Hawaii: General thread

[Rosebud]

This thread is an appropriate place to discuss "Which Island Is Best For Me?" and similar, general questions that wouldn't necessarily fit into the Maui, Oahu, Kauai or Big Island threads. However, please try to keep questions/tips about specific islands in those threads. It's much easier for people to find what they're looking for that way.

Thanks! :)

[JFlo]

I had posted this link in the old Hawaii Chat thread, but I thought it may be helpful to those coming to this thread for information on the different islands.

This link will take to the about.com website where you can fill out a questionaire about your interests to help decide which Hawaiian Islands to visit.
Which Island is Best for Me? (http://gohawaii.about.com/od/hawaiivacationplanner/a/island_scores.htm)

My DH and I didn't find this survey until we had already booked our trip (still a few months away, in May), but we took it for fun and it was right on! It ranked Kauai first, then Maui and we'll be on Kauai for 6 days and Maui for 4!

Enjoy!

[Rosebud]

(Holding space for future TOC)

[justHB]

I saw these travel deals and thought I'd pass them along to anyone who might be interested. I know a lot of people are trying to decide which island and where to stay.

http://www.carlsontravel.com/stellent/groups/public/@websites/@default_ct/documents/stel_images/098748.jpg

Pleasant Holidays sample pricing includes: Accommodations, fresh flower lei greeting, round-trip transfers on Oahu or daily Dollar Rent A Car on neighbor islands, all hotel & car taxes and more!

To make a reservation, call 1-800-335-TRIP (8747).

Hawaiian Island Getaways

Oahu

Sheraton Princess Kaiulani (City view)
5 days from $448
Book by 3/8, Travel Period Tues, 2/1, through 6/26
- includes 4th night FREE & $75 Dining Credit

Sheraton Waikiki (City View)
5 days from $583
Book by 3/8, Travel Period Tues, 2/1 through 6/28
- includes 4th night FREE & $75 Dining Credit

The Royal Hawaiian (Garden View)
5 days from $743
Book by 3/8, Travel Period Tues, 2/1 through 6/28
- includes 4th night FREE & $75 Dining Credit

Hawaii - The Big Island

Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort (Deluxe Mountain View)
6 Days Resort & Car Rental from $802
Book by 6/7, Travel Period Tues, 2/1 through 12/20
- includes 5th night FREE, daily buffet breakfast for two, $200 Dining Credit

Kauai

Sheraton Kauai Resort (Garden View)
6 Days Resort & Car Rental from $905
Book by 3/8, Travel Period Tues, 2/1 through 12/20
- includes 5th night FREE & daily buffet breakfast for two

Princeville Resort (Mountain Garden View)
7 Days Resort & Car Rental from $1583
Book by 3/8, Travel Period Tues, 2/1 through 12/13
- includes 6th night FREE & daily buffet breakfast for two

Maui

Sheraton Maui Resort (Garden View)
7 Days Resort & Car Rental from $1287
Book by 3/8, Travel Period Tues, 2/1 through 6/7
- includes 6th night FREE & daily buffet breakfast for two

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa (Partial Ocean View)
7 Days Resort & Car Rental from $1583
Book by 3/8, Travel Period Tues, 2/1 through 12/13
- includes 6th night FREE, daily buffet breakfast for two, $200 dining credit

* * * * * * * * *

I should note that I am unsure if these prices are per person or for the whole trip (minus airfare).

[FallingforPhil]

bumpity bump...

This thread is old, but I thought I'd post here first.

DH and I would like to go to Hawaii the last weekend in March. I thought we'd decided on the big island, but after spending hours online this weekend, I'm totally overwhelmed. We're looking at 4-5 nights. We'd love to stay longer, but we've got limited vacation days to deal with.

Our budget is ~2500 for flight (from Chicago) and hotel. I think we're wavering between the big island and oahu, but that's only because Maui seems a bit more pricey. We're not into the nightlife in any way, shape or form, and would prefer time on the beach, sightseeing, snorkeling, etc.

Thoughts? I've researched TurtleBay, various Outrigger properties, ResortQuest properties, and Marriot Waikiki.

TIA!

[justHB]

FWIW, I think you can do 4-5 nights in Maui for under $2500 with airfare and hotel (although I strongly recommend you factor in the cost of a rental car no matter which island you go to because you definitely should explore beyond your hotel). You might not be able to stay in a fancy, swank resort for that price, but it can be done. For instance, you can get airfare from the midwest for about or less than $600/person usually and you can get hotels/rooms in Lahaina and Kehei for pretty cheap. Again, nothing fancy, but you're in Maui! (My favorite island.)

I looked on Expedia for packages leaving Chicago for Oahu in early to mid March and there are several smaller, boutique style hotels within walking distance of Waikiki Beach that are about $800/person for airfare and hotel. We stayed at the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki in August which is not really near the beach and caters to Japanese tourists, but we only paid $165/night for it via Hotwire. In looking at Expedia, you could stick to your $2500 budget with the Marriott, Hyatt, Westin and other chain hotels that are on the beach, but that'd be at the upper end. Totally doable, but Hawaii is expensive so keep that in mind when factoring in spending $$$.

I just read through your previous post and since you say you're not into nightlife and want to spend time on the beach and snorkeling, I recommend you DON'T stay in Waikiki. If you want to go to Oahu, check out Kailua, away from the noise and crowds of Waikiki.

Good luck!

[chortles]

I agree with HB - you'll want a rental car if you're not in Waikiki (and maybe even if you are staying there) Also check out VRBO.com. Here are the Kailua listings (http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/hawaii/oahu/east-oahu) - which isn't a big snorkeling beach, but one of the most beautiful beaches on Oahu. A car can take you driving up to the North Shore to see the big waves, or over to Haleiwa for crafts, or to Hanauma Bay for snorkeling.

[FallingforPhil]

So, as a first time visitor, would you recommend Maui rather than Oahu/Big Island??? I did check some hotels/condos in Lahaina and Kehei, and they're much more affordable than what I'd looked at briefly this weekend.

[Sazoo]

So, as a first time visitor, would you recommend Maui rather than Oahu/Big Island??? I did check some hotels/condos in Lahaina and Kehei, and they're much more affordable than what I'd looked at briefly this weekend.I haven't been to Maui yet so I can't speak from personal experience there, but I have been to Oahu and the Big Island and have heard a lot about Maui. I'd say Oahu or Maui would be your best bet as a first-time visitor to Hawaii. Although...I guess it sort of depends on what you want to do and what kind of vacation you're looking for. There's lots to see and do on Oahu, so to me it seems pretty versitile and can be a good destination for just about anyone (beaches, shopping, dining, big cities, small towns, historical sites to tour (i.e. Pearl Harbor), water activities (swimming, snorkeling, surfing, boat tours, whale watching, etc.) Maui, I hear, is very beautiful and has lots of gorgeous beaches. It's maybe not quite as touristy as Oahu, but it's probably a pretty close second. Everyone who I've talked to who has been to Maui *loved* it there - Maui is next on our list of Hawaiian islands to visit. :)

The Big Island is very interesting, and beautiful as well...but maybe not in the way most people envision Hawaii. There are active volcanos on the Big Island and much of the landscape (especially on the "dry" side of the island) is very dry, desolate, & covered with hardened rocky lava flows. The "wet" side of the island is much more lush and green and probably has better beaches, although we didn't go to any on that side when we were there. The Big Island is much less touristy than Oahu and Maui, and there are no "big" cities, really. If you are more into nature/outdoor activities then you'd probably really like this island. Volcano National Park is a pretty neat place to spend a day or two. However, if you're more looking for a place with a bunch of gorgeous stretches of beach and lots of nightlife, possibly Oahu or Maui would be better. Although my favorite Hawaiian beach that I've seen so far is a black sand beach on the Big Island... ;)

Anyway, these are just my personal impressions, so take it for what it's worth. Good luck planning your Hawaiian vacation!

[mrsash]

DH and I are thinking of going to Hawaii in a couple of months... We'd be travelling with DS who is 19 months now. So obviously, we aren't going to be doing too much, besides hanging out at the pool/beach, maybe do a little sightseeing.

But I wanted to know which island, or what side of the islands, have gentler waters so if DS wants to go in, it won't be too intimidating? Or all the beaches pretty calm?

I read there are aquariums on Oahu and Maui... any thoughts on them?

If we're not going to venture out too much, do you think we'd need to rent a car?

Any recommendations/thoughts are much appreciated. TIA!!

[justHB]

So, as a first time visitor, would you recommend Maui rather than Oahu/Big Island??? I did check some hotels/condos in Lahaina and Kehei, and they're much more affordable than what I'd looked at briefly this weekend.As a first-time visitor, I would recommend Maui, hands down.But I wanted to know which island, or what side of the islands, have gentler waters so if DS wants to go in, it won't be too intimidating? Or all the beaches pretty calm?It depends on which time of year you plan to go. In the winter, many of the beaches have very large waves with giant undertows and then you wouldn't recognize them as the same place come summertime.

For instance, on Oahu, Waimea Bay is home to one of the biggest surfing championships in the world with mammoth waves. We have gone in January when the ocean was churning and again over Labor Day weekend when the water was like glass - clear, calm and smooth. That was some of the best swimming we've ever had in Oahu.

See what I mean -

winter: http://tinyurl.com/ywevaf
summer: http://tinyurl.com/2yejq9

The beach at Lanikai (http://www.portaloha.com/SecretsOfHawaii/KailuaBeach.htm)on Oahu is also a great, calm place - all year round as far as I can tell.

On Maui, Wailea Bay (http://www.yoursportsnightcap.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/wailea.jpg) (in front of the Four Seasons and the Grand Wailea) tends to be a nice, calm swimming place. I don't know about the beaches in Kehei as I've never stayed in that area, but in winter the waves down at Big Beach were pretty fierce. When we went last February, Kapalua Bay (http://www.kapaluasunset.com/resources/kapalua_beach.jpg) was nice and calm, as was Napili Bay (http://www.mynapilibay.com/Napili%20Beach.jpg). We stayed up at Kapalua and I saw many children in the water with their parents at these two bays.

Sorry, no recommendations on the aquariums, and yes, you need a car unless you plan to eat every meal at your hotel and never leave the grounds.

[Ohana]

ITA that the beaches can vary wildly. But since it sounds like you'll be going in the spring/early summer, the beaches around Ka'anapali on Maui will likely be nice. We stayed at the Westin last June with DD 3 yo and DD 9 mo at the time. We did not rent a car, and it was sort of a mixed thing. Yes, you can go eat and shop at Whaler's Village which was a short walk away. Yes, the Westin (and other Ka'anapali hotels) offer a shuttle into Lahaina. But the shuttle was a huge PITA and we ended up taking cabs more than the shuttle. It still ended up being cheaper to take cabs than rent a car, though.

Nothing against Oahu at all (my BIL lives there with his family, so we visit regularly), but it is quite commercial and crowded. Maui is more touristy for sure, but also more laid back, and IMO family friendly.

[diam124]

We've stayed in the Wailea area twice (both times at the Renaissance which I think has been torn down). The Renaissance was at the northern end of the Wailea area and you could walk along the beach all the way down to Kihei. It's a very nice beach. It does become more crowded once you get closer to Kihei.

[mrsash]

Thanks for all the great info... Turns out MIL was able to exchange her timeshare for us so we're headed off to the Marriott Ko Olina in Oahu in April. Yay!!

[diam124]

Nice - we stayed at the Marriott Ko Onlina on our honeymoon in 2003. It was still pretty new and they were just building up the area. I'd be curious to see what it's like there now. I enjoyed the spa at the Marriott and we liked the beach there.