Hawaii Vacation
 

OSO is the place to ask members about experiences out there.....I have a load of skymiles avail. so Im thinkin about going west..Where can you go that still has the real Hawaii and not the tourist trap fast paced americanized Hawaii. Secluded resorts are ok,nightlife not that big of a must.

I'm sitting on the north shore of Kauai right now. It's still close to the Hawaii of 40 years ago. If your looking for highend the Princeville Sheraton is spectacular. The only downside is it can rain here.
This time of year is iffy on weather but come spring or summer it's without a doubt the best spot in Hawaii.

Molokai...small but very laid back. Pretty close to the old way of life.
Big Island....lots more room to move around and get away, and its getting bigger every day. My favorite.
Kauai....gettin pretty tourisy but nicer then Maui or Oahu

Coolshot
I helped build the new golf clubhouse in Princeville and the Shereton remodel....back in 90-91?. Did the new shopping center plans ever go thru?

Dan

We like the Big Island because of its diversity: from dry Kona (some areas look like a moonscape) to wet Hilo with its green forests, south you have a live volcano, then there's snow on the top of another, etc. But Kauai is great too. Maui has some neat features, but is like a small Oahu: too many tourists and too much traffic. IMHO
Due

I have been to Oahu, Maui, & the Big Island. I like Maui the best, but I have been told by locals that Molokai is the best island to visit if you are looking for an old Hawaii feel. Molokai is actually trying to regulate tourism to the island because they want to keep it that way.

You can always stay in Waikiki if you want a Japanese experience.:D :D

Kauai !!!!

Layed back, slow paced, stunningly beautiful. We spent 7 days at the Princeville Resort (http://www.princeville.com) and had a great time. Every sunset was a HUGE event. Everyone always showed up to watch it at the lobby bar. We were so wound-down that we had to stay in Waikiki for 3 days to get our speed back up to go back to LA! :D :D

Bingo!!!! :D

Maui, simply the best. We did some island hopping on our trip and Maui was just the best as far as I'm concerned. Real secluded and some very very nice places to stay. We stayed at the kealani.com resort...awesome. If you do go to maui one thing that is a MUST is the Road to Hanna. We bought a little $5 tape that is narrated as you make your way through it....it will point out the best places to stop and hike to some awesome waterfalls. Rent a jeep and plan to make a day of it.....it's a nice long trip but well worth it. Maui also has some good snorkling too. One thing that I must point out is island hopping over to Pearl Harbor, I think it's something you need to check out if you have the chance, really chilling once you see the actual place where it all happened.

Maui is a fantastic place to visit. Try to go every other year.

We have done the road to Hana twice, and it is awesome. Make sure you leave early though because like stated above it is long. Seven Pools is a must see if you decide to drive the route. You can hike a 4 mile round trip to a 435' waterfall:eek:

If you do pearl Harbor get there early because it fills up fast. They are also not letting anybody carry bags with them to the Arizona Memorial since 09-11 just an fyi. Leave your purses ect...at the Hotel or hide them in the car.

I agree with 97bh, Maui "No Kai Oi"

Kauai for nice quiet "old school" vaca. Maui for a tick or two above that, the surfing is great here!! If you go to Kauai, dinner at The Beach House at sunset will take your breath away!! The Hyatt is unreal too, great golf, amazing location. Stay away from Oahu, just a dirty city in the middle of the Pacific, unless you want to do a day trip for the history of Pearl Harbor.
:cool:

Havasu Cig - done it twice...cool. We rented a convertable Mustang and took it the entire road....they say not to go past a certain point and just turn around and go the way you came. Forget that, I took the sucker the whole way, I admit, I should have gotten a jeep, but what the heck. When you go the full way your really out in the middle of nowhere, just an awesome trip.

7 pools was amazing.

I would say Kauai. Parents just sold the beach house on Poipu. :( They wanted a place in Key West. IT HAS A BOAT LAUNCH AND A BOAT LIFT! nenernenernener!


Kauai is the best. I didn't stay at Princeville however I did play golf! If I could anywhere on vacation I would go to Kauai! Poipu has the best snorkeling too.

Hawaii is great!

You need to stay at the Comeoniwannalaya Palace. :p

We have rented jeeps everytime, but you don't need one. We were just there a couple months ago and they have done some improvements on the road. It is still dirt in some parts, but much smoother than the last time we were there.

Maui No-Ka-Oi

Kaanapali - the best beach
Kapalua - quiet and upscale
Lahina - cool food, shops, walking and watching
Hana - day adventure
Hookipa - best windsurfing (maybe in the world)
Golf - Kapalua, Whilea, Kaanapali

Plenty to do if you need it


G

Absolutely! We used to go every Christmas. We always stayed at Wailea.

I've been to Maui several times. Waikiki is too fast and Kauai is too slow for my taste.
The road to Hana is like an endless no wake zone.

This was taken off Lahaina a couple of years ago when we were there. You can kind of make out the town in the background. Cool old town.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...4/fdb76d11.jpg

Maui all the way, and stay in wailea, like the Grand Wailea, and rent a jeep

Born & Raised in Honolulu, I agree Oahu is a tourist attraction but you need to know that's the only island where the jobs are unless you're bartending or waitressing then the other islands would be ok too. Oahu isn't any dirtier than any city in the states. As far as the Jeep & Mustang rally, a bike will do or you can get a bus pass to go around the island of Oahu. If you're on the other 7 islands than a Jeep is the way to go! If you don't like the tourist attraction in & around Waikiki then go see the real Hawaii get hooked up with one of the ohana's and take the back roads. Speed Doc said the North Shore is da' place to check out! (Unless you're scared of da' water...no your 42' won't float here). Lookin' for some snorkling, Haunauma Bay is da' place, Sharks Cove is ok if you're not scared of da' mano (shark). Doc said...if you're going to Hawaii do as the Hawaiians do...eat it raw (fish-poki, octopus-tako & gotta try the poi). You've got to check out the Swap Meet (Oahu's Stadium) great deals Wed, Sat & Sun-everyweek. Try the malasadas at Leonard's Bakery at the end of Waikiki. Although Duke's is a tourist attraction they have great food & the atmosphere is great watching the sunset. If you're looking for someone to take you around the island-let Doc know he can make some calls to the Ohana back on the islands. (Warning: Doc said... don't go on Waikiki strip near Duke Kahanamoku's statue after 2am because he got flashed by one of the local prostitutes while walking with me right across the police station.)
Maui is great for shopping in Lahaina, Iao Needle is a nice tourist attraction. Big Island is great-worked on the family flower farm-picking flowers, working in the poi factory, picking coffee beans & picking macadamia nuts. Island hopping is great, check out the helicopter trips over the volcano, need kala (money) lots of it. The locals are just like the indians they believe in the earth, wind, water, fire & etc. DO NOT TOUCH OR VISIT KAPU(SACRED) AREAS WHERE YOU NEED TO KEEP OUT (Heiau-graveyards) Please do not disturb any rocks, you may have a curse follow you when you return home. Serious...they use rocks for burial grounds! Polynesian Cutural Center near the BYU campus is a place if you're looking for a real Hawaiian treat (shows presented by the locals also a great luau). Dole Pineapple Maze is the biggest one, need to see (tourist trip). Doc said don't smoke with the braddah's cuz' you no can walk after the party-dam good chit...Aloha oui

Hawaiian Girl (Doc's better half...):p :p :p

My 02 regarding the drive to Hana. It is defintely worth doing. Awesome scenery. I would do it again and again. I would not go any further than the Seven Pools. I did not feel the "dry" side of the island was nearly as scenic and when returning on the "wet" side you see a lot of things you don't on the trip down. There is much good advise here. Whatever you do, make sure and take a few extra days as your time will fly by. There are so many things to choose from it can be a little overwhelming. Sam

If you want to really get away from the beaten tourist path:

That is badass.....where is that? :)

Yeah Georges, where is that place? As for that Princeville is that mostly a golf resort? Cause I don`t play...and if thats the main reason people go there then I`ll pass on it.

Here's another, final approach into Raiatea airpor:

It's the island of Maupiti, south south east of Hawaii about 1800 miles:eek:
Here's the airport:

Well it`s secluded!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Looks like a great place if your on the run....Hell, You might even bump into Hoffa here...It is BADASS GORGEOUS though

If you do the road to Hana, make sure you make the full circle and don't turn around at the park station. The part that says if you take the rental car here, your insurance is void! Awesome, secluded, and one of the neatest looking curvey roads I have ever seen. We stopped on the side of the road and a humpback gave us our own private show breaching and slapping his tail what seemed like all day. Man I miss Maui:D :D :D :D