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Suggestions for Hawaii

I have been to both Oahu and Maui. Both Islands are beautiful but different. I want to go to Kauai really bad. I hope it will be next year for my 62nd Birthday.
 
It has been 34 years since I went to Hawaii, so I probably can't offer much. Pearl Harbor and the hike up Diamondhead were the highlights on Oahu, although I loved the Dole plantation. I did get to eat Sunday dinner at Al Harrington's house (Alema Harrington's dad). Alema was at BYU playing football so didn't meet him. Al is an actor/entertainer and for a couple of decades had a show on Waikiki, which we attended.

I spent two days on Kauai, and it rained almost the whole time. Our boat ride around the Na Pali Coast was canceled :(. We did get to go on the Fern Grotto tour, which was lovely. But we mostly drove around the island getting on each other's nerves for hours. Still, it's a beautiful place.

I'd love to go to Maui and Molokai someday. You'll likely have a wonderful trip, no matter where you end up. The beaches are lovely, especially the less well known ones.
 
The last time we went to Hawaii was on Oahu in February 2020, right before COVID hit. Aside from a year earlier going to the big island with my wife, I've only been to Oahu. I was actually just looking at flight tickets and they're super cheap (like 295 from SLC... maybe cheaper from LAX), so book now. In any case, I'd definitely look at VRBO. Even though Honolulu is a busy city, you can still stay in small places on the island outside of that that can kinda give you that feel. Next time we go I'm definitely burned out on Oahu. We almost went to Maui back in May but then I saw that all the return flights were after 9pm, and there was no way I was doing that with 5 kids, so we did Puerto Rico instead. I'd really like to see Maui or Kauai, so now you've got me looking and flights and VRBOs. Tempting with fares <$300.
 
I wasn't a huge fan of the big island, though. I went to a conference so it was (mostly) paid for by work. Had to pay my wife's way and everything. It was about 45-50 minutes north of Kona and it's a lava field and then all deserty. It looked like Magna but with an ocean. We did go over to the east side of the island in Hilo, which was more what you think of when you think Hawaii, and we did do some hiking on the north side which was cool, but not sure if I'd go back to the big island.
 
If you’ve never been to Hawaii, you may get a lot of bang for your buck doing Oahu. Just stay somewhere that’s not around Honolulu. Maybe the east side of the island.
 
infection said:
If you’ve never been to Hawaii, you may get a lot of bang for your buck doing Oahu. Just stay somewhere that’s not around Honolulu. Maybe the east side of the island.
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We have an exchange week (7 night) through RCI using our timeshare, but a freebie through a promotion. So essentially we get a 2 bedroom condo-style resort room with full kitchen for $195 exchange fee. But likely it will be among the big hotels/resorts right in the middle of everything. But I'm not going to complain about that for sure.
 
infection said:
I wasn't a huge fan of the big island, though. I went to a conference so it was (mostly) paid for by work. Had to pay my wife's way and everything. It was about 45-50 minutes north of Kona and it's a lava field and then all deserty. It looked like Magna but with an ocean. We did go over to the east side of the island in Hilo, which was more what you think of when you think Hawaii, and we did do some hiking on the north side which was cool, but not sure if I'd go back to the big island.
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the big Island is fantastic if you love getting out and travelling around to see the wonder of nature, but for a traditional relaxing type holiday yeah not so much
 
We went to Oahu in 2002 and haven’t been back. Would love to return. We loved the Polynesian Culture Center. That and Pearl Harbor are definitely on my list for the return trip. I’d also like to explore different islands though.


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I went to Oahu/Honolulu right out of college. Did touristy things--rented a Ferrari, took a helicopter tour, snorkled with some fish, hung around the touristy Waikiki Beach.

I have family and friends who have been to Maui. They say it's beautiful, but it can get a bit dull after a while.
 
fishonjazz said:
Not going there is my biggest regret
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I flew around it in a helicoptor. Checked into it and the resort pricing was reasonable. It is on our trip list for 2023, but we'll see. Our trips have been shuffled due to Covid.

Honestly, you can't go wrong with any Hawaiian island, but Honolulu is my least favorite. I've been to Hawaii 13 times, including Honolulu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island, and I personally prefer Maui, as I find the perfect mix of size, things to do, restaurants, etc. It is also the "condo" island, so you can easily find a nice place to stay, and with family a condo can be a lot more fun and less expensive than multiple hotel rooms. Car rentals are more expensive on Maui, at least in my experience.

I wouldn't to Kauai with someone with mobility issues. It is quiet, everything closes early, not as many food choices, etc. Not a lot of entertainment for someone not super mobile compared to the other islands. I love it for the nature and hiking, but wouldn't take my parents there (or very small kids). I did take my older parents, and my dad struggles to get around, to Honolulu and Maui, and they loved the Maui trip much, much more.

Honolulu is nice, but too many people. I used to love going to Lanikai beach, kayak to the small bird sanctuary island (a tiger shark bumped our little boat, I about crapped myself) and Wailua and just hang out there, but now (last 5 years) it has gotten overcrowded. I used to love taking friends there because it was so quiet. Now it's a damn zoo (at least pre-Covid). The Big Island is #2 on my list, but if I told my parents, their only choice would be Maui.
 
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