Just spent 5 nights on Kauai and 5 nights on Maui. Stayed at Hyatt Regency on Kauai and it was wonderful - lush and tropical, great interlocking pools. They upgraded us from lagoon view room to a full ocean view and it was definitely worth it - great sunrises. Took Liko Kauai Cruises snorkel trip to Na Pali coast - great boat, intimate (there were 21 passengers the day we went but they can take about 10 more). Took Jack Harter helicopter tour. It was an unforgettable experience. Waimea Canyon is lovely, a smaller, deeper-colored Grand Canyon. We drove up to Princeville and Hanalei. Next time, would split our stay between Hyatt on Poipu and Princeville. Beach House and Roy's Poipu were good restaurants; we ate at Beach House twice for the food and ocean views. On Maui we stayed at The Four Seasons in Wailea, and we've never been so pampered in our lives. Great beach, great food in their restaurants (especially Seasons), beautiful room, and incredible service. We were a little nervous about the road to Hana, but it is do-able and lovely. We went around 10:00 am and beat the morning traffic. Took Four Winds II snorkel trip to Molokini, and would recommend that. Fun boat. They take you to a wonderful spot to watch sea turtles. Humu Restaurant in the Grand Wailea has good food in a charming Polynesian setting. We found "Maui Revealed" and "The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook," both by Doughty and Friedman, to be very useful. You could actually spend a week on each island and have plenty to do.

Great trip report Lili! I was on both islands earlier this month & did a lot of the same things you did (NaPali boat trip, Waimea Canyon, road to Hana, etc.). It was nice to read about your experiences.

Hi Lily:

We're doing almost the exact trip. We'll be staying in Oahu for 3 nights, Four Seasons on Maui for 6 nights and Kauai for 5 nights. Our honeymoon will be in July/August of 2001. We're trying to decide between the Hyatt and Princeville on Kauai. Which do you think would be better for a couple of first timers on their honeymoon? I think we've decided on the Four Seasons for sure, but at one time we considered the Grand Wailea, but thought it was too big for us and not intimate enough. Will we regret it?

Kristy

Whoops, I meant Lili.

Kristy

Kristy: It's a matter of preference, but I would definitely choose Four Seasons over Grand Wailea, which is right next door. Grand Wailea is huge, and their setting is very lush and tropical, but we actually thought it was a bit too much, too overwhelming. Four Seasons is much more subdued. Their Humu Restaurant at Grand Wailea, as I mentioned, is in a charming setting and food was good. Our last dinner at Four Seasons in their fancy restaurant was quite romantic. They'll bring chairs down to the beach for you, put covers over them to shield you from the sun, bring you lemon water, cool hand towels and spray your face with Evian.Don't know if they pamper guests as much at Grand Wailea. In terms of Kauai, we loved the Hyatt. But the views from the Princeville were incredible, and that part of the island is gorgeous. If you don't mind packing and unpacking alot, you might want to consider 3 nights at Hyatt and 2 at Princeville. Princeville area is wetter than Poipu. But I'm not sure how much wetter that would be in the summer. If you do wind up staying at Hyatt the whole time, make sure you go up to Princeville, Hanalei area.

Thanks Lili, Are there any "Don't Miss" activities, restaurants, etc... on either island or at either hotel? I am already planning to go hiking in the Na Pali coast, take a helicopter ride in Kauai, see the sunrise at Haleakala (sp?) and take the road to Hana as well as a lot of beach time and snorkeling. Besides that I'm open. I love snorkeling, hiking and anything active, I also love good food (I'm from Chicago so I can be very picky). Would standard rooms at both hotels be sufficient? We don't plan to spend very much time there, but maybe it is worth it - we have no idea.

Thanks again!
Kristy

Kristy

Kristy,
Sounds like you already have alot planned. Don't miss Waimea Canyon on Kauai (really lovely, and there is good hiking there)and definitely don't miss the north part of the island - Princeville and Hanalei Bay and all the beaches along there. In Maui, the drive past Kaanapali and Kapalua is pretty, though a little treacherous. We didn't make it all the way as it was threatening rain. We're originally from Chicago, too, so also fussy about food. On Kauai, we liked Beach House and Roy's Poipu. Beach House has good food and is right on the ocean. Roy's is in a little shopping center, but good food and we actually went to the shopping center's grocery store alot to get bottled water, snacks, etc. If you stay at The Hyatt, eat breakfast in their Ilima Terrace and get a table right next to the pond, with jumping koi and swans - decent enough food but charming atmosphere. On Maui we stopped at Mama's Fish House (early on road to Hana) and it looked cute - supposed to be very good - but we got there in early afternoon and weren't hungry. We really liked Seasons, the "fancy" restaurant at Four Seasons. Very good food and service and great view of pools and ocean, watched the sunset (we sat outside). A Pacific Cafe is supposed to be quite good - we never made it there. In terms of rooms, don't know what the "lagoon view" view would have been like at Hyatt, because they gave us a full ocean view upgrade, but I loved being able to see and hear the ocean and watch the sunrises. At Four Seasons, most of the rooms look at water. It's shaped like a U. Tell them you don't want to be in the section in the back along the road (noisy from cars). We were actually in what they called a "partial ocean view." We were on the 7th floor (highest) and that was nice. Get those guidebooks by Doughty and Friedman - "Maui Revealed" and "The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook" - both have lots of info. on things to do. We also used "Fodor's Hawaii 2000." Pack light. We didn't want the airlines to lose our luggage, so each brought on 2 carry-ons. People dress very casually. Do take suntan lotion and mosquito repellant, especially if you plan to do alot of hiking. We brought our own snorkels and masks, but you can rent them there. If you like aquariums, Maui has a really nice one - Maui Ocean Center.If you do a luau, Old Lahaina Luau on Maui is supposed to be most authentic. We didn't do one. We had originally reserved a full-size car on each island, but when we got there we downsized to midsize (had Dodge Stratus's on both islands). We found the midsize much easier than a full-size would have been for parking in tight spaces and maneuvering around winding roads like Hana. Make sure everyone knows it is your honeymoon. We actually had ours in San Fran, Napa, Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur, etc. But every hotel we stayed at did something special because it was our honeymoon - champagne, strawberries dipped in chocolate, better rooms, etc. etc. Congratulations, by the way.

Mama's Fish House has great food. We had our best meal on Maui there last year.

Traveling from the big island to Maui.
Honolulo to Maui - Maui to Kauai--Hawaiin Airlines.
I was told to sit on one side of the plane for the best view, but I don't remember what side. Anybody out there could help me.

Psssssst! Lili! MauiHeidi said to tell you that you were supposed to rave over the Sheraton, not the Four Seasons! Four Seasons hasn't paid their supplier fee to us yet. Also, you forgot to mention Mr. KrappyTiki's souvenir shop next to the Hyatt. His check cleared yesterday.

Spiff checks are here but you left off so many "preferred businesses" from your travel report that they cut your commission, girlfriend! Don't worry, if you get canned, I heard Mr. KrappyTiki is hiring.

Do I assume that the last reply suggested I am a travel agent,too? When we planned a trip to Italy last year, I got alot of information from the Fodor's forums that was really helpful. Likewise when we planned our Hawaii trip. When we returned, I wanted to share what had been good experiences for us so that other people might benefit. I don't quite understand this whole Hawaii forum - all the travel agent and anti-travel agent stuff. But it is awfully annoying.

Heidi says close out your office and take your stuff...you're fired. I'll call KrappyTiki and tell him you're on the way over, he needs someone like you who is highly experienced in selling Krap. Aloha!

Dear MissMaui or as you are now call yourself - Co-worker, please turn off your computer I think I hear you mommy calling.

Go on now. Go!! Go do your homework.

Thank You

karl, ain' you got nuthin betta to do than follow and dog MissMaui?

She's a generous, honest, sincere, fun-loving traveler and she really does want to help Hawaii travelers, all out of the goodness of her heart! Her comments are incisive, up-to-date and helpful, she's a vast treasure trove of information about Hawaii! If you don't like her posts, don't read them, but don't try to deprive others of her wit and charm, not to mention all her recommendations.

E-mail us for more info!

Dear Notmismaui or is it Co-worker, or MissMaui. I'm just having fun with you. You don't seem to like it when I start "dogging" you. Not much fun when people get tired of rude and obnoxious people like you?

Oh well, back to school with you. Your mommys still calling.

Have a good day.

Lili,
I wanted to thank you for taking the time to write your post. I appreciate it when I find good information on here but am dissapointed on how much junk I have to go through to get there. I do have one question for you. I will be going in December and was concerned that the surf would be to rough at Princeville so we were only going to do a day trip there. Any opinion as to splitting nights between the Hyatt and Princeville or just the Hyatt?

Thanks
Elizabeth

Elizabeth,
I don't know enough about the weather/surf on Kauai to give you an educated answer. I would suggest emailing the authors of "The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook." We used their guidebooks to Maui and Kauai extensively. Their website is www.wizardpub.com. I had emailed them when we returned from our trip, and they emailed me back. We only had time to do a day trip to Princeville and Hanalei, but found the area so beautiful that if we ever return we would probably split our time between Hyatt and Princeville Resort. Don't know how rough the water gets in winter. For us, a few weeks ago, we found the ocean calmer in the morning and noticeably rougher by afternoon.

Mahalowankerweanie AGAIN Elizabeth!! Thanks for all your multiple posts on separate threads, it really DOES help overwhelm Fodor's! Hey, Hawaii is the best place anyway, so why go anywhere else, right? Come to Hawaii!

Now about the Hyatt versus the Hyatt Princeville (nice move, you plugged four different hotels on two threads in just under a minute!), I recommend the Hytt. The toilet bowls are a combination of luxury porcelain and kid-friendly height, perfect for the entire family.

Not an agent, e-mail me! mahalo