Hi all,

My fiance and I are planning our honeymoon to Hawaii this August. We will be there for 2 weeks and are thinking to spend the time as follows:

- first 4 nights on Kauai (probably Hyatt),
- next 4 nights on Maui (part at Hi'oilo house on west side),
- last 5 nights on the Big Island (probably at FS Haulalai).

It seems that all three islands have great hiking, snorkeling, helicopter trips...but what do you think the best activities on each island are? We want to try to create an itineray with some diversity. In other words, what do you think are the "best of..." if you are going to these three islands?

Thank you in advance!

Congratulations!!

On Kauai - Kipu Ranch ATV, Napali Catamaran out of Hanalei

On Big Island - Giant Manta Night Dive or Snorkel, Waipio Valley Horseback Ride

On Maui my husband did a bike ride down Haleakala and LOVED it but I think they have discontinued bike tours.

First time visitors to Hawaii should consider the island of Oahu (Waikiki) because of its diversity of activities before considering other islands.

On Maui:

Snorkeling (ask the local dive shops which spots are best on the days you are there)

Luau---either Feast at LeLe or Old Lahaina Luau

Drive up to top of Haleakela

visit Kaanapali Beach area and Wailea Beach area

take a whale watching boat trip

On Maui, sunrise at Haleakala, Road to Hana, Trilogy snorkel at Molokini, and the Old Lahaina Luau.

On Kauai, we loved the helicopter tour of the Na Pali Coast and the sunset sail there too. Also enjoyed going to the Spouting Horn and going to Tunnels and Ke'e beaches on the North Shore. Be careful of currents at these.

On BI, we did snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay and toured Volcanoes National Park, also went to Hapuna Beach. We did the night hike out to see the lava, but since the lava has shifted, you can't do it anymore. We also loved seeing Akaka Falls.

We did Hawaii for our honeymoon; I think you're making a great choice. Congratulations!

i'd say a zipline on kauai. Kauai backcountry adventures is a good company, beauitful scenery too.

Hi all, thank you for all of your ideas! Can't wait to be there!

On the Big Island, check to see if the lava is flowing when you are there. Go to Volcano Natl Park, and drive down Chain of Craters road. It is an amazing experience, like being on another planet. At the bottom, you can get out and walk on the newly formed land by the ocean and the ground is like glass cracking under your feet. If the lava is flowing, you can actually see it.
A definite must-do, in my opinion.

have a wonderful trip!

Don't leave out Oahu. Its the best island. There is more to see & do on Oahu than any other island.

Lots of info including sites with free brochures for all islands:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34812564

Maui:

Drums of the Pacific has the best fire knife dancer on Maui.

Road To Hana and beyond to Seven Pools

Haleakala preferably at sunrise, but any time is good.

Stroll Lahaina

Kauai:

Waimea Canyon

Helicopter tour

Big Island:

I've only been on Hilo side.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

In Hilo - Boiling pots, Rainbow Falls, Liliuokalani Gardens

North of Hilo - 4 Mile Scenic Drive, Akaka Falls State Park

I am not a big Oahu fan, so I think your itinerary is fine. What I might do differently than you plan is move hotels on the Big Island because you can spend a large part of the day going from the Hilo side to the Kona side and back and both are worth some time. Of course, some people would rather drive than pack up and move.

We usually start in Volcano, where there is some good hiking and some ranger activities like a trip into a lava cave. Last time we were there, you really couldn't see the lava flow or safely hike out there, but the time before it was spectacular at night. A trip down Chain of Craters Rd. is worthwhile in any event.

Just outside Kona there is a beach where turtles haul out, and you can snorkel with them as they dine on algae on the rocks. Can't remember the name of the beach but someone on this forum probably knows it and it's probably in guide books as well as known to locals. Had a lot more "turtle time" there than we did on a Maui boat trip to a cleaning station. There is also another beach on the southern tip, closer to Volcano than Kona, where turtles come in, but it's rocky and water is sometimes too rough. The one just south of Kona is protected by a breakwater and is calm, though there is some fresh water entering and you get that blurry mix in places; so the snorkeling apart from the turtles is not as good as some other places. When scanning here the other night, I read something that gave me the impression that there may be other places on the Big Island where turtles are close to/on shore. Maybe on other islands now, too.

BTW, I haven't found boat snorkeling trips to be worth the money. I've found better places to snorkel from shore and without the concentrated crowds and someone's flippers in my face. Have concluded that the boat trips are largely a ploy for a leisurely trip back to shore while you partake of the cash bar; you spend way more time on the boat than in the water. I'd just as soon get better drinks at a nice ocean-side bar and spend my excursion money on something a bit more exciting.

A drive from Volcano/Hilo across the top of the island to Kona, stopping by Akaka Falls and maybe making a trip (by 4-wheel drive) into Waipio Valley, makes a pleasant and scenic day. (Which is what my husband and I do - a couple of days in Volcano, most of a day driving to Kona with plenty of stops, and our final days on the Kona/Kohala side.)

Snorkeling is the main reason I go to Hawaii. A pretty nice spot on Maui is called "The Fish Bowl". Someone told us about it on the beach some years ago and I don't think it was widely known at the time; certainly, some native Hawaiians there were quite curious about how we found it. However, I have seen it mentioned in a guide book recently, so I hope it isn't "ruined." But it requires an investment of more energy than many are willing to make, so maybe it's still as tranquil and unspoiled as ever. It's supposedly a half mile hike over the lava but it seemed to me that the half mile was more as the crow flies than as the tourist walks. We were certainly muttering "this better be good" a lot towards the end of the hike. But it was a great place. Also protected by a breakwater, it's a little Noah's Ark of fish - seemed like 2 of a kind of so many different species that we couldn't count them. It's way southwest, after the pavement ends and located by a number on a utility pole. (And I hope not by a bunch of cars parked there now.) If you're up for the hike, I'm sure you could find it in a book or a local would know.

Polly - thank you so much!!! I love to snorkel so this is perfect!

Well, it has been a long time (10 years) since we have been to Maui, so I will only comment on Kauai, where we have gone the last 10 years.

1. This is the best island to do a helicopter tour on. This is because parts of the Na Pali coast are inaccessible.

2. Boat tour of Na Pali coast if helicopters make you nervous.

3. Waimea Canyon and Kalalau lookout (go early to avoid the fog at the lookout in late morning).

I'd personally skip stuff like ziplines and ATV, you can find those in lots of places.

Have a wonderful trip.

Well, I just searched for the Fish Bowl and it might be a good idea to give it a miss. Apparently it was mentioned in Maui Revealed and increased visitors - touching coral and other destructive behavior - became a problem. Area may be protected now, illegal for snorkeling - people on the forum I read didn't seem sure as of a couple of years ago. Since there was also discussion of boulders having been moved into a "parking lot", obviously a lot has changed - and I just realized it's been 7 years since I was there. Certainly no parking lot then, you just pulled over on the side of the road around the power pole that marked the start of the trail. So you probably shouldn't do it and might not want to anyway. Only one other family when we got there, two other people came later. But apparently it became rather crowded at times, people kayaking in to avoid the walk.

But still plenty of other good spots to snorkel on Maui. And for a nice dinner, drive up to Paia and eat at Mama's Fish House. That one breaks my rule of avoiding restaurants with family members in the name - Uncle, Mama, etc. Great food.

The good turtle spot is Kahalu'u. The turtles are protected, of course, so you're not supposed to touch or harass them, but they don't appear to mind your swimming around, even diving down and pretending to eat algae on a nearby rock while you watch them. Farther out in the sheltered bay the water is clearer and there are loads of fish. This and some other snorkeling places are mentioned on this site.
www.hale-hoola.com/Hawaii-Snorkeling-Scuba.htm

I have not snorkeled Honaunau but it's on my list for a trip the end of April. We're going to Maui for 5 days on a company trip, then to The Big Island for a few days on our own since it's a long flight from the east coast for just a 5 day trip. Haven't checked the moon situation, so I don't know if it will be a good time for mantas, which is something I'd like to do if the moon is full. If I have new snorkeling info after that trip, I'll report back.

Regarding snorkeling gear, we usually rent fins from Snorkel Bob on our first island and take them with us; you can rent anywhere, turn gear in somewhere else. Means flying with it but it's more convenient and cheaper than having to rent daily or on each island. We take our own Rx masks but you can rent various qualities of gear, including Rx masks, from Snorkel Bob's.

Congrats! We went to Hawaii on our honeymoon almost 16 years ago...unfortunately that is when Hurricane Iniki came for a visit!

Kauai is my favorite island and we go there almost every year.

We love to go out with Kauai Sea Tours to whale watch, dolphin watch and see the Na Pali Coast. They have a great sunset cruise that includes a buffet dinner and free drinks. (www.kauaiseatours.com)

Inter Island Helicopters has a great waterfall tour that shows you the island via air and then lands at a remote waterfall for lunch and swimming. (www.interislandhelicopters.com)

Drive to the Waimea Canyon lookout...it is like being at the Grand Canyon.

We have also taken the Kipu Ranch ATV tour and really enjoyed it. (kiputours.com)

A great restaurant to go to is Gaylords at Kilohana Plantation and Duke's at the Marriott.

When we were in Maui we took a helicopter flight with Blue Hawaiian. (www.bluehawaiian.com)

We went snorkling on the Lani Kai to Molokini. I have heard that recently Molokini isn't as nice aas it used to be because every tour goes out there and it can get crowded. (www.mauisnorkling.com)

Did the sunrise bike tour down Haleakala which was awesome but very tiring since they pick you up at 2am in the morning and you get back to your hotel in the late morning after eating breakfast. (don't remember the name of the company).

Drove to Hana and stopped along the way to swim in a waterfall. We spent the night there so we could explore more the next day. The next day we visited the Seven Pools and then continued on around the island the "back" way. It is an interesting drive and you get to see a part of the island most people do not see (car rental places don't want you to drive this way). The only thing about the drive is to be sure it hasn't just rained as most of the drive is dirt or gravel and with a hard rain it could get messy.

An out of the way place to explore is La Perouse Bay which is past Wailea-Mâkena on Maui. We saw many pods of dolphins swimming in the area.

On the Big Island we have visited Volcanos Nat'l Park, took a plane flight over the lava flow, went horseback riding in Waipio Valley, and snorkeled at Kealakekua Bay.

The Four Seasons at Hualalai on the Big Island is lovely.

There are tortoises on the beach, and you can walk next door to Kona Village.

If you rent a car, here are some suggestions for a leisurely drive up the coast.

Going north, you will pass other beautiful resort areas. It can be fun to check out their beaches, restaurants, and entertainment. All beaches are public access, and all resorts allow you to walk around and have a meal.

The Hilton Waikoloa is an over-the-top kind of resort with a monorail, boat transportation and dolphin adventure. It's a fun place to walk around, or have a drink.

I also love the Mauna Lani, and they have a beautiful "talk story-musical evening" on the Saturday nearest the full moon, in an old cottage on the beach, as well as accomplished musicians and dancers in the evening. The Mauna Lani grounds are beautiful, and have ancient fishponds. You'll be able to see petroglyph fields at many resorts.

The Hapuna and Mauna Kea also have lovely beaches. When you arrive in Kawaihae, there is a significant Heiau, ancient sacred place, and the large bay is where WaterWorld was filmed. There is a good restaurant, Café Pesto.

My favorite place in the world is Lapakahi, which is a national park, and it is open just til 3:30, but it's free, and is an old fishing village, and a fun place to watch the ocean life. I often see whales and dolphin here.

Now, head up towards Hawi. It is a beautiful drive. Hawi and Kapa'au are two little former sugar towns. They are very charming, and there are several nice places to eat.

The best known is The Bamboo Restaurant, which is a charming old Hawaiian style, and there is local music on Friday and Saturday nights. Also in Hawi (pronounced Havi) is Luke's place, casual, but also has great local music. Then, to the yummy Sushi Rock. Very inventive, young chef, and delicious unusual dishes. Alan Wong is a fan.

You can stop and shop at lots of charming galleries in Hawi, and Kapa'au, and then head on towards Pololu, a beautiful overlook. You can hike down to a black sand beach, or just take pictures. It is a very pretty drive, rural and charming.

You could come back by way of Waimea, which is an interesting cowboy/paniolo town. The views are spectacular, and Waimea has some very good restaurants. I like Daniel Thiebault and Merriman's.

This is a way to see some of the old Hawaii, but it's also a bit low key. You'll be very happy just being at the Four Season's on your honeymoon, I'm sure!