Tomsd

Hey - like your idea of maybe stretching it out if you have the time, and visiting the most beautiful island last.

In the winter - the southern facing beaches get the smaller surf - which reverses in the summer when the north shores are usually flat. Should be at least a couple of good days - low surf - if you are there for say 5 days/nights - and that gives you time to pick clear days to travel to the North Shore/Bali Hai view - and also visit Waimea Canyon.

You might even consider a catamaran tour up the gorgeous Na Pali coast - out of Port Allen - if you have time. We saw dolphins (or porpoises - get them mixed up), turtles, went scuba diving (although you can choose to snorkel) - and had a great time.

Think we took Captain Andy's. http://www.napali.com/

jamie99

Tomsd is spot on, always ask the lifeguards about the sea conditions, there are lifeguards at Poipu Beach State Park and also at Salt Pond Beach on the west shore, both are usually pretty calm that time of year for swimming.

Find out what channel in your condo the Weather Channel is on, at 5 minutes before the hour, they have local weather for Hawaii including temperatures in different towns, surf conditions and five day forecast.

Tomsd

It also helps to have some fins on if you are swimming/snorkeling - to give you a little extra kick.

They have different styles of fins - and some are also great for helping catch waves while body surfing. We used to call those "Duck fins" - but not sure about the current/local lingo.

loumike

Thanks Tomsd and Jamie99 - yep we also watch the surf conditions and follow the lifeguard instructions pretty closely back home and will be very weary of different conditions to what we experience here. Hopefully we will find at least a little bit of rolling surf for my 16/17yo boy for body boarding - he may even bring his body board and fins with him - if we can get the right sort of travel bag for it (he has a good board and I imagine they could damage pretty easily in transit)As he is 6ft 2" with size 13 feet - it may be better to bring his own! They are a bit of a weight though. He pretty well will enjoy any activity - loves the freedom of going for a run / anything that maintains his fitness for Rugby. He will even do the golf thing as well and the kayaking appeals to us all as long as conditions aren't too rough.
My daughter also asked about bike riding any thoughts welcome - she is not quite as adventurous/athletic but would enjoy it to explore some places.
The Na Pali Catamaran trip looks lovely - that will be on my wish list! (I am the only one who really enjoys snorkelling)The others will enjoy being out on the water I am sure.
So I think (still flexible we are now looking at 6 days Oahu,10 Big Island,8 Maui,6 Kaui and the 2 Oahu before trip home - a bit more moving around than I wanted but at least I can start looking at airfares(rang the TA this am), car hire and then book our Xmas stopover...its really happening now!.....
Thanks so much to all for your continued help!

Tomsd

Like your prospective schedule.

Also - does your tall son play upfront - in one of the scrum lines?

When I went to UC Hastings/San Francisco law school - early/mid 70's - we had a good club/Rugby team - and they always wanted me to play scrum half - which they said was my natural position as I played QB on the flag football teams.

Always partied hearty with the lads - but with softball in the spring - not to mention of all things - studying - and my favorite winter sport - snow skiing - I never got on the ole "pitch" that much - but loved the spirit and camaraderie - and of course - singing the songs afterwards while having a few brews.

But dang - there was a visiting club team from Australia - college club - who just thoroughly dominated one of the best sides in the Bay Area - the Old Blues/U California Bears - and your lads were thoroughly outmatched physically - but with their superior technique - won the match.

Anywho - Hawaii I would think has plenty of rental equipment - so you might google and google away for that - as bringing it all the way from Australia might not only be expensive - but a wee bit of a task.

loumike

Up to 2 years ago he had always played front row (since he was 4 years old)tight head/loose head prop as he was always stocky and solid ....last year he went from that to tall and skinny but really fit and strong - he still played at front row as you're right there if they know the technique they can manage any size no matter how much padding they use but he is possibly more suited to 2nd row now. Their season doesn't start until 3rd term(Sept/Oct)he is into cricket at the moment - loves basketball but that conflicts with Rugby season so has to just shoot the hoops at the local park. His Dad was a Prop as well(the smarter ones than the backs....that's what they joke with anyway!) and played A grade hence I didn't get a chance when I suggested soccer!
His dream is to play in the first 15 in his final year at school and I just want him to get to Hawaii in one piece!

...and Graduate!

Tomsd

Fooey - lost my post getting this page. Anyhow - if your flight is very early from Honolulu back to Australia - you might stay your last night at a hotel by the airport - and one of them is nicer than the others. see http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...hu_Hawaii.html

And LOL about your husband's comment - that Props are smarter than Backs? Never heard that - but don't the Backs get all the glory? Also hope your son makes the first 15, and impressed your husband played at a high level.

When the Aussie college side came up to play - in the 70's - the other team - Old Blues - from U Cal at Berkeley - had a big/muscular football player - an All-American lineman - who stood his Aussie opposite STRAIGHT UP in the scrum. The Cal guy's name was Swanson? and I will never forget seeing that.

However - the other lads on the Aussie scrum lines just sort of shuffled around - and dealt with it - and of course, they also had better skills at the other positions and won the match.

Also - while I played college baseball - never played cricket - until getting down to Antigua (which Lord Nelson used as a base for the English Fleet) - a few years ago. There was a cricket match/game? at the end of the week - and the two teams were friends - all from Manchester, England.

Well, I showed up - and a little kid and I were the last guys chosen - and while the match proceeded - he was nice enough to pitch to me over on the side (this resort was one place where the national/very good cricket Antigua team trained - so they have good batting cages as well as the small stadium) - and I started to get a little hang of how to handle the bat, time the bounce, etc.

Anyhow - at the end of the game, they finally put me in the game - and I went up and promptly tapped the sticks (wickets?) behind "home plate" with my bat - and one of the guys on the other team yelled in - He's out, or whatever is the call. (In baseball - we always tap the plate before batting. What did I know?)

My guys shouted back - he's just a Yank and he didn't know the rules - so they let me bat anyway. Well, I got a wee bit lucky (also - the bowler wasn't that good) - and hit a couple low/hot shots, which promoted another cry from the outfield. BLOODY RINGER!!

Then, somehow - I hit a Rounder? - a grand slam type home run (over the fence anyway) - which counted for six runs? - and we won the match. Afterwards - I didn't have to buy a beer as we celebrated for a couple of hours

Nice chaps all - and their wives and families watched the match as well. Geat stuff cricket.

jamie99

If your son wants to rent a boogie board, they would have them at Nukumoi Surf Shop next to Brenneke's Restaurant (they also give discounts for tours and the restaurant to folks who rent from them), surf board rentals and other stuff like snorkel gear. Good boogie boarding usually at Brenneke Beach.

If your daughter wants to rent a bike to ride there is a very nice bike path on the East Shore, several places to rent bikes from, she can ride all the way up to Kealia Beach. They have extended the bike path and plan on future expansion.

sf7307

>>

How many miles can you ride now without having to go on-street?

Tomsd

BTW - for your time on Oahu - you might consider our friend's bungalow/guest house/old style - up on the North Shore - right on the edge of Waimea Bay - an incredible location - where the HUGE surf breaks. (When it's really up - Waimea can be up to 50 feet+ - once every 10? years or so).

The North Shore of Oahu is similiar to traveling to an outer island.

My mother in law was with us when we stayed there (it's a 2 BR with one bath and kitchen/living room, etc) and we loved it.

They have lived there for 30? years - and when he's not tending to surfers - he's Dr. and his wife is a nurse/office manager - he surfs himself and she boogie boards, as did their kids when they lived there.

If you want some local knowledge for Hawaii - they have it.

see: http://www.vrbo.com/44333 and http://www.vrbo.com/44333#photos

loumike

A bit bogged down with trying to sort out air fares at the moment...seems that to get the HA 330-200 we need to fly from Sydney otherwise stuck with direct HA from Brisvegas in one of the old 767-300. / Qantas also only older 767-300 from Sydney.
Would be keen for Prem Ecconomy seating but this is not an option on these flights,also to use points to upgrade means paying a rediculous amount for the upgradeable eccon fare.(which can't be guaranteed) Really need extra leg room for a number of tall bodies so only other option is to pay for exit row seats which cannot be confirmed until 24 hours before flight. Any other airlines anyone knows about flying from Oz to HNL?

jamie99 - thanks for all the info on the hire gear - that is so reassuring. I googled the bike paths - they look perfect for what we would enjoy.

sf7307 I think 10km/ 6 miles would be about enough - we enjoy riding for leisure and I personally would prefer to be able to walk comfortably the next day! The boys(DH,DS) would happily manage more I am sure!

Tomsd - Sounds like you are a bit of a sporting buff! I only know what I learn from the boys but can only imagine their reaction to you hitting the stumps!
As for The Rugby Union my son always tells me that whilst the 'very pretty' backs get all the glory its the forwards that come away from the game with the badge(s)of honour (black eyes and varying shades of blue and purple!) ...much to the horror of their mortified mums!
The guest house at Waimea Bay looks perfect damn shame it is not free for the time we would be there ( Early Dec/ NY)Oh well cannot book accom until we confirm flights so will keep researching.

Think we will be there for NY as well so 3 nights back in Waikiki at the end to shop and celebrate the NY - any hints of good places to stay and get a good view of fireworks?
Flight back to Oz is around 10am 1st Jan 14 currently.
Do you think we will need cars for the whole time we are on B.I. 10 days,Maui (8days), Kaui 6days? I understand I should book these asap - what sort of car would be appropriate? We would need enough room for 4 adults + luggage to get us from Airport. I see from info on other forums public transport is good in Waikiki so maybe a car just to get to Nth Shore etc would be all we need there.

I am so grateful for your continued help - thanks again

martym

It appears from Hawaiian Airlines website - they fly Brisbane to Honolulu on 767's. Flights are not available every day of the week.

I would think you would want a car for the entire time you are on the Big Island, Maui and Kauai.

jamie99

sf7307, not sure how long the bike path is now, been two years since I was last on Kauai (traded my timeshare for Hilton Head and Puerto Vallarta), hoping to get back this fall. Kind of tough living on Social Security and a small pension.

loumike, good luck on finding your airfare.

Tomsd

Think you should have a car while you are there for all the islands. Check out a monthly rental program - where you can pick it up from the same company on different islands.

I always use www.carrentals.com, to get qet a basic quote - and there are some other sites for also renting cars in Hawaii, such as the one jamie posted: discounthawaiicarrental.com

22tango

I skimmed the posts and didn't see the Big Island's Kohala Coast mentioned. Perhaps the best year round weather in Hawaii, and some of the nicest beaches too (several of which have good snorkeling). And golf courses. Rental rates are higher than in south Kona, but I think you could find a nice 2-3 bedroom condo in your budget that's within walking distance of a beach. Palm Villas in Mauna Lani Resort would be a good place to start looking.

http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals...ni/palm-villas

Tomsd

Sharp eyes 22tango: Hsve mentioned on other posts that one of my favorite places is the venerable - Mauna Kea - with the hightest rated beach on the BI.

And why not - as Rockerfeller had his choice when he built it - the first destination resort on the Kohala Coast back in the 60's was it?

The Hapuna Prince next door also has a beautiful beach - but really - all of these newer resorts have nice beaches/amenities.

http://www.kohalacoastresorts.com/

Tomsd

The history of the Mauna Kea. http://www.princeresortshawaii.com/m...ii-history.php

matnikstym

explanation on Feb 4, 13 at 8:01am
I meant to say Kealakakua Bay has been closed to kayaking and commercial snorkeling.

not true. The bay is closed to kayakers, boogie boarders, hikers etc. You can snorkel if you come by way of a commercial tour. The road at Napo'opo'o is closed at the entrance to the bay.

loumike

Thank you all - car info taken on board and I have added the Kohala Coast area to my reading list. Prices for condos look really reasonable. The palm villas look great...love being able to see the water from at least the lanai - not sure if it is possible here. ? surf around here safe in winter.You say here best year round weather on BI - I thought I had read it was better down South Kona way as this is where we were thinking of staying.
I love the resorts you mention Tomsd but they don't give that 2-3 bedroom option without ridiculous expense so think we are limited to VRBO type accom. My husband travels quite a bit and we try to avoid hotel type accom where we can as we all like our own space at times especially on a longer trip.

Enjoyed reading the history of the resort all the same. (We may stay in a nice resort over NY back in Waikiki)

Tomsd

Understand and we too usually try to get a condo unit. Much more comfortable and reasonable - and you can hang when you want/cook in, whatever.

For the Mauna Kea - was very lucky once - as around/above Mauna Kea are some gorgeous estate homes (and also condos).

A business associate (with waay deeper pockets than moi) - and myself stayed at at one of these homes when we were contemplating putting a group together to buy it as an investment when things were soft in Hawaii a number of years ago. The owners were out of NY and had owned it for some time - and were ready to sell - and it had been featured on the cover of Conde Naste.

You entered walking over a small bridge - which was over a beautiful Koi pond. Didn't buy it - but sure enjoyed staying a few days there - off the 5th hole of the golf course.

Call it an occasional perks of the real estate business.