Hello all,

My wife and I are flying to Honolulu from the New York Area and arriving on August 3, 2006 at 1 pm. I have a cruise scheduled from August 7 through the 14 on the new Pride of Hawaii. The cruise leaves Honolulu at 8 pm on August 7 and is docked:
Hilo 8am to 7 pm August 8
Kahului, Maui 8am August 9 to 6 pm August 10th
Kona August 11 from 7am to 6 pm
Nawiliwili, Kauai August 12 10 am to August 13 6m
Back to Honolulu by 7am August 14

This is my first time to the islands. Based on this schedule what is my best bet for effectively using the time I have between AUgust 3 through most of the day on the 7th that I'm in Honolulu. We like site sight seeing natural beauty. Should we fly to another island?

Any input would be greatly appreciated

Stay on Oahu for those 4 or 5 days before the cruise. There is lots to do and see on Oahu:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34696831

Thread on Hawaii cruises:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34644359

Click on: brittany21 to get a lot more threads.

I agree with dusty. To make good use of your time and see alot of what Oahu offers, stay there this trip.

Belle

It's only a few days I would definitely stay on Oahu. There is so much to see and do on the island. I happen to love Honolulu/Waikiki area so I am biased I'll admit.

Thank all three of you for your input on Oahu. I certainly will take your advice. Regards, Les

Day 1: Take a morning hike up Diamondhead (take a flashlight with you), then spend the rest of the day at Waikiki Beach swimming, people watching and taking a surfing lesson. Dinner at Dukes Canoe.

Day 2: Arizona Memorial and a guided tour of the U.S.S. Missouri.

Day 3: Drive up the middle of the island to the north shore and explore north shore beaches. 1:00 pm arrive at Polynesian Culture Center and spend the rest of the afternoon and evening there (Get reservations a few weeks in advance).

Day 4: Find a nice place to snorkel, or deep sea fish, visit Chinatown, or just relax around the hotel pool.

You actually don't need the flashlight anymore, since they installed lights in the little tunnel you go through. Take a bottle of water instead, you'll need it!

Belle

See if you can rent a car close to where the ship docks. Oahu has pretty good bus service, but the other islands do not.

With only one day in Hilo, I would spend it at Akaka and Rainbow falls, and maybe the tiny Punawai zoo in Hilo, which all feel very "tropical rainforest" to me. If time, drive to Mauna Kea obversatory. But, to get there you have to drive over saddle road, which in the olden days (i.e., my day) was forbidden by most car rental companies, so maybe double-check on that. I think one day is too short to see the volcanoes, but if all you did waas drive around the general area, and maybe walk through a lava tube, you can see that instead of Mauna Kea.

On Maui, I would try to get to Haleakala to check out the crater, the views, and the silversword. On the second day, I would drive the Hana coast, very scenic with hiddden waterfalls. Alternatively, you can spend one day on the western side of the island, where there is Kaanapali beach, Wailea, and Lahaina. There is also a good aquarium near Kihei, but I've forgotten the name.

On Kauai, I would try to get to Waimea canyon and Poipu beach.

Those were pretty much the "highlights" of when I went to the various islands, but everyone has different tastes, so take it with a grain of salt.

I love Hawaii - hope you have a great time there.

Forgot to add - I don't really know what to "do" in Kona. We stayed at the Mauna Kea hotel once, but I don't remember really "doing" anything while there. I think you can drive to the south shore and try to find green sand beach, or maybe drive to the Kamuela/Waimea area - nice, "country" towns . . . ?