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A novice gets started on a first Hawaii trip - - what best internet resources to complement my library "excavating"...
Okay, I have already gotten such very, very valuable advice and information on our Dec 31-Jan 6 trip to Hawaii. Now, begins the lay out the rest of a skeleton outline for the trip. Not entirely relevant, but we are very experienced (US and Europe) travelers, and I am a very prolific contributor on the Europe forum - - we've just never made it to Hawaii (and Alaska will make my 50th state - - someday).
Yes, I will read everything on this site under Destinations, and I have ordered the Tourist stuff from www.gohawaii.com and started browsing through hawaiiactivities.com What I'm asking is: are there are other "labor-of-love" web sites (or commercial sites that are uncommonly good) that will be good "also-see"s (especially if I donb't get to the library for a few days? Europe examples are: twenj.com (defunct now), essentialprague.com and maribelsguides.com (Spain), and others (my apologies for not citing) Some overview information of the (tentative) itinerary: Sat Dec 31 - Louisville-Maui via the new nonstop ATL-OGG, arriving 4:50 pm - - no lodging chosen Sun Jan 1 - only full day on Maui; no plans yet; one (more likely two) of our first first four nights, I think we will want some place really special for dinner - - one, a "better" Hawaiian theatrical show/luau "event" and the other perhaps gourmet, or something special/unique culinary "destination" (accustomed to high end selections and prices). Mon Jan 2 - fly Maui-Kona 1:40 p to 3:25 p (via HNL); staying Jan 2-5 at Fairmont Orchid because I am attending a meeting there, and good (I think) rates available to attendees (about 45+% off full rack rate? I'm sure others know of better deals, but my employer will cover this) Tue Jan 3 - - first day of conference 8:30a-1p (same pattern Tue/Wed/Thu) - - not critical to plan special afternoon/night specifically on this date, but this IS our 30th anniversary. Wed Jan 4 - meeting 8:30a-1p; for the three half "play days", we will seek a mix of a) aerial (volcanos, waterfalls? worth it to do aerials twice on different days?); b) aquatic/marine life (boat? snorkeling? swim with dolphins or rays?) c) "other" Hawaiian "culture"/history? NOT so interested in whale watching, sport fishing, upland hiking; less certain about 4x4-ing exploring more obscure coves or beaches; jet-skiing (my wife has never done) Thu Jan 5 - mtg 8:30a-1p; ditto Tue/Wed/Thu - - either our third choice (or our first choice if by chance we have been unable to do it earlier) Fri Jan 6 - flight 9-9:35 KOA-HNL; leave bags at airport; spend 9 hrs on Oahu - - no certain ideas yet; Pearl Harbor? final shopping? need to read more obviously; flight 6:20-6:50p HNL-Maui; will want "final" dinner" recommendation before 11p flight (->LAX->CVG->home) Sat Jan 7 - arr 3p; weekend to recover before back to work on Monday. I'm sure there will be admonishments to use the search function here to find the "best" Hawaii threads on the forum, but some of you will, perhaps point me to a few "not-to-be-missed" special threads (trip reports?) that will complement my other reading. Thanks in advance for all info/advice offered... and... Best wishes, Rex Bickers Floyds Knobs, Indiana |
Good websites:
www.thisweek.com www.spotlighthawaii.com www.hawaiiweb.com www.alternative-hawaii.com www.101thingstodo.com www.mauihawaii.org This is the best one for Maui www.bigisland.org www.hawaiifun.org http://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm http://www.activity-hawaii-travel-gu...ng-hawaii.html Good for whale watching cruise. Also lists places where you can view whales from land. http://www.snorkeling-hawaii-insider...com/index.html www.snorkelbobs.com Scroll to the bottom and click on Map'nTips www.driveguidemagazines.com www.hawaii-hotels.com Good for comparing hotels www.bookit.com Good for comparing hotels www.vrbo.com Good for alternative lodging www.alohatower.com Dining & shops You are going during the peak tourist season. So don't wait too long to book your lodging. Arizona Memorial is a good choice on Oahu. Here are three tours on Oahu to choose from: 1. Tour Chinatown & historic area of Honolulu & Aloha Tower. Also drive through Waikiki & Diamond Head Lookout. National Cemetery of the Pacific & Tantalus/Roundtop Drive if you still have time. 4-5 hours 2. Mini-circle island tour. Include driving through Honolulu historic area on S. King St past Iolani Palace. Drive through Waikiki. Continue around the island stopping at Diamond Head Lookout & Lighthouse. Continue around island to Hanauma Bay (don't need to go to the visitor's center). You can get some excellent views from the steps and lookouts. $1 for parking. Continue to Halona Blowhole and Halona Cove (From Here to Eternity Beach) next to it. Continue to Makapuu Pt. Lookout. Overlooks Manana (Rabbit) Island & Makapuu Beach & Sea Life Park. Continue to Waimanalo Bay Recreation Area (Just past Waimanalo Beach). Scenic isolated beach. Continue to Highway 61 (Pali Highway). Make a left onto Pali Highway. Take it back to Honolulu, stopping at Pali Lookout. 4-5 hours 3. Circle island tour. Take Pali Highway (61) across to Kaneohe. Stop at Pali Lookaout. Continue to Kaneohe. Make a left onto Highway 83 to Kaneohe. At the far side of Windward Mall, make a left. This will become Haiku Rd. Take Haiku Rd. across Kahekili Highway to Haiku Gardens. The botanical garden is just below Haleiwa Joe's Restaurant. Go back to Kahekili Hwy. Turn left. Go about two miles. Turn left into Valley of the Temples (Byodo-In Temple). Back to Kahekili Hwy. Continue around the island. In a mile or so Kahekili Hwy will end and intersect with Kamehameha Hwy. Continue around the island to Haleiwa. Stops: Kualoa Beach Park/Chinaman's Hat. There is a Macadamia Nut Farm close to here. In Laie, make a right at the stoplight. Go to Laie Pt. Just past Laie, is Makaekahana State Recreation Area. Scenic with an isolated beach & several islands Sunset Beach Park Ehukai Beach Park (Banzai Pipeline) Pupakea Beach Park (Shark's Cove) Waimea Bay Beach Park Laniakea Beach (Chun's Reef) About 1/2 way between Waimea Bay and Haleiwa. Look for parking on the opposite side of the road. Several sea turtles are here. Just before Haleiwa, make a left onto the bypass to Honolulu. (Go through Haleiwa if you have more time). Take Highway 99 to Honolulu. Follow signs to Honolulu. You will pass Dole Pineapple Center. Stop there if you have time. Continue to Honolulu. About a 5 hour tour. The farthest you will ever be on any of the tours is about 1 hour from the airport so you could leave at any time. As you have most of your time on Big Island, go to a luau there. Save Maui for other things. Maui does have better luaus though. |
What a wonderful and thoughtful first reply. It will take me a while to start wading through the sites here (the ones I had not started finding on my own).
I'll take your advice solidly to heart for our Maui lodging Dec 31 and Jan 1. Just starting to get oriented to Maui geography. Give that it is New Year's Eve/Day holiday, I assume that we will need to be prepared for some things not being available to us. Recommend Lahaina lodging? or reasons to consider some different part of the island? Even with just some superficial browsing, I did wonder if a luau on Maui might be better than on the Big Island. Royal Lahaina Luau is never open Sun/Mon - - so that is ruled out. "Authentic Old Lahaine Luau" (is that the full and correct name) says that it is closed Christmas, so by inference, perhaps not closed Jan 1 night (since they don't mention it?) I am thinking we will favor something a little more "down to earth" - - i.e., not big resort, nor modern/swanky condo (is this even possible for just two nights, especially 12/31 and 1/1?) nor even necessarily a hotel, per se, at all. I feel certain I have a lot of learning to do about what are even the classes of choices for lodging - - "bungalows", or villages of them? (don't really even have a clear vision of what I am trying to say!) Looking forward to more replies. Thanks, Dusty... |
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Okay. Don't get it. Inside joke?
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My family (5 adults 40's to 70's) had a great reunion trip on Maui. We stayed at Lahaina Shores (a funky but functional hotel easy walking distance to the downtown). We went to the Old Lahaina Luau, which I highly recommend. I have a high "touristy" aversion but this dinner and show was really special for us.
Welcome to the world of Hawaii (i know of you valuable contributions over on europe branch). I thought I didn't like Hawaii myself (dumb preconceived notion) until I finally went for the first time. I've been 3 times in the last 3 years. Goes to show, ya just never know. Aloha. |
If it's any comfort, I find researching Hawaii the trickiest destination I've done yet. Not sure why. But Mexico or Europe I can easily get the hang of. My family "assignmment" is figuring out Big Island or Kauai for our next trip in a couple years, and I'm having a heck of a time. Seems it is high-end resorts or low-end B&B. Finding that middle ground nice place to stay has me stumped.
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Rex, I'm not 100% sure about Maui, but here on Oahu we are super duper tourist-oriented. So everything is open on Christmas day, New Year's Day, etc. I'm assuming that Maui would be the same, though, since it is by far one of the most popular tourist destinations.
If you've not been to the Hawaii threads before, FYI, dusty has the most comprehensive Hawaii tip replies and is quite a big help--gives you a very good starting place. I'm a little concerned about the day you land in HNL. you say you are leaving your bags at the airport, but do you have an arrangement with the airline? Whenever I have an overly long layover, they require me to collect my bags and I can't check them back in till 4 hours before departure. Also there are no storage facilities at the airports. |
Oh. "Left luggage" is such a common thing (at least) at (major) airports, I suppose I as thinking that it would surely exist at HNL. Aren't thr passengers there with big layovers, transiting from one Pacific destination to another?
Well, no matter, there is always the ubiquitous car rental as a solution. Seems like it's nearly essential, even for a 9 hour visit to the capital island anyway. |
I'd say Konaweb.... but I see you've already found it. You'll get splendid info there.
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ooops. mistaken identity... visit Konaweb for that part of your trip. It's a great resource
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hmmm, I dunno, Rex, I had that problem at SFO and LAX in recent times. As long as you have a plan B, no problem!
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Friday Jan 6 - dinner at Mama's Fish House, oceanfront, South Seas atmosphere, close to OGG, reservations a must.
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Suze-I've had that same sort of dilemma (wanting to avoid high priced resorts but I never found nice b and b's) and I'm convinced that a vacation rental from a private owner is the way to go in Hawaii. I've had friends that did family trips where they either rented condos in the same complex or shared a very large house and it worked out well for them.
Rex: If you haven't bought a guidebook, get "The Big Island Revealed," "Maui Revealed" etc. These blue guides are terrific and will save you lots of time in front of your computer. |
Okay, some interesting good news/bad news follow-up - - especially of interest to you Patty, because it derives directly from your suggestion on my "other thread" (Airlines forum)...
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34675093 Long story short - - we are now confirmed for the OGG-ATL nonstop on our return, leaving at 6:55 pm, so there will be no Friday night dinner in Maui on Jan 6. But a much improved itinerary flying home. And am observation from Christy1 about the "Revealed" series - - from my daughter and husband who went to Hawaii this April. She informs me that there is a certain divisive controversy surrounding these books, and a certain amount of "Caveat Reader" is required, since they "reveal" certain "secret locations" - - but with, perhaps, a below-acceptable respect for private property, and that there is now backlash among natives for their intrusive suggestions -- and readers should beware that soe places mentioned in the book are now the site(s) of chain linked fences, menacing signs or more. Still, I'll browse through one. I saw one at the Borders airport location (CVG) just yestrday, thumbing through quickly. My first resource will be one or mor public libraries readily available to me, and less likely the bookstore, at least initially. Who knows, maybe even a travel agent, and the literature they have to pass out; the Hawaii Tourism board flashed a name on screen of a "Certified Hawaii Specialist", just 5 miles from my home, and it says that they will be giving her my name (I guess I "opted in"). |
PHEW!!!
Thank goodness you didn't want to go to the big stank hole of the Pacific, Kauai. Good call, Rex. :)>- |
Take a look at the "Blue Books", browse at bookshop & buy if sufficiently taken by them, lots of good info.
www.wizardpub.com |
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topping... since I am curious how much others have heard about this "controversy" - - surrounding some of the offbeat recommendations in the Blue Books, and locals' resentment of them.
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While in Maui If you're staying in Wailea (3o minutes from airport)try dinner at the Four Seasons Kea Lani - Nicks Fish Market...very special place. If you go to Lahina Town there are many wonderful restaurants there also - David Paul's Lahiana Grill is excellent or Cheeseburger in Paradise - Casual but the best setting in the world! Even you decide to stay even close to the airport you could do Mama's fish house in Paia....the town is less touristy than the above mentioned.
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