Thinking about a bucket list trip to Hawaii

[Rickysa]

I've read numerous threads about folks and Hawaii, so I thought I'd post what we are looking for and get some info

We'd love to find a small rental house in a neighborhood with local bar/restaurants off the beaten path with access to a beach....that's pretty much it.

Any recommendations on where to start looking?

(or other things I haven't thought about?)

[LWJ]

You need to figure out which island first.

My favorites are the big island (Hawaii) and Kauai. Both are different.

Best insight? The blue travel books. Not sure the name. They are written by locals and are really great.

Figure out which island and then you can move forward. Also, are you active or passive? I hate to lay on a beach and do nothing. I love to hike, snorkel, explore and similar. Different places are better for either end of the activity level.

Keep us posted.

[Rusty Heap]

to the OP, I'm going to Hawaii...........as LWJ stated above...........which friggin Island is a good place to start.


Going to Hawaii is like I want to go to Africa, where should I go.


Alaska Airlines is the best fares out of Seattle or San Fran. AVOID Southwest Air.


Over 10 trips I've been to hawaii on 3 islands, wet side lava side garden side desert side of each.


you said a "bucket list" trip but right now your bucket is empty.


My vote would be the Big Island, spend a couple days in each, Kona west and Hilo east side.

It's easy to drive the whole big island perimeter. There at 13 distinct weather zones on Big Island too.


My "another item" checked off the bucket list was a helicopter out of Poipu on Kauai.
and of course opted to do it with all doors off, just me , wife, and pilot.


enjoy my Bucket Item Video:

[Rusty Heap]

and you mentioned "I wanna be by a beach"


do you plan to Snorkel or Scuba at all?

welcome to my week on a live-aboard dive boat.

[Rickysa]

You need to figure out which island first.

Already, I've learned something

I would have thought that the kind of experience we were looking for would kinda dictate which island(s) we should consider.

We are mostly passive...beach, local bars, no glitz, snorkeling would be great.

No crowds/"tourists" is a biggie.

I'll look for the blue books...

Thanks for the feedback!

[LakeCleElum]

Been 6 or 7 times......To avoid crowds, cross Maui and Oahu off your list....Big Island is great, but a lot of rocky beaches.....My fav is Kauai; stay south to avoid the rainy side.............

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Best insight? The blue travel books. Not sure the name. They are written by locals and are really great.

That's the "Revealed" series. Each major island has its own book: Oahu Revealed, Maui Revealed, The Big Island Revealed, Kauai Revealed. The cover is blue. I second the recommendation. Of note, there's Hawaii the state, and Hawaii the Big Island.

Yes, it's Hawaii (the state), but each island is a little bit different. One mistake I made was taking Mrs. Noah to the Big Island for her first trip to the 50th state. I had already been to Oahu and Maui, so I wanted to try something different. But (jokingly) the Big Island is the only island with no beaches. So coming from the East Coast, Mrs. Noah was a bit disappointed. I loved it, but in retrospect perhaps we should have tried Maui for her first time.

If you're looking to avoid crowds & tourists, maybe Oahu isn't ideal. Waikiki definitely isn't what you're looking for.

[Rickysa]

Waikiki definitely isn't what you're looking for.

That's for sure! On a return flight from Oz thirty-some years ago, we decided to breakup the trip back by taking a day to just chill and got a room in Waikiki...walked down to the beach and simply turned around and spent the day in the room catching up on sleep.

Just ordered Kauai Revealed

[mfiazzo]

Road to Hana in Maui. Most beautiful sights I have ever seen in my entire life

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by Rickysa

That's for sure! On a return flight from Oz thirty-some years ago, we decided to breakup the trip back by taking a day to just chill and got a room in Waikiki...walked down to the beach and simply turned around and spent the day in the room catching up on sleep.

Just ordered Kauai Revealed

Waikiki isn't all bad. Went had a family wedding in Oahu a couple years ago. We were all set to fly back home on Saturday morning. But when we awoke on Saturday and Mrs. Noah went online to check in, she realized that our return flight was actually booked for Sunday. Bonus day in paradise! So we drove in to Waikiki, and my daughter and wife took surf lessons. I think I posted a pic of my keiki over on the surf thread; she was a natural. Mrs. Noah, however, has forbidden me from posting any of her surfing pics.

[tevake]

[QUOTE=LakeCleElum;10619729]Been 6 or 7 times......To avoid crowds, cross Maui and Oahu off your list....Big Island is great, but a lot of rocky beaches.....My fav is Kauai; stay south to avoid the rainy side.............

Kauai is my favorite too Bob. But I was thinking of recommending staying in Hanalei.
There are vacation rentals in town off the main drag, it offers nice restaurants and bars, great beach. All within walking distance, or better rent some bikes to get around.

Hanalei is not exactly off the beaten path, but few places with restaurants and bars are.

Maybe Kaunakakai. Molokai, very off the beaten path, but its a love / hate proposition
Being on Molokai. The very local community there takes lots understanding and respect to enjoy.

Cheers Richard

[302340]

Rickysa, what time of the year would you be visiting and how long would your vacation be? ...

Lee

[onewhippedpuppy]

We were going to go to Hawaii for family vacation last year until I started checking prices and talking with people who had been. We ended up in the Cayman Islands which were incredible. The clincher was talking with a friend who actually owns a condo in Hawaii who rents it and goes to the Caymans instead because he can’t stand the crowds and cost of Hawaii. Someday I’ll go but for the money I suspect better options are available.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

We were going to go to Hawaii for family vacation last year until I started checking prices and talking with people who had been. We ended up in the Cayman Islands which were incredible. The clincher was talking with a friend who actually owns a condo in Hawaii who rents it and goes to the Caymans instead because he can’t stand the crowds and cost of Hawaii. Someday I’ll go but for the money I suspect better options are available.

This true to some extent. However the cultural experience in Hawaii is unique. Such a blend of American, Asian, and Pacific Islander. We spent 9 days on Oahu this summer and loved every minute of it.


I would never want to live there and deal with the crowds daily, but on vacation it was fine. Take life easy, relax and just go with the flow.

[Rusty Heap]

Seattle, I can get to Kauai or Kona, one way $199 , $400 R/T


as the OP is in NC, simply for flight times, I'd do the Caribbean like Belize, Ambergris Caye.

[WPOZZZ]

Finding a short term rental on Oahu can be difficult. City and County of HNL wants their pound of flesh from the B&B types. If you don't have one of the licensed B&Bs and rent on AirBNB and other places, C&C has employees snooping for that, and is threatening to fine the owner/advertiser $1000 a day. Thus, some of the operators are selling their properties, stopped renting, and definitely stopped advertising.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

Seattle, I can get to Kauai or Kona, one way $199 , $400 R/T


as the OP is in NC, simply for flight times, I'd do the Caribbean like Belize, Ambergris Caye.

He could even visit EI or the outer banks when the idjuts are scarce....but that's whut Carolina duz to ya ....

A 5 gal is a must see while yer there on the islands imo...either Lowes or HD...hth

[Rickysa]

Rickysa, what time of the year would you be visiting and how long would your vacation be? ...

Whenever is best, and however long we can

It'll be at some point in the future when we can block out a chunk of time that will make the cost of getting there worth it.

Re: the Caymans, I had always wanted to visit Cayman Brac, but I believe some whirly storm blew the only hotel out to sea...not sur if it's been rebuilt?

[jhynesrockmtn]

I've done exactly one trip to Hawaii but I planned it with friends who had been there many times and/or lived there for some significant time.

We went to the Big Island for the variety and to be away from crowds.

Spent 5 nights at a wonderful B&B that I would definitely visit again.

https://www.kaawaloaplantation.com/

It is close to a local beach for snorkeling and some great parks/sites like pu'uhonua o honaunau national park and short drive to Volcanoes national park which was a must see although not sure what the current situation is there.

View from B&B is amazing;




We then went to another B&B for 3 nights that unfortunately is now closed in Honokaa and spent a day or two hiking some amazing beaches and visiting Hilo for a day. The Waipio Valley is amazing and you can easily spend a day there. Rent a Jeep, you'll need it to get to some of the hikes we did.

[rfuerst911sc]

Regardless of which island you pick in my opinion you should plan on spending half a day at the Pearl Harbor memorial . My wife and I planned our " special trip " for our 30th wedding anniversary and had a blast really enjoyed the trip . But when we visited the memorial it was a very humbling experience , to be right there where so many perished was an eye opener . I truly believe any US citizen should visit .