When you planned your trip to hawaii? Was there any speciall considerations as to which island to visit first. I'm planning to visit different islands but I dont know which order I should visit them in.
Since I have never been there before, anything that you would recommend I should see or do while I'm there.
Its so hard to plan a honeymoon to a place where you've never been before.
Please Please Help!!!
PS. I've surfed online but its better to get recommends from you girls who actually experienced first hand.
Thanks so much!!
NatalieS
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Re: Those that have been to hawaii!!
one more question if you dont mind?
Which island did you fly into. Is it cheaper to fly onto a certain island from NY
MindyL28
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Re: Those that have been to hawaii!!
I think it may depend on what time of the year you're going. We are flying from LGA to Maui (connecting in Chicago) and on the return, we are flying from Honolulu to LGA (connecting in San Jose, CA). It may be cheaper to fly into Honolulu but you have to think about the cost of the inter-island flights too. They typically run $75-$100 each person each way so if the price is only a little more into the island that you want, it might be worth it!
cw0904
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Re: Those that have been to hawaii!!
We will be going to Oahu and Maui. We are also taking a cruise around the Hawaiian Islands-Maui, Kauai, Big Island and back to Honolulu. There is more to do in Oahu than just going to Waikiki Beach and Pearl Harbor. You can visit the North Shore (Pipeline,Waimea Bay-AMAZING surf watching) which we plan on doing and Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, Pali Lookout, and a few other spots I have been reading about. I do hear Waikiki is city like, but you have to get away from that area and head North to see the beauty of Oahu. I have been reading the fodors.com boards for information and also on cruisecritics.com for the cruise portion of our trip. Alot of people on these two boards recommend getting the Maui and Kauai Revealed book if you are going to these locations. I got the MR book and it has so much inside info and very detailed. Four months for me and I can't wait!!
neesiepie
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Re: Those that have been to hawaii!!
I agree, there is TONS to do in Oahu...Also make sure you go to The Polynesian Cultural Center. It's all college kids from Brigham Young University Hawaii that work there. You go from different areas that represent the different Hawaiian Cultures and it's like actual villages with people dressed in native cultural clothing. There's an AWESOME Luau with a genuine pig roast and also a boat pageant there....There is also Punchbowl Crater in Oahu which is a cemetary/memorial to all who died in Pearl Harbor...the view is AMAZING. I think one of the Challenger astronauts is buried there....Hanauma Bay is awesome if you want to go snorkeling...it is TEEMING with fish and sea turtles. There is also a submarine you can go on right in Waikiki....it's called Atlantis Submarine, and was one of my favorite parts. We also hiked to the top of Diamond Head Crater, which was breathtaking.
AMinNYC
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Re: Those that have been to hawaii!!
We just got back from Kauai, Big Island and Maui. We have no regrets about the order.
Kauai is very laid back and there is definitely less to do than Maui. We did not feel guilty for not exploring the first 2 days, since we were so exhausted from the wedding and from the flight. My recommendation is to stay at the Hyatt. The Princeville was gorgeous, but a LONG drive from everything. We spent 4 days, more than enough.
We LOVED the Big Island. Primarily for the VOLCANOS AND for the Four Seasons! I can honestly say, I've never been to a nicer hotel. It was paradise. We spent 3 days, partly bc the hotel was so expensive. We wish we had stayed another day.
Maui was our last stop, a great way to 'reconnect' back with society. It was definitely more lively and more to do. Four Seasons was nice there too (but not as awesome as the one on the Big Island). The Grand Wailea (next door) is much bigger, with better (bigger pools) but there were also many more families with young children.
Our only regret is we didn't spend 2 days in Oahu, to see Wakiki and Pearl Harbor, since it was such a long trip, doubt we will be back so soon.
If you can, upgrade your trip to business class - it is very worth it. Hope this helps & Good Luck!
dawnie
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Re: Those that have been to hawaii!!
First..AMinNYC..we stayed at the Four Seasons too and loved it!!
Our honeymoon..
We did 2 nights at the Halekulani on Oahu and we got to see Pearl Harbor. I would have liked 1 more day on Oahu to check out the North Shore. The service at this hotel was amazing. They check you in from your room. They bring you to your room and pop in a Hawaii CD and show you all your room has to offer.
We then went to Kauai and relaxed. We stayed at the Hyatt. Beautiful and tropical hotel. This is the most beautiful island...so green! We saw so many beautiful waterfalls. We took a helicopter tour. We took a drive to Princeville and all around the island. We stayed 4 nights.
Then off to the Big Island. We had a 1st floor room (bungalow) with an outdoor garden shower on the 18th hole golf course with the ocean behind it. We loved this hotel! Great service and room. Volcano National Park is awesome. I want to go again!
Then we stayed at the Grand Wailea for 5 nights. Our room was musty smelling and we should have asked to switch but we didn't. The pool was great and Maui had a lot of stuff to do. We rode down the volcano on a bike, went to a lauau and went to the aquarium,
Any other questions..just ask!
LisaT
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Re: Those that have been to hawaii!!
I guess it depends on your preference, but I LOVED the north shore of Kauai.
We stayed at Princeville and the Hyatt. The Hyatt is a fantastic hotel - enough to make you never want to leave their pools (and we didn't for two days). But the exotic lush north shore is what would bring us back to Kauai.
Other then the Hyatt, the south shore didn't offer us much.
NatalieS
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Re: Those that have been to hawaii!!
thank you everyone for sharing your experiences.
You guys are definitely a big help. ALL your suggestions are reaffirming what I will be doing.
So far the consensus is to stay at the Four Seasons on the big island and the Hyatt in Kauai.
What about the ISLAND PASS from aloha airlines?
Did anyone purchase that. They offer a seven day pass for $336 between the islands. This sounds like a good deal. Did any of you girls look into it?
tarakinspa
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Re: Those that have been to hawaii!!
I agree the Hawaii for Dummies book was good but I was constantly looking in it
I went to Kaui first thinking right after the wedding I would just want to relax, we were exactly the opposite, we were pumped up I guess so we did alot of activities there and were more in a relaxing mood when we got to Maui which was last but the similar activities are available and I enjoyed doing them on Kaui anyway.
It is gorgeous you are going to have a blast!!
Good Luck
B2BMay04
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Re: Those that have been to hawaii!!
Planning this HM was one of my favorite tasks and I have done a lot of research. Since we will be in Maui the longest I purchased the Maui Revealed book. One of our friends used it on thier honeymoon and they said it was excellent especially for reference when they did the Road to Hana.
Since we wanted to relax after the wedding we are going to Kauai first. Maui second then a quick stop in Oahu for Pearl Harbor and the Polynesian villaige.
Kauai - 4 days - Hyatt Regency Maui - 5 days - Four Seasons !! :) Oahu - 3 days Sheraton Moana Surfrider
Definitely check out the 4S. They do not nickel and dime you for things that other hotles do. Therefore the extra expense I feel would be worth it. Tally the daily fees posed by many of the hotels too. It adds up.
Have a great time planning and if you have any Q's FM me.
