for snorkeling...the reef offshore breaks the waves for some pretty calm water for snorkeling.
BTW...have you checked into the Princeville yet?
Christie
Sep 19th, 2007, 10:54 AM
#23
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Like you I love the Caribbean and had some serious doubts before my first trip to Hawaii. But my husband really wanted to go - so we went and I loved it!.
1. DO NOT expect it to be like the Caribbean - except for some nice beaches and warm weather - it really is not a lot like the Caribbean.
2. If you like a laid-back atmosphere - then I agree with you B.I. and Kauai are probably your best bets for which islands. Frankly I just found Maui too busy - although I loved Haleakala.
3. Snorkeling in Hawaii can be VERY good BUT please be careful certain areas are VERY dangerous at certain times of the year - read the guidebooks carefully! Also although you will find a good variety of fish, you will not find as many lovely corals as in the Caribbean.
Our favorite snorkeling spots were Anini Beach on Kauai (always safe) and Kealakakua Bay on B.I. (also very safe).
4. Treat the ocean in Hawaii with a LOT of caution - it is NOT like the Caribbean - enormous waves can come out of nowhere and the undertow can be very dangerous. I was smacked silly by a giant wave on a calm public Maui beach and then caught in the undertow - lucky for me my husband and another guy realized I was in trouble and hauled me out. DO NOT EVER even for an instant turn your back on the ocean and NEVER swim where no-one else is swimming.
5. Get good guidebooks - I loved Wizard Publications "Revealed" series.
6. If you want to save accommodation money - look into B&Bs. We stayed at one on the B.I.(Macadamia Meadows) and one on Maui. Also watch out for specials - we got a beach front resort on Kauai for a very good rate.
7. Snorkeling trips are more expensive but some are worth it (so research any specific ones that appeal to you) - we did Fairwinds on B.I. and they were excellent. Otherwise we just did shore snorkeling - very possible.
8. Food is quite expensive - try to get a hotel with a kitchenette. And try to eat like a Hawaiian - look for "plate lunch" wagons and Saimen (sp?) noodles shops and stands and Hawaiian-Portuguese bakeries - wonderful snacks. We liked Duane's Ono Burgers on Kauai (east coast) - good burgers and fries and decently priced (for Hawaii) and almost free internet.
9. The scenery REALLY is amazing - on Kauai don't miss the Waimea Canyon and the North Shore. On B.I. - don't miss Volcanoes National Park and BTW the best green sand beach is near South point (Kai Lai - sp?) - dangerous to swim there but the sand really is olive green. There is a black sand beach further down the highway - near Nalehu(sp?) that is frequented by MANY sea turtles. If you go to Maui - don't miss Haleakala.
1. DO NOT expect it to be like the Caribbean - except for some nice beaches and warm weather - it really is not a lot like the Caribbean.
2. If you like a laid-back atmosphere - then I agree with you B.I. and Kauai are probably your best bets for which islands. Frankly I just found Maui too busy - although I loved Haleakala.
3. Snorkeling in Hawaii can be VERY good BUT please be careful certain areas are VERY dangerous at certain times of the year - read the guidebooks carefully! Also although you will find a good variety of fish, you will not find as many lovely corals as in the Caribbean.
Our favorite snorkeling spots were Anini Beach on Kauai (always safe) and Kealakakua Bay on B.I. (also very safe).
4. Treat the ocean in Hawaii with a LOT of caution - it is NOT like the Caribbean - enormous waves can come out of nowhere and the undertow can be very dangerous. I was smacked silly by a giant wave on a calm public Maui beach and then caught in the undertow - lucky for me my husband and another guy realized I was in trouble and hauled me out. DO NOT EVER even for an instant turn your back on the ocean and NEVER swim where no-one else is swimming.
5. Get good guidebooks - I loved Wizard Publications "Revealed" series.
6. If you want to save accommodation money - look into B&Bs. We stayed at one on the B.I.(Macadamia Meadows) and one on Maui. Also watch out for specials - we got a beach front resort on Kauai for a very good rate.
7. Snorkeling trips are more expensive but some are worth it (so research any specific ones that appeal to you) - we did Fairwinds on B.I. and they were excellent. Otherwise we just did shore snorkeling - very possible.
8. Food is quite expensive - try to get a hotel with a kitchenette. And try to eat like a Hawaiian - look for "plate lunch" wagons and Saimen (sp?) noodles shops and stands and Hawaiian-Portuguese bakeries - wonderful snacks. We liked Duane's Ono Burgers on Kauai (east coast) - good burgers and fries and decently priced (for Hawaii) and almost free internet.
9. The scenery REALLY is amazing - on Kauai don't miss the Waimea Canyon and the North Shore. On B.I. - don't miss Volcanoes National Park and BTW the best green sand beach is near South point (Kai Lai - sp?) - dangerous to swim there but the sand really is olive green. There is a black sand beach further down the highway - near Nalehu(sp?) that is frequented by MANY sea turtles. If you go to Maui - don't miss Haleakala.
Sep 19th, 2007, 11:57 AM
#24
That post above is excellent. And I couldn't agree more to try not to *compare* the two places. Except for both having islands involved, that's the absolutely END of the similarity.
The people are so different, the entire "vibe" of the cultures, unique unto themselves, and you'd never mistake one for the other. Standing on a beach in Hawaii feels completely different than a beach in the Caribbean. The strength of the ocean and size of the islands, for starters.
The people are so different, the entire "vibe" of the cultures, unique unto themselves, and you'd never mistake one for the other. Standing on a beach in Hawaii feels completely different than a beach in the Caribbean. The strength of the ocean and size of the islands, for starters.
Sep 19th, 2007, 07:02 PM
#25
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semiramis and suze, thanks for your excellent advise. As Shakespeare says, comparisons are odious so I'll try to appreciate Hawaii for what it is and not try to compare it to my favorite place. Who knows? I'm getting more and more excited about this trip, so maybe I"ll come home with a new favorite place!
I think I've decided to spend 4 nights at a B&B on the windward side and use that time for heavy duty exploration and then downshift into beach mode for our last nights on the leeward side. I'm starting to feel like I'd need a full month to see the whole island really well. Alas, that won't be happening.
I read that the green sand beach is challenging to get to and even harder to hike back to the main road from. My husband has a bad knee so we can't to much hiking with a vertical climb. We both love walking, though, so if you have any fairly level walks that you'd recommend, I'd love to know about them.
Also would love specifc recs for local dining spots. I've read about the plate lunch and it sounds right up my alley.
Thanks!
I think I've decided to spend 4 nights at a B&B on the windward side and use that time for heavy duty exploration and then downshift into beach mode for our last nights on the leeward side. I'm starting to feel like I'd need a full month to see the whole island really well. Alas, that won't be happening.
I read that the green sand beach is challenging to get to and even harder to hike back to the main road from. My husband has a bad knee so we can't to much hiking with a vertical climb. We both love walking, though, so if you have any fairly level walks that you'd recommend, I'd love to know about them.
Also would love specifc recs for local dining spots. I've read about the plate lunch and it sounds right up my alley.
Thanks!
Sep 19th, 2007, 11:23 PM
#26
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The sea is cooler than that of the Caribbean, so for scuba a thicker wetsuit is needed. The evenings are also cool without the humidity of the Caribbean which is very pleasant. Hawaii has micro climates so one place can be very green lush and tropical and the region next door can be dry and arid.
Being able to see whales (June too late) and turtles from the beach is wonderful, in Kauai we saw monk seals in Poipu. Snorkeling in places like Haunama Bay and La Perouse was really interesting as it is quite different from the Caribbean.
We underestimated Oahu and realised too late that it is really lovely in the North and East of the island, that it has some glorious beaches.
Being able to see whales (June too late) and turtles from the beach is wonderful, in Kauai we saw monk seals in Poipu. Snorkeling in places like Haunama Bay and La Perouse was really interesting as it is quite different from the Caribbean.
We underestimated Oahu and realised too late that it is really lovely in the North and East of the island, that it has some glorious beaches.
Sep 20th, 2007, 05:29 AM
#27
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ej,
My friend who lived in Kaua'i use to work at Roy's and said that they have the best food on the island.
If you are looking for a nice B&B on Kaua'i...Rosewood's Kaua'i is a great place.We stayed there in 2002.It is located in Kapa'a which is on the East Coast of Kaua'i.It would be a good central location to the attractions.
We took each day to explore different sides of the island.One day we did everything on the South coast.Next was Wailua Falls and the Waimea Canyon..but we spent most of our days on the North Coast as there is more to explore there.
Have fun!
Christie
My friend who lived in Kaua'i use to work at Roy's and said that they have the best food on the island.
If you are looking for a nice B&B on Kaua'i...Rosewood's Kaua'i is a great place.We stayed there in 2002.It is located in Kapa'a which is on the East Coast of Kaua'i.It would be a good central location to the attractions.
We took each day to explore different sides of the island.One day we did everything on the South coast.Next was Wailua Falls and the Waimea Canyon..but we spent most of our days on the North Coast as there is more to explore there.
Have fun!
Christie
Sep 20th, 2007, 05:34 AM
#28
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Here is a link to the B&B www.rosewoodkauai.com , the owners are very nice and the grounds are beautifully landscaped.We enjoyed our stay there.
Christie
Christie
Sep 20th, 2007, 06:59 AM
#29
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I found this for plate lunches.
http://www.dakine.net/hawaii/guide/o...atelunch.shtml
http://www.dakine.net/hawaii/guide/o...atelunch.shtml
Sep 20th, 2007, 07:00 AM
#30
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This one is even better!
http://www.hawaiidiner.com/directory...0&island=1
http://www.hawaiidiner.com/directory...0&island=1
Sep 20th, 2007, 10:46 AM
#33
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Hi Christie: All has been well. we had a great 10 day Baltic cruise last June on the Star Princess. How have you been? From what I can tell you have done a few trips, correct? 
EJ: Mahalo which of course is Hawaiian for you're welcome. Cheers, Larry
EJ: Mahalo which of course is Hawaiian for you're welcome. Cheers, Larry
Sep 21st, 2007, 11:21 AM
#35
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Okay, after much deliberation and much waffling, I *think* I have decided on 8 nights on the Big Island. BI, Kauai and Maui were all in the running, very closely I might add, but for now I'm going with the BI. We're staying 4 nights at a B&B north of Hilo and then ending the trip with a huge splurge at Kona Village resort--so, 4 days of active exploring by car followed by 4 days of total vegging around the beach and resort. Who knows, I might even have spa day--I've never been so indulgent!
Anyway, many thanks to all of you for your imput, and for those of you who love Kauai and Maui, I'm sorry I didn't choose "your" island. But I'm getting more and more excited about this trip, so I bet that christie and the others are right when they said I'll fall in love with HI, so I'll just have to check out the other islands on a future trip.
Thanks again!
Anyway, many thanks to all of you for your imput, and for those of you who love Kauai and Maui, I'm sorry I didn't choose "your" island. But I'm getting more and more excited about this trip, so I bet that christie and the others are right when they said I'll fall in love with HI, so I'll just have to check out the other islands on a future trip.
Thanks again!
Sep 21st, 2007, 11:34 AM
#36
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Why don't you consider an island cruise? Norweigian American Lines does 5 & 7 day cruises to 5 islands (Oahu, Kawaii, Lahina, Hawaii [both sides], and Maui. Why not check into a travelling hotel that takes you through the whole state?
Sep 21st, 2007, 11:41 AM
#38
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well, Nevisian, I haven't looked into taking a cruise for probably the same reason you don't recommend Nisbet to folks--I just don't want to. Just as you have strong preferences in the other direction (4S), I have strong preferences other than a cruise. Viva la difference!
Sep 21st, 2007, 01:47 PM
#39
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EJ - Weren't you just here on Nevis? Did you get to try the new Seabridge to St.Kitts? You're not a beginner ej so a cruise probably isn't for you. I do suggest it for people who want to get to know the general area. You will probably love Kauai. It has a feeling of Nevis. We took the Hawaiian cruise and loved it. You know what we've forgotten to mention to visitors to Nevis is the Newcastle pottery and the Nevis crafts house. Happy Anniversary and have a fun trip.
Sep 21st, 2007, 03:54 PM
#40
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Nevisian, I haven't been to Nevis since 2004, but I definitely will return. I'm quite sad that Cla-Cha-Del is no longer around, as that was a favorite meal during our time there. I was just in St. Kitts last year, which might be what you're thinking of. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to folks, but I don't think it will be a return trip for us. I've not tried the new Seabridge--is that a ferry?
