Anyone been to Hawaii?

[HoneySuckle]

If so, which island?

I have heard great things about Maui, some really nice things about Kaui, but mainly that Oahu is crowded, busy, but on the upside, lots of things to do at night.

We're taking the family (High School kids) with us.  We love the beach, exploring, sightseeing, shopping, going out to dinner, and then hanging out wherever everyone else is hanging out in town.

Knowing this tidbit about us, where would you recommend if you visited one or more of the islands?

[BKDotCom]

If so, which island?

I have heard great things about Maui, some really nice things about Kaui, but mainly that Oahu is crowded, busy, but on the upside, lots of things to do at night.

We're taking the family (High School kids) with us.  We love the beach, exploring, sightseeing, shopping, going out to dinner, and then hanging out wherever everyone else is hanging out in town.

Knowing this tidbit about us, where would you recommend if you visited one or more of the islands?

Just spent 9 days in Maui at the beginning of May.   Twas our first visit to any of the islands.
We stayed on the west side off of Napili beach (which was a very nice beach and is north of Kaanapaili and the nifty/touristy town of Lahaina)...   Specifically, our hotel was the smaller "The Mauian".
While we loved the area and beach we stayed at, it turned out not to be very handy to visit the other parts of the island..   Apparently the road around the NW part of the island is "treacherous" and not recommended.. (in fact taking that route violates rental car agreement)..

That being said..  there's not that much reason to venture from that area..    We left to do some hiking in the Waihee Ridge/Valley, the Iao Valley, and the Road to Hana, and Haleakala crater.

My wife is probably wishing she was there right now...

If you do decide to go... we can probably recommend a few restaurants / things to do / avoid.

[Conan71]

I spent a week at the Four Seasons on Maui 15 years ago. What's weird is that its dry on that side. You leave the hotel property and its almost s
desert like. I recommend biking down Haleakala or renting a car and seeing the island.

Oahu has some great things to see but is a busy island.

[SXSW]

Just spent 9 days in Maui at the beginning of May.   Twas our first visit to any of the islands.
We stayed on the west side off of Napili beach (which was a very nice beach and is north of Kaanapaili and the nifty/touristy town of Lahaina)...   Specifically, our hotel was the smaller "The Mauian".
While we loved the area and beach we stayed at, it turned out not to be very handy to visit the other parts of the island..   Apparently the road around the NW part of the island is "treacherous" and not recommended.. (in fact taking that route violates rental car agreement)..

That being said..  there's not that much reason to venture from that area..    We left to do some hiking in the Waihee Ridge/Valley, the Iao Valley, and the Road to Hana, and Haleakala crater.

My wife is probably wishing she was there right now...

If you do decide to go... we can probably recommend a few restaurants / things to do / avoid.

We went on it anyway, and it was one of the best experiences we had.  It's a one land road that hugs cliffs for most of the way, but the views are outstanding.  If you don't do the 'long road to Hana' this is a good alternative if you're staying in west Maui.  Maui is a beautiful island and there is lots to do.  It blows away every beach resort in the continental US, IMO.  I would go every year if wasn't so expensive and the flight wasn't so long to get there (8 hours non-stop from Dallas).

[charky]

We spent a week in Maui last summer with our parents (their 50th wedding anniversary). Stayed at the Wailea Marriot...which was spectacular.  While there are some small beach areas...most of the beaches are really rocky...but quite beautiful. We spent more time at the infinity pool than anywhere else.

Absolutely go on the bike ride down Haleakala. It was the highlight of our trip. We signed up for the full tour...they'll pick you up at your hotel about 2 am!...then you take a van to the top just in time for sunrise. Really moving and beauty beyond description.

[guido911]

I went to college for a semester at Univ. of Hawaii and lived at Waikiki. Stay away from that madhouse of humanity. 

[BKDotCom]

We went on it anyway, and it was one of the best experiences we had.  It's a one land road that hugs cliffs for most of the way, but the views are outstanding.  If you don't do the 'long road to Hana' this is a good alternative if you're staying in west Maui.  Maui is a beautiful island and there is lots to do.  It blows away every beach resort in the continental US, IMO.  I would go every year if wasn't so expensive and the flight wasn't so long to get there (8 hours non-stop from Dallas).

Ya... we went several miles in from the West and hiked down to the Nakalele blowhole (very cool).  The drive was very scenic.   Cliffs, ocean, multi-million $ homes...

[Red Arrow]

I can recommend Maui. There are lots of things to see and do.

I don't believe the road around the NW part of the island is off limits to rental cars but it is not for the white knuckle driver.  Lots of one lane road with steep drop offs and no guard rails. (Hawaii's anti drunk driving program).  The views are fabulous.  The road around the SE part of the island, around Haleakala, is usually listed as off limits for rental cars but is mostly OK.  I saw couple of small tour vans on that road.  I was in a Ponitac Vibe. It did fine.  Check ahead as there are portions that are unpaved and can be impassable after a large rain.  The road is interesting.  Some sections appear to be paved one bucket of asphalt at a time.  Then there will be a bridge that puts Oklahoma to shame, followed by more primitive road surface.  Views are fantastic. There are a few small settlements to visit.  If you plan to go around the SE part, get an early start and expect to spend the whole day. Be sure to stop in the store at Kaupo.  It's trip to the past century.  The road to Hana is the road along the NE part of the eastern part of the island.  Lots of twists and turns.  The east side of the island is tropical rain forest. The west sides of the island are dry, at least by comparison.

Go up to the top of Haleakala, even if you don't do the bike ride back down. You can hike down into the crater and get the feeling you are on the moon. Due to the altitude, there is a sign saying to allow twice as long to come back up out of the crater as you take going down in to it.  It's true.  There are some horseback trips available too.

The big airport is at Kahului.  East of there on the road to Hana is the small town of Paia.  It's an artsy and touristy place with some places to eat that won't drain your wallet.  Farther along the road is Hookipa Beach.  It was a good place to watch the surfers. It was way beyond my one lesson surfing capabilities.  Up the hill is Makawao.  It reminded me a lot of a Colorado or northern New Mexico mountain town except the vegetation is all different.  Continuing along the face of Haleakala will get you to Maui's winery at Ulupalakua. They offer tours but be there on time, they don't allow stragglers. They have a wine tasting room.  Most of the wines are grape but they also make a pineapple wine that I liked.  There are many horseback or 4-wheeler opportunities at the mid altitude up-country villages.

The A & B Sugar museum on the SE edge of Kahului was well worth a few hours.

Just west of Kahului is Wailuku.  It is on the way to the Iao Valley State Park.  More gorgeous scenery at the park. In Wailuku is a museum of early Hawaiian history.  I believe it was one of the the original missionary schools for girls.

Lahaina was once the capital of Hawaii (if I remember correctly).  The are a lot of things to see and do there. You will find them.

The best map I got was by Earthwalk Press's Island of Maui Topographic Recreation Map.  I got it at the park station on the road up Haleakala.  

Depending on how long you will be there, investigate renting a condo. They are usually available relatively inexpensively compared to a resort hotel.  You don't need to be at a resort to attend a Luau as most of them are commercial operations available by ticket purchase.

You can't go wrong with Maui.  I have tried to point out some of the interesting places that can get overlooked if you spend all your time at a resort pool in Kaanapali.  I was on company trip for about 2-1/2 weeks.  My co-worker and I saw as much of Maui that was Maui only that we could.


Edit: source for map of Maui

http://www.boredfeet.com/mappages/map0915749343.php

Edit 2:  wander around this site for pictures of some of the more interesting Maui roads.

http://www.hawaiihighways.com/photos-Piilani-Hwy-page2.htm

[nathanm]

I'm going to force a little thread drift here, but if anybody isn't taking kids along and wants a nice relaxing beachy vacation, you can't do better than the Conrad in the Maldives. Too bad it takes over two days of travel to get there. (One overnight flight to London, another overnight flight to Male, then the short hop from Male to the Conrad.

She who must be obeyed wants to go to Bora Bora, Sydney, Auckland, Tahiti, Costa Rica, and Miami this winter. I think I'm going to have to take her to Epcot instead. 

[Red Arrow]

I look too American.

I'd have to pass on Costa Rica and Miami.  I could probably get away with visiting relatives near Tampa.

[HoneySuckle]

Oh my gosh, I am so grateful for all the responses.

We decided to book our flight to Oahu first for three nights, then go on to Maui for 10 nights.

I wanted to do the Pearl Harbour thing, Diamond head, see the dreaded Waikiki beach with millions of people mainly because the kids have read about these things and would like to see it at least once.  I imagine when we're done there, we will be looking forward to Maui!!

Because of my issues with Celiac (gluten intolerant), we have to rent a condo because I can't eat out all the time.  We also plan to rent a car for the entire stay on Maui, but only one day on Oahu to see the whole island.  Is this doable?

Oh, I forgot to mention that we're going the first week of August.  I am hoping and praying it will not be like a zoo because schools are out.

[sauerkraut]

We spent a week in Honolulu way back in 1976, we flew non-stop from Detroit in a DC 8 jetliner (Charter)- with just a fuel stop in California. The flight  over the water seemed like the longest part with nothing to see out the window but clouds & water We spent all week in Oahu stayed at the Holiday Inn in Honolulu on the 18th floor. I'd guess much has changed since I was there, We did take a Island  bus tour  for $10.00. We should of gone to some other islands but didn't. It's a great vacation spot but very toursity- Hope you have a good time. If you like to swim, The water is warm but there is alot of sharp coral past the beach break water wall, it's a far cry from the cold water off the coast of California.

[guido911]

Oh my gosh, I am so grateful for all the responses.

We decided to book our flight to Oahu first for three nights, then go on to Maui for 10 nights.

I wanted to do the Pearl Harbour thing, Diamond head, see the dreaded Waikiki beach with millions of people mainly because the kids have read about these things and would like to see it at least once.  I imagine when we're done there, we will be looking forward to Maui!!

Because of my issues with Celiac (gluten intolerant), we have to rent a condo because I can't eat out all the time.  We also plan to rent a car for the entire stay on Maui, but only one day on Oahu to see the whole island.  Is this doable?

Oh, I forgot to mention that we're going the first week of August.  I am hoping and praying it will not be like a zoo because schools are out.

I lived 200 yards from Waikiki beach during that semester. If you must go there, make sure you stop in at Dukes (a must go) which is right on the beach. Also check out North Shore (better surfing) and the toilet bowl. Oh, and take advantage of Hawaii's tremendous mass transit system. 

[HoneySuckle]

I know Oahu is going to be a Zoo, but we want the kids to see that island for a few days, and we do plan on using the bus except for one day to tour the island by rental car.  They have heard so much about Waikiki beach, Pearl Harbour and Diamond head that I feel like a few day's visit and then moving on to a slower pace on Maui will do the trick.  We wish we could do the big island also but we are all busy and need some down time so maybe next year we can take in Kaui and the big island.

How can I find a not too touristy Luau?  Maybe on Maui?  Or perhaps finding a restaurant that serves local Hawaiian food would be better?  If so, any recommendations?  We do plan on lots of Sushi!!!! Wooohoooo

[Conan71]

How can I find a not too touristy Luau?  Maybe on Maui?  Or perhaps finding a restaurant that serves local Hawaiian food would be better?  If so, any recommendations?  We do plan on lots of Sushi!!!! Wooohoooo

That's kind of a funny request since luau's are a primary tourist hook in the islands 

I hope you guys have a great time, I'm very envious.