Oahu and Big Island
 

So many questions that I don't see answered yet. Please tell me how I'm doing so far. I have lots pf time to plan. We have piled up six figures of miles on Delta, and are cashing in for 1st class to Honolulu for our 7th anniversary in May. I'm thinking 3 nights at the New Otani on Sans Souci Beach on Oahu in a junior suite with a Diamondhead view (I don't plan on sunset in our room, but I wouldn't mind a sunrise over the mountains.) We'll do the memorial tour one day (and from what I hear a tour bus is the way to go because of all the hassle with security restrictions.) I'm thinking Diamondhead and some beach one day, and some sort of eco-tour the next. Anyone with experience with Oahu Nature Tours? They seem to have reasonable packages.

Then we move to the Big Island. I want 4-5 days here. I'm thinking of starting with a couple of days at the Kiluaea Lodge just outside Volcano National Park. (Anyone with any opinions on the place?) Then, I'm looking at a few more days at the Hawaiian Oasis B&B near Kailua-Kona (same here - any opinions?) I'm planning on hooking up with Hawaii Forest and Trail for several tours on the BI. We want the lava walk. We want the Mauna Kea astronomy evening. Look at my name- I have to go birding. (Here we go again! We are the ones who go on vacation and come home exhausted!) We live in Fort Lauderdale, and we don't care much for the beach. I am a serious foodie, though, and need a few fine dining entries on this trip as well. Any suggestions there? Here's the upshot:

New Otani- it sounds so far positive. We can live with small rooms (you haven't seen our house!) Any downsides? (Not being in the middle of the strip is not a downside for us.)

Restaurants on Oahu. What are the BEST? Also - I want to do a luau - I don't care how touristy it sounds - I want the floor show. I will NOT do the PCC, however. Any recommendations?

Kiluaea Lodge - has anyone stayed there in the last year? We are regular visitors to Everglades Nat'l Park and understand how difficult it can be to render certain services in such a location. Just so the rooms are really clean, and the food is decent, we're good here.

Hawaiian Oasis Bed and Breakfast - any opinions? It sounds nice. My problem with the BI is the style of accommodation I'm coming across. We're not timeshare/condo people. I'd prefer a regular beach hotel, but I don't see much of that. The price of the resorts would keep us away from the activities we want to do. B&B's are our next choice. They're usually too cozy for us, but these two offer cottages which will give us a little privacy.
I'm sure this trip will be a success. For my husband's sake, I want it perfect. Thanks for your help!

My favorite restaurant on Oahu for the past 20 years has been John Dominis. You won't see advertisements and you'll need directions to find it. Worth everything it takes to get there!

Hiking Diamond Head will only take you two hours max round trip. Great camera opportunity.

I've never been to a luau on Oahu but always heard good things about Germaine's which is held about 25 miles from Waikiki.

Congrats on your upcoming anniversary and trip!

Your itinerary on the BI sounds good. The trip up Mauna Kea is a must-do. Consider adding a trip into Waipio Valley - it's just beautiful! Also heard that the birding there is good, though I imagine you'd have to get down there somehow quite early in the a.m. We didn't find it neccesary to hire a guide to hike over the lava fields; we took a night hike with flashlights, plenty of people to keep you on course. At the viewpoint, where we cold see the red lava spewing into the sea, there was a ranger with a telescope set up to answer questions. Perhaps things have changed though as it's been 6 years.

Perhaps someone else can comment on your lodging choices.

Wondering why you will NOT do the PCC. It has by far the best "floor show" on the islands....

I like the location of the New Otani. We last stayed there about 2 years ago and had a great time. If you want to go to Waikiki, it's close enough, otherwise it's far enough away to be a little more relaxing. It has a pleasant little beach in front that's good for swimming. I would call the hotel directly to ask about rooms, as they vary greatly in size and location. They may also have a package that includes breakfast, which was quite good. If you want to stay roughly in that part of the island, we also like the Kahala Mandarin, though it probably costs a but more.

Postal is right about Diamond Head. It's a nice walk, but it won't take up much of your day (unless you want it to).

I've never taken an eco-tour on Oahu --we usually bring a good guidebook, talk to the locals and drive ourselves.

Have fun!

Agree with above poster--go to the Polynesian Cultural Center for a luau...it's a whole experience!

The New Otani is a nice hotel. Take a tour bus if you like to Pearl Harbor, but I'd suggest a rental car for the other days so you can explore everything else at your own pace--there is a lot to see.

On the Big Island, what is your price limit for rooms? You might be able to find a deal at the Hapuna Prince or Hilton Waikoloa for around $200/or so a night. It's worth it. The Kohala coast is beautiful--and if you're a foodie, there's some darn good restaurants up there!

birdergirl, my wife and I spent our honeymoon back in October on Oahu and the Big Island. (5 days on Oahu, 8 on the Big Island.) I will second John Dominis as an excellent dining choice on Oahu.

We spent two nights at the Kilauea Lodge in the honeymoon suite. We wish we could have stayed longer. It was clean and we had an absolutely wonderful experience. The honeymoon suite has a fireplace and there is also a hot tub out back. The restuarant there is excellent for both breakfast (included in the rate) and dinner. But you must reserve well ahead (months) to get dates/times you want. We would certainly stay there again.

I stayed at the Kilauea Lodge for three days during Thanksgiving week, also in the honeymoon room. It is an extraordinary place. Our room was large, romantic, and exeptionally clean. the food at the lodge was good, but not the best we had on the BI. (That honor went to the Keei Cafe in South Kona, with Roy's a close runner up.) Apart from the lodge, I didn't like the volcano area so much as South Kona, because Volcano was misty the whole time, and we couldn't see lava. The national park (free) ranger tours were good, especially the wild lava tube hike. I'm very glad we stayed once at the lodge, but we'll probably stay in Hilo next time.

I'm not into beaches as much as clear water and snorkeling. South Kona was great for that. Kohala's better if you want a beach.

In Kona hotels: King Kamehameha, Royal Kona Resort, Keauhou Beach Hotel; ocean side, but no real beach access. [lava rock]. Two in town, and Keauhou down Alii Dr. 3 miles. The Keauhou is the nicest of the three. [Have stayed at Royal Kona Resort and Keauhou]. Consider the Keauhou to be the nicest of the three....however I have been pleased with Royal Kona Resort[even though I have seen less than complimentary reviews from time to time]

Agree the resorts [Waikola area] are a bit spendy. But they are very nice, and close to Hapuna Beach....nice white sand beach.

Luau....the Mauan Kea Luau in Kohala [B.I.] used to have good reputation for a good luau...might check it out.

We also can recommend the New Otani, but if you can, get a corner room with a view of Waikiki and the ocean. IMO much preferable to Diamondhead view, especially at night with all those twinkling lights. We left the sliding door open all the time and could see the city at night while falling asleep. We were on the 6th floor and had a coconut palm rustling it's leaves at us at night. In the morning it was so relaxint to have our coffee and read the paper on the wrap-around balcony, watching the surfing class just below us on Sans Souci Beach. Definitely get the breakfast package. The restaurant is great, especially the setting. We even came back for dinner a couple of nights. Have a wonderful time!

Some thoughts on the BI. Kilauea Lodge in Volcano village gets good reviews here, but availability may be a challenge (they were booked last year when we tried).

We stayed at Carson's Cottages; we were pleasantly surprised by the charm of the place and the way the rooms were spread out around the grounds. It wouldn't suit the most fastidious travelers; the buildings are a bit old, but it was clean and attractive. Nice breakfast.

For the north side of the island, we stay in Wailea, the old ranching center. It was convenient for day trips in various directions, and higher (and cooler) than the Kona coast. We stayed at Belle Vue, a small B&B; their penthouse room was gorgeous, though they didn't prepare a breakfast, just had juice and milk etc in the room kitchen. Jacaranda Inn in Waimea looked very nice as well.

The "Big Island Revealed" book will give you information on just about anywhere you might want to go; I'm not sure booking tours would be worth it. You will want a rental car in any case. We found no need for 4wd, but if you want to go to the most remote beaches and hikes it might be worthwhile.

DW and I stayed at the Kilauea Lodge for three nights during our honeymoon in June 2001. When I booked it, I chose the cottage on the grounds where the Lodge is (not the cottage that is owned by them but is off-site) over the honeymoon suite since it was the same price as the honeymoon suite, we aren't concerned with having a hot tub, and liked the fact it was stand-alone and very private, since it WAS our honeymoon and who knows how much noise we'd be making! It was great...a nice, large bedroom, good bathroom with towel warmers (shower only, though, no tub or whirlpool, but again, we are shower people), and a nice sitting room with a gas fireplace, which felt great after a day of hiking and lounging around in the provided soft robes and not much else!

The food was really good...breakfasts (included in the price) were good and hearty, perfect to load up on before a day of hiking and exploring the volcano. We ate dinner two of three nights there (the third night was at Surt's...which was sort an Asian fusion place)...the dinners at the Lodge were very good, with excellent desserts and that wonderful Kona coffee (bring me a couple of pounds back, please!).

On the other side of the island, we stayed three nights at the Waimea Gardens Cottages, a B&B in Waimea only 8 miles from the Kohola coast. It was really nice with a great bathroom (double shower, whirlpool, and the shower opened up into a private little garden). You made your own breakfast, but they stocked the kitchen with anything you wanted, and you got your eggs right from the chickens they have...the best tasting fresh green, blue, and brown eggs I've ever had! We did Waipio one day from there, one day on the beach at Mauna Kea Resort, and another day hiking into the Polulu valley (we did this on our own and wish I would have taken the Hawaii Forest and Trail guided hike here). Whatever you do, you'll have a blast. Have fun!

Thanks for all the input. It's a big help. I will look into Dominis on Oahu. I'm a serious foodie, and this is a part of any trip I don't skimp on. I can't believe how many choices we have to make - it's as bad as remodeling a house! Thanks again!

If it's not too late, I'll throw my 2 cents in.

Diamond Head is a good walk and you should do it at about 6 or 6:30 a.m. When you reach the top the sun will be out and you can see everything. When you finish, you'll find that it's starting to get hot, and all the tour buses will be rolling in....so by starting early you avoid all that and have the rest of the day.

At the New Otani, have brunch at the Hau Tree Lanai (reservations recommended). If you do a search on this board, you'll see many more recommendations for Oahu restaurants.

The latest issue of Honolulu Magazine lists all the top restuarants in Hawaii. You can pick one up when you arrive.