Ladies Who Went to Hawaii

As a child we went to Hawaii almost yearly. I went in college and on my honeymoon. Here is my opinion...

Maui absolutely. Its the best. it has the quintessential white sand beach but lots of things to do.

My second favorite personally is The Big Island (Hawai'i). I feel like its old Hawaii with the black sand beaches and lava field desserts. Its low key and beautiful. However Hilo on the Big Island has the most rain of any spot in Hawaii and if a tsunami was to hit its most likely it would hit there. Also check on the volcano. I heard its really getting bad and the vog (volcanic smog) is getting worse. When we were there it didn't effect Kona/Kohala, but that doesn't mean it isn't now.

Kaui is the most scenic, its where all the movies are always filmed. It is beautiful, but the reason it is the most beautiful is that as an island its the most rainy. I haven't been there in a long time but usually when we have gone its rained about 50% of the time we were there, hence why my parents stopped going there. When we were in Hawaii two tropical storms came through. But we never felt the effects. Several people told us that any time a storm, typhoon or hurricane comes through Kaui gets the brunt of it, followed by Oahu.

Oahu is like a city, the least like you would expect Hawaii to be like. But it is home to Diamond Head, Waikiki, the Pipeline, the Polynesian Cultural Center and Pearl Harbor.


If you can go from Nov - April, its whale season. Very cool.

We're going for 12 days in May....would have LOVED to go to 2 islands but DH prefers to hit at least 4 :-/

My top choices are Maui and Kauai. I have a friend at work who has been to Hawaii 12 times and he raves about Lanai so I would look into that.

We're hitting Oauhu, Kona (big Island) , Maui and Kuai in that order.

---

Posted by MLAngelo


If you can go from Nov - April, its whale season. Very cool.

---

That's really good to know! We were aiming for end of May, but we would love LOVE to see the whales.

---

Posted by klsnyc805

That's exactly where my BFF went on her HM and suggested those 2! Did you fly directly into Maui?

---

Yes, we flew into Maui and out of Kauai.

---

Posted by MrsCastanedain09

We're going for 12 days in May....would have LOVED to go to 2 islands but DH prefers to hit at least 4 :-/

My top choices are Maui and Kauai. I have a friend at work who has been to Hawaii 12 times and he raves about Lanai so I would look into that.

We're hitting Oauhu, Kona (big Island) , Maui and Kuai in that order.

---

4 in 12 days is ROUGH!!! You will spend more time traveling then enjoying yourself. Don't forget you lose at least half a day every time you move... check out by noon, half hour - hour ahead at the airport, wait for luggage, wait FOREVER for your rental car (they are slow there) and then you can't get your room until 3pm. For example, going from the Big Island to Maui we left our room at 11am and got into our room at 4pm. Not to mention repacking and unpacking. You won't have time to relax at all.

My parents made the mistake of doing 3 in one 2 week trip once (14 days) and never did that again. The most they will do is two.

I would seriously rethink that. If anything I would do two islands and maybe visit two parts of one island. Maybe go to Maui and stay in Wailea or Kaanapali and then drive the road to Hana and stay in Hana a night or two.

Also the islands are not as close as people seem to think. If your going to do all 4 do them in order that they fall. Your going to be flying over Maui to go to the Big Island, then back over Oahu to go to Kaui.

I am not trying to rain on your parade, just trying to help you actually enjoy Hawaii. (SKIP OAHU)

OK, I feel like I should put a disclaimer here, I am a bit older than most on the board, and I tend to be more of a small inn/b&b person, not a bit resort lover.

I've been to Maui--(vaca w/ex 05)

amazing food, very friendly, volcano, somewhat developed urban in parts, Volcano (haleakala), HANA!!!, most expensive island

I stayed one nite in the Hotel Hana Maui, best place I have ever stayed,great spa, blah on the food tho. It is so nice to spend the nite after the road to Hana drive, and the town really chills once the day trippers are gone.

Kaui (HM 08)

BEAUTIFUL, more original Hawaiian architecture, less developed, less expensive , and for me food nowhere near Maui, also a bit less friendly.
I stayed in Hanalei at the Hanalei colony resort, we only went to Poipu where the Hyatt is on our last night.

Hanalei I think is prettier, but it is more remote, your will drive a LOT if you stay there. Also the dining options are limited.

Hanalei CR is for an older crown, so you may want to look and see if Princeville is open yet.
My humble opinion is that we made the right choice, lots of other people on this board LOVE the Hyatt.
If you go to a travel agent this may be the only option you are offered. You may want to spend part of your trip at a condo, we had fun having a lot of space and a place to grill fish.

Oahu (stopover '08)

I was in Oahu for a few hours, very short visit to PH.
Honestly I thought what I saw of the island was kind of ugly and depressing, but I did NOT go to Waikiki or the North Shore. (They are nicer I assume) I was very happy we just grabbed a quick tour between flights.

I am actually hoping to go to Big island this year, there is an organization that does retreats for cancer patients.

If you want paradise (unfortunately at a heavy $$$$ the four seasons on Lanai is AMAZING!

Second to that I would say Kaui I tend to think of that as a tropical paradise

It's so hard to pick a favorite island - I love 'em all.

If you want to feel like you went to Hawaii - then Kauai (which is the most lush and in my opinion the most beautiful) and Maui (still beautiful but more built up and commercial than Kauai) are the way to go.

I loved Lanai because it's so remote and quiet, but after a day we were bored. Oahu has lots to do but if you don't have a lot of time, skip it. While it's cool to see (Pearl Harbor, Hanauma Bay, Iolani Palace, etc.), the Waikiki Beach area is almost like 5th Avenue but in a tropical setting.

DH likes it so we went back for our HM, but I could have done without it.

The last time I went to the Big Island was with an ex over 15 years ago, so I don't know how it is now, but Volcano National Park is something I think everyone should see once in their lifetime.

No matter where you go though, it's an amazing place. DH and I spent 23 days there for our HM (it was our second trip there together and each of our 3rd time going) and we were still sad when we left and are already trying to figure out when we can get back!

---

Posted by marriedinmontauk

OK, I feel like I should put a disclaimer here, I am a bit older than most on the board, and I tend to be more of a small inn/b&b person, not a bit resort lover.

I've been to Maui--(vaca w/ex 05)

amazing food, very friendly, volcano, somewhat developed urban in parts, Volcano (haleakala), HANA!!!, most expensive island

I stayed one nite in the Hotel Hana Maui, best place I have ever stayed,great spa, blah on the food tho. It is so nice to spend the nite after the road to Hana drive, and the town really chills once the day trippers are gone.

Kaui (HM 08)

BEAUTIFUL, more original Hawaiian architecture, less developed, less expensive , and for me food nowhere near Maui, also a bit less friendly.
I stayed in Hanalei at the Hanalei colony resort, we only went to Poipu where the Hyatt is on our last night.

Hanalei I think is prettier, but it is more remote, your will drive a LOT if you stay there. Also the dining options are limited.

Hanalei CR is for an older crown, so you may want to look and see if Princeville is open yet.
My humble opinion is that we made the right choice, lots of other people on this board LOVE the Hyatt.
If you go to a travel agent this may be the only option you are offered. You may want to spend part of your trip at a condo, we had fun having a lot of space and a place to grill fish.

Oahu (stopover '08)

I was in Oahu for a few hours, very short visit to PH.
Honestly I thought what I saw of the island was kind of ugly and depressing, but I did NOT go to Waikiki or the North Shore. (They are nicer I assume) I was very happy we just grabbed a quick tour between flights.

I am actually hoping to go to Big island this year, there is an organization that does retreats for cancer patients.

---

If you like low key you should try Kona Village Resort, I know you said you prefer B&Bs but its very low key. You stay in little huts and there is no connection to the outside world - phones, newspapers, televisions (at least when I was there but I believe its still true). Its really nice and relaxing. But go to the beach at the Marriott, its the one on all the post cards.

But FYI, the Big island, at least the non-volcanic Kona side is known for large resorts.

If you enjoy cruising, you might want to look into a Hawaiian cruise. You can see a few islands in a week. We did a week on our own & then a cruise for a week for our honeymoon & for us it was the best! The cruise ship stayed overnight on a few of the islands so you got 2 days. We saved a lot of money too because food is very expensive in Hawaii and we didn't have to fly from island to island.