We are thinking of taking my mother in law to Hawaii for her 80th birthday in January 2012.
Originally we were thinking of a cruise, once we got there. But I am wondering if that would be too much for her.

I was just looking at info on the Big Island. Not positive though. We want to pick a place that will be very memorable for her.

I imagine we would have to rent a car for the week, to show her around.

Any suggestions on islands as well as hotels would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Peggy

Oahu has the most activity in a compact space... seems easier on an 80 year old and with the full Hawaii feel...

Big Island is not as representative of the "Image of Hawaii"... Volcanoes and lava and much more spread out and requiring some hiking and moving around...

Kauai is a natural wonderland but requires a lot of effort to make the best of the natural resources...

Maui is a mix of all of the islands.... lots of nature, activities, beaches, action and the people...


These are broad statements, but if your MIL wants that "old hawaii" plus the history of pearl harbor and the culture, your best bet is Oahu...much more commercial

If she wants a quieter and natural trip, Kuaui and BI

If she wants a mix with some commercial hawaii, its Maui...

Only You and She know which fits...

Who is the "we"?

I was at a luau on Maui one year and they brought to the stage a couple celebrating their 50th (or better, I don't remember) anniversary. They brought the entire extended family on a cruise vacation. I was in line for the bathroom next to the woman and I congratulated her on the anniversary and the family celebration. She said it was the worst idea they ever had! If "we" is a large group, I'd reconsider.

My friend had first visited Maui via the cruise that stops at the different islands. She loved that trip. I don't like cruises so this trip was land based.

What does your MIL want to do? What does she enjoy doing? The cruise may be a good idea. Is she interested in seeing Pearl Harbor? If so, flying in and spending a couple of days on Oahu may be a good idea before moving on to another island. I'd probably pick Maui for the second part of the trip. You wouldn't necessarily need a car for the whole time, but could rent one on the days you wanted to drive around.

What is your budget? If you could afford it the Four Seasons on the Big Island is wonderful and you could drive over to see Volcanoes National Park.

It's hard to go wrong in Hawaii.

If I were taking my mom for her 80th birthday (actually a couple of years ago) I'd stay here on Oahu for two or three days -
http://www.royal-hawaiian.com/

and then here on Maui -
http://www.maui.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp

We went to the Big Island for New Year's 2011 and LOVED IT! I would highly recommend it to anyone. Be aware that they don't call it the Big Island for nothing. Distances can be very long. You will definitely need a rental car.

The black sand beach at Punalu'u with the giant sea turtles is a must-see. We did not make it to the green sand beach (it takes quite a hike to get there) but i've heard it is gorgeous, too. Kua Bay on the Kona coast is also gorgeous-- where the locals hang out. The drive up to mauna Kea is also nice.

The water was very rough in January so we were not able to snorkel, even though the locals were surfing.
We stayed in our timeshare at the Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort, and it was both really beautiful and very well equipped (full kitchen, barbeque stations all around the property.)
I'd also recommend Captain Dan McSweeney's whale watching tour.
Have a great trip, wherever you go!

There's "Old Hawai'i," and there's "Old Hawai'i." My concept of old Hawai'i is a relaxed, informal, laid back place with no highrises, with thatched roofs, and lots of "aloha." While it may not suit your taste or budget, Kona Village Resort is certainly worth a look. I'm a big fan, and for my own entertainment I put up a website that describes it in great detail at www.davidskvr.net . Take a look and see if it's something your MIL would like.
David

I am not sure - how mobile she she? What would she enjoy? I have only been to Kauai, Maui and Oahu. I prefer Oahu and Kauai myself.

Well, if you want the feel of "Old Hawai'i", look at
http://www.waimeaplantation.com/

I went there based on the recommendation of Samantha Brown and her show. I LOVED it. But, my guess is that an 80 year old would prefer air conditioning vs "Old Hawai'i" at Kona Village Resort or Waimea. If my guess is wrong, do look at Waimea Planatation Cottages on Kauai.

The Big Island is definitely the place. But, my recommendation is to take all that money you save by not staying on Maui or Oahu and spending it on a helicopter flight over the lava, or if you're young and fit, try something exciting like some of the ziplines sprouting up all over the island. There are also some less-explored places, like Kaumana Caves in Hilo, or something more tame like Lava Tree State Park. Definitely see the Hawaii Botanical Gardens at Onomea. Drink coffee at the Hilo Coffee Mill in Mountain View. Eat Sunday Brunch at Chef Daniel's Seafood Cafe in Waimea, drive the Old Mamamaloa Highway, eat ice cream in Hawi, sweet bread in Kau, and make the hike out to the green sand beach. Most of all, have fun!

Look, everybody has their favorite island. I have no idea what you mother in law wants. Is old hawaii the pink palace or muana surfrider on a commerical strip of land on a highly populated island or is old hawaii a hale without airconditioning in a beautiful garden and a feeling of old hawaii? Maybe Maui with it's big box hotels but super and crowded beaches are her thing. We have no idea. Sorry. Maybe you should ask her what her idea of what she would like to see.

My 80+ mother loves Maui. She's not into volcanoes because of her breathing. She loves the more tropical scenery in Maui, loves the drive up around Kula and the winery.

She also likes some shopping, so the shopping centers in Maui are more to her liking.

I vote for a split between Oahu for the history and Maui for a more laid back experience, but not in Kaanapali. I prefer Wailea, but it's been 20 years since our visit!

I have not been to Maui in years, but when my mother was 80 we took her to Maui, and drove to Hana, which is three hours on a winding road through the tropical jungle. It is quiet and green there, and you can go see the formerly "Seven Sacred Pools" among other easy site to get to. Then we went back over and stayed on Kaanapali Beach, where she could sit near the pool or on a beach chair, and then took a whale-watching boat tour out of Lahaina. I was not sure she would be able to cope with that but she stood at the rail for three hours, she was so thrilled! We did also take her up Haleakala, but she could not walk far at all. She was very interested in the nene geese, which are rare but we saw one, and the silversword plants that only grow there.

We now go to the Big Island, and I think she would enjoy it, especially the Hilo side, even though it is rainy there, if you want her to see the lush green Hawaii. And driving up to the volcano there is not such a high elevation. You could also take her up to Hawi on the northwest tip of the BI. Actually, driving through the lava fields, and maybe taking a boat trip to see the lava flow would be cool, too.

If you are going to stay for a week in one place, consider renting an apartment or condo instead of a hotel, so you have more room to relax. Look at VRBO.com or Google vacation rentals plus the island where you want to go.

We visited the Big Island this past December and loved it.
So much to see and do. If you go, would highly recommend the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Lovely grounds and rooms, beautiful beach, wonderful staff. I think our favorite island is Kauai,
smaller and so lush. Recommend the Hyatt there(I believe it is called Grand Hyatt now). If you choose Maui and want to splurge, the Four Seasons is the place to stay.

Thank you for all the great info!
We had asked my MIL where she would want to go, being she really hasn't traveled, and she said Hawaii. Not sure if she even knows much about it.
She was born in Poland and her only traveling is going from her home in NJ back to Poland once a year to visit family.
She is slow moving, so alot of sightseeing involving walking would not be good.
She is not a history person, so Pearl Harbor is out. She would enjoy seeing the scenery, shopping and walking a little on the beach.
If we don't do a cruise, then we would definately rent a car.

Another advantage of the volcano on the Big Island is that it is still active. When you drive to the crater, there is a visitor's center with a view of the crater with sulfurous steam billowing forth. Then if you take a boat ride you can see the hot lava creating steam as it flows into the ocean. Of course, it may stop, as volcanoes don't flare up predictably.

But there is plenty to see driving around. A trip around then island will take a full day with brief stops for sight-seeing, and then you can take longer on other days at points of interest. I do think an apartment or condo with AC would be a good idea, although if she lives in NJ she may be accustomed to very warm humid weather (79 -- 83). But the apartment gives you a living room where you can sit together and a kitchenette where you can keep food. I always prefer having breakfast in my 'jammies rather than having to dress and go to a dining room. And we often cook a simple dinner or big salad especially if we had a big lunch out.

If she hasn't traveled much and said Hawaii, I would think she has ocean breezes, swaying palms, and Diamond Head in mind. Oahu is the place for that, and on Waikiki you don't have to do a lot of walking since you are right in the center of things. You don't have to stay at the Moana Surfrider in order to sit on the verandah in their white rocking chairs and watch the world go by or to walk on the Royal Hawaiian to walk on the grounds shielded from the busy street traffic.

The Big Island with its volcano is interesting, but it's not as lush as the other islands.

Obviously, . . . to stay at the Royal Hawaiian, not to walk on it.

If I was taking an 80-year-old who hasn't done a lot of traveling and is not able to walk a lot, I would consider Kauai and the Big Island. Oahu is the most commercialized of the islands, and you would probably be walking to restaurants, etc. Maui is beautiful, but again, it is more commercialized.

If your mom is able to ride for decently long periods in a car, I think the Big Island (the island of Hawaii) would be the best choice. The sites you can see from the car are amazing there. There are many drives that have incredible views all over the Big Island. There are luxury resorts on the west side of the island, and there are many restaurants, too. But keep in mind that to get to the sites you would have to drive.

Kauai is also very beautiful and reminds me of "old Hawaii." It is much smaller than the Big Island, so there isn't as much driving, but, in my opinion, there would be more walking to see the best sites.

I, personally would not do a cruise in Hawaii. I like to cruise (just came back from one last week), but I don't think it's the best way to see Hawaii. I think you would be better off to pick one island and stay there for a whole week. Going from island island involves going to the airport, waiting in line and then getting on the plane; to me, for an 80-year-old it would be too much trouble. If you stay on just one island you can really explore the island during your week there.

Have lots of fun planning your trip.