Hawaii suggestions/advice

We are planning a trip for Hawaii next year. So far looking at cruise boat for week to 4 islands. Having never been there, we like to see various places to get an ideal what we like/dislike so that when we go again in 10 years(or when we can afford it), we could just go where we want. Plus she wants to see the whales which we are told is Febuary/March. I tried to tell here we usually see whales in Las Vegas, but she wants to see the kind in the ocean.

Any help greatly appreciated. DJH

The cruise ships typically give you a several-hour sniff of a few locales: Honolulu, Hilo and/or Kona, Lahaina or sometimes Kahului, Lihue. In a place like Lahaina, that means you can see the banyan trees, buy some trinkets and that's about it. If you get something approaching a day in Honolulu you can get over to Pearl. In Kona they might drive you to a tourist-trap coffee "plantation." This is not necessarily an indictment, btw, and shore excursions do vary.

If you like the cruise aspect of a cruise, then cruise. If you want to see Hawai'i, fly over. I know you've hinted at financial constraints, but not knowing what that means, I'm going to suggest a "land" trip ... unless you really like the cruise part over/back. Hawai'i need not be $600 hotel rooms and $35 breakfast buffets, and rental cars are dirt dirt dirt cheap over there.

Whales are a late-winter/spring thing. Two of the best areas are the west side of Maui and the north shore of Kauai. You should see some in transit but it won't be like a dedicated small-boat whale excursion.

As for a land trip, I think island hopping is a mistake unless you have several weeks. Hawai'i goers all have their fave islands, and reasons why. I think the BI is the "best" because of its size (the same as the other islands combined) and diversity: from near-desert of Kohala to the active volcano to alpine to tropical. Terri prefers Kauai for the lack of crowds, and it's easy to get from the dry side to the wet side so as to experience it all. Maui has certain things going for it, particularly from a food perspective (though the food rocks throughout). I'm not a fan of Oahu, unless you're a north shore surfer and of course I think Pearl is a must-do ... all of it, not just the AZ Memorial. But some folks want the urban vibe of Waikiki. Molokai is for those who really want to get away from it all. You really can't go wrong. If you are talking a week or 10 days, I'd do one. But that's just how we travel; we don't like experiencing things in an if-this-is-Tuesday-this-must-be-Chicago fashion.

What type of activities are you interested in? I mean, you can snorkel or play golf on any island, but I think there is quite a bit of difference in see/do among them all.

My recommendation is what works for me. I would skip the cruise. The best parts of Hawaii are spending time at a nice beach -- not seeing "sights". There aren't that many sights worth seeing. I think you're better off picking one or two nice locations, Kauai and/or Maui and spend a bunch of days there. Rent a car and you can still drive to a couple of sights on each island, but the best thing is to drive to different beaches, enjoy the weather and water. Honolulu is just another big city. Not worth flying all the way their for.

I guess my point is, the best Hawaii vacation is not about what you see but it's about what you do. It's about going on Maui time.

Hawai'i will turn beachfobes into beach fans.

But I think "sights" like Waimea Canyon, the Kilauea Lighthouse, Honaunau, for instance, are as cool as beach time.

That's what works for us. And it's all good.

Where's ramper? He can tell us about sitting in his condo in Maui posting on LVA!! lol

Waimea Canyon is okay, but it's not the reason to be in Hawaii. I've driven to the 7 Sacred Pools on Maui. I'd encourage anyone to do it (leave very early in the morning). Gorgegous landscapes. However, if you went to Hawaii and didn't make that trip, you're okay. Didn't take the mules down to see the leper colony -- again, a great trip but not obligatory. If you pick any island, do some exploring, spend time on the beaches, scout out some good food, you'll have a great time.

Some great road trips that take half a day in Maui. Same on Kauai. Hawaii has some interesting things to see, but the beaches aren't nearly as good. (I find Oahu crowded). Pick an island to spend a few days and enjoy.

With Hawaii, it's not the journey. It is the destination. Being on a cruise ship, then getting shuttled onto land where you either walk around some tourist town selling t-shirts or getting on a bus and shuttled from "sight" to "sight" is not the way to experience Hawaii.

My two cents, and to each his own.

ps: I'm going to have to search for "Honaunau" -- no clue.

I'd add "Haleakala" but I don't know how to spell it.

Reason? That's rather deterministic.

See, THIS is what makes Hawai'i so great. Pablo's Hawai'i, our Hawai'i, your Hawai'i.

Take a zephyr to Kealakekua, see Madame Pele boil the Pacific, watch the sun rise from atop the tallest mountain in the world, milk a goat and know it's going into the most heavenly cheese, have lunch at a vanilla farm, snorkel La Perouse Bay (when the restriction lifts), swim with honu, share a tee box with a nesting Laysan albatross chick ... and not a casino w/i a couple thousand miles!!!

btw, I am NOT going to start using the spelling "Hawai'i"
My relatives who once lived there never did that.

Ken, you mention the volcanos -- those are VERY cool.
Snorkling.... yes, obligatory. Got to put your face in the water.

And I think Ken's got it. The best thing about Hawaii is making it your own. You'll never be a local (third generation people are often not considered local -- and it seems every tourist wants to be a local in Hawaii). So find the Hawaii that's your Hawaii. It's a wonderful tropical location that is unbelievably accessible. It's a real tropical Pacific island that's also a US state. How cool is that.

Oh, and learn to say "da kine"

And thongs are for hotties and flip-flops are for electeds. The things on your feet are "slippahs."

Pablo, I use da kine because some of my editors use that construction.

P.S. Hope we haven't scared David off!