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Feb 2023
6:36am, 19 Feb 2023
6,379 posts
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Little Miss Happy
Thinking of booking a (probably) once in a lifetime trip and looking for advice/inspiration.
Where to stay.
What to do.
Travel options.
Things it's worth knowing.
Thoughts/experiences appreciated.
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Feb 2023
7:15am, 19 Feb 2023
4,454 posts
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Dillthedog
I went in December with work. Only visited Oahu, so didn’t do a huge amount of exploring, plus the volcano was erupting on the main island. My thought:
It’s a long way! We went via LA and it took 28 hours, I think. Might be worth breaking the flight with a day or two somewhere if you aren’t keen on endless hours on a plane. The second flight from LA to Hawaii was about six hours, with no food included.
Honolulu always sounded very exotic, but was actually just like any other US city. We stayed at Waikiki beach. Buses were surprisingly good for getting around.
It’s expensive. I think most stuff is flown in, so even grocery stores charge quite a bit more than on the main land.
It rained most days we were there but only for a few mins each time. The weather forecast looked a bit dire, but in reality, when it rained, people took cover until it stopped. And then the sun came out again. Away from the coast it can be very wet, but it is more of a rain forest vibe anyway.
While we were there, there were two murders, one active shooter in a local hotel who ended up being shot by police, one woman eaten by a shark, one man jumped to his death outside our hotel. We tended not to venture off the main drag after dark!
Away from the big towns, it’s beautiful. Oahu could be explored in a day or two I think.
Would I pay to go? No. But I find the US to be quite annoying after a few days anyway, it’s too commercial for my liking. If you are going for the scenery, I’d try Costa Rica, Borneo, Thailand, Cambodia etc. if you want America, go to the mainland and save another flight.
Maybe this is because I only saw one island, or because it was a work trip rather then pleasure, but I was disappointed and certainly not the paradise island I had always imagined it to be.
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Feb 2023
7:32am, 19 Feb 2023
26,352 posts
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TROSaracen
Hmmm I’ll post more later. Main advice will be DO NOT stay in Oahu especially Waikiki, the other Islands are very different, mush less populated, more ‘Hawaii’ if you like.
Each has different character, so a dream holiday with a legit Hawaiian experience would be 2 or even 3 of those. But off for a bike, more later
(I’m off to Hawaii for 3 weeks in October 😃)
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Feb 2023
3:58pm, 19 Feb 2023
26,204 posts
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Angus Clydesdale
We were there 20 years ago. Big Island, we stayed on a golf resort even though we don't play it meant there was loads of open space. We had a convertible hire car and drove to Waimea to see cowboys. Also active lava flows, beaches and rainforest. Maui was lovely, we walked for hours on Haleakala after watching the sunrise. Also beaches and rainforest. We ended up on Oahu in an apartment beside Waikiki beach. It was a city break but we surfed Waikiki, rode horses at a hotel on the other side of the island and went to pay our respects at Pearl Harbor.
Flew out via a couple of days in San Francisco (amazing city, so much fun) and then straight back via LAX (4-hour layover). It is a long way but definitely completely worth it.
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Feb 2023
4:08pm, 19 Feb 2023
4,397 posts
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runningmumof3boys
Ooh I need to
Follow this thread because I’ve been saving up to go to Hawaii to celebrate turning 50 at the end of this year. So my plan is to go to Hawaii in 2024
Like Angus did I want to
Go via San Francisco because I’ve been twice and really want to take my partner. (He’s been to Hawaii to race the Ironman champs in Kona so he’s wanting to go back )
However we’ve now got our eye on Ironman 70.3 in New York sept 2024 so I’m not sure about Hawaii 2024 now !
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Feb 2023
4:55pm, 19 Feb 2023
6,380 posts
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Little Miss Happy
My initial thought was I wish I had a job that took me to Hawaii Dill but I know the reality of work travel is very different.
Sounds amazing Angus but I wonder how much it’s changed since?
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Feb 2023
5:17pm, 19 Feb 2023
10,138 posts
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Raemond
Hawaii looks absolutely stunning, definitely on my dream holiday destination list too!
At the risk of bringing the mood down, though, my first thought is that you might want to do some research into the impact of the tourist industry on native hawaiians (there have been lots of issues with water shortages lately iirc, because big hotels and resorts use up all the clean water available) and see if there are options that at least try to mitigate those.
Check out folks like @melemaikalanimakalapuaa on Insta, who talk about this quite a lot.
Definitely, definitely, don't go for a cruise in the area. Cruises are notorious for ruining the local economy of the places they visit.
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Feb 2023
10:15pm, 19 Feb 2023
2,337 posts
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paulcook
We went to Maui in 2011 (ran the marathon ridiculously!). An absolutely stunning and diverse island, we stayed in 3 different places, the first a surfery/arty type village, the second in very much a resort area with bay-like beaches very busy, plenty of families, the third essentially in the jungle/mountainside.
We hired a car enabling us to do what we wanted from the holiday. Especially the road trip to Hana close to our final lodgings. It's only a 20 or so mile highway from memory but took hours to drive principally because you can stop everywhere and wherever you like with to die for panaromas, hidden waterfalls, infinity pools, etc, etc.
Some other trip highlights included watching dawn rise from the top of the volcano, a glider (?) flight all but into the volcano, diving (though the oceanic nature of the fact you're in the Pacific wasn't to my confidence).
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Feb 2023
12:29pm, 22 Feb 2023
26,376 posts
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TROSaracen
Lovely place, can't wait to go back (October 2023 and October 2024). Ballache to get to but flying 5 hours over the Pacific to get there does bring home the remoteness of the place.
Oahu - I'd avoid Honolulu and Waikiki (might as well be in LA). To be honest it it the most populated Island and the one 90% of tourists never go beyond so I wouldn't go there at all - if you do than the North Coast is better.
Big Island - largest, youngest (Big as Wales apparently), sparsely populated, quite barren for large parts with lava fields. But the Ironman is here  so that's where I'm heading.
Kauai - oldest, wettest, most tropical and probably the prettiest. Awesome hiking, waterfalls, sea cliffs. Paradise? Hanalei Bay - picture perfect.
Maui - best all rounder, split the difference between the above two - best of both if you like. If only time/budget for 1 Island head here, stay near Lahaina if you can. Magic place.
All Islands have a wet, lush tropical side on the windward and a drier, calmer seas side so make sure you pick the right side for what you want in terms of staying.
For all of them hire a car, explore, find a new beach a day and do the interiors as well, hikes, waterfalls etc - don't be resort bound! Weather ideal all year but if there is any particular activity, eg Whale watching you want check the timing to ensure it coincides.
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Feb 2023
12:51pm, 22 Feb 2023
6,390 posts
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Little Miss Happy
Going to Hawaii to run a marathon doesn't sound ridiculous to me Paul. Probably a bit too warm for my OH's liking though.
That was a long bike ride Tro. Thank you. Lots to think about.
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