-
Trouble logging in? Send us a message with your username and/or email address for help.
wanted: travel advice for Hawaii
- Thread starter ohmom
- Start date
GoodWitch58
Beach Fanatic
have you decided which Island you want to visit?
GoodWitch58
Beach Fanatic
Okay. Certainly there is much to see around Honolulu history wise.
My favorite Island is Maui. So, my suggestion would be to fly to Honolulu do the history thing, and then take a small plane to Maui. There are great Five Star hotels, and there are wonderful bed and breakfast places, which are my preference. I love the Kuan Inn, it used to be the doctor's house on the Paia pineapple plantation... It is within walking distance of Mama's Fish House--a restaurant not to be missed; and also close for wind surf watching at Hoopku Beach--probably the best wind surfing in the entire world! It is amazing to watch.
Be sure and take a trip on the Hana Road.(http://www.gohawaii.com/maui/plan/things_to_do_on_maui/attractions/points_of_interest/hana). It will take all day or longer if you are a photographer. I would take a driver/small tour instead of driving. I've done both and if you drive you can not really enjoy the scenery--the road takes all your attention. Once in Hana you can visit Lindbergh's grave and see Hawaii the way it used to be. There are also helicopter tours to Hana.
Along the way there are interesting tropical flower farms. and the beautiful waterfalls and scenery as you twist and turn along the road are breathtaking.
The village of Paia is fascinating with shops and great restaurants of all kinds..Take a horsebike ride to the top of Haleakala to see the sun come up; or take a bike ride down the mountain...visit Lahaina, the first capital of Hawaii, and sit under the magnificient Banyan Tree...the list is endless.
Maui is so relaxing...see it with a local if possible. It is a magical place.
Have a wonderful time both planning the trip and once you are there. Anywhere you go in Hawaii is a real treat IMO. Aloha.
Last edited:
Scooter
Beach Fanatic
Our family of 4 visited Hawaii April 2002. 2 boys 12 and 14. We spent 4 days in Oahu and visited Pearl Harbor. I originally didn't want to miss out on beach time, but so glad that I went with them. Pearl Harbor was amazing. Flew to The Big Island. Spent 7 days there. At first I was a bit dissapointed at the black rock. Well, it was awesome. I snorkled with turtles right off the beach in Kona. We visited the volcano. It was breathtaking. We visited the Parker Ranch on the north shore. It is a 225 acre horse ranch. On the south shore we also walked through a rainforest. We took a plane to Kauai one morning and rented a convertible and spent the day there. It was spectacular. If I return, it will be to Kauai. I don't think you can go wrong wherever you visit in Hawaii. As long as you visit Pearl Harbor and then pick one or two of the other islands to visit you won't be dissapointed. Have a wonderful time!
Jdarg
SoWal Expert
Maui no kaoi! I agree about Paia. What an awesome little town. Great people and a great stop if you are heading on up the Hana Road. If you are going up to Haleakala, you will hit the town of Makawao, a totally different landscape- very green. It reminded me of Kentucky- horses, grass.
The coolest thing about Maui is the change of landscape- so rain foresty on the Hana Road side, desert on the back side from Kihei over to Makena Beach and on around to Hana the back way (although your rental car company says you can't take your rental car all the way around), the isthmus area is farmland/cane fields, Lahaina/KaanapaliKapalua and beyond is lush- so much on one island.
Base out of Maui and take day trips to Hawaii, Lanai, and Molokai- there are small plane tours and boats. Take an aerial of Volcanoes Nat'l Park to get a real sense of just how much land the lava has taken away and added. Look for a boat trip from Lahaina over to Molokai across the channel- it is a whole different world over there.
Depending on what you like (full service resort or smaller more personal lodging), Maui has a lot of choices. I always stayed at Puuamana townhomes, on the edge of Lahaina, and visited the bigger resorts for meals and recreation.
Have fun- I am jealous!
Mountaintopgirl
Beach Comber
Maui is great, so much to see and do. Watching the whales from shore or on a boat is great. If you drive to Hana, take lunch with you. We stayed in Kanapali, and was close to everything. It was very hard for to get on a plane to come back home.
