Thread: We're Going to Hawaii!! - Pride of America 6/25/11

Thank you, Hanna!! This is great information!

Our plan was to arrive on Tuesday, because the swap meet is on Wednesday! So we were going to take the city bus (about $2.50) to Pearl Harbor because we have to go see the Arizona Memorial, and then take the free shuttle over to the swap meet. That's one place my wife has insisted I take her.

We thought about doing a circle tour around the island, but much prefer to do our own thing instead of being hearded in a group. So probably on Thursday, we were planning to rent a car and spend the entire day driving around the island of Oahu. It's great to hear about the little places for food and sightseeing. The book I mentioned earlier I bought on eBay and it's full of wonderful information. You can check it out here on eBay;

Grand Circle Island Tour of Oahu Hawaii - E-book on CD | eBay

So many wonderful places to see and so many wonderful things to do - not sure 3 weeks is going to be enough! But we're sure going to give it a great effort.

The itinerary for the cruise affords us 2 days in Maui, 1-1/2 days in Kauai, 1 day in Hilo, and 1 day in Kona. So with car rentals in each port, we'll really get a great opportunity to see each of the islands.

But since we'll be spending two days in Maui during our cruise, we probably won't be doing much sightseeing during our weeklong stay there. We plan to rent a car and drive the Road to Hana and may or may not go up to the volcano point. If we don't, then we'll rent a car and do it when we're staying on the island. But hopefully our stay at the Westin Ka'anapali will be just to relax, snorkel, and scuba dive.

Pete

Pete,

IMHO, the Road to Hana is awesome, as long as someone else is driving. It's a treacherous winding road. The driver really can't enjoy it (again...imho) as much as being driven by someone else. Just a thought.

I definitely hear what you're saying and while we're not 100% sure we'll be driving, I absolutely love driving on roads like that, especially on a motorcycle! But the thing about doing on our own is that we can stop everywhere we want as opposed to just a few chosen stops. We're still discussing it - thanks for the input.

I hear you on the stopping thing. When we went, we had an awesome tourist guide who made lots of extra stops. Whatever you do, do it.

Hi Pete:
Be happy to answer any specific questions that you might have about Oahu. You are going to have a great time. As for driving to Hana, we did it about 6 years ago and as long as you take your time it's a beautiful drive, my husband drove and he loved it we pretty much took a whole day for it. If you're at all squeamish about narrow roads and cliffs then don't do it. Compared to driving in New Zealand (we do a lot of that) it's a piece of cake. We pretty much like having our own transportation where ever we are as I like to stop for pictures and take as much time as I like. My kids have decided they like the Big Island best, I like Oahu best because it's like home to me. None of us are as fond of Maui but I know a lot of people just love it.

As for the North Shore in the summer vs. winter you will still find it amazingly beautiful. Like a big lake in the summer but you can stop at the "Turtle Beach" and you'll be able to really see them well. Also should be some great snorkeling along by the Banzai Pipeline and Chin's Reef. Waimea Bay is wonderful when the surf is flat, I have sort of lost my love for being rolled up the sand by the big waves so I actually prefer the summer flat surf.

You may get some bigger waves out Makaha way past where you are staying at the Marriott. Just keep in the back of your mind to not have anything of value with you that you can't carry with you at all times (don't leave ANYTHING in your car.) Unfortunately that area while beautiful has a well deserved reputation for not being very safe for tourists. We drive out that way every once in a while but it makes me nervous to even stop. The Marriott area is fine and you'll love the resort. If you drive around the island there is a wonderful swimming beach at The Turtle Bay Resort where they have the big Seniors tournament every year. You just have to drive back in and tell them at the gate that you are coming to swim and they will let you in and you can park and walk to the cove. There are just beautiful swimming beaches all along the Northshore. You might want a car for a couple of days to really explore well.

Here's a few of my favorite Northshore shots. Have a great time.....know you will!
Hawaii - Northshore Oahu - a set on Flickr

Thank you, Sally!! Those pictures are wonderful! We are so lookig forward to this.

Having been a surfer in my earlier years, the North Shore is someplace I've always wanted to see. I know there won't be any waves in the Summer as the big waves happen in Winter. But just to see the area will be a real treat.

We plan to visit Pearl Harbor one day, so that won't take time away from our all day trip around the island.

I looked at my calendar and realized I made a mistake; we plan to arrive in Honolulu on Monday. We plan to take it easy on Tuesday to get caught up on the time change and recover from such a long flight from the East Coast. Then on Wednesday, we plan to go to Pearl Harbor - have to see the Arizona Memorial. Then take the free shuttle to the swap meet, which we've heard is wonderful. So on Thursday, we'll be renting a car and driving around the island. If we don't get to see it all, then we'll just keep the car and finish the sightseeing on Friday. We leave on our cruise on Saturday.

As for the Road to Hana, I hear what you're saying about allowing plenty of time, so we're planning to spend the whole day doing that. We're in Maui for 2 days, so we tentatively plan to keep the car for a 2nd day and do the volcano then - depends on how much we get done the first day. But since we'll be staying on Maui for a week, anything we don't get to do, we'll have time to do it then.

Thank you so much for your input. As you said, I know we will thoroughly love every minute of this experience. It's been a dream for a long time, so we want to see it all and do it all.

By the way, absolutely love your quilts!! Our daughter and her husband brought came up last month with our 2-1/2 year old grandson to have him baptized before she left on her 6-month deployment with the Navy. The church quiting club made a beautiful 'prayer' quilt for the baby and her husband, while creating a smaller one for her to take with her. They are really specials items that were made with alot of love and prayer. So we can appreciate the thoughtfulness, time, and effort you put into your quilts.

Pete