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Paramount
Sweet!
Member since 7/12 4289 total posts
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Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start??? UPDATED QUESTION IN FIRST POST
I have zero ide what island, where to stay, what to do.
But if my husband and I wanted to go for a week, lets say in july....any suggestions??
We like a combo of sightseeing, physical activity and laying around. I know there is one island thats super quiet where you dont do much. That may not be the best choice.
Any suggestions on where to even start?
UPDATED QUESTION:
Is there a time of year that is better? Is it hot as balls in July/Aug? Should we wait untill October? Just want thoughts.
Message edited 6/26/2013 1:12:47 PM.
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Posted 6/25/13 12:10 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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SummerMom
Now a mom of 2!
Member since 6/07 4970 total posts
Name:
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Re: Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start???
The four islands for tourists to hit are:
Oahu - This is the one with Honolulu
Maui - The most touristy, tons of hotels, restaurants, shops, shows, activities
Kauai - The "quiet" one you're thinking of. Only the nightlife is quiet; it's the most lush and (in my opinion) beautiful of the islands so there is a ton of outdoorsy activities to do
Hawaii / "The Big Island" - this is the most quiet one, in my opinion. Not a whole lot to do BUT it's worth going to for 2 or 3 days because of the active volcano that's constantly erupting in the middle of their national park. That's basically it though - very little in the way of restaurants or shopping, and no nightlife.
Maui is a lot of people's favorite, and it sounds like that might be most up your alley. You could easily stay there for a week and fill all your days with snorkeling, surf lessons, a luau at night, cocktails at an outdoor bar other nights, hiking, zip lining, etc. My favorite was Kauai - we went there on two separate occasions. It's a lot less crowded than Maui. There are two main areas for visitors to Kauai - Princeville in the north (very expensive, rains every day for an hour or two so it's incredibly green and lush and you see constant rainbows, etc.), and the middle/south, where it's hotter and drier. They're only an hour apart though.
Sorry if this is all over the place - I love Hawaii and there is tons to talk about!
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| Posted 6/25/13 12:24 PM |
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Michi
My Love
Member since 5/05 31600 total posts
Name:
M
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Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start???
By a week for you mean 5 days? Personally the flight is LONG, Id say you need to be there at least 7-8 days minimum. If you can afford it of course. For the perfect mix of relaxing and fun things to do I def. suggest Maui.
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| Posted 6/25/13 12:24 PM |
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Paramount
Sweet!
Member since 7/12 4289 total posts
Name:
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Re: Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start???
Posted by Michi
By a week for you mean 5 days? Personally the flight is LONG, Id say you need to be there at least 7-8 days minimum. If you can afford it of course. For the perfect mix of relaxing and fun things to do I def. suggest Maui.
If we did it I think we would fly on Friday night, then take off the next monday so Saturday to Saturday would be full days. Travel Fri/sun.
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| Posted 6/25/13 12:27 PM |
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EricaAlt
LIF Adult
Member since 7/08 22665 total posts
Name:
Erica
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Re: Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start???
Favorite island hands down is Kauai. Sooo beautiful. We did a snorkeling excursionl, which was a lot of fun. We drove around the island one day too and went up a volcano to see the rainforest.
We also stayed in Maui, which was great too, but if we were to go back I would just do Kauai. In Maui we did the biking down the volcano and saw a luau.
I loved all the restaurants we did and even the ones at the hotel were great. Stayed at the Grand Hyatt for both.
One day we will go back. 
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| Posted 6/25/13 12:39 PM |
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ElizaRags35
My 2 Girls
Member since 2/09 20494 total posts
Name:
Me
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Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start???
Oahu has Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, great beaches
Maui has great beaches, Mt. Haleakala, Hana, Lahaina
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| Posted 6/25/13 12:54 PM |
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MrsM-6-7-08
<3
Member since 8/06 4249 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start???
Posted by Paramount
Posted by Michi
By a week for you mean 5 days? Personally the flight is LONG, Id say you need to be there at least 7-8 days minimum. If you can afford it of course. For the perfect mix of relaxing and fun things to do I def. suggest Maui.
If we did it I think we would fly on Friday night, then take off the next monday so Saturday to Saturday would be full days. Travel Fri/sun.
The direct flight to Honolulu only leaves once per day and its at 10am.
There are really no night flights not even multiple connections.
And then coming back there is a 3:20pm flight back to JFK which would put u in NY at 7am on monday.
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| Posted 6/25/13 12:57 PM |
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MrsFrizzle
<3
Member since 9/09 4628 total posts
Name:
Kristin
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Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start???
We did 8 days when we went. The first time I did ten. 8 was perfect, we chose to stay on one island (Oahu) stayed local in Waikiki the first few days and utilized the bus system, moped rentals etc to get around and see sites. The second half of the trip we rented a car and did the north shore. I know a lot of people don't care for Oahu but I just love it there. It has a very NY feel in downtown Waikiki and the north shore is just awesome with all the beaches. Next time we go though I think we're going to try out Maui
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| Posted 6/25/13 1:02 PM |
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Mill188
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 3073 total posts
Name:
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Re: Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start???
Posted by MrsM-6-7-08
Posted by Paramount
Posted by Michi
By a week for you mean 5 days? Personally the flight is LONG, Id say you need to be there at least 7-8 days minimum. If you can afford it of course. For the perfect mix of relaxing and fun things to do I def. suggest Maui.
If we did it I think we would fly on Friday night, then take off the next monday so Saturday to Saturday would be full days. Travel Fri/sun.
The direct flight to Honolulu only leaves once per day and its at 10am.
There are really no night flights not even multiple connections.
And then coming back there is a 3:20pm flight back to JFK which would put u in NY at 7am on monday.
I just did that flight back from HNL. It was actually a great flight - love the non-stop. The problem I had was that I had to go into work straight from the airport! 
For a combination of laying around and sightseeing, etc., my picks would be either Oahu or Maui. DH and I try to "rotate" our islands. This year we did the Big Island and Maui; last year we did just Maui; the year before we did Kauai and Maui... All the islands are very different.
Kauai and the Big Island are quiet - lots to do during the day but not much nightlife. They are both stunningly beautiful and what most people think of when they think of Hawaii.
For ease of transportation, price, etc., I think for a weeklong stay, I'd choose Oahu. You can get direct flights (either on Hawaiian from JFK or United/Continental from Newark), and there's lots to see and do...or you can do nothing and just lay on the beach.
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| Posted 6/25/13 1:35 PM |
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JDubs
different, not less
Member since 7/09 13160 total posts
Name:
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Re: Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start???
Posted by ElizaRags35
Oahu has Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, great beaches
Maui has great beaches, Mt. Haleakala, Hana, Lahaina
We did these islands for our HM, we did 4 days Oahu and 6 days Maui. Although I think 2 days in Oahu would have been fine.
Enjoy, I loved Hawaii, I wish I could go back!!
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| Posted 6/25/13 1:41 PM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17795 total posts
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Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start???
I would probably do a combo of Oahu and Maui - with more time in Maui.
I think Maui offers a little bit of everything and isn't as commercialized as Waikiki Beach (I kind of felt that the main drag was like 5th Ave on the water)...
We went to Kauai too, which was nice but, I would have preferred spending more time in Maui.
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| Posted 6/25/13 2:40 PM |
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hope123
LIF Adult
Member since 2/08 1097 total posts
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Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start???
We went to maui and big island. Other than the beaches and the all the yummy food, here are some things we did.
My favorite was maui. We were in maui for 5 days and some of my favorite things were - atlantis submarine, feast at le le luau in lahaina, sun rise at Haleakala Crater, sunsets at beaches, road to hana, Ohe'o Gulch on the road to hana village, walks on the front street in lahaina, and the banyan tree park in lahaina.
We were on Big island for 4 days and thought that was enough for us. Some things we did on BI were - volcanoes national park, akaka falls national park, Hanaunau bay, and sunsets at Anaehoomalu beach.
I didn't list everything we did but we loved everything single thing and can't wait to back. A good place to get information on things to do is trip adviser.
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| Posted 6/25/13 3:04 PM |
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SLPlady1984
She's here!
Member since 6/12 1207 total posts
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Re: Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start???
I have been to Hawaii and all the islands. For what you are saying I would go for Oahu for sure! Tons of sightseeing attractions, nature areas and then Waikiki to just sit on the beach. I don't enjoy Maui so understand my info about it. Too touristy and everything you can do on Maui you can do elsewhere (except Hana and the best meal I've ever eaten at mommas fish house). The big island (aka hawaii) has two areas of interest and that is where we always do more of our hiking and nature trails. Volcano national park is amazing even though they do t let you get as close to the crater as they once did. Then the other side is Kona where the famous e Hawaiian coffee is from. Kauai and Lanai are the 2 relax and do nothing islands lanai is VERY EXPENSIVE. When I went there was only 2 hotels on the whole island not sure if that has changed. Kauai is also very layed back but much more reasonable. Molokai has a history but you can do a day trip there. But check if they fixed the bridge to the colony that's there otherwise no point. Ummm I think that's it. If you want fm me with questions I just helped a co worker book her trip and I have a bunch of money saving tips.
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| Posted 6/25/13 4:49 PM |
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Paramount
Sweet!
Member since 7/12 4289 total posts
Name:
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Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start???
This is all GREAT information. We are going to look into it and go I think.
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| Posted 6/26/13 1:11 PM |
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Mill188
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 3073 total posts
Name:
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Re: Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start??? UPDATED QUESTION IN FIRST POST
It's never hot as balls in Hawaii - the trade winds keep it pretty consistent year round.
We've gone in April, May, September, October, November and December. As far as crowds go, "off peak" in Hawaii is the fall (Sept/Oct/Nov) and early spring April/May. It's usually mobbed over school breaks and holidays.
IMO, Hawaii is one of those places that can be as expensive as you want it to be or it can be done a lot more modestly.
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| Posted 6/26/13 1:23 PM |
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JDubs
different, not less
Member since 7/09 13160 total posts
Name:
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Re: Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start??? UPDATED QUESTION IN FIRST POST
I don't think you can go wrong at any time of year. We went in June and the weather was very nice. I know of people who went on a HM there in October and they said it was perfect as well. I guess a big factor is price! Good luck!
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| Posted 6/26/13 1:25 PM |
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LILady7
LIF Infant
Member since 2/13 337 total posts
Name:
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Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start??? UPDATED QUESTION IN FIRST POST
I say Maui hands down but I've only been to Maui and Kauai.
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| Posted 6/26/13 2:02 PM |
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marianne13
LIF Adolescent
Member since 6/10 887 total posts
Name:
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Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start??? UPDATED QUESTION IN FIRST POST
I think Sept/October is their slow season and you will probably get a better deal on flights and hotels. July is next month and it seems a bit rushed to plan such a big trip especially since you don't know what islands you want to visit.
For a week, I would just do 1 island. Only you can decide which island you want to stay at.
I would check out tripadvisor or buy a frommers or fodors Hawaii book.
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| Posted 6/28/13 7:54 PM |
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SLPlady1984
She's here!
Member since 6/12 1207 total posts
Name:
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Re: Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start??? UPDATED QUESTION IN FIRST POST
I've always gone in July August and the weather is amazing! But as a pp said October would be slightly better priced...but be careful a part of me thinks the end of oct is rainy season...not sure though
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| Posted 6/29/13 1:57 PM |
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snowprincess
My happy babies
Member since 3/06 3428 total posts
Name:
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Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start??? UPDATED QUESTION IN FIRST POST
we were there in early march and that was part of rainy season - my parents like to go in april or may
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| Posted 7/1/13 10:44 AM |
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gdubs
This baby is awesome!
Member since 11/10 2467 total posts
Name:
Gina
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Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start??? UPDATED QUESTION IN FIRST POST
We went in early October and the weather was beautiful. We did Maui and Kauai. Maui was ok, very touristy but we LOVED Kauai. We stayed at the Hyatt and had an amazing time. The island is beautiful and we found there was lots to do. Paddle board, surfing, kayaking, hiking... We did 9 days and it was a little rushed for two islands.
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| Posted 7/5/13 10:04 PM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19461 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Vacation in Hawaii- Where to start??? UPDATED QUESTION IN FIRST POST
Look for the Revealed series (it would have the specific island name in front of it.) They are a great set of guidebooks. We went to Kauai and Maui and loved both of them. I would try to go to Hana, Maui and drive the road to Hana. I personally loved Kauai. It is lush, tropical, and the entire island makes you relax. Have a wonderful time. If you can, do a day trip to the Dole Plant and have a Dole Whip. The pineapple is unreal. It is better than candy.
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| Posted 7/7/13 11:03 PM |
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