Hawaii - I need a vacation from whatever it is that I do

[surfpirate]

Hawaii - I need a vacation from whatever it is that I do.

Decided yesterday that I'll take the family to Hawaii this summer for a couple of weeks.
In my 54 years on this planet, I've been to a lot of places,
but this will be a first trip to Hawaii.

Checked with a travel agent, and based on what I told her I wanted
(at least a couple of islands, 14 days, paddleboarding and snorkeling, sunrise bike safari)
she came up with a tentative plan:

Waikiki - 3 nights (Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach)
The Big Island - 5 nights (Fairmont Orchid on the Kohala Coast)
Maui - 6 nights (Wailea Beach Resort)

Thoughts? Any recommendations? Must sees? Avoid at all costs?

We'll be taking the kids (15 and 17), so we'll be getting two rooms everywhere we stay.
I'll fly economy class, but won't skimp on rooms. 4 star at least required.

Jimmy Buffett's Beachcomber and Surf Museum and Duke's are likely stops in Waikiki.
Other than that .... I dunno. Nothing planned. We'll have a rental car everywhere but Waikiki.
Son will probably want to paddleboard with me. Kids might want to zipline somewhere.
My wife will want a spa treatment at least once. We'll do one traditional Luau Feast somewhere.
Definitely want to take in some tropical waterfalls and sites, although I'm not keen on strenuous hiking.

I'm going to pull the trigger and plan something in the next few days. Advice welcome. Thanks!

[Saltx3]

Take me along - I'll carry your bags.

[Gulfbreeze]

Stayed in Maui a few years back, up the coast on Kaanapali Beach, and the best day I had was taking a sailing/snorkeling tour with Trilogy out of Lahaina, which even if you don't take the trip, Lahaina is a great place to spend a half day or more just snooping around and it's only about a half hour trip up the coast, which just the drive itself is incredible. Did the Discover Lanai tour and was blown away by how professional the captain and crew were. Went there during the whale watching time, so that was a bonus, and there were flying fish... A friend did the Haleakala downhill bike tour and was pretty impressed with that as well, if you're into that sort of thing, even though it was downhill, I took a pass, more energy than I could muster, perhaps too many Mai Tai's the evening before, I don't know.

Have a great trip and say "Hi" to Miliani from the Breeze, she'll be somewhere on Front St. by the banyan tree.

http://www.sailtrilogy.com/

[surfpirate]

Yep. The Sunrise Haleakala Downhill Bike Tour is already on the "definitely doing that" list.
So too is the Hāna Highway Drive down the coast.
Thanks for the other suggestions. I'll research 'em.

[jimsig]

I think you have picked 3 great islands. Of course they are the same 3 I went too Most of the things I list will be things we did unless otherwise noted.

Oahu- head up to the North Shore and check out the Banzai Pipeline, though in the summer not sure how the surf is. I think it's better in the winter. Of course Pearl Harbor and while there see the USS Missouri as well. Also head to Hanauma Bay

Maui- Drive the Road to Hana, IMO it is well worth it. You can pick up a CD for the route from here Road To Hana CD You can order it online before you go, or pick it up when you get there. If their location is in the same place there was a place to get a cooler rental, buy drinks, and sandwiches right there as well. the wife and I got engaged at the bottom of Waimoku Falls on our drive. We did not make it, but go to the top of Halealaka for sunrise. Many options on that like a self drive, or biking down. The Hana CD people may even have a CD for that.

Big Island- Volcanoes National Park According to the website the lava flow is currently "not accessible by foot or by car. No lava is flowing into or towards the ocean." Hopefully that will change by the time you go, but it is still worth the trip to see the craters and the Thurston Lava Tube and even do some basic hiking.

Hope those get you started

[jimsig]

Also had the best prime rib I have ever had at the Kilauea Lodge in Volcano Village on the Big Island. Island raised beef, so good

[jimsig]

If the lava is flowing on the Big Island and it is accessible, you may want to spend a night in the Volcano Village area. The lava is at it's best around sunset and after when it's flowing.

[surfpirate]

I've seen an active volcano, on a Costa Rica surf trip many years ago.
I was younger and hiking was not so much a big deal. Now it is.
I'm probably going to pass on getting deeper into the volcano regions,
but instead admire them from afar.

Now the North Shore surf ... that's also on the to do list.
See it. Not surf it. Big wave surfing to me these days is knee high long board chop.
The peak big wave (30 footers) season is over the winter months,
but even in the summer the Pipeline is supposed to be spectacular.

[jimsig]

I was there in Jan 03 and saw those 30ft's, amazing.

Believe me when I say hike, I pretty much mean 20 to 30 min, an hour tops and in sneakers When we saw the lava flowing it was no more then a 10 min walk from where we parked. At that time it was happening at the end of Chain Of Craters Road right near the ocean. The drive around Crater Rim drive is amazing as well in the park.

They also do tours up either Mauna Kea or Mauna Loa, or both. We did not do one , but friends have, and they bring you up late in the day and break out the telescopes on the way back.

[spark26981]

We are going back to Hawaii in May for our 4th trip (sounds weird to say that...)

Most of our trips we have stayed on Oahu (our favorite island), but did stay for a few nights on the Big Island on our last trip.

On Oahu;
For awesome shrimp, check out Mackey's shrimp truck on the North Shore (on the road into Haliewa)
Moose McGillicuddy's does great food and drink specials in Honolulu
Seek out La Marianna Sailing Club by the docks...last surviving original Tiki Bar in Hawaii
Best luau on the island is Paradise Cove
The Polynesian Culture Center isnt worth the time or the money
Hau Tree Lanai in Honolulu is a great romantic destination for dinner as the sun sets on the Pacific

On Big Island;
We didnt get much time to do much more than the volcano's and Hilo
Farmer's market in Hilo had great fresh fruit
Buy and eat some donkey balls...because balls
Big Island Brewhaus in Waimea had some decent beer flights

[phjrsaunt]

You probably know this, but you also know that I mean well
Great resources for you about this would be ETP, Garry, and Jen.

[seminoledq]

In Waikiki:
Duke's is a must, and not just because of the JB reference. We enjoyed a great meal and a few great beers.
Snorkel in Hanauma Bay (sp?). Just awesome.
If you are there on a Saturday go to the Hilton Hawaiian Village and watch Henry Kapono play in the afternoon.

[Rabbitz]

Hi SP,

I never been to Hawaii, however SWMBO & I have spent a lot of time in Polynesia and Melanesia.

My advice would be to get away from the tourist areas as much as you can. Obviously a few days doing the touristy thing is required but try and get to the smaller places.

The accommodation will be good and hospitality will be amazing.

I don't know if they do it in Hawaii, but in other parts of Polynesia you can stay the night with a local family on the beach in their fale (or bure - not sure of the Hawaiin word for it - Ok it is a beach hut). You eat with the family and get to see what real islander life is like. An experience you will remember.

We've done it in Samoa (the real Samoa not the American one ) and it was a lot of fun. Clearly you only want to do this for one or two nights, especially with teenagers, although living ON the beach may appeal to them.

Through doing these stays and meeting local families we have been invited to a few private, village owned places.

I hope this inspires you to get to know the real islanders, coz they'll teach you about riding the islands waves...

[Rabbitz]

By the by, when I said "ON the beach" I meant "ON the beach"

BN Fale.jpg (187.79 KiB) Viewed 8590 times

[surfpirate]

Hi SP,

I never been to Hawaii, however SWMBO & I have spent a lot of time in Polynesia and Melanesia.

My advice would be to get away from the tourist areas as much as you can. Obviously a few days doing the touristy thing is required but try and get to the smaller places.

The accommodation will be good and hospitality will be amazing.

I don't know if they do it in Hawaii, but in other parts of Polynesia you can stay the night with a local family on the beach in their fale (or bure - not sure of the Hawaiin word for it - Ok it is a beach hut). You eat with the family and get to see what real islander life is like. An experience you will remember.

We've done it in Samoa (the real Samoa not the American one ) and it was a lot of fun. Clearly you only want to do this for one or two nights, especially with teenagers, although living ON the beach may appeal to them.

Through doing these stays and meeting local families we have been invited to a few private, village owned places.

I hope this inspires you to get to know the real islanders, coz they'll teach you about riding the islands waves...

I did this in Costa Rica several years ago. stayed with a family in Playa Samara for 3 nights on the beach. food was muuuuch better than the hotels and the hospitality was the best.

[Rabbitz]

I did this in Costa Rica several years ago. stayed with a family in Playa Samara for 3 nights on the beach. food was muuuuch better than the hotels and the hospitality was the best.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, I was preaching to the converted then...

[SeattleParrotHead]

While in Waikiki, try to make it to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (“Punchbowl cemetery”) http://www.cem.va.gov/CEMs/nchp/nmcp.asp ... It’s worth the trip!

A hike to the top of Diamond Head will result in a terrific view of Waikiki: http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/o ... park_id=15

On our trips to the Big Island, we’ve rented a condo at Mauna Lani Point, which is just south of the Fairmont Orchid and have walked up to the Fairmont for dinner a few times… you’ll love it there!

On the BI, consider a visit to Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park (“Place of Refuge”) http://www.nps.gov/puho/index.htm … it’s on the west side, in south Kona.

Drive north from Kohala to the end of the road at the Pololu Lookout. Hike down into the Pololu Valley, The beach there is incredible! http://gohawaii.about.com/od/bigisleact ... lley-Hike/

At the Fairmont Orchid, check out the Puako Petroglyphs Archaeological Preserve . . . as an artist, I think you'll enjoy it.
http://www.onlyinhawaii.org/puako-petro ... nd-hawaii/

Have a great time!

[lime rickie]

[bob3435]

Is Duckett going? He can show you some of his favorite places to go. I wouldn't trust him too much though, he will try to lead you astray

[chippewa]

Yep. The Sunrise Haleakala Downhill Bike Tour is already on the "definitely doing that" list.
So too is the Hāna Highway Drive down the coast.
Thanks for the other suggestions. I'll research 'em.

Those would be the top two of my recommendations, along with visiting a lot of the beaches (even if you just visit for an hour or two and move onto the next one).

sunrise bike ride -- Most of the companies will lead you down in a group. We did some research and found we didn't want that at all. Some complaints we read were that you have to go down at the slowest person's pace, but we saw were groups flying by us. They must have been done with their trip in 45 minutes. We went with Haleakala Bike Company, they take you up and you ride down at your own pace, alone or with whomever you want. I don't recall exactly how long it took, but it was maybe 2.5 or 3 hours by the time we coasted a bit, stopped for photos, coasted and stopped to peel off layers of clothing (it's pretty cold at the top), coasted and stopped at a diner for breakfast. It was an awesome morning and there was no set time that they needed their bike back. I'd highly recommend them. For pickup, they will come to your hotel at some ungodly early hour...we had a car so we got a couple of extra hours of sleep and drove to their shop where they loaded the vans to ride to the top.