Favorite part of your trip...

What do you remember the most? Something you wish had done more or had known about at the beginning? The very best parts/places of your trip. We are leaving Friday night and would like a trip of favorites:)

Favorite part of your trip...

Snorkeling would have to be my favorite. But snorkeling was a very close second. But I do have to admit snorkeling was a lot of fun too.

Did I mention snorkeling? lol

Swimming with turtles one of the most amazing things I have ever done. Seeing all the colorful fish and yes the eel%26#39;s and sharks also is by far the most memorable things about our trips to Maui.

There is so much more to Maui like seeing the sun come up from Haleakala, or walking on the warm sands of a black sand beach but snorkeling is still the favorite.

Hope you have a great time on Maui.

Favorite part of your trip...

dreamin --

oooh, tell me more about seeing the sharks? that sounds cool. were you actually snorkeling and they just swam near you? i bet it was a little scary, but exhilarating!

NatureCat

=^..^=

Naturecat, It was snorkeling at Molokini. One of the crew on our boat asked us if we saw the shark go by and we had not. He said if we heard slapping on the water to find him. A little while later we heard the slapping and looked down and there he/she was going in and out of the coral heads. Sharks were one of my biggest fears. After seeing it I could tell it had no interest in making me lunch so I swam after it to try and get a picture. Even swimming slow it was gone fast so no pic but it was awesome to be within 30 ft. of it. The cameraman on our trip went right down and got closeups of it. It was resting on the bottom and he was about 5ft. from it and it just turned and swam away. It was really exciting. I highly recommend it.

I guess I had a couple favorites, snorkeling would be my first choice. We will be doing lots more of that when we go back in March. I think we%26#39;ll do the snorkeling trip with Ann Fielding....my second would be our ';day trip'; to Lanai....LOVED that, wish we had taken the earliest ferry over and the latest one back. We really ran out of time and had tons more to explore......may even spend the night over there next time....

The lanai.

Start each and every day drinking island coffee and discuss your days plans with your partner while enjoyig the tropical breeze and the sounds of the island waking up.

End each day having the drink of your choice while dicsussing with your partner what you did and saw that day while watching the best sunsets you will ever see in your life.

As a side note, take one night and drive somewhere away from the lights, look straight up and see more stars than you ever imagined were up there.

Anything else was nice but just icing on the cake.

I%26#39;ll second the lanai!!! For me there was not a better feeling than to get up b4 daylight, make a pot of strong Kona coffee and step out onto the lanai!! The smells and sounds of the island and the warmth in the air are like nothing I%26#39;ve ever experienced. I%26#39;m an early riser, but with the two hour time difference, I was up b4 5am local every day (Believe me, this was sleeping in for me!). Being from Oregon, at that time in the morning the temps are usually in the 40%26#39;s or 50%26#39;s . To be able to watch the sun come up in that environment is nothing short of awe inspiring!

Then, of course, there is sunset on the beach. Oregon has spectacular sunsets, but Maui has a couple of advantages. 1) it%26#39;s warm and 2) palm trees. I LOVED walking right from our ground-floor lanai across the beautiful lawn towards the beach as the sun set. Again, awe inspiring!!

Den

The time we had on our lanai...we were only 50 yards or less from the water. It was wonderful. So relaxing....true paradise. We also love the snorkeling we did and spending most of one day at Kapalua Bay. This is one of the best beaches I%26#39;ve seen. Wonderful in every way. Check it out. Most of all just relax and have a great time. Wish I was going back soon.

Yes BB, we all know, the lanai ! :) I must know your second fav thing.... surley you enjoyed more than that on Maui. What were your fav places, a specific beach that was memorable?

The beach in front of the Embassy Suites, mostly because we stay there and are not really beach people. It is usualy not crowded, has decent snorkeling most of the time and it doesn%26#39;t get too rough.

I don%26#39;t think we have a lot of favorite things to do on Maui. We pretty much go every 5 years on our anniversay and relax. We do a lot of sightseeing, not too many organized activities except maybe a snorkel cruise out to Molokini.

WHen we go we try not to plan the trip down to the nanosecond but prefer to do what strikes us at the moment.

Since we go in Octobers we do like to take in the Aloha festivals on whatever island we happpen to be on.

Having banana pancakes at the Pioneer Inn, Lahaina and being waited on by the ';crazy old lady'; who called me ';Daddio'; and gave me a backrub.

A drink at Cheeseburger in Paradise, Lahaina with chili cheese fries overlooking the ocean from the second floor.

A stroll over the rocks and then along Little Beach, Makena

Getting up before sunrise and drinking a beer with a group of men at a church bury a pig in their imu for a luau later that day.

Listening to the owner of Tedeschi Winery, C. Pardee Erdman, tell us that he made pineapple wine to get started while waiting for the grape vines to produce fruit and then finding out it was his most popular wine, Maui Blanc, so he still makes it.

Watching the sun set everyday with a tropical cocktail in hand.

Dan

Handicap placard

My husband has a mobility problem. Can he use his California placard in Maui? We are staying in Wailea. Is parking at the restaurants difficult?

Handicap placard

California placards aren%26#39;t valid in Hawaii, sorry.

Interesting question as to what visitors are supposed to do. There%26#39;s probably a way to get a temporary and it%26#39;s probably a pain for very short term.

You don%26#39;t describe the exact problem, but would dropping him off in front while you go park the car be a solution?

sorry I don%26#39;t know specifics about restaurants in Wailea.

Handicap placard

Sorry KamainaK, but handicap parking permits from other states ARE valid. If you need to confirm this, check the Maui County DMV website.

Check this website. It says permits from other states are honored.

mauicounty.gov/departments/…dmvVehicle.htm

It has links to get more info.

Hope this helps.

kaiwahine

You are correct.

From this link:

mauicounty.gov/departments/…dmvVehicle.htm

For Our Disabled Visitors:

Disabled parking permits issued by other states are honored in the state of Hawaii.

For additional information you may contact the Disability and Communications Access Board.

Click Here: Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB).

For additional information and an application form for a Disabled Parking Placard.

Click Here: Information and Parking Placard form.

';Is the parking at restaurants difficult?';

It depends where you%26#39;re going. The many ';popular'; restaurants in Wailea are in the hotels, so that means trekking from the hotel parking lot/garage to the restaurant, unless you drop him off in the front of the hotel. If you%26#39;re going to Lahaina to one of the many restaurants there, it%26#39;s definitely going to involve some walking because there%26#39;s pretty much no street parking there. So you would have to park at one of the public lots and trek over to the restaurant of your choice, unless again, you drop him off in front of the restaurant. If you%26#39;re going to one of the many places in Kihei, then you shouldn%26#39;t have a problem with parking because it%26#39;s a lot less crowded there and there%26#39;s parking everywhere.

I used my Washington State Placard when I was in Maui! Never a problem!

First time to Big Island

My girlfriend and I are coming back to Hawaii for the third time and it will be our first time to the big island. We have book our hotel at Royal Kona Resort but we are in urge for help on the suggestion. During our last trip to Maui we rent our own car and basically travel by ourselves. I%26#39;ve notice that Big Island is really big and was considering whether I should rent the car or join the local tours? It will be a short trip for us due to our limited time off from work. We will be arriving on 10/6 afternoon and depart on 10/9 late evening. Below are our concerns:

1. Should we rent a car or join local tours

2. what is a must see that we can%26#39;t miss?

3. Which Luau is to die for? Is the Luau inside Royal Kona Resort is good? What other choices or famous ones?

4. Any recommanded resturant or local%26#39;s favorite? Can be fancy or affortable. Not interesting in Resturant Chain from the States.

First time to Big Island

1. You really need a car here since there is no public transportation. Just the cabride from and to the airport will cost you more than to rent a car for three days. I believe you would be better off with taking trips on your own and not being tied to the schedule of tour bouses.

2. It%26#39;s hard to answer your question without knowing what you like to do and what your interests are.

3. The luau at the Kona Village Resort is clearly the best (and the most expensive) and I think the one at the Royal Kona Resort is very touristy.

4. Check out konaforum.com for local restaurant reviews.

First time to Big Island

Thanks for your reply. For question 1, we like to drive around and check out water falls, per haps dipping into some of them. then of course the volcano and probably snorkeling by our own.

2. Any other Luau? We plan to attend more than one during our stay. Thanks.

Remember Hawaii is one of the states. Be careful to not say back in the states when there, back on mainland works fine.

With basically two full days I would not take tour. They are in control of your time. with car you are.

Consider one day north of Kona, Hapuna Beach and others in area, Maybe to Hawi and east to check view of Pololu beginning of more lush coast of BI, but you can spend most of day on the several beaches too and never get that far. we have spent two half days at Hapuna on different trips. gretaa beach

Volcano and all day trip, worth it to me, but depends on your interest. Long day if your interest in volcanoes is low.

Some nice beaches right in Kona including my wife%26#39;s favorite snorkel beach Kahalu%26#39;u. She is no expert, but many fish to see and not real crowded, maybe for first or last day.

If I had only 2 full days and minimal interest in volcanoes I would just visit west coast from Kona. coas

No comment on best luau, but not sure would be priority for me with short time.

agreeing with TT and phirl%26#39;s advice.

I would never do more than one Luau in 3 days! But they are as typically tropical says ... if you want great authentic luau take his advice. No others have that great reputation.

Sorry to say that waterfall dipping won%26#39;t be possible as the good waterfalls you can see from behind a fence only or from a distance in Waipio Valley. Water not safe to swim in anyway.

If you like tours and scenery you might enjoy a tour down into Waipio valley. Snorkel at Kahalu%26#39;u like phirl said. Skip the Volcano unless you%26#39;re really interested because your trip is so short. Do rent a car.

For your most relaxing trip, don%26#39;t try to drive around the island. It will just be a whole lot of driving and take a whole day. We have a lot of traffic here now. I don%26#39;t see how people enjoy the tour buses on our winding roads. They would make me carsick. Mentioning that in case either of you gets motion sickness.

Roads on the West side from Kona north are straight and easy to drive, numerous nice beaches and places to go. You can easily spend your whole time seeing different things without even leaving Kona.

You should definitely rent a car. With the kind of time u have, u should definitely stick to one side of the island. On the Kona side, one place u can visit is the Place of Refuge. U can see those Hawaiian TIki Gods. U can visit the Polulu valley.

http://www.hawaii-forest.com/. One of their waterfall hikes is on private property u can%26#39;t get to otherwise. Can%26#39; remember which one.

There is no other must do in the Kona side except the beaches and watersports. That reminds snorkeling in Kahaluu Beach Park

is easy and fun though can be crowded.

Hilo side has lots of waterfalls, caves, volcano, lava tubes but its rainy, not sunny and doesn%26#39;t have excellent beaches.

Well with just 3 days........ the first thing I would do is take a circle island air tour to see what strikes you then do this right after landing on Kona..... take a map and mark where it is that you like. Rent a car Go to a luau on the 6, Friday there will be 4 including Royal Kona $65@ which will be easiest also Kona Village a 16 mile drive each way which is the best for $95 @

Then the next on 7th drive to the Volcano via the Northern route and home by the southern route

Sunday go to anothe place that struck you from the air tour.(8th

monday, the 9th same as Sunday

chap balm

travelling between the islands of Hawaii

Can anyone suggest the easiest way to transfer between Oahu,maui and the big island?

Boat,plane or car?

There are 5 person%26#39;s travelling 2 adults and 3 kids.

I would like to get to each of the islands by the quickest and easiest route possible and i need to finalise the trip in Honolulu to trasfer back to Australia.

travelling between the islands of Hawaii

Since there are no roads between the islands (!) and no ferry boats between the major islands of Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii, your only choice is to fly. I like Aloha or Hawaiian airlines for interisland trips.

travelling between the islands of Hawaii

Yep the only way to the other Islands is air. We have flown both Aloha %26amp; Hawaiian as well (probably like Hawaiian better). The longest interisland flight is probably Oahu to Big Island, being around 40 mins.

May I suggest, if you are planning on travel to the other islands then I recommend doing these the first leg of your trip. Usually flying from Australia you arrive Honolulu International around early/mid morning. As most hotels do not allow check in until after 2pm, this would allow you to catch a flight to the other islands and arrive around lunch or there after. That way you can almost check straight in at your hotel, then catch other connecting flights in the afternoon to try and get the most out of your day.

Doing the Oahu leg of the trip last means you dont have to worry about catching early flights back to Oahu, just getting to the Airport from your hotel. Otherwise you would be catching early flights from inter-islands to catch the early/mid morning flight back to Australia.

Check out the website www.iflygo.com, they fly to the other islands for usually $39.00 one way. This past summer they ran specials of $29.00 o/w.

Dear Hawaii 50,you sound like an expert.

Can you please suggest an itinerary for my trip to Hawaii.

There will be 2 adults and three kids 8,9 and 11 years old.

Would like to do 4 nights Oahu,5 nights Big island and 5 nights Maui. Staying in 4/ 5 star resorts with good pool and Kids facilities.

Taking into account the scheduled departure and arrival times in and out of Oahu from Melbourne/australia.

How would you constuct this trip?

Is 2 islands too many to visit?

Please let me know your thoughts.

Hi Seeyoulater,

Thanks for the compliment, not an expert just an Aussie girl who is a very big Hawaii fan !!

What airline are you flying to Hawaii, Qantas, Jetstar or Hawaiian ?

By the way, where abouts in Melbourne are you from (being a previous Melbournite myself !!).

Hawaii50 :-)

We took our family of six, ages 8-20, to the Big Island for four nights, and then Maui for four nights. The day we flew from Kona to Maui was a full day of travel, not just a quick flight over like I thought it would be. Started out leaving our hotel at 9:00am and didn%26#39;t get checked into our Maui hotel until10:00pm. Three Islands would have been very hard to do.

When I was planning our trip the hotels on the Big Island sounded like a good fit for our family, but I also was told that the Big Island wasn%26#39;t as lush and pretty as the other Islands. This is true, but the Big Island is so unique that it does have a beauty all of it%26#39;s own, it just isn%26#39;t like you picture Hawaii to be.

I would pick one island to stay at, and not spend a whole day of vacation at the airport, we would just settle in and then it would be time to go again. If you pick the Big Island the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is beautiful, we loved it there. They have a great childrens program, and a casual beach feeling even our teen enjoyed. The pool is simple and small, but my kids didn%26#39;t seem to notice. Very safe and relaxing.

However, without question, I would close your eyes when looking at the price of the Four Seasons on the Big Island, and book your room there, and soon, because it fills up fast. It is everything your family is looking for, and worth the long flight to get there. It is very expensive, but worth every penny. Hope this helps you!

lov2vacation, how in the heck did it take you 13 hours to get from a hotel on the big island (the four seasons, no less?) to any hotel in Maui? You didn%26#39;t have a direct flight?

dear hawaii 50,we are using Jetstar from Melbourne and return.

Is it true that the travel between islands takes far too long?

Could you please recommend an itinerary for me?

I am looking at the Grand wailea in Maui and the Hilton Waikoloa in The big island.

With 14 nights, you won%26#39;t have any problem with two or even three islands. Just keep in mind it will take 4-6 hours each time you go to a different island.

Oahu has much more to do than any other island. Oahu is also the most kid friendly.

Lots of info:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g29222-i37-k647862鈥?/a>

www.bigisland.org

www.visitmaui.com

www.mauihawaii.org

Other airlines have matched prices of go! Airline.

www.iflygo.com

www.alohaairlines.com

www.hawaiianairlines.com

Right now, the specials are through the end of the year, but they will probably be extended.

Hi seeyoulater,

From our experiences, I dont think that air travel takes that long between the islands.

With 14 nights, you can quite easily see 2 or 3 islands.

We like to do things one day, then have a relaxing day the next. So you could spend a whole day doing something, then just relax at the resort pool the next. Enjoy your holiday, dont rush it.

Go to a bookshop %26amp; buy the Lonely Planet guide to Hawaii, costs about $35 and is great. This will give you detailed info on heaps of things to see in Hawaii. Alternatively, go online and buy the blue bibles (the Revealed books) on Oahu, Big Island %26amp; Maui. These are fantastic (we bought them over in Hawaii) and give really good info on places %26amp; accommodations. www.wizardpub.com

OK, so flying Jetstar you will arrive quite early at Honolulu International 7.45am. This is alot earlier than what Qantas flys in at (10.00am) so you have plenty of time. I would allow anywhere up to 2 hours to get through Customs %26amp; Immigration. I say this because I dont know how many planes come into Honolulu around this time. Once through %26amp; collected your luggage I would recommend going to the Big Island for your first part of the trip. Transfer to the Inter-island terminal by Wiki-Wiki bus and check in for a flight, maybe around 12 noon. This will allow you extra time if you need it for customs/transfers etc. Flight to Big Island is around 40 mins.

I agree with you for Big Island staying at Hilton Waikoloa Village. It is beautiful with lush tropical gardens and great pools etc for your kids. The kids will love the idea of having to catch the little boats to your accommodation blocks. My niece spent heaps of time in the pool here on the waterslide !!!

I would probably hire a car on Big Island, there is plenty to see. You could do a circle Island tour one day, driving around and just stopping %26amp; seeing things along the way, like coffee plantations, waterfalls, beaches etc.

I would allow a whole day for the volcano national park. There is heaps to see %26amp; do there and you can spend the whole day exploring the lava flows etc.

Another good day is to spend in Kona, just looking around the shops, snorkelling and see the Place of Refuge.

Most hotel check-out is 10-11am, so check out as late as you can to the hotel check-out time and then drive to the airport. Catch a 1-1.30pm interisland flight to Maui, so you will arrive around 2.30pm.

Again, in Maui I would hire a car and yes I think you would probably like the Grand Wailea Hotel. Sorry I am not familiar with the ins %26amp; outs of this hotel (we stay at the Sheraton) but from the webiste it looks beautiful and possibly what you are looking for.

Spend the rest of you day getting familiar with the hotel and relaxing etc

On Maui, you could quite easily spend a day in Lahaina. This is a nice town with lots of shops %26amp; restaurants.

Also on Maui, take the drive to Haleakala Crater %26amp; Volcano, which is 10,023 feet above sea level. This is really spectacular to see early in the morning watching the sunrise over the mountain %26amp; clouds. It is also very pretty during the day.

Another nice part of Maui is IAO needle %26amp; park. It is very tropical, lush and green with waterfalls etc. It is very pretty.

If you hire a car, spend a whole day on the road to Hana. Take your time to explore the beaches and landmarks along the way. There are a lot of bends in the road (about 600 !!) so drive carefully.

I would make your final part of the holiday on Oahu. As I said previously, this allows you to catch a mid/later afternoon flight back to Oahu then check-in around 3pm. Oahu hotels are different to the more expensive ones on the other islands, I would say they are a little more laid back. If you are after a resort feel on Oahu, I would probably think the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It is spread out with lovely gardens and about 2-3 pools. It is at the end of Waikiki, towards the marina %26amp; Ala Moana Shopping Centre. It has several towers to stay in, so I am not familiar with which one is the best. I have read the Al%26#39;ii tower is a good one which it%26#39;s own check-in desk and not as busy, so maybe someone who has stayed here could help you with this.

Definately while you are on Oahu a trip to Pearl Harbour, Missouri and Bowfin sub. I would also say the Polynesian Cultural Centre, the kids should love that. These could easily take a day each, taking your time to explore. Perhaps do the luau %26amp; Horizons show at the PCC. If the kids like the beach, an outrigger canoe ride is only $15 each for 3 waves and fun for kids. Watch the Friday night fireworks at HHV on Friday nights (free) and the free Hula Show on the Waikiki beachfront every night. There is lots of shopping on Oahu as well International Marketplace, Aloha Stadium Swapmeet, Ala-Moana (like a huge Westfield). Perhaps even a morning at Waikiki Aquarium or half day at the Honolulu Zoo for the kids. Hire a car and drive around the island (Dole Plantation, Haleiwa, Byodo-In temple) and lots more.

Jetstar flys back from Oahu about 8.30-9am, so check-out of your hotel early and head for the airport to return home.

I hope some of this helps, but there are plenty more people out here who Im sure can help you as well.

Hawaii50 :-)

help with this site!!

I put 2 hotel reviews on this site on the 16th Sept. One for the Sheraton and one for the Grand Hyatt. The one for the Sheraton has appeared with some of the photos of the Grand Hyatt!!! (how did that happen??) The Grand Hyatt review has not yet appeared. Can I edit this or who do I contact? I would be grateful for any help.

help with this site!!

I know that all reviews %26amp; photos are checked for content before they appear, and have seen that take up to 3 weeks for one of mine. As for a photo mix up I think you will need to contact Trip Advisor, and again they are a bit slow at getting all the emails answered so be patient. use this address.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/contact.html

You can also find the contact information by clicking on the ';about us'; link at the bottom of the page, then the ';contact us'; from the menu to the left side of the page that will be brou

help with this site!!

Thank you cicopo!!

your welcome, I hope you get it all fixed up to your satisfaction. Obviously if you took the time to do the reviews %26amp; upload photos you would like them to be in the correct reviews.

Hi cicopo

Thanks again for your help. I got an e-mail from Cathy at TA abd she has got it all sorted. Should show on site in a couple of days!

Great, isn%26#39;t it wonderful when things get fixed up the way you planned.

Pacific Fantasy/Pono Kai, What's the diff?

Anyone know what the difference if between Pacific Fantasy @ Pono Kai and just plain ol%26#39; Pono Kai? Is one better than the other, as in more modern, better views, better upkeep? Thanks for any info......

Pacific Fantasy/Pono Kai, What's the diff?

Never heard of Pacific Fantasy. Sounds like it%26#39;s either the name somebody gave to their condo at Pono Kai, or maybe a rental agent / marketer.

Pacific Fantasy/Pono Kai, What's the diff?

Pacific Fantasy is The Pono Kai Resort. I noticed that sometimes resorts have differnt names,depending on who the units are rented through. You can check the address of both resorts and see if they are the same... That is what I do. It%26#39;s a good idea to go on the reviews and check what other visitors have to say about the resort you are intersted in. I read some bad reviews about the Pono Kai, I was disappointed because it looked good to me too. But, could be what you are looking for. You may like it.

What to do w/a morning in Kahului

Hi, I%26#39;m actually asking this for my sister (I%26#39;m the travel forum junkie). Due to complicated flight plan from Alaska to the Big Island, they have to spend one night in Kahului close to airport. They already have a room booked at Maui Beach hotel (and yes expectations are low). They arrive late one evening so won%26#39;t be needing dinner recommendations etc. But is there anything walking distance from their hotel that might be interesting to see/do (shopping, beaches, museums, parks, anything) fora few hours the next morning before they leave to catch their 2pm flight to Kona? I think they are just using the hotel shuttle so won%26#39;t have a rental car for their one night.

They are a couple w/2 young teens who are fairly active so beach activity, hiking could also be possibilities.

thanks

What to do w/a morning in Kahului

Well. . . Kahului isn%26#39;t usually the favorite spot to spend time. But there are some options. For shopping, they can cross Kaahumanu Av from their hotel and go right to Queen Kaahumanu center, the biggest mall on the island. If they go left they can get to Maui Mall, a smaller shopping center but they have hula shows some days and tasty guri guri (local ice cream) at Tasaka%26#39;s. Plus Long%26#39;s drug, the essential all-purpose local store.

The hotel is on the harbor, and there aren%26#39;t any good beaches right there. If they want to walk a couple of miles, Kanaha beach park near the airport is nice and they could get their ';hiking'; in at the same time (although, part of it is through industrial area, not so scenic). But honestly, it%26#39;s a long walk and not one of the best beaches on the island.

I think it would be a better idea to catch a bus and go to the Kamaole beaches in Kihei. They could also ride to Maalaea, Lahaina, or Wailuku. They can catch the bus from either of those shopping centers I mentioned. Luckily their hotel is right near the ';hub'; where most of the buses go. Here is the website, you can find maps and schedules. www.mauicounty.gov/bus/busschedule81.pdf

What to do w/a morning in Kahului

You know, thinking about it some more, if the have a 2 pm flight then time is kind of tight to ride to Kihei, go to the beach and come back. Maybe instead, take the bus to Maalaea harbor center. It%26#39;s only a 20 minute ride, and they can go to the Maui Ocean Center as well as do a little shopping and get some shave ice or ice cream (can you tell, I like ice cream?). Nice ocean and mountain views from there, much prettier than Kahului. There might be some little beaches around there that they can walk to as well? Though kind of murky near the harbor.

Yep, The Queen K Mall would be a quick walk across the street and there is a go cart race track off the Sears end with a Sweets %26amp; Treats (Maui Dairy Queen) not too far away.

Hey,thanks for all the great tips. Probably my sister %26amp; her daughter will choose the shopping, and her husband /son might try the go karts you mentioned. I also read something online about a ';Paper airplane museum'; at one of the nearby malls -- sounds kind of kitschy -- anyone been there? One more question -- the day they are in Kahului is a Saturday -- isn%26#39;t there a swap meet or something somewhere in Kahului? they might like that. thanks

Oh yes, that is correct. It%26#39;s right next to the Kahului Post Office on Puunene avenue. The intersection of Kaahumanu (the street w/ your motel) and Puunene is on the far side of the Kahului Mall (Burger King).

Incidentally, there are actually three malls along Kaahumanu Avenue, each with a different vintage. The newest and most modern is the Queen (K)aahumanu with the big sail-like tent roof. The center one, Kahului Mall is the oldest, circa 1950, and was built along with ';Dream City'; back when Alexander %26amp; Baldwin was heavy in the business of housing plantation employess during the Sugar Cane hey days. The third and farthest back toward the airport is the Maui Mall, built in the go-go 80%26#39;s. So you%26#39;ve got some choices :)

Yes, they can walk to the swap meet on Sat morning. It%26#39;s next to the post office on puunene.

Another option would be to take the bus (sorry, don%26#39;t know the routes or schedules off-hand) to Wailuku town. You guys can check out the different shops on Market Street and Main Street. Also right up Main Street is Bailey House Museum, you can call them to check their hours. Queen Kaahumanu Center will offer you the same stores you find in the mainland (Sears, Hot Topic, Champs, etc.) so just thought that the shops on Market would offer somthing different. Also there is a food court on Main Street with a couple different options for eating.

We stayed at the Maui Beach hotel as we arrived late and did not want to drive. it is quite basic but it is clean and serves the purpose of a one night stay. There is a garage across from the hotel if you need to get drinks etc. The shopping mall is across the road and you can walk to it.

If you had time , the Maui Ocean Centre is worth a visit but it would depend on the times of the buses. There is a swap meet on a Saturday in kahului which you can walk to from the Maui beach hotel

so that would pas some of the time. The hotel is only about 5-10 mins from the airport by cab

Locals, could they take a cab to the Iao Needle? Too expensive? Kinda sad to spend one%26#39;s only time on Maui at a shopping center or swap meet.

Taking a cab to Iao Needle would certainly be an option. I%26#39;m guessing it would be about $20 each way. I%26#39;d call in advance for the cab there and also the return cab, say 2 hours later to allow time for a little hiking and exploring. I still recommend the bus to Ma`alaea Harbor though. Fast, easy, and you have shopping, dining, scenic views, and the Maui Ocean Center aquarium right there in one location. Also right there is Maui Family Fun center -- they have mini golf, bumper boats, trampoline and climbing wall.

Marriott Poipu or Marriott Lihue In Kauai??

We are marriott vacation club owners and have a choice between the marriott in lihue or poipu. This is our first time to Kauai and we are a couple in our early thirties. We have been to both maui and oahu and stayed at the marriott vacation club there. We love to get up every morning and explore the surrounding area. We will most likely be gone from the hotel 4 days exploring and hiking throughout kauai. We also like to come back to to the hotel after a long day and have a drink a the bar and we also will be going out to dinner every night. I guess what we are looking for is the most convenient hotel that we can use as a base to explore and have some dining options nearby and hotel amenities. Not looking to eat at hotel everynight just dont want to be driving a half hour to get a nice meal and bottle of wine. Thanks

Marriott Poipu or Marriott Lihue In Kauai??

If you read my review of the Lihue location %26amp; see the photos it will be a start. Only visited the other location for half a day so can%26#39;t really offer much info about it but to say the beach %26amp; snorkeling were more of what would suit me, but the restaurant choices didn%26#39;t seem as good, BUT I AM NOT CERTAIN about that. Copy %26amp; paste this link.

http://tinyurl.com/ba4wu

and this link can take you to a very small album of a few photos shot at the Poipu location

http://tinyurl.com/cg8yx

Marriott Poipu or Marriott Lihue In Kauai??

Billy

You can probably take a look at the properties on the web,

however if you like to begin your day with a hike, the Marriot ( Waiohai) at poipu might be what you want.

You can stroll up the road that parallels the beach, and find the Heritage trail, and walk out on the coastal cliff area near the Embassy.

Then continue to walk down to Shipwreck beach in front of the Hyatt, and up the trail at Makawehi Point. And hike along the lithified cliffs and dunes toward Mahaulepu. However, you can only go part way along the lithified cliffs trail since part of it fell into the ocean last winter. There will be very few people and we would start each morning with this hike from the condo at poipu kai.

Not to worry, it is still fantastic, and you will probably still get in about

3 miles or more round trip. It will not be crowded on the trail as most visitors seem to just sun on the beaches.

An easy drive along the cane haul road in your rental car will take you to CJM stables, and if you take the road to the right of the ranch entrance you can park and then hike over to Mahulepu and Gillens.

Beautiful and easy. Keeps you from beating up the car, as the cane haul road gets quite rutty after CJM.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Or rent bikes and cruise the poipu area, up to spouting horn, and then then bike entire cane haul road to mahulepu. A beautiful nearly deserted beach.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At the marriot waohai you have snorkeling, and swimming right there at Poipu Beach. Also, we like the Waiohia outdoor tiki bar at the pool. Overlooks the ocean, and each afternoon they grille up tasty burgers right there at the bar.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We were just over at Dukes, today, at the Kalapaki Beach Marriot.

Taco Tuesday starts at 4 pm to 6 pm. Beers, as well as fish tacos are $ 2.50 apiece. Dukes is a great spot, and we have fun there.

Not any hiking in the area at the Kalapaki Marrriot, but there are more water sports with kayak rentals, catamaran rentals, there in the bay. Snorkeling is a waste of time. When we go to the beach there, we go way down to the far end and lay our our mats on the grass.

Pool area has snack bars, and outdoor bars including Dukes.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We do go to both, but as residents of kauai, we have never stayed at either, except about 30 years ago, I stayed at the Kalapaki Beach hotel when was the kauai surf....changed hands a couple of times since them, so no help with the rooms.

I have seen the Waiohai rooms on a tour a couple of months ago, and they are really nice. Cannot comment on the rooms at the kalapaki beach marriot.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lets see....at the waiohai, you are close to not only poipu, but brenneckes beach ( boogie boarding and body surfing0 as well as snorkeling Poipu, and about 4 minutes from Lawaii ( Beach House)

Beach for sunshine and snorkeling.

We also like to pick up steaks, and BBQ at Poipu Beach Park, generally once a week or so.

Lots of other pluses, but will let others voice their opinions and help out.

Oh, there are some very nice, and fun bars in the poipu area. With

Keokies Paradise ( south seas decor, and we eat at the bar where they have great food for much less than the full on dinners in the restuarant.

Roys, and the Beach House are within just a few minutes drive from the Waiohai, and both are outstanding and upscale.

The Hyatt is also only a few minutes drive, and they have a free hawaiian music and dance presentation out on the terrrace, as well as live jazz later, in the classy koa wood lounge called Stevensons Library.

Other nice spots nearby....

Denny and Erica

Thanks so much for the replies.....I learned a lot!! I was under the assumption that the poipu area didnt have any restaurants and/or bars. The beach in poipu looks nicer. I guess I am just concerned now the marriott in poipu is basically a FAMILY resort with no restaurant/bar to hang at night. or entertainment. I feel like we will only be at the hotel at night or maybe a few days. Does anyone know?? I realze kauai is not a place for nightlife. We will be exploring all day, driving to dinner and then having a nightcap which i guess we can do right from out room. Also is poipu ir lihue sunneir is Dec??

Another difference between the 2 is that the Poipu location had pretty much a full kitchen, where as the Lihue location had only a microwave %26amp; bar sized fridge. For us it was adaquate as cooking %26amp; cleaning up after is not part of a vacation, but for others it is. For families on a budget it can be a really big thing though, so I thought I should mention it.

If I could pick one, I would definitely select the Marriott Waiohai Beach Club Resort in Poipu. Visited friends at the Poipu location and found it much nicer in so many ways than the Marriott at Kalapaki Beach. Poipu, Koloa and Kalaheo have all the restaurants and bars you will likely need in your 4 days. Likelihood more sun there too, at that time of year.

I have stayed at both in the last year and I think that the Poipu Marriott has TONS more to do on that side of the island. It is prettier, more shopping, more centralized to travel to other parts of the island, and most of all... it doesn%26#39;t have the airplanes flying over it daily!! Trust me, Poipu is the side you want to stay on. Just rent a car and it is a 35 minute drive. We are heading back in November and Poipu is the side all 10 of us are going to! Good luck!

Travel Channel/Hawaii: Upcoming Programs

Three hours of Samantha Brown Paradise features %26amp; infomercials this Sunday afternoon (9/24):

3-3:30 pm eastern ';Best Deals'; (bargains in lodging, entertainment etc.),

3:30-4 ';Adventures'; (Dolphin Quest @ Waikoloa, Maui Ocean Center, SNUBA and more)

4-4:30 ';Hidden Hawaii'; (believe the focus is Oahu; from Chinatown to Sea Life Park and?),

4:30-5 ';Island Excursions'; (schedule only mentions one, but it%26#39;s a great subject: Helicopter tour of Volcano National Park),

5-5:30 ';Taste of Hawaii'; (believe more of a review of cultural preferences than restaurant reviews) and,

5:30-6 ';Ultimate Hawaii'; (appears to be an overview format).

Travel Channel/Hawaii: Upcoming Programs

Yea! Glad you are out there doing this TC research. Mahalo...

=^..^=

Travel Channel/Hawaii: Upcoming Programs

Thanks!!! I am down to 28 days (started counting at 312!!!)

And we are down to 30 days!!!!!!!!!!!

chap balm

Lahaina Safeway.com delivery?

Does the Safeway in Lahaina do .com delivery? Less time at the grocery store= more time on da beach!

Our flight doesn%26#39;t get in til 8pm so I assume we won%26#39;t be at the Kahana condo til 9:30pm or later with luggage, p/u car rental and drive time. It would be awesome to place my order into Safeway before our flight and they deliver it to our condo when we arrive or even the next morning. I really don%26#39;t want to grocery shop as soon as we arrive in Maui. I have used Safeway.com here at home and often get free coupons for free delivery in the mail- it is a GREAT service for this busy mom of 3. If they do offer this, does anyone know the latest time one can get groceries delivered? Mahalo!

Lahaina Safeway.com delivery?

Don%26#39;t think so. Did you check their website?

Try this:

alohagroceryservice.com

Lahaina Safeway.com delivery?

Safeway does not deliver in Maui. That sounds like a late night. Maybe you can haul some snack food in with your checked bags and then once that%26#39;s gone, you%26#39;ll have room for souvenirs. Boy that kinda stinks doesn%26#39;t it. It%26#39;s hard to find a place to eat when you consider how long it takes to get out of the airport. At least Safeway is on the way so you can pick up some items for the next day. Boy, I hate shopping on the first day as well but at least our flight gets in at about 1pm and then I leave my husband to hang out with the kids at the condo so that I can have some ';me time'; at Safeway.

Thanks Kaiwahine and Juluaf! My girls have allergies, so I need to pick up things like lactose free milk and oj with calcium...I will just make a quick stop on the way to condo and pray that everyone is konked out from the flight. Yea, I always pack a small luggage to check in with snacks and small boxes of cereal then fill with souveniers (or laundry) when empty. One time I packed a case of Coke when my DH and I went to Paris because I was told that a can of coke was $5, I%26#39;m glad I did, we saved some $.

Juls- so excited for your trip, please send a trip report when you get back and highlight all the places your kids loved. Your plans sound so fun and I%26#39;m so envious that you%26#39;re leaving in a week, right? Have a fabulous time!

Juls- which airline are you going with? I%26#39;m using my miles so the selection wasn%26#39;t too great.

Yes, a week from now. We are going on Hawaiianair. There is not much of a selection of airlines up here. When we found out 4 years ago that Hawaiian was going non-stop from PDX to Maui, we just had to go. We kept getting cheap tickets until this year but then we were able to take advantage of our miles for 3 of us. I found some sand toys at Target back in July that are small enough to pack in the luggage and got a really inexpernsive swim vest for our daughter. Target had clearanced about 3 isles of summer stuff at 75% off so we took advantage. We know we will have to swim with the kids at least twice a day and I am hoping that our daughter can learn to swim this year. Our son learned last year in Maui and that was pretty neat to watch. I would love it if one of them would snorkle this year. It%26#39;s all about the experiences.

You sound like me, looking for those clearance red stickers at Tarjay. I got one of those pop up cabana%26#39;s on clearance for the baby and then a big one for the rest of us. My DH thinks I%26#39;m crazy but I just don%26#39;t want to fight over finding some shade or paying big bucks for a cabana. I know we want to visit several beaches so I think they%26#39;ll get some good use.

Your daughter is 4? I have my 4 year old daughter in swim lessons since summer. We%26#39;ve tried lessons at the community pool then found a great private indoor pool that keeps their water very warm which I think totally helps the kids, even my 8 year old son didn%26#39;t swim well until this class...in the beginning my daughter was very leary and wouldn%26#39;t get her face wet...at today%26#39;s lesson she totally dunked her head and swam 2 feet to the wall without the teacher holding her. I was soo proud and just relieved, finally she%26#39;s getting confident without those floaties! We really want her swimming well by our trip. I%26#39;m sure your daughter will get lots of practice starting next week! ;)

Vacation Rentals

I%26#39;m looking to rent a home(s) for a family group (about 15-20 people) sometime next fall and just wondering if any of you locals / experts can point me to properties that I may have missed. Do I have any other option than ';the Captian%26#39;s Retreat'; and ';Bamboo Garden House';?

We are not opposed to splitting the group, in fact, we may camp a few on the beach (campground). I spent many a weekend in college on that beach and always had a fantastic time. In fact, on our last trip back, we stayed in MB resort, and I can%26#39;t say that is was superior to sleeping in a tent on the beach.

Vacation Rentals

My wife an I toured a beautiful old house called the ';Society House'; in Lanai City a couple years ago. She still talks about getting a large group togher and renting it out for an extended stay. Back then it was $350 per day. It had at least five bedrooms and a huge commercial kitchen. it%26#39;s owned by Castle %26amp; Cook, the primary owners of Lanai, beautiful location, really a classic place, and large enough for a group your size.

Vacation Rentals

Thanks bokohi. That sounds perfect...

I%26#39;ve searched the web a bit, and can%26#39;t seem to find anything on ';Society House.'; Does anyone have any contact information for the property?

Thanks bokohi. That sounds perfect...

I%26#39;ve searched the web a bit, and can%26#39;t seem to find anything on ';Society House.'; Does anyone have any contact information for the property?

I found a phone number and called Castle %26amp; Cook they said that this is no longer being rented out. sorry for the false hopes, also it was called ';Social Hall'; not ';Society House';

Good Luck

Thanks, I appreciate you trying to help me out here. I%26#39;ll let you know if I find anything.

I also spoke to someone at Castle and they said that construction workers are currently staying at ';social house.'; Maybe once the renovations are complete they%26#39;ll open it up again...

Go Bucks!

Any Buckeye Fans going to be in Maui on the 30th?

We%26#39;re looking to get as many OSU fans together to watch the Iowa game. Moose McGillicuddy%26#39;s for a tailgate???

Go Bucks!

OH - IO!!!

Wish we were going to be there to join you. We aren%26#39;t going until November 11. I didn%26#39;t realize it until I read your post, but we%26#39;re going to be flying back on the day of the Michigan game. Too bad we can%26#39;t watch the game on the plane - that would make the flight much more exciting! Hope you find some Buckeye fans to join you!

Go Bucks!

I will be in Hawaii from Nov. 12th-18th and will be leaving to come back to Columbus/Lancaster area right after the Michigan game. At least I hope I get to watch all of the game before I have to go to the airport since ABC changed the start time to 3:30 instead of 12:00. Last year I scheduled my trip so I would be home in time to catch the Michigan game with friends in Columbus, but this time I decided to stay the extra day and catch the game at a bar on the beach at my hotel.

GO BUCKS!!!!!! (Beat Penn State later today and Iowa next weekend).

Maui Trip Report and Pics!

Arrived on Sept 11th to some gorgeous weather and made it to big beach by 2pm. At that point I was already happy as a clam. I wont give a detailed report but just the jist of the things we did. Went to as many beaches as possible along the south shore. We swam and snorkeled so many times. We swam with turtles at Makena Surf beach and at the Maui Prince Hotel Beach. We made it to Lanai for a few hours with a boat company, no dolphin sightings this time :( but we got to see a pod of them off of Big Beach which was pretty cool. I think i set a new record in getting to Hamoa beach. Left straight from Charlies in Paia to the beach. Made it in about a hour and 30 mins or less. ALthough i dont recommend going so fast on a wet windy road. I locked up the brakes but luckily no cars were coming and I didnt go off the side of the road. It was cloudy the whole way but it was like Hamoa beach knew I was coming and the Sun made its way out. We were the only ones at the beach for a hour at 10am. The body surfing was sensational, must easier on the body than big beach. We left Hamoa and headed for some hiking to Waimouku Falls at Oheo Gulch. THe hike was fairly easy I thought. Much easier than the Na Pali coast hike in Kauai. The bamboo forest was very cool and the waterfall was well worth the hike. We did plenty of laying on the beach to relax. The best restaurant we went to was Nicks FishMarket at the Fairmont Kea Loni. The Mahi Mahi and Ahi were ... WOW!!! Im not a big fish lover but my goodness it was fantastic. Yeah the waiters who bring you water are a bit annoying because its every 10 seconds but its kinda nice being called by your last name and pampered a bit. We also went to Capische and had a great meal but I think Nick%26#39;s won out this time. The fish tacos at JAWS taco truck at big beach are sooo good. Made it to Alexanders a couple times for some deep fried heart attack goodness. All in all we had lots of fun. The weather was great, no humidity and the hottest it was all week was 91.

here are the pics

s76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/JoeGasm/

Maui Trip Report and Pics!

Great report %26amp; pics! I love the turtles at Queens Bath. What a priceless memory for you.

=^..^=

Maui Trip Report and Pics!

Mahalo for posting the pics. Mrs. S .wants to go to Kauai next and I must admit it looks beautiful. She loves the turtles.

Thank you so much for sharing your photos. There were amazing.

I look forward to our trip in Kauai and Maui next month.

Aloha

sonsie

Mahalo for the pics! Now, maybe people will believe me when I say that La Perouse Bay is stunning! Great shot!! (I lost all my shots from the bay due to a snafoo with our B and B!)

Sonsie, have a great trip!!! Herbie

Sounds like you had a great time--thanks for sharing your trip with us. I%26#39;m off to view the pictures.

Nice pictures! I loved your favorite sunset photo. What kind of camera did you use? The blues were so amazingly blue... gorgeous.

:-)

Elise

I didn%26#39;t make it to LaPerouse Bay, but it%26#39;s on my list!!! Wow!

Herbie,

I laughed when I saw you sign your name Herbie! LMAO!

Signed, a slightly slimmer Santy :0)

Luau in Waikiki

Hi. Does anyone have any recommendations for luau%26#39;s in Waikiki that are worthwhile? It seems there are a lot of mixed reviews.

Luau in Waikiki

If you do a search it looks like there are a few who like the Royal Hawaiian Luau which is located in Waikiki. If you go to their website:

http://www.royal-hawaiian.com/de_luau.htm

you can print a coupon that will save you 20%.

Luau in Waikiki

In Waikiki, the best Polynesian show is Creation: A Polynesian Journey at Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel. It is a dinner/show rather than a luau. They have the best Polynesian dancers on Oahu.

Royal Hawaiian Luau get mixed reviews.

A better alternative to these is spending a day at Polynesian Cultural Center. Their evening show, %26#39;Horizons%26#39;, is the best show in all of Hawaii. Their stage is huge. They have over 100 performers as compared 15-20 at any other Polynesian show in Hawaii.

Lots of Oahu info:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g29222-i37-k647862…

How many days?

til you leave for Hawaii?

I am down to 31 days!!!!!! FINALLY! I%26#39;ve been planning this trip since November last year.

This translates to 745 hours...

go to this great site to count down the time.

timeanddate.com/counters/customcount.html鈥?/a>

How many days?

31 days for us, too! Leaving Oct. 19 for a 24 day trip to Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island. Planning on celebrating our 23rd wedding anniversary at Pahu%26#39;ia. Can%26#39;t wait!

How many days?

34 days....can%26#39;t wait for our very first trip to Hawaii

27 days to Ekahi condo in Wailea, Oct. 15-24 !!.

Listening to KPOA.com every day. Bought Iz%26#39;s ';Facing Future'; and playing it every day. Trying to avoid Mai Tais every day, but it%26#39;s difficult. (Still have work to do....)

Dan

kperea,

21 days from today(I%26#39;m not counting today lol). We will be there for 2 weeks!!

5 Days!!!!!

115 days...i am jealous of y%26#39;all.

Less than 2 weeks. Fall in Oregon has begun a little early and we are looking forward to 87 degrees, trade winds and warm ocean waters.

Two weeks from today, for 16 glorious days!

18 days yes!!!!

27 Days here

chap balm

Need advice-from Hana to Kahului

We will be staying in Hana 2nts (Sat. and Sun.) in October at the end of our trip. We have 10am reservations for powered hanggliding Mon. Should finish ~12:30-1pm. My question - Should we drive to Kahului airport for 6:30pm flight on Hana Road or go south and thru upcountry? Or does it even matter? We will have already done our exploring so that is not an issue. We will probably be in line with most daytrippers if going south. From reading and searching on this extremely helpful forum, seems each route should take ~3 hrs. Any recommendations appreciated.

Need advice-from Hana to Kahului

From the airport it will be faster back to town if you go Hana Hwy.

Need advice-from Hana to Kahului

I tend to agree, from there the Hana Hwy will be your fastest return route and definitely the smoothest driving.

If you have yet to do the south route I would recomend this route. It really is not that bad at all. If you can make it to Hana then you can make it around the south part. We just did the road last week and were expecting large pot holes and extended periods of rough roads. We were surprised to find a very few bumps and even very little gravel roads. You can expect portions of the south section to even be paved. There were convertible mustangs doing the trip! Great views of the Volcano and of the south shore are plenty. You even end up passing the Winery. The drive time should be approx 2.5 hours.

A more realistic estimate from the Hana airport via Pi`ilani would 3.5 hours, and if you hit bad weather or get behind a slow moving vehicle it could be more. I%26#39;ve been stuck behind people who would not pull over to allow others to pass, holding up a line of cars miles long. With a 6:30 flight you%26#39;d be risking it.

Thank you all for your feedback. I think the Hana Hwy. is the best bet for our situation unless I get earlier reservations for flights in Hana. We will be exploring the area south of Hana on Sunday and we are going to Haleakala on Wed. so we could drive south to check out geology. We will miss part of ';circle'; but oh well. Hey, I get to spend a couple of nights in Hana so I%26#39;m still smiling. Thanks again, Mindy

Another reason to plan a trip back. There%26#39;s always something. Happy trip.

weather

We%26#39;re going to Waikiki in 8 days, then on to Maui.

I%26#39;ve been looking at the weather forecasts for when we get there, and there seems a lot off rain forecast, is it usually so rainy at this time off year? And does the sun usually shine between showers?

I hadnt thought about taking a jacket or cardy, do you think I should or am I worrying about nothing.

!

weather

You are probably looking at generic weather reports, like weather.com. It rains just about every day somewhere on every island however each island has a wet side and dry side. Most resorts and hotels are on the dry sides. Even when it does rain on the dry side it typically is just a short frizzle and the rain is not really cold.

You should probably bring a light cover up as it does get cooler at the higher elevations and some evenings.

weather

Does anyone know of a website which gives forecasts for the Waikiki area?

weatherchannel.com

should give you info about honolulu or any city in the world.

time share exchange at Haneali bay resort.

I would like to know if any one exchanged there time share(owned else where) for a unit at haneali bay resort and were they happy? also did they find they got equal trade ?If any complaints ,was it handled properally? also can your exchange company do any thing about it?

time share exchange at Haneali bay resort.

Sorry to hear that. Do you have specifics that you can share? Hope you at least enjoyed the rest of Kauai.

time share exchange at Haneali bay resort.

I am so sorry you had such a lousy place. I know that cleanliness is the most important thing for me and that would ruin it as well.

I%26#39;ll certainly keep this in mind if they offer it to me on an exchange.

i went there last year cause my friend got a timeshare exchange. i was skeptical at first only bc I generally like to say at nicer hotels---but it was free so i figured what the heck.

I had a completely different experience than the other poster. I LOVED it. we had a 2 bedroom unit and it was great. ok, it is outdated and looked like my college dorm, but it was huge! No bugs whatsoever...only damn rosters at your door (had a ground level). Had a partial view of hanalei bay as well. Only down part was the A/C didnt work that great, which stinks in humid kauai. Other than though, we all had a great time.

The pool looks dirty, but thats just bc they painted the bottom green for some reason. service was also top notch.

Ive heard the privately owned units are way better than the other ones---dont ask me how you know which ones are privately owned. I think this place is hit or miss-fortunately for us it was a hit.

Seems the reviews here on TA bear out the two different posters:

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60626-d114037-…

It is either rated 5 stars or a 1-2 star place depending on where you get put up.

eagleey1

You are right we stayed at Haalei Bay Resort 16 times and each time it got worst. We only went back because of the beautiful view it is the best on the Island. We only had a room. Our room was not as bad as yours, but we had bugs and had to call for spray. The last 2 times we had to beg for a decent view, with being return guest we thought we would be treated better. We were told by Richard on the desk we could leave if we did not like the room and of course the manager couldn%26#39;t be found. We keep on asking till our room got changed.

Now we rent from a private owner at Hanalei Bay villa a 2 bedroom for the same price as a room. Hanalei Bay Resort is the pits and the front desk is rude this place only cares about pushing time share and will not keep up the units. only rent from ownes if you must, but check it out first. Sorry you had a bad.

Aloha Ann

is there any flights from Honolulu to Vladivostok,Russia?

I tried to find in internet information about connection(flight,sea) between Hawaii and Eastern Russia,but found nothing!is there any way to get to Russia?Im moving to Hawaii for 4 years,so Im wondering if I can visit my cousin in Russia.

is there any flights from Honolulu to Vladivostok,Russia?

Flying to Narita and from there to Russia will probably be your best bet.

is there any flights from Honolulu to Vladivostok,Russia?

I did a few searches...United, JAL, Korean and the only one that listed Vladivostok(VVO) was Korean Air, via Seoul.

I know that Aeroflot flies from both New York (JFK) and Washington (Dulles). You may have luck flying to either of those places from Hawaii and then connecting from Moscow.

Aeroflot is probably going to be your best bet into Vladivostok. You may need to fly to Moscow first then catch a flight Vladivostok, or try to go from Hawaii to someplace in Western Asia first, then switch carriers.

Does anyone know how much a flight from Vladivostok to Moscow cost if I buy the ticket in Vladivostok...

I am in Seoul teach ESL. I need to go to Romania for few days...

I need to find the cheapest way...

judy

Wildlife in Hawaii

Can anybody tell me whether there are loads of lizards in Hawaii as I have a massive fear of them, so I want to make sure that they are not everywhere around you, even in the rooms and on the beach?

Thanks

Carol

Wildlife in Hawaii

While I haven%26#39;t seen any in Waikiki there are suppose to be geckos around parts of Oahu. I believe they are quite timid around people and great for keeping the bug population down.

Wildlife in Hawaii

Thanks very much for this, it is most helpful.

Geckos don%26#39;t live at the beach, and you don%26#39;t see a lot of them in urban Waikiki either. They do get into our houses, but I think the hotels are kept mostly lizard free.

you can find geckos is waikiki in the planter areas, small and green smooth skinned usually about the size of your little finger or even smaller at times, they look pretty harmless, not the nasty looking things you see in mexico. Hawaii does not have any snakes if that helps. Geckos also sell car insurance as a sideline.

There are hoards of Geckos in Waikiki and Honolulu. I see them everytime we are there. As a matter of fact my wife and I seewho can spot the most lizards when we are out for a walk. One walk through Waikik I spotted half a dozen.I took several pics. of them when we were there a few weeks ago. They are harmless and will only eat small insects. You can usually see them on the trunks of palm trees. I took a pic. of one on a palm in front of Perry%26#39;s Smorgy. There are some very nice lime green coloured ones. I wish I knew how to post pics. so I could show you. Aloha, Banana Joe

The Geckos will be more frightened of you than you are of them. I can%26#39;t remember ever seeing any in Waikiki and I have been three times previously. They certainly aren%26#39;t as prevelant and they are in Florida. Or at least not in tourist areas.

I%26#39;m still cracking up over the last line in Longboard%26#39;s post!

Lizards are fun -- nothing to be afraid of! The best way to get over your fear is to conquer it. You should try to get close to one while you are there and you will see that there is nothing to fear. They are really cool creatures.

BananaJo -- Did you try using snapfish to post your pics?

Found a great price on America West -- experiences??

Just found an amazing RT price from Boston to Kona on America West for next summer ($579)...anyone have experiences with this airline?? We usually fly American.

Found a great price on America West -- experiences??

We%26#39;ve flown America West several times in the past, but only from O%26#39;Hare (Chicago) to Las Vegas. They were always on time, and the planes were fairly new. I think they left O%26#39;Hare and went to Midway instead, so that%26#39;s why we stopped. We%26#39;ve always flown AA to Hawaii too, and that%26#39;s where our frequent flyer account is now, so we%26#39;ll probably continue!

Found a great price on America West -- experiences??

Thanks for your experience! We went ahead and booked it (even though our FF acct. is on American, too) because it was just so cheap!

chap balm

Romantic Dining with a VIEW

Aloha, cousins

Need to get some first hand experience ideas for a NORTH SHORE, Romantic diining restuaraunt with a VIEW......good food, service, great amibiance.

Need to pass the info on to Erica%26#39;s sis and bro in law as they will be over for a special visit. We have the south shore covered for them, as well as the fun places in Hanalei area, but need help with that VIEW and ROMANCE request.

Watcha think, and what were your thoughts of the Princeville, and HBR. Or any other sugestions.

Mahalo nui loa

Denny

Romantic Dining with a VIEW

Hi Denny --

I guess I%26#39;d vote for HBR -- mostly because the setting and views are about as romantic as you can get at sunset. I guess their food and service can be a bit up and down, like a lot of places on the island. I%26#39;ve had dinner there three times, two were good, one was a little mediocre. But I can%26#39;t think of a better northshore place for a ';romantic dinner with VIEW';. I just don%26#39;t think that Princeville Resort cuts it anymore for the bucks they want.

Romantic Dining with a VIEW

Here are my recommendations for Princeville:

La Cascata -- has really good food, good service, and nice views

princevillehotelhawaii.com/pdf/鈥?007-06.pdf

Cafe Hanalei -- super wonderful views but the food is not as good as the view

www.princevillehotelhawaii.com/de_cafe.htm

The Living Room -- It%26#39;s pretty expensive but the view is good.

www.princevillehotelhawaii.com/de_living.htm

I can%26#39;t recommend the HBR even though the views are good.

We think the Bali Hai Restaurant at Hanalei Bay Resort has one of the best views on the island and we%26#39;ve always had great food and service when we%26#39;ve eaten there. Actually Bali Hai and Hukilau Lanai in Kapa%26#39;a are our two favorites.

When we were there this last June I noticed that a couple was having an oceanside dinner at the resort. I looked at Princeville Resort%26#39;s website and they do offer this. Check out this website:

www.princevillehotelhawaii.com/de_dinners.htm

Hukilau Lanai doesn%26#39;t have much of a view, but the ambience and food are both very good.

I think for north shore dining and views, either restaurant at the Princeville or Bali Hai at HBR would work just fine. We%26#39;ve had many great meals and sunsets at Cafe Hanalei, sitting out on the patio.

Jeez, it doesn%26#39;t get any better than watching the sun set behind Bali Hai after a couple (or a few) cocktails. Tradewinds blowing warm, sound of the surf below your table, and lights twinkling across Hanalei Bay. Hoo-boy, what a place......

Sorry to go a little OT here, but does anyone know if A Pacific Cafe ever reopened? Used to be one of my favorite restaurants on Kauai and I really miss it.

Mahalo everyone for your North Shore Dining suggestions, appreciate it very much.

Pacific Cafe has NOT re-opened. Big construction project is going on across the road ( makai) side. Rumors only on what will be happening with Pacific Cafe.

Denny

Shoes- and not offending Pele

Will regular sneakers be ok to walk/hike around in VNP, or do I specifically need hiking boots? I am taking a pair of closed toe H2O Keens, would this suffice?

Should I try to scrape out any traces of lava from the soles of the shoes I do wear, to leave as much behind as possible for Pele? I do NOT want to anger her!

Shoes- and not offending Pele

I%26#39;d wear boots if you have them but sneakers are ok too. The footing is uneven and boots give you more ankle support and traction. I am not sure about the Keens -- are those sandals? I%26#39;d avoid anything with open front, back OR sides. Your feet will could get scraped up. It couldn%26#39;t hurt to brush off your shoes when you leave if you are particularly concerned about angering Pele.

When I visited the Big Island, I went to VNP early one morning. In one of the steam vent, I saw a $20 bill! People leave food and drink offerings for Pele, and I guess money too. The bill was lying on a ledge not even a foot beyond the rail. There was no one around and I could have easily grabbed it, but I stopped and thought about it. Someone left that money for Pele. I%26#39;m not sure I believe in Pele, but I do believe in respect and I knew it wasn%26#39;t right to come to Hawaii and take something that someone meant for Pele. So I left the money. Later when I told my Hawaiian friends later they insisted that it was a test and I%26#39;d been chosen by Pele! Shortly after that an opportunity opened up for me to move to Hawaii, lucky me -- or it luck? I%26#39;ve been living here ever since. True story!

Shoes- and not offending Pele

If you would like to give offerings to Madame Pele please make sure it is Gin. Seriously.

rivera so you must have heard stories going the other way. Keens is what we wore everywhere, thankfully they are machine washable. Not to scare you but to caution you sharp rocks, needles/thorns, cockroaches, mice, etc.

Unless you%26#39;re hiking to the ocean entry or any hike longer than Kilauea Iki, regular tennis shoes should suffice. The ocean entry hike is strenuous enough to warrent boots and I don%26#39;t like hiking for more than about 3-4 miles in tennis shoes. Boots will provide more support and more protection.

I wouldn%26#39;t worry about picking out little pieces of rocks from the soles of your shoes. Just don%26#39;t purposefully take rock samples.

Gin !!!!! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha (can%26#39;t stop laughing)

Thanks for the replies.

I live in the South, so I am quite used to cockroaches, waterbugs, etc!

I%26#39;m not sure exactly how far we%26#39;ll be hiking. . . I am trying to minimize luggage, you know how it is. . .

some soils in Hawaii esp Kauai can stain your shoes as well. Whatever is most comfortable for you for walking on uneven terrain. On beaches had to put up with gritty sand in keens but not bad

Yeah....the gin offering was funny.

I%26#39;m a vodka girl, myself...............

It may be funny....

But it is no joke.

Gin is by far the most common ';sacrifice'; left for Pele (tied up with a leaf of ginger).

While I have never left any myself (waste a good bottle of booze?), I have accompanied numerous kamaaina on their spiritual journey to either Halemaumau or the currently active vent to make their supplications.

Either raw or imu pork is the next favorite.

But the NPS frowns on it due to hygene and varmint concerns.

Why is Gin the favorite offering?

Dallas - what to do..

Hi there,

I am visiting family in Dallas with my fiance for a week in early to mid October 06 and was wondering what sort of things are available to do.. Some kind of interesting activity would be good, or any things to go see etc.. We are both in mid thirties and enjoy walking, cycling, snowboarding, culture, etc..

All suggestions welcomed.

Many thanks!

Dallas - what to do..

well, you can dream about a beach on Kauai from Dallas, but that%26#39;s all we can do for you.

Dallas - what to do..

Go to ';Dallas forums'; Kauai is located in the Hawaiian chain of island in the Pacific Ocean.

It would be a rare occurrence to have any appreciable snow (anytime) to snowboard in Dallas. You could get a weekend snowboard and ski flight and hotel package from Dallas to the ski areas in New Mexico and Colorado...but October is really too early. One exception might be that indoor runs have been created for such activities as ice-skating, snowboarding and moguls, etc., I wouldn%26#39;t know.

Visit Six Flags over Texas in Arlington if you like theme parks, visit the Fort Worth stock yards for a true western exerience. The Galleria mall is nice in Dallas. There won%26#39;t be snow for hundreds of miles and maybe many more weeks. But the mall has an ice skating rink. Dallas is HUGE and has lots to do as you will see if you research.

Hello Opal Fruity,

We%26#39;re a friendly bunch in Texas and welcome all visitors! Unfortunately, you somehow got on the wrong forum. No problem there - just go to the Dallas forum and ask your questions. I%26#39;m sure that some helpful Texans will be happy to answer your questions. I hope if I am ever so lucky as to get to go to Ireland, the favor will be returned.

Happy travels, Galveston Gal!

You picked a great time to visit Dallas. The weather should be cool and perfect for outdoor activities. White Rock Lake in East Dallas is very popular for jogging, cycling, etc and might be a place you%26#39;ll want to investigate.

As for other activities, I suggest you pick up the October edition of Texas Monthly when you arrive and check it for festivals, concerts, etc. (It has listings for all of the major Texas cities and is usually a pretty reliable source for things worth doing in Dallas.)

You might also pick up a copy of the Dallas Observer when you arrive. It%26#39;s the free weekly newspaper and also usually a pretty good source for things to do and great restaurant guidance.

Dallas has a fairly nice museum, which includes the very fine Nasher Sculpture Garden. Fort Worth is a large city approximately 30 miles west of Dallas, and it actually has probably more to offer in the way of museums, with the Amon G. Carter museum (very nice permanent collections of respected artists) and the new Modern Museum. The Dallas Observer can give you a better idea of the exhibits of interest. (The Texas State Fair will be under way when you visit. So you might want to allow for traffic in certain areas, especially if you happen to be in Dallas the weekend of the University of Texas/Oklahoma football game.)

Many tourists in Dallas check out Dealey Plaza and other sites related to the Kennedy assassination in 1963. The stockyards in Fort Worth are also a popular tourist attraction but a little on the cheesy side for my tastes.

As for shopping, the Galleria is certainly a nice mall but is generally on the generic side. I suggest you check out NorthPark Center, which is as much an ';experience'; as it is a shopping mall. The stores include the high end department stores (Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom), the more reasonably priced (Macys, Dillards), and many unique boutique stores. The mall also has pieces from Ray Nasher%26#39;s nationally respected art collection and plenty of places to eat, ranging from the fairly expensive (Maggiano%26#39;s, P. F. Chang%26#39;s) to cheaper options (La Madaleine, Corner Bakery). I highly recommend the tortilla soup and cheesecake at Neiman%26#39;s. You%26#39;ll also love the people watching, as many people who shop at NorthPark dress for the occasion.

The McKinney Avenue/Uptown area is also a very nice shopping/dining area and has a very nice theater specializing in independent films.

Hope that helps and have a great time!

Okay a co-worker has taken me to task, taking issue with my assessment of the Galleria as being on the ';generic side.'; He%26#39;s convinced me to amend my previous post.

What I should have said is that the Galleria lacks the ';Dallas feel'; that NorthPark has, which is only natural since it is significantly older than the Galleria and somewhat of an institution. In fairness, the Galleria is a beautiful mall and has recently been updated. It does have several stores that do not have locations at NorthPark (Saks, Louis Vitton, Gucci are a few that come to mind). Plus, as someone previously noted, the Galleria has an ice skating rink, whereas NorthPark does not. And most importantly, the Galleria has a fantastic restaurant, the Grand Luxe. I believe it is owned by the same company as the Cheesecake Factory. In any event, the entrees are huge and the desserts are unbelievably generous and tasty. There are also several nice stores across the street from the Galleria worth checking out. So, you really should probably try to visit both malls.

I%26#39;m also told I unfairly minimized the quality of the Dallas museums, which is probably a fair criticism. It has been years since I visited the main museum, which I understand has been tremendously improved during the interim, particularly by the Nasher Sculpture Garden. (Admittedly, I spend far too much time in shopping malls and too little time in cultural pursuits.)

I also should have added you should definitely fit in several meals at local Mexican restaurants. I%26#39;m partial to Chuy%26#39;s on McKinney and Cantina Laredo (get the tableside guacamole), but there are many Mexican restaurants worthy of visiting.

What's happening with the International Marketplace?

Hi Everyone - have you heard anything about the renovations that were to occur in the International Marketplace? Are they still going ahead? Any idea of what and more particularly, when? Whether you love it or hate it, it is an iconic part of Waikiki and many an evening by many a person has been spent fossicking around. I, for one, will be sorry to see it go. Please let me know what the word on the street is. Thanks, guys!

What's happening with the International Marketplace?

Aloha,

International Market Place is going nowhere. Funding for the big project never materlized so they scrapped all plans. They were to renovate to a lesser degree, but I have not heard anything further.

I can%26#39;t wait to stroll thru the market place this October.

What's happening with the International Marketplace?

I hope nothing happens until after I am there again in November. It%26#39;s so nice to walk through there in the evening and do a little shopping and just listening to the music and seeing the people. I can%26#39;t wait to get back there. Three months from Saturday and I will be there!!!!!

The International Marketplace remains, for the most part, in generaly full operations.

It is not going to be totally redeveloped in the near to mid-term as was being forwarded over the last decade-plus. The owners (Queen Emma Foundation) decided to just rehab and update the existing facility; focusing on rest rooms, public areas and some of the older structures in the complex. Termites, tropical weather and time have taken their toll on the mostly wooden improvements .

The refurbishment will take place in phases over a several year period, resulting in the closure of only a handful of outlets at any given time.

Currently (as of last week when I was staying next door), they are working on a building or two at the rear of the holding, near the food court. A couple of shops were temporarily closed while others in the effected structures were staying open as the work progressed.

The stage, with its daily live music, and food court were still open, and frankly, the closure of a handful of the scores of shops did not seem to effect the size of the patrons%26#39; crowd or the overall experience.

However, it remains the choicest underdeveloped site in the Waikiki urban resort district, and there will undoubtedly be continuing pressures over the long-term to utilize it for a more modern, efficient mixed-use facility.

The one thing the IMP has going for it is that it generates such a large positive cash flow for the Foundation (which needs the money to run Queen%26#39;s Hospital) in its current state, there is limited incentive to take on the cost and/or risk of total redevelopment.

P.S.....

Unlike what Yeg111 stated, it was never a question of obtaining adequate funding.

They had interested joint venture partners and capital investment offers up the wazzoo, and were negotiating with the owners of the adjoining Waikiki Miramar Hotel (one of the world%26#39;s richest families) to undertake a larger, combined redevelopment.

It just came down to a basic risk/reward analysis; and, the existing cash flow is so high and ownership risk so low the Foundation decided not to move ahead with it at this time.

Further, with the expansion/upgrading of the Royal Hawaiian Center, and the development of the large upscale retail-oriented Beach Walk and Waikiki Theater #3 site complexes, there was concern over whether there was sufficient upper-end demand to support a modern, new, repositioned IMP project at this time.

As the value of the land and economics of Waikiki evolve, conditions may change in a decade or so (or when the next real estate upcycle occurs) and redevelopment will again be on the table.

Thanks, everyone - especially Amberloo who always gives such comprehensive responses. It%26#39;s good to know that some things remain the same(ish!). I%26#39;ve been going to Hawaii since 79 - that%26#39;s a lot of trips and a lot Aussie dollars given the exchange rate. I once went when it was 63c to the US$ - still lhad to go! I am totally hooked! It%26#39;s good that the smells and sights that I carry in my mind are true reflections of what I know and love for when I get there - for 4 whole glorious weeks coming up in Dec. I%26#39;m finding it difficult to concentrate on anything else!

when I was there in just they had vacated one of the front A frame buildings, I was hoping they would knock it down and put in a nice restaurant, anyone notice if they have done anything, it is the one next to macys.

Longboard - I find this very sad although I do believe in progress and variety with the store types but even then, it%26#39;s good to see some of the same ol%26#39; stores when you go. But buildings? At least to me, it is sad to see less timber and greenery being used in quantity only to be replaced by load of concrete and plastic and strategically placed plant speciments. The exception here is, of course, the lovely and distinctive Bank of Hawaii - pineapple style building on Kalakaua. Remember the old Woolworth at the bottom of that building? It was quite pokey and tired but full of character! I say bring on the timber, pacific look!

After 20 some odd visits since 1980, I, for one, was dreading the depression of Waikiki without the International Market Place.

I didn%26#39;t get back last year due to business complications, and it was slated to be closed before I made it back again.

Now that I%26#39;m ready for a Thanksgiving return this year, I%26#39;m overjoyed to learn an old favorite is alive and well.

I am all for moving forward, but with all the progress, too much of the old flavor and character throughout the islands has been lost. I can see why first timers for the last several years are much less apt to fall in love the way I (and so many others) once did.

';Resorts'; come and go in popularity. The current thing will always be hot and current. The more memories of Hawaii that are lost, the more it looks like everywhere else, and the less lure there is to return time and time again over the years.

I was so happy to hear the news back when the plans were shelved for an overhaul of the marketplace. I actually enjoy the kitschy Hawaii touristy shops.

Not everybody wants more Prada and Gucci! I can go to any large city anywhere and find the exact same upscale stores... it gets so boring after awhile.

I goggled the International Market Place and was happy to see that the Queen Emma Foundation had scrapped plans to tear down the IMP. A few renovations are certainly required but we don%26#39;t want some new fancy-schmantzy ';development';. I will be seeing for myself in just 8 days - can%26#39;t wait!

My concern now is the proposed development on Beach Walk. Anyone know anything about that? We always stay at the Hawaiiana and we would hate to see those beautiful gardens laid waste!

Hi again!

Hi Big Island forum folk! We%26#39;re back again!

We%26#39;re trying to decide between Big Island and Kauai for our 10th anniversary. We came to the BI last year and loved it!! We were not so crazy about the Sheraton in Keahou but loved everything else. We need reccomendations on where to stay. We were looking at the Mariott but that%26#39;s out of the question because of the construction. We%26#39;re coming end of January and prices are high! Otherwise, we might have considered the Hapuna Prince :(

Help us decide!

DJHS

Hi again!

as an adult hotel.... I would go either the Mauna Kea or the totaly romantic Kona Village Resort....... looks expensive but incl;uses all meals and a lot of activities in the price, best Luau, nice beach, total seclusion and a polynesian feel...... no phones or TV.. just you 2........ a very class act

Jan on the Big Islan is the dry season, in Kauai it aint