Tips for a Hawaii trip.

[rockfan4]

Tips for a Hawaiian vacation.

Tip 1: Get a relative to move there. This takes some planning. My brother met his future wife almost 30 years ago. They took several trips to Hawaii, got married there, and made a plan to move there. They've tried Florida and southern California, but keep moving back to Hawaii. Payoff for tip one - They'll pick you up at the airport, let you stay with them, make you breakfast, and chauffeur you around the island.

Tip 2: Hide or lose your wife's credit card. My wife bought an extra bag when we were there, and it was filled on the way home. 3/4 of the stuff she bought you could have found on Amazon, but she gets caught up in the moment. Avoid the Aloha stadium Flea Market unless you really have to buy souvenirs for people. If you do, that's the place to go. Or Amazon. They'll never know.

Tip 3: Get in shape. My brother and his wife do a lot of walking and running. At first I thought they were trying to kill us, but that's just their lifestyle. The Saturday we were there, my phone says we walked 8 miles. We went to the farmer's market, then a beach, then to a maker's market in the mall. On Tuesday they took us to Manoa Falls. It's supposed to be an easy hike, and it probably is, but we had to stop a couple times on the way up to rest. On the way down we saw a group of girls, maybe 10 - 12 years old, going up the trail barefoot, wearing dresses.

Tip 4: Plan meals. Since we didn't have a plan, we ended up a few times in the Ala Moana Center food court. I did try to refrain from food we can get on the main land, but I think I would have enjoyed local options more.

That's all I've got. I know #1 is difficult, but you also get kamaaina (local) rates for touristy things that you do. You will also get this rate if you are active or retired military with ID in most places.

[LWJ]

My tips:

Rent a convertible Jeep. Use it.

Stop off at Costco first day. Buy good food to cook at your condo and stuff like sunscreen and boogyboards.

Buy the flip flops at the ABC store.

Eat shave ice

Eat at Da Crack in you are on Kauai. Seriously, the best Mexican food I have ever eaten.

[WPOZZZ]

Don't be a Touron. Hawaii has the same problems as any mainland big city. Last week we had a couple murders, stabbings, shootings, even a guy pushing someone in front of a bus, and the guy got run over.

Maintain situational awareness and keep your head on a swivel.

[OK-944]

We had family living in Maui (Paia) a few years back, and stayed with them for awhile there prior to heading off to circumvent the island...counterclockwise...ending up in Hana, where we rented a condo for another week.

We were "armed" with lots of great info. from our fortuitous family connection and did lots of cool stuff that tourists might overlook - great info on things like hidden "pocket beaches" that we had to ourselves.

But the real coup was created by a road construction project near Hana...blocking off "official" access to Hamoa Beach (James Michener's favorite). We'd gotten an inside scoop on a single, hidden parking spot near that beach...and had it (almost) to ourselves for a few wonderful hours!

[p911dad]

Police told us to leave rental car open with nothing (I mean nothing) in it to steal and empty trunk). The punks will go through it one way or the other. This avoids damage to the rental and saves a hassle later. Especially in parks or seashore locations.

[fintstone]

Best advice, don't wear a speedo.

If you do, use sunscreen. If you don't use sunscreen.

I agree on being in good shape (just like traveling almost anywhere overseas) as one tends to walk a lot more and send a lot of time outside. Don't spend a lot of time doing the same stuff you do at home.

Local fast food in interesting and tasty (like L&L Barbeque pulled pork and rice). Do the Big Mac at home.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

Don't be a Touron. Hawaii has the same problems as any mainland big city. Last week we had a couple murders, stabbings, shootings, even a guy pushing someone in front of a bus, and the guy got run over.

Maintain situational awareness and keep your head on a swivel.

My friend from Minneapolis produced the film, "The Descendants" with George Clooney, etc. Great film. In the opening crawl, it says more or less exactly what you wrote above about Hawaii. I highly recommend the film to anyone.

He lives there now, so that should tell you something. Aloha.

[Zeke]

Best tip for me: don't go. Been there once and that was enough. I did get to see the old Lahaina. The Lahaina of 1980. I would approve of that if it were.

[2porscheguy]

If you're staying on the north shore of Kauai and want to travel south through Kapa'a between 11am and 6pm, make sure to make use of the Kapa'a by-pass route! Mid-day traffic through Kapa'a can be a nightmare.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

Oahu:
If you stay in Waikiki, its cheaper to stay along the Ali Wai canal. Eat Pupu's at cocktail hour for free a lot of places. Take Binoculars for high rise viewing of scenery and wildlife(wink).
Rent a car and go to Turtle Bay for lunch or stay there a few. The beach parks on the S/E side are a nice day trip too.
Surf @ Ali Wai Harbor or Queens beach. To see the sunrise over Diamond Head is picturesque.
BTW, green sea Turtles are Tiger Sharks favorite food, paddle away when you see one.
If you step on a sea Urchin, you gotta pee on your foot after the needles are removed, helps with the pain.
Maui:
The Pukalani highlands are awesome, so is Haleakala. Mama's fish house is a must. Beaches & surf by Maleea are nice.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Best tip for me: don't go.

I'd always thought that as well. My wife lived there for a while and would go back for a visit nearly every year. She'd always want me to join her, but I'd decline..."We have beautiful beaches, on the same ocean, right here in town...why go all the way over there"?

But I finally gave in, went to Maui, and had to eat those words. Hawaii is quite different from most any other place in the US...and sometimes in an almost-indescribable way.

If you're visiting Oahu, and are interested in the natural and cultural history of the islands, don't miss the Bishop Museum.
https://www.bishopmuseum.org/

And don't take any lava rock home as a souvenir...it's bad luck. Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island had a case full of rocks that were returned by tourists who didn't believe...

[2porscheguy]

I also found that if you're staying in any of the other islands besides Oahu, it's probably best if you fly directly there and not through HNL. HNL get's pretty busy and hectic especially on weekends. For the longest time us Kanucks had no choice but to go through Honolulu which makes for a very looooooooooooong and tiresome travel day!

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by speeder

My friend from Minneapolis produced the film, "The Descendants" with George Clooney, etc. Great film. In the opening crawl, it says more or less exactly what you wrote above about Hawaii. I highly recommend the film to anyone.

He lives there now, so that should tell you something. Aloha.

Ironically, my 1st cousin is here from MN. She has been visiting every 6 months for the past couple years.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by 3rd_gear_Ted

Oahu:
If you stay in Waikiki, its cheaper to stay along the Ali Wai canal. Eat Pupu's at cocktail hour for free a lot of places. Take Binoculars for high rise viewing of scenery and wildlife(wink).
Rent a car and go to Turtle Bay for lunch or stay there a few. The beach parks on the S/E side are a nice day trip too.
Surf @ Ali Wai Harbor or Queens beach. To see the sunrise over Diamond Head is picturesque.
BTW, green sea Turtles are Tiger Sharks favorite food, paddle away when you see one.
If you step on a sea Urchin, you gotta pee on your foot after the needles are removed, helps with the pain.
Maui:
The Pukalani highlands are awesome, so is Haleakala. Mama's fish house is a must. Beaches & surf by Maleea are nice.

Definitely do not leave any valuables in your car, hidden or not.

If you are out on the water, do not get near the sea turtles, humpback whales and the seals. They are federally protected and you are supposed to stay at a distance. Your boat captain should know the distance. On the beach, it is pupping season, so do not approach seals there, either. Some Tourons were videod harrassing seals and they got in trouble with the feds.

If you are surfing Waikiki beach, no problem. Other places, respect the locals or you could get a beat down.

NEVER turn your back to the ocean.

[rockfan4]

Originally Posted by LWJ

My tips:

Rent a convertible Jeep. Use it.

Stop off at Costco first day. Buy good food to cook at your condo and stuff like sunscreen and boogyboards.

We saw a lot of Jeeps, every newer one we saw had the top and doors on, windows up, AC on.
I thought I saw somewhere you couldn't remove the roof or doors from a rental.
Lots of Mustang convertible rental cars, couple of Camaros.

We did stop at Costco and Walmart. Walmart has a souvenir section.

Originally Posted by Zeke

Best tip for me: don't go. Been there once and that was enough.

This was my wife's first time there. My second, my first being back in 2001 when my brother got married. Haven't seen him since 2018, before that 2013. Will we go again in 5 - 6 years? I don't know. I hate flying on planes, especially long distances. I may never fly again.

Sunday we did see a pack of Porsche's heading West on the H1 past Pearl, at let's just say speeds slightly above the speed limit. On the way back Sunday afternoon we did drive past an autocross but I was the only one interested in that. I only saw one or two air cooled cars, several newer models out and about.

No surfing for me.

[WPOZZZ]

Ahhh, the local PCA had a breakfast today, and members were free to go on a drive afterwards. It was noted on the email, the drive is not a sanctioned PCA event. lol

Speaking of souvenirs, the three best places are Walmart for macnuts, coffee and trinkets, Sam's for mac nuts and Don Quijote for macnuts, coffee and trinkets, plus Japanese stuff.

[MMARSH]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

Definitely do not leave any valuables in your car, hidden or not.

If you are out on the water, do not get near the sea turtles, humpback whales and the seals. They are federally protected and you are supposed to stay at a distance. Your boat captain should know the distance. On the beach, it is pupping season, so do not approach seals there, either. Some Tourons were videod harrassing seals and they got in trouble with the feds.

If you are surfing Waikiki beach, no problem. Other places, respect the locals or you could get a beat down.

NEVER turn your back to the ocean.

That's interesting about the sea turtles. We actually went snorkeling in Oahu this time last year in an area with huge sea turtles. The boat specifically took us out to this area because of the turtles. Several of them were swimming with us. Would post pictures but they are on another device.

Spent a week in Oahu with all of the family at a great Arbo, Then just the wife and I spent another week in Maui at our friends home who live in Kihei. I enjoy visiting, but could never live there. I literally drove our rented Jeep around the entire island in a couple days. Taking the hardtop and doors off a Jeep are a PITA, then you have to figure out where to put them. I did it once in 70K on my own personal Jeep.(the Front tops are easy though)

[flatbutt]

This hike can be a butt kicker. It took me a full day in and out. Going in to the waterfall was totally worth the effort.

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/hiking/kauai/kalalau-trail/

[2porscheguy]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

This hike can be a butt kicker. It took me a full day in and out. Going in to the waterfall was totally worth the effort.

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/hiking/kauai/kalalau-trail/

I definitely concur....fantastic scenery to be had around every corner!
BUT, make sure to book your shuttle to the North shore well in advance as you can no longer drive and park there in your rental.

[rockfan4]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

Ahhh, the local PCA had a breakfast today, and members were free to go on a drive afterwards. It was noted on the email, the drive is not a sanctioned PCA event. lol

Actually it was on Feb 25 when I saw the convoy.

One other tip. My brother led us the first night there to Wiki Wiki Cheeseburger in the Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki. Good burgers, Mai Tais and Pina Colotas. Plus Waikiki Brewing beers on tap, $5 a pint all day long. I kind of like this one.