Never been. May want to go. Maybe in June. Looking for low-key. Good for families (will have 1-year old).
Whatcha got?
If you got nothin', talk to me about other semi-tropical, domestic vacation spots.
regardless, your trip must include a stop on oahu to drink w/the desmotropic fellas.
;)
waikiki can be a bit hectic, but the majority of hotels are out there (on oahu, anyway) obviously beaches aplenty no matter where you go.
the big island is nice, the volcano national park is pretty pregnant dogin' if you're into that sort of thing.
ummm... what else?
Gotcha on the drink; no problem.
What about the smaller islands like, Molokai, Lanai, etc.?
Oaho is the least "Hawaii" of all the islands. On the other hand it has some cool stuff to do (Arizona Memorial, North Shore) and is usually the cheapest island to go to (more direct flights, more hotel rooms). Molokai and Lanai don't have much going on which is either what you want or not what you want. Big Island is diverse and tied for my personal favorite with Maui. Maui is big dollar (waliea end) to more moderate (kannapali end). Family friendly is one thing. Taking a 1 year old on two 5-6 hour flights is another. Make sure you have something to help the kid pop his/her ears on descent.
First timer would be fine going to Oahu. You can drive around the whole island, do the Arizona, Hanauma Bay, check out the North Shore (maybe stay at Turtle Bay Hilton for all or part of stay),etc,etc. If you are a diver Maui is much better. If you want to check out the volocano you need to be on the Big Island. I haven't been to Kauai yet and hear it's the most beautiful of all.
So I guess the question is what do you want to do while you are there?
Quote from: hbliam on April 06, 2009, 02:48:02 PM
Taking a 1 year old on two 5-6 hour flights is another. Make sure you have something to help the kid pop his/her ears on descent.
So I guess the question is what do you want to do while you are there?
The wife has already taken her on a couple flights; she's got it wired.
Do? Not much. Chill. Sip a few. Swim a bit. See a sight, or two. That's what got me thinking about some of the smaller islands. Get a condo on/near the beach and set up. With a young one, we aren't going to be taking helicopter trips and snorkeling all day, etc. I just want to take a run on the beach, read some books, drink a bit, and just chill. I haven't taken a vacation that didn't involve hunting or family, in quite a while.
Oahu is what most people think when they hear "Hawaii". I've been there 3-4 times for a few days each. If you go to Oahu, you HAVE to do the USS Arizona Memorial. It's very humbling. Diamond Head Park is cool as well, but June with a 1 year old may not be the best time to hike to the top...
Quote from: Sinister on April 06, 2009, 03:00:49 PM
The wife has already taken her on a couple flights; she's got it wired.
Do? Not much. Chill. Sip a few. Swim a bit. See a sight, or two. That's what got me thinking about some of the smaller islands. Get a condo on/near the beach and set up. With a young one, we aren't going to be taking helicopter trips and snorkeling all day, etc. I just want to take a run on the beach, read some books, drink a bit, and just chill. I haven't taken a vacation that didn't involve hunting or family, in quite a while.
Then do Oahu as it would be cheapest, leaving you more dough for booze, books, and sights. If cost isn't an issue I'd go to Big Island or Maui (for not much more) and do the same things without the Waikiki crowd. Sheraton at Black Rock on Maui is family friendly, good beach, good snorkel off said beach, good food in Lahaina, etc. Also tons of condos to rent in Maui. Just stay away from Kihei.
Quote from: hbliam on April 06, 2009, 03:12:23 PM
Then do Oahu as it would be cheapest, leaving you more dough for booze, books, and sights. If cost isn't an issue I'd go to Big Island or Maui (for not much more) and do the same things without the Waikiki crowd. Sheraton at Black Rock on Maui is family friendly, good beach, good snorkel off said beach, good food in Lahaina, etc. Also tons of condos to rent in Maui. Just stay away from Kihei.
Hmmm...alright, I'll do some looking. Although, the prices are sick (as in, affordable) on Molokai.
What's up with Kihei? Me get my white ass killed there?
I do sorta feel bad thinking about going to Hawaii and not seeing the Arizona...or BJ Penn.
Quote from: Sinister on April 06, 2009, 03:29:52 PM
Hmmm...alright, I'll do some looking. Although, the prices are sick (as in, affordable) on Molokai.
What's up with Kihei? Me get my white ass killed there?
I do sorta feel bad thinking about going to Hawaii and not seeing the Arizona...or BJ Penn.
To see Penn you have to go to Hilo (Big Island) which is actually a very cool place. Kihie is just kind of nasty. Cheap but not my idea of a nice place to stay. There is nothing to do on Molokai. That may be what you want but not having been to any of the islands you kinda need to get some of the touristy stuff out of the way. The Arizona Memorial is as Nakid said, humbling. I would not hesitate to go there again.
How many days you going? A couple trips back we went with friends that had never gone. We flew direct to Maui, stayed for 6 days and then hopped to Oahu and stayed for three at Turtle Bay. Did all the touristy stuff with them.
Molly and I have been to Maui 3 times and Kauai once. We liked both, but Maui has more to do (non-outdoor). Kauai is great for hiking and such. Both have great beaches to just sit back and relax. Hawaii will be our next stop so I can see the volcanoes.
I don't really have any desire to go to Oahu...we live in a big city, so why go to the island that has one?
Keep in mind, Alaska airlines flies to some of the islands non-stop from Seattle...otherwise you most likely have to go thru LAX, which really sucks. Last time I checked they only flew to Kauai and Hawaii, but they may have expanded.
Caribbean.
hawaii is over priced and very, very far away
Quote from: herm on April 06, 2009, 04:54:06 PM
Caribbean.
hawaii is over priced and very, very far away
Not from where he lives. ;) Caribbean is far for us!
Quote from: Triple J on April 06, 2009, 04:55:03 PM
Not from where he lives. ;) Caribbean is far for us!
Doesn't Sinister live in NY?
Quote from: NAKID on April 06, 2009, 04:59:44 PM
Doesn't Sinister live in NY?
I thought he lived in the Seattle area.
[quote I haven't been to Kauai yet and hear it's the most beautiful of all.
[/quote]
I have family on Oahu and while we were there a few years ago we met a girl from Kauai...she said she couldn't wait to get home cause it's so pretty and she missed it so much!! It's definitely an island I would like to go to. I think Oahu has a lot to offer...get to see Honolulu where it's busy and tons of fun...then you have the North Shore where it's more laid back.
Seriously though...it's HAWAII...any island you go to will be amazing!
I normally go once a year but I have family out there.
Its a place I can see myself moving to in the future since I am a beach bumb and I love to Scuba Dive.
I love how you can walk into safeway there and get raw fish like Hawaiian Pokey to eat.
Man I wish they did that here.
Quote from: hbliam on April 06, 2009, 05:09:13 PM
I thought he lived in the Seattle area.
Pretty sure you're right.
Quote from: ROBsS4R on April 06, 2009, 05:12:19 PM
I love how you can walk into safeway there and get raw fish like Hawaiian Pokey to eat.
Man I wish they did that here.
You can get pokey, at the Safeway here in
Seattle ;), but it costs $50 and you have to watch out for cops. :o
Quote from: Triple J on April 06, 2009, 04:42:10 PM
I don't really have any desire to go to Oahu...we live in a big city, so why go to the island that has one?
Keep in mind, Alaska airlines flies to some of the islands non-stop from Seattle...otherwise you most likely have to go thru LAX, which really sucks. Last time I checked they only flew to Kauai and Hawaii, but they may have expanded.
Don't want big cities, nor large crowds of people; I go on vacation to get away from all that. You're right, hbliam, Molokai doesn't have much to do and that is the draw. We'll see. I don't do "nightlife", clubs, or the like. Would love the Arizona, but maybe when my daughter is old enough to understand it.
Trip will be a week, or so. We are thinking of spending a day, or so, at our infil point and then going elsewhere; that would give us time to do a little bit of touristy but get to the real vacation as well.
Quote from: Sinister on April 06, 2009, 05:22:43 PM
You can get pokey, at the Safeway here in Seattle ;), but it costs $50 and you have to watch out for cops. :o
I take it that its not as Fresh either ;)
Quote from: Sinister on April 06, 2009, 05:22:43 PM
You can get pokey, at the Safeway here in Seattle ;), but it costs $50 and you have to watch out for cops. :o
[laugh] Nice!
You can actually get Poki at a few of the stores here though. The stuff I used to get at the now defunct Larry's Market was actually way better than what I got in Hawaii. Hard to beat the fresh fish in Seattle.
...which brings me to my only complaint about Hawaii. The food isn't all that good. Sure, there is good food, but it costs a friggin' fortune, and in general it is nowhere as good as what we have here for the money. As such, I'd say skip the really nice dinners (at least on Maui and Kauai) and just have decent food. Save your nice dinner money for better places in Seattle.
The one exception was a Tapas place on Kauai called BarAcuda. It was really good! [thumbsup]
http://www.restaurantbaracuda.com/ (http://www.restaurantbaracuda.com/)
Hey G! We went a few years back to Maui and Oahu.
Maui was beautiful! We stayed in the A-frame "guesthouse" at the Maui Flower Farm. You guys would love it there! Check out the website:
http://www.mauiflowerfarm.com/ (http://www.mauiflowerfarm.com/)
The Guesthouse.. http://www.mauiflowerfarm.com/guest.htm (http://www.mauiflowerfarm.com/guest.htm)
Prices were affordable. It was located at the beginning of the road to Hana drive.
We were drinking coconut and pineapple wine in our hottub on the cliff. :)
We did a lot of "touristy" things.
Maui
*Sea kayak/swim with sea turtles/hike to a waterfall/picnic on a mtn
*Road to Hana
*Old Lahaina
Oahu
*Shark cage at the Northshore (AWESOME!!)
*Dole Pineapple plantation
*Pearl Harbor
*DiamondHead
*Hanama Bay
*Waikiki
*Waikiki Sea Aquarium
Have fun and GET A LOT OF SUN!! You need it!!
http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/ (http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/)
I hit up Keoni's Coffee shack at fifty bucks a night on the Hilo side, and utilized the Hilo massage school to the fullest at $35/hr. And there's a couple sights too....
Try and get a day or two in Oahu, and head to the north end for some out fakkin standing shrimps. And hit up Brew Moon in Honolulu. Also, there's a hole in the wall in Honolulu thats a BYOB restaurant and it has the best seared ahi. It's where God goes for seared ahi. But that's all I know. Ask a local where it is.
BTW.... DO NOT, try to climb Volcano from the ocean... Just take a helo. It's actually not a lot of fun to hike like that four 6 hours.
Oh, and the Dole Plantation on Oahu is perfect for a touristy thing your kid will dig. Gotta get the picture in the pineapple, and have some pineapple sherbet.
Thanks, Adam. I will check it out. Yes, I agree, I do need the sun. [thumbsup]
Quote from: IZ on April 06, 2009, 06:30:00 PM
Hey G! We went a few years back to Maui and Oahu.
Maui was beautiful! We stayed in the A-frame "guesthouse" at the Maui Flower Farm. You guys would love it there! Check out the website:
http://www.mauiflowerfarm.com/ (http://www.mauiflowerfarm.com/)
The Guesthouse.. http://www.mauiflowerfarm.com/guest.htm (http://www.mauiflowerfarm.com/guest.htm)
Prices were affordable. It was located at the beginning of the road to Hana drive.
We were drinking coconut and pineapple wine in our hottub on the cliff. :)
We did a lot of "touristy" things.
Maui
*Sea kayak/swim with sea turtles/hike to a waterfall/picnic on a mtn
*Road to Hana
*Old Lahaina
Oahu
*Shark cage at the Northshore (AWESOME!!)
*Dole Pineapple plantation
*Pearl Harbor
*DiamondHead
*Hanama Bay
*Waikiki
*Waikiki Sea Aquarium
Have fun and GET A LOT OF SUN!! You need it!!
I think IZ and I were on the same trip. I did the exact same thing. Some of common though I suppose.
I did like the Shark Cage thing. the seas were really rough that day so the people who didn't jump into the shark cage were basically chumming the water :-X
Quote from: Sinister on April 06, 2009, 06:54:25 PM
Thanks, Adam. I will check it out. Yes, I agree, I do need the sun. [thumbsup]
;D
BTW..the Master Bdrm in the guesthouse is the whole upstairs and the bed is suspended above the living room. You may be able to see the migrating whales from the bed.
Quote from: ROBsS4R on April 06, 2009, 07:10:49 PM
I think IZ and I were on the same trip. I did the exact same thing. Some of common though I suppose.
I did like the Shark Cage thing. the seas were really rough that day so the people who didn't jump into the shark cage were basically chumming the water :-X
I also forgot to list the scenic bus tour after the USS Arizona visit. We went to a a Luau too. I don't remember a thing from it though since we were all falling asleep! Too many activities and the island sun!!
The Northshore shark experience was kick azz!! No chop or waves what-so-ever!! [thumbsup] Approximately 30 sharks with 3 15' Tigers. [thumbsup]
Okay. Good responses. However, IZ is the only one who has recommended a place to stay. Think 'out of the way'. Think 'secluded'. Think 'Sinister hates people; if I hated people where would I stay.'
not hawaii, but very out of the way (http://www.maho.org/)
Quote from: Sinister on April 06, 2009, 07:46:14 PM
Okay. Good responses. However, IZ is the only one who has recommended a place to stay. Think 'out of the way'. Think 'secluded'. Think 'Sinister hates people; if I hated people where would I stay.'
Molokai. We spent 2 weeks there in the early 90's. Still not much there. Rent a house, go to the dock your first day and buy a tuna. Tour the 600 acres of coffee, visit Purdy's Macadamia nut farm, tour the Hansen's (leper) colony. We were the only people on the beach every day. I loved it.
Quote from: Sinister on April 06, 2009, 07:46:14 PM
Okay. Good responses. However, IZ is the only one who has recommended a place to stay. Think 'out of the way'. Think 'secluded'. Think 'Sinister hates people; if I hated people where would I stay.'
Since it is very secluded..I would fly into Oahu and go straight to Maui and start off at the Flower Farm (FF) the first night or two. You can see that island and then hit any island after that other than Oahu. Since you want peace & quiet. It's probably better to skip Oahu all together this trip.
Just before you get to the FF..you'll see an inlet that is a huge area for windsurfers & kiteboards. It's fun to watch them get big air! Also on Maui..we got to see a Jr. surf competition. Way cool seeing the 5-12 y/o on the waves!! :D
Oh yeah..btw..they have early AM bike rides down the volcano/mtn. I know you're into mtn. biking and would probably like that. Maybe best without the lil' one though. Solo fun?!
+1 on all that.
Things to remember. Hawaii is paradise. the end.
There are no scary things in the fresh water. GO SWIM IN WATER FALLS. There are no poisonous bugs. There are no snakes. There is no way to get killed there unless you fall off a cliff or get hit by a bus. (Which there are many) It smells like flowers all the time. Many buildings don't have windows because you don't need them there. There is such a variety of trippy plants/flowers your eyes may bug out. The Grand Bahamas can't even touch this. The one thing that sucks - mosquitoes.
My take is Oahu is the place to go do touristy things. Like what's listed. There are get-away places even there how ever.
The windward side of Oahu - the east side - is very green and full of little beaches that are largely unpopulated and right off the road.
Waikiki beach is the south side where all the hotels shopping etc is. Very populated.
The North side is plantations and a parks that are worth the trip in themselves IMHO.
NOT TO BE MISSED: Oahu
1. Middle Island - Dole Pineapple plantation
2. North Shore - Matsumoto Shave Ice (http://www.matsumotoshaveice.com/)
3. Waimea Falls park (http://www.hawaiiweb.com/html/waimea_falls_park/waimea_park_vtour.html). GO SWIM IN WATER FALLS - bath warm
4. get up a mountain and look around
5. tree houses. I mean, Swiss family Robinson, full on, [img=http://image14.webshots.com/14/3/10/46/168931046OIZbTe_fs.jpg]http://banyon trees[/img]
Maybe or not - kind of fun - the Polynesian cultural center on the east side. Fire dances and luau BBQ. Get the hard core Polynesian experience/ very touristy. Kids LOVE it.
( I did this rout on a bicycle once - about 85 miles total. Great ride. )
Maui - Go play island. Not as green, but lots of golf, resorts, that kind of thing. Road to HANA used to be a goat trail. And when I say goat trail, I mean, when a car came from the other direction, someone had to back up several hundred yards to find a place where 2 cars could pass with a 100' cliff on one side. Now it's paved from the east side. Very windy. Lots of waterfalls you can go swim in.
Lahaina Park - One tree. The whole park, is one huge banyon tree.
Kauai - Go hiking/ swimming island - GREEN rain forest island. Totally mind blowing beauty if you like tropics. Air you want to bottle and take with you. Snorkeling here will change your life. Scuba even batter. A trip to mars in 4' of water. zillion friendly fish. Colors that are unreal.
Hawaii - skip it if you only have a week. Resorts - very isolated. Most of it looks like the moon. Coast is standard incomprehensible beauty.
However if you're into volcanoes ... This is the sh*t!
If you want to sit and not move for a week this is the place.
sh*t, I have work to do.
PS oh ya, once I stayed in a private vacation rental house. Great experience. Very common there. Best way to save $$$ and be local. But then you're shopping and cooking.
The Hawaiians say, "Maui no ka oi". It means Maui is the best. Your one year old is too young to enjoy much other than the sandy beaches and/or the pool.
Oahu: great night life and food. Lots of "cultural" stuff for tourists, Polynesian cultural center, Pearl Harbor, history, and lots of people.
Big Island of Hawaii: volcanoes, resorts, ranches, and not much else.
Kauai: real quiet, more paradise, has the wettest spot on the earth, and Waimea Canyon aka the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.
Maui: the best combination of decent food, a good mix of activities like golf, water sports, snorkeling (Molokini crater and Black Rock), horseback riding, some high end shopping (Wailea), historical/artsy/touristy (Lahaina).
Aloha! and enjoy.
Quote from: Little Monkey Toes on April 06, 2009, 08:12:31 PM
Molokai. We spent 2 weeks there in the early 90's. Still not much there. Rent a house, go to the dock your first day and buy a tuna. Tour the 600 acres of coffee, visit Purdy's Macadamia nut farm, tour the Hansen's (leper) colony. We were the only people on the beach every day. I loved it.
Good to know, thanks. That sounds like heaven.
Herm, nice idea; I'll file that one away.
Like Teddy said, make sure you look us up if/when you come down. Depending on when you come, I might be able to host a BBQ for you guys, but like I said it all depends on when you book your trip. I most likely won't be coming out of Afghanistan until late June at the earliest.
If you do end up staying on Oahu then I would suggest getting accommodations at Turtle Bay maybe. Either that or at one of the smaller B&B type things out near the north shore. It is MUCH less crowded out there and VERY laid back. Most of the places to eat are closer into Honolulu, but there are some really tasty joints all over the island, and a great local coffee bar in Haleiwa.
there's a few B&Bs in the kaneohe area, too. the east side of the island is pretty laid back, as is the north shore.
turtle bay is nice, and out of the way, and has a big ass golf course, if you're into that.
if you do stay on oahu and see the arizona, there is also a walking tour of the USS missouri, the Bowfin (WW2 diesel sub) and museum, and the open-but-still-expanding pacific aviation museum.
it all rocks ;D
some other corrections... it is spelled "poke"
and brew moon has closed :(
Quote from: Sinister on April 07, 2009, 07:16:50 AM
Good to know, thanks. That sounds like heaven.
Herm, nice idea; I'll file that one away.
been there three times since i was 10 years old. never gets old [thumbsup]
Quote from: DRKWNG on April 07, 2009, 09:05:46 AM
Like Teddy said, make sure you look us up if/when you come down. Depending on when you come, I might be able to host a BBQ for you guys, but like I said it all depends on when you book your trip. I most likely won't be coming out of Afghanistan until late June at the earliest.
Looking like third week of June. I think I have to renovate a bank, first.