Kauai or Maui from Wakiki?
May 5th, 2012, 07:50 PM
#23
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And the Princeville St. Regis is also kind of amazing. Time to put in some dates and run some numbers.
Is there more than one airline doing island hops from Oahu? if so, is one 'better' than another? Cheaper?
Is there more than one airline doing island hops from Oahu? if so, is one 'better' than another? Cheaper?
May 5th, 2012, 08:00 PM
#24
I've only been to Maui once (on a family reunion trip) but loved it. I really enjoyed the Lahaina area because I like having a town to walk around in. There's shops, shows, bars, restaurants, historic walking tour, etc. On Maui the Haleakala crater is absolutely amazing and a must-see in my book. It most definitely does not remind me of the "mainland" at all!
May 6th, 2012, 01:58 AM
#26
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We love to going to the St. Regis for morning coffee and looking at the magnificent Bali Hai view from their deck.
They have a great beach down below - and it's private enough find a spot and chill - or you can also head to the end of the road at Ke'e beach and snorkel to your heart's content.
For night life - authentic Tahiti Nui in Hanalei town was visited by the likes of George Clooney and cast when they filmed The Descendants. http://www.thenui.com/
They have a great beach down below - and it's private enough find a spot and chill - or you can also head to the end of the road at Ke'e beach and snorkel to your heart's content.
For night life - authentic Tahiti Nui in Hanalei town was visited by the likes of George Clooney and cast when they filmed The Descendants. http://www.thenui.com/
May 6th, 2012, 02:01 AM
#27
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We like Hawaiian Airlines for inter-island flights. Aloha Airlines was also great but they are no more.
As for prices - you have to check. Here is one google page w/ info: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&o...s+Hawaii&btnK=
As for prices - you have to check. Here is one google page w/ info: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&o...s+Hawaii&btnK=
May 6th, 2012, 04:16 AM
#28
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We like to snorkel on the islands, take boat trips, and explore different beaches.
I think the best Hawaii guidebooks are the "Revealed" books. Look on www.wizardpub.com to find them. You can also order these books on www.amazon.com. These authors originally made lots of people angry for telling about "secret" places in the islands. Also, some people felt that the places they were encouraging tourists to visit were dangerous. However, I noticed last week that their books were in the Oahu stores again.
There are more restaurants on Maui than Kauai, but we've stayed on Kauai for a whole week and never felt like there weren't enough restaurants.
The Koa Kea DOES look amazing, doesn't it? I've never stayed there, but I am on their email list. We really enjoyed the Grand Hyatt. We've also stayed at the Marriott in Lihue and also the Marriott timeshare property on Poipu Beach.
I think the best Hawaii guidebooks are the "Revealed" books. Look on www.wizardpub.com to find them. You can also order these books on www.amazon.com. These authors originally made lots of people angry for telling about "secret" places in the islands. Also, some people felt that the places they were encouraging tourists to visit were dangerous. However, I noticed last week that their books were in the Oahu stores again.
There are more restaurants on Maui than Kauai, but we've stayed on Kauai for a whole week and never felt like there weren't enough restaurants.
The Koa Kea DOES look amazing, doesn't it? I've never stayed there, but I am on their email list. We really enjoyed the Grand Hyatt. We've also stayed at the Marriott in Lihue and also the Marriott timeshare property on Poipu Beach.
May 6th, 2012, 05:30 AM
#29
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Hi Bowsprit, we've stayed numerous places usually we use RCI to exchange our time share. We've stayed in Princeville, a private residence thru VRBO, and with my brother when he lived there (unfortunately he moved to Australia)! Sorry I can't be of more help in that regard.
May 6th, 2012, 06:22 AM
#30
Sorry I don't know Maui very well so can't recommend a place for 'respite'. Only know what I know from a single trip there. If just kicking back is all you want to do on your second island, maybe looking at Kauai instead is the right choice?
May 6th, 2012, 08:05 AM
#31
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The Makena Beach Resort in Makena, Maui is in an incredibly nice and quiet location. It is the only hotel on the beach so it never feels crowded.
It isn't as plush as the Ritz nor does it have the waterpark pool system of the Hyatts or Grand Wailea.
The ocean front suites have astonishing views and you feel like a prince or potentate staying there. The other rooms are hotel rooms with a subdued and not overdecorated look.
I find the place incredibly relaxing.
It isn't as plush as the Ritz nor does it have the waterpark pool system of the Hyatts or Grand Wailea.
The ocean front suites have astonishing views and you feel like a prince or potentate staying there. The other rooms are hotel rooms with a subdued and not overdecorated look.
I find the place incredibly relaxing.
May 6th, 2012, 09:48 AM
#33
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Well, I checked on inter-island flights and I'm getting $150.00 pp One Way! That's $600.00 for the two of us. Hmmm. I'll have to keep looking for discounts. I am hoping to get airfare at half that price.
May 6th, 2012, 09:50 AM
#34
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I'm considering not leaving Oahu but instead leaving Honolulu and Waikiki and staying 4 nights on another part of the island. Thoughts? I know Maui and Kauai are beautiful; the photos I've been seeing online are quite breathtaking, but $500.00-$600.00 in inter-island airfare is high.
May 6th, 2012, 09:55 AM
#35
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There was a promotion not too long ago if you applied for Hawaiian Visa & spent $1000 in first 4 months in purchases, you would have enough miles for 2 interisland r/t flights. We did this for our upcoming trip. Don't know if this is still a valid promotion.
Our last visit to Maui, we stayed at a very nice B & B - the Hooilo House - my husband can't stop talking about that place! - it is in W. Maui. It would be in your price range.
This visit, we are also splitting our stay - Oahu & Kauai. We'll be staying at the Koa Kea in Poipu. The Hyatt next door looks lovely & if we were going not at peak season, I would have considered it, but in June, I think there will be a lot of children & we also wanted quiet!
Our last visit to Maui, we stayed at a very nice B & B - the Hooilo House - my husband can't stop talking about that place! - it is in W. Maui. It would be in your price range.
This visit, we are also splitting our stay - Oahu & Kauai. We'll be staying at the Koa Kea in Poipu. The Hyatt next door looks lovely & if we were going not at peak season, I would have considered it, but in June, I think there will be a lot of children & we also wanted quiet!
May 6th, 2012, 10:25 AM
#37
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I love the ambience of the Koa Kea. I'll continue to check Island Air.
Has anyone booked a package, air/hotel/car, through expedia, travelocity, etc. for an other island trip from Oahu?
Has anyone booked a package, air/hotel/car, through expedia, travelocity, etc. for an other island trip from Oahu?
May 6th, 2012, 11:08 AM
#38
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I love Kauai and normally stay at the Marriott in Lihue, it would probably be in your price range, has a lovely pool and nice beach on Kalapaki Bay and several good restaurants onsite (Duke's has good, reasonably priced food and Portofino has good Italian) plus a number of others within walking distance. I will admit to a bit of bias since I own a timeshare there.
If I could afford it, I would stay a couple of nights at the Grand Hyatt, lovely pool and grounds, lagoon, koi fish, parrots, and several good restaurants onsite as well as others within walking distance. I think you might be able to get it in your budget. During the summer there will be children but there some adult only pools as well. Only drawback is it is not on a swimmable beach so you would have to drive or walk to nearby Brenneke's Beach or Poipu Beach Park.
Things to do besides relaxing:
1. Spend one day driving up to the North Shore and visiting the incredible beaches and scenery up there, including a stop at Kileaua Lighthouse, continue on through Princeville to Hanalei and the end of the road at Ke'e Beach. The Limahuli Gardens as mentioned by another poster are up on the cliffs if gardens are of interest to you, it is only about 3/4 mile to walk and you can do guided or self-guided (they give you a bookleet), I think self-guided is $15 and the views from those cliffs are fantastic.
2. Spend all or part of another day driving to Waimea Canyon (west shore), going first to Kokee State Park above the Canyon to visit the Kalalau Lookout and Puu O Kila Lookout, try to get an early start cause the fog rolls in often about 9-10am. Then visit the Canyon on your way back down.
I always enjoy taking a tour of the Na Pali Coast on a boat, the morning tours are calmer sea-wise, have done this 7 times.
I'd' just keep checking the airfares, right now LAX to Lihue is $850 on up, last time I went 2 years ago I paid $650 and was horrified at the price at the time.
If I could afford it, I would stay a couple of nights at the Grand Hyatt, lovely pool and grounds, lagoon, koi fish, parrots, and several good restaurants onsite as well as others within walking distance. I think you might be able to get it in your budget. During the summer there will be children but there some adult only pools as well. Only drawback is it is not on a swimmable beach so you would have to drive or walk to nearby Brenneke's Beach or Poipu Beach Park.
Things to do besides relaxing:
1. Spend one day driving up to the North Shore and visiting the incredible beaches and scenery up there, including a stop at Kileaua Lighthouse, continue on through Princeville to Hanalei and the end of the road at Ke'e Beach. The Limahuli Gardens as mentioned by another poster are up on the cliffs if gardens are of interest to you, it is only about 3/4 mile to walk and you can do guided or self-guided (they give you a bookleet), I think self-guided is $15 and the views from those cliffs are fantastic.
2. Spend all or part of another day driving to Waimea Canyon (west shore), going first to Kokee State Park above the Canyon to visit the Kalalau Lookout and Puu O Kila Lookout, try to get an early start cause the fog rolls in often about 9-10am. Then visit the Canyon on your way back down.
I always enjoy taking a tour of the Na Pali Coast on a boat, the morning tours are calmer sea-wise, have done this 7 times.
I'd' just keep checking the airfares, right now LAX to Lihue is $850 on up, last time I went 2 years ago I paid $650 and was horrified at the price at the time.
