The Complete Big Island Vacation Guide

March 10, 2010 by admin-help · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Big Island, Big Island Activities, Big Island Areas, Big Island Beaches, Big Island Hotels, Hawaii - general, Vacation Planning 

big island cover Aloha! So you are planning a vacation to the Big Island - you are going to have such fun! This is the complete Big Island vacation guide, which is the online version of my ebook Plan Your Best Vacation to the Big Island of Hawaii Ever! Where to Stay and What to Do on the Big Island.

Topics in this guide

Aloha!

So you’re planning a vacation to the Big Island (Hawaii Island) –

Congratulations! You are going to have SUCH FUN! First, you’ll be flying in to either Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) or Hilo International Airport (ITO). You may find a direct flight, but if not, your airline will probably schedule your connecting flight from Honolulu for you. If you have to do it yourself, you can do so with either Hawaiian Airlines http://www.hawaiianair.com/ or Go! Airlines http://www.iflygo.com/

My Favorites on The Big Island

My favorite area:

Tough one on this really big island, but I’ll say the Kohala Coast. This has two of my favorite beaches, Hapuna and the Mauna Kea Beach, and it’s also got my favorite resort, the Hilton Waikoloa – a beautiful and fun place to visit whether you stay there or not!

My favorite hotel:

This is easy – the Hilton Waikoloa. They’ve got Dolphin Quest, a great program for learning about dolphins – and if you want to spend the bucks, close encounters with them :-) The rooms are very nice, the pools with their slides and waterfalls are fantastic, there are several restaurants and lounges, tons to do, and you can ride around the place on the Disneyland-like free tram and boat shuttles. Also, they have a pretty lagoon and a cool art collection displayed around the pools, walkways and gardens.

My favorite luau:

Island Breeze. This is held on the historical royal grounds at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. The pre-luau activities begin when the royal court paddles in from Kailua Bay and the conch shell is blow. You can learn fun Hawaiian crafts and get a Hawaiian “tattoo.” The show features various dances of Polynesia, including hula of course, and concludes with the Samoan fire dance. The menu is traditional Hawaiian featuring the underground baked pig, fresh catch of the day and chicken.

My favorite activity:

Really hard to choose just one, but I’ve narrowed it down to the Fair Wind Snorkel Cruise at Kealakekua Bay (where I got to swim with dolphins!) and the lava flow view hike when the lava’s pouring over the cliff into the sea. For up to the minute lava updates, call the Kalapana Lava Viewing Hotline at (808) 961-8093 or the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park at (808) 985-6000.

For more general lava updates see here http://www.hawaii-lisa.com/lavaupdate.html

Best Weather on the Big Island

Like all of Hawaii, the Big Island offers exceptionally good weather, especially on the west side.

Hawaii has two seasons: summer (May through October) and winter (November through April), and the temperatures change very little between these two seasons. Average daytime temperatures at sea level in the summer are 85°F and in the winter, 78°F. When the sun goes down temperatures at sea level rarely drop more than 5 to 10 degrees.

The weather does change quite a lot from region to region (the island has all but two of the world’s eco-climates), especially when you travel upland. Bring a sweater if you go up to Volcano. You can even find snow here in the winter at the top of Mauna Kea!

Like all of the Hawaiian Islands, the Windward side (here, that is the Hilo and Puna side) gets most of the rain. Hilo is the rainiest city on Earth in fact. The Windward side is very lush and tropical, and most of the rain falls at night and early morning, although sometimes in the winter the rain will fall for days on end. The Leeward side (Kona and Kohala) is usually sunny at sea level, and when it rains, it is usually in the late afternoon. Kohala is desert like in its dryness, which makes for lots of sunny beach days!

The ocean waters here aren’t too cold either. Surface temperatures average 74° to 77°F in the winter and 78° to 83°F, with the warmer temperatures found on the Kohala Coast – at Hapuna, you’ll feel like you are in a heated swimming pool.

Best Hotels on the Big Island

These are the best hotels in all of Hawaii Island, in my opinion.

If you consistently find higher prices than what I have found, maybe prices are up due to high season or some other reason. You find the best fares during the off-peak season, late September through the first week of June. And exception to this is fares go up around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, as well the days closely surrounding them and Spring Break.

You may find lower prices by bidding at Priceline and using Hotwire.com. This is all detailed below the tables. All listed prices are based on double occupancy. If you find lower prices than I’ve listed here, don’t question it, just book it!

Best Overall and Beachfront Hotels on the Big Island

Note that all with the exception of the Chalet Kilauea are beach front.

  • Chalet Kilauea featuring the Inn at Volcano, At website: $107 for a room at the deluxe Inn at Volcano. Less for some of the other properties.
  • Fairmont Orchid, $199 at Expedia.
  • Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka’upulehu, $495 at Expedia.
  • Hilton Waikoloa, $189 at Expedia.
  • Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, $296 at Expedia.
  • Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, $274 at Expedia.

Best Family Hotels on the Big Island

  • Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, $274 at Expedia.
  • Sheraton Keauhou, $159 at Expedia.

Best Budget-Priced Hotels on the Big Island

Many of the following hotels don’t list with Expedia and Priceline. If you call them directly for reservations, be sure to ask “Do you have any discounts that could bring my rate down?” You could get a “Yes” and a better rate off the bat.

I also highly recommend bidding on Priceline. Many of these smaller operations do not sell rooms to Priceline, and so if you are bidding on Priceline you will normally get something like a resort or a 2 to 4 star hotel. Remember, you can’t pick your hotel if you bid, just your desired star level.

You’ll have the most luck with getting low bids accepted on Priceline when the hotels are hurting for visitors, but try anytime. You could really get some good deals.

Most of the following are condos and include full kitchens, private washer/dryer, pool and barbecue. The “Best Prices” are based on Expedia, Priceline (lowest prices without bidding) and the hotel’s site.

  • Hale Kona Kai, $140 at website, $10 extra per person after first two.
  • Kona Isle, $99 (2009) and many rent 5 nights get two free specials for 2010 with rates starting at $105.
  • Sea Village, $96 for 1 bedroom, $112 for 2 bedrooms at Expedia.
  • Dolphin Bay Hotel, $99 (one queen bed), $149 (one bedroom) and more options. Weekly rates discussed on request.
  • Hilton Waikoloa, $189 at Expedia.
  • Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort, $159 at Expedia.
  • Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, $296 at Expedia.
  • Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, $274 at Expedia.
  • Fairmont Orchid, $199 at Expedia.

Best Hotels for Romance and Weddings on the Big Island

  • Hilton Waikoloa, $189 at Expedia.
  • Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort, $159 at Expedia.
  • Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, $296 at Expedia.
  • Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, $274 at Expedia.
  • Fairmont Orchid, $199 at Expedia.

Bidding on Hawaii Travel at Priceline and Shopping at Deep Discount Sites, Expedia and Hotwire

Shopping for travel reservations through Expedia, Priceline, and Hotwire is a great way to save money on hotels and sometimes even flights to Hawaii. You can often get even better prices than ones in the charts. I have personally bid and got $55 at the Royal Kona Resort and $120 at the Waikoloa Marriott. My friend got $110 at the Waikoloa Hilton and $85 at the Hapuna Prince. (All of these hotels are on the Big Island.) And I know someone who bid and received a round trip flight from San Francisco to Honolulu for $250. These are good deals!

Oh, and don’t forget car rentals. You can get great deals on car rentals by bidding.

The only issue with bidding for hotels is that you won’t know what hotel you get until you are locked in to paying for it. You just specify a certain star level or class of hotel.

And the only issue with bidding for flights is that you won’t be able to specify an exact time, but they do tell you it will be sometime between x morning hour and x evening hour, so not too bad. I have a friend who got a round trip flight Los Angeles to Honolulu for $179 through Hotwire.

At Hotwire you can get their regular low rates while specifying your hotel, airline/flight time and car model, but to give you the deep discounts Hotwire gets from their partners that they’re not allowed to publicize, you won’t know the names until after you reserve. As mentioned above though, you can choose general times, star rating on hotels, size of car, etc.

So How Should I Bid on Hawaii Travel?

Hotels:

I like to decide on a hotel I like, then find out what its star level is. Then on Priceline, I go directly to naming my own price, and during the process Priceline will tell you what the average price is for that star level. I then bid half of that.

The Priceline website will have a ticker of recently accepted rates in the area you are searching for that is helpful.

An awesome resource is the bidding for travel forum. If you scroll down on the home page you’ll see three Hawaii forums, based on which islands you are planning to visit. People bid, and then come here and post their accepted and rejected rates.

I have heard that the posted “median retail prices” at Priceline are sometimes inaccurate. I don’t worry about this in Hawaii because I am so familiar with what the hotels cost here. You, however, may want to check prices on the website of a few hotels that are the same star level as you want. You can then try to bid 50% of that.

Rental Cars –

$15 a day is generally a good place to start, and check the recent winning bids on Priceline.

Flights –

I like to bid 50% of whatever the going rate is and then bid up in $50 increments if that is refused.

Most Fun, Must-Do, Activities and Things to Do on the Big Island

This is my personal favorites list of the most exciting and fun things to do on the Big Island:

  • Atlantis Submarine Kona,Featured on National Geographic. The Big Island’s tour takes you down to visit underwater gardens of coral teeming with schools of tropical fish. You may also see manta rays and sharks.
  • Take the Fair Wind Snorkel Cruise at Kealakekua Bay. This is a must-do, in my opinion. You will snorkel in a pristine marine preserve and if you in the morning, chances are you will see dolphins. They also offer whale watch cruises.
  • Play with and pet a dolphin at Dolphin Quest. You do not need to be staying at the Waikoloa Hilton to enjoy this wonderful (and educational) experience, but slots fill up fast so sign up as early as you can. They book up to a year in advance.
  • See Waipio Valley from Horseback, Combine fun horseback riding with a tour of this legendary and beautiful valley. You might even see some of the wild horse herd!

My Favorite Inexpensive/Free Activities on the Big Island

  • View the Lava! When it’s flowing into the sea, you can, from the Kalapana Viewing area, safely view the red hot molten lava pouring over the cliffs. The view point is about 1/2 mile away from the lava, so binoculars or a camera with good telephoto for optimal viewing. This is best viewed at night so also bring a flashlight (and good walking shoes!). For lava updates, call the Kalapana Lava Viewing Hotline at (808) 961-8093 or the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park at (808) 985-6000.
  • If you aren’t staying at the Hilton Waikoloan, you can still tour the hotel and see the dolphins. Just park nearby, walk in through the gate and start looking around. People come in for just the restaurants and dolphin quest all the time.
  • Explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, This is the island’s main attraction, and there’s lots to do and see up here – steaming craters, a walk-through lave tube cave, rainforests and moonscapes, a volcanic science and cultural museum, the famous Kilauea Lodge, a fantastic visitor’s center, lots of hiking trails and more. Most of the National Park activities are wheelchair accessible. It can get chilly up here so bring a sweater. Warm up at the lodge’s lounge with hot cocoa while you look out at the now active Halema`uma`u crater (spewing ash and steam but occasionally lava) and enjoy the big lava rock, fireplace (grab a free brochure on its history).
  • Kayak Kealakekua Bay,Take a guided kayak tour to the pristine marine preserve and snorkel the coral reefs. Ocean Safari Kayak Adventures offers “Early Riser Dolphin Quest Tours.” Or check out the sea caves of Keauhou Bay.
  • Visit Rainbow Falls in Hilo, For the best chance of seeing a rainbow over the 80-foot falls, go early when the sun and morning mist make their magic.
  • Puakō Petroglyph Archeological Preserve, This contains over 3,000 pertroglyphs. It’s a short hike from Mauna Lani Resort, which also has some to view. Non-guests can also access via the resort and pick up a map and brochure.
  • Akaka Falls State Park, On the Hamakua Coast (the Big Island’s answer to Maui’s Hana Highway), this includes a very pretty hike through lush gardens and over a stream with the famous 400-foot waterfall waiting for you at the end. Because it’s a big visitor attraction with an unguarded parking lot, don’t leave valuables in your car.
  • Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, Also located near Hilo on the Hamakua Coast, this well maintained nature preserve is a must see if you’re into flowers and walking paths that meander among waterfalls and provide sweeping ocean vistas. Over 2,000 species including orchids (Hilo is the “orchid capital” of the world.
  • Parker Ranch, One of the largest and most historical ranches in the United States, Parker is home to the paniolo, the Hawaiian cowboy, and has a variety of visitors attractions including their Historic Homes Tour.
  • Hulilee Palace, Large, elegant museum in Kailua-Kona that was once the vacation home of King David Kalakaua (the Merrie Monarch), Queen Liliuokalani and other Hawaiian royalty.

Best Big Island Beaches

Many visitors who don’t leave Kona are disappointed in the small pockets of sand they find there. A good deal of the island’s coast is is rocky. The “Volcano Island” being so much newer than its neighbor islands doesn’t have as many of the kind of beaches you’d expect from Hawaii. Why? Beaches and their sand are made by hundreds of thousands of years of ocean surf pounding against shells, coral and rock. The Big Island is the youngest of the islands, so beaches haven’t had that much time to develop. Many parts of the coast is younger than 1,000 years old, while Kilauea Volcano still adds hundreds of acres of new land a year. The Big Island has many other incredible attributes that more than make up for this lack of beaches, but hey, we have a few really nice beaches too, including ones that make national and world wide “Best Beach” lists!

Don’t hit all of these unless you are really into beaches. Just pick a few and take your time.

Note: In Hawaii, all beaches are public. Anywhere that there is water, there must be public access to the shoreline. If you are in a residential neighborhood and want to check out the beach, just look for the blue signs that say “shoreline access” and follow the path, even if it’s directly between two houses. Sometimes, though, residential beaches do not have restrooms or showers.

Don’t worry about directions too much. You can see the ocean from almost everywhere, and there are signs designating the beaches. Here’s a link to Google’s Big Island Map. And here’s the Hawaii Ocean Safety Map.

The surf conditions in Hawaii somewhat follow the seasons. During Hawaii’s summer (May - October), surf from the south occasionally has high surf conditions. During Hawaii’s winter, surf from the north has higher surf.

Hapuna (Kohala) - About 30 miles north of Kona on Highway 19 just before the Hapuna Prince Hotel.

Papakolea Beach (Green Sands Beach) – South Point, Kau – Green Sand - Take Highway 11 to Ka Lae (South Point) and drive about 12 miles to the end of the road. Then hike the 2 1/2 miles to the beach. For more details: Green Sand Beach.

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach – Kau – Black Sand - South of Kona near the 63 mile marker of Highway 11 (and about 20 miles south of Volcano National Park).

Ahalanui Park (The Hot Pond) - Puna - Near Kapoho. Directions are a little complicated, and there are two popular routes. Here’s a Google map from Hilo to Ahalanui. We travel the more scenic route: Take 132 and just past the Lava Tree Park where the road forks, stay to the right. This will be Pohohiki Road. Take it all the way to the ocean where it ends at Isaac Hale Park and Pohohiki Boat Ramp. Turn left and you’re there in just a couple minutes.

Kauna’oa Beach (Mauna Kea Beach) - Kohala - Take the Mauna Kea Beach hotel turnoff from Highway 19, about 31 miles north of Kona. They may not let you in if all the spaces have filled up. Try early in the morning or later in the afternoon.

Richardson’s Ocean Park – Hilo – Black Sand - Take Kalanianaola (Hwy 120) out of Hilo, heading towards Volcano Hwy and Banyan Drive. Cross Volcano Hwy and drive on about 5 miles past the fish ponds. Look for the sign just past Leleiwi Park.

While the “Volcano Island” isn’t known for its beaches there are some beauties here, including some of the best in Hawaii and even the world. The beaches above are just a short list of my favorites, but you may find many more that strike your fancy as you drive along the Big Island’s coastline.

Best Big Island Guidebook

The Big Island Revealed is my favorite guidebook. Absolutely straight talk and real opinions from 2 people who have done everything they review. The aerial photos of the hotels are awesome for choosing a hotel. I love this guidebook.

In Conclusion

So that’s it – have a wonderful, wonderful vacation! The Big Island is an awesome place, and you really can’t go wrong here.

Aloha!

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The Complete Maui Vacation Guide

March 2, 2010 by admin-help · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Hawaii - general, Maui, Vacation Planning 

So you are planning a vacation to Maui! This is the Complete Maui Vacation Guide, which is the online version of of my free ebook,
Plan Your Best Vacation to Maui Ever; Where to Stay and What to do on Maui.
plan best vacation to maui ever cover
Topics in this guide

Aloha!

So you’re planning a vacation to Maui –

Congratulations! You are going to have SUCH FUN! First, you’ll be flying in to Kahalui (OGG), and you may be able to find a direct flight from your city or at least the west coast of the U.S. Mainland into Kahalui. A few airlines do this these days. If not, your airline will probably schedule your connecting flight from Honolulu for you. If you have to do it yourself, you’ll want to contact either Go! Airlines http://www.iflygo.com/ or Hawaiian Airlines http://www.hawaiianair.com/

My Favorites on Maui

My favorite areas:

Kaanapali, Lahaina and Wailea. Kaanapali is a three mile long golden sand beach north of Lahaina. And Lahaina is a main town on Maui – lots of fun shopping, dining, sights to see and nightlife. Wailea has beautiful white sand beaches in South Maui where it’s almost always sunny and less windy than northward

My favorite hotel:

Hands down, the Wailea Marriott is my top choice because it’s a wonderful place for children, especially with the kids’ pool playground structure and its small and large slides (and I always travel with my little boy and my big (45 year old) boy.

My favorite luau:

Maui has more than a few fantastic luau, but the best is possibly to the Old Lahaina Luau.The multiple award-winning production tells the story of the Hawaiians through chant, music and hula. The food is superb (Emeril hosts shows from here even) and includes traditional luau food as well as modern Hawaiian delights like mango chicken. This is a hands-down favorite luau of locals and visitors. Check out the photos and menu at their site.

My favorite activity:

Viewing and playing at the waterfalls we can hike into from the Road to Hana; A perfect vacation activity because it’s exciting and new and each waterfall is different from the last. The best guide to this drive (and all of Maui) is the Maui Revealed Book.

I also thoroughly enjoy most boating activities, especially big catamarans or cruising boats that will keep an eye out for whales and dolphins.

My favorite guidebook:

I live here, and yet I own a copy of the Hawaii Revealed books for every island. They are the best available guides to the islands in my opinion. The Maui Revealed Book is excellent.

Best Weather on Maui

Maui is an island that offers exceptionally good weather. While the weather changes dramatically depending on the area of the island, it is generally between 75 and 85 degrees F all year long. Passing showers means 5 minutes of (warm!) rain and then 1 to 5 hours of Sun. We never give up on what we are doing for a passing shower.

The South and West Maui are usually hot and dry, while greener East and North Maui gets more rain and cooling trade winds. In the winter months, you may see snow on the top of Haleakala (the volcanic mountain).

Maui’s coastal waters are inviting year round too. The water temperature averages 75°F, about 10 degrees warmer than Southern California coastal waters in the summer. During Hawaii’s summer, South and West Maui coastal waters often hover around 85°F, the temperature of a heated swimming-pool. Nice!

Best Hotels in Maui

These are the best hotels in all of Maui, in my opinion.

If you consistently find higher prices than what I have found, maybe prices are up due to high season or some other reason. You find the best fares during the off-peak season, late September through the first week of June. And exception to this is fares go up around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, as well the days closely surrounding them and Spring Break.

You may find lower prices by bidding at Priceline and using Hotwire.com. This is all detailed below the tables. All listed prices are based on double occupancy. If you find lower prices than I’ve listed here, don’t question it, just book it! :)

Best Overall, Oceanfront, and Luxury Hotels on Maui

Best Family Hotels in Maui

Best Budget-Priced Hotels on Maui

Many of these hotels don’t list with Expedia and Priceline. If you call them directly for reservations, be sure to ask “Do you have any discounts that could bring my rate down?” You could get a “Yes” and a better rate off the bat.

I also highly recommend bidding on Priceline. Many of these smaller operations do not sell rooms to Priceline, and so if you are bidding on Priceline you will normally get something like a resort or a 2 to 4 star hotel. Remember, you can’t pick your hotel if you bid, just your desired star level.

You’ll have the most luck with getting low bids accepted on Priceline when the hotels are hurting for visitors, but try anytime. You could really get some good deals.

Most of the following are condos and include full kitchens, private washer/dryer, pool and barbecue. The “Best Prices” are based on Expedia, Priceline (lowest prices without bidding) and the hotel’s site.

Best Romantic Hotels and Hotels for Weddings On Maui

Bidding on Hawaii Travel at Priceline and Shopping at Deep Discount Sites, Expedia and Hotwire

Shopping for travel reservations through Expedia, Priceline, and Hotwire is a great way to save money on hotels and sometimes even flights to Hawaii. You can often get even better prices than ones in the charts. I have personally bid and got $55 at the Royal Kona Resort and $120 at the Waikoloa Marriott. My friend got $110 at the Waikoloa Hilton and $85 at the Hapuna Prince. (All of these hotels are on the Big Island.) And I know someone who bid and received a round trip flight from San Francisco to Honolulu for $250. These are good deals!

Oh, and don’t forget car rentals. You can get great deals on car rentals by bidding.

The only issue with bidding for hotels is that you won’t know what hotel you get until you are locked in to paying for it. You just specify a certain star level or class of hotel.

And the only issue with bidding for flights is that you won’t be able to specify an exact time, but they do tell you it will be sometime between x morning hour and x evening hour, so not too bad. I have a friend who got a roundtrip flight Los Angeles to Honolulu for $179 through Hotwire.

At Hotwire you can get their regular low rates while specifying your hotel, airline/flight time and car model, but to give you the deep discounts Hotwire gets from their partners that they’re not allowed to publicize, you won’t know the names until after you reserve. As mentioned above though, you can choose general times, star rating on hotels, size of car, etc.

So How Should I Bid on Hawaii Travel?

Hotels:

I like to decide on a hotel I like, then find out what its star level is. Then on Priceline, I go directly to naming my own price, and during the process Priceline will tell you what the average price is for that star level. I then bid half of that.

The Priceline website will have a ticker of recently accepted rates in the area you are searching for that is helpful.

An awesome resource is the bidding for travel forum. If you scroll down on the home page you’ll see three Hawaii forums, based on which islands you are planning to visit. People bid, and then come here and post their accepted and rejected rates.

I have heard that the posted “median retail prices” at Priceline are sometimes inaccurate. I don’t worry about this in Hawaii because I am so familiar with what the hotels cost here. You, however, may want to check prices on the website of a few hotels that are the same star level as you want. You can then try to bid 50% of that.

Rental Cars –

$15 a day is a good place to start, and check the recent winning bids on Priceline.

Flights –

I like to bid 50% of whatever the going rate is and then bid up in $50 increments if that is refused.

Most Fun, Must-Do, Activities and Things to Do on Maui

This is my personal favorites list of the most exciting and fun things to do on Maui:

  • Atlantis Submarine Tours, This is the one featured on National Geographic. Maui’s tour takes you down to view a natural coral reef with fish galore, as well as a sunken replica of a 19th century supply vessel. Atlantis Submarine Tour.
  • Haleakala Bike Ride Down a Volcano, Ride up in a van (maybe catch the sunrise too!) and coast down the western 13 slope of the world’s largest resting volcano. Ages 12 and up. I like Maui Downhill.
  • Haleakala Horseback Riding, If you want to tour Haleakala Crater but not on foot and you’re into horseback riding, I recommend Pony Express Tours. They are the favorite Hawaiian stable of Maui Revealed Guide and a nice family business.
  • Whale Watching, The humpbacks congregate around Maui from December through April, playing, mating and nursing their babies. For the most educational and whale-friendly tour, go with Pacific Whale Foundation They’re good fun too!
  • Surf Lessons, Try the Goofy Foot Maui Surf School. You’re guaranteed to stand up and ride a wave or your money back. They also have good rental rates and are adding stand-up paddle lessons. Check out the fun video on their site.
  • Take a Day Cruise to Molokai or Lanai, Take the Molokai Ferry to the “most Hawaiian island” or the Lanai Ferry to Hawaii’s 13-mile-wide “most secluded island.”

My Favorite Inexpensive or Free Activities on Maui

  • Drive the Road to Hana, If you don’t mind narrow winding roads, this is a must-do. Allow plenty time to pull over at scenic view points (the entire road is scenic, but sometimes you just have to stop and enjoy). Hike to a waterfall or two or three…check out the charming old town of Hana and the famous Oheo Gulch Pools (aka Seven Sacred Pools). About.com has a lengthy photo tour of the Hana Hwy. Read Hawaii State’s guide on Hiking Safety.
  • Haleakala National Park, Lots to see and do here – star gazing, hiking, watching the famous sunrise over the crater…
  • Visit Lahaina Town, This is the coolest town on Maui in my opinion. Shops, cultural attractions, Banyan Tree Park, good restaraunts, fun nightlife – and of course, Lahaina Harbor sunsets. Check out my article on Lahaina at my site.
  • Take a Sunset Stroll on Kaanapali Beach’s Boardwalk, Or take the beach walk anytime of the day. This is a gorgeous beach with pristine, golden sands and crystal clear waters. Check out my Kaanapali photos.
  • Explore `Iao Needle Area, First stop at the Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens. Picnic by a stream and learn about Hawaiian plants and culture. Follow the paved path to the `Iao Needle State Monument.
  • Walk Wailea’s Beachside Path, The sunsets here are awesome. This is one of my favorite beaches. Crescent shaped, pristine and almost always sunny.
  • Hike to the Olowalu Petroglyphs, If you’re into this sort of thing, this is an interesting site. You’ll find the trail at Olowalu Beach (next to the private campground of the same name), just south of Lahaina.

And here’s a list on my site of free things to do on Maui.

Best Ways I like to Save Money on Maui

Bidding for travel

I like bidding at Priceline for hotels and rental cars and airfare. This can save a lot of money right away.

Hawaii Entertainment Book

For Maui, I always recommend the Hawaii Entertainment book from Entertainment.com.

The book is typically best for Oahu, second best for Maui, and marginal for the Big Island and Kauai.

I review it every year: here’s my review.

Best Maui Beaches and Must-See Beaches on Maui

Don’t hit all of these unless you are really into beaches. Just pick a few and take your time.

  • Note: In Hawaii, all beaches are public. Anywhere that there is water, there must be public access to the shoreline. If you are in a residential neighborhood and want to check out the beach, just look for the blue signs that say “shoreline access” and follow the path, even if it’s directly between two houses. Sometimes, though, residential beaches do not have restrooms or showers.

    • Don’t worry about directions too much. You can see the ocean from almost everywhere, and there are signs designating the beaches. Here’s a link to Google’s Maui Map. And here’s the Hawaii Ocean Safety Map.

    The surf conditions in Hawaii somewhat follow the seasons. During Hawaii’s summer (May - October), surf from the south occasionally has high surf conditions. During Hawaii’s winter, surf from the north has higher surf.


    Kapalua Beach (West Maui)     - Year-round calm swimming thanks to the reef and the rock outcroppings. On a clear day, you can see Molokai. Often found on U.S. and world “best beaches” lists.

    Napili Bay Beach (West Maui) - Very pretty white sand beach partially shaded by palm trees. Swimming and snorkeling are good when its calm, most summer days.

    Kama`ole Beach Park (South Maui) - This is divided by rock outcroppings into three separate beaches. Kama`ole l has nice picnic areas and good swimming. Kama`ole ll is smaller but also has good swimming. Kama`ole lll is better for body boarding and popular with locals. All have lots of fun family activities – volleyball, snorkeling, diving, kayaking, more.

    Makena Beach (South Maui) - Makena Beach – Soft, white sand and amazing blue-green waters make this an incredibly beautiful. When it’s calm, snorkeling and swimming are as fantastic as the view. It’s 2/3 of a mile long but can get crowded. Makena is also called “Big Beach” because just over a small hill (there’s a trail) rests a smaller section of the beach, which is calld “Little Beach.” Watch out for strong currents and high surf. Molokini Crater is just 3 miles off shore.

    Honokalani Black Sand Beach (East Maui) - Not save for swimming, but if you are driving the Road to Hana and want to see a beautiful black sand, do stop here. Located in the Wai’anapanapa State Park, this is a gorgeous area with sea caves and arches, blue-green water that has inspired many an artist, and there are fresh water caves to explore. Watch your footing on the trails if you hike around.

    Kaanapali (Upper West Maui) - Resorts and hotels line this beach, and it is very popular with locals as well. A long stretch of golden sands with crystal clear waters and just about every ocean activiity you can think of make it worth a visit. Beautiful sunsets too.

    Wailea Beach (South Maui) - Very pretty, this almost always sunny white sand beach has a paved path that meanders by the resorts, restaurants and sandy coves. Fun activities here like snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, etc. but can be crowded.

    Maui’s beaches are one of the reasons this island is so often voted among or as the best in the world. It has more swimmer-friendly beaches than any other Hawaiian island and many of its beaches have made the national and world “best beach” lists. In all, Maui has 81 accessible beaches and 40 of these have public facilities. The beaches above are just a short list of my favorites, but you may find many more that strike your fancy as you drive along Maui’s coastline.

    In Conclusion

    So that’s it – have a wonderful, wonderful vacation! Maui is an awesome place, and you really can’t go wrong here.

    Aloha!

    Tags:

    The Complete Kauai Vacation Guide

    February 23, 2010 by admin-help · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Hawaii - general, Kauai, Kauai Activities, Prices, Vacation Planning 

    So, you’re planning a vacation to Kauai. This is the complete Kauai Vacation Guide based on my experiences, opinions, and preferences. I hope it helps you plan your trip. It is the online version of my ebook, Plan Your Best Vacation to Kauai Ever, Where to Stay and What to Do on Kauai. If you’d rather save it to your computer and read it there, right click on the link and download it.

    Topics in this guide

    Aloha!

    So you’re planning a vacation to Kauai –

    Congratulations! You are going to have SUCH FUN! First, you’ll be flying in to Lihue (airport code LIH) and you may be able to find a direct flight from your city or at least the west coast of the U.S. Mainland into Lihue. A few airlines do this these days. If not, your airline will probably schedule your connecting flight from Honolulu for you. If you have to do it yourself, you’ll want to contact either Go! Airlines http://www.iflygo.com/ or Hawaiian Airlines http://www.hawaiianair.com/

    My Favorites on Kauai

    My Favorite area is either Poipu (or Koloa) or Princeville.

    They both have their own charm. Princeville gets a bit more rain than Poipu, but not too much.

    My favorite hotel:

    Hands down, the Grand Hyatt Kauai in Koloa (near Poipu). This is one of those places that I just love. Lots to do, they’ll watch your kids or help you get married. The grounds are awesome. Nice place. $299 a night at expedia.

    And, if you are military or GS and have access to them - I also *really* enjoyed the beach cabins on barking sands beach within the Navy’s Pacific missile range facility. This was in 1996 (on my honeymoon), and I haven’t stayed since, so I don’t know the current condition, but they were so fun and isolated and on the most awesome, empty beach you’ve ever seen.

    Activities :

    The hiking on Kauai is amazing, if you are into that kind of thing, and the Na Pali Coast boat trips are also a must-do in my opinion. Every time we have gone out on the rafts, we have seen dolphins. The rafts can’t leave from the North Shore anymore, so these days I mostly recommend so these days I mostly recommend Na Pali Catamaran.

    Best Weather on Kauai

    Kauai is an island full of great weather

    Sure, there’s a bit more rain on Kauai than some of the other islands, but there’s never much on the south and west shores (so you can always find sun) and there’s still not a whole lot. Passing showers means 5 minutes of (warm!) rain and then 1 to 5 hours of Sun. We never give up on what we are doing for a passing shower.

    Sunniest weather is in Waimea (20 rain inches per YEAR) and second sunniest is in Poipu or Koloa.

    Kauai in the winter is still warmer than California much of the year, and the ocean is still 72 degrees. Oh yeah.

    Best Hotels in Kauai

    These are the best hotels in all of Kauai, in my opinion.

    If you consistently find higher prices than what I have found, maybe prices are up due to season high season or some other reason. If you find lower, don’t question it, just book it!

    Best Overall, Beach-Locations, or Luxury Hotels On Kauai

    Best Family Hotels in Kauai

    • Aloha Beach Resort Kauai, $84 at priceline
    • Lae Nani, $147.00 at website, $158 at priceline
    • Hyatt Regency Kauai, $299.00 at expedia
    • Sheraton Kauai Resort, $189.00 at expedia
    • Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club, $199.00 at expedia

    Best Budget-Priced Hotels on Kauai

    Many of these hotels don’t list with expedia and priceline. If you call them directly for reservations, be sure to ask “do you have any discounts that could bring my rate down?” You could get a yes and a better rate off the bat.

    I also highly recommend bidding on priceline. Many of these smaller operations do not sell rooms to priceline, and so if you are bidding on Priceline you will normally get something like a resort or a 2 to 4 star hotel. Remember, you can’t pick your hotel if you bid, just your desired star level.

    You’ll have the most luck with getting low bids accepted on priceline when the hotels are hurting for visitors, but try anytime. You could really get some good deals.

    As an example, if you visit bidding for travel you’ll see the Kauai Marriott has accepted bids around $110 to $125 in the past. Compare this with the best price I could find at $199 a night, and the savings are substantial.

    Best Romantic Hotels and Hotels for Weddings On Kauai

    Bidding on Hawaii Travel at Priceline and Hotwire

    Bidding on Priceline and hotwire is a great way to save money on hotels and sometimes even flights to Hawaii. I have personally bid and gotten $55 at the Royal Kona Resort, and $120 at the Waikoloa Marriott. My friend got $110 at the Waikoloa Hilton, and $85 at the Hapuna Prince. All of these hotels are on the Big Island.

    I know someone who bid and received a roundtrip flight from San Francisco to Honolulu for $250. These are good deals!

    Oh, and don’t forget car rentals. You can get great deals on car rentals by bidding.

    The only issue with bidding for hotels is that you won’t know what hotel you get until you are locked in to paying for it. You just specify a certain star level or class of hotel.

    The only issue with bidding for flights is that you won’t be able to specify an exact time, but they do tell you it will be sometime between x morning hour and x evening hour, so not too bad.

    So How Should I Bid on Hawaii Travel?

    Hotels:

    I like to decide on a hotel I like, then find out what its star level is. Then on Priceline, I go directly to naming my own price, and during the process priceline will tell you what the average price is for that star level. I then bid half of that.

    The priceline website will have a ticker of recently accepted rates in the area you are searching for that is helpful.

    An awesome resource is the bidding for travel forum. If you scroll down on the home page you’ll see three Hawaii forums, based on which islands you are planning to visit. People bid, and then come here and post their accepted and rejected rates.

    I have heard that the posted ‘median retail prices’ at priceline are sometimes inaccurate. I don’t worry about this in Hawaii because I am so familiar with what the hotels cost here. You, however, may want to check prices on the website of a few hotels that are the same star level as you want. You can then try to bid 50% of that.

    Rental Cars –

    $15 a day is a good place to start, and check the recent winning bids on Priceline.

    Flights –

    I like to bid 50% of whatever the going rate is and then bid up in $50 increments if that is refused.

    Most Fun, Must-Do, Activities and Things to Do on Kauai

    This is my list of the most exciting and fun things to do on Kauai in my opinion.

    Inexpensive or Free Activities on Kauai

    • Queen’s bath – mostly cool because it looks so idyllic. Only good in the summer months when the surf is not high http://www.hawaiiweb.com/kauai/sites_to_see/QueensBath.htm
    • Check out Waimea Canyon. Looks out of place in Hawaii but is pretty darn cool to look at.
    • Hiking – the hiking on Kauai is the best in the state. If you are into hiking, you are in for a good time.

    Best Ways I like to Save Money on Kauai

    Bidding for travel

    I like bidding at priceline for hotels and rental cars and airfare. This can save a lot of money right away.

    Hawaii Entertainment Book

    Normally here, I would recommend the Hawaii Entertainment book from Entertainment.com . However, if you will just be on Kauai, it won’t be much good for you. If you will be island hopping to Maui or Oahu, then think about it.

    The book is typically best for Oahu, second best for Maui, and marginal for the Big Island and Kauai. I can’t recommend it for Kauai or the Big Island, really. Sigh. Wouldn’t it be nice if that changed in the near future.

    Best Kauai Beaches and Must-See Beaches on Kauai

    Don’t hit all of these unless you are really into beaches. Just pick a few and take your time.

    Note:

    In Hawaii, all beaches are public. Anywhere that there is water, there must be public access to the shoreline. If you are in a residential neighborhood and want to check out the beach, just look for the blue signs that say “shoreline access” and follow the path, even if it’s directly between two houses.

    Sometimes, though, residential beaches do not have restrooms or showers.

    Don’t worry about directions too much. Kauai is a small island and you can see the ocean from almost everywhere. If you can see the ocean, you can find your way.

    • Kee Beach (north shore) - Calm with good snorkeling and swimming in the summer, a famous movie filming location
    • Tunnels - Large beach with good snorkeling and deep water caverns for scuba, no facilities
    • Hideways (north shore) - Amazing beach, 10 minute hike from parking area. Secluded but accessible. No facilities. Calm in summer.
    • Anini Beach (north shore) - Huge, protective reef, easy to get there, great snorkeling and swimming
    • Moloaa Beach - Protected, beautiful cove with good swimming
    • Lydgate State Park (east shore) - Awesome for families, very protected area, nearby playground
    • Poipu Beach Park - Excellent facilities, excellent swimming and snorkeling. Great beach
      Kauai really is an island of awesome beach after awesome beach and much of the shoreline is beach around the entire island. You can‟t go wrong, so I just listed some of my favorites here.

    Tags:

    The Complete Oahu Vacation Guide

    February 11, 2010 by Lisa · 1 Comment
    Filed under: Hawaii - general, Most Popular Questions, Oahu, Oahu Activities, Vacation Planning 

    Plan Your Best Vacation to Oahu Ever - Where to Stay and What to Do On Oahu

    This is the Complete Oahu Vacation Guide, which is just about everything I know about Oahu that I think a first time oahu visitor wants to know at one time. This is the online version of my ebook, Plan Your Best Vacation to Oahu Ever, so if you’d rather read this in ebook form or be able to download it to your computer, you can right-click on the ebook link and save it.

    Topics in this guide

    Aloha!
    So you’re planning a vacation to Oahu – congratulations! You are going to have SUCH FUN! First, you‟ll be flying in to Honolulu Airport (HNL). You may not need a rental car because the public and activity transportation is so good (and because parking fees are sometimes pretty high).

    This is all my opinion, based on my preferences and resources. I hope my opinions help point you in the direction you most want to take based on your preferences and resources.

    My Favorites on Oahu

    Honestly, I like Waikiki the best. Probably because I live in Hilo (which is slow and quiet with not too much to do) so I like to visit the high energy with tons to do area of Waikiki. We always stay in Waikiki, we love Waikiki Beach, and we like to walk around downtown and ride the trolley around at night.

    My favorite hotel: We generally stay in a different hotel every time we go but if I had to pick an absolute favorite, maybe it would be the Hilton Hawaiian Village (typical best price: $171 on expedia).

    Rental Car or not.
    My husband likes to get a car because that’s how he is, but if just my son and I go, we don’t. We take a shuttle from the airport to the hotel ($11 per person) and avoid the parking fees and headache.

    Activities Outside of Waikiki:

    If we want to do something outside of Waikiki, we consider the bus, a shuttle, or renting a car for the day in Waikiki. Don’t worry, this will all be incredibly easy to figure out once you get here. People will be falling over themselves to get you to take their shuttle or rent their car.

    Availability of transportation: In the busy season (when we’re not in a recession ) availability might be an issue, but not usually. I wouldn’t worry about it.

    Staying outside of Waikiki:

    If I wasn’t going to stay in Waikiki, I would stay on the North Shore (turtle bay resort – best price I’ve found: $218 at Priceline) or maybe in a vacation rental on or near Lanikai Beach (Kailua area).

    West Side? I’m not a big fan of the West side, probably because there are minimal tradewinds and I just get too hot, but there are some wonderfully inexpensive beachfront, long-term rentals out that way (Makaha Beach Cabanas, Hawaiian Princess).

    Best Weather on Oahu

    Oahu is an island full of great weather – you really can’t go wrong, winter or summer. Waikiki is great weather; the best you really need. The West Side has the least rain and the most sun, but it is far from everything. The East side has a bit cooler weather and not TOO much rain, especially close to the ocean.

    Best Hotels in Oahu

    These are the best hotels in all of Oahu, in my opinion. Generally, in Oahu you will find small pools with minimal extras at the hotels, because the great swimming beaches and extras are so easily available scattered around the island. Expect *not* to spend your whole vacation at the hotel.

    If you consistently find higher prices than what I have found, maybe prices are up due to season high season or some other reason. If you find lower, don’t question it, just book it!

    Best Overall, Beach-Locations, and Luxury Hotels On Oahu

    This is my opinion - the prices given are the best price that I could find based on a search of Priceline, Expedia, hotels.com, and the hotel website for the same time period. Prices could change, I just wanted to give you an idea of what the hotel rooms cost for each hotel.

    You can click through to expedia for a review, or download my book for a very short blurb on each hotel.

    Best Family Hotels on Oahu

    Best Budget-Priced Hotels On Oahu

    Many of these hotels don’t list with expedia and priceline. If you call them directly for reservations, be sure to ask: “do you have any discounts that could bring my rate down?‟ You could get a yes and a better rate off the bat.

    I also highly recommend bidding on priceline. Most of these smaller operations do not sell rooms to priceline, and so if you are bidding on Priceline you will normally get something like the Waikiki Prince Hotel, which is a nice hotel. I have seen bids accepted for $75 there.

    You’ll have the most luck with getting low bids accepted on priceline when the hotels are hurting for visitors, but try anytime. You could really get some good deals. When the hotels are hurting for visitors, I would even bid $95 or so on 4 star hotels. According to the Bidding for travel, the 4 star Hawaii Prince Marina has accepted bids at $75 in September of 2009 (last minute bids).

    Best Romantic Hotels and Hotels for Weddings On Oahu

    Bidding on Hawaii Travel at Priceline and Hotwire

    Bidding on Priceline and hotwire is a great way to save money on hotels and sometimes even flights to Hawaii. I have personally bid and gotten $55 at the Royal Kona Resort, and $120 at the Waikoloa Marriott. My friend got $110 at the Waikoloa Hilton, and $85 at the Hapuna Prince. I know someone who bid and received a roundtrip flight from San Francisco to Honolulu for $250. These are good deals!

    Oh, and don’t forget car rentals. You can get great deals on car rentals by bidding. The only issue with bidding for hotels is that you won’t know what hotel you get until you are locked in to paying for it. You just specify a certain star level or class of hotel. The only issue with bidding for flights is that you won‟t be able to specify an exact time, but they do tell you it will be sometime between x morning hour and x evening hour, so not too bad.

    So How Should I Bid on Hawaii Travel?

    Hotels: I like to decide on a hotel I like, then find out what its star level is. Then on Priceline, I go directly to naming my own price, and during the process priceline will tell you what the average price is for that star level. I then bid half of that. The priceline website will have a ticker of recently accepted rates in the area you are searching for that is helpful.

    An awesome resource is the bidding for travel forum. If you scroll down on the home page you’ll see three Hawaii forums, based on which islands you are planning to visit. People bid, and then come here and post their accepted and rejected rates. I have heard that the posted “median retail prices‟ at priceline are sometimes inaccurate. I don’t worry about this in Hawaii because I am so familiar with what the hotels cost here.

    You, however, may want to check prices on the website of a few hotels that are the same star level as you want. You can then try to bid 50% of that. Rental Cars – $15 a day is a good place to start, and check the recent winning bids on Priceline.

    Flights – I like to bid 50% of whatever the going rate is and then bid up in $50 increments if that is refused.

    Most Fun, Must-Do, Activities and Things to Do on Oahu

    This is my list of the most exciting and fun things to do on Oahu in my opinion.

    Wild Side Specialty Tours – small group, eco-minded, really cool, wild-dolphin swims. One of the most awesome things you‟ll ever do.

    • Atlantis Submarines tour. Good fun for kids and adults, very interesting, not scary. We had dolphins circle us when I went. That was really cool.
    • Learn to surf on Waikiki Beach, just show up and look for signs
    • Bodysurf at any beach with some wave action
    • Dolphin Quest at the Kahala Resort is good fun
    • The Arizona memorial is interesting to some, but my family enjoys the USS Bowfin Submarine museum and the Mighty Mo more.
    • Sea Life Park is cool if you have kids or are interested
    • The Polynesian Cultural Center is well-done with plenty of interesting shows and exhibits
    • The Bishop Museum is interesting to people who have an interest in Hawaiian culture and history
    • Charter Boat Fishing
    • Glider rides, sky-diving, or hang-gliding if you‟re brave
    • Helicopter or airplane tours of the island
    • Hiking Diamond Head, Manoa Falls, or Kapena Falls
    • Kayak Kailua Bay
    • Stand-up Paddleboarding, the newest craze around the world and in Hawaii. Easy, and good fun, but you may be sore the next day. If balancing is hard or if you have a wiggly child on the front, just paddle on your knees. Easiest for beginners with flat water and no wind. Go in the morning.
    • Sunset Sails in Waikiki. Just walk up to the boat on the beach and ask about it. Amazing sunsets every night and in your face
    • Whale Watching December to May – Whale watching is actually better on the other islands for some reason, but if you do manage to find a boat you like and see some whales it‟s an awesome experience
    • Hanauma Bay is cool for many – snorkeling with TONS of fish in a protected cove, and on 2nd and 4th Saturdays you can do it at night. Cool.

    Inexpensive or Free Activities on Oahu

    • If you have kids, the Waikiki aquarium is worth a look and fairly inexpensive.
    • A Hanauma Bay snorkeling trip – this is the only beach in Hawaii you’ll have to pay to visit, but it’s not expensive at all
    • Rent snorkel gear, a paddle board, surfboard, boogie board, or kayak
    • Body surf at any beach with mild wave action, except Sandy’s, or anything with big waves. You want to enjoy your vacation, not see what the inside of Hawaii’s hospitals look like.
    • Hike anywhere. The hiking is really good and sometimes quite easy on Oahu, with great rewards (think waterfalls)
    • Honestly, Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park is a fun day at a decent price. My family likes it.
    • In the winter, head out to the north shore to watch the big wave action. You‟ve never seen anything like it.
    • Dole Pineapple maze – a hedge maze in the Guinness Book of World Records. It‟s cool and only $5.
    • Chinatown – authentic! And interesting
    • Hawaii‟s Plantation Village
    • Sea life park admission is relatively inexpensive if you don‟t do anything extra
    • Waimea Valley Audobon Center – used to be adventure park but now it‟s more of a garden. If there’s a lifeguard you can swim in the pool under the waterfall at the end of the park.
    • Beach-hopping - Just drive, walk, or take the bus until you find a beach and hang out. It’s really that easy on Oahu.
    • Catch the free torch lighting hula show every other evening in Waikiki. Just ask your hotel staff. It’s a great show.
    • I like to walk through the lobbys of the grander hotels on Waikiki beach to see what’s going on there. They don’t mind. No one questions you, but if someone ever did, you could just say you are scoping out the hotel for your next trip.
    • The Marriott Waikiki Beach has a mini-version of the Halona blowhole that goes off in their lobby every once in a while. Some places have cultural demonstrations, live music, or hula shows.

    Best Ways I like to Save Money on Oahu

    Bidding for travel
    I like bidding at priceline for hotels and rental cars and airfare. This can save a lot of money right away

    Hawaii Entertainment Book

    Entertainment.com sells coupons books for dozens of locations across the country. The Hawaii book is pretty good if there are two of you, especially for fine dining deals. The Buy One Get One free Entrees are phenomenal.

    There are also activity and casual dining coupons, national coupons (like free upgrade or free day car rentals, six flags coupons, and hotwire coupons) and supposed hotel savings. In my experience, the hotel savings are not any better than what you can find on the internet, and so I don’t recommend them. If you have a different experience I’d love to hear about it.

    The book is typically best for Oahu, second best for Maui, and marginal for the Big Island and Kauai. I can’t recommend it for Kauai or the Big Island, really. Sigh. Wouldn’t it be nice if that changed in the near future. Check to see if the book works for your trip.

    Go Oahu Card
    The Go Oahu Card is a discount card that you pay a one-time fee for and then you can do whatever activities covered under the card at any time. I really like it for a certain class of vacationer: The type that consistently gets out and GOES to activity after activity. If you plan on lounging on the beach most of the day, this is not for you.

    I also really like this for a gift to honeymooners or vacationers. What a great gift! (and I like the entertainment book as a gift too). Check to see if the card works for you.

    Best Oahu Beaches and Must-See Beaches on Oahu

    Don’t hit all of these unless you are really into beaches. Just pick a few and take your time.

    ** Note: In Hawaii, all beaches are public. Anywhere that there is water, there must be public access to the shoreline. If you are in a residential neighborhood and want to check out the beach, just look for the blue signs that say “shoreline access” and follow the path, even if it’s directly between two houses. Sometimes, though, residential beaches do not have restrooms or showers.

    Don’t worry about directions too much. Oahu is a small island and you can see the ocean from almost everywhere. If you can see the ocean, you can find your way.

    Waikiki Beach - This is where all the action is. Instant surfing lessons, paddle an outrigger canoe, walk up to a catamaran and be riding it over the open ocean an hour later … Waikiki Beach is an awesome whirlwind of activity and people with consistently awesome weather and mellow surf.

    There’s a protected area for babies to play, plus wide spots and perfectly sandy spots. It’s like a giant, beautifully clean bathtub that you are sharing with the world. I love Waikiki Beach. A must-see beach.

    Ala Moana Beach - This is a locals beach, and it’s very close to Waikiki Beach. It fringes Ala Moana Park, which is a great place to walk or picnic. It’s well protected and wonderful for kids.

    Kahala Beach - A pretty beach in a very rich, residential area. Shallow reef with good snorkeling in some areas.

    Hanauma Bay - The value here isn’t so much in the beach as it is in the snorkeling. The fish are everywhere, and they don’t run from people too much. They are used to us.

    Kailua Beach - Awesome beach with tons to do. Rent kayaks right at the park and head out to the offshore islands.

    Lanikai Beach - One of my favorite beaches ever. Really what a Hawaiian beach that is not a cove should look like. Lazy, gorgeous, relaxation beach.

    Laie or Hukilau Beach - Really cool beach with one awesome off-shore island. Mostly calm and swimmable.

    Sunset Beach - In the summer (may – September) this is an awesome, fun beach to play at. In the winter, the waves will scare you out of the water, but drop your jaw when they are rocking. It’s fun either way.

    Sharks cove - An amazing snorkeling cove in the summer. In the winter the waves get too big.

    Waimea Bay Beach Park - Awesome, awesome beach. Beautiful and fun. Turtles like it, people like it, definitely check it out for swimming in the summer. In the winter, you want to check it out but for the WAVES. Waimea Bay is where some of the biggest and wildest surfing waves in the WORLD are.

    The south side and the west side have some very nice beaches that I have not mentioned (Ko Olina Lagoons, Makaha Beach Park, Papaoneone Beach …) but I am not going to go into them. If you are staying out there, you‟ll find them. If you are not staying out there, in my opinion it‟s not worth a trip because the beaches in the areas where you will be already are just as good. The only difference on the west side will be less people for the most part.

    Oahu Areas, Weather, and Seasons

    Waikiki/Honolulu Overview

    Waikiki is where most people who visit Oahu stay. It is essentially the beachfront area of the large city Honolulu. It is incredibly safe for a large city. In fact, all of Hawaii is very safe. There are some thefts from cars, but person on person crime is very rare. There are over 80 hotels in Waikiki alone. The beach is packed every day – but it’s a good and fun kind of packed; lots to do and lots of happy people running around doing it.

    The water is clear and refreshing (72 degrees year round) and the beach is clean. I like Waikiki. Some people will shun it because of the rampant commercialization and the skyscrapers and the buildings packed on top of each other, but as long as you know this is what it will be like, you can still enjoy Waikiki. The beach is phenomenal and makes up for all of that, plus the “country” of Oahu is a short ride away by car or bus. Good deal. Waikiki Hotels will offer the best deals in all of Hawaii and Waikiki activities such as surfing lessons and sunset or dinner cruises will also offer the most competitive prices in the islands.

    Waikiki Weather and Waves

    Average Temperature in Summer (May – September): High: 87 to 89 degrees F Low: 72 degrees F
    Average Temperature in Winter (October –April) High: 80 to 84 Low: 68 to 70
    Avg Rainfall per month in Summer ½ inch Avg Rainfall per month in winter 2 inches Waves in Winter Generally small waves in winter – still usually big enough for a beginner to learn to surf, but almost never so big your babies can’t play on the shore.

    Waves in SummerHawaii gets South Swells in the summer, which means that occasionally, the waves will be so big on Waikiki Beach that you won’t feel comfortable being in the water unless you are an expert swimmer. There is an area in the center called Kuhio beach or Baby beach where there is a wall blocking the waves, so people can still get in the water. I wouldn’t try first-ever surfing lessons during a south swell though.

    The Rest of Oahu Overview

    Outside of Waikiki and Honolulu, you can find one Hotel on the North Shore, the Turtle Bay Hilton, and a few hotels on the West Side of the island like Makaha Bay Towers and Ko Olina Resort. All of these hotels are at least a half hour drive from Honolulu and the airport. There are also countless vacation rentals and bed and breakfasts scattered around the island.

    Ewa Beach area

    Location: South side on the other side of Pearl Harbor from Waikiki

    Weather: Hot and sunny all the time, even at night this area will be slow to cool down Rain: very little – 20 inches or less a year

    Waves: occasional big waves in the summer Beach: Ewa beach is long and pretty, with houses lining it. This is a residential area, and some of the beach leads to clear water, some is full of coral, rocks, and seaweed. We still swim in it but this may not be what you are looking for. Activities: Nothing really except hanging out on the beach. You‟ll have to go elsewhere for boats and attractions.

    Hotels: None. There are plenty of vacation rentals.

    West Side of Oahu This is Ko Olina, Nankuli, Waianae, and Makaha.

    Safety Issue?
    You may have heard that Makaha and Waianae are not safe areas. Well, it’s true that they are considered a poorer areas but that image of being not safe is outdated. Don’t leave valuables in your car and you’ll be fine out here.

    Weather:
    Hot and sunny all the time, even at night this area will be slow to cool down Rain: very little – 20 inches or less a year Beach: There are many awesome beaches in this area.

    Activities: The Ko Olina Hotel has some ocean activities, and Wild Side Specialty Tours: operates a wild dolphin swim in the area too.

    Hotels: Ko Olina Resort , Hawaiian Princess, Makaha Beach Cabanas, and Makaha Valley Towers. You‟ll also find vacation rentals. Some of the places in Makaha offer great long term rental opportunities.

    East Side of Oahu

    This is Waimanalo, Kailua, Lanikai, Kaneohe, Kaaawa, Waimea, and Laie, although Laie is practically on the North Shore.

    Weather:
    A bit cooler than the South and west sides thanks to constant onshore winds. Rain: A bit more rain, than other areas too, but not too much if you are on or near the beach. Between 30 and 60 inches a year.

    Beach: Tons and tons of blow-your-mind-awesome beaches.

    Activities:
    Lots of stuff to do: hike, windsurf, kayak, shop, sightsee, snorkel, lounge on the beach, and tons more. Hotels: None. Many phenomenal vacation rentals. I like Waimanalo area, Kailua, and Lanikai area – especially Lanikai for the beach.

    North Shore of Oahu

    This is Waimea, Kahuku, and Haleiwa. Small, laid-back, surfing towns.

    Weather: Hot and sunny Rain: Between 20 and 40 inches a year.

    Waves: Waves big enough to shake the ground in the winter months. People come from every country just to look at these waves. No waves in the summer months.

    Beach: Great beaches and snorkeling coves. Swim in the summer, come just to look in the winter, unless you are an expert surfer.

    Activities: Lots of stuff to do: hike, shark dive, gliding, kayak, shop, sightsee, snorkel, jet ski, lounge on the beach, and tons more.

    Hotels: Only the Turtle Bay Hilton. Lots of right-on the-beach vacation rentals.

    Summary

    So that’s it, have a wonderful, wonderful vacation. Hawaii is a great place and you really can’t go wrong here. Leave me a comment if you want to share any stories or ask any questions.

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    Hilton Waikoloa Village Hotel Questions

    February 5, 2010 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Big Island, Big Island Beaches, Big Island Hotels, Vacation Planning 

    (to the sender of this email - your email failed when I tried to reply to you :( )

    My husband and I have booked a 6 night stay at Hilton Waikoloa Village (end of July – over my birthday!!!).

    A few questions:

    1) Can we get snorkeling gear at the hotel and simply snorkel off the beach at the hotel….will we get to see much? We are just looking to see some colorful fish and a turtle would be nice! (We usually pay for a snorkeling trip on other vacations) –we also plan to enjoy watching the dolphins on site – we will likely not pay the $$$ to swim with them though!

    2) We plan to rent a car for at least 1 day (if not 2). If you could only pick 2 destinations (day trips) on the big island which would they be? (Is there a rental place nearby?)

    a. We would be willing to drive up to 2 (maybe 3 hours) from the hotel, enjoy nature, and would be open to moderate to light hiking if it meant we ended up somewhere worth it (waterfalls…etc)

    b. We don’t want to cram too much into each day (especially if driving a far distance to and from)

    c. Things that spark our interest from our research. Akaka Falls, the black beach, the volcano (especially the idea of seeing molten lava at the waters edge), Coffee Plantation Tour.

    d. We see the Hilton has a Luau on site and were planning to go to that, but you mentioned another Luau on the big island as being your favorite. I am guessing we would need to rent a car to get to this. How far away is it from the Hotel and worth renting a car to go off site too? Have you been to the one at Hilton Waikoloa – how does it compare?

    e. Please include any great stops for a good lunch along the way (relatively inexpensive to moderate cost)

    3) Are there shuttles from Waikoloa Hilton to other area attractions and/or grocery stores (We would like to stock the room fridge with lunch snacks)?

    4) What price range should we be looking at for meals at the restaurant options at the Hotel – just trying to determine budget?

    5) Is there a special place that you would recommend on the Hilton Property that is relatively private and is great for viewing the sun set?

    Well thank you :)

    and how fun! wonderful! Ok …

    snorkeling gear, you know, we always brought our own so I am not 100% sure about this, but it seems like a really good bet that they will have something - you will have to rent it though. The Hilton employs an onsite company called red sail sports to provide all the boats and stuff for people who want them. If rental prices seem too much you will probably be able to buy snorkels at the gift shop.

    There is no real beach outside of the hotels grounds, only a lagoon with a beach inside, and snorkeling in the lagoon is pretty good. We see turtles, eels, and fish all the time. The turtles like to eat the leaves of the trees that around the lagoon between the waterfall and the steps.

    Some people go out into the cove, and snorkeling is probably good there too.

    For the car … well, maybe you could plan a trip to the Volcano, and hit the coffee plantation and the Black sand beach (punaluu) at the same time - they are on the way. You’ll want to check the current status of the volcano to see if it’s worth a trip the day before you plan to go - what’s going on down there changes daily.

    Here’s my blog about it, but I only do general updates about once a month if nothing crazy is going on.

    I think there is a budget rent a car on property at the Hilton.

    The luau at the Hilton is also very good. I would just stick with it.

    There is a trolley from the Hilton to the nearby Queens shops where there is a grocery store.

    The hilton restaurants range from expensive to outrageous (but with really good food :). The grill by the pool may be your most inexpensive bet - $8 or so for a burger if I remember correctly.

    as for the sunset walks - you can see the most awesome sunsets from anywhere on the grounds. There are a few hammocks here and there and many beach cabanas. There’s a point by the ocean tower that juts out and walking down there is good at night.

    Have a great time! Lisa

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    Beach Color in Hawaii and Beaches Quality in Kona

    February 4, 2010 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Big Island, Big Island Areas, Big Island Beaches, Hawaii - general, Vacation Planning 

    I’m planning a trip and have read your q&a on doing so. My question that I can’t seem to figure out is, on what island/beach will I find the ocean water to be that crystal blue/green so clear that you can see through. I know it may sound silly but that’s what I’m looking for, I prefer white sandy beaches with that aqua turquoise color. I’ve done some searches on “what color is the ocean in hawaii” etc but haven’t found what I’m looking for.

    I’d like to visit waterfalls, do some snorkeling, visit a volcano (not the highest priority) I’m thinking that I’ll take two weeks. I’m traveling with a friend who is providing me with free airline passes to get there, he said something about going to the big island first, then on to kona, he’ll be with me the first few days and then he’ll be leaving me on my own. I’d like a place to relax, enjoy the water, snorkel, do some sight seeing.

    Ok, that crystal blue-green you are looking for, I think that comes from a play of the sunlight through the water, and only happens with very shallow, long, open beaches (meaning not coves) where the bottom is all white sand.

    Hawaii is not the best place for these types of beaches, in my opinion, because of how quickly the water becomes deep almost everywhere.

    You’ll be able to catch a glimpse of it when the sun is right on most any island, for example, look at the second to the last picture here on Kauanoa beach on the big island - and the last picture of Abay on the big island here - and look at the last couple pictures of Kailua beach on Oahu here - and then a pic of anini beach on Kauai here.

    Now, although I have two examples on the Big Island, the Big Island will really be the hardest island to see something like this on - only beaches on the west side would even have a chance.

    Here’s one more thing to kind of get you thinking. See my pictures here from a boat tour we did in the Kealakekua Bay. Notice the difference in the colors of the water in the pictures. we were in 50 to 75 foot deep, perfectly clear water, and all those pics were taken within 10 minutes and 20 feet or so of each other - to this day I don’t know why the extremem difference in the color of the water.

    The beaches right in Kona are interesting, but not spectacular. The little beach to the left of the Kailua pier sometimes has the pretty green color, but it’s not a beach to hang out on - more like a tiny strip of sand that sometimes gets swallowed by the ocean when the tide is high. Kids like it.

    There’s a few more beaches along Alii Drive like Magic Sands and Kahaluu, but none of them will wow you that much. Kahaluu has lots of turtles which is cool.

    Many places on the west side of the Big Island, which will be up north of Kona 15-30 miles, will make you happy.
    … hmm, rereading I see you are going to be at the Marriott - if so, that would possibly be the Waikoloa Beach Marriott, which is on the West side and right on Anaehoomalu Bay (or A-Bay) and you willl probably like it, especially if you can make a trip to the Hapuna beach and maybe even the Kauanaoa Beach.

    anyway, have an awesome time! Lisa

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    Molokai Tours and Times from Oahu (Father Damien)

    February 1, 2010 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Hawaii - general, Molokai, Oahu, Vacation Planning 

    Hi. My husband and I will be on Oahu through February and want to go to Molokai. Will we have to go via Maui, or can we fly direct from Oahu? We have plenty of time but need to know how long a visit to St Damien’s church and site will take.

    Hi - you should be able to fly direct from Oahu, but your plane may be quite small :)

    By visiting father Damien’s church - do you mean going down to Kaluapapa where he did all his work? That’s an all day thing because you have to take a mule down, unless you take the air tour.

    You can also take your own plane right from Oahu if you want to spend that kind of money.

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    The Best Hawaii Guidebooks in My Opinion; Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and Big Island

    January 28, 2010 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Hawaii - general, Vacation Planning 
    Plan Your Best Vacation to Oahu Ever - Where to Stay and What to Do On Oahu

    Plan Your Best Vacation to Oahu Ever - Where to Stay and What to Do On Oahu - one of my guide books

    I have an absolute favorite Hawaii GuideBook series and it is the Hawaii Revealed Series (link is to the Hawaii Revealed books at Amazon). I like these guidebooks because the author’s pull no punches. There is no vague, travel magazine-speak about nothing. The books are filled with their honest opinions based on their actual experiences. I love that. That’s what I try to do with my websites.

    One of the best things about the books is the aerial pictures of the hotels, which you can see at their website. Another awesome things about their books is that the authors have actually eaten at every restaurant, done every activity, and stayed at every hotel they review. It’s 100% evident in the way they talk in the book. Not too many guidebooks can say that.

    I have each of these books for each island. If I am going traveling around Hawaii, I take these books - and I’ve lived in Hawaii for 14 years. I’ve written a review for each of the individual Hawaii Revealed Guidebooks here, if you are interested.

    I also like to recommend my books of course. Mine are free, only digital, and are more like mini guides or ebooklets. They are all available here: http://www.hawaii-lisa.com/answers/hawaii-guide-book/. There is one for The Big Island, Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and then four general books, one about saving money, one about getting married in Hawaii, one for first timers, and one about Island Hopping.

    I do have a second favorite paper book, and that is the Hawaii Trailblazer Books . I have personally spoken with the authors. They are nice people and they write solid books with good information. If you are an active person who likes to hike, swim, snorkel, and surf (or take lessons), these books are a good choice for you.

    I’d love to know your favorites or which books you have bought and like the best. Leave me a comment. thanks!

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    Hawaii Honeymoon Booking Questions

    January 26, 2010 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Oahu, Oahu Activities, Prices, Vacation Planning 

    Hi Lisa: Wanted to get your input on some things.

    We are planning our honeymoon and would like to stay in Oahu for 7 nights. We are looking at July 26 - Aug 2. I understand that flying on a workday is cheaper, than the weekends. It is so hard to find the best package and know which one to trust. There are so many sites to choose from, but it worries me to use one of these 3rd party on line websites, such as “Priceline, Orbitz, Travelocity, etc” .

    I have personally used expedia, priceline, travelocity, and orbitz and they are all reputable businesses that provide valid services. really :)

    I found yet another website that took me to “Great Hawaiian Vacations”. They are a travel agent who will help you choose your best package. Are they trustworthy?

    I have not personally used great hawaii vacations, but it looks they are members of the better business bureau. I also found this post at tripadvisor where many people like them

    Do any of these 3rd party websites get any commission if you use there services/website?

    Yes, anybody who does booking for you will get some sort of a commission.

    We are wanting to stay on the beach in Waikiki. I found that the “Outrigger Reef on the Beach” has the options we want. Do you recommend that hotel? If I go through a 3rd party to make the reservations, how would I communicate to the hotel that it is our honeymoon and what kind of special deals can we expect?

    Yes, I recommend the Outrigger Reef on the Beach- I like all the Outriggers and this one is a nice one.

    The booking party may be able to input notes that it is your honeymoon, if not you can let them know when you get there. You will not get any special deals probably, unless you specifically book a honeymoon deal and that is normally through the hotel itself. You may get a bottle of wine or champagne though.

    When talking to an agent from “Great Hawaiian Vacations”, he mentioned that instead of renting a car from the airport and paying that price everyday + a $25 parking fee at the hotel, he recommends just renting on a daily basis. We can usually go through the hotel to rent a car and not have to pay that parking fee. What do you recommend?

    This is a valid idea, especially if you won’t need the car everyday. If it’s important to you, you could actually do the math, confirm with the hotel that their parking fee is $25, then add up the car rental fee, then see how much it would be to just rent it per day.

    There are certain activities that we would like to do while we are there. Do you recommend that we reserve ahead of time or wait until we arrive?

    Activities consisting of:
    snorkeling
    go to a dinner luau (the one that has flame dancers). What is the best to go to?
    rent a Harley Davidson for one day.
    take a Pearl Harbor tour.

    You are going during the busy season, so I would recommend prebooking your harley davidson rental and your luau. They are all good in Oahu but I recommend the paradise cove luau. There’s nothing to book for snorkeling unless you take a boat tour, for which case I would recommend prebooking, and for pearl harbor you are not able to prebook - you have to do it onsite.

    When should we book our vacation/honeymoon to get the best price?

    Well, I would ask the great hawaii vacation guys what they think, but generally, if you aren’t going to book last minute then you will want to book as early as possible. 2 months out is smart if you can do it.

    Congratulations, and have a wonderful time!

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    Hawaii For the First Time

    January 23, 2010 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Hawaii - general, Most Popular Questions, Vacation Planning 

    Planning to visit Hawaii for the first time can start out as a an exciting adventure that quickly becomes overwhelming. There are just so many choices! Where to stay, what to do, which island or islands to visit…Plus, visiting the “Aloha State” is not like visiting any of the other 50 states. For extra help, see my first timer ebook here with my other free hawaii guidebooks.

    Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. that has its culture and language. But don’t worry, English is the primary language spoken here, meaning English will be spoken at the places you stay, shop, visit, etc. Many of the locals speak Hawaiian Pidgin, mostly to each other at home, at play, etc. It’s much like slang but with a melodic rhythm and is based on English with influences from other languages, especially Hawaiian.

    Of all the tropical places to vacation, Hawaii is the easiest for Americans to visit because, well, it’s part of the United States. There’s no currency exchange or passports to hassle with, but you still get the warm tropical weather (average 82 highs and 67 lows near the shores) and beautiful beaches.

    If you are flying from the West Coast, jet lag won’t be much of an issue because Hawaii is only 2 hours behind Pacific Standard Time. When it’s 7 a.m. in the islands, it’s 9 a.m. in California. We don’t have daylight saving time, so add another hour during the summer. It’s about a 5-hour flight from LAX to Honolulu.

    As far as what island to visit…if I could only visit one island, I think it would be Oahu.

    I know Waikiki is crowded and all, but there’s so much to do here and I love all the energy (maybe that comes from living on the laid back Big Island). Oahu has lots of beaches too that aren’t crowded. And it’s got the royal palace, Bishop Museum, Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor…

    Maui, the second most visited Hawaiian Island, has the famous Hana Highway and more humpbacks than the other islands all put together. Kauai, the Garden Isle’ lives up to its name and is where you’ll find the legendary Na Pali Coast, and the Big Island (Hawaii Island) is home to an active volcano.

    To help you plan your first visit to Hawaii, I have a free first timers ebooklet available for download (no strings) at: http://www.hawaii-lisa.com/answers/hawaii-guide-book/

    The most visited islands in Hawaii are Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. It is impossible to see them all in only 8 days. A good vacation would involve staying all 8 days on one island. Even if you want to see 2 islands in 8 days, you will spend too much time and energy getting from one island to another. The Big Island has the only active volcano. Pearl Harbor is on Oahu. All islands have luaus. I would recommend getting a Hawaii travel guide that describes the sights on each island and after reading that, you will get an idea of which island seems to draw you the most. First Time to Hawaii Adult Kids and Parents

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    Punaluu on Oahu, Windy? Nice Place?

    January 19, 2010 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Oahu, Vacation Planning 

    Hi, Lisa. I have found your site very helpful. My husband and I have some questions, and I hope you can offer some help.

    We are planning a trip to Oahu the end of June, beginning of July for 7 days to celebrate our 20th anniversary. We are trying to decide on which area of the island will suit us best for lodging. This is our first trip to Hawaii, so we are fairly clueless about the various areas of Oahu.

    We plan for this trip to primarily be a laidback, romantic trip rather than a very active one, so we are thinking the North Shore area would suit our needs better. We are not shoppers, but we do plan to spend a day or 2 in the Honolulu/Waikiki area at Pearl Harbor, the zoo, the aquarium and Diamond Head. Other activities we are interested in are the Polynesian Cultural Center, Dole plantation, and hiking around some waterfalls. We are looking at a condo - Pat’s on Punalu’u - and are wondering if this would be a good location for us. We like that it is directly beachfront, so that we can spend some time on a quiet, peaceful beach, maybe do a little snorkeling, and also see the beach from the lanai/condo. We have read some reviews of this location that mention that this is a windy location. Is Punalu’u a terribly windy area, and is it noticeably more windy than other locations? Would you think that this location is a good place to base ourselves in consideration of the activities we are plannning and interests we have, or do you have a different suggestion? Also, if you have any input about Pat’s (or anything else) that would be welcome as well.

    There may be some confusion here about the name Punaluu. There is a Punaluu Beach on the Big Island that is on a south shore and frequently can get very windy. I wonder if some of what you read was about this place. Pat’s at Punaluu is in a town called Punaluu on Oahu, which is on the North-East side of the island. This side of the island will get tradewinds and more weather than the west and some the south sides of Oahu, but I wouldn’t be worried about the wind. You might run into some weather, but most likely it will be sunny and beautiful and the tradewinds will just cool you down :)

    I can recommend Pat’s and I don’t think it’s too far from what you want to do. Just try to avoid going into the Honolulu area during morning commute and out of Honolulu during evening commute - try a late morning drive in and stay in Honolulu for dinner and you should be good.

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    Kona to Hilo Bus Schedule

    January 19, 2010 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Big Island, Vacation Planning 

    I will be visiting Hawaii later this month and will be travelling to the Big Island. I have two nights accommodation booked in Kona and then two nights in Hilo. I very much want to experience everything that both towns have to offer including diving with the Manta Rays and seeing active lava flow. I will be travelling on my own and I have heard that car hire in Hawaii is very expensive when you take all the extras into consideration. I was thinking of taking the bus from Kona to Hilo but I am not sure where I would need to catch it from. I will be staying at the Keauhou Beach Resort, would appreciate your advice on what would be the best option.

    Hi Robyn, the hele on bus schedule is here: http://www.heleonbus.org/schedules-and-maps/kona-hilo-bus-schedule-1 - as you can see, the bus stops at the Sheraton Keauhou at 6:20 am, every day but sunday. The Sheraton Keauhou is just down the road from the Keauhou beach resort - maybe 15 minutes or so walk. If I were you, as soon as you check in, I would tell the front desk your plans to take the bus and see what they suggest - maybe they could even call the sheraton keauhou and find out exactly where the bus picks up at over there.

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    Maui and Kauai Areas and Driving Times

    January 18, 2010 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Hawaii - general, Kauai, Kauai Activities, Maui, Maui Activities, Vacation Planning 

    first, thanks for offering those free books which i promptly downloaded. my boyfriend and i are staying at a timeshare in lahaina, maui for 6 nights. i have put together a list of things to do, with as much free things to do as possible.

    we will be renting a car, and it just seems like all the things to do are in the east (like the haleakala crater, and hana, and even the winery seem to take hours to get to). i have looked at previous answers you have given, but i guess my question is not so much as “things to do” but the order to do them in so we are not just spending this vacation driving back and forth, and passing the same things. for example, the road to hana. we want to drive that, and sites suggest that be the whole day, which is fine.

    however, it seems i will be passing all these other attractions and should take advantage of being in the same proximity, you know what i mean? like a suggested beach or snorkling in the molokini crater.
    what do you suggest taking advantage of while in that area? light walking around is fine for me, but nothing resembling strenuos hiking. snorkeling for free ourselves at a nice beach would be fine, too, but i guess to get to the crater we would need to get out there..hmm. of course we want to do a luau.

    then, after 6 nights, we are flying nonstop to kauai (pupoi) for 4 nights. i guess we will need another rental car, so can you help me with the same strategy with driving? ie, doing things convenient to each other and knowing what can be done in one trip. it would be nice to be at a beach, and then actually shower before going on a dinner cruise, for example.

    Well, here’s what I would do, I think. I would plan a whole day for the road to Hana. Hit whatever you want to on the way there - like Paia and some easy hike waterfalls and then once you get to Hana check out the Oheo gulch, it’s easy to get to and a main attraction there.

    Then, do an upcountry day where you hit the winery and the Haleakala park.

    then, do a beach and site-seeing day along the Lahaina and Kaanapali and maybe Wailea coasts and fit in any boat tours too - I think you are already on the absolute right track and all this will come together a bit more once you get there and see that the island is smaller than it seems to you now.

    If you wanted to get a guidebook that would really spell this out for you, I really like the Maui Revealed book - it breaks up beaches and sights and adventures by areas of the island. Sometimes libraries have it too.

    Now, once you get to Kauai, this really won’t be an issue, because Kauai is even smaller. No matter what you want to do it will probably be within 20 minutes of what you are doing, and wonderful sunset dinner cruises will be right there in poipu, so you can hit your hotel room to shower first.

    heading all the way out to the farthest west side of the island can take a while but not to many people do that - and hitting the Na Pali coast from Poipu can take a while too, but everything else on the island is on the way to the Na Pali coast - so don’t worry, I don’t think you are going to have any problems.

    Have a truly wonderful vacation! Lisa

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    Hilo and Kona and Honolulu Cruise Port of Call Help

    January 15, 2010 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Big Island, Big Island Activities, Hawaii - general, Vacation Planning 

    I’ve come across your website while researching our trip (boyfriend and I). We are planning a cruise in September and wanted to know how accessible shuttle services are from the ports.

    1. Hilo cruise ports to Akaka falls. Should we take a taxi or is there a shuttle, what are the costs?
    2. Honolulu port to HNL international airport. We want to be at the airport by 630-7am, how much would a taxi cost, I see that the airport is fairly close by.
    3. In Kona we plan to follow your advice and visit Kahaluu Beach, is this difficult to get to? How much would a jet ski/ boat be?

    We were just wondering how close attractions are from the ports, and what to expect if we took cabs or if public transit was easy/reliable (we don’t want to miss our departure at each ports).

    Honolulu port to the airport would be about $20 to $30.

    Hilo to Akaka falls, you probably will need to take a taxi, although sometimes shuttles are offered. You may have to wait till your are on the ship or even till you get off at port to know about the shuttle. Taxi is $3.20 a mile, so it could cost you $64 one way. Many times the taxis are vans, so if you could fit three couples in a van you could split it three ways.

    In Kona, Kahaluu Beach is around the 5 mm, while the cruise ship is around the 0 mm, so that will be much more reasonable by taxi. - less than $20 one way.

    Jet ski is $100 something for the hour but it’s just on a circular track. To rent a boat is going to be $370+ for a half day. Renting a scooter or bikes is easy too and not too much money.

    Each port is different, and each port will have a different amount of resources trying to help you see what you want to see. Hilo and Kona are generally the hardest to figure out because the island is so big and in Hilo not as many tourists come in, so there’s not as many companies catering to them.

    Don’t worry, I’m sure it will all come together nicely for you and you’ll have a great time :) Lisa

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    Honeymoon Campervan Vacation on Kauai or Maui?

    January 2, 2010 by Lisa · 1 Comment
    Filed under: Camping, Hawaii - general, Kauai, Maui, Vacation Planning 

    We are planning our honeymoon to hawaii for around april this year for around ten days. We fly into Oahu then were planning on staying just a couple days there before heading over to Maui or possibly kuaui? Have any suggestions on which one would best suit honeymooners? We love to explore and though it might be fun to rent a campervan for a few days…and travel around the island? How long do think it would take to drive around the entire island? Also do you think it is possible to do all these three islands in ten days or should we stick to just two?

    Well, I can answer this one easily :) because as far as I know Kauai doesn’t have any campervan rentals available on the island. So you should go to Maui. And Maui is lovely, you will love it.

    How long it will take you will depend on how often you stop and play. You could do it in a day if you just drove - of course you can’t completely circle either of these islands. On Maui, the road ends in Hana, and on Kauai, the road ends at the Na Pali Coast.

    Honestly, I always recommend no more than two islands on any vacation around a week in length - otherwise there is just too much standing in airports and packing and unpacking and renting and returning for me. However, you’ll need to decide if you will kick yourself or not for just doing two islands. That’s a very personal decision.

    Congrats, and have a great vacation - and check out my digital guide books to the islands
    - no cost!

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    Where to Rent Camping Equipment In Hawaii; Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Kauai, or Big Island

    November 19, 2009 by Lisa · 1 Comment
    Filed under: Big Island, Camping, Kauai, Maui, Molokai, Oahu, Vacation Planning 
    Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii
    Image by Jeff Kubina via Flickr

    I am coming to Hawaii in Feb 2010 and would like to do some camping. Can you tell me if there are places on Molokai, Maui or the Big Island that rent camping equipment?

    Sorry, but there really is no where to rent camping equipment on any of the islands. You’ll need to bring it or buy it when you get here - on Maui or the Big Island - molokai and Kauai will have the least buying options. Oahu will have the most buying options.

    You may be able to rent camping stoves or larger things of that nature, but you will be limited on where you can use such a thing. No one rents tents or sleeping bags that I know of.

    New rental places and stores do open up all the time though, so if anyone knows of anything or has a rental company website, please leave a comment. :) thanks!

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    Hawaii; Should I Visit One Island or Two or More?

    November 11, 2009 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Big Island, Most Popular Questions, Vacation Planning 

    Hi Lisa
    i happened upon your site while doing research on Hawaii vacations..
    here is my dilemna…my husband and two daughters (13 & 16) will be coming to Hawaii in July. I am trying to book a nice vacation and at the same time trying to control costs…
    Since this is a once in a lifetime trip for us I am trying to decide if we should do 2 islands or just enjoy one. We want to have some down time to relax and some time to explore. I am definetly staying on the big island. By staying on just one island will we get to see all Hawaii has to offer?

    You didn’t say how long your trip will be. I like to recommend no more than one island for every 5-7 days in Hawaii, for just that reason. Relaxing is important. Packing and unpacking and flying and renting a car all over again is not relaxing, typically.

    The other islands are quite different than the Big Island, but the Big Island definitely has something to offer for everyone, and it’s the only island with the volcano and an awesome black sand beach (punaluu) and it’s best beaches (Hapuna and Mauna Kea) can rival the best anywhere in the islands.

    I don’t think you will be missing out on anything by staying on the Big Island, unless someone else in your party has their heart set on something specific like Pearl Harbor. There is always the option of a day trip too - meaning you could just fly over for a day and fly back that evening, but that could the priciest way to island hop if you go with a predestined tour.

    So, don’t worry if you just stay on the Big Island. Others may tell you that you were missing something, but I don’t think you will be.

    Aloha, Lisa

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    8 Free Hawaii Guide Books

    September 22, 2009 by Lisa · 6 Comments
    Filed under: Big Island, Hawaii - general, Kauai, Maui, Oahu, Vacation Planning 

    I have written a Hawaii Guide Book as a gift to you! Actually, I’ve written 8 Hawaii guide books and they are all free to help you plan your trips. There’s one for each major island and then 4 special topics.

    Available Now

    Plan Your Best Vacation to Oahu Ever - Where to Stay and What to Do On Oahu

    Plan Your Best Vacation to Oahu Ever - Where to Stay and What to Do On Oahu

    Download the Oahu book here - right click the link and download the book to your computer, or read it at the online version, The Complete Oahu Vacation Guide. They are a little different but not too much.

    This guide book describes Oahu areas, what hotels are best for budget trips, romantic trips, best overall beach locations, and best family hotels. I also talk about the best beaches I like and my favorite activities.

    Plan your Best Vacation to Kauai Ever! Where to Stay and What to Do in Kauai

    Plan your Best Vacation to Kauai Ever! Where to Stay and What to Do in Kauai

    Download the Kauai book here - right click the link and download the book to your computer.

    This guide book outlines all my favorite things about Kauai, plus what hotels are best for budget trips, romantic trips, best overall beach locations, and best family hotels.

    Plan Your Best Vacation to Maui Ever! Where to Stay and What to Do on Maui

    Plan Your Best Vacation to Maui Ever! Where to Stay and What to Do on Maui

    Download the Maui book here - right click the link and download the book to your computer.

    This guide book outlines all my favorite things about Maui, plus what hotels are best for budget trips, romantic trips, best overall beach locations, and best family hotels.

    Plan your Best Vacation to the Big Island of Hawaii Ever - Where to Stay and What to Do on the Big Island

    Plan your Best Vacation to the Big Island of Hawaii Ever - Where to Stay and What to Do on the Big Island

    Download the Big Island book here - right click the link and download the book to your computer.

    This guide book outlines all my favorite things about the Big Island, plus my favorite family, beach-front, and budget hotels.

    Hawaii Hopping for Fun! Visiting More than One Island in Hawaii the Smart Way

    Hawaii Hopping for Fun! Visiting More than One Island in Hawaii the Smart Way

    Get the Hawaii Hopping For Fun; Visiting More than One Island In Hawaii The Smart Way Book here to discover all the ways there are to get around between the Hawaii Islands. Inter-Island Hawaii Travel explained in depth!

    First Time Hawaii Vacations the Easy and Fun Way; How to Get to Hawaii, Where to Stay, and What to Do

    First Time Hawaii Vacations the Easy and Fun Way; How to Get to Hawaii, Where to Stay, and What to Do

    Get the First Time Hawaii Vacations Ebook Here Right click and choose save target as. So, if you’ve never been to Hawaii before, get out your pen and take notes. This book will give you a basic overview of Hawaii, and tell you the popular and best places to stay and what to do on each island, where to fly into, and where to look for packages. Get an idea of what sounds good to you and then follow it up.

    How to Save Thousands of Dollars on a Hawaii Vacation! Saving Money on Hotels, Flights, Food, and Fun things to Do.

    How to Save Thousands of Dollars on a Hawaii Vacation! Saving Money on Hotels, Flights, Food, and Fun things to Do.

    Save Thousands on a Hawaii Vacation! right click and choose save target as. Dozens of strategies and website recommendations to save you money. Spend less on the flight and have more for the fun stuff!

    How to Get Married in Hawaii On a Dime! Simple, fun, and low-cost Hawaii Weddings

    How to Get Married in Hawaii On a Dime! Simple, fun, and low-cost Hawaii Weddings

    How to Get Married in Hawaii on a Dime - I recount my experiences with getting married in Hawaii and coordinating a wedding in Hawaii, plus I talk about what you need to get married in Hawaii, and cool places to do it. Congratulations, by the way!

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    Is Camping Safe in Hawaii? Is Campground Safety an Issue?

    June 26, 2009 by Lisa · 2 Comments
    Filed under: Camping, Hawaii - general, Kauai, Maui, Vacation Planning 

    We are seriously considering coming to Hawaii in late Oct/Early Nov and would like to camp to stretch our money, but are reading alot of contradictory info on forums etc about campgrounds being unsafe and unwelcoming to tourists. The islands we are planning to visit are Kauai and Maui and, only if money allows, the Big Island.

    We would really love the experience of enjoying the staying amidst the natural beauty of Hawaii, but want to feel safe and have at least basic amenities. We are a mature couple who enjoy occasional, seasonal camping, so not interested in a grotty backpacker experience.

    Could you let me know your opinion on whether we should pursue camping on these islands, or stick with budget accom options.

    You know, this really has not ever been my experience. I am not a tourist but myself and my whole family are caucasian (so we are frequently mistaken as tourists) and we travel a lot and I have NEVER, ever been accosted or even really given ’stink-eye’. I know it happens, and I know there are occasional bad experiences, but I think that may have more to do with the behavior of the visitors.

    I did witness an event once where a group of teenage girls and their teachers or mothers were surrounding a sea turtle and touching it in a shallow beach area. Not a good thing - turtles should not be touched.

    Well, a family of native hawaiians went off on them in a big way. Lots of yelling. Bad experience. But nothing they weren’t almost asking for with their treatment of this animal the Hawaiians consider sacred.

    So, I wouldn’t worry about it. Honestly. Maui and Kauai are great, safe islands. Just be respectful of the land and the animals and you should be fine in my opinion.

    Have fun! Lisa

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    Remote and Secret Waterfalls on Maui, Hawaii - Waterfalls off the Beaten Path

    January 14, 2009 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Maui, Maui Activities, Vacation Planning 

    I’m planning a trip to Maui in March and was wondering if you could suggest some waterfalls to visit? We were hoping to find some with swimmable pools and maybe (if we’re really lucky) somewhere off the beaten path - remote!?

    Well - Maui is a GREAT island to see waterfalls on. Many of them have swimmable pools - most *were* off the beaten path and then the guide book Maui Revealed revealed them all and gave great directions how to find them … because before noone could find them. I would suggest getting the book. You also can check out these pages for some fantastic descriptions.
    Adventure Maui Waterfall Descriptions
    Hawaiiweb waterfall pictures

    Personally, I would stick with Oheo Gulch (aka the seven sacred pools) or the ones on the Hana Highway. They are remote, even if they are no longer secret. Many of them have swimmable pools. They won’t be that private but they’ll still be cool. Plus, there are short hikes out to most of them that are just really fun.

    Honestly, many locals have gotten a bit peeved that some of their favorite spots have been overrun by visitors and that’s why I would suggest Hana Highway and Hana. You are less likely to run into that.

    Have a GREAT time! Lisa

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    Value of Hawaii All Inclusive - All Included Vacation Packages

    December 4, 2008 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Hawaii - general, Most Popular Questions, Oahu, Oahu Activities, Prices, Vacation Planning 

    I’m in the process of planning my honeymoon and would love to visit Hawaii. I read some of the articles on your site and you seem to have a lot of knowledge about Hawaii. There’s a deal that I found on the internet, but my fiancé and I are unsure whether it IS really a good deal, like they claim. I copied and pasted it below. I would really appreciate it if you give me your feedback as to whether we should go ahead and book w/ them, or if we should book everything separately? (i.e. flight, hotel, activities, food, etc. to be separate) In other words, is the quoted price really worth it? Also, how much money should we plan to spend on top of this quoted price? (that is, for additional activities, food, etc.) We are trying to make it as affordable as possible. Thanks a lot!

    **** Note. I was asked to remove the copied and pasted all inclusive waikiki vacation itinerary and I did. The itinerary included 1 to 2 activities per day, plus some meals, airfare and hotel, shuttle, transportation, tips, and trolley for a day.

    So, I took your email and got the VALUE of what you are being offered as this: $1418.5 per person low-end, $1868.5 high end. Now, this is not a figure that can really be locked down, because I am figuring my values based on a low-moderate of what prices I know are available. For example, I did not determine the price of the Breakfast Buffet, but since I know breakfast buffets can be had in Waikiki for as little as $6 and as much as $30+ I decided on a low-moderate value of $12. The meal you may be booking could cost significantly more.

    You also could go to Subway and get a breakfast Burrito and drink a bottle of water you got from the supermarket for $.60 and pay about $4 for breakfast .. it’s all relative.

    That being said - here’s how I arrived at my figure:

    I looked on Expedia fare tracker, and although most flights cost $900+ when you want to fly, there was one to be booked for $450.

    Outrigger Waikiki West has an Internet Special at $89 per night. add taxes and fees and take this up to $105 or so. They also have higher priced rooms so I averaged $700 and $1050 and divided by 2 (per person) for 437.5 per person for 7 nights.

    Lei greeting one person - $20
    food plus tips: $200
    activities: $300
    airport shuttle each way plus tip $11

    So, in terms of absolute money, I don’t think you are getting the best deal you could get. However, to have everything done for you and someone else worry about all the details and barely even have to bring a wallet? That may be worth it to you. Some people who work for themselves know the value of their time - and someone whose value per hour is $60+ or so would definitely find value in this trip.

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    Hawaii Rv Rental; Oahu RV or Camper Van Rental;

    October 23, 2008 by Lisa · 1 Comment
    Filed under: Camping, Hawaii - general, Oahu, Oahu Activities, Oahu Rentals, Vacation Planning 

    Hi Lisa - Thanks for your website info! My question is that I am planning a trip to Hawaii for me and my son, who turns 16 in March. He’s a keen surfer/bodyboarder/golfer and we are both active types. I am wondering if it is poss to rent an rv or campervan on oahu from the airport and then explore the island like that, rather than book into a hotel. Or, is it better to stay in one place and hire a car etc. He particularly wants to spend time around Pipeline.

    Well, the problem with Oahu, and Hawaii in general as it pertains to RV’s, is that there are no hookups. No one rents RVs because there is nowhere really to park and hook one up. A Camper van would work, but you would need advice on where you are allowed, or will get by with parking for the night. Contact these people: http://www.oahucampingvans.com/ and see what they say. Have a great time! Lisa

    p.s. Here’s another Oahu camper rental site, Hawaii Campers and as you can see by the comment below, they will help you with permits AND pick you up from the airport!

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    Cheapest Budget Way to Travel Between Hawaii Islands - Interisland Hopping, Flights, and Ferries

    September 12, 2008 by Lisa · 2 Comments
    Filed under: Big Island, Hawaii - general, Kauai, Maui, Most Popular Questions, Oahu, Prices, Vacation Planning 

    What are the cheapest ways to island hop from Oahu? I heard of a hydrofoil boat that takes you to the other islands. Do you know about this and what the cost is? Thanks

    I think the boat you have heard of is the Superferry, and it seems rates are about $49 one way now - compared with $69 one way which is the lowest you’ll occasionally find at Hawaiian Airlines and Go Airlines, it is indeed the cheapest. However, it only goes to Maui and back right now. It won’t come to the Big Island till sometime in 2009 and Kauai is having a legal battle about it right now - so who knows when it will go there.

    Sometimes prices are higher, and sometimes they are lower. During high travel seasons things sell out quickly and what you can get goes at a premium, so maybe $104 each way is the best you’ll get at the airlines. Sometimes the airlines get into pricing wars for various reasons and their prices drop drastically. When Go! first entered the scene prices were dropping as low as $19 one way, but then one airline went bankrupt and all those deals disappeared.

    The superferry hasn’t been around long enough for me to draw any conclusions about what it will or won’t do, but their prices have mostly held steady since they started.

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    Oahu Itinerary - What Things We’re Going To Do On Oahu, Hawaii

    August 29, 2008 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Hawaii - general, Oahu, Oahu Activities, Vacation Planning 

    Listed below are my itineraries for my Hawaiian Vacation for four adults. Can you tell me what you think? should I change, add or modify anything to my itineraries?

    Flight departure to Honolulu, Hawaii

  • Morning: (0730hrs) USS Arizona Memorial Park/Museum (Take Ala Moana Blvd. /Nimitz Highway or (H-1) West to begin. While on H-1; look for the USS Arizona/Stadium exit, #15A)
  • Visit: the USS Bowfin Museum ($8), USS Missouri ($16), USS Oklahoma (Free), and Pacific Memorial Museum ($14)
  • Afternoon: Visit: the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punch Bowl (2177 Puowaina Drive 1-808-532-3720-Free)
  • Drive to Punchbowl Crater (Site Seeing/picture taking)
  • Visit: the Iolani Palace (364 South King Street $12)
  • Visit: the King Kamehameha Statue (957 Punchbowl Street)
  • Visit: Aloha Tower and go to the observation deck (1 Aloha Drive)
  • Evening: at the Aloha Tower Marketplace and dine in one of many in restaurants in area

    • Saturday

  • Morning: Breakfast at Duke’s Waikiki (2335 Kalakaua Ave at the Outrigger Waikiki)
  • Full day at leisure
  • Relax at Waikiki Beach and take a picture with the Duke Kahanamoku Statue (Next to the Moana Surfer Hotel)
  • Late Afternoon (If time permits): Take Highway 61 (The Pali Highway)
  • Visit: The Nuuanu Pali State Wayside (for some pictures)
  • Visit: The Town of Kailua and the beaches of Kailua and Lanikai
  • Visit: Pinky’s Pupu Bar and Grill (970 Kalaheo Ave, Kailua) for a quick bite or snack
  • Evening: Dine at the MAC 24-7 (Hilton Waikiki Prince 2500 Kuhio Avenue) or any restaurant in Kailua or in Waikiki

    • Sunday

  • Morning: Visit Diamond Head State Monument ($5 per Car), Diamond Head Light House, Diamond Head Beach
  • Visit: Makapuu Lighthouse lookout point
  • Visit South Shore beaches: Hanauma Bay State Underwater Park, Sandy Beach (8800 Kalaniana’ole Highway), Moana Beach Park (1201 Ala Moana Boulevard)
  • Visit: Hike to the Manoa Falls
  • Visit: Halona Blow Hole (along the Kalanianaole Highway) and Hike to Halona Rocks
  • Drive around Round Top and Tantalus Drive on Mount Tantalus (GPS Pu’u Ualakaa State Park for directions to Mt Tantalus)
  • Visit: Pu’u Ualakaa State Park (Movie: Blue Hawaii with Elvis Presley was filmed here)-Park closes at 6PM
  • Afternoon: Take to North Shore (take H1 to H2 to drive along the center of Island)
  • Visit: The Town of Haleiwa
  • Lunch: at Cafe Haleiwa (66-460 Kamehamaha Highway) or at any of the numerous restaurants in town
  • Beaches to Visit: while at Haleiwa: Waimea Beach Park, Waimea Bay, Banzai Beach (where the famous Banzai Pipeline is), Ehukai Beach, Sunset Beach
  • Visit: Matsumotos Shave Ice (66-087 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa) for a brief snack of famous shaved ice.
  • Evening: Drive back to Waikiki for some relaxation or shopping and dine in one of the many restaurants in Waikiki

    • —

    Boy, you are a trip planner after my husband’s heart :) Me, I just show up and look around to see what looks fun. lol. So, my first impulse is that you have a LOT planned - but I understand - you want to see it all. Anyway, regarding Oahu, everything looks good to me. One thing is I would do Manoa falls before you head out to Hanauma Bay, maybe even before Diamond head - it’s more above Honolulu than to the East like the rest of that stuff. Plus, Manoa falls is a HIKE. It’s just a mile but most of it is sloped up. You’ll want water and maybe a change of clothes or at least a towel to dry off with. Also, Kailua and Lanikai beaches are so awesomely beautiful you might want to plan a swim there.

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    Complete Oahu Vacation Planning Made Easy - Oahu Revealed Review

    July 25, 2008 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Hawaii Revealed Guides, Oahu, Oahu Activities, Vacation Planning 

    The book Oahu Revealed The Ulimate Guide to Honolulu, Waikiki, and Beyond is, in my opinion, one of the best guides online or off to the island of Oahu. I like all the Hawaii Revealed books a lot. This was the last one to come out and I eagerly anticipated it - it was worth the wait. Here’s a quote from the book to give you an idea of where the authors are coming from:

    Oahu: land of myths. We’re not talking about ancient Hawaiian myths. We’re talking about the myths that exist about the island, both from visitors and those that live on neighbor islands (including us before we moved here to do this book). The biggest myth is that Oahu is Waikiki and Waikiki is Oahu. NOTHING could be further from the truth. Oahu has all the wonder, adventure, and discovery that a person could ever ask for - and far more.

    We’ve had to deviate from our usual way of doing things for this Oahu book. Put simply, this island is so vast, so dense and so full of choices that its impossible to be fully comprehensive. If we were you’d never be able to lift this book. So instead, we’ve chosen to show you those things that we think make Oahu special. …

    The most incredible thing about the book, as with all the books, is the hotel review section where they include aerial pictures of every hotel they review - so you can see exactly where your hotel or building is in relation to the ocean or the mountain or something you might not want to be so close to!

    The book is filled with pretty and interesting pictures that really point you in the direction of what YOU might find the most interesting. There is so much to do on Oahu that you aren’t going to get to do it all, so a bit of planning can go a long way.

    Of course the book covers Waikiki and Honolulu sights, then it moves on to East Oahu and talks about the coastal route to Kailua, Kailua, and Kaneohe, then it goes on to North Shore sights and talks about what’s best to see and o in Kualoa, Hakan Bay, Laie, Kahuku, turtle bay, Waimea Bay, Haleiwa, and the off road areas of the north shore. Then on to Waianae and Central Oahu - as in Wahiawa, Mt Kaala, Pearl Harbor, Ewa Beach, Kalaeloa and Barbers Point, Waianae and Makaha.

    Under attractions, it covers the Polynesian Cultural Center, Hawaiian Waters, Waikiki Aquarium, Honolulu Zoo, Iolani Palace, Punchbowl, Hawaii Maritime Center, Chinatown, Hawaii’s Plantation Village, Bishop Museum, Sea Life Park, Military History, Garden Tours, and Doris Duke’s Shangri La.

    It covers beaches too - talking about how to get to them, what they are like, what activities can be done there, how clean and crowded they are. Beaches covered are: Yokohama Bay-Keawa’ula, Makua Beach-Kaena Point State Park, Ohiki-lolo Beach, Keaau Beach, Makaha Beach, Papaoneone Beach, Mauna Lahilahi Beach, Pokai Beach, Maili Beach, Ulehawa Beach, Nanakulu Beach, Electric Beach, Ko Olina Lagoons, Nimitz Beach, Oneula beach, Ewa beach, Keehi Beach Park, Sand Island, Kakaako, Ala Moana, Magic Island, Waikiki, Kaluahole - Makalei, Diamond Head Beach and Kuilei Cliffs, Kaalawai Beach, kahala Beach, Waialae Beach, Wailupe Beach,Kawaikui Beach, Maunalua Bay, Hanauma Bay, Halona Cove, Sandy Beach, Makapuu Beach, Kaupo Beach, Kaiona Beach, Waimanalo Beach and Bay, Bellows Beach, Lanikau, Kailua, Kualoa Beach Park, Kualoa Sugar Mill Beach, Kaaawa Beach, Swanzy Beach, Makaua, Kahana, Punaluu, Makao, Hauula, Kokololio, Laie Beach - Pounders, Laniloa, Hikilau, Goat Island, Malaekahana, Kahuku, Kuilima, Turtle Bay, Kawela Bay, Waialee Beach, Sunset Beach, Ehukai Beach, Pupukea Beach park - Sharks Cove - Three Tables - Waimea Bay, Chun’s reef, Turtle Beach, Haleiwa Beach, Mokuleaiea Beach, and Hidden Beach.

    Whew, that’s a lot of beaches on one island.

    After that, the book goes on to review or talk about just about every activity available and how to do it. This book is really complete. Buy it - you won’t be sorry.

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    Maui Vacation Planning Can Be Easy - Maui Revealed Review

    July 16, 2008 by Lisa · 1 Comment
    Filed under: Hawaii Revealed Guides, Lanai, Maui, Maui Activities, Molokai, Vacation Planning 

    The Maui Revealed Book is truly the ultimate guide to Maui. I have the Revealed Guidebook for every island, and I’ve lived here for well over a decade. The two authors must do nothing but circle the islands over and over again, staying at every hotel, doing every activity, and visiting every beach, waterfall, and hiking trail. They even have aerial pictures of hotels and condos so you can see exactly how close they are to the ocean (or how far they are).

    The book explains and has maps and directions to practically every single thing on the island that you might want to do or see. It actually was quite controversial a few years back becuase it told the truth about when land was state land or otherwise open to the public and some locals took exception to some things being shared with visitors.

    The book opens with sights: West Maui Sights: stuff to see in Maalaea, Lahaina, Kaanapali, and Kapalua. Central Maui Sights: things to do and see in Wailuku, Kahului, the valley of sugar, and Pa’ia, plus shopping and ‘best bets’. Then Hana Highway Sights: answering questions like ‘can a rental car go all the way?’, where are the waterfalls? where is the red sand beach, and where to eat in Hana.

    Then there are the southeast Maui Sights: like Kipahulu, Oheo Gulch (7 sacred pools), pipiwai trail, and past the park. Then is Haleakala and upcountry, then South Maui: Maalaea, Kihei, Wailea, Makena, Molokini, and La Perouse Bay.

    Then the book talks about Kahoolawe, Lanai, and Molokai.

    The next sections are Beaches, Activities, Adventures, Island dining, and Where to Stay. This is one book that truly has everything.

    Here’s a particularly telling quote from the book introduction:

    We hike the trails, ride the boats, eat in the restaurants, explore the reefs, and do the things we write about.It takes us one to two YEARS, full time, to do a first edition book, and we visit places anonymously.

    We recognize the effort people go through to visit Maui, and our goal is to expose you to as many options as possible so you can decide what you want to see and do. We took great pains to structure this book in such a way that it will be fun, easy reading and loaded with useful information.

    So, that’s the kind of attitude I want in MY guidebook writers! Buy the book here: Maui Revealed - The Ultimate Maui Guidebook if you agree :)

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    Kauai Vacation Planning Made Easy - Kauai Revealed Review

    July 16, 2008 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Hawaii Revealed Guides, Kauai, Kauai Activities, Vacation Planning 

    The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook - Kauai Revealed is truly a work of art when it comes to appreciating and revealing the beauty and joy awaiting you on your vacation to Kauai. There is an ultimate guidebook for each of the major islands, written by the same authors, and they are all fabulous. I have lived here for over a decade and I have each one. I don’t even go to the other side of my island without bringing my book.

    Here’s some quotes from the book that will give you some idea of what kind of a guide and planner this is:

    In a sense, this is not a guidebook, it’s more of a love story. We first came to Kauai as tourists and were immeidately smitten. We had no idea that a place like this could exist anywhere in the world. Now as residents, we marvel at its beauty every day.

    Our objective in writing this book is to assist you in finding the bliss that can accompany a Kauai visit. We recognize the effort people go through to visit here, and our goal is to expose you to every option imaginable so you can decide what you want to see and do.

    So, the book begins, after an introduction and ‘the basics’, with sights - North Shore sights: in Anahola, Kilauea, Kalihiwai, Princeville, Hanalei, and Ha’ena. Then, East Shore Sights - Wailua-Kapa’a, and Lihue. South Shore sights: Koloa, Poipu, and Kalaheo. West Shore Sights: Hanapepe, Waimea, Kekaha, Polihale, and Waimea Canyon.

    The next section is Beaches, then Activities, Adventures, Island dining, and Where to Stay. This book truly encompasses virtually everything you would want to know about Kauai.

    Here’s an example of the stellar - and completely unique - advice available on every single attraction they talk about:

    The dunes of Polihale are famous throughout the islands. The beach averages 300 feet wide, and the dunes can get up to 100 feet hight. Walking down a dune like that can be fun; walking up is a monster. Better to walk around unless you are training for the Ironman Triathlon. Locals drive their 4WD vehicles right on to the beach. If you try it, be aware that there is no AAA on the island, and you are a LONG way from Lihue. …

    So get the book: The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook - Kauai Revealed - It may be the best thing you do for your vacation!

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    Fly or take a Ferry in Hawaii - Maui, Lanai, and Kauai.

    July 14, 2008 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Hawaii - general, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Vacation Planning 

    My husband, sister, and I will be in Hawaii to attend a wedding in mid-October. The wedding takes place on Lanai. We thought we would stay there 3 days, then travel to Kauai for a few days. Is ferry travel the most affordable way to go? Are there direct routes, or would we travel through Maui?

    Would you suggest flying to Maui then taking the ferry to Lanai for the first stage?

    There is no ferry from Lanai to Kauai. You’ll have to fly. You may have to go through Maui or Oahu, depending on which carrier you fly on - Hawaiian, Go!, or Island air. To get to Lanai in the first place, I would do whichever is most convenient to your flight in from the mainland. If they offer a connection to Lanai, I would take it. If you tried to fly into Maui and then take the ferry to Lanai you could end up having to spend the night on Maui first, plus, you won’t have to struggle with your bags - the airline will send them all the way through.

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    Maui Scheduled Itinerary - What should we do in Maui?

    July 11, 2008 by Lisa · 2 Comments
    Filed under: Hawaii - general, Maui, Maui Activities, Vacation Planning 

    I made a tentative schedule for our Maui Trip. Can you look it over to see if we have included all of the “must sees” and if the timing looks ok?

    DATE TIME ACTIVITY
    25-Aug
    2:23 p.m. Arrive at OGG
    4:30 p.m. Arrive at Westin Resort and Spa in Maui
    6:00 p.m. Dinner at Lahaina Grill
    8:00 p.m. Explore area around hotel
    26-Aug
    11:00 a.m. Brunch at Longhi’s
    1:00 p.m . Surfing at Kapalua Beach
    7:00 p.m. Old Lahaina Luau/Dinner
    27-Aug
    3:00 a.m. Sunrise Haleakala Bike Tour
    7:00 a.m. Complete Bike Tour
    Rest/Relax all morning
    11:00 p.m. Massage at the Westin Spa
    12:00 p.m. Lunch at
    2:00 p.m. Snorkeling at the Black Rock
    7:00 p.m. Warren & Annabelle’s Magic Show
    28-Aug Road to Hana Day Trip
    29-Aug
    9:00 a.m. Breakfast at
    10:00 a.m. Water Activity: parasailing, windsurfing
    2:00 p.m. Check out of The Westin
    3:20 p.m. Get to OGG airport
    4:20 p.m. Depart from OGG to Hilo
    5:00 p.m. Arrive in Hilo

    It looks really good - you are not trying to cram too much into one short trip. Obviously there’s much more to do on Maui but you wouldn’t be happy trying to do all of it. It looks good to me - you have a great time! Lisa

    Thank you for looking over our itinerary. I’m glad it looks relaxing ;) Can you suggest 3-5 more activities we should consider doing while we are in Maui?

    Sure, there is a nice aquarium on Maui , you could take surfing lessons or windsailing lessons. You could jet ski, you could rent a kayak, you could snorkel or learn to boogie board, you could go on a sunset or dinner cruise or a dolphin watching cruise, you could go to a luau, you could do the submarine tour or a glass bottom boat tour, you could do a zip line. I guess that’s more than 3-5 … well, something has to call to you more than the others, right? :)

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    Kailua-Kona Cruise Port of Call Things to Do - Activities

    July 11, 2008 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Big Island Activities, Big Island Areas, Big Island Beaches, Vacation Planning 

    We will be arriving by cruise ship and won’t have a car. I was wondering if there is a nice black beach close by to the pier at Kailua-Kona. And if you can give any other suggestions of things to do and see while we are there for the day.

    The closest black sand beach to Kailua-Kona is Punaluu, and it’s over an hours drive. If you will be stopping in Hilo you will be able to easily bike or take a taxi to Richardson’s Beach- it’s less than 2 miles down the road from the Hilo Pier.

    In Kailua Kona, I would go to Kahaluu Beach, decent snorkeling and lots of turtles - it’s 5 miles down Alii Drive. You can take a taxi or a shuttle. You could walk around Kailua town. There are shops and restaurants. If you just wanted to get in the water there is a tiny beach right there where the cruise tenders drop you off. Right there at the pier they various boats and jet skis and tours - some of the glassbottom boats are pretty inexpensive for an hour.

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    SuperCharge your Big Island of Hawaii Vacation Planning; Hawaii Big Island Revealed Review

    June 29, 2008 by Lisa · 1 Comment
    Filed under: Big Island, Big Island Activities, Big Island Areas, Big Island Beaches, Big Island Hotels, Big Island Rentals, Hawaii - general, Hawaii Revealed Guides, Hawaii Volcanoes, Prices, Vacation Planning 

    If you are planning a trip to the Big Island I highly recommend you get the book Hawaii the Big Island Revealed

    I have lived in Hawaii for well over a decade, I’ve done just about every activity and hike I care to do, and I still refer to this book when someone asks me something I’m not sure about or just don’t know. I have each one they wrote. I don’t know who the authors are personally, but I have talked with many businesses and hear how they have been ’shopped’ by the authors.

    The authors don’t put their pictures on the book and they don’t talk about who they are. When they go to research an activity or hotel they don’t try to get a free room or good service, they try to be treated like anybody else so they can give honest, accurate reports on just about everything there is to do on every island. They are even funny. And they are, really, brutally honest. If something is a dump they call it a dump. If something really rung their bells, you can tell.

    The book is broken down well in categories like Activities and Adventures and Beaches and also by location. The index is very thorough. There are lots of spectacular pictures and area maps and complete driving directions. AND, maybe best of all, they provide aerial pictures of the hotels showing how close (or not) the hotel is to the ocean and which building is which (so you can request what building you want to have a room in).

    Get the book, you will not regret it. Hawaii the Big Island Revealed

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    Big Island Secrets and Remote Nature Activities

    June 20, 2008 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Big Island, Big Island Activities, Hawaii - general, Vacation Planning 

    I’m travelling to the Big Island in a week, staying in Koana. On your advise, I’m sticking to one island for my first visit. I’m not the late night party type, and enjoy the nature side of the land. The Big Island sounded more like me. I want to see the volcano, attend a Luau, go to the green, and black beach (Jeep already reserved), and I’m looking at the ATV (Riding the Rim) ride. I like the remote, out of the norm for tourist places. I was reading about the lava tubes that are filled with fresh water. Sounded incredible. With what I have described, please offer some advise, and maybe a few secrets about the Big Island.

    well, your trip sounds like one I would love. :) the green sand beach is awesome - if you keep driving past the beach you’ll find all sorts of neat nooks and crannies and coves. We used to go camping down there a lot.

    I haven’t done the riding the rim tour but it looks like fun - if you wanted to drop me a line and let me know how you liked it I would love that.

    How about a manta ray night dive or snorkel? I haven’t done this but people rave about it.

    Or renting a boat: we just did this and really had a good time. If you don’t rent a boat you should consider a boat tour to Kealakekua Bay or renting a kayak and going out in the bay. The snorkeling is amazing and frequently you see large dolphin pods.

    You know, I don’t know what’s a secret and what’s not anymore so I found a page that professes to tell secrets :) it all looks good to me. :)

    If you really like nature you should head up to saddle road or even the mauna kea visitor center on a clear night: - the expanse of stars practically on top of you is amazing. Like nothing I’ve ever seen anywhere else. When I drive over the saddle at night I always have to stop and take it in for a bit.

    As for the lava tubes filled with fresh water - I’ve never heard of that. Where are they? - this vacationer wrote back and sent me a link - it’s Queens Bath at Kiholo Bay. According to Hawaii the Big Island Revealed there are several of these around the island (anyplace that is a good place to bathe ends up being called Queens’ Bath).
    I know you are going to have an AWESOME time!

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    Kailua-Kona Airport Taxis and Shuttles - Cost and Availability

    June 10, 2008 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Big Island, Prices, Vacation Planning 

    Our flight arrives in Kona after all the car rental companies are closed (I was told they all close at 10:00 p.m.)

    My questions is - would it be best to take a cab from the airport to Keauhou - if so, roughly what wouild be the cost? Should it be reserved in advance? I’m concerned because 300+ people may be looking for transportation to their hotels as they cannot pick up ther rental cars that evening.

    Any information on the best way to get to our condo would be appreciated.

    I called a couple of taxi companies, and the airport to Keauhou will cost $36 to $39. It doesn’t seem like they take advanced reservations but one company gave me a number of the closest company to the airport if you find yourself unable to get a cab - she said call 329-1977 Mel’s Taxi and they’ll come right down. I can understand your concern, but if the taxi companies know the flight is coming in and they know the car rental companies are closed I am sure they’ll all be ready and waiting.

    You also could reserve with speedishuttle- their phone message says they operate every day of the year, from the first flight in the morning to the last flight in the evening.

    Have a wonderful vacation! Lisa

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    Oahu Day Trip - One or Two Days on Oahu

    May 1, 2008 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Big Island, Oahu, Oahu Activities, Vacation Planning 

    I am planning to be in Kona, Hawaii from May 17 to May 24 and would like to take in some
    of the sights on Ohau such as Pearl harbor and the Cultural Center. Any ideas on the best
    way to do this? I know each of these are at least a day in themselves. Maybe 2 trips or
    an overnight stay to catch both? What might you suggest?

    I would do an overnight stay in Oahu - otherwise you eat up too much of your day on the airplane, getting the car, etc. Plus that way you get to enjoy Oahu a bit - it really is very pretty. Have a great time!

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    Inexpensive or Cheap Luaus in Honolulu - Waikiki - Oahu

    March 11, 2008 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Oahu, Oahu Activities, Prices, Vacation Planning 
    Hi we are a family of 4 2 adults and 2 children under 10, we are going to hawaii next week. I need information about not so expensive luaus in Honolulu, all I have seen are very expensive!

    Hi, what are you wanting the luau for? Is it just for the hula show? because there is usually a free Hula show on Waikiki Beach - ask your hotel for details. If you absolutely want to do a luau, then wait till you get to Honolulu and pick up the free coupon books at the airport or in any bin that line the streets of Honolulu and leaf through them. You will get a sense of what the cheapest one is that you can find that you want to go to. Also, if you were planning to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center they have a luau that may help you offset the cost a bit. The cheapest price I see is $69 at Germaines - is that what you are seeing? You can probably find it a bit cheaper if you look in the coupon books once you get there.

    The Entertainment Book sometimes money off tickets at the Polynesian Cultural Center or similar entertainment.

    Good luck!

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    Hawaii With Kids and Babies - The Best Hawaii Island and Stuff in Hawaii for Kids

    March 1, 2008 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Hawaii - general, Vacation Planning 

    We are planning to visit Hawaii. I’ve never been to Hawaii before. My husband has been to Honululu and Kauai once. We are not quite sure which island will be a good choice for us and our 10 months old baby. And what kind of activities and attractions are “infant-friendly” there?

    We have been traveling around the islands with our son since he was 1 month old, and really the only thing I can think of that is infant friendly is the beach - any beach really, but there are beaches on every island that are calmer or have a spot rocked off for young kids. However, most things are not really child unfriendly either.

    When my son was 4 months old we had family visiting and we did a few things with him. We took him on a large catamaran out to a snorkeling spot and sometimes he cried but everyone was fine with it. I don’t think there is any one island that is going to accommodate a baby any more than the others, so you should pick an island based on what you want to do. You may want to make sure your hotel has a kiddy pool - some of them are really nice for the kids. The Hilton Waikoloa Village on the big island is fantastic and has a protected ocean lagoon, a huge kiddie pool, another pool with very mellow slides for kids, and boats and a tram that takes you to your room. Oh, and dolphins. That was our favorite hotel before kids, and is still our favorite hotel after kids. My son has loved it since 4 months old and *really* loves it now at 3.5 years.

    Another place my son enjoyed was the Wailea Marriott on Maui - they had a great kiddie pool plus a big slide for the bigger kids and adults.

    As for older children - anything that keeps them active or interested is good. Snorkeling trips, atlantis submarine, jet skiing, horseback riding - there are atv tours and zip lines on some of the islands. Surfing lessons are good if they are interested. Dolphin Quest and Sea life park are good ideas. There are aquariums on most of the islands. Hawaii doesn’t ‘cater’ to children the way, say, Disney does - but if your kids are active and interested in life there is oh-so-much here to enjoy.

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    Big Island Itinerary

    January 24, 2008 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Big Island, Big Island Activities, Big Island Areas, Hawaii Volcanoes, Vacation Planning 

    Itinerary

  • Fri PM leave Oakland 3:30pm
    EVE arrive Hilo 7:05; drive to Honaka’a
    Hotel Hotel Honaka’a
  • Sat AM Mamane Bakery; HAWAIIAN MACADAMIA PLANTATION, INC., Waipi’o Valley; drive down Valley Rd, Kahuahine Falls & Waiulili Falls
    PM take Rt 19 west to Kawaihae; Pu’ukohola Heiau; Hapuna Beach swimming and snorkeling; Malama Petrograph Trail
    EVE check in at hotel and relax (die) or go to ukulele entertainers, Kings Shops at the Waikoloa Resort. Call (808) 886-8811
    Hotel Kona Seaside Hotel
  • Sun AM Hulihe’e Palace; Mokuaikauna Church; Cloud Forest
    PM Kahalu’u Beach, snorkeling
    EVE open
    Hotel Kona Seaside Hotel
  • Mon AM snorkeling/whalewatching
    PM open
    EVE open
    Hotel Kona Seaside Hotel
  • Tues AM Keauhou Sea Cave Adventure (kayaking/snorkeling)
    PM open
    EVE open
    Hotel Kona Seaside Hotel
  • Wed AM check out; Captain Cook; Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden; Holualoa Kona Coffee Company tour; Ho’okena, Green Sand Beach; Punalu’u Black Sand Beach
    PM continue drive to Volcanos National Park
    EVE open
    Hotel Volcano Cabins
  • Thurs AM Visitor Center, Jagger Museum, Crater Rim Drive, walk Devastation Trail and Thurston Lava Tube walk
    PM Chain of Craters Road
    EVE picnic lunch at End of Chain of Craters Road
    Hotel Volcano Cabins
  • Fri AM check out, leave park 5:30am, depart Hilo Airport 8:30am
    PM arrive Chicago

    • is this reasonable? I’m I getting at the good stuff or did I miss alot?

    It looks good to me - let me talk about a few things here:

    To drive down in Waipio Valley you need a four wheel drive. It’s not an easy drive. Have you found directions to the falls? Doing all this plus swimming at Hapuna beach will be quite a packed day.

    You’ll need a 4 wheel drive to get to the green sand beach too unless you plan on hiking a couple of miles each way.

    Don’t stress if you aren’t at the Hilo airport 2 hours before you fly out. ATA is the only airlines that goes to the mainland from Hilo. We just flew that flight to Oakland last week. We left our house at 7 am, got there at 7:15, and had NO problems. There were no lines - nothing. That’s just how the Hilo airport is usually. I’m not saying to plan to get there with only 1 hour and 15 minutes to spare like we did, but don’t stress about it.

    I think you covered about as much as possible in the time you have. Cool.

    Have fun! Lisa

    Flight departure to Kona, Big Island of Hawaii

    Monday

    Flight departure to Kona, Big Island of Hawaii

  • Drive: for 3 to 4hrs to the Town of Volcano (See map) and stop at supermarket for groceries for the Bungalow
  • Check-in: Kate’s Bungalow Address: 19-4039 Hapu Ln, Volcano Ph: (877) 967-7990
  • Evening: At leisure (Pack lunches for tomorrow’s Volcano National Park excursion)

    • Tuesday

  • Morning: Hawaii Volcano National Park
  • Visit: The Visitor Center and obtain information about Volcano and the latest info and location of lava flow also ask about directions in and around the park. (There are two scenic drives with a wealth of volcano views An 11-mile drive, called Crater Rim, passes by many rising steam vents)
  • Visit: Steam Sulphur Banks Vents, Kilauea Overlook, Jaggar Museum, Halemaumau Crater, Devastation Trail (45min hike)
  • Afternoon: Thurston Lava Tube (20min hike), Kilauea Iki Overlook, Kilauea Iki Trail (Little Kilauea), Hilina Pali Overlook, Holei Sea Arch (end of road where lava flowed)
  • Evening: Return to see the lava flow after dark, (take a flashlight, water bottle, and jacket)

    • Wednesday

  • Morning: (Check-out) Wake up early and drive to Hilo Airport (1hour drive-See map to Hilo Airport)
  • Tour: (1010hrs) Blue Hawaiian Helicopter (Circle of Fire plus Waterfalls Tour) #1963497799 Ph: (800) 786-2583
  • Afternoon/Lunch: Lunch at Kuhio Grille 111 East Puainako Street, #A106, Hilo (Located at Prince Kuhio Shopping Plaza)
  • Drive: Richardson Beach Park (walk around and take a look at the black sand beach and scenery), Rainbow Falls State Park (at the edge of Hilo town and view the falls), North to scenic drive detour at Onomea Bay along the Hamakua Coast,
  • Visit: Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens and Onomea Bay Trail (Stop at What’s Shakin Smoothie Stand near the Botanical Gardens for refreshments)
  • Drive: north to Akaka Falls State Park (Hike short trail-loop and view Kahuna Falls and Akaka Falls)
  • Drive: North to the Waipio Valley Overlook,
  • Drive: from Waimea, descending down to Kona
  • Check-in: Surf & Racquet Club Address: 78-6800 Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona Ph: (808) 331-8878
  • Evening: At Leisure
  • Morning: At Leisure
  • Afternoon/Evening: (1320hrs) Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Tour (tour pick-up: Buns in the Sun 75-5675 Palani RD) Ph: (808) 322-2366

    • regarding the Big Island - which way are you driving to Volcano? The southern route or the northern route? The southern route may be your best bet, and it should only take 2 to 2.5 hours unless you stop a lot, which you may.

    And groceries? There are no major grocery stores along the southern route. It’d be best to stop in Kona. There is one in Naalehu but it’s small with very high prices.

    There’s a lot of things to do in Kona - go to Kahaluu Beach to snorkel and see turtles. Go to the Puuhonua National Park - I think your pass from the Volcanoes National Park might get you in. Check with them. Go on the Fairwinds boat tour - go on a glass bottom boat and or the atlantis submarine.

    related: Multiple island itinerary

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    I Know Nothing about Hawaii and Want to Plan a Vacation - Tell Me Everything

    January 8, 2008 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Big Island, Hawaii - general, Kauai, Maui, Molokai, Most Popular Questions, Oahu, Prices, Vacation Planning 

    Our family is considering taking a vacation in Hawaii. Maybe in the next year or so. Being pretty clueless when it comes to Hawaii, what would you suggest? It would be for 6 adult and 1 child. Is one place cheaper to fly into than another? What about hotels and such?

    Many people start with Oahu on their first trip, and it is generally the easiest to fly into and cheapest because it is the most popular - of course being the most popular it has really gotten developed and a lot of people complain there are more buildings than trees, but it’s still a beautiful island and has fantastic, easy-to-get-to beaches (that you’ll be sharing with a million other people :) ) but that’s ok, they are big. You might want to look into Oahu and see if it’s what you want.

    Don’t think about hotels till you decide on an island - do you have rewards with anybody like Hilton or Marriott? That might also be a good way to decide where you want to go - you could find the hotel that would get you the best deal and then see what you think of the island it’s on.

    my husband and l had some interest some day of traveling to hawaii, he has been reading the lonely planet book about and sounds very beautiful. just wondering if you had any suggestions for me not sure what time of year we would go, but we were thinking of three weeks. we do know someone that lives in kihei - how would we go about setting up an itinerary, where would we start and where would we end? is it best to stay in b&b’s any suggestions for hotels, renting vehicles, what would you suggest to budget yourself per day, any suggestions would be great

    Wow, this is a huge question and I’m just not sure I can do it justice - it’s huge and broad and usually I do best with very specific questions, but I’ll try to point you in the right direction here:

    1. Decide what island you will visit - if you know someone in Kihei and want to go to that island then start looking into Maui.
    2. Decide what area - if, for your first trip, you stick to the very touristy areas you will be ’safe’ meaning you will find great beaches and great weather typically - so on Maui that would be Wailea, Lahaina/Kaanapali, and Kihei.
    3. Decide what hotel you will stay at - alternatively, this could be your second item on your list, because if you prefer say, Hilton hotels because you like them or have rewards with them and there is only one Hilton on the island, well then what area choice is pretty much made for you. easy :)
    4. As for should you stay in a hotel, vacation rental, condo, or bed and breadkfast — this is all personal preference. Do YOU prefer hotels or bed and breakfasts. Do you want to eat out every meal or cook your own food? Do you want to have your vacation in a place that feels like home or do you prefer a hotel where everything is done and provided for you? see what I’m getting at here? Me, I like condos because you can save money and eat healthier stuff but I like hotels because you can forget about all that cooking and cleaning cr– and concentrate on playing. I like vacation rentals because you are hanging out by yourself away from all the other visitors but I like hotels because there are lots of other people around ;)
    5. As for budgeting yourself per day - well, what is your budget? Do you have $10,000+ to spend on this trip, or only $4500? This will make a big difference. There are books that will show you how to make the most of a budget - Frommer’s Hawaii on $80 a Day is one of them. I don’t know how relevant it is to today since it was written in 2005, but it will get you started I think.
    6. As for what to do - you could out your daily itinerary before you go down to the very last activity (this is what my husband does) by doing a google search for Maui activities (if that’s the island you’ll be staying on) and seeing what comes up or you could just fly to Maui and see what looks fun to you (this is what I do)

    I hope this helps get you started, write me again if you have more questions. Aloha, Lisa

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    Tour the Volcano From Maui - How to Get to the Big Island

    November 29, 2007 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Big Island, Big Island Activities, Hawaii - general, Hawaii Volcanoes, Maui, Maui Activities, Vacation Planning 

    If I spend 10 nights in Maui is it easy to do a day trip to the big island to see the volcano or would you recommend something different. I am traveling with a 15 and 12 year old boys.

    Well, you have four options, really. The first three will take *all day*. The last one will not but will be the most expensive. If you really want to see the volcano then go for it - just realize it could be doing *nothing* when you come (it could be in a pause or all the lava could be flowing underground)

    1. arrange your own flight to hilo, rent your own car, and drive up to the national park, see as much as you can in one day, drive back and fly back to maui. Not a bad choice - probably your cheapest option. I would say it is possible to do this for $100 per person for the flight (if you book early enough to get the lowest rates on the flight) plus $35 to $60 for the rental car. Drive to the national park from Hilo will take 30 minutes. (Do NOT fly to Kona- that will take you over two hours to drive to the Volcano.) Bad thing is, the lava flow is currently (nov 07) viewable only by air so you may not get to see active lava - but you will get to see all the other stuff.
    2. Arrange your own flight to Hilo, then take a tour bus to the National Park. http://www.hawaiiactive.com/activities/bigisland-volcano-tour.html or arrange your own flight to Hilo or Kona, then take a small plane or helicopter flyover tour of the volcano: http://www.hilowings.com/ , http://www.bluehawaiian.com/bigisland/tours/, http://www.safarihelicopters.com/bigislandtours.html (web booking price is $151 per person when I wrote this)
    3. Arrange a bus tour to the volcano, starting from Maui - http://www.hawaiiactive.com/activities/maui-volcano-adventure.html - have all the legwork done for you by the tour company
    4. Do a flyover of the volcano from Maui: http://www.volcanoairtours.com/index.html, http://www.hawaiiactivities.com/us/hawaii/maui/sg/1258/ag/6382/

    have a great time!

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    Should we Visit more than One Island in Hawaii?

    November 19, 2007 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Hawaii - general, Maui, Most Popular Questions, Vacation Planning 

    My husband and i are planning a mini-vacation to Maui this december for 6 days. We are being advised to extend our vacation for a few more days and add another island to our itinerary. Do you have any recommendations?

    advised by who? this is your vacation - you do what you want! :) I don’t think a ‘few days’ will do another island much justice and I don’t see any need for you to do another island unless there is something *you* want to see. Hawaii is Hawaii, and although all the islands are different, the general idea of nice beaches, local culture, warm weather, and a vacation atmosphere within the United states are still the same on all the islands. Do you really want to go to another island and have the stress of packing, checking out, turning in your car, flying, getting another car, unpacking etc on your mini-vacation? If so, what do you want in another island - more laid back? more people? different climates? more hiking? more shopping? different color beaches? If you could answer some of these questions I could maybe help you pick another island. Maybe this article can help you decide if you feel you need help.

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    Do I need a Travel Agent to help plan my Hawaii Vacation?

    November 19, 2007 by Lisa · Leave a Comment
    Filed under: Hawaii - general, Vacation Planning 

    I am planning a trip to Hawaii for our 10th anniversary and feel very overwhelmed with where to begin? Should I seek out a travel agent for this? Would it be better if I find the deals online? What’s your advice?

    That depends - are you comfortable planning your own travel or would you rather have someone do it for you? Do you enjoy researching on the Internet or are you already busy enough? Do you want to plan every detail or just tell someone what you want and hopefully enjoy the result? Do you want to personally look for opportunities to save money on your vacation or is money not really an object for this trip? I would start by deciding what island you want to visit, then deciding what kinds of things you want to do on that island, then read the above questions and decide how much personal input you feel you need to have. Your own answer should then be clear to you.

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    Where Should We Stay On Oahu - Hawaii? Best Vacation Rental to Stay In On Oahu?

    September 19, 2007 by Lisa · 2 Comments
    Filed under: Hawaii - general, Oahu, Oahu Rentals, Vacation Planning 

    We’re coming over late november this year( 2 couples for the 1st time) & not quite sure what part of Oahu to stay at ( Looking at Condos or house rentals). We are surfers (Longboarders) but the girls will want to spend some time sight-seeing, shopping etc. Bearing in mind the time of year, where would you suggest to stay that would be close to beaches - not too far from shops. We’re not fussed with huge crowds. Looking forward to your response. Kind regards.

    Hi! Well, the waves on Oahu are big on the North Shore in November - are you looking for BIG waves? There is only one hotel-condoon the North shore - that’s the Turtle Bay Resort. Other than that, there are hundreds of house rentals - in some really nice areas.

    … however, the shops are mostly in Waikiki, which is on the south shore. the island is not big - if you stay out of traffic you can go from one to the other in an hour or less. Traffic is bad commuters hours INTO Honolulu in the morning and out of honolulu in the afternoon. You could stay at the halfway point of Kailua maybe .. but I think you would be happier either on the North Shore or in Waikiki.

    Hi Lisa. I am currently looking at home rentals for the week on Oahu. I have found homes at Waimanalo, Haleiwa and Makaha that looked good but I have no clue what might be best for our family. What is the best side of the island to stay on? We have 2 children, age 17 & 12. My daughter will be interested in soaking up the sun and my son will be interested in boogie boarding, swimming, etc. My husband and I are interested in a relaxing and seeing the sights! I know we can easily drive to any location we want to see but where would be the best location to STAY?

    answer
    In your situation, I would stay in Waimanalo. You’ll be right in the middle of the other two places, close to everything, and both of your kids will be happy. Plus, Waimanalo is really a great beach. You can’t really go wrong outside of Waikiki, but Waimanalo is probably the most right out of the three you mentioned. Have a great time! Lisa

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