Choosing destinations in Hawaii
 

My husband and I are planning our first trip to Hawaii in January. We are wondering what islands and length of stay for a fourteen day trip.What is the best mix? Any suggestions?

Just got back from my first trip to Kauai and Hawaii. Kauai is gorgeous. Stayed at Mahahuena at Poipu (south shore condos), and Hanalei Bay Resort (north shore). Highly recommend both. North shore is more lush, where south shore more rocky, but both beautiful. Cliffs right below our condo where waves were rolling in 24 hours a day. So relaxing to fall asleep to! Also visited the Princeville Hotel and stopped for a drink at their poolside bar -- $17 for two drinks! They also have a great Sunday champagne brunch with a gorgeous view. (But if you're watching your budget, I think I would stay somewhere else!) Also on Kauai - make sure you take a Na Pali Coast boat trip - excellent scenery and wonderful dolphins! We took the catameran because we were told it was not as bumpy as the zodiacs, but we still had a roller coaster ride on the boat. It was fun!
Stayed at Hilo Hawaiian on Hawaii. Very nice, reasonable hotel. Check out the volcano - pretty amazing.
Places to avoid: On Kauai - the Kauai Sands Hotel and on Hawaii - the Kona Islander Inn. I'm sorry, but I just don't like bugs in my room!
Enjoy your trip!

One of my children lives in Hawaii so I go there 3 times a year and love it.

I don"t know if you like just relaxing on the beach and I don"t know your budget but I will tell you the way I would plan my trip.

First, you will arrive in Honolulu. I would then take a flight to Kaui ( about 25 minute flt.) . This Island is the most beautiful of all, I would spend two nights on the Southshore (sunny side) the Hyatt is wonderful, have dinner at their restaurant Tidepools and ask for a table by the water, the goldfish are fun to watch and it is a very romantic restaurant. Visit all the sights on that side of Island if you can pull yourself away from the Hyatt.

I would then Drive to the Northshore and stay at the Princeville Hotel which is ultra deluxe in every way, baths have "privacy windows" which is a glass wall separating huge marble bath from bedroom...you can sit in the tub or shower and have a wonderful view through the room of the ocean, or if you want privacy, simply hit a button and the glass wall clouds.

This side of the Island has the most beautiful scenery, drive to the end of the island over many wooden one lane bridges and stop every few minutes to get out and follow a path to hidden beaches, wet caves, dry caves, you will never want to leave the Island.

I'M afraid though that in January you will not be able to take a boat or raft trip to the Nai Pali Coast since the water will be too rough.

I would spend another 2 nights here.

Next I woul take a flight to the Big Island (Hawaii) and spend four or 5 nights there. The volcano National Park is something I will never forget seeing. There is a wonderful bed and breakfast up there called the Kileau Lodge ( I must check spelling on this). It is lovely and not expensive, ask for a room with a fireplace which they will light for you in the evening.

With these two Islands, you have seen the best of Hawaii.

Before return trip I would spend a few days on Oahu Not in Waikii which does not do Hawaii justice but on the west side of the Island at a beautiful resort called The Ihilani Resort and Spa. Look in the 1996 Resorts and Great Hotels for pictures and description. While on Oahu be sure and spend a day on the Northshore where in January the waves will be huge and the surfers will be out.

If you want any more specific information I will try and help.

I went to the Big Island last February and LOVED it. I would stay in Kona - nice area, more shops, restaurants, nice hotels. If you are interested in whale watching, check out Captain Dan's whale watching. It was fantastic. I think it was 3 hours long and we saw at least 15 whales. Fabulous!

L. Montgomery covers Kauai and the Big Island quite well! Let me put in a good word for Maui or, , more specifically, for the north and eastern shore of Maui. You can fly from the mainland into Kahului, hop into a rental car, and in twenty minutes, watch the last 40 years of development slip away. The two-lane road along the north coast is called the Hana Highway and it hugs the coast along some spectacular beaches. About twenty miles east of Kahului, the road begins to twist as it follows the mountains and ravines. The vegetation turns lush, there are waterfalls around every bend. About two hours later (depending upon how many times you succumbed to the temptation to go swimming or just listen to the sounds of the rain forest), you come to the tiny town of Hana. Hana is the proverbial wide spot in the road; a few hundred people at most. It is also the site of what is (to me, anyway), one of the great hotels, the Hana-Maui. This is Hawaii at a slower pace. No high-rises block your view. There is an enchanting beach just down the road, there's a genuine luau every Thursday night, and every evening features traditional Hawaiian entertainment. My wife and I have celebrated 15 of our last 20 anniversaries at Hana in late January and early February. It definitely ought to be on your itinerary.

Have visited Hawaii 6 time in last 10 years. A couple of comments- 1. Skip thru Oahu, Honolulu is like New York City with a beach. 2. Four nites on Kauai is plenty- take the helicopter tour. You will see the Na Pali coast as well as the Waimia Canyon. This is the best Helicopter flight in the islands.
3. 5 nites in Hawaii sounds good. There is little sightseeing but it's a big island. About the size of Connecticut. Scuba diving is good if your into. A really nice resort is the recently remodeled Mauna Lani along the Kohala Coast. One of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed in.
4. I suggest that you complete your visit on Maui. We always spend 6-8 nites there B4 the long flight home.Lahaina is a little honky-tonk but it's fun.
Resturants Kauai-Pacific Cafe, Tidepools @ the Hyatt, Donatelo @ the Hyatt, The Beach House.
Hawaii- not as good as the other islands.Big Island Steak House.Roy's (at the other end of shopping center from Big Island)
Maui- Roy's in Kahana or it's sister resturant Christinas, Black Swan at the Hyatt, Lot's of good in Lahaina.

Have a great trip.