Hawaii

7upstang

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So, we are going to Hawaii for 2 weeks in the beginning of July.

Just looked at our plane tickets, looks like we fly into Kauai on July 4th and fly out on the 15th. Flying in for my father's wedding, he rented a house for a week there. So we will stay for a week on Kauai, so I would love a few suggestions for the week of things to do.

However, I do want to see other parts of the Hawaii while we are there. So we do our best to visit the other Islands. My wife and I want to see the Pearl Harbor exhibit and see the national park (our goal is to visit every national park).

Trying to figure out the best way to see everything, travel and places to stay on a semi-budget( in the middle of buying a house, horrible timing), but we understand this will probably be the only time we come to Hawaii since we aren't beach type people.

What are some must sees on any of the islands?

Also, has anyone taken a cruise in Hawaii? I hear they are great for touring Hawaii.
 

Outlaw99

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Ive been several times. Kaui is by far the most remote. Its almost prehistoric. Island hopping is fairly cheap. We paid about 125 per ticket to travel to other islands. Maui is my favorite by far. Ho'okopia beach is amazing. Big waves and its the wind surfing capital of the world. The road to Hana is awesome. Drive around the under populated side of the island, around the eastern shore. Takes about 4 hours. Single lane at times. Theres a pull off and waterfall and swimming hole every couple of miles. Youll ride along cliffs over looking the ocean to single lane bridges. At the end of the road is the Hawaii state park and a black sand beach with lava tubes. Again, very large powerful waves. December through May is whale season, so you wont see many of those when you go. We are moving to Paia in december which is near Ho'okapia beach by the airport.

Oahu, some people like it. Some dont. Its like a big busy city. 6 lane highways...very touristy. Its like new york city with a beach. Traffic jams and all. But, it does have Pearl Harbor which i thoroughly enjoyed. We also hiked Diamond Head. That was a tough hike to me and i hike frequently.

Each island has a personality. Maui fits my personality. So laid back. Any island you visit, you cant go wrong. They all have something to offer. I believe Kuai has a smaller version of a grand canyon. I went to that on one visit to Hawaii but cant remember which island it was. If you want to see good pics of pearl harbor and maui, pm me and ill send you my FB link. Also pm with any questions you got, ill help if i can.

My least favorite island was the big main island. Just didn't connect with it. Felt like florida to me.

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kirks5oh

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Been to Hawaii the last three years. Kauai is very remote---check out the north shore surfing. Very fun to watch, and there's an awesome hike on that side of the island near hanelei bay. Check out da-crack for awesome fish tacos and kalepacki joes for an awesome sports bar.

Maui is a little more touristy. Road to Hana is a must. It takes 8 hours or more, with a pucker factor of 8/10, but you won't regret it. Don't turn around at the halfway point, just go right on through.

If you go to the big island, visit kona brewing company. I didn't do nearly as much on the big island. Took surfing lessons on Maui and Kauai and had a blast surfing. I'd highly recommend that as well.
 

Gravik

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Been to Hawaii the last three years. Kauai is very remote---check out the north shore surfing. Very fun to watch, and there's an awesome hike on that side of the island near hanelei bay. Check out da-crack for awesome fish tacos and kalepacki joes for an awesome sports bar.

Maui is a little more touristy. Road to Hana is a must. It takes 8 hours or more, with a pucker factor of 8/10, but you won't regret it. Don't turn around at the halfway point, just go right on through.

If you go to the big island, visit kona brewing company. I didn't do nearly as much on the big island. Took surfing lessons on Maui and Kauai and had a blast surfing. I'd highly recommend that as well.
Little more? Maui has become super touristy. Just look at all the resort hotels on the west side of the island.

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Outlaw99

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here enjoy some pics.

Taken at the Pearl Harbor area.
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This is a waterfall right off the side of the road. pull off and go for a dip. the water is quite chilly but amazingly comfortable on a Summer Hawaiian day.
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Waterfall Road to Hana
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Hawaii State Park, Maui, Road to Hana, black sand beach
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View from the top of diamond head looking North east thats a lighthouse way down there in the distance to give you an idea how high up you are.
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Hawaii State Park on Maui Road to Hana
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View from the top of Diamond Head overlooking Waikiki
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Ho'okopia Beach on Maui
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Another waterfall on the road to hana. there are so many.
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Inside the USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor
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This is called a Kaiten - a one manned japanese suicide torpedo.
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Outlaw99

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Roadside cliff view on the road to Hana. butthole pucker factor level 10. its a lot higher than it looks in this pic
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If you plan on visiting Oahu or Honalulu, you can expect this. Thats diamond head on the distance.
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Hawaii State Park, Maui
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Black Sand Beach - Road to Hana, Hawaii State Park, Maui
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Same Area
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Looking down through a lava tube on Maui
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This is the Bow of the USS Missouri looking over the USS Arizona Memorial
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Ho'okopia Beach and Park. there are sand spider here that will pop up out of the sand. they are larger than your hand and can run faster than you. ask my wife. she is still traumatized. despite that, i think this is my favorite place on maui. That dashing fellow there is me.
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East side of Ho'okopia Beach - looking north east
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Somewhere near the black sand beach. there were a ton of red crabs just sitting everywhere.
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Outlaw99

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Another +1 for driving around Maui. This was this past July.View attachment 1472438

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Spring for the convertible next time. They didnt have a v8 when i reserved a car. Had to settle for a v6. Or pop for a jeep soft top. Those are fun on the island. They are strict tho, you have to sign a waiver saying you wont go on trails or off road. Basically cant leave pavement. Maui has some amazing trails in the mountains.

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Gravik

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I originally had a focus but it had issues so I took it back and they offered the mustang for the same price. It was at least an ecoboost.

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VegasMichael

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Man...if some people only knew.


The shadiness of that place is just the start.

Id take florida anyday!!

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A lot of military guys I served with all wanted to go to Oahu. Most of them regretted it after they got there. We have a lot of Hawaiians here in Vegas who wanted to leave Hawaii badly as well. I've been several times to all the islands and am good for about a week or so but then want to leave.

OP: I loved Kauai the best. They call it the Garden Island for a reason. Waimea Canyon is a great day trip. Kauai has interesting weather as well. The higher elevations in the north are one of the rainiest spots on the planet. Over 400 inches a year. But the SW part of the island is very dry and warm. It's a beautiful place. Very uncommercialized. Believe it or not they have a dragstrip there too. I took a cruise up to Napali with these guys: https://www.holoholokauaiboattours.com/kauai_boat_tours/napali-sunset-sightsee-tour/ Very enjoyable.

Maui is nice but I avoid Kaanapali and Kahului stay farther south where it's less populated. I loved the drive up to Haleakala in the island's center. If you do it you better devote a day to it. I thought the drive to Hana was overrated. It's nice but I should have made a u-turn about halfway there. To each his own. I took a snorkel cruise to Lana'i which included a tour of that island. Very peaceful and old school there.

I liked the Big Island. Very uncommercialized like Kauai with beautiful plantations. Much rainier on the east side where Hilo is. You've got your live volcanoes and black sand beach and one of the best snorkel spots in the world near Captain Cook monument. The Aloha Spirit is much more prevalent there than Maui or Oahu. I took a tour up to the tallest mountain in the world there: Mauna Kea. There is snow up there and several observatories and it's neat to watch them open up and swivel once night comes. Spectacular sunset from there.
 

JJackson515

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Ive been there once for a week. Paid for my flight and hotel with points, and will still never go back after my wallet being shell shocked. I could justify going a million other places cost wise than back to Hawaii. It was quite the experience though.
 

7upstang

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Thank you for the replies and pictures! Spoke with my dad and soon to be step mom last night (They have been together for 12 years, so she has always been a mother figure). Guess they rented a house for 2 weeks and her Dad has a place on Maui, so most nights we will have a place to stay, helps with the budget a little bit.
 

omj

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We have a place near Kapoho on the Big Island, I love it there. Some of the locals are a bit strange but if you are respectful, for the most part they are too.
 

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