Two Week Honeymoon in Hawaii - July 2014
 

Hello everyone! I'm hoping to get some awesome insight and tips from you guys. My fiancé and I have decided to honeymoon in Hawaii for two weeks (July 2014) instead of doing Europe. That being said, how should we divide our time?

Things we are interested in: Laying out in the sun on the beach. Swimming in the ocean. Surfing. Maybe one night club to go dancing. Zip lining. Checking out awesome waterfalls and secluded beaches. Doing the Pearl Harbor Tour. Rainbows. Pineapples. Amazing food. I'm sure I'm missing some!

Things we aren't interested in: Golfing. Tour buses.

We are definitely going to do Maui. My family and I go every year and stay at the Westin there. I would imagine for our honeymoon, we would spend 3-4 days on Maui. Please let me know if you have any cool activity suggestions for Maui!

In addition to Maui, we want to do one or two other islands. Due to us wanting nightlife and to do the Pearl Harbor tour, it sounds like Oahu is best for us. However, I've heard that 2-3 nights in Oahu is plenty for what we want to do. Is that true? If the visit to Oahu would be that short, we'd consider also visiting Kauai. Please give me any input on spending 2-3 days at Oahu and Kauai and what we should do there.

Side note: I have a Starwood card so I'm trying to book all Starwood hotels. Does anyone have insight as to which Starwood properties on Oahu and Kauai are best for quality and location?

Thanks everyone!

Hawaii is a great place to start married life. Happy planning!

In July you'll see more families in Hawaii, and it's a great season for the quieter north shore of Kauai. Plan a few nights Waikiki while you tour historic sites and do your 'city adventures' (restaurants, nightlife).

You already 'know' Maui, right?

You have time for three of the smaller islands as long as you don't mind spending the transit time 'hopping' between them. Book on Hawaiian Airlines. Each 'hop' is now the same tedious airport experience you endure with any flight. Can you book into HNL and home from Maui (presuming that's your last stop)?

Some honeymooners spend a night or two after the wedding to decompress at home before enjoying Hawaii to the hilt when they are fresher.

It's usually good to go from nice to nicer to best -- finishing with at the best hotel or condo complex on your list. Some honeymooners like a condo somewhere along the way -- two weeks of 'eating out' gets old.

Someone else is going to have to help with the Starwood points; we can comment if we know your possibilities. (Nice season for The Ritz at Kapalua if that's a choice!)

Get your rental cars lined up as soon as you have decided on your islands.

On Oahu, my first choice for redemption would be the Royal Hawaiian followed by the Moana Surfrider. Those are the pricier two point wise though. The Princess Kaiulani is the only non-oceanfront option and would be my last choice.

I think 3 islands is too much for 2 weeks, if you want plenty of time for R&R.

I spend entire trips only on Oahu, so while 2-3 days is enough to "do" Pearl Harbor and go dancing one night, there's plenty of things around the island... there's waterfalls, rainbows, less populated beaches, gorgeous scenery, etc. etc. Just rent a car, get a map or guidebook, and explore.

Summary, I would do either Maui/Kauai or Maui/Oahu, not all 3.

Whether you do 2 or 3 islands is totally dependent on your travel style, desire for plenty of R&R, etc. I've done as many as 4 islands in 2 weeks (although I wouldn't recommend that, for me 3 would be totally doable).

I'd spend at least 5 days on Oahu - one to decompress, one to visit the north shore, 1 to visit Diamond Head and Kailua/Lanikai, 1 to visit Pearl Harbor, and 1-2 just hanging in Waikiki, more if you're interested in other historical sites.

I'd spend 5 days on Maui (4-1/2 when you include changing islands) and 5 on Kauai (same).

If you can fly into one and home from another as ChiSue suggested, that would be great.

I certainly agree 3 islands can be done. I just picture on a honeymoon you'd want to be laying around on the beach, enjoying the entire experience, rather than with the extra time going to and from airports, checking in and out of hotels, etc. an extra time or 3.

Kauai North Shore is great in summer, the two Starwood properties up there are the St. Regis (which would probably cost a lot of points) and the Westin (condo type rooms with a lot of families). There is also the Sheraton down in Poipu which was renovated just last year. Kauai is my favorite but sounds like you are leaning toward Maui and Oahu. Have a great time.

After reading through this, I think we'll do Oahu and Kauai as we've both never been there. I have a pretty good idea of what to do on Oahu from the posts here, but no idea for what to do on Kauai. Thoughts?

Kauai is more of a kick-back, leisurely pace kind of island. Do all your 'activities' on Oahu, then go to Kauai to relax and enjoy the amazing natural beauty.

I should add, by that, I mean Kauai doesn't have much in the way of "destination sights", but it does have plenty of things to do, outdoors -- great hiking, boat trips up the Napali Coast, a helicopter ride over Waimea Canyon, a drive up to the lookout, that kind of thing. But no museums or anything like that.

Well, there is the Kauai Museum, and also Grove Farm Homestead (have to book ahead for a tour) as well as a new Kauai Cultural Center in the Coconut Marketplace which has stuff like hula lessons, lei making and palm frond weaving classes and other interesting stuff.
My two must sees are a drive up to the North Shore and spend the day, have lunch, shop in Hanalei, visit the lighthouse. Also drive up to Waimea Canyon and Koke'e State Park for the view of the Kalalau Valley. Try and go early as it often gets foggy later in the morning.
I also like to take a boat tour of the Na Pali Coast, have done it 7-8 times now, just beautiful.