Quick advice needed for 1st visit to HNL & Kauai
 

Hi, considering booking an award trip tomorrow for 1 week stop in HNL on way to New Zealand. 1st trip to Hawaii so I want to spend at least 1 night (guessing the first 2 nights) in Honolulu to see Diamond Head and USS Arizona Memorial. Then I want to fly to Kauai and spend 4 full days there, renting a car. Please tell me how the roads/area is after Ana and if hiking parts of the Napali coast will likely be open. Any other suggestions on this trip including the most charming (but not too expensive) places to stay that would make a good base on Kauai would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

When? Now? Do you really have time to leave Oahu? (There's pleanty of tropical beauty on Oahu, once you're outside Honolulu.)

Please be aware that you will sacrifice almost half a day, door to door, on any interisland transit. Also, if you are coming from the mainland, some of your first day in Hawaii will be spent adjusting to the time change. (Wake early; fold early.) Departure days are never full vacation days. What time do you depart HNL for New Zealand?

Kauai has been well drenched. Pay attention to 'Trails Closed' signs; that mud-on-rocks is lethal.

If you still want to try two islands, I suggest you press on to LIH on arrival at HNL, then return for a couple nights before your departure for New Zealand. That would save you a round trip in and out of Honolulu.

When are you going and what is your budget per night in USD and are you looking for a hotel or condo (some condos have minimum stays, depends on time of year).
Poipu got hit fairly hard, not nearly as bad up on the North Shore according to what I read on TA and in GIN (Garden Island News). Depends on the condition of the trail, you could hike the first two miles of the Kalalau Trail but you need to get up there EARLY to get parking at nearby Ke'e Beach.
I just reread your post, gee 5 nights is not a lot of time to try two islands, can you double the number of nights to make it doable and not rushed?

Thanks for the responses! I am going early next week and have a nonstop flight from the mainland to Lihue, so will only have to do one inter-island flight from LIH to HNL. I now have more time in Hawaii - 5 nights in Kauai and then 3 nights in Oahu. I want to spend less than $200 with all taxes/fees per night on lodging, the closer to $100, the better. Any lodging recommendations for both islands would be greatly appreciated. I would prefer more character over family-type resorts or business traveler lodging. Also wondering if I can just do a rental car in Kauai, and rely on the bus around Oahu and taxis to/from the HNL airport to my hotel?

I don't know about Kauai for that budget, but hopefully suze will see this - she has spent time in Waikiki on a number of occasions in the type of lodging you are seeking.

I have no idea what their rates are for next week, but we stayed at Waikiki Sand Villa Hotel www.sandvillahotel.com in March for around $100/night. It's a nice property, facing the Ala Wai canal and just a few blocks from the beach.

Lee Ann

Yes you can go carless in Honolulu. In addition to buses and taxis, there are private trolley/shuttle services to the airport and many tourist attractions.

For Kauai, look on VRBO.com, this is the only listing I found for around $100 in Poipu, there are some one bedrooms I found for under $200 at Kiahuna Plantation, which is in an excellent location. http://www.vrbo.com/259473
For car rental, look at discounthawaiicarrental.com, had a nice Avis car my last trip to Kauai.
Don't forget to add in tax and cleaning fees.

It's been years, but we liked Wailea Bay View condos. I said that if we ever stayed again I would sleep in the living room with the view of the bay. The bedrooms are on the 'front' and there is a mini-mart at the road. Bedrooms do have A/C.

For Kauai:

Check on Waikomo Stream condos in Poipu at the price point. Have stayed here. Garden view units in the middle of Poipu. Decent value for the money.

Hanalei Inn in Hanalei is a B&B that would come in around your price point. Have not stayed here, but I know it is a fairly modest place.

Kauai Beach Resort in outside of Lihue would be a good value. I just checked their prices for next week. Rooms start at $128.

For Waikiki hotels in the price you seek I recommend: The Breakers, White Sands Hotel, or Waikiki Sand Villa. They all come in right around ~$115-150 with taxes on and 'old school' places with lots of aloha and nice pool areas.

Waikiki banyan and Waikiki Sunset condo in waikiki are both about 1-2 blocks from beach under $200.00 a night. Not sure if they rent for under 1 week. If you are a member of Costco, you might want to check their travel website. we have used them several times in hawaii and they offer good deals.