Author Topic: Trip to Hawaii  (Read 5337 times)

FireAnt

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Trip to Hawaii
« on: March 31, 2019, 11:19:01 AM »
So I found a deal to Hawaii from Detroit for $360 so I got it! We'll be in the Big Island for 7 nights (3 in Kona, and 4 in Hilo but I'm flexible on this) and 4 nights in Kauai. I would love to hear tips to make it "MMM approved". We are going to stay in Airbnb's that includes a kitchen so we can make some of our meals. Car rental prices seem extremely expensive-- even more than Iceland.

Neustache

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #1 on: March 31, 2019, 12:56:55 PM »
We just got back from the big island. Hilo is wet and very tropical it'll probably rain there daily, but it is very pretty. Kona is dry and hot. It has a lot of resorts but the areas surrounding the resorts are lava fields and dead grass for the most part. I can't give you a lot of advice on keeping it cheap. We did a terrible time of it!

FireAnt

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #2 on: March 31, 2019, 04:41:44 PM »
We just got back from the big island. Hilo is wet and very tropical it'll probably rain there daily, but it is very pretty. Kona is dry and hot. It has a lot of resorts but the areas surrounding the resorts are lava fields and dead grass for the most part. I can't give you a lot of advice on keeping it cheap. We did a terrible time of it!

Did you love it though? It looks beautiful!

SwordGuy

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #3 on: March 31, 2019, 06:50:08 PM »
Green sand beach on the south-east coast of the big island.  You may need to rent a jeep to get to it, or maybe the roads are better now.

Black sand beach with green sand scatterings on the southern cape of the big island.   

If the volcano is erupting, go see it.   It's worth it.

Kauai has the huge canyon on it.  Well worth going to see.

Telecaster

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #4 on: March 31, 2019, 07:06:57 PM »
So I found a deal to Hawaii from Detroit for $360 so I got it! We'll be in the Big Island for 7 nights (3 in Kona, and 4 in Hilo but I'm flexible on this) and 4 nights in Kauai. I would love to hear tips to make it "MMM approved". We are going to stay in Airbnb's that includes a kitchen so we can make some of our meals. Car rental prices seem extremely expensive-- even more than Iceland.

That's interesting.  I've never found car rentals to be particularly expensive in Hawaii.   Anyway, I can't help with Kauai, but the key to a successful Big Island trip is a Costco membership.  Costco in Hawaii is only slightly more expensive than Costco on the mainland so load up on all your staples there, first thing after landing.     I probably wouldn't get a Costco membership for one trip, but if you are considering it, this might be the tipping point.   An essential is the basic, cheapo, white Styrofoam cooler.   They work great, are cheap, and you can leave it behind when you are done.  This will allow you to pack lunches, drinks, etc.   "Stuff" in general is expensive in Hawaii, but presumably you won't be buying a lot of stuff. 

The appeal of the Big Island is nature.  So hiking, seeing the volcanoes, beaches, etc.  All that stuff is cheap.   Despite what you might of heard, Big Island has amazing, uncrowded, white sand beaches.   But you might have to walk/hike a bit to see them.  For example, one of my faves is Makalawena Beach, but you have to walk a mile from the parking lot.   But if you make it that far you'll share a gorgeous Hawaiian beach (actually three beaches) with very few other people.   

Other than that, I don't have any special tips other than to have fun.  Hawaii is truely a special place.  Make sure to enjoy it while you are there.


Neustache

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #5 on: March 31, 2019, 08:30:39 PM »
We just got back from the big island. Hilo is wet and very tropical it'll probably rain there daily, but it is very pretty. Kona is dry and hot. It has a lot of resorts but the areas surrounding the resorts are lava fields and dead grass for the most part. I can't give you a lot of advice on keeping it cheap. We did a terrible time of it!

Did you love it though? It looks beautiful!

We are already planning our next trip back!  My husband especially loved it. 

mspym

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #6 on: March 31, 2019, 11:40:33 PM »
We went to the Big Island last year and it was gorgeous. We didn't spend much time at all in Kona - the combo of lava-moonscape & resorts wasn't our thing- but the whole east side was amazing. We had an airbnb in Waipio Valley which was ridiculously stunning and then one outside Hilo. We ate out once a day or so - because delicious food is part of why we travel - and made the rest at the airbnbs. Prepackaged goods were expensive but locally grown produce and meat wasn't.

FireAnt

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #7 on: April 01, 2019, 07:00:28 AM »
So I found a deal to Hawaii from Detroit for $360 so I got it! We'll be in the Big Island for 7 nights (3 in Kona, and 4 in Hilo but I'm flexible on this) and 4 nights in Kauai. I would love to hear tips to make it "MMM approved". We are going to stay in Airbnb's that includes a kitchen so we can make some of our meals. Car rental prices seem extremely expensive-- even more than Iceland.

That's interesting.  I've never found car rentals to be particularly expensive in Hawaii.   Anyway, I can't help with Kauai, but the key to a successful Big Island trip is a Costco membership.  Costco in Hawaii is only slightly more expensive than Costco on the mainland so load up on all your staples there, first thing after landing.     I probably wouldn't get a Costco membership for one trip, but if you are considering it, this might be the tipping point.   An essential is the basic, cheapo, white Styrofoam cooler.   They work great, are cheap, and you can leave it behind when you are done.  This will allow you to pack lunches, drinks, etc.   "Stuff" in general is expensive in Hawaii, but presumably you won't be buying a lot of stuff. 

The appeal of the Big Island is nature.  So hiking, seeing the volcanoes, beaches, etc.  All that stuff is cheap.   Despite what you might of heard, Big Island has amazing, uncrowded, white sand beaches.   But you might have to walk/hike a bit to see them.  For example, one of my faves is Makalawena Beach, but you have to walk a mile from the parking lot.   But if you make it that far you'll share a gorgeous Hawaiian beach (actually three beaches) with very few other people.   

Other than that, I don't have any special tips other than to have fun.  Hawaii is truely a special place.  Make sure to enjoy it while you are there.

We already have a Costco membership so that's great! I hear gas there is cheaper too, like other Costco's. I am a little hesitant in buying food at a Costco during a trip since it's only 2 of us. But we'll figure that out. Car rentals right now are expensive but I'm anticipating the price will go down; it's being tracked on autoslash.com. I'm hoping these initial costs will be offset by the free/cheap activities you mentioned- that's all we really care about. We aren't really "go on tours with a bunch of people" kind of people. Thanks for your input!

FireAnt

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #8 on: April 01, 2019, 07:02:58 AM »
We went to the Big Island last year and it was gorgeous. We didn't spend much time at all in Kona - the combo of lava-moonscape & resorts wasn't our thing- but the whole east side was amazing. We had an airbnb in Waipio Valley which was ridiculously stunning and then one outside Hilo. We ate out once a day or so - because delicious food is part of why we travel - and made the rest at the airbnbs. Prepackaged goods were expensive but locally grown produce and meat wasn't.

Kona seems like a good base to go to all the other places in that area like the green sand, coffee plantations, and the beaches in the Kohana area.

That's how we plan to eat as well. It's worked out well for us and I don't want to stress about cooking everyday... this is vacation. I plan to take full advantage of the fresh produce and meat/fish at farmers markets and I'm so excited. My husband thinks I'm weird I'm looking forward to going to the Farmers Markets haha.

radram

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #9 on: April 01, 2019, 11:54:08 AM »
So I found a deal to Hawaii from Detroit for $360 so I got it! We'll be in the Big Island for 7 nights (3 in Kona, and 4 in Hilo but I'm flexible on this) and 4 nights in Kauai. I would love to hear tips to make it "MMM approved". We are going to stay in Airbnb's that includes a kitchen so we can make some of our meals. Car rental prices seem extremely expensive-- even more than Iceland.

Great deal on the airfare! You will have a wonderful time. We went last summer from June 25-July 4th. I bought a package through Orbitz with air, condo, and car for just over $4,000 for 4 of us. They upgraded the car for free to a Vespa and there were only 2 times more power would have been needed to go further on our trip.

Food is more expensive, but like you we made several meals. We had great luck buying from the local farmers markets and cooking at home. Lychee's were a real hit for our family. Several fruits I have never seen and were fun to try.

We didn't even try to "see it all", and we didn't. There is plenty to see and do without spending a lot of money. We stayed on the Kona side the entire time, with the exception of a 1 day trip all the way around the island, and day trips to specific locations. It was a long day around the island, but nowhere else in the world can you visit 10 climates in a day. It was amazing. We saw and greatly enjoyed a lot of things on the Hilo side, but could have spent days there (days EVERYWHERE, in fact). The highlight for me on the Hilo side was the ‘Akaka falls and Rainbow Falls right in town.

When looking, you might want to price places by the week. You might get 7 nights for the price of 3 or 4. For us, EVERYWHERE we went was paradise. We also prefer finding a home base and spreading out as we go, rather than hop from place to place. I think both methods can be great on the big island.

Some cheap highlights you might consider(Focusing on the West side of the Island, where we spent most of our time):

Snorkeling - Free from shore. We bought gear at Wal-Mart. For us just putzing around, it worked great. We lost 1 mask to the ocean, but gained 1 flipper, so I guess the garbage gods might say I am even :(  We have a non-swimmer in the family. She skipped Two-Step, but it was fantastic. She was able to snorkel at Kahaluʻu Beach. We stayed less than 10 minutes from there, and went several times. Very shallow and calm in low tide. 1 face to face with a swimming sea turtle. No dolphins for us, but they are in the area regularly. We swam around SEVERAL boats that charge to take you snorkeling. We wanted to hit Captain Cook, but ran out of time. We just left the snorkel gear behind for the next family.

Boogie boarding - There were free ones to use at our condo! Magic sands beach was the best place for us to swim and boogie board. 5 minutes from out condo, great in high or low tide.  Great fun, and very easy to get started compared to surfing. I would have bought a board at Wal-Mart and left it behind if we didn't have one to use. I would go a step up from the cheapest or 1 good wave could snap it.

Manta-Ray watching - Again, we were 5-15 a minute drive from a great location. Go to Rays on the Bay at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort in the evening. Stop by for a drink, or just walk around the hotel. They have a lighted viewing area where you can get a great look at the rays as well as look at all the paying ray swimmers. The shores of the big island are public. Privater beaches are not allowed. For this reason, you can enter the water anywhere. If you want to swim with the Rays, just get in the water and swim with them. I was quite content watching them from the hotel viewing area but I would have just gotten in before paying $100 to swim with them after a 100 foot boat ride.

Tour a coffee plantation - Pay tours and free tours are available. If you can not find a free one, ask vendors at the farmers market. We were invited several times to tour the vendors place. We were always "too busy", but we would have loved to meet them there a few days after meeting them. One of the interesting things about the island is that "dirt" is a big deal. Many people grow right on the rock, but if you have soil on your land, you can better grow things on the island. Elevation is critical to what grows where. I have a garden and this would have been a lot of fun to see.

Hiking - One of my favorites was hiking one of the steepest roads in the world at Waipio Rd., Honokaa, Hawaii. When you reach the bottom, you can go right to reach the beach. But FIRST, take a left and walk about 10 -15 minutes to get a good look at Hi'ilawe Falls, the longest waterfall on the island. Then head to the beach, about a 20 minute walk the other direction. Wild horses will as you for some food. A great place to swim, but the current can be strong there, so I would only head in waist high and watch the tide. Heading back up the hill was a challenge. Bring more water than you feel you need.

Star gazing - Drive to the observation center on MaunaKea. 9200 ft. They have planned stargazing nights. To go higher, you need 4wd and a contract from your rental company that says you can go there, or hitch a ride from the center. Our daughter felt funny at 9000 ft, so we did not attempt to keep going. I still loved my time at the center. BRING A BLANKET. We could see moving satellites with the naked eye.

Luau - We thought it was not going to be worth the money. Instead, we went to a free Hula and fire dance at Mauna Lani shopping center. I do not see the twice weekly show listed now. It might be seasonal, so they might return. I thought it was great.
Here is a good link to cultural events, some are free. https://www.lovebigisland.com/luau-hula-big-island/?highlight=luau We used this site to plan MANY of our days.

Vanilla Bean farm - This was paid and very near Kona airport. I found it fascinating. Very expensive beans to buy after your tour(we didn't). There was another, more expensive tour elsewhere on the island. Our tour was very small, and just our family. I enjoyed it, but at $45 for the 4 of us, it was one of the more expensive things we did on the island. I believe it was worth the money. You might not have the time.

Lava - We went during the great eruption last year. It was one of the reasons we went, figuring people would stay away. We were right. We could not get anywhere near lava without a helicopter. We passed. Locals were very hesitant to point out placed to see lava. It was destroying homes and was considered very disrespectful to go to see the destruction. Ask locals where to go. If it is safe and not destructive they will tell you where to go.


Keep us posted, and return with your results :)

Thank you for reminding me of our trip. It really was one of the few travel destinations where I could instantly picture moving there. It was a site to see.

leavesofgrass

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #10 on: April 01, 2019, 11:58:33 AM »
This is a great site for booking rental cars in Hawaii. I've used it the last 3 times I've traveled to Hawaii. Check the site frequently as prices can drop, and you can simply cancel your old reservation and book a new one.

https://www.discounthawaiicarrental.com/

Also, this site very useful for accurate weather forecasts:

https://www.hawaiiweathertoday.com/

Telecaster

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #11 on: April 01, 2019, 12:15:57 PM »

Boogie boarding - There were free ones to use at our condo! Magic sands beach was the best place for us to swim and boogie board. 5 minutes from out condo, great in high or low tide.  Great fun, and very easy to get started compared to surfing. I would have bought a board at Wal-Mart and left it behind if we didn't have one to use. I would go a step up from the cheapest or 1 good wave could snap it.

I was going to mention most condos have a box where people can leave their stuff for the next visitor (not sure about AirBnBs).   They often have stuff like boogie boards and styrofoam coolers.   

Also, it is fairly common for individual condos to provide stuff like boogie boards and snorkel gear as a guest amenity.   The OP might get lucky and get a place that is equipped with all that stuff already.  So check first before buying anything. 

Additionally, you can rent snorkel gear for cheap.  It is like $10/week, something like that.  Same with boogie boards.   I loved going for a snorkel first thing the morning.   It makes the whole rest of the day feel great. 

One essential is the bamboo mats for the beach.   Once you try it, you'll never go back.  They sell them everywhere and they likely have a few in the box at the condo. 

Quote
Thank you for reminding me of our trip. It really was one of the few travel destinations where I could instantly picture moving there. It was a site to see.

Likewise.  I have fantasies about becoming a gentleman coffee farmer in retirement.   The crazy part is that real estate on the Big Island isn't particularly expensive. 
« Last Edit: April 01, 2019, 01:26:51 PM by Telecaster »

FireAnt

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #12 on: April 01, 2019, 01:19:52 PM »
So I found a deal to Hawaii from Detroit for $360 so I got it! We'll be in the Big Island for 7 nights (3 in Kona, and 4 in Hilo but I'm flexible on this) and 4 nights in Kauai. I would love to hear tips to make it "MMM approved". We are going to stay in Airbnb's that includes a kitchen so we can make some of our meals. Car rental prices seem extremely expensive-- even more than Iceland.

Great deal on the airfare! You will have a wonderful time. We went last summer from June 25-July 4th. I bought a package through Orbitz with air, condo, and car for just over $4,000 for 4 of us. They upgraded the car for free to a Vespa and there were only 2 times more power would have been needed to go further on our trip.

Food is more expensive, but like you we made several meals. We had great luck buying from the local farmers markets and cooking at home. Lychee's were a real hit for our family. Several fruits I have never seen and were fun to try.

We didn't even try to "see it all", and we didn't. There is plenty to see and do without spending a lot of money. We stayed on the Kona side the entire time, with the exception of a 1 day trip all the way around the island, and day trips to specific locations. It was a long day around the island, but nowhere else in the world can you visit 10 climates in a day. It was amazing. We saw and greatly enjoyed a lot of things on the Hilo side, but could have spent days there (days EVERYWHERE, in fact). The highlight for me on the Hilo side was the ‘Akaka falls and Rainbow Falls right in town.

When looking, you might want to price places by the week. You might get 7 nights for the price of 3 or 4. For us, EVERYWHERE we went was paradise. We also prefer finding a home base and spreading out as we go, rather than hop from place to place. I think both methods can be great on the big island.

Some cheap highlights you might consider(Focusing on the West side of the Island, where we spent most of our time):

Snorkeling - Free from shore. We bought gear at Wal-Mart. For us just putzing around, it worked great. We lost 1 mask to the ocean, but gained 1 flipper, so I guess the garbage gods might say I am even :(  We have a non-swimmer in the family. She skipped Two-Step, but it was fantastic. She was able to snorkel at Kahaluʻu Beach. We stayed less than 10 minutes from there, and went several times. Very shallow and calm in low tide. 1 face to face with a swimming sea turtle. No dolphins for us, but they are in the area regularly. We swam around SEVERAL boats that charge to take you snorkeling. We wanted to hit Captain Cook, but ran out of time. We just left the snorkel gear behind for the next family.

Boogie boarding - There were free ones to use at our condo! Magic sands beach was the best place for us to swim and boogie board. 5 minutes from out condo, great in high or low tide.  Great fun, and very easy to get started compared to surfing. I would have bought a board at Wal-Mart and left it behind if we didn't have one to use. I would go a step up from the cheapest or 1 good wave could snap it.

Manta-Ray watching - Again, we were 5-15 a minute drive from a great location. Go to Rays on the Bay at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort in the evening. Stop by for a drink, or just walk around the hotel. They have a lighted viewing area where you can get a great look at the rays as well as look at all the paying ray swimmers. The shores of the big island are public. Privater beaches are not allowed. For this reason, you can enter the water anywhere. If you want to swim with the Rays, just get in the water and swim with them. I was quite content watching them from the hotel viewing area but I would have just gotten in before paying $100 to swim with them after a 100 foot boat ride.

Tour a coffee plantation - Pay tours and free tours are available. If you can not find a free one, ask vendors at the farmers market. We were invited several times to tour the vendors place. We were always "too busy", but we would have loved to meet them there a few days after meeting them. One of the interesting things about the island is that "dirt" is a big deal. Many people grow right on the rock, but if you have soil on your land, you can better grow things on the island. Elevation is critical to what grows where. I have a garden and this would have been a lot of fun to see.

Hiking - One of my favorites was hiking one of the steepest roads in the world at Waipio Rd., Honokaa, Hawaii. When you reach the bottom, you can go right to reach the beach. But FIRST, take a left and walk about 10 -15 minutes to get a good look at Hi'ilawe Falls, the longest waterfall on the island. Then head to the beach, about a 20 minute walk the other direction. Wild horses will as you for some food. A great place to swim, but the current can be strong there, so I would only head in waist high and watch the tide. Heading back up the hill was a challenge. Bring more water than you feel you need.

Star gazing - Drive to the observation center on MaunaKea. 9200 ft. They have planned stargazing nights. To go higher, you need 4wd and a contract from your rental company that says you can go there, or hitch a ride from the center. Our daughter felt funny at 9000 ft, so we did not attempt to keep going. I still loved my time at the center. BRING A BLANKET. We could see moving satellites with the naked eye.

Luau - We thought it was not going to be worth the money. Instead, we went to a free Hula and fire dance at Mauna Lani shopping center. I do not see the twice weekly show listed now. It might be seasonal, so they might return. I thought it was great.
Here is a good link to cultural events, some are free. https://www.lovebigisland.com/luau-hula-big-island/?highlight=luau We used this site to plan MANY of our days.

Vanilla Bean farm - This was paid and very near Kona airport. I found it fascinating. Very expensive beans to buy after your tour(we didn't). There was another, more expensive tour elsewhere on the island. Our tour was very small, and just our family. I enjoyed it, but at $45 for the 4 of us, it was one of the more expensive things we did on the island. I believe it was worth the money. You might not have the time.

Lava - We went during the great eruption last year. It was one of the reasons we went, figuring people would stay away. We were right. We could not get anywhere near lava without a helicopter. We passed. Locals were very hesitant to point out placed to see lava. It was destroying homes and was considered very disrespectful to go to see the destruction. Ask locals where to go. If it is safe and not destructive they will tell you where to go.


Keep us posted, and return with your results :)

Thank you for reminding me of our trip. It really was one of the few travel destinations where I could instantly picture moving there. It was a site to see.

You're reminder of the trip is my spark of EXCITEMENT for the amazing sites I'll be seeing come September. Some of these are already on my list and some were new. I love to garden so the coffee plantation is a must (also, I am a coffee snob). I've been eying the vanilla farms as well. The places we're staying also all have beach and snorkeling stuff so that will hopefully save us a few dollars as well. It sounds like we need a month to see everything there is in this island... one week isn't enough which is wild since it's a small island.

I haven't done a ton of research on Muana Lea, but I'm getting conflicting information on this- some say you need a tour (which is $220/pp!), some day to drive. If you drive, some say a small car is fine, and others say you need a 4x4.

Thank you for all the resources!

GreenToTheCore

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #13 on: April 01, 2019, 02:48:57 PM »
Kudos, the Big Island is my favorite (less people, more outdoors)
First things first: You want to eat like a local? You get Poke. Between KTA and Foodland, you get poke at KTA.
Also, Da Poke Shack. It's delicious. Definitely get some tako, don't worry about the suckers, they're chewy but tasty.

In all seriousness though, Costco is the only way to go for all other food (I'm looking at you, milk). Consider looking into "eating locally", it'll be less-expensive and give you more of an island experience. What I mean is, don't just make dishes that you usually make at home (pork, beef, cereal, etc.). Think about if it had to get shipped to the island or if they grew/raised it there. There are a lot of food options that come straight from the very fertile ground. --> Farmers markets for the win.
Ideas: musubi for breakfast or snacks, papaya w/ a squirt of lime, local fish (don't order salmon), "apple" bananas, the avocados are the best you'll ever have (and they're everywhere when in season), lilikoi, coconut milk (curries are a great/easy meal), ... oh man, I'm hungry.

Green sand beach on the south-east coast of the big island.  You may need to rent a jeep to get to it, or maybe the roads are better now.
Please consider hiking in. It's 3 miles, ~1hr of hiking. By walking along the coast, it's a great way to experience the ocean and it'll give you deeper understanding of the uniqueness of the bay.
There is no regulation on the "jeep tours" (aka locals making a buck off of lazy tourists) and they have deeply scarred the terrain (look at Google satellite images). Not to mention they've increased the amount of people while decreased the effort needed to get to this place --> decrease in respect for the area, increase in trash and scaring.


The appeal of the Big Island is nature. So hiking, seeing the volcanoes, beaches, etc.  All that stuff is cheap.   Despite what you might of heard, Big Island has amazing, uncrowded, white sand beaches.   But you might have to walk/hike a bit to see them.  For example, one of my faves is Makalawena Beach, but you have to walk a mile from the parking lot.   But if you make it that far you'll share a gorgeous Hawaiian beach (actually three beaches) with very few other people.   

Other than that, I don't have any special tips other than to have fun.  Hawaii is truely a special place.  Make sure to enjoy it while you are there.
Telecaster knows what he's talking about. He's also given you a gift in mentioning Maks. It is a wonderful place.


+1 for:
- Rainbow Falls
- Boogie boarding
- Snorkeling
- Waipi'o
- Star gazing

More things:
- Kalopa State Recreation Area. It's a nature walk with an amazing follow-along guide that delves into rain forest facts, plant types, animal species...
- All beaches are public. A great way to experience the diversity in coastal terrain is to park at a resort and start walking down the beach in a direction. You'll find sandy beaches, rocky beaches, tide pools, lava flows, etc.
- Volcanoes NP is a great area. Could easily spend 3 days hiking around.
- Pe‘epe‘e Falls. It's near Rainbow Falls, might as well stop by since it's gorgeous and has an interesting Hawaiian story behind it.
- KTA is a great place to pick up an extra pair of slippers (flip-flops)
- When you get a shave ice (not a snow cone), ask for vanilla ice cream in the middle
- If you have extra time, research invasive species (plants and animals). A lot of the quintessential plants are invasive; it's crazy to think that the island was mosquito free until relatively recently; The story of how mongooses came to the island is a sad comedy of errors.


Not that I think you need this, but just because it's such a beautiful place and the internet is a wide open space:
Leave No Trace    |    Pack it in/Pack it out    |     Leave a place better than how you found it

- Don't take sand from beaches. All the colors are beautiful. Take a picture, leave the sand.
- Toilet paper does not disintegrate like we think it does. If you find yourself in a pickle, which is guaranteed if you're out exploring, bring a ziplock for easy/smell-free storage until you're back near a trash can.
- An extra grocery bag in the car is a quick/easy way to collect extra trash until you're back near a facility.
- Don't carve anything into anything
- Don't touch sea turtles, admire from a distance


Most of all, Enjoy!!
« Last Edit: April 01, 2019, 02:52:18 PM by GreenToTheCore »

FireAnt

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #14 on: April 02, 2019, 07:12:03 AM »
I don't mind hiking at all. One of my favorite beaches along Lake Michigan coast is about a mile hike. Hard to do when it's a humid day, but makes it worth it once you arrive. Refreshing and not so crowded (usually!).

Loving all the suggestions. One week seems barely enough for a small island.

Neustache

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #15 on: April 03, 2019, 05:24:26 AM »
When we go back we plan on going for two weeks.  I can send you a link to my husband's blog about vacation if you'd like so you can see all we did.  Sounds like we still missed a lot!!


FireAnt

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #16 on: April 03, 2019, 07:00:26 AM »
Yeah I'm interested Neustache! So much to see- glad I have the time to plan this out well.


Silly question... Being totally honest, my husband and I have NEVER snorkeled in our lives haha. Do you recommend a tour/service for our first time or could we just figure it out ourselves? I think all of our airbnb's have snorkeling equipment and I heard that you can rent stuff at Boss Frogs.

radram

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #17 on: April 03, 2019, 07:04:47 AM »
Yeah I'm interested Neustache! So much to see- glad I have the time to plan this out well.


Silly question... Being totally honest, my husband and I have NEVER snorkeled in our lives haha. Do you recommend a tour/service for our first time or could we just figure it out ourselves? I think all of our airbnb's have snorkeling equipment and I heard that you can rent stuff at Boss Frogs.

Definitely just grab the gear and jump in. And SUNSCREEN. 1 hour in the morning(9:00) face down in the water and I had a burn that I felt the rest of the trip. I could still function fine, but 15-20 more minutes and I would have had a problem.

FireAnt

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #18 on: April 03, 2019, 08:44:36 AM »
Yeah I'm interested Neustache! So much to see- glad I have the time to plan this out well.


Silly question... Being totally honest, my husband and I have NEVER snorkeled in our lives haha. Do you recommend a tour/service for our first time or could we just figure it out ourselves? I think all of our airbnb's have snorkeling equipment and I heard that you can rent stuff at Boss Frogs.

Definitely just grab the gear and jump in. And SUNSCREEN. 1 hour in the morning(9:00) face down in the water and I had a burn that I felt the rest of the trip. I could still function fine, but 15-20 more minutes and I would have had a problem.

Considering my husband is mostly bald, it sounds like we'll need a whole bottle of sunscreen just for this trip haha.
« Last Edit: April 03, 2019, 05:34:53 PM by FireAnt »

mm1970

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #19 on: April 03, 2019, 11:17:31 AM »
Agree to shopping at Costco, just be aware of how much you are buying.  We usually aimed to eat out once/ day.  I bought/ borrowed books about the local spots, so they generally would make recommendations on "locals" places to eat that were good and not atrociously expensive.

I feel like it was this book: (but older version, FB tells me we were there 8 years ago, waa!)

https://www.amazon.com/Hawaii-Dreamscapes-Revealed-Big-Island/dp/0971727961

BikeFanatic

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #20 on: April 03, 2019, 07:02:33 PM »
I took a Boat tour on kuaii the Napali coast. Nice snorkel area, many sea turtle and dolfins. It was expensive, But we were  a small group on a small raft and seeing the dolfins and whales close up were well worth it. Ever look a whale in the eye? I went in January one year and I think may the second time.  I do also remember hearing the humbacks sing in maui, just dive 2 feet down and you can hear them. Alos I wore a wet suit becuse the water is chilly.

I cant wait to go back. Another thing about thefood my wife looked up happy hour placeds, and we would eat breakfast late and have snacks like nuts and sandwiches, then hit  happy hour for lunch/dinner. Half price sushi at one bar.

Lastly be very careful where you swim. The currents are dangerous. ASk a local if you dont see anyone else in the water.

FINate

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #21 on: April 03, 2019, 07:46:04 PM »
Yeah I'm interested Neustache! So much to see- glad I have the time to plan this out well.


Silly question... Being totally honest, my husband and I have NEVER snorkeled in our lives haha. Do you recommend a tour/service for our first time or could we just figure it out ourselves? I think all of our airbnb's have snorkeling equipment and I heard that you can rent stuff at Boss Frogs.

Definitely just grab the gear and jump in. And SUNSCREEN. 1 hour in the morning(9:00) face down in the water and I had a burn that I felt the rest of the trip. I could still function fine, but 15-20 more minutes and I would have had a problem.

Considering my husband is mostly bald, it sounds like we'll need a whole bottle of sunscreen just for this trip haha.

Get a long sleeve sun shirt for the water and reduce the amount of sunscreen you're applying and leaching into the water. Hawaii has (or will soon?) ban certain sunscreen ingredients because it's toxic to coral.

JoJo

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #22 on: April 04, 2019, 04:46:34 PM »
I'm surprised to hear rental cars are so expensive - I used a corporate rate for 1 day rental and got them around $35/day will all taxes (not at airport).

I wrote up what I did with each of my 1 day on 4 different islands, maybe some of this is useful...  https://thehotflashpacker.com/hawaii/

FireAnt

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #23 on: April 04, 2019, 05:54:31 PM »
I'm surprised to hear rental cars are so expensive - I used a corporate rate for 1 day rental and got them around $35/day will all taxes (not at airport).

I wrote up what I did with each of my 1 day on 4 different islands, maybe some of this is useful...  https://thehotflashpacker.com/hawaii/

They can fluctuate drastically so I'm just going to keep checking them plus have them tracked on autoslash. Might have just looked at an expensive time. Thanks for the link- I love that pictures go along with it!

GreenToTheCore

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #24 on: March 06, 2020, 10:41:08 AM »
@FireAnt How was the trip?

Catbert

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #25 on: March 06, 2020, 03:34:21 PM »
Try Costco travel for rental cars.  An easy way to see several agencies and classes of cars on one screen.  Then check back periodically to see if prices have changed which they do frequently and randomly.  If you book through Costco you can get a second driver added for free.

FireAnt

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #26 on: March 06, 2020, 05:39:58 PM »
@FireAnt How was the trip?

It was a trip of a lifetime! We spent a week in Kona and 4 nights in Kauai. We had the perfect amount of time in Kauai and were so lucky that Ke'e beach opened up about a month before we arrived. It was beautiful. The helicopter ride there was the highlight of our trip. In Kona, 7 days was just not enough and I missed a few things I wanted to do. No Mauna Kea due to the protests and wanted to respect that. Also missed star gazing and green sand beaches. We snorkeled in both islands and both were absolutely amazing experience. It was a bit of a learning curve since it was our first time, but we enjoyed it immensely. Volcano National Park, tour a coffee plantation, waterfalls and breweries... loved it all.

I used a ton of the tips that was provided on this post. We ate out but also went to Costco to save money on food and gas. Da Poke Shack was closed the 2 days we tried to go-- I got so irritated haha. The rental car did go down on price. We stayed in airbnb's 2 of the 3 were great. The third one we had an issue but Airbnb took care of us and we ended up somewhere else the following 3 nights which overlooked the ocean and mountains in Kauai. The return home was brutal with the time change. I'd go again in a heartbeat!
« Last Edit: March 06, 2020, 05:44:10 PM by FireAnt »

FireAnt

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #27 on: March 06, 2020, 05:41:03 PM »
Try Costco travel for rental cars.  An easy way to see several agencies and classes of cars on one screen.  Then check back periodically to see if prices have changed which they do frequently and randomly.  If you book through Costco you can get a second driver added for free.

I did this but then put the reservation number into Autoslash . com and it tracks it for you. Price went down substantially.

GreenToTheCore

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Re: Trip to Hawaii
« Reply #28 on: March 08, 2020, 10:56:44 AM »
@FireAnt How was the trip?

It was a trip of a lifetime!
Fantastic, glad it all worked out!
Bummer about Da Poke Shack, Local Time is frustrating when you're on a short schedule.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!