Need Help First Trip To Hawaii
 

Hi, will be taking a trip to Hawaii in early June 2008, with 19 year old son & husband. This is our 1st time ever to Hawaii and would like advice on what islands are a must and what to do, how to get from island to island and for what length of time you need for such a vacation. Any advice & suggestions on what are "must-sees" in each island would be greatly appreciated as I feel I don't know where to start. By the way, I was thinking of doing the Big Island, Maui & Kauai. Thank You.

My suggestion as a good place to start is to get Fodor's or Frommer's book on Hawaii that covers the main tourist islands and read through as it will give you basic answers to all of your questions and get you oriented to the islands. Some of what you read will appeal to you and some won't. Zero in on what appeals to you.

How many days will be going for? With less than 2 weeks I'd stick to 2 islands.

Must sees depend on what your interests are What are your interests? Do you dive? Do you snorkel? Are you beach folks? Do you hike? Are you imagining lots of paid excursions or do you like to do things on your own more cheaply?

What is your budget?

Condo or Hotel? Do you want to stay in a beachfront resort with all the bells and whistles? Condos can save you some money as there are sometimes less expensive that hotels and you can cook in which can save some $$ too.

Since this is your first trip, please don't miss Oahu. Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head are tourist spots for a reason. Pearl Harbor with the Arizona Memorial, the Aloha Tower, Chinatown, Haunama Bay, Tantalus Drive and Punchbowl Cemetery, a drive around the island for the gorgeous scenery, and so much more . . . it's all good!

I also suggest Oahu as one of the islands. There is more to see & do on Oahu than any other island.

Rule of thumb:

7 nights - 1 island
8-10 nights - 1 or 2 islands
11-14 nights - 1, 2 or 3 islands
15+ nights - 1, 2, 3 or 4 islands

Lots of info including sites with free brochures for all islands:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34812564

Contrary to above, except for Pearl Harbor I would spend minimal time in Oahu. I found Waikiki too conjested and too touristy. We spent one day at Pearl Harbor and then left. JMHO.

Have you thought of a cruise? It takes you to all the islands you mentioned, you only unpack once and not only do you have fun on the islands, you can have fun on the ship. I agree with the Frommers/Foders Guide recommendation. We did a 7 day cruise and rented a car at each port and saw what we wanted. Good way to see which islands you like best and plan for longer next time. Went in to Honolulu 2 nights early and saw the sights there.

"I found Waikiki too congested and too touristy. We spent one day at Pearl Harbor and then left."

Perhaps if you had visited the rest of Oahu you would have seen the beauty of the island. Outside of Honolulu, Oahu is much like the other islands.

I would suggest going to at least two islands; they each have their own feel.

Kauai is unbelievably beautiful. If you are into hiking, there are tons of places to go. But, there are also many places to see that you don't need to hike. Don't miss Waimea Canyon and Poipu! There are wild chickens that run all over the place (including the parking lot of the KFC!).

Oahu is probably the most "American" of all the islands with Honolulu and Waikiki. Although they are fun, you need to leave the city and explore the rest of the island. There are beaches and green mountains like I have never seen. Pearl Harbor and the Punchbowl are both incredibly moving.

Maui is also a beautiful island; the beaches are amazing. Sunrise at Haleakala National Park is an experience that you will never forget. Also, the Road to Hana is spectacular.

The people in Hawaii are all very nice. You are always greeted with a genuine Aloha. I wish more of us would adopt the "Aloha spirit"!

Hawaii is a very special place. No matter where you go, you will be amazed by both the people and the scenery!

Wow, thanks so much for all your replies & advice. I was thinking of going for 10-12 days. We are traveling from Florida so I guess 2 days (to & from) will be spent traveling leaving us with 10 days there. It sounds like 2 islands would be all we could do with that amount of time. As far as things we like to do; we like to snorkel, hike, swim, sightseeing in general, nice dinners, etc. Would the Big Island & Kauai be good choices for 2 islands? I know that the Big Island is one island that we want to do for sure. I have also heard that Kauai is so beautiful; what is your input & opinions? Also my son says he wants to try surfing, I don't know if all the islands have nice beaches for that or not. Again, any advice & input is greatly appreciated. I will go purchase Fodors Guide for sure when my bookstore is open on Dec. 26th Thanks again.....

With 10 full days, I would spend 2-3 nights on Oahu (surfing, seeing Pearl Harbor, etc.), and then the rest of the time on the Big Island.

I love Kauai, too, but you can save that for another trip. Kauai and the Big Island are my two favorites, but I'm glad I've been to Oahu and seen Pearl Harbor. It's also a good place to learn to surf.

The Big Island is so BIG (hence the name!) that you could stay there for weeks and not see it all. You could spend a couple of nights near the volcano and then the rest of the time near Kona or the Kohala Coast.

Thanks again for the reply Samsaf, I'm sure Oahu is really great with Pearl Harbor, etc., but for some reason I feel the Big Island & Kauai is where we would really love to go. Big Island for the volcanos and other things and Kauai for what I hear is the incredible beauty. Can anyone give me some must-see things in each of those two islands? Again, any advice is greatly appreciated. Merry Christmas to all.....Thanks

josie- there are so many prior posts about things to do, and so many guidebooks out there, why not do some of the research yourself?

Ag3046, for one, if you would have read my prior post, that my bookstore is CLOSED currently (I mean it is the holidays after all ) and that I am going to go get some books when they reopen. I thought that I would get a jump start on this forum to combine with my reading.

The one thing I failed to post is that I am a big reader. I always read Fodors and Frommers from cover to cover. I thought that this forum was the place to receive other's travel experience on these islands. Up to your post everyone has been so helpful. So I am sorry if you feel that I have wasted your time.

josie, if you stay on Kauai, we like to stay on the south side, but I'm sure you'll get lots of opinions on that, too. On Kauai, we love Ke'e Beach (in the summer), Waimea Canyon, snorkeling, the water falls, and just seeing the natural beauty.

On the Big Island, we loved snorkeling, seeing the sites (driving the southern route and then the northern route), the Volcano National Park, and the beaches on the Kohala Coast.

I think that with the amount of time you have, it will be hard to see both Kauai and the Big Island. The last time we were on Kauai we spent 7 nights there, and we spent 10 nights just on the Big Island last year. But if you just want to see the highlights of these islands, I guess that would be enough time.

The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed and Hawaii The Big Island Revealed are musts. You can pick them up very reasonably on Amazon. We found the Kauai and Oahu Revealed books to be excellent. We're going to the Big Island next year, and I will be purchasing it also. ((b))

Thanks again for your reply Samsaf. I am going to try to extend the amount of time to 14 days. I just hate to go all the way to Hawaii & only see one island; you never know when I'll be able to go again. Do you think the Big Island needs more days than Kauai? Budman, I just ordered the two books that you suggested, the "Kauai & Big Island Revealed" from Amazon. com. Thanks for all your advice.

I agree with getting the "Revealed" books, although local Hawaiians don't care much for them.

Even though I LOVE Kauai, I think the Big Island takes more time to see, one reason being is that it is SO big.

If you'll click on my name, you can find my Big Island trip report. I topped it a couple of days ago for somebody else.

I think if you're looking for natural beauty you've picked the two best islands. Once you go to Hawaii, though, it's hard not to go back. We've been four times, and I'd go again tomorrow if I could.

Dusty is so right when she says, "Perhaps if you had visited the rest of Oahu you would have seen the beauty of the island. Outside of Honolulu, Oahu is much like the other islands." I hate it when people propose to be experts on Oahu after spending all of one day there!

I agree with others who've said they'd do Oahu and one other island. In your case, I'd do Oahu because it has EVERYTHING you'd want plus Waikiki, and the Big Island (which takes much more time to see than Kauai, BTW.) But wherever you go, you won't go wrong! It's a wonderful place. Happy planning! :)

Kauai and the BI? 14 days? Sounds like you've got a good plan developing.

Unlike samsaf, I am a fan of staying on the north shore of Kauai. June is a great time up there. Water conditions can be calm, weather is wonderful and the infamous rain that the north shore is known for will most likely fall at night to keep those waterfalls flowing and the hillsides green. I love falling asleep to the sound of the rain.

If you end up staying elsewhere on the island, make sure you take at least a day or two to drive up to the north shore to explore. Taking a stroll along Hanalei Bay is not to be missed.

A favorite hike of mine in Waimea Canyon is the Pihea Trail. It skirts the edge of the Kalalau Valley is easily accessible from the Pu'u O Kila lookout at the end of the road that goes through the Canyon and Koke'e.

Another great area for hiking is Maha'ulepu area east of the Hyatt in Poipu. The coastline here is wild and unique and is a great place for walking and exploring.

Makua (Tunnels) Beach is my favorite beach on the island. Small parking lots mean that it never gets too crowded like Ke'e can get. If the currents permit, the snorkeling can be excellent. The view of Mt.Makana from the beach is sublime. Shelling around Haena point can be very good.

Other spots on the north shore worth seeing are the Kilauea Lighthouse, Limahuli Gardens, and sunset cocktails at the Living Room at the Princeville Hotel.

As only a suggestion like the above. NCL cruises offer a fantastic option for getting to 4 islands. Best part about it, it's CHEAP, since all meals are included, the ship is your transportation and lodging. By renting cars in each port you can do plenty.

I've gone twice this year, 7 day cruises were $600-700 per person-total (includes the $70pp service charges). I would then add the rest of your time for touring Oahu.

Especially with the lodging and food costs in Hawaii, this is a bargain. :)

Well, it seems that you are getting a lot of advise in many different directions.

As I've said many times before, if you are coming to Hawaii you really can't go wrong no matter what island(s) you go to. That being said, here is what I would recommend.

It being your first time to Hawaii, start off on Oahu. It is by far the most visited island of all of Hawaii... and for good reasons. There is many, many things to do and see on Oahu. Yes, the other islands have many things as well (and this is not a "competition" on which island is the best)... but Oahu has Honolulu (with its countless shops and restaurants), Waikiki, Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, the North Shore, Hanauma Bay, etc.

If you are spending close to two weeks, plan to take in no more than two islands. Spend 70% of your time on Oahu, the rest on another island. Which island should be the second choice? That's definitely depending on your taste of things.

If you are like many people and you want to see the volcano... you have to go to the Big Island (the island is actually named Hawaii, but is most oftened referred to as the Big Island). This is the only island with an active volcano.

If you are into a much more laid back, beautiful tropical atmosphere... go to Kauai. It is known as the Garden Isle, because it is full of beautiful flowers, the breathtaking Na Pali Coast, etc.

Maui has a good number of things to see and do as well, and many visitors who have been to Hawaii more than once or twice actually prefer Maui to Oahu.

Don't let someone tell you that Oahu is overcrowded or too "touristy"... that's just not true. I used to visit Hawaii, now I live here (on Oahu and actually in Honolulu... the Hawaii Kai area, not downtown). Yes Honolulu is quite large and busy, far more than any other town in Hawaii. But there are a lot of nice things because of that (again, the hundreds of shops and restaurants, tourist attractions, etc). And if you make your travel time any time outside of rush hour, you can pretty much get to anything on Oahu from Honolulu in no more than about 30 to 45 minutes tops... and that's pushing way up on the North Shore towards Turtle Bay.

I wouldn't recommend trying to do too many islands... you'll probably spread yourself a little too thin.

But whatever you decide... you're going to absolutely love it here.

Aloha,
David
www.HowToDoHawaii.com

Josie-

I would vote for the Big Island and Kauai as they are my two favorite. I actually love all the islands, but Kauai is very lush and tropical and less congested. Lots of great hiking and lovely beaches. And I can stare at the waterfalls coming of the mountains forever! The Big Island is very diverse, with farms, black sand beaches, volcanoes, etc.

As it has been said before, you can't go wrong with whatever you pick. Have a great trip!

Monica

I'd do Maui and Kauai. I would try and do Kauai for a couple days then the rest of the time on Maui. Here's a good article for the best things to do in Maui.

http://www.mauigoodness.com/101-things-to-do-in-maui/

You won't have a shortage to do on any island, and I suggest you stick to one island for your first trip. The fam will appreciate a little less acclimating.

Josie: What sort of things do you and your family like to do. Are you just go to the beach people or do you like hiking, etc.? We visited both Maui and the Big Island in June a couple of years ago. June of course is one of the busier times in Hawaii, so make sure you get your ressies nailed down as soon as you can. Our son was 13 when we went so his likes might be different from your son, however, Maui was his favorite. We really enjoyed hiking and doing the zipline on the volcano. We enjoyed taking a snorkling trip with Trilogy also. The Big Island was certainly different, scenery was spectacular, but all in all, we enjoyed the activities more on Maui. Dining was better on Maui also. Anyway, I think if you can determine what all of you would want to accomplish on your trip, lazing by the beach, adventure, fine dining, etc. you'll be on your way to choosing which islands to visit, or perhaps just visiting one island. As a previous poster stated, whatever you choose, you'll be in Hawaii and it won't be bad either way. Good luck. Planning is so much fun.

Well, here's my two cents:

My husband and I took a trip to Maui one year, with two days in Oahu, and a trip to Kauai the following year. Other than Pearl Harbor, I would skip Oahu. It is not going to be what you picture Hawaii to look like. Waikiki is like a big crowded dirty city. I didn't much care for it...just my opinion.

Between the other two,(Maui and Kauai) I am torn about which I liked better. From what it sounds like, you are set on going to the Big Island as one of your choices. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with either Kauai or Maui as your second chioce.

If you want a little less touristy atmosphere, go to Kauai. Beautiful scenery, the helicopter tour is amazing, there is some shopping, Waimea Canyon is cool, but most importantly, Kauai is going to be like the pictures you see in a magazine of Hawaii. You can surf, snorkel, shop, relax, eat good food, etc. We stayed at the Point at Poipu on the southern part of the island. I would recommend staying on the south side of the island. Don't miss having a hawaiian style hot dog at Puka Dog, you won't be sorry. As someone mentioned above, get the Kauai revealed book, we swear by those books! It will show you all of the lesser known things to do on the island (which is why the locals don't much care for these books). If you go to see wailua falls, take the book's advice and hike down to it and go swimming...it was one of the best things we did while we were there. Hope this helps.

"which is why locals don't care much for these book."

hmmm, interesting. could it be we don't mention them because we don't need it?

Kauai: Princeville stables - go riding and have dinner (need reservation) at the Princeville resort overlooking the one of the most famous and beautiful beach spots in Hawaii - I think their casual restaurant has the better view (as opposed to their fancy one). There are many paintings of this particular spot - you shouldn't miss it. Also, I recommend the Kauai Movie tour (do a Google search on Kauai Movie tour - it should come up). Can also book an unbelievable snokeling trip from Poipu.
Maui- Stay a few days in Lahaina - I liked the Lahaina shores, an inexpensive resort, and see the Warren and Anabelle show (need reservations.) Bring your wallet since jewelry and art shopping in Lahaina is some of the best in the world and not seen elsewhere in Hawaii, and prices are cheap. Also book a crater tour. If you have money, FLY from Kahalui, the main airport in Kauai (don't drive) to Hana, and stay at the Hotel Hana, a 5-star hotel made up of individual cabins, some on a gorgeous unoccupied beach where the horses roam in front of you, and the swimming pool is built so that you cant see anything but stars when swimming at night. This is abot $550/night, but is the chance of a lifetime. The tiny one-room airport doubles as a car rental agency. In Hana, see the cave, the botanical garden and the balck sand beach. These are in close driving distance to the Hotel Hana. I might be able to get you the name of a driver to take you to the seven pools and horseback riding -its a very tough ride with super narrow roads.
I've never been to the Big Island, but in my opinion if its a choice between the Big Island and Oahu, I would choose the Big Island.
In Oahu, the Polynesian Cultural center, which is like a rustic undeveloped Epcot, and of course Pearl Harbor are must-sees.
Where to start - GOOgLE ALOHA-top- ten, and click on tours. They also have a map of each island. They take a cut of each activity booked, so if you want convenience book with them; if you want to save money, look stuff up there and then call the merchant directly. However their website is immeasurably helpful., so you should probably book at least some activities directly with them.

Aloha!

We are bona fide BI fans, after having spent 10 days there in September.
The beauty of having this much time is that we were able to circumnavigate the entire island and spend a few nights here-and-there, when the mood struck us to move on...of course, you will be there during peak time so you can't be cavalier as we were about it :-)
3 nights in Kailua-Kona
(homebase for Kohala Coast, Holualoa, Polol'u Valley, Waimea, etc.);
1 night in Volcano town (spent the next day taking in Volcanoes National Park);
3 nights in Hilo (homebase for Kapoho Tide Pools, Mauna Kea, etc.)
1 night in the small and untouristy town of Honoka'a;
3 nights -- or was it 4? -- in Kailua-Kona (KK).

Don't know what your budget is, but we used our Entertainment book for lodging in both KK and Hilo and saved 50% off the total bill.

What is so memorable about the BI is that it seems so big that you feel like you're discovering the mosaic of terrain alone. Rain forests turn into lava fields of pahoehoe; you can see a green sand beach (South Point/Ka Lae), prairie grassland and desert. It's all there, so the climate can change as quickly as the landscape.

I can happily provide you with more detail on what we did if you would like!

One last thing - bring your own snorkel gear! (Unless you want to pay an inflated price there to rent. We don't shop Wal-Mart here at home often, but we decided to purchase it there in KK for the same price as the weekly rental fee.)

We love Kauai. One thing I didn't see mentioned in this thread: Sea kayaking on the southern coast of Kauai...we were whale- and dolphin-watching from two-person kayaks, roughly 30 - 50 yards from shore most of the time. As long as you have paddled a canoe, you can handle these kayaks! My kids, then 16 and 13, were sharing one, figured out how to shoot the waves ahead of the rest of the group, and encountered a pair of dolphins who wanted to play with them! An experience of a lifetime. The hiking's also great.

And BTW, if you work the flight times right, and fly through Honolulu, you can get to Pearl Harbor, and otherwise focus on Kauai and the Big Island.

Josie,
I've been to Oahu and Maui and have nothing but positives to say about each one. Sure, Waikiki is crowded, but the beach is still great and there are advantages to being in a big city (the restaurants, nightlife, etc.). Your 19-year-old will love it. Pearl Harbor, Hanauma Bay and Diamondhead are all sights that I think everyone should see at least once. And if you stay a even a few miles outside of Waikiki, it's like a different world. It's completely laid back, and you can easily get to the restaurants in Waikiki.
Maui is sort of like a compromise between Waikiki and a get-away-from-it-all place. It's quieter, more laid back, but still has plenty to do like Haleakala, road to Hana, Iao Valley, etc.

Gosh, imaq, you covered all my favorite places. Wish I were less shy and could share my blog with you with photos of all those very locations..

As I posted about a couple of days ago, we are just back from our first trip to Hawaii. We stayed two weeks in Kauai, and had planned to zip over to the Big Island for a couple of days in the middle, but ended up blowing off the flights since we were so happy where we were.