Spinoff: if you could go anywhere in Hawaii, where would you go?

[Anonymous]

Piggybacking on the "anywhere in the world" post, we are planning our 10th anniversary next year and would like to do a special trip without the kids. We are still kicking ideas around but I'm pretty sure we'll end up with Hawaii, as I've never been, DH hasn't been for a long time, and we have oodles of miles on American Airlines (hope they still do that a year from now!)

So if you could go anywhere in Hawaii, where would it be? I am interested in any and all suggestions and in particular, names of specific hotels/resorts people have stayed at and thought were really spectacular.

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

What do you like/want to do?

[Anonymous]

I would spend a week in Hana, Maui at the fancy hotel there -- I can't remember the name. Then I would spend a week on big island or where ever the live volcano activity is. Hana is peaceful, quiet, small, and private. It is close to the 7 sacred pools. We found a small nude beach described in our guidebook. A few famous people are buried near Hana. We saw a sea lion that had waddled up onto a beach and snored peacefully while locals and tourists swam and played in the water. We did not do any volcano watching while we were there -- next trip!

One proviso, it is a LONG drive on a coastal winding road. Or it is a flight in a tin can of a plane to get there.

[Anonymous]

OP here - I'd want to spend time on the beach, staying at a nice hotel, maybe a little hiking someplace pretty but nothing too intense. I'd really love to see volcanoes...

We like cultural activities, nature, beaches, restaurants....the usual.

[Anonymous]

Kauai is really quiet. I'd skip Oahu, or do it first if you want to see Pearl Harbor. Otherwise it's a shock after the other islands.

There was recently a thread (within the last month) about Hawaii, should be pretty easy to find in the archives.

[Anonymous]

If you like volcanoes, the place to be is Hawaii, big island. Maybe a trip over to Maui to cycle down the volcano over there, but the active volcano is on the big island. I really like Kona, but never got to spend the night. Stayed on the dry side of Hawaii, can't remember the town name, but most of the resorts are on the dry side and a couple nights in Hilo, the wet side. Dry side for beaches, wet side for rain forest, real city.

I have only been to Hawaii (big island) and Maui, but if I were going back I would head back to the big island.

[Anonymous]

Kauai and Maui probably have the best beaches. But if you want to see volcanoes (non-dormant), or maybe even some lava flows, you would have to go to the Big Island. Maui has Haleakala where you can see the rare Silversword plant, Nene goose and Keck telescopes. Kauai has Waimea Canyon (Grand Canyon of the Pacific) and the Fern Grotto. Pearl Harbor, Iolani Palaces and Diamond Head are on Oahu. Maui, the Big Island and Oahu all have world class hotels and sporting activities. You can find luaus and hulu dancing in many places.

[Anonymous]

Kauai is my favorite place on earth. I haven't found the perfect hotel there, though. On Maui, the Kea Lani is amazing. But pricey.

[Anonymous]

Big Island! you can the volcano bit on onepart of the idsland and then the resorty beaches on the other side. We stayed at the Mauna lani and it was so nice. Get a jeep, and drive around. We did hte first bit at the volcano (2 nights?) and stayed at a B&B and hiked around the volcano.

[Anonymous]

PP -- The hotel in Hana is the Hotel Hana-Maui, and it is fabulous. Next to the small village of Hana and otherwise surrounded by thousands of acres of open space. The flight in is not for the faint of heart (I've flown on a lot of small planes and the landing was one of the most memorable). It's not for those who want night life, though.

[Anonymous]

If you want to see an active Volcano, then I think the Big Island is the only real option. BUT, the Big Island has rocky beaches of volcanic rock and obsidian, while Maui and the neighbor islands have the wide, sandy stretches that people fantasize about. How much time do you have? With a week, you could split your time between Maui and the Big Island. On Maui, I'm a big fan of Kaanapali Beach and the Lahaina area.

[Anonymous]

Big Island also has some awesome beaches, like Hapuna.

[Anonymous]

Four Seasons on the big Island--I went there for my honeymoon and didn't want to leave!!

[Anonymous]

I second Maui and Big Island. On the BI I would stay at the Four Seasons. We've stayed twice at the Fairmount, which was awesome, but the Four Seasons is even better. Kauai is very pretty but I thought kind of overrated, and Oahu is busy, crowded, and not worth the trip. BI and Maui are AMAZING.