Hawaii Vacation in T minus 48 Hours, and Counting :)

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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In this threadfrom April, I posted about challenges and surprises when planning my upcoming trip to Hawaii. Well, everything is now settled, and we leave for Hawaii in two days. Wahoooo!

Our plans have changed significantly since April. We’re still flying first class there and back, but through a scheduling glitch at Delta we were able to get the unnecessary last leg of our flight (Oahu to Maui) canceled and incur no fees whatsoever.

Here’s our revised flight itinerary to Hawaii

Newark (EWR) to Atlanta (ATL) on an MD88 (2 hours, 38 minutes)
Atlanta (ATL) to Honolulu (HNL) on an Airbus a380 (9 hours, 4 minutes)

So we saved over $1000 each way, on first class tickets, over what all other carriers are charging to the same destination!

We’re still booked at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Oahu but, instead of 4 nights, we changed it to 2, and here’s why…

On the evening of the 3rd day we’re going on a 7 day cruise to Maui, both sides of Big Island, and Kauai. This gives us the opportunity to see more islands than we would have otherwise. Also, the cruise will cost us less than the $8000 we would have spent for accommodations at the resorts we’d originally booked.

The cruise ship, Pride of America, sails at night and is docked at various ports during the day, giving passengers the opportunity to experience many of each island’s attractions. We booked rental cars on Maui and Big Island. We won’t need a car in Oahu or Kauai.

Here are a few of the things we have planned and/or booked:

Day 1 (Oahu)

  • Veg out, shop, etc…
  • Starlight Luau at 5:30 PM

Day 2 (Oahu)

  • Dole Pineapple Plantation
  • Atlantis Submarine ride (www dot atlantisadventures dot com /waikiki)
  • Sunset Dinner Cruise

Day 3 (Oahu)

  • Polynesian Cultural Center

Day 4 (Maui)

  • Road to Hana

Day 5 (Maui)

  • Haleakala Sunrise Bike ride

Day 6 (Hilo)

  • Volcanoes National Park
  • Rainbow Falls

Day 7 (Kona)

  • Waikoloa Beach

Day 8 (Kauai)

  • Waimea Canyon
  • Wailua River Tour

Day 9 (Kauai)

  • Hanalei Tour

Day 10 (Oahu)

  • Grand Circle Island Tour

My wife’s a shopper, so at some point I’m sure we’ll end up at the Ala Moana Center.

In the linked thread, I mentioned that we’d booked a suite at the Maui Ritz Carlton. What caused me to ultimately cancel was the sale of the resort to its creditors (thanks for the tip PunditLisa). After the sale, the person we’d worked with for weeks was suddenly not employed by the resort anymore. Various calls led us to conclude that something was amiss. Cordiality was suddenly lacking and staff either didn’t know answers to seemingly simple, straightforward questions about the resort and its accommodations, or didn’t care. When we received two emails about our reservation with different rates on each and no explanation as to why, I’d had enough.

We began to look at other Maui resorts, but by then my wife was leaning toward the cruise. At first I was against it. We’ve been on two cruises already and that was, in my opinion, enough octogenarian companionship to last three lifetimes. However, the more I began to think of the cruise as simply a floating hotel where each morning I’d wake up in a brand new location, the more I warmed to the idea. All in all, I think the cruise was the right choice.

This will be the longest vacation we’ve ever taken. My wife is bouncing off the walls in anticipation of our first trip to Hawaii. I haven’t been the most flexible person to live with in the 20 years of our marriage, so I’m hopeful this trip will be an amazing experience for her. She deserves it.

If you have any questions about my pre-trip planning, ask away.

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Don’t touch the tiki idol

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Sounds like a once in a lifetime vacation, have fun! I’ve only been to Hawaii once, a stopover from Japan to California. I’m sure things have changed from they way they were in 1963, but I would like to go again sometime. Looking forward to your trip report.

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That looks like a great itinerary. Just remember not to ask for beer/wine/etc. at the Polynesian Cultural Center luau.

ETA: And if someone offers to sell you Maui Wowie, it’s pot. My wife didn’t know that, and thought she was haggling over exotic fruit :slight_smile:

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My dear bride and I loved the Atlantis sub tour. We loved loved LOVED Volcano National Park; 3 1/2 days there wasn’t enough for us. Your mileage may vary.

And we learned the hard way, don’t rent a car on O`ahu unless you are certain you’ll need it, and then only for the parts where you absolutely must have it.

ETA @ muldoonthief: We skipped the Polynesian Cultural Center (“theme park” was my assessment of the info on it), so I’m curious about that warning. Plus, we preferred mai tais.

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It’s run & staffed by Mormons, so no alcohol (or coffee) is allowed. It shares grounds with Brigham Young University next door, though there’s a 12 ft. high razor ribbon topped fence between them.

It was actually pretty interesting when we went 10 years ago. It’s set up as a variety of villages, representing various Polynesian islands, and they’ll have shows/demonstrations of music, cooking, boat building, etc. at each village. So it’s kind of a south Pacific Colonial Williamsburg. The luau is OK (though dry), and the evening show is pretty good.

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I can’t wait to hear how the cruise goes. I’m currently in the beginning stages of planning an early March trip to Hawaii with my husband and I’ve been having issues deciding which islands to visit in the limited time we have. This is an intriguing option :slight_smile:

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I’d read about the Mormon ownership and, to be honest, it did kind of turn me off. I’m told they’re not in your face about it, which is good. We’ll see, I guess.

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Yeah, isn’t it? I’m hopeful it lives up to our expectations.

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I can’t wait for the sub tour.

Yeah, we were originally going to rent a car in Oahu, but having one seems actually more inconvenient than not. We’re going to use public transportation for any place we can’t walk, and a tour shuttle for the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Yep, that’s my take on it as well, but my wife really wants to go, so we go. :slight_smile:

11

I’m jealous. My wife and I honeymooned in Hawaii, it was awesome. We’d move there in a second if we could get decent paying jobs.

We did 4 nights on Oahu, 3 on Maui, and a day trip to the Big Island. Highlights for us were Volcanoes National Park, sunrise on Haleakala and the bike ride down, Pearl Harbor, and a show called Ulalena. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time for the Road to Hana or climbing Diamond Head, and didn’t know about Iolani Palace. Next time…

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I’m not jealous, but only because my bride and I honeymooned in Hawai`i this summer. We’d move to Kailua-Kona in a second if we could get decent paying jobs there and start a Jewish community and fund a shokhet at the Parker ranch so I can have kosher steaks.

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Plans have definitely changed. I think that if you’re going to island hop, a cruise is the best way to do it. Otherwise you’ll be spending too much time commuting.

Did I miss the USS Arizona Memorial? That’s a must-see on Oahu, IMO.

Congratulations!

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Rainbow Falls will live up to its reputation in the morning, but not afternoon. Otherwise, I think Akaka Falls is more spectacular.
If you have about 2 or 3 hours, Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, http://htbg.com/ is a beautiful place to spend looking at tropical flora.

Also, part of the Volcanoes National Park was closed (when we were there the last week of July…the southern half of the Crater Rim Drive) due to ash and fumes from the main crater. It seems we just missed the Aug 3rd eruption by a few days. Hope you get to see something there more than just steam.

We stayed at Waikaloa for the week, and the best white sand beach in the area, hands down, is Hapuna which is 6 miles to the north or Waikaloa. Anaehoomalu Beach was nice (but rocky in the surf in some places), but since the Japan earthquake, the strand beach has been partially washed away from the tsunami, which merged the bay with the fish pond on the other side. Interesting to look at, but for the day, spend it at Hapuna Beach…the lifeguards there are savy and keep a vigilent eye out for sharks (yeah, we had to get out of the water for an hour until they swam off). Very few if any exposed rocks in the surf…mostly beautiful white creamy sand.

If you have the opportunity to get to the peak of Mauna Kea and the Onizuka Center either by car or with a astronomical tour, it’s a wonderful activity…the dark sky there at the 20 degree North latitude is awesome to look at for hours, especially since the moon will be a waning crescent. The sunset above the clouds was worth the trip alone.

Have fun, and tell us how it went when you get back!

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[QUOTE=Yeticus Rex;14254436Also, part of the Volcanoes National Park was closed (when we were there the last week of July…the southern half of the Crater Rim Drive) due to ash and fumes from the main crater. It seems we just missed the Aug 3rd eruption by a few days. Hope you get to see something there more than just steam.[/quote]

The closures continue during the current eruption event. You do NOT want to go downwind of that steam plume. On the other hand, shortly after sunset you get to see a glowing steam plume, from the lake of lava in the vent.

The Onizuka Center is at “only” 9300 feet. The summit is at 13k+ feet. Do try to make the evening stargazing program; dark sky + still air + high elevation = my G-d, it’s full of stars.

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When you book your Road to Hana trip, ask the company if Gary Tam works there. Years ago my mother and I booked that and were the only two people on the tour–our native Mauian guide Gary said, “do you want the regular tour, or can I take you to some of the places I love and grew up around?”

We said, “sure, take us into the woods and murder us!” We had a great time: his family graveyard, a painted Eucalyptus forest, a cliff that was too dangerous for the regular tours (“Here’s where we get murdered,” Mom said). We even got to spit on Lindberg’s grave!

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Heh. I would ask about Gary Tam, but he won’t be in the jeep with my wife and me. :).

We’re doing Hana solo…or at least attempt it.

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Ah. Well, if you see a Hawaiian guy in Maui, he might be Gary, so tell all of them you see that “Eve says hello!”

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I second both these recommendations. HTBG is solidly on my Big Island “not to be missed” list.

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On Day 3, you’ll be able to say, “Here today, gone to Maui.” Please do not buy a t-shirt that says this.

You’re going to love the Haleakala sunrise and bike ride. But bring something warm to wear, even if it’s a blanket. And bring a big appetite for the breakfast at the end of the bike ride.

When you’re in Hilo, make time to visit the lava flows at night. It’s a spectacular experience.

And I second the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. But bring bug spray (they may provide it, along with an umbrella, I forget).

Also on the Hamakua Coast is Waipio Valley. There’s a really fun mule-drawn-cart tour of a breathtakingly beautiful valley.

Also on the Big Island: There’s a guy who gives a “star gazing” tour. He picks you up at dusk, drives to the top of Mauna Kea, to the observatories, then down partway, where you can look through his telescope (with champagne). It’s a great way to spend an evening. He’s the one who told me to go to the lava flow at night; I hadn’t thought of it.

You’re going to have a wonderful trip!