brunzel

I need some advice on planning a short trip (7 or 8 days) to Hawaii. From what I've read, Maui and Honolulu seem to be good picks for us. Here is my dilemma - we are interested in upscale shopping and also some quiet time on the beach. Would it be best to stay in Maui and take a day trip to Honolulu? Or would it be better to stay a few days in Maui for the beach and the rest of the time in Honolulu for the shopping? Thanks in advance!

chepar

You can do upscale shopping in both Maui and Honolulu.

Specifically, The Shops at Wailea have some upscale stores. You can see the listing of stores at www.shopsatwailea.com. Some of the stores there are not located in Honolulu (as far as I am aware) - such as Roberto Cavalli and Dolce and Gabbana.

Honolulu will have a larger variety of the luxury stores - both right in Waikiki or at Ala Moana shopping center.

jgg

As Chepar said you can do upscale shopping at the shops at Wailea. However, if you haven't made your plane reservations yet, another option is your last day take an early morning flight from Maui to Honolulu and then fly out from Honolulu on one of the late red eye flights. We did that one year so we could spend the day in Honolulu seeing Pearl Harbor, Iolani Palace, Waikiki, etc. but you could just as well spend it shopping!!

suze

I just spent 8 days in Honolulu and thought it was wonderful! I've also been to Maui. Personally with only 7 or 8 days I'd pick only one island.

I know it's a personal travel style but I like to settle in a bit more. I like the slow pace of the islands and would have hated to get up off my lounge chair after only 3 days in Waikiki to pack, go to the airport, fly to another place, go to a new hotel, settle in, etc.

Upscale shopping lines the main boulevard in Waikiki, so that part's a snap.

turn_it_on

You know you can spend all your time on Oahu and break it up into two parts: lively, shopping time in Waikiki and quiet beach time in a bungalow on another part of the island, maybe Kailua or somewhere on the north shore. If you're specifically looking for great shopping, you may be disappointed with just the Shops at Wailea; Honolulu will offer much much more and more variety. The rest of the shopping in Maui is mostly souvenirs and vacation art.

Or, you could just do a few days on each island; personally, I would do the shopping/Honolulu half first so I could spend the last days relaxing!

love
roxy