Upcoming 1st Hawaii trip in July (infos needed for planning)
Jan 17th, 2013, 11:34 AM
#41
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I agree with Suze. I think you really need to be able to spend as much time as you want on the beach, on your hike or walk etc. and not have to rush around to fit the schedule of the packaged excursions from the cruise ship. I can't imagine spending every night on board a ship, when you could be walking on the beach in the moonlight, having a drink at a beachside bar....waking up to see the sunrise from the beach....
Jan 17th, 2013, 12:09 PM
#42
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Just in case you didn't read carefully enuff: 
The plan I "modified" - was for taking the introductory cruise the first week (as suggeted - and it has two days in both Kauai and Maui) - and then - spending the second week on Maui - possibly in a nice, comfortable condo on/by the beach.
The plan I "modified" - was for taking the introductory cruise the first week (as suggeted - and it has two days in both Kauai and Maui) - and then - spending the second week on Maui - possibly in a nice, comfortable condo on/by the beach.
Jan 17th, 2013, 04:26 PM
#45
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Am guessing most of your are too young to remembr when Matson Lines cruised around the Hawaiian Islands (Matsonia et al) - and it was very popular.
Here is one source for anybody who wants to read more about it:
http://www.amazon.com/Hawaii-Cruise-...236450-7966767
Here is one source for anybody who wants to read more about it:
http://www.amazon.com/Hawaii-Cruise-...236450-7966767
Jan 18th, 2013, 07:52 AM
#48
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It's hard to explain. I think it's a combination of the sights, sounds and smells that you would not really get a feel for if you chose to see it by ship. The Hawaiian islands have beauty at every turn and you would miss out on most of it if you didn't have enough time to explore it.
Jan 18th, 2013, 01:45 PM
#50
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The naysayers about the cruise seem to forget that the 2nd week - the visitors can enjoy a week on Maui - and experience everything they are describing, already having savored the trade winds while cruising around the islands.
Again, this is after the introductory 7 day cruise - which is probably the easiest way to visit some of the top - most spectacular sights in Paradise - such as from Hilo - the Volcano on Big Island, http://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm , the north shore/Bali Hai view on Kauai, http://tinyurl.com/bcwt59h,
, Waimea Canyon on Kauai if you have the time and energy the second day in port http://tinyurl.com/bh3cnju, (or you could kick back on a Kauai beach the 2nd day?).
Then once on Maui - work in an early morning drive up to see the Sun God - Pele - arise over Mt. Haleakula. http://tinyurl.com/a4yqcff,
Again, this is after the introductory 7 day cruise - which is probably the easiest way to visit some of the top - most spectacular sights in Paradise - such as from Hilo - the Volcano on Big Island, http://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm , the north shore/Bali Hai view on Kauai, http://tinyurl.com/bcwt59h,
, Waimea Canyon on Kauai if you have the time and energy the second day in port http://tinyurl.com/bh3cnju, (or you could kick back on a Kauai beach the 2nd day?).
Then once on Maui - work in an early morning drive up to see the Sun God - Pele - arise over Mt. Haleakula. http://tinyurl.com/a4yqcff,
Jan 19th, 2013, 06:15 AM
#56
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Dang. Tried to add - and here is a primer on the ancient Hawaiian Gods. http://www.spiritsouthseas.com/gods.htm
Jan 19th, 2013, 05:50 PM
#57
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We were on Oahu in November, in Honolulu at a friend's. We walked a lot in Waikiki, from the canal to the beach, west to Ala Moana Shopping Center, east to the zoo. Our friend dropped us off a couple of times in downtown, picking us up in the late afternoon--if not for that, we'd have taken the bus. We spent a good part of a day at the Bishop Museum and heard a storyteller, one of our favorite memories of the vacation! And we wandered around downtown, seeing City Hall and the Iolani Palace.
She also drove a day on the windward side, seeing the beaches (not spending huge amount of time at any one), Kailua, and Kaneohe. Take your time when driving;it's one lane each ay and pretty casual driving.
We rented a car for three days. One day was Pearl Harbor and then onto Haleiwa, stopping at Matsumoto's Shave Ice. We didn't pre-buy tickets for Pearl Harbor, but got there, dropped off out bags as required, and got tickets for 40 minutes later. We could've spent much more time looking at everything, but that applied to just about every place. Matsumoto's? We were told EVERYONE goes there, but be careful--people don't mind if they hit your rental car, chances are theirs is a rental, too.
If you go to only one Botanical Garden, make it Ho'omaluhia, even for a short visit. And the relatively nearby Byodo-In Temple. Pay the $3 to take pictures--it's hard to take a bad picture there. We went from there around the rest of the island back to Haleiwa and then back to Honolulu.
About rental cars: we were lucky our friend had a parking spot for us, so we didn't have to pay for that. But if your car gets hit by someone--a minor fender-bender or scrape, not a major accident--the rental car kiosk does not want to know about it. We were literally told that we should not have called to report it, just return the car and not worry. They didnt want the paperwork. Sure enough, Hertz would not file a claim, and the car was rented out within hours of our returning it. I asked for and got a letter that the claim was closed. Silly me, being so honest.
She also drove a day on the windward side, seeing the beaches (not spending huge amount of time at any one), Kailua, and Kaneohe. Take your time when driving;it's one lane each ay and pretty casual driving.
We rented a car for three days. One day was Pearl Harbor and then onto Haleiwa, stopping at Matsumoto's Shave Ice. We didn't pre-buy tickets for Pearl Harbor, but got there, dropped off out bags as required, and got tickets for 40 minutes later. We could've spent much more time looking at everything, but that applied to just about every place. Matsumoto's? We were told EVERYONE goes there, but be careful--people don't mind if they hit your rental car, chances are theirs is a rental, too.
If you go to only one Botanical Garden, make it Ho'omaluhia, even for a short visit. And the relatively nearby Byodo-In Temple. Pay the $3 to take pictures--it's hard to take a bad picture there. We went from there around the rest of the island back to Haleiwa and then back to Honolulu.
About rental cars: we were lucky our friend had a parking spot for us, so we didn't have to pay for that. But if your car gets hit by someone--a minor fender-bender or scrape, not a major accident--the rental car kiosk does not want to know about it. We were literally told that we should not have called to report it, just return the car and not worry. They didnt want the paperwork. Sure enough, Hertz would not file a claim, and the car was rented out within hours of our returning it. I asked for and got a letter that the claim was closed. Silly me, being so honest.
Feb 13th, 2013, 11:00 AM
#59
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Well, as the fares never really went down since December, I just bought 2 tickets, from Quebec City to Honolulu and then from Maui to Quebec City, for 999$ each, with United. Now, the next step is to reserve my tix on Hawaiian from Honolulu to Maui, then to check out for hotels/rentals. Hopefully, there are still lots of nice places to stay in July...
