Just a hint . . . usually if you click your back button it will return you to where you were and your 'unposted' post will still be in place.

I suggest you post a new thread specifically for the Hawaii bits. That way you'll more likely get responses from the HI 'pros', many of whom live there or travel there every year and have more up to date info.

I think your new plan sounds great.

It sounds fabulous to me. At that time of year, I would suggest lodging where it's <I>typically </i>drier and sunnier (Poipu on Kauai, although you've decided against Kauai for this trip) and if the weather isn't good, just drive somewhere else - you're likely to find good weather within 20 minutes!

I think your plan sounds great and yes the north shore of Kauai is wetter and rainier in winter (glorious in summer and early fall) so if you did go there, Poipu would be a good choice, lots of nice condos to rent there, plenty of good restaurants, etc.

Yes, hitting the backspace button usually works - but not ALL the time. And hey - coming from Scotland - the warmer rain/liquid sunshine in Hawaii - including the north shore of Kauai - will seem like a mere stroll in the park. :)

Besides - after it rains - there are beautiful waterfalls all over the Cliffs surrounding Hanalei/Princeville - the North Shore.

Also check out "Nurses Beach" - Lumahai - where in the classic/award winning - 1958 Rogers and Hammerstein WWII Love story/musical - actress Mitzi Gaynor - "washes that man right out of her hair." :) Sorry for the long web site but having trouble getting to www.tinyurl.com, http://www.google.com/search?q=pics+...w=1253&bih=660

Geesh: Forgot to include the movie's name - South Pacific - and see: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052225/

Also - a recent movie - The Descendants - with George Clooney - also has a lot of great Kauai scenery - and I am waiting to see it on Cable.

Scot: Just saw your Q: On Maui - not sure if the area by Lahaina and north (Kapalua/Napili) is really that much more rainy than Kiehi/Wailea - and they also get wind down Kiehi way.

As for the North Shore of Kauai v. Poipu - read what Songdoc wrote about his recent stay there and his take on the weather. Go to the Hawaii threads and google down, and/or check out his/Songdoc posts. He loves it there - anytime - as do we.

Once in a while - you might get a huge storm for a few days - and I would suggest you keep an eye on the weather - and if it looks like that may blow in - then you might cancel your reservation and head down to normally sunny Poipu.

BTW - one advantage of a big storm coming in is that you get to see huge surf in Hanalei bay - once in a while even "closing out". :)

And hey - if you don't get to Kauai this trip - that's ok - as you will get some of the flavor of the Garden Island/lush vegetation around Hilo, north of Kailua on Oahu - and also if you get out to Hana, on Maui - which I heartily recommend doing. And I would still shave a day from SF and add it to Vegas - especially if you want to do a tour of the Grand Canyon from there.

Uno Mas: As for fine dining - Vegas probably now hss more upscale/name Chef places than San Francisco - which used to be the Epicurean capital of the left coast, especially when I/we were living there in the 70's.

Here is one list: http://www.urbanspoon.com/pr/18/4/La...ne-Dining.html

The drive from the volcano to Kona town is 3 hours, so it really is a good idea to start in Hilo. The big park on the bay there is lovely. Whether it will be raining is 50-50. But it will still be warm (at least 65 degrees F. Some good places to eat in Hilo are Cafe Pesto and Hilo Bay Cafe. These are Asian/Pacific style cafes. also look for places that sell Plate Lunch (kalua pork, chicken long rice, lomi salmon, and rice and/or macaroni salad, although it's too much starch. And poi.). Also good is pork laulau, wrapped in young ti leaves and cooked.

Kona side, in town, Sam Choy's, also Asian/Pacific, and Kenichi Pacific (Japanese) are excellent. For lunch, we go often to Huggo's on the Rocks. Another good place is Jackie Ray's.

I'd you end up in Waikoloa, Mauna Kea, Mauna Lani, of such, there are great beaches. Some good rests there, too, although I don't know them well. We always rent a condo in Kona town, not up the coast. Another fun place is in Hawi, on the far NW tip of the Big Island, with kitschy stuff all over, friendly staff, good Asian/Pacifi food. Don't miss ther coconut sauce!!! You can ask for more and they will happily supply it free. There's also Sushi Rock in Hawi.

You can also see the whales from shore along the Kona coast and north towards Hawi in February. We always take binoculars when we drive up the coast, in case we want to stop and look when some show up.

Hey - I once made it to Volcano - starting in Kona - in an hour and a half. Of course, it was mid-day, and I passed slower moving tourists and Hawaiian, and while I didn't run anybody off the road - they probably still thought I was one crazy Haole. Only had a limited time and I wanted to get over to drive around the Rim. :)

And as char said - it's a good idea to carry binos - even a compact pair - 7x - helps spot the marine life, etc. And getting up to Hawi is definitely a hoot - "old Hawaii" style.