Leaving in 2 weeks! Any last minute tips?
 

My fiance' and I are leaving for our honeymoon on Sept. 4th. 4 nights on Waikiki Beach and 5 nights Maui. Some activities we are planning on are: snorkeling, pearl harbor, road to hana, biking down volcano, have a car whole trip so will venture out to rest of island while on Oahu, RELAXING, drinking mai tais, but is there anything that we just HAVE to do while we are there? Anyone have some places we MUST see? All opinions are great appreciated. Have used this sight a lot in my planning and have gotten a lot of good tips. Will post when we get back as well. Thanks. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Definitely go to Hanauma Bay while you are in Oahu - it is a very wonderful place for snorkeling. It is to the east of Diamond Head. Also, snorkel at Kapalua Bay on Maui. We took the Navatek II boat/snorkel trip while we were on Maui...it was well worth the 100 bucks/pp. We saw both spinner and bottlenose dolphins!! They put on quite a show for us!! Have a wonderful trip...I am jealous!! <BR> <BR>Aloha.

Phil, I'd post your original question again with WAIKIKI and MAUI in the header. That way, people won't ignore it when scrolling through the general boards and I think you'll get more answers. Enjoy your trip and congratulations.

On Oahu I recommend Duke's Canoe Club and Gordon Biersch Brewery (Aloha Tower Marketplace) as great places to hang out for food and drinks. They're also great places to watch the sunset. <BR> <BR>The Polynesian Cultural Center is also a great place for first-timers to Hawaii to see. The evening show is quite nice. <BR> <BR>Have fun. Aloha.

THere's wonderful snorkeling off the coast of Maui at a small island (I remember the name is Molokini, but could be wrong). You need to book a boat trip to go there, but it's not too expensive. You can also go deep sea fishing off the coast of Kona but that gets pricey.have fun.

The road to Hana is very beautiful and very exhausting. I will make arrangements to stay the night in Hana if I ever made the trip again. If you do make a round trip in one day leave at sunrise and be sure you are well on your way back before dark. The road is treacherous. <BR> We had a blast hiking to the 7 sacred pools (bring bug spray).

Hi, <BR>We found the road to Hana to be fun and not difficult but get the cassete/CD guide for the trip from the Shell station. We enjoyed all the stories. In Hana we looked for and found the red sand beach(directions in Frommers- Hawaii). It was very secluded and romantic. Stop to swim in some of the waterfall pools along the way. I took my Frommers everywhere. I recommend it. Eat pizza at BJ's in Lahaina and try to get a seat by the window for a great sunset view. By the way, we drove all the way around the Hana road and it was fine although it had been dry for a while. I wouldn't do it if there had been recent rain.

For Oahu, do not miss Pearl Harbor & for snorkeling Hanauma Bay (some of the best in Hawaii). While I've been to Hawaii and Oahu several times. I hiked up Diamond Head for the first time this summer and would also add it as a must do. The trail is maintained by the Parks Dept & it takes approximately 30 minutes to reach the lookout. The view is spectacular!! I now know where a lot of the Post Card shots of Waikiki come from.

If history is an interest, allow plenty of time at Pearl Harbor. Get there early as access to the USS Arizona Memorial is by timed ticket only, not available prior to arrival, and tickets are frequently gone by noon. Next to the Arizona is the USS Bowfin (submarine) and museum. Touring the USS Missouri, site of the Japanese surrender, can easily take 1/2 day. The guided tour, just a few dollars more, is definitely worth it. <BR> <BR>Near Paia, Maui pull over to watch the wind surfers. Mama's Fish House is a nice stop. Beautiful Protea garden, upcountry, Kula. Iao Needle, even though a tourist site, offers insight into Hawaiian history. <BR> <BR>Just a couple of personal opinions...if you are a regular bike rider, think twice about the Haleakaela ride. You are with a group of people, travelling at a prescribed speed on a narrow road with vehicles passing frequently. A slow private ride up & back in your own vehicle allows for more viewing at stops you choose. Bring a picnic and you can takes hikes to enjoy nature. Hanauma Bay is a marine reserve, but it is also VERY crowded. If you have any snorekling experience, stop at a local dive shop, rent equipment and ask them to point you in the direction the locals go to snorkel. <BR> <BR>For local seafood, try Ono and opakapaka. <BR> <BR>Congratulations and have a wonderful time. <BR>

Phil, <BR>We just returned from maui 8-20 and you will love it. We stayed at the Ritz in Kapalua and it was great. One thing you don't want to miss is a luau. We went to the Old Lahaina luau. It is important to make reservations before you go or right away when you arrive. We sat in the traditional seating (on cushions at low tables). The food was good , the show terrific and it was run very well. Open bar, crafts and such set up before the luau actually starts (from 5:30-6:30)and well worth the $65.00 pp charge. We also took a trilogy tour catamaran over to Lanai. It started early (6:15 am) with a smooth 90 minute trip. They served hot cinnamon rolls and coffee and fruit for breakfast and service was terrific. We took a van tour of the island and has some free time to swim/snorkel. They had options of swimming with the dophins (very popular), diving, and a "you drive" guided jeep excursion.(Each $60 extra) We chose to veg out on the beach. Then they prepared a great lunch and then we headed back. On the way back homemade icecream and cookies kept everyone happy.Well, there was one girl who got sea sick! The trip was a little costly but worth every penny! Have a good time and congratulations!

I second Pearl Harbor and the USS Missouri. Also drive to the North Shore. Nice, uncrowded beaches and quite.

Hi. Congratulations. Definitely bring a flashlight when you do the hike for Diamond Head. You will need it when going through the tunnels. If you are interested, check out the Honolulu Zoo & the Waikiki Aquarium. They are both located a couple of miles before Diamond Head. Try going to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel before sunset & have your Mai Tais at the Mai Tai bar. It located on the strip of Waikiki Beach. You can see Diamond Head from there. Definitely go to Hanauma Bay for snorkeling but it is best to go early around 9 or 10AM so it won't be as crowded. <BR> <BR>Maui: You can take a guided tour for the Road to Hana, just ask your hotel for info. My wife & I took the Polynesian Adventure tour & they provided breakfast & a picnic lunch, plus the advantage of not having to drive the windy roads near Hana. Definitely try Roy's(in Kahana) restaurant. In Lahaina there are alot of restaurant's to go to. My fav is Cheeseburger in Paradise. <BR> <BR>Have lots of fun. I'm sure you will enjoy your stay in Hawaii.

We just returned from Oahu and found it <BR>congested with traffic and crowds. Yes, <BR>try Dukes at the Outrigger Waikiki for <BR>good food. Skip Shorebirds Broiler at <BR>the Outrigger Reef. The salad bar was a <BR>big disappointment.

Phil: <BR>I second recommendation on Duke's, Pearl Harbor (get there when it opens to miss tour bus crowds), Diamond Head hike. Polyn. Cultural Center is corny but fun if you have time. <BR>Maui-on drive to Hana, stop at Paia and get lunch, there's a couple places that pack a "box Lunch". Watch the windsurfers. Stop for dinner at Mama's Fish House on the way back. Definitely drive up to Haleakala. The bike tour didn't do much for me as you're coming down the same road as all the cars. Stop by the Tedeschi Winery on your Haleakala day. I would pass on the Molokini Crater tour - its about $80, for boat ride, snorkeling equipment, light lunch and all you can drink, but when you get to the crater, there other tour boats every 30 yards. Once in the water, you see the bright colors of all the other snorkelers (sp) swimming by you. If you don't get motion sickness - try the helicopter tours.

I second Diamond Head and Hanauma Bay on Oahu, when I went we took mopeds (super easy to ride - just like a bike but no pedaling) and stopped at some cool spots that a car could not. For dining a Must is "TRATTORIA" Italian restaurant. For add. or ph.# go to www.alternative-hawaii.com/rest/oit.htm <BR>I have been to Dukes and Trattoria food is so much better. <BR>

Just got back from Maui & Kauai. We've been on the Trilogy 5 times. Once at Molokini and the rest to Lanai. Skip the Molokini. Too many boats and not much too see. Very wet boat ride back to the harbor. Take the early (6:15 AM)Trilogy out of Lahaina harbor. If you want to see spinner dolphins in action. They feed only in the morning and evening. The trip is worth every penny. You'll return back to Maui between 3-4 PM. The lunch is barbecued chicken with salad,gecko eggs (green peas) and plenty of non-alcoholic beverages all served under their new covered lanai. Also, if your near the Sheraton Maui, check out the cliff diver at sunset. He lights all the torches on the property and then he leaps off Black Rock. If you need more info e-mail would be O.K. EKE

Aloha from Oahu, <BR>Oahu has so much to offer honeymooners looking for great experiences. Beaches: Waimanalo Beach is beautiful, long and uncrowded, we love it and take all our guests there. The North Shore will surely a day trip for you two love birds... Stop for lunch in Haleiwa Town, eat at Kua'aina Sandwich Shop ~ eat Shaved Ice @ Matusmoto's or another great little stand in this old town. Drive along the coast, plast Waimea Bay, Ehukai Beach Pard (world famous Pipeline) and lastly, Sunset Beach... Enjoy... <BR>Honolulu has great offerings as well, Waikiki is fun and full of excitement, but if you feel overwhelmed, get out of town and drive up into Manoa Valley for a hike up to Manoa Falls or a light trek through the Lyon Arboretum at the beginning of the trail head... You will love it!! <BR>Lastly, explore the East side of the island, Hanauma Bay snorkeling, Hiking and surf watching @ Sandy's Beach (beware... Sandy's is a hard core surf spot and dangerous to the unacustomed swimmer). <BR>Have fun and if you need more advice, give us an email... Aloha

On Oahu, see the view from the Nuuana Pali and stop by Punchbowl, the military cemetery.

Thanks for all of your replies. We leave in 5 days!!! <BR> <BR>

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