Who has been to Hawaii? Tell me about it please

[mart77]

As above. We dont know a single person who has been but we really fancy going there. Any info would be great no matter how small.

[speedwayfan]

I've been Oahu and Maui but the islands are very different.

The most important thing to remember really is just how far away it it and make sure you allow enough time to visit. It's an 11 hour flight to either LAX or SFO and then another 5-6 hours from there, you need to do at least one stopover.

I wouldn't do the trip for less than 3 weeks to do it justice, but if you can it's definitely worth it.

If you have some specific questions I'd be happy to answer them.

Jill

[Astrid]

I went to Oahu a few years back on a round the world trip and I'd agree with Jill that it is a long way to go unless you stay for 3 weeks or make it part of a trip to California. We flew there from Australia and then stopped at San Francisco for a few days before going home which helped break up the long journey.

Having said that it's a wonderful island. I'd love to go back. Beautiful scenery, we did a helicopter tour of the island, and I found the Pearl Harbour trip very well done and very moving.

We loved Waikiki beach and went off the beaten track a few times by catching a local bus around the island. Our hotel (think it was a Sheraton) was just off Waikiki Beach, and even though our room wasn't the best (overlooking the rubbish area!) the rest was lovely and the Hawaiin style entertainment in the evenings was brilliant.

[Rebelrebel]

We have been to Waikiki twice and stayed in the Hilton. Waikiki is very nice but is over built with high rise hotels. The local government imposed restrictions during the 1970s on the the building of hotels only allowing them in one square miles and they certainly are crammed in there. Saying that the people are lovely, it is very clean and being in such a densely populated tourist area has its bonuses with plenty of restaurants and shops close by. We hired a car and toured the island which is beautiful and also took a day trip to the Big Island and flew over the volcanoes in a helicopter, that was fantastic.

It really is a beautiful place and we can't wait to go back :).

[speedwayfan]

Astrid - was it the Sheraton Moana Surfrider, the oldest hotel in Waikiki and is now a preserved building. Beautiful place.

Jill

[gill38]

Went a few years back, absolute paradise. :wavey:

[Heather1957]

Have stayed at Waikiki beach (never again) and on Maui and Kauai which were 2 beautiful Islands.

Personally I'd only have a couple of days on Oahu so you can visit Pearl Harbour which in my opinion is worth a visit. It's a moving experience, although I have to say I was surprised to see so many Japanese people visiting.

As been said already, Waikiki is full of high rise hotels which I found a real turn off and as you can imagine it's very busy.

Flights to the smaller Islands are cheap enough and I would urge anyone to go to the islands for the relaxing part of their holiday to Hawaii.

[Jan]

I'd love to do a cruise around the islands and to see at night the molten lava flowing into the sea.

[mart77]

Been a busy few days since i posted and only just got chance to look. Thanks for your replies so far.

[DigitalLove]

We went twice last year to Oahu... Once for 10 days in April, and the second time for 5 (YES... I SAID 5) days in December!! The flights ARE incredibly long and tiring... add together with the 10 hours (sometimes 11 depending on daylight savings) time difference. 11 hours to LA, and then about another 6 hours on to Honolulu airport... Your body can be out of synch for quite a while. Our return journey on our second trip we stayed over in LA with family for a couple of days to break the trip up a little... Long flights going on holiday I can cope with as im usually too excited to care much anyhow.... Long flights coming home are awful!!!

We hired a car the first time around and went touring around the Island. There are some incredibly unspoilt 'Bounty advert' beaches if you look in the right places. The North Shore is great for surfing although its pretty choppy in the winter months and best left to the experts! Waikiki Beach is the tourist area... even so... the beaches there are spotless and Waikiki is great for sitting in streetside cafes watching the world go by. Dukes bar is great for a meal and a drink overlooking the ocean, but there are literally dozens of fantastic places to eat. Climb up Diamond Head if you're feeling pretty adventurous... Its a dormant volcano at the West side of Waikiki Beach... Go early morning before the sun is at its hottest... Takes about 90 mins to climb but the views are absolutely out of the world. Take a Helicopter Tour and see where Jurassic Park was filmed... Visit the Dole Plantation... Pineapple never tasted so good!! Visit Pearl Harbour and take a boat out to the memorial where you can actually see the ships still submerged in the water... Incredibly moving!! Have a couple of surfing lessons.... Go out on a sunset cruise and spot the dolphins along side the boat. Also... the shopping here is incredible!!! ALOT of Japanese tourists who visit primarily for the shopping because of the value they get with the yen against the dollar... EVERY SINGLE fashion house you can imagine has shops here with some real bargains to be had (Apparently, according to my other half anyhow... im a female freak of nature who likes neither shopping or chocolate!!!)

Hotels further away from the beach tend to be ALOT cheaper than a place right on the beach. First time we went we stayed about 3 blocks and a 5 min walk from the beach... Second time we pushed the boat out and had a delux suite with jacuzzi on the beach front in an Outrigger hotel... The place was out of this world! I really wished we'd have gotten to see some of the other Islands, but time just didnt allow. It certainly was a holiday of a lifetime for me though... especially the second time around... 5 days in Paradise where I got to watch my most favourite band in the world (U2) close their world tour (The whole reason for going actually... and yeah... I know I must be mad!!!)

I truly would go back in a heartbeat!!!

[ian180]

We added on a week in Maui after a 2 weeks tour of the Wset Coast of USA. A busy 2 weeks were complimented by an amazing week of relaxation and pamering in Maui, with the most beautiful of sunsets each night, watching the sun disappear right before your eyes, into the never ending ocean in front of you. A bit expensive, but definately worth it, just for the service, beauty of it all and the sheer relaxation.

[DigitalLove]

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Waikiki Beach at night



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Lanikai Beach



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Looking back at Waikiki Beach from out at Sea



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View from the Balcony



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View from the Balcony towards Diamond Head



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Mmmmmm.... Mai Tais!!! ;)