Family Vacation to Hawaii - Kauai and Maui or Oahu
Jun 5th, 2009, 07:43 PM
#21
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BMarie The Hyatt is a lovely property. Though we don't stay there we love walking over there in the evenings. My daughter and I just returned from Kauai 2 weeks ago and it was the best trip I have ever taken in the 15 years we have been going. We stayed at the Nihi Kai this time but normally we stay at the Point at Poipu which is walking distance to the Hyatt. I am so glad you enjoyed it and it sounds like the Kauai bug has bitten you 
YEARS ago when my daughter may have been around 10 she had made a friend at the Hyatt and she got to spend the day there and use the pools and slide with her little friend. She is not so little anymore (just graduated college) and she still reflects back to that time!
YEARS ago when my daughter may have been around 10 she had made a friend at the Hyatt and she got to spend the day there and use the pools and slide with her little friend. She is not so little anymore (just graduated college) and she still reflects back to that time!
Jun 6th, 2009, 01:25 PM
#22
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Each of the Hawaiian islands is very different from one another - O'ahu is nicknamed "The Gathering Place" and it is indeed a busy, cosmopolitan area around Waikiki and Honolulu -however you can get away from that by traveling to the North Shore and the funky little towns that dot the area around the coast - I go to O'ahu for shopping (well, Kaua'i doesn't have much) and also for Hawaiian history - 'Iolani Palace, Hanaikamalama aka Queen Emma's Summer Palace, Bishop Museum, and Washington Place are all incredible places with wonderful exhibits on the history of Hawai'i during the monarchy period and prior.
Maui I've always found to be very SoCal in feel - at least over on the Ka'anapali/Kihei side - we usually stay over in Kahului which is far more "basic" and less resorty - the Hana Highway is fantastic and well worth your time - as is the road up to Haleakala - particularly for sunrise.
The Big Island is that - big! Each side is different and I personally love Hilo as it reminds me of here on Kaua'i - whereas I also love the town of Kona with the Hulihe'e Palace and other historic sites. Beautiful coastlines, lovely, cool upcountry and of course Volcanoes National Park.
Kaua'i is where I live, so of course I'm prejudiced! It is the oldest of the Hawaiian islands so its topography is the most dramatic - the Na Pali coastline is world famous, as is Waimea Canyon - our main "pluses" IMO are simply the natural beauty of the island - not as much (hardly any) nightlife and big resorty areas with huge shopping malls - more laid back in style than Maui or O'ahu IMO. Each part of Kaua'i is different - North Shore is green, lush and dramatic with beautiful hillsides cascading waterfalls as a backdrop to fields of kalo (taro) - endless shades of green that are hard to imagine. The South Shore is the "sunny side" of Kaua'i and we have a wonderful, family-friendly beach, Po'ipu Beach, where several properties front, as well as a great beach park.
There is some shopping nearby as well and restaurants.
The East Side is centrally located, but is the commercial heart of the island, also not as many swimmable beaches - the West Side is the absolutely driest and warmest part of the island at any time of the year as well as being the most "Hawaiian" as the most kanaka ma'oli (native Hawaiian) people live there than anyplace else (other than Ni'ihau) in the state. It is still very much a community and doesn't have as many visitor amenities, but has a wonderful "Old Hawai'i" resort - Waimea Plantation Cottages, and it is close to Waimea Canyon/Koke'e Park as well as Polihale State Park.
Just depends on what you are looking for - just like people, every island has a distinct personality and you just have to decide which ones you want to visit!
Good luck!
Maui I've always found to be very SoCal in feel - at least over on the Ka'anapali/Kihei side - we usually stay over in Kahului which is far more "basic" and less resorty - the Hana Highway is fantastic and well worth your time - as is the road up to Haleakala - particularly for sunrise.
The Big Island is that - big! Each side is different and I personally love Hilo as it reminds me of here on Kaua'i - whereas I also love the town of Kona with the Hulihe'e Palace and other historic sites. Beautiful coastlines, lovely, cool upcountry and of course Volcanoes National Park.
Kaua'i is where I live, so of course I'm prejudiced! It is the oldest of the Hawaiian islands so its topography is the most dramatic - the Na Pali coastline is world famous, as is Waimea Canyon - our main "pluses" IMO are simply the natural beauty of the island - not as much (hardly any) nightlife and big resorty areas with huge shopping malls - more laid back in style than Maui or O'ahu IMO. Each part of Kaua'i is different - North Shore is green, lush and dramatic with beautiful hillsides cascading waterfalls as a backdrop to fields of kalo (taro) - endless shades of green that are hard to imagine. The South Shore is the "sunny side" of Kaua'i and we have a wonderful, family-friendly beach, Po'ipu Beach, where several properties front, as well as a great beach park.
There is some shopping nearby as well and restaurants.
The East Side is centrally located, but is the commercial heart of the island, also not as many swimmable beaches - the West Side is the absolutely driest and warmest part of the island at any time of the year as well as being the most "Hawaiian" as the most kanaka ma'oli (native Hawaiian) people live there than anyplace else (other than Ni'ihau) in the state. It is still very much a community and doesn't have as many visitor amenities, but has a wonderful "Old Hawai'i" resort - Waimea Plantation Cottages, and it is close to Waimea Canyon/Koke'e Park as well as Polihale State Park.
Just depends on what you are looking for - just like people, every island has a distinct personality and you just have to decide which ones you want to visit!
Good luck!
Jun 8th, 2009, 04:14 PM
#23
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Greetings to Wahineokauai!
You mentioned Leilani Rivera Bond. Is she related to Larry Rivera who sang at my wedding in Coco Palms 20 years ago this August?? If she is related, please share with her that the lovely songs by Mr Rivera are a fond memory of our wedding day.I just started scanning Fodors because it's been a dream of my husband and I to bring our son (now 15 and a surfer)to Hawaii for our 20th anniversary,which is August! We will be looking for unspoiled beaches with easy to moderate surf.Any suggestions?
You mentioned Leilani Rivera Bond. Is she related to Larry Rivera who sang at my wedding in Coco Palms 20 years ago this August?? If she is related, please share with her that the lovely songs by Mr Rivera are a fond memory of our wedding day.I just started scanning Fodors because it's been a dream of my husband and I to bring our son (now 15 and a surfer)to Hawaii for our 20th anniversary,which is August! We will be looking for unspoiled beaches with easy to moderate surf.Any suggestions?
Jun 8th, 2009, 05:54 PM
#24
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Yes it is the daughter of Larry. She does sing as great as her dad. The last time I saw Larry Rivera was at Hilo Hattie's singing. You will be very disappointged in Coco Palms right now!
Kauai is still as beautiful as ever! Go enjoy and congrats - we are going on our 40th and actually got engaged on Oahu!
Kauai is still as beautiful as ever! Go enjoy and congrats - we are going on our 40th and actually got engaged on Oahu!
Jun 10th, 2009, 05:54 PM
#25
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Wakiki is the best place to be at Xmas - there is so much going on - the young people love it. The shopping is great and the beaches are beautiful.Rent a car and go around the island - there are also beautiful beaches outside of Wakiki. Try to stay as close to the beach as possible - it's well worth it!
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tsaluja
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