Loni4865

Hello Fello Fodorites!!
Well I'm taking my mom to Maui for her 75th Birthday!! Would like to take her to an additional island for a couple of days..I took her to Maui and Oahu for her 70th. Anyway, can you please give me your recommendations on the other islands and why... I don't want to say what I'm looking for because I like thinking of things outside of the box. She is a very special woman and I want to make this a special trip. Plan on renting a vehicle so we can track around the whole island. Not sure what areas we will be staying in either.
Looking to be on the "weekend off island trip" Sept 9th and then returning to Maui on the 11th.
While I have your attention I have my 97 year old Aunt flying in ( on an Airliner as she calls it) the beginning of Sept. to Maui for a week. This is her second "Airliner" trip--1st one was a month ago when her grandson went to Mexico to get Married and she went to that. Has decided that she nows likes to fly and plans on doing a bit of it.!!! Anyway, I haven't been to Maui in 5 years so I didn't know if there was anything new that I should take her to..Thanks so much everyone!! Truly do appreciate it!

charnees

Well, going to Hilo on the Big Island and driving up to the Volcano National Park to see an active volcano and a huge steam vent pouring out of the earth is pretty spectacular. (it started about 5 years ago and just keeps going on and on.). At the moment there is no flowing lava anywhere you can see, but the crater and the steam vent give you a good feel for the power of the volcano. Who knows when it will start up again? In any case, seeing the lava fields that have covered a subdivision south of Hilo is awesome, in the real definition of the word.

Check out Konaweb.com and the calendar to see if there will be a Hawaiian prayer and hula ceremony at the crater. It's all traditional Hawiian ancient ritual, and is very interesting. not like any tourist hula you will see elsewhere. You can stay near the volcano in the town of that name, or go back to Hilo. The bay there is beautiful, and was the site of a devastating tsunami in 1957 or thereabouts. There is also a small tsunami museum in downtown Hilo.

iamq

If it is just for a weekend, I would head over to Hana and splurge on her at the Hotel Hana Maui. You can even fly there on Pacific Wings from Kahului and pick up a rental car at the Hana airport. It is a great place for a getaway and it will feel as if you are on another island.

Kaua'i would be good, but it would be a shame to spend just a weekend there as it is such a special place.

barbie1570

I agree with charnees! The volcano is not to be missed! The Big Island has so much to offer! I have been to all three islands-and the Big Island is my favorite for many reasons!

suze

Either Big Island or Kauai? Or since you're on Maui and it's only a weekend what about taking a ferry over to Lana'i?

iamq

Oh...I like the Lanai idea! Good thinking suze.

jamie99

Normally I'd vote for Kauai since the Big Island is so big and needs a bit of time. However with just a weekend, my thoughts went immediately to Lanai also, easy to get to from Maui via ferry.

rpowell

If you really want to think out of the box, try Molokai. It is also an easy ferry trip from Maui. You will get the laid back feeling of "old Hawaii"; quaint towns, beautiful coastal drives, leper colony excursion, and beautiful mountains.

suze

hey thanks, iamq. Seemed like that would be a fun thing to do, I think you just go over on a boat out of Lahaina?

I can't tell from the OP how long this total trip is, but if it's less than 10 days for me personally I would just stay on Maui.

I think 'island hopping' sounds great but it's kind of a hassle (imho) to pack up, get to the airport, wait for the flight, fly, get to the next airport, taxi to next hotel, unpack... then do it all in reserve just for a "weekend".

Loni4865

Aloha Everyone,

I thank you all for your comments, we will be in Maui just over 3 weeks total.
My thoughts on traveling would be leaving Friday early am, and then returning late Sunday pm.
Suze, you would crack up with my Aunt...still bakes the old way-- pie crusts with Fresh lard! For her cherry pies, she picks the cherries and then pits them! Love her to death!

Marycang

I vote for the Big Island - Hawaii. Cannot beat the volcano and growing of an island. My best memories of the power and beauty of nature were the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls and the Volcano on the the island of Hawaii. Amazing