Totally agree about the southwest side of Kauai. That is what we did. Rent a Jeep Cherokee. The best places can't be reached with ordinary cars, such as the beach where you can watch the sunset from the westernmost part of the US.
Tips for Hawaii Trip
- Thread starter Daserop
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Totally agree about the southwest side of Kauai. That is what we did. Rent a Jeep Cherokee. The best places can't be reached with ordinary cars, such as the beach where you can watch the sunset from the westernmost part of the US.
There is a tendency to rush right to the ferry to see the memorial site. However, I would encourage you to take your time and visit the Pearl Harbor exhibits. Tons to learn about the attack, such as how it was planned by someone who "interned" at US universities and how the attack came from the northeast, not the west as I had assumed. And the photos and videos of the attack are unbelievable.
Seriously...how has NO ONE said Lanakai Beach. If you are looking for seriously one of the most wonderful beaches in the ENTIRE world. Oahu, eastern shore. Lanakai is worth the trip alone. BEAUTIFUL beach...
I've been to Oahu 3 times, Maui once, and the Big Island Twice. Personally, I love the low-key vibe of the Big Island, but all 3 offer amazing experiences.
Oahu Highlights (you have to rent a car):
1.) Pearl Harbor / U.S.S Missouri / PunchBowl Cemetary. Must sees
2.) Lanakai Beach - Probably one of the top 5 beaches in the world
3.) North Shore surfing is amazing to watch, plus if you take the road up the eastern shore there are NUMEROUS Shrimp farms you can stop at and eat. Nothing like huge shrimp to snack on!!
4.) Hikes - Diamond Head...AND...Kuli 'Ou Ou trail....an even better hike where you end with this amazing view
5.) BE READY FOR TRAFFIC
Maui Highlights (Rent a Car)
1.) Road to Hana / Seven Sacred Pools is an amazing experience. In fact...(if you know the secret path, you can swim at the top of a waterfall!!
2.) Big Beach
3.) Haleakala - Can see both Observatories and take a memorable hike into the crater!
3.) Great restaurants / shopping
4.) Favorite Beach town and a place I would LOVE to retire to when I get old and grey: Paia
5.) Lahaina is cool (western shore), but cruise ships dock here and it gets kind of annoying. Great food and Maui Brewery are here.
Big Island Highlights (HAVE TO RENT A JEEP)
1.) Green Sand Beach!!!! <-- THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST. Probably my favorite place of anywhere I've been. Absolutely breathtaking. Sea Turtles, awesome hike into a secluded beach. Need Jeep / 4x4 or to pay locals to take you down.
2.) Volcano National Park / Kīlauea - surreal experience driving through towns that have been leveled by Lava
3.) Mauna Kea observatory
4.) WATERFALLS...EVERYWHERE
5.) Waipaio Valley - awesome
6.) Black Sand beaches (although not nearly as cool as green sand beaches). Hapuna beach on the Northern part of the western shore is awesome!!!
7.) LOTS of driving, island is huge. Buy gas at Costco in Kona. Go to Kona Brewery and do a tour!
8.) Coffee farms / nothing like you've ever seen. Kona coffee is the bomb.
9.) Snorkling off of captain Cook's monument is awesome (although it may be banned now..). Awesome Whale watching.
P.S. BUY THE 'HAWAII REVEALED' BOOK FOR WHATEVER ISLAND YOU CHOOSE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT.
I've been to Oahu 3 times, Maui once, and the Big Island Twice. Personally, I love the low-key vibe of the Big Island, but all 3 offer amazing experiences.
Oahu Highlights (you have to rent a car):
1.) Pearl Harbor / U.S.S Missouri / PunchBowl Cemetary. Must sees
2.) Lanakai Beach - Probably one of the top 5 beaches in the world
3.) North Shore surfing is amazing to watch, plus if you take the road up the eastern shore there are NUMEROUS Shrimp farms you can stop at and eat. Nothing like huge shrimp to snack on!!
4.) Hikes - Diamond Head...AND...Kuli 'Ou Ou trail....an even better hike where you end with this amazing view
5.) BE READY FOR TRAFFIC
Maui Highlights (Rent a Car)
1.) Road to Hana / Seven Sacred Pools is an amazing experience. In fact...(if you know the secret path, you can swim at the top of a waterfall!!
2.) Big Beach
3.) Haleakala - Can see both Observatories and take a memorable hike into the crater!
3.) Great restaurants / shopping
4.) Favorite Beach town and a place I would LOVE to retire to when I get old and grey: Paia
5.) Lahaina is cool (western shore), but cruise ships dock here and it gets kind of annoying. Great food and Maui Brewery are here.
Big Island Highlights (HAVE TO RENT A JEEP)
1.) Green Sand Beach!!!! <-- THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST. Probably my favorite place of anywhere I've been. Absolutely breathtaking. Sea Turtles, awesome hike into a secluded beach. Need Jeep / 4x4 or to pay locals to take you down.
2.) Volcano National Park / Kīlauea - surreal experience driving through towns that have been leveled by Lava
3.) Mauna Kea observatory
4.) WATERFALLS...EVERYWHERE
5.) Waipaio Valley - awesome
6.) Black Sand beaches (although not nearly as cool as green sand beaches). Hapuna beach on the Northern part of the western shore is awesome!!!
7.) LOTS of driving, island is huge. Buy gas at Costco in Kona. Go to Kona Brewery and do a tour!
8.) Coffee farms / nothing like you've ever seen. Kona coffee is the bomb.
9.) Snorkling off of captain Cook's monument is awesome (although it may be banned now..). Awesome Whale watching.
P.S. BUY THE 'HAWAII REVEALED' BOOK FOR WHATEVER ISLAND YOU CHOOSE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT.
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Black sand beaches, while cool, look an awful lot like dirt until you're right up on them.
My wife and I went on our Honeymoon to Hawaii in 2011. We visited Oahu(Honolulu) and Kauai. Here is my 2 cents worth on what to see:
Oahu:
Diamond Head Crater hike and lookout: It's cheap and excellent views of Honolulu and Waikiki.
Pearl Harbor: Specifically the Battleship Missouri tour: Lots of history on it and really cool. Almost the highlight of the trip for me.
North shore: Visit the north shore and drive the loop around the island either by paid tour bus or rental car. It's worth it.
Restaurants Honolulu: Lots of shopping/bars/restaurants to visit. Specifically: Dukes at Waikiki for breakfast or drinks and dinner.
We stayed at the Outrigger Waikiki for a couple of nights and had easy access to everything.
We then flew the short trip to Kauai for 3 more nights and did the ziplining, hiking, etc. There is a huge difference between Oahu and Kauai. Oahu think big city, Kauai think laid back with chickens running around!
Kauai:
Waimea canyon: The Grand Canyon of Hawaii
Poipu Beach: Sea turtles, sea lions, public beach, etc.
Napali Coast: Hike/tour it. Unreal waterfalls and views in the rain forest.
Ziplining: I cant remember which one we picked but it was fun. google them.
Relax: This is the island to find a beach and relax. Very laid back. We rented a mustang convertible and drove the coast, went to various parks, hikes etc
Oahu:
Diamond Head Crater hike and lookout: It's cheap and excellent views of Honolulu and Waikiki.
Pearl Harbor: Specifically the Battleship Missouri tour: Lots of history on it and really cool. Almost the highlight of the trip for me.
North shore: Visit the north shore and drive the loop around the island either by paid tour bus or rental car. It's worth it.
Restaurants Honolulu: Lots of shopping/bars/restaurants to visit. Specifically: Dukes at Waikiki for breakfast or drinks and dinner.
We stayed at the Outrigger Waikiki for a couple of nights and had easy access to everything.
We then flew the short trip to Kauai for 3 more nights and did the ziplining, hiking, etc. There is a huge difference between Oahu and Kauai. Oahu think big city, Kauai think laid back with chickens running around!
Kauai:
Waimea canyon: The Grand Canyon of Hawaii
Poipu Beach: Sea turtles, sea lions, public beach, etc.
Napali Coast: Hike/tour it. Unreal waterfalls and views in the rain forest.
Ziplining: I cant remember which one we picked but it was fun. google them.
Relax: This is the island to find a beach and relax. Very laid back. We rented a mustang convertible and drove the coast, went to various parks, hikes etc
I am going their for business in a couple of months, and will be island hopping (I work in the seed industry) so stations are on different islands. They are paying for my wife to go with, so I can't pass that opportunity up!!
I recommend downloading the app that gives you a guided tour during your trip up the road. It's well worth it. Lots of history involved and very interesting
And don't just stop at Hana. If you go to the Pools of 'Ohe'o it is a cool site with the pools, huge surf crashing on the shore and a hiking trail through a bamboo forest to an awesome 400' waterfall. The pools often get overcrowded but the hike to the waterfall generally doesn't.
By the way when going to Hawai'i make sure you and the Mrs. both take a good pair of closed toe shoes without high heels. Going to paradise we often want to just take our flip-flops or sandals, but if you want to do any hiking in craters, through forests or across lava flows shoes that protect your feet and give you good footing are a must.
Where are you planning on flying out of? I've had flight cost trackers set up to honolulu for a while now (thinking we were going there for honeymoon). I just got an email today of price drop from Minneapolis through American. Many options this Jan/Feb for 455 round trip - by far the cheapest I've seen in the past year. Hope this helps!
