I am planning a trip to Hawaii next summer for my son's High School graduation trip. We have previously been to Honolulu and Maui and went the condo route. I would like to plan a unique experience for our trip next year. My son is envisioning grass huts and deserted beaches. Perhaps not this rustic, but does a unique experience with an island feel still exist on any of the islands? If not, other suggestions are appreciated.

Maybe on the Big Island you could look into Kona Village Resort. No phones or TVs and the accomodations are individual hut-like but deluxe rooms. Here's a link: http://www.konavillage.com/accommodations.asp

You might check the web site www.alternativehawaii.com for something unique.

How about the tentalos on Molokai at the Molokai Ranch. The Sheraton used to own them, I don't know who has them now.

Kauai--especially the area around the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific" and the the beautiful Kalalau Valley, reachable only by hiking down or arriving by boat. There are rustic cabins for rent at the top of the valley.

The other beautiful part of the island is up around Hanalei.

IF you're into camping, I'd highly encourage you to hike/camp the Waipio Valley on the Big Island. Easy hike, remote settings, & very very cool!

The last I heard they were not giving camping permits in Waipio Valley any more.

Don't take this wrong but if some of these "off the beaten paths" keep showing more signs of cigarette butts, paper coffee cups, PowerBar wrappers, etc....should we keep giving the info out?

Next trip, I'm taking a big ol' Hefty Bag, (the little napsack was running out of room) putting on my orange "Property of New Orleans Parrish Jail" t-shirt and picking up even more trash on the hike out..
Mucho mahalos!
Kal

I hate to date myself but I hiked it 20 years ago and that was really the only way to get to the valley beach area. So, do they now have road access to the beach? Please don't tell me they have a hula hut or some other shop in the valley. Also, I'd love to hear from anyone who's done the hike recently and let me know if it's still a narrow not so well worn path that takes you through pristine areas and ultimately ends at the black sand beach? I believe you could actually hike further but that's as far as we went before camping on the beach for a weekend.

Sounds like he is envisioning the north shore of Oahu. Ke Iki Beach Bungalows have gotten great reviews and are a notch up from a thatch hut - very reasonably priced. Here's the website:
http://www.keikibeach.com/

Go to Lanai. It's 98% privately owned and besides the two resort hotels mostly undeveloped from it's old pineapple plantation days. There are two resort hotels (Starwood Luxury Collection).

Manele Bay is oceanfront. The Lodge is upcountry and very different from your typical tropical-style hawaiian properties. It feels like an ski or hunting lodge, complete with stone fireplaces in the lobby.

There are never any crowds and plenty to do --snorkeling, scuba, kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, skeet shooting, archery, spa and two of the most amazingly beautiful golf courses in Hawaii.

I second the vote for Kona Village. Nothing else like it in Hawaii. If your son can live without skeet shooting and archery, there's a lot more to do on the Big Island (or Oahu's north shore, as another post suggested) compared to Molokai or Lanai.