Hawaii: plans down to fine detail
 

Thanks for all your recent help, which have enabled met to get much of my first visit to Hawaii sorted (questions in brackets).

1: Oahu: visits to usual sites. Pearl Harbour; Round the Island Trip; Waikiki Beach; Guided walk around Honolulu;
2 Maui: Haleakala Crater; Hire a car and down the Road to Hana (do I need to go all the way, or is the first bit better than the last bit?);
3 Big Island: crater road and volcano; hire car and visit north island beaches;
4 Kauai: round the island trip; anniversary meal in Lihu'e (any suggestions?); helicopter trip (being a tight fisted UK Northerner I am having second thoughts - is it really worth 500 dollars to do an hours trip - tell me its the best thing ever?).

Interested in your views.
Many thanks.

Recommendations:
Except for Oahu/Honolulu hire a car on the outer islands upon arrival.

Oahu is the island known for the it's north shore beaches. Perhaps hire a car for a day, maybe 2 to drive around the other parts of the island.

Maui, Haleakala is spectacular at sunrise, but freezing cold. I did not think it was a bad drive other than being in the dark. You may have to leave about 2-3 in the morning. As for the Road To Hana, The last time I was there I really enjoyed letting someone else do the driving. I have driven it myself many times. I used Valley Isle Excursions http://www.tourmaui.com/ that specializes in the RTH. They were great, had a wonderful day. Do go all the way past Hana to the area called Oheo Gulch AKA Pools of Oheo. That is the real attraction. I prefer Kaanapali to Napili areas as far as where to stay. Many VRBO condos.

Big Island/Hawaii. The Volcano park is not to be missed for sure. If you stay in Kona, drive South going and North (Parker Ranch) coming back.

Kauai, Look into Wings Over Kauai http://www.wingsoverkauai.com/ $125.00 per person and has a great reputation. It's a fixed wing Australian aircraft. (I will be doing this one next year)

Big island: I hope you mean west beaches, not north. If
you take the south route from Kona to Volcano National Park, the faster route back is the highway formerly known as Saddle Road (esp. After a long day). Might want to do your heli trip over the volcano ?
Maui: I recommend an afternoon Haleakala visit, stay for the sunset. Less crowded, lovely colors, no inching up a strange road in the frigid dark to freeze and pretend to be moved by what I've always seen as a lackluster muted cloud glow:)
Try going all the way around past Hana for spectacular back side volcano and ocean views.

No way to drive all the way around Kauai - take a look at a map - the area along the NaPail coast has no road. You will want a car to drive to Hanalei and to Waimea Canyon.

We spend a month on Kauai every year and have never done the helicopter trip nor the scenic flight. I'd rather look at things closer up.

I wouldn't plan a special dinner in Lihue. Go to Poipu where you have a great selection of wonderful places to eat. Consider the new Roy's 1949 Eating House in the Shops at Kukuiula near Koloa. For a spectacular view, consider the Beach House.

"Big island: I hope you mean west beaches, not north."

Agree, and speaking for myself, specifically, Manini'owali, Waialea, and Hapuna. There are also very nice beaches within/near the Four Seasons Hualalai, Mauna Lani, and Mauna Kea resort properties, but parking and/or access may be an issue.

"Kauai...helicopter trip...tell me its the best thing ever.."

Well, maybe not the best thing ever, but that and paddling an outrigger with "uncle" Gary of Mauna Lani Sea Adventures are the two most memorable paid excursions/activities we've done in 12 +/- trips to the islands over the last 15 years.

"Road to Hana (do I need to go all the way, or is the first bit better than the last bit?)"

That's the reason we've never driven the entire RTH. Takes too much time, and doesn't mesh well with our reasons for traveling to Hawaii. But if you decide to do it, check with the car rental agency and/or insurance company to make sure you're covered before driving the back side as Sylvia suggests. And if you don't, drive Kauai's north shore from Hanalei to Ke'e Beach and/or Maui's northwest coast from Napili to Nakalele Blowhole instead (but DON'T continue on towards Kahului). Maybe walk a portion of the Kapalua Coastal Trail.

What Kathie said, the road does not go all the way around Kauai, it stops on the west shore, furthest you can go is Polihale, and at Ke'e beach on the north shore.
I have done 2 helicopter trips and about 8 Na Pali coast boat trips, I feel I get more bang for my buck with the boat trip, you only see it for a short time on a heli ride. We do drive up to the Canyon on another day. Wings Over Kauai gets good reviews and costs less than a heli if wanting an air tour.

Thanks so much everyone. Beggars can't be choosers, but would the plane give us as good a view of the scenary?

Feels abit risky waiting to we arrive in each port before booking a car rental, won't it be like a bun fight?

Thanks everybody.

You can reserved your rental cars ahead of time. Last trip I used this well recommended outfit and had a nice midsize from Avis on Kauai. You do not need to prepay.
Here is their site for folks on cruises.
http://www.discounthawaiicarrental.c...ervation.shtml

<is it really worth 500 dollars>

Well I wouldn't do it, but that doesn't really answer if it is or isn't something YOU and your group would want to try.

We did a helicopter tour of Kauai 27 years ago on our honeymoon. Well worth the money and you see areas not accessible any other way.

Planes fly
Helicopters hover
Both are cool

When are you going to Hawaii? If it is between December & April, plan for whale watching, which is wonderful.

I've taken two helicopter trips over the volcano. One was with the expensive Blue Hawaiian, and one was with a less expensive by a third company (Safari or Tropical or Paradise) out of Hilo.

This may be the most amazing visual experience of your life to fly over the caldera, so I would suggest you consider a helicopter there instead of or in addition to Kauai, depending on how the lava is flowing.

I actually liked the cheaper helicopter company better, as the Blue Hawaiian pilot kept making creepy comments, and on the less expensive Hilo flight we flew in a doors off helicopter and were able to get unbelievably great views.

So much to do on the Big Island, so I suggest the volcano, the Kohala beaches, the fascinating historical sites, and any local music and hula you can find. Food is great, and there are lots of tiny interesting shops to stop and explore.

Aloha Kailani,

We are heading back to Kohala Ranch early tomorrow morning. Looking forward to the Sat AM farmers market in Hawi!!! Not sure how we will approach the lava as Pele is very busy!

Thanks everyone. We are going in less than two weeks and have booked the helicopter.