Hawai'i

Stuck_At_Work

1,000+ Posts
My gf and I will be attending a wedding in Honolulu in late December. We've never been to Hawaii so we plan on spending a week exploring.

So... if you guys had 7 or 8 days, how would you spend it? How would you allocate your time between the islands? What are the must-do activities in Hawaii?
 
We certainly hope to at least visit one other island. From the other threads on Hawaii, it sounds like you really can't go wrong.

Oahu, Maui, Big Island, Kuaui, Lanai seems to be the order of most touristy to least...
 
The Link

If you go to Na Pali, consider taking one of the larger boats. Seas can get choppy and the rubber rafts will throw you around. Some people enjoy the rough ride, I don't.
 
hawaii is a blast. Everytime we pull in, the first stop is always to get the Prime Rib at Duke's. It is amazing. Climb diamond head if you can. It's a couple of mile hike but the view is goregeous. Go snorkeling at hanama bay. Try to get there around 11ish or earlier, you might spend your whole day watching the fishes. Rent a mountain bike and bike down the mountain. They have surf competitions out at north shore all the time, if you just wanna sit back and relax, get on one of those catamarans they do a day cruise where you go out and booze it up and watch whales(if it is the season, otherwise a lot of boozing)
 
Dont waste your time in Honolulu. If you can get out, go to Kauai.. You can fly there for dirt cheap on Hawaiian Airlines.. The Na'Pali coast is amazing... I did a boat ride up and down the coast with the Na'Pali explorer: The Link It's not too long and leaves you with time during the day to do other things... I definitely want to go back and hike that coast soon

And if you're booking rooms in Kauai, stay away from the hotels.. There's great apartments/condos for rent that are way cheaper
 
The Link

On Maui. This is not considered to be a completely "authentic" luau. For example, "fire dancers" are not authentic. However, the food is very good. The sunset spectacular. The dancers and musicians are very professional. You will wonder "How the heck did they do that?" In addition, our waitress was, far and away, the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Even my wife gawked at her. I didn't even have sexual thoughts about her...I just wanted to be in the presence of such infinite beauty. I'm serious.
 
I lived there for a while in the 90's. I second everyone about getting off of Oahu.

Duke's is good. It's the bar/restaurant in one of the big hotels on Waikiki beach. Waikiki is a crowded beach with nothing but tourists. Waitresses in bathing suits serving mai tais and good food. It's a little touristy, but then again, you are a tourist so enjoy it. It is what it is. If you are looking for a more secluded beach, you won't find it in Waikiki.

The only can't miss item that you really must see on Oahu is the USS Arizona. It's not as much fun as partying around the island, but the movie followed by the boat ride out to the Arizona is something everyone should experience. In the lobby of the the memorial everyone is walking around laughing and enjoying the weather. As they come out of the theater and onto the boat to go across the Harbor the mood is suddenly very solemn. I think it's quite an experience.

I always felt like going out there to stand mere feet over the boat that still entombs hundreds of sailors and pay tribute to them is a nice way to earn a little extra vacation karma on what will otherwise be a week full of nothing but good times.

If you must stay on Oahu, then I recommend driving out to Haleiwa on the north shore. Some good roadside restaurants and bars out there. From there it's not far to Waimea or Sunset Beach and the Banzai Pipeline. If you've never seen someone surf 20+ foot waves, it's worth hanging out for a while. Be careful in the water if you don't really know what you're doing. Even in knee deep water the waves will knock you on your *** hard.

Hanauma Bay is scenic and has good snorkling or diving, but again it's way crowded with tourists. Lots of coral and tons of colorful fish in the water. Lots of sea turtles too, that you can swim with if you go out just past the reef.

Sandy Beach, further up the road from Hanauma is a nice beach. Not as crowded as Waikiki. Not as big of surf as the north shore.

The backside of the mountains, the windward side, is beautiful. A few good beaches over there too. From the windward side you can also drive around the long way to the north shore. It's a winding highway that stays near the water most of the time. It's not quite the road to Hana on Maui, but still a nice drive.

Speaking of drives, whatever you rent, make it a convertible. You'll wish you had if you don't.

You can easily have your fill of Oahu in 2 days. After that get to Kauai or Maui for nicer scenery, less crowds, and nicer beaches.
I'd pick one or the other and stay there so you have time to settle in and not always be on the go traveling island to island.

I also like the Big Island and the volcanos, but most people go to Hawaii for the beaches, not to be up at altitude on a mountain.
 
Aloha!! I was born and raised in Hawaii (Big Island)..I would actually recommend visiting Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island..Oahu is more of a partying Island but it does have a few places that is worth seeing..If you're into the sighseeing, outdoors, adventures, and etc, those are the islands I'd recommend visiting
smile.gif
 
Thanks everyone. I just finished booking all my tickets & hotels. I'll be in Oahu (Honolulu area) from 1/1 'till 1/5 and on Maui (Kihei area) from 1/5' till 1/10. Now I just need to book a car for Maui.

I'll have to wait and see the other islands some other time.
 
If you like to golf, there are two amazing golf courses on Lanai which is a 30 minute fairy ride away from Lahaina Harbor. Two Four Seasons there as well in case your SO wants to get a treatment there. Also, in town is a nice quaint Italian joint that was really good, non-expensive, and non-touristy. Most of Lanai is pretty non-touristy actually. I spent my honeymoon on that island and loved it. I would recommend a day trip there perhaps.
 

Recent Threads

Back
Top