hawaii lodging
 

Where do you all stay when you're there? What's the best island to stay on? We'd rather have a small secluded thing than a big resort thing
TIA.:)

Stick to the Poipu area of Kauai. Best region in all the Islands, IMHO!

We stayed in a house that I found on craigslist last February. It was on Oahu in an area called Kailua. The house was expensive but, we split it with another couple and made most of our meals at home. The house backed onto a canal which led to the beach. It also had a pool which was great for the little ones. It turned out to be cheaper than the last trip there in 2001 when we stayed in an average hotel and didn't have kids.

I stayed at Wai'napapa, near Hana on Maui, not far from the 7 pools

Had decent little cabins when I was there, kitchenette and all. Last trip got the reservations and we got cancelled due to Dengue Fever(no, seriously, Dengue Fever)So you may want to get a back up

Hawaii State Parks

they have camping at a few of them, depends on how rustic you want to get

I own a timeshare at the Beachboy on Kauai. I bought it because it is centrally located on the island and I like both ends of the island. Basically there is one road that leads 3/4 around the island, gotta drive back and forth. Can't get across the Na Pali Coast - too rugged to make a road.

Poipu is on the southern end. Princeville is on the northern end - very nice, no question but VERY "resort-ish". Further north and where you MUST visit is Hanalei.

Basically, it is too great to describe, you gotta go there. They refer to "a Land called Hanalei" in Puff the Magic Dragon and they used the Na Pali Coast in King Kong, Shangra La and Jurassic Park. You KNOW its beautiful.

Motion - Much as I love Poipu and Koloa Town (gassy - think Old Town Hawaii - Sugarcane town) you prefer it to Hanalei? All those one lane bridges and remote beaches? Tunnels beach, etc?

gassy - MUST take one ofthe Na Pali Coast tours. Take the Zodiac boats if the weather forecast is good and you/your significant other are other than sedentary old farts. Too beautiful, too much fun and waay cheaper than the helicopters.

gassy, Just to give you an idea, this was in Mid August this year on the beach north of Hanlei:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1161792036.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1161792102.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1161792187.jpg

P.S. If you've never been to Hawaii you'll want to see Oahu...once. Waikiki Beach, Pearl, etc. I've only ever heard great things about Maui. Once I got to Kauai I knew I'd found paradise. I've been 4 times in the last 6 years. Next time I will go to Molokai - the old leper colony. Like you, I prefer the quiet and beautiful over clubs/nightlife.

Dan,

Hanelei is absolutely gorgeous, as is Princeville, but.... the rain! It rains there every day (windward side). Sure, it clears up and you get sun, but the rain and clouds are almost always around. Poipu is sunny!