So who's been, and where should my wife and I stay? I'd like to stay in Maui if possible.

I need tips. Any help is much appreciated.

It's a little surprise excursion for my wife [she's graduating this year].

-D

Personally, I like Kauai the best, but anywhere in Hawaii is fantastic. I've been to Maui twice, and would highly recommend the Westin Maui. We stayed there in '97, and are going back there next month, actually. Great hotel.

I'd pick up this book---Maui Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook by Andrew Doughty and Harriett Friedman. Lots of great info here.

Here's a link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... 99-9977746

My buddy honeymooned in Maui in October. Had a great time. Be prepared to spend a ton of dough, though.

Steve

been three times, although I've never made it to Linai, Kauai or Molokai.

Oahu is generally a bit of a tourist trap. Sure, seeing Pearl Harbor and hitting Waikiki beach are a must, but after literally one day you should buy yourself a plane package to go Island hopping. It really depends on what you're into, of course, but here are my insights on Maui and the Big Island:

Maui is a beautiful Island. It's a bit couply around the northwest side, but there is some premium surfing on that island, some great restaurants, pretty good golf, and of course Mount Haleakala. I highly recommend taking one of the biking excursions up to Mount Haleakala. Thanks to SDI, they paved a road going all the way to the top of Haleakala that they subsequently never used, so a guy name Cruiser Bob invented an ingenious tourist service. Essentially, they take you in a van around 3am up to the top with the bikes in tow. You watch the sunrise (and freeze your ass off a little bit) and hop on a bike with souped up brakes. You pedal for 20 feet and literally coast all the way down the paved road for miles and miles as day breaks. You stop about midway through and have a lovely breakfast, and then you continue you journey. You end up in the old hippie town of Paea, which is somewhat charming.

Also, there's the Road to Hana on Maui which offers some pretty breathtaking driving and some ruins that are well worth seeing.

My favorite Island is the big Island. There's some premium snorkeling, and you can drive all the way around the Island in about 7 hours and see some really kickass indigenous vegetation that you literally can't find elsewhere. It is really a fantastic drive. Also, there's an active Volcano on the top of Hawaii (which was actually sputtering a bit while i was there), so you should at least go up there and take a look at that. (I also chased around a Nene for about 15 minutes and that was somewhat amusing) The resorts are absolutely fabulous. There's also the Southernmost point of the United States, which is really just a novelty, but what the hell. It's worth a photo. The big Island is a little more off the beaten path, so you can get more of a glimpse of what Island life is really like, as opposed to Maui and Oahu. Kona is somewhat resorty while Hilo is a little more laid back.

As for Kauai, I've heard it's absolutely beautiful and I recommend going there based on what I've heard. I believe it contains the wettest spot on earth.

I don't know much about Linai.

I do know that Molokai is very rural and somewhat mountainous, and there's not a whole lot to do there tourism-wise.

The other two Islands you cannot explore. Kahoolawe is an Island that was used for testing explosives during WWII and they believe there are still active mines and such over there. Niihau is reserved for Polynesians only. (I may have those two mixed up, but I think that's right)

I'll echo some of Spade's sentiments. I went in the mid-80's for a family vacation where we stayed on Oahu, Kaui, Maui, and the big Island.

Oahu is the most populated by far due to Honolulu but it also has a pretty vibrant night life. It is touristy but Waikiki beach, Diamond Head volcano, the North Shore, and Pearl Harbor are all worth seeing and experiencing.

Maui- I don't remember much about Maui because it was the last island we stayed on and we were pretty wiped out and content to just pamper ourselves at the resort we were at. Very pricey from what I remember but beautiful. I have heard about that bike ride Spade talked about and would love to do it.

Big Island- very primitive but beautiful. The highest point is on the island and you can drive to the top where there is an observatory. There is still an active volcano and it has recently erupted when we went cutting a quarter mile wide swath all the way to the ocean. I went to a traditional luau on this island where they cook the pig in the ground for 3 days. Lots of beautiful landscapes and points of interest to check out.

Kaui- this was the most chill place we went. It does have the wettest spot on earth. It's an area of tropical rain forest that due to it's location basically has a heavy mist hanging over it every day and has light showers all the time. Very tropical island. I definitely felt the most remote on this island.

You can't go wrong with any of em.

Maui is the most perfect place I have ever traveled to. It is literally heaven on earth.

appreciate the help guys.

i'm gonna try to book it for september, and try to cover quite a few spots.

thanks again.

-D

went to maui almost a year ago. stayed at the royal lahaina on the west coast. we had a cabin by the beach. the hotel room itself was avg, but who goes for the room? the beach access was great.

also, on the south east corner is a hana resort that looked great.

supposedly, the waves are calmer (better for swimming) on the west coast during september.

I was born there, and honestly, I really couldn't tell you much. I'm no help.

spent 10 days on the big island and it was really cool - more for the lover of outdoor adventure/hiking stuff. Also some really great snorkelling. not a lot of nightlife/partying which was fine with me.

Watch out for the polar bears that are terrorizing the cast of Lost.

I echo the heaven on earth sentiment of Maui, it was magnificent. I stayed at the Palms at Wailea. I was there on business actually, a conference in Maui, if you can believe it. I spent most of my time in Wailea and Kihei. I still dream about my next visit there. Those morning walks from the condo to the conference in the Maui sunshine are literally my most cherished memories.

Hawaii is my favourite place on earth to which I've ever been. It's so temperate (How temperate is it, Dusty?)...It's so temperate, that the lobbies to the hotels don't even have doors on them. They're wide open.

I only know of the four main islands, and you really should visit each one -- they each have their own personality.

Oahu is the night life island. If you want a night life, then this is the place to be. Lots of bars, etc. But that's not all -- there's also Hanauma Bay, which is the coolest place on earth -- lots of different fishies seem to coagulate there. And I mean different -- you'd be hard pressed to go into an aquarium and find the variety found in this magical spot. There's also Diamondhead -- a must of a climb, but take disposable clothing, because rust doesn't come out. Worth it for at least one sunrise.

Maui is the resort island. If you want to get "taken care of", this is the place to go. Plenty to do, as long as you sign up for it first. Key word here is "package". Works for people who are the kind of people who need to be on the receiving end of entertainment.

Kauai is -- hmm...bad choice of words, but here goes -- sort of a poor man's Maui. Not really poor as in inferior, but "poor man's" as in, if you want less attention, and just enjoy each other's company a lot, then this is the place to go. IMHO, the perfect honeymoon destination. There's less to do, so you have to be the kind of person that entertains yourself (which I am) or, in the case of a couple, each other. Travel Scrabble on the beach with Mai Tais -- mm-hmm. CD's, books, yes, this was heaven. And yes, it does have the wettest spot on earth -- it rains at the center for like 360/365 days/year -- but this center is pretty inaccessible, it's not like that over the whole island. Back in the city (or wherever you are), you get used to the short mid-afternoon summer shower. Lasts for 15-minutes to half-an-hour. Pop an umbrella open, sit still for a minute, and it's over. Carry on. There's also some nice orchards, if you're into that sort of thing (the wife might be).

The big island (Hawaii) is gorgeous -- there really is nothing so surreal as walking on the black sand beaches. Did not get enough time on this island, wish I could go back.

Does everyone on the East Coast remember those freak ice storms we had in February of ...94, was it? 93, perhaps? People were like, "it's a sign of the coming apocalypse!" I was there for 5 weeks in the middle of it.

I think MlleXIX & Neuroboy just went there at the end of December but you probably have enough info by now.

Not sure about an ice storm but there was the blizzard of 93'. I was in high school in North Georgia and it dumped 14 inches over a few states down here. Clinton declared it a disaster area. The South is just ill prepared to handle something like that because it is extremely rare. I think the entire city of Atlanta only had 2 snow plows or something.

It was very dangerous in my area because there was no power for a week and there were many elderly people out in bumblefuck who had no heat and no way for people to get to them or contact them. Telephone poles down everywhere. Most snow I've seen get dumped on us here in my lifetime.

yeah, I am kinda sorta from Maui
I know it backwards and forwards.
my mom works at a hotel
my dad is a real estate agent. I can tell you everything you ever wanted to know.

I have traveled from NY or Boston to Hawaii about 23 times

ps Wailea/Kihei blows. Stay in Lahaina.
and go to Hana.

Paia and Makawao are the best places on Maui but not for actually staying there.

another good fact:
the Four Seasons Kapalua has a "no asking if you're a guest" policy
so hit their awesome pool and get mai tais with the rich people

I live on Oahu and I can't stress to you enough to not even bother coming here. The population has outgrown the island and it will not provide you the Hawaii vacation feel.

That being said I can't recommend Kauai enough. The Na Pali coast is one of the most incredible things one can ever see. It's only accessible via helicopter, boat, or a really great 11 mile hike. I personally recommend the helicopter (if you don't want to do the hike though the hike is the best way to see it) as it allows you to get in to a few of the canyons that aren't visible via boat. However, if you come in September I can pretty much guarantee that you'd see a good amount of turtles and probably a pod of Spinner Dolphins if you went the boat route.

Also the Waimea Canyon (poorly dubbed Grand Canyon of the Pacific) is also a must see. Again hiking is the best way to get up into the waterfalls that all over the canyon side, but it is a fairly tough hike at times. Regardless the view is incredible as from several lookouts you can see the canyon, the coast, and on clear days Ni'ihau in the distance.

I also enjoy the Big Island, though it is a bit desolate. The lava tubes at night are an extremely powerful sight. The thought of actually witnessing in real time the creation/expansion of an island should instill a sense of wonder in anyone. The drive between Hilo and Kona is a pleasant trip as well.

this is right up my alley! thanks for the info. I actually read into Waimea Canyon, and it is on my list here.

-D

Wailea/Kihei blows? I guess it depends on what you're looking for in Maui. I didn't think it was bad at all. I kind of think the suckiest place in Hawaii pretty much kicks the ass of anywhere else though.

Hana was awesome too.

Yeah, like I recommended above, if you still have the option, I'd recommend Kauai over Maui, but both are spectacular. Why don't you just hit both---inter-island air fare is pretty reasonable. I've never been to the Big Island, but I'm visiting there next month