Honeymoon in Hawaii (1 Viewer)

[bostonfred]

First time to Hawaii. Looking for island recommendations, places to go, ideas for getting hooked up with the honeymoon suite or what not, or just fun stories I can tell my fiancee to get her thinking about the trip.

We're flying out in November, from Boston, probably all on US Air or United so I can use miles. I can use my Marriott reward points to stay in Kapolei/Oahu, Kauai, and Waikiki, but I'm also interested in cool places that I'd never have found on my own. I spend so many nights in Marriott hotels that it would be cool to check out something I wouldn't normally get to stay at, but if one of the Marriott/JW Marriott places is cool, I'd be psyched because it'd save a lot of money.

I don't know how to get from island to island, but I don't think we want to stay in one place. I'm interested in hiking near an active volcano, she's interested in horseback riding, and we're both interested in learning to surf. Neither one of us is a parasailing or anything like that. She's too scared to get on a helicopter, but I'd definitely do a helictopter trip over a volcano.

Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Men-in-Cleats]

My wife and I were married in Maui and honeymooned there afterwards. We were in the north end of Kihei and rented a room in a condo right on the beach fairly inexpensively. It was fantastic as due to the time difference I woke up early every morning while my wife still slept and went for long runs or walks on the beach. There was a farmers market literally right across the street from us and every day we popped over there for a few minutes and bought freshly picked bananas, mangos, papaya, pineapple, and so on to enjoy during the day. The beach we were married on was about 15-20 minutes south of there in Wailaia and we also spent some time up north browsing around in Lahaina and in Kanapoli, which got my wife's shopping bug satisfied. There are surfing beaches around the island but we had enough fun pounding our heads into the sand with some cheap boogie boards we bought and could use on the waves right in front of our condo. Also, the Kihei canoe club would take guests out on the outrigger canoes and they were right next to our condo. I went out there the morning before we left and it was a blast. The rowing is a lot harder to get the timing on than I thought and we were rowing right up next to sea turtles and so on, which was an absolute blast. Would definitely like to see more of the islands but I'd be tempted to spend more time in Maui since we didn't get as much time to ourselves due to wedding preparations. Lots to do on that island including surfing, snorkeling, biking, sightseeing, and so on. There is a big volcano there that you can drive to the top (or shuttle up and bike down) of but it isn't active.

 

[walnutz]

My wife and I spent 2 weeks in Hawaii for our honeymoon. We were on Maui and the Big Island. Stayed in the Four Seasons on both islands. We used our AA miles to get there and upgraded on the hotel. The Four Seasons is the only way to roll in my opinion. Anyway, here are mysuggestions.

First - There is a series of books written by a local. The one for Maui is called Maui Exposed. This guy will give you all the off the beaten path info you can handle and then some more. I highly reccomend it.

For Maui -

Visit Haleaklala - Do this the first day you have avilible. This is a sunrise view you will never forget. Then you get to take a ride down the mountain. It winds all the way down and there is very little work involved. If you choose to do this then bring some warm clothes with you. You are very high up on the mountain and it is very cold in the morning. Bring layers then shed them as you go down the mountain on the bike ride.

Road to Hana - Rent a jeep for this. Start out early. This is where the Maui Exposed guide book will come in handy. There are detailed instructions on how to get to every waterfall along the way to Hana. As they say in Maui - it is not the destination but the journey. Time means nothing on the day you do the Road to Hana. Take your time and follow the guide book. You can swin in a lot of the waterfalls along the way. So, bring a towel and oyur swim trunks. When you get to Hana buy the commermorative t-shirt. Then disobey all the instructions about not taking the back side of the road. You will see a completely different side of Maui. One that you would never know existed. It took us about 12 hours to do the whole road and get back to our hotel.

Snorkeling - Everyone takes the big chartered snorkel boats. It is a pain in the butt. If you can find a smaller charter that goes out in a smalle boat you will have a better time. We did not realize this until we got to the big island and snorkeled that way. Most of the time you get a local who takes you out and you will get a lot of history. Very cool time. Lunch was provided on the one we took.

Take a day off and enjoy the view. Also, make sure that you tell everyone that you are there on your honeymoon. Especially when you are booking your hotel, flights etc. We got upgraded to a better room in the hotel.

We flew Aloha over to the Big Island. You can get a cheap ticket. Our one way ticket there was part of the dual island get away package with the Four Seasons. On the way back we got a firs class ticket for about 100.00. 45 minute flight. Supposedly there is a new ferry you can take now.

The Big Island -

Again stay at the Fours Seasons. If you book early enogh you can get a room with a very cool black lava rock shower.

We took a helicopter tour of the island. Blue Hawaii is the way to go there. Nice helicopters and friendly pilots. Was a very cool time.

Horse back ride through the Waipeo Valley(not sure I spelled that right). This was very very cool. You take a horseback ride into the valley. Lunch was provided on the tour we went on.

Drive out to the volcano. Take a walk around.

Snorkel on the small boat there. Lots of locals with the tour companies.

Go to a lua. I will look up the hotel for the one we went to. A local there told us it was the best one on the island. We were not dissapointed.

I will try to think of some other things as I revisit some of the documentaton we have around.

Best of luck and have some fun. Maui and the big island are in my opinion the 2 best islands to visit. Honolulu is way to commercialized and you do not really get the full island feel. Again totally my opinion.

 

[chet]

One of the two best hotels I've ever stayed at is the Four Seasons Maui.

 

[Tough As Nails]

If you are going to spend time in Kauai, let me know. My wife and I have been there a couple times for 2 weeks at a stretch...lots of recommendations and, more importantly, a list of a few things to avoid.

 

[falconeyed]

Maui -

1 - Hana is a LONG day. It's very nice, but excruciatingly long.

2 - Going up to the top of the volcano - Agreed with the "if you go go early" if you're going to see the sunrise. If you're doing the bike down the mountain thing, go for the later in the day trip. The ride is like 25 miles long and you pedal for about 400 feet. It's pretty kickback.

3 - GO TO THE PLANTATION HOUSE FOR DINNER. Do not question this. Just go. Have the Da Kine Brownie for dessert. You're going in November, so reservations shouldn't be a problem. Call them a couple of weeks before you go and get your reservation then. If you only go to one place for dinner (although you won't), go here. It's that good.

4 - There's a good sushi place in Kapalua called Sensei's. If you go here, get there at about 430 or so and stand in line. The place opens at five and has a 25 or 30% discount for everything ordered in the first hour. It will save you a considerable amount of money and the quality is top notch.

5 - Best snorkel place is a beach just south of Wailea called Po'olenalena. Plenty of coral, plenty of turtles. However, if you go, go snorkeling in the middle of the day when the weather is good. If you go early morning or early evening snorkeling, be careful. Turtle is the tiger shark's primary prey item and the tigers hunt early in the morning and late at night. The boat trip thing, if you do it, is hit or miss depending on the weather. Weather is usually better to the south part of the island. The snorkel trip out to Molokini is good ... plenty of good fish and the caldera is sheltered so the water is calm. You'll see the occassional reef shark, but they're harmless unless you attack it or something stupid.

6 - There's a great place to the north of the island called the "Olivine Pools" or something similar. Probably a 40 minute drive or so north from Ka'anapali. Depending on the weather, it's a very interesting place. The surf has basically carved out a bunch of sinkholes in the rock that are crystal clear and have good fish.

7 - Ka'anapali - Go to the Hula Grill. Food is meh but the view is outstanding. Bar faces Lana'i. Jump off of Black Rock into the surf. Pretend you're a king.

8 - Lahaina - Very touristy. Reminds me of Fisherman's Wharf. Avoid Cheeseburger in Paradise. I thought it was meh also. There's a good restaurant called Longhi's ... go there for breakfast. I've heard good things about the Old Lahaina Luau, but I've never been. I think it's like $90 a person including dinner, drinks and the show.

9 - Wailea - There's a ####load of shopping there, so you will likely be dragged there. There's a couple of restaurants with bars, so if your wife goes ape#### with the shopping, there will be a place for you to get your drink on.

Kauai -

1 - The weather changes dramatically. We stayed at the Grand Hyatt Kauai for part of our honeymoon and stayed the first part of the honeymoon on my wife's family's place in Ka'anapali so that we could stay at the Grand Hyatt. It was very expensive, but worth it for a honeymoon experience.

2 - Waimea Canyon - Rent the jeep and go drive there for the day. It's amazing and a lot like the Grand Canyon but with more vegetation. There's an epic shaved ice place across from Waimea High School, which you will pass on the way back from the canyon to Po'ipu.

3 - There's a bunch of good #### on the northern part of the island as well, but the day we drove up there the weather was poo poo.

4 - Actually, since you're going in November, I'm not sure I would recommend going to Kauai because of the weather, and if you go, I would stay on the southern part of the island. Check out the hotel we stayed in ... plenty of #### to do.

Oahu - If you're not a submarine driver or landing your Hornet on the deck of the Ronnie, I would avoid it. Honolulu is basically Detroit on an island. Although, Pearl Harbor is quite a thing if you're a history nut.

Can't speak to the rest of the islands, as I've never been.

Have fun. Hoist a Mai Tai in the FFA's honor.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

When I got married 3 years ago and went to Hawaii, Marriott points could be redeemed at the Ritz Carlton on Maui. Use the points and stay at a great place. It's right on the Kapalua golf course and is beautiful. Only issue at all is that it's a hike to the beach because there is a Native Hawaiian burial ground near the beach, so the hotel is set further back from the ocean than normal.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

Maui - 1 - Hana is a LONG day. It's very nice, but excruciatingly long.2 - Going up to the top of the volcano - Agreed with the "if you go go early" if you're going to see the sunrise. If you're doing the bike down the mountain thing, go for the later in the day trip. The ride is like 25 miles long and you pedal for about 400 feet. It's pretty kickback.3 - GO TO THE PLANTATION HOUSE FOR DINNER. Do not question this. Just go. Have the Da Kine Brownie for dessert. You're going in November, so reservations shouldn't be a problem. Call them a couple of weeks before you go and get your reservation then. If you only go to one place for dinner (although you won't), go here. It's that good. 4 - There's a good sushi place in Kapalua called Sensei's. If you go here, get there at about 430 or so and stand in line. The place opens at five and has a 25 or 30% discount for everything ordered in the first hour. It will save you a considerable amount of money and the quality is top notch.5 - Best snorkel place is a beach just south of Wailea called Po'olenalena. Plenty of coral, plenty of turtles. However, if you go, go snorkeling in the middle of the day when the weather is good. If you go early morning or early evening snorkeling, be careful. Turtle is the tiger shark's primary prey item and the tigers hunt early in the morning and late at night. The boat trip thing, if you do it, is hit or miss depending on the weather. Weather is usually better to the south part of the island. The snorkel trip out to Molokini is good ... plenty of good fish and the caldera is sheltered so the water is calm. You'll see the occassional reef shark, but they're harmless unless you attack it or something stupid.6 - There's a great place to the north of the island called the "Olivine Pools" or something similar. Probably a 40 minute drive or so north from Ka'anapali. Depending on the weather, it's a very interesting place. The surf has basically carved out a bunch of sinkholes in the rock that are crystal clear and have good fish. 7 - Ka'anapali - Go to the Hula Grill. Food is meh but the view is outstanding. Bar faces Lana'i. Jump off of Black Rock into the surf. Pretend you're a king. 8 - Lahaina - Very touristy. Reminds me of Fisherman's Wharf. Avoid Cheeseburger in Paradise. I thought it was meh also. There's a good restaurant called Longhi's ... go there for breakfast. I've heard good things about the Old Lahaina Luau, but I've never been. I think it's like $90 a person including dinner, drinks and the show. 9 - Wailea - There's a ####load of shopping there, so you will likely be dragged there. There's a couple of restaurants with bars, so if your wife goes ape#### with the shopping, there will be a place for you to get your drink on. Kauai -1 - The weather changes dramatically. We stayed at the Grand Hyatt Kauai for part of our honeymoon and stayed the first part of the honeymoon on my wife's family's place in Ka'anapali so that we could stay at the Grand Hyatt. It was very expensive, but worth it for a honeymoon experience. 2 - Waimea Canyon - Rent the jeep and go drive there for the day. It's amazing and a lot like the Grand Canyon but with more vegetation. There's an epic shaved ice place across from Waimea High School, which you will pass on the way back from the canyon to Po'ipu. 3 - There's a bunch of good #### on the northern part of the island as well, but the day we drove up there the weather was poo poo. 4 - Actually, since you're going in November, I'm not sure I would recommend going to Kauai because of the weather, and if you go, I would stay on the southern part of the island. Check out the hotel we stayed in ... plenty of #### to do. Oahu - If you're not a submarine driver or landing your Hornet on the deck of the Ronnie, I would avoid it. Honolulu is basically Detroit on an island. Although, Pearl Harbor is quite a thing if you're a history nut. Can't speak to the rest of the islands, as I've never been. Have fun. Hoist a Mai Tai in the FFA's honor.

Great posts! Loved the Plantation House and Hula Grill was very cool.

 

[tommyGunZ]

i've been to Oahu a couple times Fred. If you end up spending anytime there, let me know.

 

[Judge Smails]

The right play here is to do 2 islands, with Kauai being the 1st. Perfect to veg and get into vacation/honeymoon mode. Lots of quiet/quality time with the Mrs. For this we stayed at the Princeville Resort - very cool. Lots of time at the infinity pool.

2nd island toss up between the Big Island or Maui. Even though I like the Big Island better, Maui is probably the better combo with Kauai. Lots more to do.

Stay away from Waikiki at all costs.

Post again when you do decide on the islands and you'll get more specific feedback.

 

[831hoops]

Don't stay in Waikiki or Honolulu.

 

[bostonfred]

i've been to Oahu a couple times Fred. If you end up spending anytime there, let me know.

It's one of the top three or four options right now from a hotel perspective.

 

[bostonfred]

Don't stay in Waikiki or Honolulu.

Why?

 

[bostonfred]

The right play here is to do 2 islands, with Kauai being the 1st. Perfect to veg and get into vacation/honeymoon mode. Lots of quiet/quality time with the Mrs. For this we stayed at the Princeville Resort - very cool. Lots of time at the infinity pool.2nd island toss up between the Big Island or Maui. Even though I like the Big Island better, Maui is probably the better combo with Kauai. Lots more to do. Stay away from Waikiki at all costs.Post again when you do decide on the islands and you'll get more specific feedback.

It's two weeks, so I can see doing up to three islands. Does that sound like too much?

 

[walnutz]

Don't stay in Waikiki or Honolulu.

Why?

I have never been to eaither place so take this with a grain of salt. I have heard that Waikiki is pretty run down. Over commercialized. Honolulu not so run down but again just over commercialized. If you are going to Hawaii, at least in my opinion, it seems you are going to relax and get the true island feel. Maui, the big island and Kuai all have that. Once you get to the other islands you get commercial. If you want to experience the true spirit of Aloha the best option is one of the 3 above. Again, all my opinion. There is just a different feel to them.Also, I agree with the poster above that the road to Hana is a long haul. Again though, they say in Hawaii, it is not the destination but the journey. I gotta tell you that the journey to Hana ranks up there in my top 10 experiences travelling and I have been all over Europe, the U.S etc. If you go to Maui I would say it is a must do.

 

[walnutz]

The right play here is to do 2 islands, with Kauai being the 1st. Perfect to veg and get into vacation/honeymoon mode. Lots of quiet/quality time with the Mrs. For this we stayed at the Princeville Resort - very cool. Lots of time at the infinity pool.2nd island toss up between the Big Island or Maui. Even though I like the Big Island better, Maui is probably the better combo with Kauai. Lots more to do. Stay away from Waikiki at all costs.Post again when you do decide on the islands and you'll get more specific feedback.

It's two weeks, so I can see doing up to three islands. Does that sound like too much?

Kind of depends on how much or how little you want to do on each island. There is a TON to do on Maui. The big island is a little more laid back. Not quite as much to do there. For me, I would think 3 islands would be pushing it a bit.

 

[Kleck.]

Don't stay in Waikiki or Honolulu.

Why?

I have never been to eaither place so take this with a grain of salt. I have heard that Waikiki is pretty run down. Over commercialized. Honolulu not so run down but again just over commercialized. If you are going to Hawaii, at least in my opinion, it seems you are going to relax and get the true island feel. Maui, the big island and Kuai all have that. Once you get to the other islands you get commercial. If you want to experience the true spirit of Aloha the best option is one of the 3 above. Again, all my opinion. There is just a different feel to them.Also, I agree with the poster above that the road to Hana is a long haul. Again though, they say in Hawaii, it is not the destination but the journey. I gotta tell you that the journey to Hana ranks up there in my top 10 experiences travelling and I have been all over Europe, the U.S etc. If you go to Maui I would say it is a must do.

I lived in Hawaii for four years and I agree. Stay the #### away from Waikiki. Maui and Kauai are the two best islands. Both are laid back and relaxing, but Maui has a few more places to go for dinner/night life, and Kauai is by far the most beautiful. Can't go wrong with either...

 

[jwb]

Book your stuff to do now. Most of the good stuff will be sold out when you get there. Hawaii has two seasons - busy, and busier.

Ask your hotel for recommendations on who/what to book, or just research yourself and book directly with the tour operator (most of them have websites). Be very careful of "Hawaii activities" websites that have tons of tours from different vendors - there have been a few recent ones that went out of business and left a lot of people hanging. Your "XYZ" tour voucher is worthless with a tour vendor who's owed money by "XYZ".

 

[Kleck.]

Maui - 1 - Hana is a LONG day. It's very nice, but excruciatingly long.2 - Going up to the top of the volcano - Agreed with the "if you go go early" if you're going to see the sunrise. If you're doing the bike down the mountain thing, go for the later in the day trip. The ride is like 25 miles long and you pedal for about 400 feet. It's pretty kickback.3 - GO TO THE PLANTATION HOUSE FOR DINNER. Do not question this. Just go. Have the Da Kine Brownie for dessert. You're going in November, so reservations shouldn't be a problem. Call them a couple of weeks before you go and get your reservation then. If you only go to one place for dinner (although you won't), go here. It's that good. 4 - There's a good sushi place in Kapalua called Sensei's. If you go here, get there at about 430 or so and stand in line. The place opens at five and has a 25 or 30% discount for everything ordered in the first hour. It will save you a considerable amount of money and the quality is top notch.5 - Best snorkel place is a beach just south of Wailea called Po'olenalena. Plenty of coral, plenty of turtles. However, if you go, go snorkeling in the middle of the day when the weather is good. If you go early morning or early evening snorkeling, be careful. Turtle is the tiger shark's primary prey item and the tigers hunt early in the morning and late at night. The boat trip thing, if you do it, is hit or miss depending on the weather. Weather is usually better to the south part of the island. The snorkel trip out to Molokini is good ... plenty of good fish and the caldera is sheltered so the water is calm. You'll see the occassional reef they're harmless unless you attack it or something stupid.6 - There's a great place to the north of the island called the "Olivine Pools" or something similar. Probably a 40 minute drive or so north from Ka'anapali. Depending on the weather, it's a very interesting place. The surf has basically carved out a bunch of sinkholes in the rock that are crystal clear and have good fish. 7 - Ka'anapali - Go to the Hula Grill. Food is meh but the view is outstanding. Bar faces Lana'i. Jump off of Black Rock into the surf. Pretend you're a king. 8 - Lahaina - Very touristy. Reminds me of Fisherman's Wharf. Avoid Cheeseburger in Paradise. I thought it was meh also. There's a good restaurant called Longhi's ... go there for breakfast. I've heard good things about the Old Lahaina Luau, but I've never been. I think it's like $90 a person including dinner, drinks and the show. 9 - Wailea - There's a ####load of shopping there, so you will likely be dragged there. There's a couple of restaurants with bars, so if your wife goes ape#### with the shopping, there will be a place for you to get your drink on. Kauai -1 - The weather changes dramatically. We stayed at the Grand Hyatt Kauai for part of our honeymoon and stayed the first part of the honeymoon on my wife's family's place in Ka'anapali so that we could stay at the Grand Hyatt. It was very expensive, but worth it for a honeymoon experience. 2 - Waimea Canyon - Rent the jeep and go drive there for the day. It's amazing and a lot like the Grand Canyon but with more vegetation. There's an epic shaved ice place across from Waimea High School, which you will pass on the way back from the canyon to Po'ipu. 3 - There's a bunch of good #### on the northern part of the island as well, but the day we drove up there the weather was poo poo. 4 - Actually, since you're going in November, I'm not sure I would recommend going to Kauai because of the weather, and if you go, I would stay on the southern part of the island. Check out the hotel we stayed in ... plenty of #### to do. Oahu - If you're not a submarine driver or landing your Hornet on the deck of the Ronnie, I would avoid it. Honolulu is basically Detroit on an island. Although, Pearl Harbor is quite a thing if you're a history nut. Can't speak to the rest of the islands, as I've never been. Have fun. Hoist a Mai Tai in the FFA's honor.

Nice write-up. The one place I'd add to Kauai is Dukes. If you go there, you have to eat at Dukes. Great place, good grub, and it's right on the beach with a nice walkway along the beach/ocean. Also some decent privacy if you want to get it on.

 

[Paper Lions]

Funny Fred, I think I flew to Maui on United Miles and stayed with Marriott points as well on my honeymoon.

Will not beat a dead horse too much, but you should spend some time on Maui. Lots to do there.

If you do, I highly recommend the fish taco/burrito stand just south of Wailea towards the lava rock field.

I didn't read all of the above, but here are some random thoughts for Maui if you go that route:

1) Partial trip to Hana is probably sufficient. You can go part way and then turn around so you don't blow a full day. It's worthwhile. If you do wind up in Maui, PM me and I'll point out a great spot for waterfalls that's right at the start of the trip.

2) Biking down the volcano is cool, but be prepared for a very early morning. Still, I'd do it again.

3) Combo Kayak/snorkel trip is cool

4) Snorkel trip to Molakai is good for booze cruise type thing with some sun

5) Stay in Ka'anapali if you like a little more action/crowd/touristy feel (close to Lahaina too) and Wailea if you like a little more quiet

6) Watch the big waves, my wife got her ### kicked and temporarily found her bikini top around her waist while boogie boarding

7) If you golf, sneak out on Kapulua Plantation one day so you can recognize the course each year when the pros play. They let your wife ride around with you while you play, and the views are beautiful so your wife will enjoy. We had a great day with another couple doing the same thing, and hey, I got to play Plantation. Go in the morning to avoid the afternoon wind.

I'll post more if I can think of it. I've only been to Maui so I can't fully compare to the other islands, but I guarantee you would love Maui. I know a lot of people island hop between Maui (more active) and Kauai (more beach) and seem to all recommend that. I don't think the big island is the thing to do for a honeymoon.

 

[Paper Lions]

The right play here is to do 2 islands, with Kauai being the 1st. Perfect to veg and get into vacation/honeymoon mode. Lots of quiet/quality time with the Mrs. For this we stayed at the Princeville Resort - very cool. Lots of time at the infinity pool.2nd island toss up between the Big Island or Maui. Even though I like the Big Island better, Maui is probably the better combo with Kauai. Lots more to do. Stay away from Waikiki at all costs.Post again when you do decide on the islands and you'll get more specific feedback.

It's two weeks, so I can see doing up to three islands. Does that sound like too much?

We spent 10 days in Maui and had no problem staying busy FWIW.

 

[falconeyed]

Maui - 1 - Hana is a LONG day. It's very nice, but excruciatingly long.2 - Going up to the top of the volcano - Agreed with the "if you go go early" if you're going to see the sunrise. If you're doing the bike down the mountain thing, go for the later in the day trip. The ride is like 25 miles long and you pedal for about 400 feet. It's pretty kickback.3 - GO TO THE PLANTATION HOUSE FOR DINNER. Do not question this. Just go. Have the Da Kine Brownie for dessert. You're going in November, so reservations shouldn't be a problem. Call them a couple of weeks before you go and get your reservation then. If you only go to one place for dinner (although you won't), go here. It's that good. 4 - There's a good sushi place in Kapalua called Sensei's. If you go here, get there at about 430 or so and stand in line. The place opens at five and has a 25 or 30% discount for everything ordered in the first hour. It will save you a considerable amount of money and the quality is top notch.5 - Best snorkel place is a beach just south of Wailea called Po'olenalena. Plenty of coral, plenty of turtles. However, if you go, go snorkeling in the middle of the day when the weather is good. If you go early morning or early evening snorkeling, be careful. Turtle is the tiger shark's primary prey item and the tigers hunt early in the morning and late at night. The boat trip thing, if you do it, is hit or miss depending on the weather. Weather is usually better to the south part of the island. The snorkel trip out to Molokini is good ... plenty of good fish and the caldera is sheltered so the water is calm. You'll see the occassional reef they're harmless unless you attack it or something stupid.6 - There's a great place to the north of the island called the "Olivine Pools" or something similar. Probably a 40 minute drive or so north from Ka'anapali. Depending on the weather, it's a very interesting place. The surf has basically carved out a bunch of sinkholes in the rock that are crystal clear and have good fish. 7 - Ka'anapali - Go to the Hula Grill. Food is meh but the view is outstanding. Bar faces Lana'i. Jump off of Black Rock into the surf. Pretend you're a king. 8 - Lahaina - Very touristy. Reminds me of Fisherman's Wharf. Avoid Cheeseburger in Paradise. I thought it was meh also. There's a good restaurant called Longhi's ... go there for breakfast. I've heard good things about the Old Lahaina Luau, but I've never been. I think it's like $90 a person including dinner, drinks and the show. 9 - Wailea - There's a ####load of shopping there, so you will likely be dragged there. There's a couple of restaurants with bars, so if your wife goes ape#### with the shopping, there will be a place for you to get your drink on. Kauai -1 - The weather changes dramatically. We stayed at the Grand Hyatt Kauai for part of our honeymoon and stayed the first part of the honeymoon on my wife's family's place in Ka'anapali so that we could stay at the Grand Hyatt. It was very expensive, but worth it for a honeymoon experience. 2 - Waimea Canyon - Rent the jeep and go drive there for the day. It's amazing and a lot like the Grand Canyon but with more vegetation. There's an epic shaved ice place across from Waimea High School, which you will pass on the way back from the canyon to Po'ipu. 3 - There's a bunch of good #### on the northern part of the island as well, but the day we drove up there the weather was poo poo. 4 - Actually, since you're going in November, I'm not sure I would recommend going to Kauai because of the weather, and if you go, I would stay on the southern part of the island. Check out the hotel we stayed in ... plenty of #### to do. Oahu - If you're not a submarine driver or landing your Hornet on the deck of the Ronnie, I would avoid it. Honolulu is basically Detroit on an island. Although, Pearl Harbor is quite a thing if you're a history nut. Can't speak to the rest of the islands, as I've never been. Have fun. Hoist a Mai Tai in the FFA's honor.

Nice write-up. The one place I'd add to Kauai is Dukes. If you go there, you have to eat at Dukes. Great place, good grub, and it's right on the beach with a nice walkway along the beach/ocean. Also some decent privacy if you want to get it on.

There's a Dukes (or a restaurant owned by the same company) in the middle of downtown Lahaina as well. If you go to Kauai, check out The Beach House in Po'ipu. Get the crab cakes.

 

[tommyGunZ]

i've been to Oahu a couple times Fred. If you end up spending anytime there, let me know.

It's one of the top three or four options right now from a hotel perspective.

First visit to Oahu, I stayed just east of Waikiki at the New Otani. We were able to walk to Waikiki for fun/dining/drinks, yet were just far enough away to not be in the center of the scene. Nice hotel, not the hot ####, but nice IMO. We rented a car and drove all over the island, North Shore, Pearl Harbor, Hanauma Bay, Kailua, etc. People will say not to stay in Honolulu/Waikiki, but we had a blast. Spent 4 days in Kailua last year for a friends wedding. Cute little town, and really got the Hawaiin feel hanging with the locals. A couple dive sports bars, a solid sushi resturant, but more of a residential feel.

I have no doubt that Kauai and Maui are more gorgeous naturally and unbelievable places to vacation. But I had a blast on Oahu both times I was there. But I have fun pretty much anywhere I travel, so take it with a grain of salt.

 

[snitwitch]

Kauai -- the Na Pali coast for hiking.

Maui -- Little Makena beach if you need to find some pakalolo or sunbathe nude (well, the bodysurfing is topnotch there also).

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

Kauai is a must. Oldest, most beautiful island with a way less touristy feel than the others. Just got back for the 100th time. Buddy owns Purekauai.com -- check it out. Basically, custom vacations in some of the nicest homes on the island. Whole trip is set up before you leave. Everything from private chefs to private surf instructors to anything and everything else you would want to do. You decide what you want and they do the rest so you are not having to take any of your own time while on vacation. Obviously pricey, but they do have some smaller bungalo, honeymoon-type properties that would be comparable to what the Hyatt on Poipu would be...and I can get you a discount. They also have a Puremaui.com.

Anyway, it would take too long to tell you everything about Kauai but if you decide to go, let me know and I'll help.

Oh, inter-island flights are less than a 100 bucks so it's a piece of cake to hit more than one island.

If you go to Maui, I know Da Raiders has a place he'd probably give you a deal on. Don't know anything about it though. I just got back and stayed at great spot on the beach at Napili Bay for cheap. Swam with turtles daily right out front. Good spot for a couple to chill. I can find the info for it if you're interested.

 

[dstroop]

My wife and I spent a week on Lana'i in April for our anniversary. While it is not on your list of possibilities for a long term stay, the island is about a 45 minute ferry ride from Lahaina on Maui. Lana'i is absolutely spectacular--as long as you're not looking for all night bars (since this is a honeymoon I doubt that's high on your list), tourist traps and other "typical" stuff. There are only 3,000 people that permanently reside on the island, the majority of them working at the two Four Seasons resorts, both of which are fanstatic. We stayed at the Four Seasons Manele Bay and words cannot adequately describe this piece of heaven. The snorkeling right off the beach is some of the best in the world, and includes the extra thrill of swimming with a large pod of spinner dolphins that frequents the bay. We were also lucky enough to see a few humpback whales migrating past the island (April is a little late for them, but they ramp back up in November so you might be able to see some). The other Four Seasons resort (the Lodge at Koele) is one of the most unique resort in Hawai'i: it sits at a higher elevation and is surrounded by huge pine trees. Not exactly what you think of when you hear "Hawai'i" but pretty cool anyways.

Lana'i is completely different experience than Maui or the other islands. At the very least, try to spend at least one night in Lana'i: take the ferry over early one morning (the last ferry returns to Maui early evening) and spend two full days there. If you can't spend the night, you can still get a lot out of taking a day trip there either on your own or by taking one of the group charters of out Maui.

Have fun!!

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

it sits at a higher elevation and is surrounded by huge pine trees. Not exactly what you think of when you hear "Hawai'i" but pretty cool anyways.

Thank Captain Cook for bringing pine trees to the islands. Don't know the name, but the kind of pines they have are super straight -- perfect as masts for boats.

 

[thayman]

Don't stay in Waikiki or Honolulu.

Why?

I have never been to eaither place so take this with a grain of salt. I have heard that Waikiki is pretty run down. Over commercialized. Honolulu not so run down but again just over commercialized. If you are going to Hawaii, at least in my opinion, it seems you are going to relax and get the true island feel. Maui, the big island and Kuai all have that. Once you get to the other islands you get commercial. If you want to experience the true spirit of Aloha the best option is one of the 3 above. Again, all my opinion. There is just a different feel to them.Also, I agree with the poster above that the road to Hana is a long haul. Again though, they say in Hawaii, it is not the destination but the journey. I gotta tell you that the journey to Hana ranks up there in my top 10 experiences travelling and I have been all over Europe, the U.S etc. If you go to Maui I would say it is a must do.

I lived in Hawaii for four years and I agree. Stay the #### away from Waikiki. Maui and Kauai are the two best islands. Both are laid back and relaxing, but Maui has a few more places to go for dinner/night life, and Kauai is by far the most beautiful. Can't go wrong with either...

Waikiki is fun for what it is, a Americanized island experience. If you want a busier louder experience it can be fun. Personally I would advise you to hit up the Ihilani hotel in Ko Olina. It's a JW Marriott so you can save some cash, and it's pretty nice. You can't go wrong with Kuai just a gorgeous island.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

The right play here is to do 2 islands, with Kauai being the 1st. Perfect to veg and get into vacation/honeymoon mode. Lots of quiet/quality time with the Mrs. For this we stayed at the Princeville Resort - very cool. Lots of time at the infinity pool.2nd island toss up between the Big Island or Maui. Even though I like the Big Island better, Maui is probably the better combo with Kauai. Lots more to do. Stay away from Waikiki at all costs.Post again when you do decide on the islands and you'll get more specific feedback.

Good post. We did Waikiki/Kauai/Maui. Waikiki was a waste other than Pearl Harbor.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

Maui - 1 - Hana is a LONG day. It's very nice, but excruciatingly long.2 - Going up to the top of the volcano - Agreed with the "if you go go early" if you're going to see the sunrise. If you're doing the bike down the mountain thing, go for the later in the day trip. The ride is like 25 miles long and you pedal for about 400 feet. It's pretty kickback.3 - GO TO THE PLANTATION HOUSE FOR DINNER. Do not question this. Just go. Have the Da Kine Brownie for dessert. You're going in November, so reservations shouldn't be a problem. Call them a couple of weeks before you go and get your reservation then. If you only go to one place for dinner (although you won't), go here. It's that good. 4 - There's a good sushi place in Kapalua called Sensei's. If you go here, get there at about 430 or so and stand in line. The place opens at five and has a 25 or 30% discount for everything ordered in the first hour. It will save you a considerable amount of money and the quality is top notch.5 - Best snorkel place is a beach just south of Wailea called Po'olenalena. Plenty of coral, plenty of turtles. However, if you go, go snorkeling in the middle of the day when the weather is good. If you go early morning or early evening snorkeling, be careful. Turtle is the tiger shark's primary prey item and the tigers hunt early in the morning and late at night. The boat trip thing, if you do it, is hit or miss depending on the weather. Weather is usually better to the south part of the island. The snorkel trip out to Molokini is good ... plenty of good fish and the caldera is sheltered so the water is calm. You'll see the occassional reef they're harmless unless you attack it or something stupid.6 - There's a great place to the north of the island called the "Olivine Pools" or something similar. Probably a 40 minute drive or so north from Ka'anapali. Depending on the weather, it's a very interesting place. The surf has basically carved out a bunch of sinkholes in the rock that are crystal clear and have good fish. 7 - Ka'anapali - Go to the Hula Grill. Food is meh but the view is outstanding. Bar faces Lana'i. Jump off of Black Rock into the surf. Pretend you're a king. 8 - Lahaina - Very touristy. Reminds me of Fisherman's Wharf. Avoid Cheeseburger in Paradise. I thought it was meh also. There's a good restaurant called Longhi's ... go there for breakfast. I've heard good things about the Old Lahaina Luau, but I've never been. I think it's like $90 a person including dinner, drinks and the show. 9 - Wailea - There's a ####load of shopping there, so you will likely be dragged there. There's a couple of restaurants with bars, so if your wife goes ape#### with the shopping, there will be a place for you to get your drink on. Kauai -1 - The weather changes dramatically. We stayed at the Grand Hyatt Kauai for part of our honeymoon and stayed the first part of the honeymoon on my wife's family's place in Ka'anapali so that we could stay at the Grand Hyatt. It was very expensive, but worth it for a honeymoon experience. 2 - Waimea Canyon - Rent the jeep and go drive there for the day. It's amazing and a lot like the Grand Canyon but with more vegetation. There's an epic shaved ice place across from Waimea High School, which you will pass on the way back from the canyon to Po'ipu. 3 - There's a bunch of good #### on the northern part of the island as well, but the day we drove up there the weather was poo poo. 4 - Actually, since you're going in November, I'm not sure I would recommend going to Kauai because of the weather, and if you go, I would stay on the southern part of the island. Check out the hotel we stayed in ... plenty of #### to do. Oahu - If you're not a submarine driver or landing your Hornet on the deck of the Ronnie, I would avoid it. Honolulu is basically Detroit on an island. Although, Pearl Harbor is quite a thing if you're a history nut. Can't speak to the rest of the islands, as I've never been. Have fun. Hoist a Mai Tai in the FFA's honor.

Nice write-up. The one place I'd add to Kauai is Dukes. If you go there, you have to eat at Dukes. Great place, good grub, and it's right on the beach with a nice walkway along the beach/ocean. Also some decent privacy if you want to get it on.

There's a Dukes (or a restaurant owned by the same company) in the middle of downtown Lahaina as well. If you go to Kauai, check out The Beach House in Po'ipu. Get the crab cakes.

The Beach House was excellent and my wife got the crab cakes.

 

[bostonfred]

Don't stay in Waikiki or Honolulu.

Why?

I have never been to eaither place so take this with a grain of salt. I have heard that Waikiki is pretty run down. Over commercialized. Honolulu not so run down but again just over commercialized. If you are going to Hawaii, at least in my opinion, it seems you are going to relax and get the true island feel. Maui, the big island and Kuai all have that. Once you get to the other islands you get commercial. If you want to experience the true spirit of Aloha the best option is one of the 3 above. Again, all my opinion. There is just a different feel to them.Also, I agree with the poster above that the road to Hana is a long haul. Again though, they say in Hawaii, it is not the destination but the journey. I gotta tell you that the journey to Hana ranks up there in my top 10 experiences travelling and I have been all over Europe, the U.S etc. If you go to Maui I would say it is a must do.

I lived in Hawaii for four years and I agree. Stay the #### away from Waikiki. Maui and Kauai are the two best islands. Both are laid back and relaxing, but Maui has a few more places to go for dinner/night life, and Kauai is by far the most beautiful. Can't go wrong with either...

Waikiki is fun for what it is, a Americanized island experience. If you want a busier louder experience it can be fun. Personally I would advise you to hit up the Ihilani hotel in Ko Olina. It's a JW Marriott so you can save some cash, and it's pretty nice. You can't go wrong with Kuai just a gorgeous island.

What can you tell me about this place? I have had great experiences at JW Marriotts, and they have a pretty good deal there where I can get airline miles and an upgraded room cheaper than almost anywhere else in Hawaii.

 

[bostonfred]

Some of the hotels/areas I'd love to hear more about if anyone has stayed there:

JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa, Ko Olina, Oahu

Waikoloa Beack Marriott Resort and Spa, Waikoloa, Hawaii (big island)

Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club, Lihue, Kauai

Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa, Honolulu, Oahu

Maui looks like it's going to be very expensive if I stay at a Marriott, so I'd also be interested in ideas for maybe taking a short side trip there or something.

 

[Apu]

My wife and I spent 2 weeks in Hawaii for our honeymoon. We were on Maui and the Big Island. Stayed in the Four Seasons on both islands. We used our AA miles to get there and upgraded on the hotel. The Four Seasons is the only way to roll in my opinion. Anyway, here are mysuggestions. First - There is a series of books written by a local. The one for Maui is called Maui Exposed. This guy will give you all the off the beaten path info you can handle and then some more. I highly reccomend it. For Maui - Visit Haleaklala - Do this the first day you have avilible. This is a sunrise view you will never forget. Then you get to take a ride down the mountain. It winds all the way down and there is very little work involved. If you choose to do this then bring some warm clothes with you. You are very high up on the mountain and it is very cold in the morning. Bring layers then shed them as you go down the mountain on the bike ride. Road to Hana - Rent a jeep for this. Start out early. This is where the Maui Exposed guide book will come in handy. There are detailed instructions on how to get to every waterfall along the way to Hana. As they say in Maui - it is not the destination but the journey. Time means nothing on the day you do the Road to Hana. Take your time and follow the guide book. You can swin in a lot of the waterfalls along the way. So, bring a towel and oyur swim trunks. When you get to Hana buy the commermorative t-shirt. Then disobey all the instructions about not taking the back side of the road. You will see a completely different side of Maui. One that you would never know existed. It took us about 12 hours to do the whole road and get back to our hotel. Snorkeling - Everyone takes the big chartered snorkel boats. It is a pain in the butt. If you can find a smaller charter that goes out in a smalle boat you will have a better time. We did not realize this until we got to the big island and snorkeled that way. Most of the time you get a local who takes you out and you will get a lot of history. Very cool time. Lunch was provided on the one we took. Take a day off and enjoy the view. Also, make sure that you tell everyone that you are there on your honeymoon. Especially when you are booking your hotel, flights etc. We got upgraded to a better room in the hotel. We flew Aloha over to the Big Island. You can get a cheap ticket. Our one way ticket there was part of the dual island get away package with the Four Seasons. On the way back we got a firs class ticket for about 100.00. 45 minute flight. Supposedly there is a new ferry you can take now. The Big Island - Again stay at the Fours Seasons. If you book early enogh you can get a room with a very cool black lava rock shower. We took a helicopter tour of the island. Blue Hawaii is the way to go there. Nice helicopters and friendly pilots. Was a very cool time. Horse back ride through the Waipeo Valley(not sure I spelled that right). This was very very cool. You take a horseback ride into the valley. Lunch was provided on the tour we went on. Drive out to the volcano. Take a walk around. Snorkel on the small boat there. Lots of locals with the tour companies. Go to a lua. I will look up the hotel for the one we went to. A local there told us it was the best one on the island. We were not dissapointed. I will try to think of some other things as I revisit some of the documentaton we have around. Best of luck and have some fun. Maui and the big island are in my opinion the 2 best islands to visit. Honolulu is way to commercialized and you do not really get the full island feel. Again totally my opinion.

Pretty much summarizes our honeymoon in Maui.

 

[UOFI_316]

Did our honeymoon on Maui, we were there in December 04.

We stayed at a condo just south of Ka'anapali. We were on the 5th floor and there was maybe 10 feet of beach between us and the ocean. Just being able to lay in bed and hear the crash of the waves all night was relaxing.

I agree, if you do Haleakala to do it the first or second day you are there. Use the jetlag to your advatage as you need to wake up at 2 to get to the top before sunrise. If you do this, bring hats/gloves/sweater/blanket/winter coat..... It will start out about 40 before the sun comes up. I have been there twice and each time you will see people in shorts and a t-shirt wrapped up in their beach towels and blankets from their beds.

Road to Hana - Great drive, the "Maui Exposed" book was our bible, many of the waterfalls we would have passed by as they are not visable from the road. Only down side is that you will be going during the dry season so some of the waterfalls may be not quite as spectacular, we also had this problem.

I went golfing one day at the municipal course. It is not the greatest course, but it was $30 and I was golfing in Maui, on the side of a volcano. I felt compelled to "sacrifice" a few balls to the ocean gods.

I would say to go whale watching, but if you are there in November it may be a little early. We saw 10-20, and they said that Feb-march is the best time and there will be thousands of whales.

 

[Dexter]

First off get one of these books for any respective island you go to.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearc...Doughty&z=y

We never left our hotel with out it.

Secondly people that said don't stay in Waikiki and it's like Detroit are either being silly or are ignorant. These are people that spend half their vacation trying to not look like a tourist. Which I never understood. Because no matter how hard you try you are a tourist. That being said Honoulu is a big city and every big city has its bad spot however if you stay in Waikiki you'll be fine. So be a tourist, have fun

We stayed at the Ohana East in Waikiki and had a great time. Not sure what your budget is, but eating in Waikiki is expensive. However you can find some great deals. We found a restaurant that served pancakes, scrambled eggs and toast for 3.99. However I do suggest you go to Dukes for the breakfast buffet at least once.

You don't need a car Waikiki, but you should rent one at least once and drive around the island. Hit the North shore, stop at the Dole Plantation do whatever you want just have fun.

One must is Pearl Harbor. Here's a tip EVERYONE is going to tell you to get there early. Don't!!! That's because that's when everyone goes, people staying on the island, the cruise ships, because that's what they were told. The best time to go is early afternoon. We went early and had to stand in line just to get in. When we left around 12:30 to go to on the tour of the sub there was nobody there. After you tour the USS Bowfin Submarine take the shuttle over to the Battleship Missouri's if you can buy the guided tour do it. Your tour guide will take you into places where regular visitors can't go.

The Waikiki zoo isn't spectacular both worth a visit. Also go to Hilo Hatties for your free shirt or coffee mug, but don't buy anything. You can get anything you want for cheaper at walmart or the international marketplace.

When I was there in July they were finishing up a new mall down town which was kinda cool

Also go visit Diamond head. It's a bit of a hike, but the views are worth it.

Best places to eat in Waikiki:

Dukes

Cheesecake factory (get there on or before 4pm unless you like waiting in line.

Kauai:

First things first you HAVE to rent a car here. It's not an option. Everything is spread out.

Depending on where you stay is where you're going to spend most of your time. Princeville is a nice area with a ton of beaches. Kee beach is cool they have a ref real close so you can get some good snorkeling but it's always crowded so good luck finding a parking spot

Hanalei bay is a cool place to swim. In the summer the big waves are on the North shore, in the Winter they are south shore.

I really enjoyed bubba burger. There are two on the island one on North shore and the other Lihue.

Take a kayaking/hiking tour up Wailua river. Your guide will take you to a water fall that you can swim under.

Defenitly go up Waimea canyon. Your guide or map will tell you to go up Kokee rd. The only reason is they want you to drive through Kekaha town hoping you'll stop and buy something. If you want better views on your drive go up Waimea Canyon Dr. They both lead to the same place but with one you get a way better view and it's not even close.

People love to talk about shave ice. My official stance is it's good but to me it's crushed ice with ice cream on the bottom. Either way it's a nice treat. Jo Jo's was by far the best and nice treat after the 18 mile drive up the canyon

In short get the books read them before you go and have a good time.

 

[falconeyed]

First off get one of these books for any respective island you go to.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearc...Doughty&z=y

We never left our hotel with out it.

Secondly people that said don't stay in wikki and it's like Detroit are either being silly or are ignorant. These are people that spend half their vaction trying to not look like a tourist. Which I never understood. Because no matter how hard you try you are a tourist. That being said Honoulu is a big city and every big city has its bad spot however if you stay in Waikiki you'll be fine. So be a tourist, go to Diamond

We stayed at the Ohana East in Waikiki and had a great time. Not sure what your budget is but eating in Waikiki is expensive. However you can find some great deals. We found a resturant that served Pancakes, Scrambled eggs and toast for 3.99. However I do suggest you go to Dukes for the breakfast buffet at least once.

You don't need a car Waikiki, but you should rent one at least once and drive around the island. Hit the North shore, stop at the Dole Plantation do whatever you want just have fun.

One must is Pearl Harbor. Here's a tip EVERY is going to tell you to get there early. Don't!!! That because that's what everyone goes, people staying on the island, the cruise ships, because that's what they were told. The best time to go is early afternoon. We went early and had to stand in line just to get in. When we left around 12:30 to go to on the tour of the sub there was nobody there. After you tour the USS Bowfin Submarine take the shuttle over to the Battleship Missouri's if you can buy the guided tour. Your tour guide will take you into places where regular visitors can't go.

The Waikiki zoo isn't spectacular both worth a visit. Also go to Hilo Hatties for your free shirt or coffee mug, but don't buy anything. You can get anything you want for cheaper at walmart or the international marketplace.

When I was there in July they were finishing up a new mall down town which was kinda cool

Also go Visit Diamond head. It's a bit of a hike but the views are worth it.

Best places to eat in Waikiki:

Dukes

Cheesecake factory (get there on or before 4pm unless you like waiting in line.

Kauai:

First things first you HAVE to rent a car here. It's not an option. Everything is spread out.

Depending on where you stay is where you're going to spend most of your time. Princeville is a nice area with a ton of beaches. Kee beach is cool they have a ref real close so you can get some good snorkeling but it's always crowded so good luck finding a parking spot

Hanalei bay is a cool place to swim. In the summer the big waves are on the North shore, in the Winter they are south shore.

I really enjoyed bubba burger. There are two on the island one on North shore and the other Lihue.

Take a kayaking/hiking tour up Wailua river. Your guide will take you to a water fall that you can swim under.

Defenitly go up Waimea canyon. Your guide or map will tell you to go up Kokee rd. The only reason is they want you to drive through Kekaha town hoping you'll stop and buy something. If you want better views on your drive go up Waimea Canyon Dr. They both lead to the same place but with one you get a way better view and it's not even close.

People love to talk about shave ice. My official stance is it's good but to me it's crushed ice with ice cream on the bottom. Either way it's a nice treat. Jo Jo's was by far the best and nice treat after the 18 mile drive up the canyon

In short get the books read them before you go and have a good time.

 

[Shooter McGavin]

Best places to eat in Waikiki:Cheesecake factory (get there on or before 4pm unless you like waiting in line.

Cheesecake Factory? We were only there for 3 days (spent 5 in Maui, with a 1-day side trip to Lana'i, which was probably the best day of the trip), but every restaurant we went to was better than the friggin' Cheesecake factory. I highly recommend the restaurants at the Halekulani. There's on really fancy one (La Mer) that we passed on, a mid-range one (Orchids) that was extremely nice, and a great meal, and a casual outdoor one (House Without a Key), that was one of our favorite places, both for the food and the atmosphere. I have no idea why anyone would go to Hawaii and eat at a chain restaurant. You're surrounded by some of the best seafood in the world. Local places do some outstanding food.

 

[Dexter]

Best places to eat in Waikiki:Cheesecake factory (get there on or before 4pm unless you like waiting in line.

Cheesecake Factory? We were only there for 3 days (spent 5 in Maui, with a 1-day side trip to Lana'i, which was probably the best day of the trip), but every restaurant we went to was better than the friggin' Cheesecake factory. I highly recommend the restaurants at the Halekulani. There's on really fancy one (La Mer) that we passed on, a mid-range one (Orchids) that was extremely nice, and a great meal, and a casual outdoor one (House Without a Key), that was one of our favorite places, both for the food and the atmosphere. I have no idea why anyone would go to Hawaii and eat at a chain restaurant. You're surrounded by some of the best seafood in the world. Local places do some outstanding food.

First off just because it's a chain doesn't mean you have one near where you live. It's not like I said McDonald's/The reason we liked it so much was for a few reasons1. Large portions2. relatively reasonable prices3. the Cheesecake is really good.you're right local places do some great food.

 

[Mad Cow]

For Oahu, you owe it to yourself to eat at Keo's. It is Thai with a pacific flair and awesome. Best Thai I have ever had. Not Keoni by Keo's, but Keo's. It is a couple of blocks from the beach.

We spent 3 nights in Waikiki then rented a house right on the ocean on the North Shore for the other 5 nights. Lots of time just to do nothing, snorkle, or whatever.

 

[Dexter]

For Oahu, you owe it to yourself to eat at Keo's. It is Thai with a pacific flair and awesome. Best Thai I have ever had. Not Keoni by Keo's, but Keo's. It is a couple of blocks from the beach.We spent 3 nights in Waikiki then rented a house right on the ocean on the North Shore for the other 5 nights. Lots of time just to do nothing, snorkle, or whatever.

I almost barfed out of my mouth, but then I looked it up. I went to Keoni by Keo's, because our hotel was right across the street from it and I was feeling like some thai. OMG that place was terrible. I order Pad Thai and I don't know what I got but it SUCKED. I was just thinking about that place after my post. I should warn Bfred not to go there.Unfortunately I didn't make it to Keo's. Round Table Pizza right next door was pretty good though

 

[matuski]

Greatest beach on earth = Kailua Beach on Oahu.

 

[jonmhend]

With 2 weeks - I'd go 1 week in Kauai and 1 in Maui. If you're going to do a side trip to another island it should be to Oahu. Oahu is still a beautiful island, but Honolulu is basically just a big city like you would see on one of the coasts in the mainland (even has interstates). Pearl Harbor is worth it and Hanama Bay is a site to see. Lots of other sites to see, but my preference would be the other 2 islands I mentioned. If you want to see an active volcano, I think the Big Island is the only place to see this. I have not been there so I can't say much more about that one. I have heard though that its so big that doing excursions at different parts of the island can take all day due to drive time.

As for Kauai and Maui, I think you would get 2 unique islands with different things to offer.

Kauai is quieter (it's known as the garden island). If you are really into the nightlife, you may not like it as much (if that's at the top of your list, Oahu may not be a bad option). Lihue is where the airport is located and there are nice spots there. I'd suggest Poipu as the place to stay simply because it gives you the best shot at good weather. The north side is beautiful, but weather is risky - you can drive up there in under an 1.5 hours so if you stay on the south side (Poipu) you can pick your day to go up north based on the weather. Tunnels beach on the north side is great. If you stay on the south side, there are a lot of surf lessons given at the Sheraton beach. There are a lot of things to see/do (Napali coastline, Waimea canyon, tons of beaches, great golf,...) but the #1 thing you simply have to see up close is the Napali coastline. Do one of the boat tours. You won't regret it.

Maui is a nice combination between the quiet and peacefulness of Kauai and the big city action of Honolulu. It is much bigger than Kauai and there is a ton to see. On any of these islands, I highly recommend getting the "Discovering xxxxx" guidebooks. The one for Maui is unbelievable. It will lead you to waterfalls along the road to Hana that most people are driving right by. There is lots of nightlife at Kaanapali (at least more than Kauai) and plenty of great food at Lahina. Take a snorkel trip out to Molakini - best snorkeling around.

 

[Archie Bunker]

Some of the hotels/areas I'd love to hear more about if anyone has stayed there:

JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa, Ko Olina, Oahu

Waikoloa Beack Marriott Resort and Spa, Waikoloa, Hawaii (big island)

Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club, Lihue, Kauai

Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa, Honolulu, Oahu

Maui looks like it's going to be very expensive if I stay at a Marriott, so I'd also be interested in ideas for maybe taking a short side trip there or something.

I've stayed at the first 3. JW Marriott: Stayed there in 2002. Great hotel. Rooms are very spacious and comfortable. Pool is very small. Beach is actually a man-made lagoon. No snorkeling but water is very calm. Since we stayed there, Marriott built a large timeshare nearby. That may affect how crowded, noisy it is. You are about 1/2 hour from Waikiki where ost of the good dining & excitement is. On-site dining is good, but very expensive.

Waikoloa Marriott: Stayed there in 1995 when it was called the Royal Waikoloan. Hawaiian decor. Nice hotel. Nice beach. Marriott just completed a huge upgrade and added a 2nd pool. Looks nice. Waikoloa area is really built up now. Hilton next door, lots of new shops & dining. We went there for some shopping on our most recent trip in July. Seems too crowded for the Big Island.

Kauai Beach Marriott: Stayed there in 2002. I was less than impressed. The grounds and pool are awesome. The staff was so-so. Our room was musty smelling. I've heard they've renovated since then. We booked an ocean-view room. If we hung our bodies 75% off the balcony, we caught a glimpse of blue water. This property is primarily timeshare. It will likely be corwded and loud with families. The beach is in a harbor that is also home to Kauai's main port. The hotel is almost next door to the airport, so you'll also hear planes taking off & landing.

My recomendations:

Big Island: Stay at the Hapuna Prince Beach Resort. Awesome hotel, great staff, very peaceful and even more Hawaiian. Great, but expensive on-site restaurants. Big pool. best beach on the Big Island. 10 minutes form Waikoloa. We went with our in-laws for the 40th wedding anniversary. we noted that in our reservation. When we arrived, they had a bottle of wine waiting in their room. An awesome Hawaiian experience. We've been to Hawaii 3 times, stayed in 8 different hotels, and the Hapuna Prince is our favorite by far. The JW is probably #2. If you join the Prince Preferred program on-line, you can get special rates on-line, usually 10% lower than any other advertised rate. You have to go in throught their loyalty program website.

http://www.princepreferred.com/

Kauai: If you want to stay at a Marriott, I would recommend the Marriott Waiohai on Poipu Beach. It is a timeshare, so it can get corwded with families, but Poipu Beach is 1000X better than the beach at the other Marriott. You can walk a couple of hundred feet to the east & enjoy Poipu Beach Park. It is less crowded than the beach directl in front of the Marriott.

Dining:

Kauai: The Beach House. Best romantic sunset on Kauai. Make reservations well in advnace and reconfirm a few days ahead. They lost our reservation (on our in-laws actual anniversary date). My wife broke down & pleaded until they fit us in. They were very accommodating once we got there and provided top notch service.

Kauai: Smith Family Luau: One of the better luaus we've been to. Still run by the same family for 40 years. Good food (for a luau). Very friendly, and probably the least expensive luau in Hawaii.

Maui: David Paul's in Lahaina. The best (and most expensive) place we ate at in Hawaii. The concierge desk made the reservation for us & mentioned our in-laws anniversary. They sat us in a special area, had great service, extraordinary food, took our photo, and e-mailed it to us that night.

Big Island: Daniel Thiebault (expensive). Cafe Pesto (moderate cost). Hakone (at the Hapuna Prince, expensive).

Other:

Kauai: Napali Coast Sunset Cruise. Awesome. Romantic. Just take Bonine ahead of time and lay off the mai tais on the way up the coast. A few folks got pretty sick. Most were newlyweds that were knocking back mai tais as soon as we left harbor. The cruise is very rough for about 20 minutes heading against the current. The rest of the cruise was very calm. The views are spectacular. We saw sea turtle in the water. On the way back, a school of spinner dolphins swam alongside the boat for about 10 minutes. We used Holoholo Charters. Discount if you book online. The staff was great.

 

[Mad Cow]

For Oahu, you owe it to yourself to eat at Keo's. It is Thai with a pacific flair and awesome. Best Thai I have ever had. Not Keoni by Keo's, but Keo's. It is a couple of blocks from the beach.We spent 3 nights in Waikiki then rented a house right on the ocean on the North Shore for the other 5 nights. Lots of time just to do nothing, snorkle, or whatever.

I almost barfed out of my mouth, but then I looked it up. I went to Keoni by Keo's, because our hotel was right across the street from it and I was feeling like some thai. OMG that place was terrible. I order Pad Thai and I don't know what I got but it SUCKED. I was just thinking about that place after my post. I should warn Bfred not to go there.Unfortunately I didn't make it to Keo's. Round Table Pizza right next door was pretty good though

We ate at both and yes, Keoni was not even close to Keo's. Keo's was amazing.

 

[Archie Bunker]

Best places to eat in Waikiki:

Cheesecake factory (get there on or before 4pm unless you like waiting in line.

Cheesecake Factory? We were only there for 3 days (spent 5 in Maui, with a 1-day side trip to Lana'i, which was probably the best day of the trip), but every restaurant we went to was better than the friggin' Cheesecake factory.

I highly recommend the restaurants at the Halekulani. There's on really fancy one (La Mer) that we passed on, a mid-range one (Orchids) that was extremely nice, and a great meal, and a casual outdoor one (House Without a Key), that was one of our favorite places, both for the food and the atmosphere.

I have no idea why anyone would go to Hawaii and eat at a chain restaurant. You're surrounded by some of the best seafood in the world. Local places do some outstanding food.

First off just because it's a chain doesn't mean you have one near where you live. It's not like I said McDonald's/The reason we liked it so much was for a few reasons

1. Large portions

2. relatively reasonable prices

3. the Cheesecake is really good.

you're right local places do some great food.

Cheesecake Factory is ok for a chain, but there are so many restaurants in Hawaii where you can only get that kind of cuisine in Hawaii. Cheaping out for large portions and cheap prices after laying out so much money to go to Hawaii just doesn't make sense.Recommendations:

Maui: Sansei. Best sushi I've ever had. Very creative. Plenty of cooke doptions as well. In Kapalua.

Maui: Haliimaile General Store. Upcountry on the way to Haleakala. 45 minutes from Lahaina. Bev Gannon is the owner and one of the founders of Hawaiian Regional Cuisine.

Roy's: Roy Yamaguchi has a chain of restaurants and is located on most islands (and now in several mainland locations). Great Hawaiian Regional Cuisine.

 

[Mad Cow]

I will say this for the Cheesecake Factory. My wife and I got in late, went to the International Market and had a little food there, walked along the beach, then picked up some cheesecake to go to sit and listen to the surf. It was awesome for that.

 

[Mad Cow]

Dukes for the breakfast buffet =

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

where is all the hate for Waikiki coming from? I thought it was pretty nice, I only stated their 3 nights then moved on to Maui, which was light years better, but Honolulu seemed ok to me, but I live in Detroit

 

[Mad Cow]

where is all the hate for Waikiki coming from? I thought it was pretty nice, I only stated their 3 nights then moved on to Maui, which was light years better, but Honolulu seemed ok to me, but I live in Detroit

It is the typical FBG snobbery, I would think. My wife lived on Oahu and the Big Island for about 6 years growing up, and we still spent all 8 days on Oahu and loved it. The North Shore has tons to explore. Waikiki was fun for Pearl, the swap meet which my wife really wanted, and seeing Dog's office.

 

[Dexter]

I will say this for the Cheesecake Factory. My wife and I got in late, went to the International Market and had a little food there, walked along the beach, then picked up some cheesecake to go to sit and listen to the surf. It was awesome for that.

You know what that's fine too. The wife and I didn't go to hawaii for the food. One of our friends went to Sams club every day for lunch because it was cheap. Not everyone can spend $40 a night on every meal which is cool. I went to have fun, visit the sights and relax. Hell, he could go to McDonald's every day for all I care. Food in Waikiki is expensive so those that are on a budget would probably appreciate the CC factory a little more. We had enough left over to save for lunch the next day. I know this might come as a surprise, but I'm not the typical FFG poster. I'm not 6'3 with 2% body fat I can't bench 410lbs 10 times and I don't make 500k a month.