Hawaii - where to go? :) :)

chemo072

Hawaii - where to go?

chemo072

Ok, so I'm thinking that for my one-year cancer anniversary I want to be in Hawaii.  Haven't been there for 20 years or so.....

What's your favorite place there?  Anything not to miss? Looking for lots of relaxation,beautiful places....great places to eat since my sense of taste returned post-chemo, etc.!   

florencedonna

I also went in 1987 and 1988. Wonderful memories.  I thought the money spent on a helicopter tour on the Big Island was well worth it.  I was the right weight to sit in the front with the pilot; so there was nothing in front of me but the plastic bubble.  We went over whales in the ocean, up and down jungle mountains and then into the volcano.  I have never been so grateful to be overweight!  I didn't know about the humpback whales until we went on a sailboat cruise.  Once you know what to look for, you can see them spouting when you are on the beach.  donna

TerryNY

I love the island of Maui, anything and everything about it.  I haven't been in years so it's probably more commercialized since then but my memories are wonderful.

The road to Hana is beautiful and the Seven Sacred Pools at the end, you must take a dip in them.  

Have a great time!

LisaSDCA

Great idea for a cancer anniversary!

Which island are you planning on visiting? I lived in Hawaii for three years and have been back to visit quite a few times. I can give you a lot of input on Oahu and Maui, a decent amount on the Big Island, even some on Molokai. I am not familiar with Kauai (except from the air!). How long will you be staying? Will you be traveling alone, with a SO, or with young'uns? Do you like being in/on the water or do prefer to be lying on the beach? Would you prefer accommodations that let you get a feel for island life or a 5-star resort?

Lisa

chemo072

Lisa, wow a local resource!  Yay!  Let's see, I'll be traveling with at least one friend, possibly meeting up with more (though they want to go to Kauai)....my BFF and I are low key, I love the beach but burn easily so will need shade, love watching the ocean, not big on swimming or snorkeling though I will do it!  - and my friend loves to - ....I prefer a feel for island life, though I wouldn't mind easy access to having someone else do the cooking every once in a while  

Not in great shape after this past year but I could do easy walks.  Am up for about 1 -2 activities per day, the rest of the time would love to lounge on a veranda with a view, or in a garden or some such...

Mostly I want to be warm and relaxed (it's cold in my part of the world right now)... 

re: which island - I don't know, need recommendations....my friend was talking about the Big Island, so any tips there would be great!  Also Maui would be great; I've been to Oahu (a very long time ago) so think I'd go for somewhere different.  The sacred pools sound perfect....this would be a trip about healing....

sccruiser

Kauai was my favorite.

Eat at Gaylords out on the patio. Fantastic food and the most amazing romantic atmosphere.

Drive to Princeville--wonderful sightseeing and great food. There's a beach--think it' Ke'e, at the end of the highway--go early it's very popular. Wonderful snorkling. We swam with the sea turtles there. Rent the snorkle gear for the week--it's so inexpensive. If you wear glasses, they even have masks for your prescription so you can actually see the waterlife! You can even return the gear at the airport of you are running late.



And do some driving around Kauai. It is magical, the garden island. We even took a ride in a boat down the sugar cane canal up in the mountains. Quite an experience.



On the Hawaii, the big island, our favorite place to stay was at the south end of Kona. A condo complex in a suburb. Beautiful covered deck with grass. It's at the very end of main drag through Kona before it joins up with the highway. Quiet and fully furnished. 3 pools and we swam every day, never another person in any of the pools.



But if I had to choose if only staying a week, I think I would go with Kauai. If you have 2 weeks, spend one on each island. We actually spent 2 weeks on Hawaii. Loved seeing the mountains and volcano national parks.



Aloha,

grace

Anonymous

Amy, I went to Oahu many many times. In fact, I would tell people I didn't want to go back. *Yawn*  And Maui ... too many times *zzzzz* To me it was like Disneyland and trying to be a tourist and see things you saw already.

UNTIL I took my daughter and just did something different!!!!!!  We laid in the sun! We read books, ok I read, she listened.  We rented a CONVERTIBLE.  I just went to Waikiki last month and did the obligatory pics in front of Iolani and the statue of King Kamehameha the Great. We had SOOOOO much fun in the convertible and just cruisin' ... We snorkled .... we swam at 9pm in the pool.

I am so glad I rediscovered this island and I'd go back again and again. 

Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous

MargaretB

Ok, I was just in Kona in November.  My husband works for an airline so we can fly for free and we do get discounts on hotels.  For the first time ever, we opted for a condo and got an ocean view room, overlooking the pool, for $85 a night, and all the comforts of home.  No maid service but it worked out great.  There aren't that many great restaurants in Kona.  I will have to tell you that we did get bored though.  We went to the Volcanoes National Park.

I was in Maui and Kauai last year and will be back in Maui later this year.  I love Maui, and love to just lay by the pool and relax.  We usually stay at the Westin. Some great restaurants there.  A good friend of mine also lives in Kihei.

Kauai, we stayed at the Sheraton in Poipu Beach but I didn't really care for it.  I also stayed at the Marriott Villas the first night we arrived - beautiful place.  In fact, when I saw my room at the Sheraton, I called the Marriott to try to get a room there instead, and they were booked. There is a catamaran ride you take on the Napali Coast and I can find out the name.  Kauai is beautiful but it's also quiet.

Honolulu has a lot to do.

Check out vrbo.com for condos - vacation rentals by owner.  That's what we used to rent the condo in Kona.  If I can figure out how to post pictures in here again, I'll post some for you.  Have fun.

Margaret

Anonymous

Kelly - Great photos!

I went to the Big Island and stayed at the Hilton - Waikoloa Village. OMG - I was fabulous. The spa was awesome too! Have fun on your trip.

http://www.hiltonfamilyhawaii.com/hilton-waikoloa-village.aspx

AlaskaDeb

I LOVE Maui.  I went last December for my end of treatment reward.  We used the trip like a carrot on the end of a stick.  We spent a few days in Oahu, but liked Maui WAY better.  I had only been out of treatment for a few weeks, so I thought I would just sit in the shade on the beach, but I did TONS of stuff...swimming, walking the beach a luau, shopping...they have great fun shopping, I just loved it.  We bought snorkels you just about couldn't get me out of the water....loved it.

The best travel book we bought by far was called Maui Revealed.  I would highly recommend it.  We found tons of great out of the way spots we never would have known were there.  One was a waterfall and pool, complete with a rope swing on the road to Hana.  It was only 20 feet off the road and no one was there but us.  We had a blast in our own little private paradise.  We would get to a cool little place and notice the only tourists there would have "the little blue book" on their dashboards.  It got to be a joke almost. 

Deb C

chemo072

Thanks everyone!  And LOVE the pics!! Rocktober Mom - your daughter is adorable!! 

iodine

May I suggest the botanical gardens, I went ape about all the blossoms.

The Punch Bowl is an inspiring visit, like Arlington, but with more information and historical displays.

And the Pearl Harbor memorial.  Leave a lei for  those lost there.

Lots of history in those islands. 

That was one of my layovers as a flight nurse when we brought patients back from the Phillipines who had been wounded in Nam. 

MargaretB

Deb, yes, the Little Blue Book.  I forgot about that.  I had one for Kona and Kauai.  It is THE reference manual for Hawaii.

Laura, I didn't make it to the Hilton Waikoloa Village this time around but I heard it is fabulous.

Margaret

Anonymous

We loved the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort in Waikiki!

Thanks for the compliments on my gal!