I can't believe I'm starting to plan travel, but I am -- probably a month in Hawaii alone -- September and into October using FF miles.

I was thinking of arriving for a week in Honolulu a day or two after Labor Day to start the trip. Or is there any reason to be there over Labor Day? I was thinking the crowds (or kids) might be a little less after Labor Day. The apartment I'm looking at is the same price and available either way.

Basic plan.
1 week Honolulu
1 week Kauai
1 week Maui
10 days Big Island -- Kona and Volcano.
Stopover going in SF, stopover coming back in LA.

Patrick, How wonderful to read you are planning a trip to Hawaii! Fantastic. Sorry I'm no help about the Labor Day question but have spent time solo on Oahu and can suggest some activities on down the road (in your planning that is).
-suze

The weeks after Labor Day are my favorite time in Hawaii. the weather is great, most school start back the Thursday before Labor day, and the Aloha festivals is in full swing on all the islands.

check here for 2009 schedule:

http://www.hawaiiforvisitors.com/eve...r-2009.htm#sep

You might want to confirm the dates of any "must see" events. I know some get changed.

Watch out for the ironman Triathalon on the big island of Hawaii too. It can either be a lot of fun, or just a darn crowded inconvenience, depending on your point of view.

OK. After looking at several things, I think I'm back to thinking I'll go just after Labor Day and into October -- maybe starting to be a little cooler too in later September or October on the Big Island?

Hawaii is the only state Lee and I never got to. Two years ago I started planning a "last harrah" trip to Hawaii for us which would have been this past September, but it got more and more complicated and his Alzheimer's progressed, so we never pursued it. Lee happens to have left about 75,000 FF miles in his AA account, just what it takes to do a round trip first class to Hawaii -- so guess what his final present to me will be?

I do remember running into the Ironman issue, so thanks for the headsup. I'll want to avoid the BI during that as it doesn't thrill me and I'd just as soon avoid the crowds and the higher condo prices, and I can easily switch Maui and BI to do so depending on the dates.

i know at the end of may is when high school graduations begin so Waikiki may be a little rowdy, other than that it should be a rocking good time. have fun

Does that FF program permit two stopovers on one ticket? United Mileage Plus does not and I think other programs have the same rules.

Ooops. Right you are. I had a converstation with an AA rep, who I'm sure told me that if I didn't do an open jaw but instead arrived AND returned from Honolulu that I could do a stopover each way. Ends up that is not the case.
But what it looks like I'm doing now is stopping over in LA for a week going, flying into Honolulu, and then returning from Maui on an afternoon flight non stop to LAX arriving at 10:15 at night -- where I can get a hotel for the night before flying out at 8 AM the next day to Ft. Myers with a change in DFW. I can do an open jaw and one stopover.

That works too. I'm just glad not to do an overnight flight, even though I'll be flying first class all the way.

And it looks like I'll spend Labor Day weekend in LA (hello, Hollywood Bowl concerts) and then fly to Honolulu on Wednesday, returning 5 weeks later also on a Wednesday.

Patrick, any chance of a GTG?

Sure. Where and when?

Well, in HNL for sure! We just need to find out what days you'll be here, and we can throw out some suggestions. Also, is there anything in particular you want to see/do/eat while here?

OK, just waiting for the last of some FF miles to post and then I'll claim my flights to set this in stone, but it looks like I'll be in Honolulu from Wed. Sept. 9 to Wed. Sept. 16. Does that leave enough time for planning a GTG -- just 8 months?

What to eat? Anything, although poi is not high on my list.

Great idea of spending the longer time on the Big Island. I just returned from 2 1/2 weeks in Hawaii (1 week Big Isle, 4 days Ohau, 1 week Maui). For me, it was less expensive to arrive and depart from the Big Island and Maui (no difference in the order) than it was from Honolulu. Also, do not forget to budget for parking on Maui and Honolulu. Try to stay away from the Waikiki and Honolulu hotels unless you like staying in downtown LA as noise and congestion reign supreme. Look into renting a timeshare unit. I stayed at the Kona Coast Resort on the Big Isle and will never be able to say enough good things about the stay. I negotiated a room rate of $80 a night and my unit was bigger than my other two hotel rooms combined. It had a kitchen, seperate living room and dining room, the patio was larger than either of my other hotel rooms, the grounds were fantastic and I had a kitchen to save cost on the meals. The bedroom was large and the bathroom was huge, with a walk in shower. I got a rental car on Hawaii for $15 a day via Priceline. ALOHA and enjoy your trip. I have allot more suggestions if you would like.

I only started looking at cars, and so far have noticed that Hotwire is NO cheaper than all the direct rental sites (using AAA or Costco discounts). I suppose it's way to soon to look at Priceline for car bidding -- I've never done that because I'm always doing oneway rentals which they don't do (on bid your own price). How far out did you bid your car?

On Maui and maybe BI, I'd love to have a Jeep Wrangler. Does anyone know a way to get great rates on those? So far Budget seems to be the cheapest I've seen, but quite a bit more than a simple economy car.

I've booked the FF tickets -- from Ft.Myers to LA, spending a week there, then on to Honolulu and a return From Maui with an overnight at LAX (sounds like a Priceline bid to me!). I'll be in Honolulu from Sept 9 to 16 (Wed. to Wed). Then 6 nights in Kauai, 12 nights on BI, then 10 on Maui.

I've booked the apartments in Honolulu:
http://www.vrbo.com/109596

Kauai:
http://www.vrbo.com/152385

and Kona:
(oops, I've lost the link, but Hale Kona Kai #404)

There will be the annual Fodors Asia board HNL GTG on or around Sept 18 or so

Mels, when is Aloha Week this year?

Aloha!

I think you would enjoy touring Shangri La, Doris Duke's home. It starts at the Honolulu Academy of Art (which is worth a visit on its own). A film and a short orientation there and then a shuttle bus to the house. We toured a couple of years ago and are looking forward to going again when more rooms are open to the public.

http://www.honoluluacademy.org/cmsha...ex.aspx?id=437

Sorry you won't be going through S.F. It would have been nice to meet you and treat you to dinner.

Benefit of after Labor Day is that weekdays, things will be a bit less crowded since, school is back in session.

Weather wise, delaying it another week isn't going to really make much of a difference.

Shangri-La closes for the whole month of Sept every year for maintenance

Aloha!

Ouch! Doris Duke's home was already on my "must do" list. Guess that takes care of that!

Giovanna, I will be in SF in late June. I haven't set my return and am unsure of full plans there after my friends leave for home (we're driving to Ashland, Oregon for 5 nights, then back to SF for 4 nights together, but I'm planning on some time in the area (or Tahoe or Saratoga with Lee's family) for a little while before going on to LA.

Aloha Festivals...oh, Patrick, you're in for a treat!
The largest statewide festival is right here, in September.
http://alohafestivals.com/

The annual floral parade through Waikiki SHOULD be on Sept 12.

And the Asia Board GTG should be around that time, to coincide with the Ho'olaulea. Good choice, Patrick!!

Interisland FF awards are cheap. For example, 5000 United miles can get you a one-way ticket on Hawaiian Airlines.