Sure this has been covered many times, but I've never been to Hawaii and need some current basic info.

What is the best time of year to go (reasonable prices, good weather)? What island do you prefer?

Looking for peace and quiet, beautiful beach area, but near enough to sightsee major spots. Would like to see the active volcano, is it Mauna Loa? Would be on a budget, so luxury is out. The one extravagance might be a helicopter tour of the volcano however.

Thanks in advance!

try www.hawaii.com for info and packages to Hawaii. I thought my deal last summer to the Big Island was really good.

Helicopter to the Volcano isn't a good idea, I don't think. If you have a rental car, just drive to the Volcanos National Park, drive around, then walk to the lava.
also try www.wizardpub.com for a great guidebook.

Biscuit, I think you will get a variety of answers .. but here is my 2 cents. We have stayed on Maui 3x over the past 4 years. We'll be going to Oahu in a week for the first time. (really because we decided too late in the season to book the place we wanted in Maui)

We stayed at the Embassy Suites in Kaanapali. The place was fabulous and the beach was beautiful as well. We (my sister and I) like it because we had the beach (sun) right there and then Lahaina was just about 5 minutes away to get a bite & shop. There is a small shopping village right in front of where we were staying that had a grocery store and some little shops too.

Check www.expedia.com and www.pleasantholidays.com for some deals.

Have fun checking it all out

Hi Biscuit,

Best time to go: Sept. Oct - the crowds are gone, there are many local activities going on (Aloha festivals, etc). Things are less pricey, hotels are usually less expensive.

The active volcano is on the Big Island. Pros and cons - it's a BIG island, so you'll spend a lot of time driving around. But, if your goal is the volcano, then I would suggest splitting up your trip to spend part on one side of the island and part on the other.....thus, you're not driving great distances everyday.

alternatively, since this is your first trip...if seeing an active volcano is not important - I would suggest Maui, you'll see a "non active" volcano - Haleakala, but will also have that "tropical" island feel that Hawaii is famous for. Maui offers some great deals in areas near or on the beaches. Your best bet is looking in the Kihei area, (try to get near the Kamole II or III beach) for your accomodations. Kihei is centrally located.

You didn't say what area you're traveling out of....some good package deals are offered by various companies. If you're a member of AAA, their travel center utilizes many of the reputable ones. Additionally, if you're a Costco/Priceclub member, they have a decent travel center as well.

Here are two charter travel groups that I've used:

www.suntrips.com (from CA and Denver)
www.pleasanthawaiian.com (from all over)


good Luck!

I recommend staying on the North coast of Kauai (Princeville Resort Area), the west coast of Maui, and the Kohala coast on the Big Island. I am from the Northeast (mainland) and find a visit to Hawaii in February through March to be an excellent way to beat the winter blues. The surf tends to be rougher in Hawaii's winter (Nov-March) and you may be limited in whalewatching and boat/snorkeling tours (at NaPali coast of Kauai, for example), but the winter ocean (70's) and air temperatures (80's) are comparable to the best days of summer in the Northeast. Winter or summer, you will love Hawaii.

One of the best things we ever did on vacation was the helicopter ride over Kilauea, the active volcano on the Big Island. It was spectacular. You can't see anything like this from the ground. It was pricey, but so worth it IMHO. We used Blue Hawaiian Helicopter Tours.

Thanks for the different perspectives!

ejchu, we'd be leaving from Los Angeles.

I would definitely stay on Kauai - the north shore. The Princeville is pretty pricey. We stayed enxt door at the Hanalei Bay Resort and we loved it. It was quiet and beautiful. We had a mountain view room and it was great!!! We went in November and February. The water was very cold in Feb - but you can see the whales which was great!! It was great in November - the water was a good temp. Basically- it's Hawaii -so anytime is great!!! Have fun!

Hi Biscuit....you should have tons of deals leaving from LA.

Definitely check with
Pleasant Hawaiian, (www.2hawaii.com)
also, go to www.travelzoo.com - they're more of a vacation consolidator, but there are lots of S. Californian travel companies listed that offer Hawaii deals.

It looks like you're set on going to the Big Island, so I would suggest splitting your time between the two sides. (volcano area and the Kona area)..I'd also go in Sept. or Oct. Quieter, less touristy, great weather, warmer ocean temps. Try to get your hands on a guide book titled: Big Island Revealed (Doughty & Friedman) published by Wizard Publications. It's the best tour book I've ever used (web site: www.wizardpub.com).

Let me know if you need additional info.

Looks like you received quite an abundance of opinions and suggestions.

I was born and raised in Honolulu and have been to all islands except for Lana'i, Kahoolawe (because you can't), and Ni'ihau (because it's privately owned; you need a personal invite). All islands are very beautiful with Kaua'i being my favorite.

Kilauea has been erupting for as long as I can remember. The Big Island (Hawai'i) is big so expect some long, green drives. Don't expect to get too close to the lava as it is exceptionally hot. Do visit the Volcano's National Park. The hikes are great as well. Viewing it from the helicopter will be excellent. IMHO best thing about lava is seeing it flow into the ocean.

Anyway you have fun. Autumn/Winter season is the best time to go but do expect rain.