Planning a Hawaii Vacation...Need Ledgie help!

[greatdarkwing]

Hello Ledgies!

My family and I (consisting of my mom and my brother*13 years old*) are planning a Hawaii vacation for next May/June. I was wondering if any Ledgies have gone to Hawaii and have any advice on where to go or what activities to do and where to stay at. So far, we want to go to Ouahu (sp?) Maui and the big island. I would also like to go snorkeling/take a helicopter tour/ and maybe whale watching. Im hoping some of you Ledgies have experience and have done any of these things.

Thanks, and I hope to hear from you guys soon!

~Alex

[amber]

My advice is take me too! Just kidding, never been. But i've seen lots of shows on it. All I can say is, I'd want to stay in the place where you rent treehouses...But you guys probably want a regular hotel room. But the treehouses are really nice, i swear! No, please, don't thank me for being so helpful
AMber
P.S. I thought the helicopter tour thing (which i totally would want, too) was on the K- island. (forgot how to spell) Kaui?
AMber

[Patti]

Alex, I've been to Oahu and the big island. The big island is where all the volcanic activity takes place and Volcanoes National Park is a MUST. I would also recommend you take a helicopter tour on the big island to fly over the current lava flow and also to see what the old lava has damaged. It's really quite a sight to see. Be warned if you stay in Hilo however. There is not a DAMN thing to do after dark there. I mean nothing. They roll the streets up and close everything. I would more recommend being on the Kona side of the island.

On Oahu you must go to Pearl Harbor. That was the most moving part of my whole trip. Take a hike up Diamondhead, too and see some spectacular views of the island. And there is a botanical gardens on Oahu that I really enjoyed. I can't remember the name of it, though.

Hope this helped!

[greatdarkwing]

Originally Posted by Patti

Alex, I've been to Oahu and the big island. The big island is where all the volcanic activity takes place and Volcanoes National Park is a MUST. I would also recommend you take a helicopter tour on the big island to fly over the current lava flow and also to see what the old lava has damaged. It's really quite a sight to see. Be warned if you stay in Hilo however. There is not a DAMN thing to do after dark there. I mean nothing. They roll the streets up and close everything. I would more recommend being on the Kona side of the island.

On Oahu you must go to Pearl Harbor. That was the most moving part of my whole trip. Take a hike up Diamondhead, too and see some spectacular views of the island. And there is a botanical gardens on Oahu that I really enjoyed. I can't remember the name of it, though.

Hope this helped!

This has helped Patti! I have a few more questions for you (or for anyone)

Which islands deserve more days....for example, Im going for somewhere close to 2 weeks and I wanted to know if one island has more things to do than the other and deserves more time. Also, how far away is everything in driving distance (big island especiallly)

Thanks!

~Alex

[Patti]

It's been a few years and I don't remember drive times exactly, but we drove around the entire perimeter of Oahu in just a few hours. The big island obviously is much bigger - DUH! Kona and Hilo are the two "big" cities there and they are on opposite sides of the island. But I don't think it took more than a couple of hours to get from one to the other.

I wouldn't spend a great deal of time on the big island. Our mistake was we had planned too many days there, three or four, if I remember correctly. Truthfully two would have been enough for me.

I have never been there, but I've heard the most stuff to do is on Maui, so if you're going there, I think that is where I'd spend the bulk of my time. But there's certainly cool stuff on Oahu too.

[ontheEdgeof17]

My family and I stayed on Oahu for two weeks. It was amazing. We stayed on the North Store, a little over an hour from the hustle of the major cities. We stayed at Turtle Bay Resort (the one you see on that North Shore show on tv).

Highlights:

-Dole Plantation (has the world biggest maze)
-Honolulu Hard Rock Cafe (LOTS of 'Mac stuff)
-Polynesian Resort on the North Shore (AWESOME place to spend the day).
-Diamond Head Volcano (lots of climbing and walking, but well worth it)
-Pearl Harbor



-Curt

[WelshWitchPMD]

Alex, now I have not been to Hawaii, well yet anyway. But one of my co-workers just came back this past Tuesday. She loved it. It was a last minute deal. I have not had time to chat with her that much. I know that she did a helicopter tour and liked it. I will find out about her trip and let you know. She still has not brought her pictures in yet. I am sure that will spark some conversation. I have another co-worker from another branch that went in the spring. I can ask him too.

One warning is the flight is KILLER! A LONG flight and coming home with the time changes is worse. You might want to make sure that you have at least a day to rest when you come home.

Alex, about maybe a few months ago, my friend Kim and I went to the Italian restaurant in Foxwoods Casino. While we were there we struck up a conversation with a couple sitting next to us. They were very nice and we got on the subject of the nightclub fire and 9/11. The gentleman told us that he had gone to Hawaii and went to Pearl Harbor and said that was one of the most moving and powerful experiences that he ever had. I wom't tell you what else that he said but you might want to check that out.

I will let you know what I can find out from the people at work and anyone else that I know.
Now, if you needed help with London or Paris I could just call my friend who went in August.

[jadegypsy]

Hey,
Well I guess I get to speak for Maui!! It is an Awsome island! Depending on your budget some of the things listed could be a bit $$$ since I went with a company footing the bill Anyways we stayed at the Kai Lani (now a Fairmount) it is next to the 4Seasons and Grand Wialia, gorgeous hotels. Best place to eat was the HummaHumakuma (State fish) at the Grand Wialia. The drive to Hana was beautiful, but if you get car sick don't do it. The drive to Napili was also neat. The volcano was okay, but be careful I got elevation sickness and passed out!
The BEST thing we did was take a catamaran out called Trilogy and go snorkleing, THAT is a MUST!!! Also make sure to catch a Luao (the outdoor dinning thing/show). The 7 Pools of wonder are a bit disappointing. Also just take some drives around the island, we did stop at some type of plantation/cultural center that was really neat.
Oh BEST thing rent a convertable, it's alot of fun.

My parents just went to Oahu, they were less then thrilled. Most of the island is military. However they did enjoy the cultural center. They stayed at a Marriott in Kiolima (sp?). They looked at the North Shore and well...they said it was a bit isolated, although my mom did see turtles.

My vote do several days in Maui, even if you just lay at the beach or drive around it's beautiful and the people are wonderful.

Oh and also my mom has been to Kaui of all of the islands she says this is the best one.

[GODDESS6]

Originally Posted by greatdarkwing

Hello Ledgies!

My family and I (consisting of my mom and my brother*13 years old*) are planning a Hawaii vacation for next May/June. I was wondering if any Ledgies have gone to Hawaii and have any advice on where to go or what activities to do and where to stay at. So far, we want to go to Ouahu (sp?) Maui and the big island. I would also like to go snorkeling/take a helicopter tour/ and maybe whale watching. Im hoping some of you Ledgies have experience and have done any of these things.

Thanks, and I hope to hear from you guys soon!

~Alex

sorry the only help i can give u is:

sitting here GREEN w/ envy!!!~

brightest stevie blessings~
jill

[amber]

Originally Posted by GODDESS6

sorry the only help i can give u is:

sitting here GREEN w/ envy!!!~

brightest stevie blessings~
jill

Me, too, dear!
But no one has mentioned another thing i really want to see/do - I saw it on Real World 3 when they went to Hawaii - the place where they jumped off the waterfall? Into the big, gorgeous pool you can swim in? But it's not the ocean. Sue me, I love rivers and fantasy like (Legend) waterfall pools, and swimming all day, and rocks to hop on....

[greatdarkwing]

Thanks for all the replies everyone! It gives me a better idea of my trip and the possible points of interest.

All this stuff really helps my decison making! We were looking to stay at the 4 seasons or the grand waileia while in Maui. Now, given we are from Miami, beaches might not be the most exciting thing for us , although i do hear snorkeling and diving is AMAZING in Hawaii (Just gotta watch out for Tiger sharks, probably the most aggressive shark).

If anyone has any more info it would still be appreciated.

Thanks for all your help everyone!

~Alex

[greatdarkwing]

Oh, one more thing....I know there is a green sand beach on the Big Island....where are the black sand beaches located? Just on the big island too?

~Alex

[Gypsy-Rhiannon]

I would love to go to Hawaii one day