Hello all,

My husband and I are planning a trip to Oahu and Hawaii (BI) for the end of January and can't decide on an itinerary.

I have been to Oahu twice before on family vacations where we stayed in Waikiki and don't really want to stay there again. But, we do want to spend some time on Oahu b/c my husband is really interested in WW2 history and wants to see Pearl Harbour, Arizona Memorial, etc. We also want to see the huge waves on the North Shore.

We are thinking of spending 2 nights in Oahu (perhaps at the Ihilani) away from Waikiki area. We plan to devote one day to the WW2 stuff and one day to driving up to the North shore. Then we will spend 2 or 3 nights on the BI on the Hilo side. WE are planning to stay at the Kiluaea (sp?) lodge. Is it worth it spending one night in Hilo to see the gardens, etc. Is three nights too much for this side of the island - would two nights be sufficient to see the sights in and around VNP?

Should we spend the extra night in the Waimea Valley instead of Hilo?

We will end our vacation with 5 nights at the Hapuna Prince hotel to relax. Do we need a rental car on the Kohala coast? Are there reasonably priced restaurants we could drive to? Do you need to rent a 4WD to drive around the sights at VNP?

Thanks in advance!

Lisa

Hello, suggest you big up a copy of guidebook "Hawaii-The Big Island Revealed", available at Barnes&Noble, Borders etc., to get the most out of Hawaii. (website:http://www.wizardpub.com/bigisland/bigisland.html)
You do not need a 4WD for VNP, though you might want one for other areas. If you plan on leaving the Hapuna Prince for dinner at neighboring resorts (4S, Mauni Lani, Hilton Waikoloa, Marriott, Kings Shops, etc) you will need a rental car.
Always a good idea to check out Wal-Mart in Kona for souvenirs, film/developing etc. Also highly recommend FairwindII Snorkel trip to Capt. Cook Monument for awesome snorkeling-but reserve early.

Hi! My husband and I got married on Oahu last October at Waimea Falls Park, and I would definiteley recommend seeing the park as well as visiting The Polynesian Cultural Center which are both located on the North Shore.

The Polynesian Cultural Center was wonderful! The tickets were a little pricey (around $70 per person) but it includes entertainment and a luau-style dinner. It is an all day adventure. The night show should not be missed, it is an awesome display with hula dancing and fire. Visit the Web site to find out more: http://www.polynesia.com/

Have Fun!

Isn't the first day on Oahu eaten up by your air flight? It seems to me that you need three nights there to see what you want to see.

Regarding Hilo: again, depending on your time of arrival, the first day may be mostly open or nearly gone by the time you arrive. You don't need a night here if you maximize your time in the town. Perhaps after you arrive at the Hilo airport, you could take some time to see at least one of the gardens (Nani mau?),enjoy a good restaurant in Hilo, then head to Kilauea Lodge (about 40 minutes from Hilo) in the evening. Whether you want 1 or 2 days to tour VNP is up to you. There are a lot of great hikes. An early start from Kilauea would give you most of a day in Hilo and just beyond - don't miss the 4 mile scenic road, the botanic garden there, and the great smoothie/lunch place, What's Shakin, at the end. Waimea is not that far from Hapuna, less than 90 minutes, and you could easily make that one of your day trips. It deserves its own day! BTW, since there are only a couple of small places to stay near Waimea, lack of availability may make your decision for you.

Finally, in case you were not aware, it is just as cheap to fly into Hilo and out of Kona (to Oahu) except for a one-way fee on your rental car.

Waimea is a nice town and has a totally different feel than the Kohala coast but it's also not that far away. I don't know if it would be worth moving around for just one night vs. day tripping from the Kohala area. I think there are some B&B's here. If you also want to visit Waipio Valley, then staying at Waimea is more convenient that driving from the Hapuna Prince.

You'll want a car if you plan to leave the resort. Not much is 'reasonable' on the Kohala coast but suggest you look in the BI Revealed guide for their recommendations. The problem with reasonable here is it often translates into mediocre. Roy's Waikoloa is less expensive than most hotel restaurants and has great food. Reservations are a must as it's always packed.

Ihilani or Turtle Bay Hilton would be perfect.

You do need a car on the BI. You can find cheaper eateries in Kings or Kona.