usvi-on-line
Hawaii suggestions
Hawaii suggestions
This summer we are going to use a 7 day trip to Kauai that we bought through our timeshare and want to add a few days on another island!
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
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chicagoans
- Posts: 1586
- Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:51 pm
- Location: IL
This is just one opinion, but I would spend the whole time on Kauai unless you can add a whole extra week or more.) It's beautiful and if you like hiking, snorkeling, and beaches you will not run out of places to visit. Packing up and flying to another island, getting a car there, etc. will take up the better part of a day. Use the money you would have spent for an inter-island flight and take a helicopter ride or boat trip up the Napali Coast (or both!)
We spent 7 days on Kauai recently and I would have loved more time! Two weeks would not have been too much. If your time share is good for 7 days, consider spending the other part of your trip on Kauai but another part of the island.
I posted a TR on the OT forum with some pics from hikes, if you're interested. And Teddy Salad has some really good hiking info for Kauai.
Where are you staying? Have some shave ice for me!
We spent 7 days on Kauai recently and I would have loved more time! Two weeks would not have been too much. If your time share is good for 7 days, consider spending the other part of your trip on Kauai but another part of the island.
I posted a TR on the OT forum with some pics from hikes, if you're interested. And Teddy Salad has some really good hiking info for Kauai.
Where are you staying? Have some shave ice for me!
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SoulvilleUSA
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:13 pm
- Location: Memphis, TN
I agree with chicagoans on this one. Christine and I were on the Big Island of Hawaii for 8 days last May (Wyndham timeshare) and there are still things I wish we could have seen while we were there... albeit it is one big Island... I know.. I shocked the rental jeep company by putting 1800 miles on the jeep.
However, if you do choose to go to one of the other Islands.. and pick the Big Island, I can say from experience that touring the observatories on top of Mauna Loa is absolutely amazing! ...and yes, that is snow... 17,000ft up! (if you have breathing problems, don't go... you will suffer.)
http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/info/vis/
However, if you do choose to go to one of the other Islands.. and pick the Big Island, I can say from experience that touring the observatories on top of Mauna Loa is absolutely amazing! ...and yes, that is snow... 17,000ft up! (if you have breathing problems, don't go... you will suffer.)
http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/info/vis/
Green tunnels and no stop signs
Sterling
Sterling
If you really want to do another island, do The Big Island. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is there and also Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park (which is rich in Hawaiian history as it was a place of refuge. The sea turtles are there also) I liked the Big Island best of all. Here's a link for you:
http://www.bigisland.org/
No matter what you decide have wonderful trip!!
http://www.bigisland.org/
No matter what you decide have wonderful trip!!
Much of the road to Hana with the waterfalls, pools, bamboo reminded me of Kauai where there are tree tunnels on some roads. Study the Pacific Plate. Hawaii is the newest of the larger islands as it is still forming with a live valcano. Kauai is the one of the oldest islands with such lushness and it is actually shrinking. Maui is in between with a bit of both climates.
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SoulvilleUSA
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:13 pm
- Location: Memphis, TN
I second the Na Pali helicopter ride if you can. Kauai is absolutely beautiful. Make sure you get up to Hanalei and see the taro fields. It's just a gorgeous island.
If you're flying through Oahu to get to Kauai than take a couple days there. I know Lihue's expanded their flights, but sometimes that's expensive to go directly. I've only been to Oahu otherwise, but really enjoyed the north shore there for watching the surfers; we were there in the wintertime before, not sure if they get the waves in the summertime. Haleiwa is a cute little town to visit also. We're small town people so enjoy seeing "the big cities" like Honolulu when we can. Waikiki was fun as was Chinatown, and really the Arizona memorial shouldn't be missed. Just my 2 cents anyway. Have a wonderful trip!
If you're flying through Oahu to get to Kauai than take a couple days there. I know Lihue's expanded their flights, but sometimes that's expensive to go directly. I've only been to Oahu otherwise, but really enjoyed the north shore there for watching the surfers; we were there in the wintertime before, not sure if they get the waves in the summertime. Haleiwa is a cute little town to visit also. We're small town people so enjoy seeing "the big cities" like Honolulu when we can. Waikiki was fun as was Chinatown, and really the Arizona memorial shouldn't be missed. Just my 2 cents anyway. Have a wonderful trip!
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SoulvilleUSA
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:13 pm
- Location: Memphis, TN
We've been to Hawaii twice. First time we spent six days on Maui, then six on Kauai. Second trip we spent four days on the Big Island, then eight on Kauai. We enjoyed Maui and BI, but have fallen deeply in love with Kauai (especially the north shore).
Maui was certainly fine--some good snorkeling, sunrise at the crater of the Haleakala volcano, the road to Hana. It has a lot of similarities to Kauai. After getting to Kauai on that first trip, we wished that we'd spent less time on Maui, more on Kauai.
The Big Island is different. Our main interest there was to get to Volcano National Park and spend time with old friends who've moved there. We didn't get to any beaches because we knew what we had in store for ourselves on Kauai. We spent two nights at a B&B at Volcano and really liked being there. It's quite strange but fascinating. The lava fields are otherworldly. The situation with the lava flow changes, which determines how close people are permitted to get to it. We especially enjoyed a hike across one of the craters.
Oahu doesn't hold any interest for us. We're not especially interested in returning to Maui or BI. I'm somewhat interested in Molokai, but I think that if we go again, we'll just spend the whole time on Kauai. I'd like to get there more often, but we're east coasters and it's more costly plus it's a long, greueling flight. The Caribbean seems almost like a cheap local trip compared to getting to Hawaii.
The Big Island might be a good choice. It's quite different from the other islands and being at Volcano is really memorable. Being up on Haleakala on Maui was pretty impressive, but when I look over the photos from Volcano, it's really like a visit to another planet.
If you haven't found them yet, the TA forums are quite good for learning about Hawaii.
Maui was certainly fine--some good snorkeling, sunrise at the crater of the Haleakala volcano, the road to Hana. It has a lot of similarities to Kauai. After getting to Kauai on that first trip, we wished that we'd spent less time on Maui, more on Kauai.
The Big Island is different. Our main interest there was to get to Volcano National Park and spend time with old friends who've moved there. We didn't get to any beaches because we knew what we had in store for ourselves on Kauai. We spent two nights at a B&B at Volcano and really liked being there. It's quite strange but fascinating. The lava fields are otherworldly. The situation with the lava flow changes, which determines how close people are permitted to get to it. We especially enjoyed a hike across one of the craters.
Oahu doesn't hold any interest for us. We're not especially interested in returning to Maui or BI. I'm somewhat interested in Molokai, but I think that if we go again, we'll just spend the whole time on Kauai. I'd like to get there more often, but we're east coasters and it's more costly plus it's a long, greueling flight. The Caribbean seems almost like a cheap local trip compared to getting to Hawaii.
The Big Island might be a good choice. It's quite different from the other islands and being at Volcano is really memorable. Being up on Haleakala on Maui was pretty impressive, but when I look over the photos from Volcano, it's really like a visit to another planet.
If you haven't found them yet, the TA forums are quite good for learning about Hawaii.
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chicagoans
- Posts: 1586
- Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:51 pm
- Location: IL
Hi byado18:
If you are looking for lodging on any of the islands, this site is handy: www.wizardpub.com
Go to the island you're interested in, then the link for resorts or resort aerials. You can see what the resort looks like from the air, with the buildings labeled so that you know which ones are closest to the beach.
Lots of places available via VRBO, and although I didn't use them, many people recommend Parrish for rentals on Kauai. www.parrishkauai.com
If I ever go to the Big Island, I would love to stay at Kona Village. It's what I picture when I think of old Hawaii, with the Polynesian style thatched roof hale. http://www.konavillage.com
Whatever you decide, keep us posted! You know we'll want to see a TR too.
If you are looking for lodging on any of the islands, this site is handy: www.wizardpub.com
Go to the island you're interested in, then the link for resorts or resort aerials. You can see what the resort looks like from the air, with the buildings labeled so that you know which ones are closest to the beach.
Lots of places available via VRBO, and although I didn't use them, many people recommend Parrish for rentals on Kauai. www.parrishkauai.com
If I ever go to the Big Island, I would love to stay at Kona Village. It's what I picture when I think of old Hawaii, with the Polynesian style thatched roof hale. http://www.konavillage.com
Whatever you decide, keep us posted! You know we'll want to see a TR too.
This is where we stayed on The Big Island. Probably one of the coolest pools anywhere, beautiful rooms, and close to the volcano.
http://www.sheratonkeauhou.com/?PS=PS_a ... 808_NAD_FM
http://www.sheratonkeauhou.com/?PS=PS_a ... 808_NAD_FM