Hawaii Trip help for first visit
 

My wife and i are planning a trip to hawaii in June. We plan on going for either 7 or 8 days and would like to see 2 islands. We both play golf. We enjoy relaxing by the ocean, but are also very interested in seeing the "greener" parts of the isalnds as well. Any help would be great.

Go to Maui and Kauai. A friend of mine who has golfed in Hawaii many times speaks most favorably of the course in Kapalua with Wailea coming in a close second. I've seen pictures of Tiger Woods playing Kapalua. The north shore of Kauai - in the summer especially - is a great place to play (and stay) too. I'll have to let someone else comment on Oahu and the Big Island as I've spent less time on those islands.

If I had 7 days I would not go to 2 islands. That would be a 3/4 split and I think you need a minimum of 5 days on any island. Spend your week on either Maui or Kauai. Both would be great for golfing and for seeing the greener parts.

I can't see spending a couple days here, a couple days there. I say one week, one island.

We've always gone to Kauai for 7 days at a time, when we do go back again (to any island) it will be for 2 weeks minimum. At this point, I don't think I could stand one of those mere 5-day package trips I sometimes see, unless it was "super-cheap" and we could simply "work it in" somehow.

The point is, it's just too depressing coming back -- better to make the best of your time while there.

Some people have it really tough ...Kal has to go through his yearly Island detox, after staying 3 weeks every January.

DB,
This year I'm trying to keep "toxed" all year long to avoid any future "Kauai Hangovers". ((Y))

The Princeville course is unbelievable. If you go to Kauai and play it, take a camera and a few rolls of film or a lot of memory.

The first 3 times we visited Hawaii we split a week 3+4 on 2 islands. It was a great way to get an overview for future visits. I'm not sure where this notion of one week required per island comes from. Does anyone say 'don't bother going to New York or Chicago unless you can stay a week'? Makes no sense to me, but everyone travels differently.

When I was a teenager, I took two different trips to Hawaii where I visited four islands in less than two weeks. Since then, I've preferred the island per week routine in order to relax more and get to know each island better at the same time. I don't regret my wild days of island-hopping but I'm enjoying this too. The difference in being 18 and 40, OR the difference in getting a good overview vs. more detailed research of a Kal-in-Kauai variety...
There ain't no wrong way to do Hawaii IMO!

Thanks for all the help. Crazy4 we are right in the middle of the ages you posted, I am 29 and my wife is 27. Are there any other great courses in Kauai besides the Princeville? thanks and please keep the suggestions coming we need all the help we can get!

When I travel to Hawaii now I don't like to unpack and pack more than once. It was not always like that, but now I like to "plant" myself in one island. I would suggest with the time you have you go to one island and possibly do two different parts of that one island. Maui: 5 days Wailea, Kapalua or Kaanapli and 2 or 3 days in Hana. On Kauai: split your time between Poipu and the north shore. I don't golf, but friends have golfed the course in Poipu by the Hyatt and raved about it. My aunt used to play the courses at Kapalua and thought they were some of the most challenging courses she has played. Have a great trip.