Hawaiian Vacation???

Ask for Maui Wowie.

 

In Maui, take a tour to Hana, it's really beautiful also drive up to the top of Haleakala volcano.

 

in oahu, with a rental car, go to the Polynesian Culture Center for the best Luau.

 

Hell yes rent a car. Make sure it's a convertible. You can drive the entire island of Oahu in a day. Beautiful, scenic drive with frequent stops at roadside shrimp stands next to shrimp farms along the way. Drive to North Shore. It is beautiful, just beautiful.

 

Cleverly disguised

HA HA! you guys are losers thread :grin:

 

regarding your Big Island idea- you would need to rent a car to see the volcanoes, you could also keep going South to visit the black sand beaches, and the furthest Southern Point of the US has green sand beaches.

There's a great lodge in Volcanoes National Park along the crater of Kilauea. You can stay over night at "The Volcano House" in a cabin-style layout. Makes you feel like Walt Whitman or Mark Twain. Theres a fire that legend says has been burning and tended to for a hundred years. a really good restaurant in the lodge looking down into the volcano.

dont forget to ask about the Lava Tubes and the Steam Vents.

the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory is on the Hilo side of the Big Island.

also a really cool swimming hole called Boiling Pots.

I've never even seen the Kona side of the Big Island, but apparently that's where all the good Coffee is.

 

The biggest mistake folks make is to try to see too many islands on one trip.

We went and stuck to 2 islands because we wanted to relax a bit too - mixed in with a lot of activities. We had no problem filling 6 days in Maui between the snorkeling, the crater, Hana, waterfalls, and some pool time.

 

Pretty much what me and the wife did as well.

 

I've never heard of green sand before. Looks like the only place in Hawaii that has it is Papakolea Beach.

Here's a very cool Google map image of it.

http://goo.gl/q5EZ

 

use Go Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines for Island Hopping. you can get a roundtrip deal under $200 any day of the week, but booking in advance guarantees you the absolute best rates...

http://iflygo.com/
http://www.hawaiianairlines.com

as others said, the drive along Oahu might be a perfect day trip. you see Turtle Bay Resort (Where Sarah Marshall was filmed), North Shore and Waimea Falls Park (LOST), all the famous beaches such as "Pipeline", "Sunset Beach" and "Waimea Bay"

as you round the whole island, you end up at the PCC which I previously mentioned, and then you would come around to Diamond Head and back to Waikiki Beach.

heres the link for PCC
http://www.polynesia.com

 

Monday & Tuesday
Arrive Kauai
Rent Car
Biking
Tubing
Canoe
Farmers Market
Waimea Canyon
Na Pali Coast

I've only had experience with Kauai.

Waimea canyon is very pretty, but you do kill a good amount of time driving up there, hiking and coming back.

There is a great hiking train on the north side of the island in Haena State park. You hike up Bali Hai...the longer trail takes you to a great little area with a cool waterfall.... most people usually don't go all the way up to the waterfall.

Farmers Market...get there early.

Personally, i like the North side as it's not as touristy.

 

Wow, Ive never been out of Texas. I could just imagine Hawaii

 

Definitely rent a car...so much to see and do...I agree with other folks, try to squeeze in some relaxation...I didn't and did all the touristy stuff and needed a vacation from vacation...I know you're trying to see all of it in as you may nor may not be back there again, but try to elminate an island or two...Also, the island hoping is a great idea, but if its last minute, it'll be a little expensive since it wasnt purchased in advanced, but still doable...

I spent my entire week there in oahu...I would say waikiki for the touristy thing later in the day, lots of shopping, people watching etc...I would totally recommend Lanikai Beach for your oahu beach...so beautiful...go to Pearl Harbor early, as the line gets really long and you'll lose most of the day if you don't...Diamond Head is cool...bring water/gatorade as it'll be hot...

You won some $$ in the lotto...sweet...what numbers did you win with?

 

I third this. Understandably, the OP is trying to see as much of Hawaii as he can on this one trip, but generally, you will have a better time if you don't try to pack quite so many islands in, imo.

 

You seem like you like to have a very active vacation, but my favorite part of Oahu was the North Shore...if you are a relax on the beach type of person (you'll need to rent a car to drive around the island).

Keep in mind you can't actually get in the water there, other than the very shore, without a surfboard. I was perfectly complacent to just sit there in the nice sand and watch the gigantic waves and the surfers. Great place to walk up and down the beach too ... some nice houses and scenery.

And if you're lucky you'll get end up on the beach within eyeshot of a nice foreign woman that is accustomed to being nude on the beach

 

I will agree that they are spread pretty thin. They will be so busy trying to see everything they won't have time to just sit back and relax. Sometimes less is more.

 

My wife and I hiked there (about 45 minutes from the end of the Ka Lae road. It's very remote and feels very isolated...but really cool. It's made from olavine, which is what gives it the deep green color. To get to the beach, you'll have to hike down some large rocks and I strongly suggest not swimming at this beach as the currents are very nasty.

My vote goes for most time on Kauai and Maui...although the Big Island is also very nice...but take quite a bit of time to explore. Kauai is like small-town East Texas Hawaiian-style. Duane's Ono-Char Burger on Kauai's northeast side is excellent. Hamura's (noodle hut) is also a legendary local eatery.

 

dont forget about the Puka Dog!

 

Agreed.