starrs

"Have you considered having a caregiver go on the trip to help take care of your parents. There are caregivers who travel with their clients. Your parents will have help and their needs met and everyone can enjoy the trip more"

I totally agree with that suggestion. Otherwise, clear communication among the family members so that everyone enjoys the 10 day "a caretakers" trip as a thank you for all" vacation. Wishing you and your parents the best. There's great memory making ahead for all of you.

rncheryl

As others have recommended, I would choose 3 days at the Royal Hawaiian, tour Pearl Harbor, see the USS Missouri, tour the North Shore, have a maitai at the original Mai Tai bar.

Then on to Kauai. Our experience was renting a condo at Hanalei Bay Resort, and are planning to rent a house next spring. If you can afford it, there is a glorious hotel The St. Regis on the North Shore.

Jack Harter helicopter tour. Botanic gardens. Smith Family luau. Some gentle catamaran tours of Na Pali coast which all could enjoy.

Sounds like a fabulous trip. Enjoy

Inakauaidavidababy

I just returned from a stay at Napili Kai Resort and would highly recommend it. Very family oriented and has a great history. Could be a perfect place to stay. They eveb gave a handicap chair lift in their main pool and jacuzzi! That was very cool. I never saw so many happy well adjusted families and polite children who remained quiet during quiet hours.

Shar

Waimea Plantation Manager house and cottages may be quaint but it is NOT the most lovely part of Kauai IMHO. The beach is just plain UGLY! for more beauty I would do Hanalei, Princeville or Poipu. 10 People, I would rent 3 2 bedroom condos. Poipu Shores sits right on the cliff overlooking the water and the pool is fabulous. Lanai overlooking water, whale watching, lots of turtles and about a 10 minute walk to Poipu beach park. Merrimans Restaurant is fairly new restaurant in Poipu's newest shopping center and the restaurant is fabulous. It has a fairly old Hawaii feel to it as does the Kilohana Plantation. HOpe you find what you are looking for on Kauai. It is such a beautiful island. Very low key and yet lots of things to do. NO nightclubs to speak of however, if you are a night club person. 3 days on Oahu and 7 on Kauai sounds pretty good to me.

starrs

We liked it.

On all the trips I've taken to the Hawaiian island I've only spent two days on the beach. One was a full day on Makena and the other was a day on the road to Hana when we pulled over due to motion sickness. If they are looking for a place with a great beach, that's definitely not the one for them. I was fairly clear about that, but I'll add "plain UGLY" the next time I recommend it, just to be sure I communicate effectively.

I don't care for condos in Hawaii so I like cottages or hotel rooms. I look forward to returning.

Inakauaidavidababy

You're rather defensive about your opinions. Why is that?

Inakauaidavidababy

Starrs, I must ask, how many condo's, hotels and cottages have you stayed in to form such a strong opinion on lodging on the islands?

starrs

Lots.

Inakauaidavidababy

lucky you

starrs

I know.

Inakauaidavidababy

Yes, you have made it quite clear that you are an
"I know a lot"

:} :} :}

starrs

If liking the hotel at Makena and following Samantha Brown to Waimea Plantation cottages results in that opinion, then so it is.

I love them both.

Tabernash2

Speaking of Napili, we stayed at Napili Point condos many years ago. At that time, the condos were individually owned. They were basic but fine.

What we liked most was the little cove that's right there, for awesome snorkeling. It's called Hanakeana (sp?) Cove. It was like being in a fish bowl full of colorful fish. I saw a person feeding the fish frozen peas, and that clearly attracted them to the cove. I don't know if that's legal, or if it's still done.

But the Cove is easy to walk into, water is calm, and it's the perfect place for anyone.

Napili Shores was next door, and had a great beach. The Cove was a very short walk from that complex, along the paved oceanside path.

You could look at those places for reasonable lodging.

Tabernash2

http://www.napili.com/

It's actually called Honokeana Bay.

sf7307

The Gazebo restaurant at Napili Shores has excellent breakfasts (and a long line as a result).

DebitNM

sf7307 - Banana Macadamia Nut Pancakes with Coconut syrup??? Mmmm

suze

There's nothing special about condo rental in Hawaii. Like anywhere else in the world, there's good ones, and bad ones.

ChiSue

Re: Condos. We prefer low-rise, low-density condos to the 'high rises'. I don't want to take an elevator to the beach in Hawaii! (There can be advantage to being higher during whale season, though.)

Tabernash2

ChiSue, look at Napili Shores and Napili Point.

ChiSue

I like Napili (not before March). I also like newer construction, no stairs and at least a bath and a half. I know, hard to find right ON a nice beach for less than a king's ransom! I'm OK with a *close* beach and an ocean view.