Anyone been to Hawaii? Got any advice?

So I'm looking to take my wife to Hawaii for our anniversary in September (Labor Day weekend) and didn't even know where to start. Southwest has some pretty good cheap flights, but I'm not sure on where to stay? Need good hotel options.

Should I go to Honolulu (Waikiki), or one of the other islands would be better? What are some things you'd recommend doing, or not doing?

If you've ever been, I'd love some input and advice. Thanks..!

 

2 months ago I went to Oahu, stayed on Waikiki Beach. A few years ago I went to Maui.

Waikiki is cool but it is more metropolitan than Maui from what I saw. The area around Waikiki has a lot of restaurants and shopping, lots of resorts and more of a commerce vibe. You can drive out to see North Shore which I enjoyed, or go hiking at several locations. Not sure if it has opened up more yet but most restaurants were closed still or working short hours, that made it hard to get a seat. Wait times over an hour were common. I quickly decided to eat at spots like Kono's and Zippy's, these are local fast food spots and very good(although the chips on Kono nachos were disappointing). Nobody wants to waste time on the island waiting in lines.

Maui had more of a natural feel, it has its share of resorts but going into town definitely had more of a mom and pop stores vibe than what I saw I Oahu. If I had to pick an island to visit again I would go back to Maui, I'm not looking for the night life or shopping.

Both have some nice beaches to visit, both are beautiful. Both are expensive, expect to spend money on things like parking even at your hotel.

Edit- Oh yeah, if they're still doing the covid checking, you'll need to find a test facility that is approved by Hawaii AND approved by your specific airline. For me Walgreens was open. I had to get tested within 72 hours of flight.

Also, when you get to your airport you will see a line near boarding gate. Get through that line to show your negative results and get a wristband. It will be fast. Alternatively you can get it on your arrival in Hawaii but the line is much longer and will eat vacation time. I haven't heard that this practice has been dropped so assuming it is the same as it was 2 months back. You'll save at least an hour.

 

Yeah, that's what I wasn't sure about for Waikiki, it being more of a modern "tourist" trap. I do like the idea of the more natural feel as you put it, not as "flashy", and for similar as you in not looking for a crazy night life and all that. Just want to relax and have fun, but the hiking and things does sound good. I dont just want to sit in a pool or on a beach, I can do that 2 hours from here. Although, the Texas coast is like sitting in a mud puddle compared to Hawaii. Ha.

 

Just added an edit thats important for saving time.

 

Thanks, I haven't even started to look into all the Covid regulations and all that, blah. At the rate that things are lightening up, especially here in Texas, maybe this crap will be over by September, ha. Thanks for the heads up.

 

Not sure how much time you have, but I may suggest trying several islands. A couple days around Honolulu is plenty for me, touristy stuff and probably snorkel at Hanauma Bay. Then Maui or Kauai etc. for 2-3. Then the big Island, Kona area is my fav.(dry side)to finish the week. I’ve been all over the Islands on vacations and it was part of my work territory for 10ish years, so I’ve poked around a fair bit. Most that end up going back multiple times, end up finding “their” place. Usually not near Honolulu. We’re I to go again, I’d head straight for the big Island and just relax, maybe take a day and explore around Honomu, lots of lush jungle and postcard worthy waterfalls near by.

 

I've only ever been to Oahu, so I can't speak of the other Island's offerings. Waikiki and Honolulu are basically like one big city depending on which side of the street you are on. I enjoyed going to the Arizona Memorial and driving around the Island in a rented Jeep. You can also rent a moped to get you around, but I don't recommend circling the island on it. Hanauma Bay is a MUST SEE!! You can hike up Diamond Head and get a great view on Honolulu from on high. See the North Shore to say you did (it's less crowded). Visit the Dole pineapple factory and taste the freshest sweetest pineapples ever. Hiking back to Waimea Falls feels like a jungle trek with an awesome waterfall and swimming hole at the end. Try the spam dishes and avoid eating the overpriced steak (you have better steak in Texas).

 

We've been 4 times, a close relative was based there for several years. All the islands that we've been to (Oahu, Maui, Big Island, and Kauai are great). I'd try to see a few islands while you are there, you can get relatively cheap flights between the islands. They all offer incredible scenery, but some are way busier than others. Kauai is by far our favorite. It's relatively laid back, compared to Oahu and Maui. Waimea Canyon and the Napoli Coast are unreal. We rented a house in Poipu and it was a perfect spot. I'd plan 3-4 days on Kauai. There are plenty of restaurants and shops (they do close a little earlier than Oahu and Maui), but it's certainly no where near as crowded.

The Big Island is pretty incredible as well, but there's not a ton to do, so I'd only stay there a few days. Volcano National Park was one of our top experiences. The beaches aren't as good as the other islands and expect to spend some time driving to the different "tourist" spots (black sand beach, green sand, 13K ft volcano, national park).

Maui is a nice mix of Oahu and Kauai. It's not quite as busy as Oahu, but way more busy than Kauai. There are tons of restaurants and shops and some pretty amazing scenery.

We liked Oahu, but we weren't in Wakiki all that much. We stayed on the east side by Lanikai and really liked it. Expect traffic though if you have to drive pretty much anywhere, and all the touristy spots will be packed. Unlimited amount of bars/restaurants/shops. Scenery is still unreal.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the islands, but they are all certainly different.

 

Well I was thinking to get there on a Sunday, and probably leave on Friday. So we'll be there a few days, but not sure if that's enough time to hop to another island, huh? I'd love to see Pearl Harbor and pay my respects. Thinking maybe a helicopter tour if you think those are worth it. Figure it would be a good way to see more quickly. I'm also really interested in seeing some of the Jurassic Park sites, ha. I know, I'm a nerd but my fav move. Other than that, it's just kind of whatever. I know I can't do everything.

What about hotel options? Is it worth it to stay in a nicer hotel, or are they all fairly nice and considering we probably wont be in ours much, is it better to go cheap and save money.

 

Outrigger Reef Waikiki is reasonable and right in the heart of the beach and city life.

 

I have been there numerous times for work. I also have a team in place working in Pearl Harbor. Be advised, we have to observe a 10 day quarantine upon arrival in Oahu. Mind you, this is for essential personnel. I'm not sure what the restriction is for tourists and I'm not sure when that restriction will be lifted. Oahu is very commercialized for tourists. Lots of things to do and see.

 

Are your hiring????? Would love to quarantine for 10 days in Oahu.

 

It isn't what you think it is. You can go to the grocery, doctor, or other necessary activities. A lot of restaurants were only serving "to go" last I checked. Otherwise, you are supposed to be in your hotel room. Trust me. It isn't fun.

 

As a matter of fact, we are. Maritime fleet maintenance is in need of tradesmen. There is no guarantee you'll be assigned to a project in Hawaii, though. Where I need people is where I send them.

 

From what I've just read, you just need to have a negative covid test within 72 hours of arriving. Other than that, there doesn't seem to be much else needed. @Darkness mentioned it above as well.

 

If you only have 5 days, I wouldn’t use one of them to travel to a different island / change hotels. Remember it’s a long day of travel to get there and you’ll want / need a day to take it easy so you don’t feel burned out on your own vacation.

In my opinion, Maui gives you the best overall experience of Hawaii. It has a little of everything and can definitely fill a week exploring.

Our top Hawaiian excursions/activities we’ve done are -

Road to Hana (and beyond) - Maui - must see / do IMO. Beautiful scenery and waterfalls, jungle rainforest, black sand beach, etc. Download a GPS tour app to hear about the history and culture as you drive around the island.

ATV tour in Waipio Valley - Big Island - amazing canyon with 1,000 ft plus waterfall, valley and black sand beach below. This place is unreal.

snorkeling at Captain Cook Monument - Big Island - marine sanctuary where Captain Cook was murdered - pretty cool place.

zip lining in Maui - we did the on one the volcano and the one in the jungle in Haiku. Both were great.

Mama’s Fish House - one of the best restaurants in the world near Paia on Maui. Make a reservation ASAP. Arrive a little early to enjoy the beach out front.

sunrise at the crater - bike down volcano - Maui - if you do this, do it your first day before you adjust to Hawaii time. You wake up at 3am and drive above the clouds on the Volcano to watch the sunrise from under the clouds then bike from 13k feet altitude back to sea level.

snorkeling Molokini crater - Maui - crystal clear water all the way to the ocean floor. Try to catch an early boat departure (or take the catamaran from Makena Beach) so you can get there before the other thousand tourists.

swimming with mantas - Big Island - I thought this was cool but my wife hated it. We went on a boat out of Kona at night that puts you in the ocean with massive manta rays while they eat. They use lights mounted on surfboards to attract the plankton and the mantas come in for a feast. FYI they’re huge.

 

I was there 25 years ago......things could have changed so take this with a grain of salt. I was there for 1 month and I spent 1 week on each island. I like Maui the best.

 

I'm a Mechanical Engineer now, but was a Nuke Electrician aboard submarines in the early 90's. 2 of my Oahu visits were in the Navy but a third was my Honeymoon. Pretty much all my sightseeing was done on the Honeymoon. I couldn't share much of my Navy visits on this website.

 

Do you think going that week of Labor Day is a bad idea? I know we've been other places that week and it was crazy with the amount of people on vacation that week. Think it would be fine, or is it pretty much always busy no matter when you go?

 

went a few years ago. Stayed on the BIG island for 8 days (7 Hilo / 1 Kona) Hilo was way cooler to me personally. Then flew to Oahu for 3 days staying on Waikiki, lots of people. Spent majority around north shore most of the time. Maybe just me, I prefer more of the local scene compared to the tourist areas. also went on a LOST (TV show) tour in Oahu. That was awesome! But, I'm a fan of the show

Def need to go back soon.

 

I was there last week of August thru the month of September and it was fine......Remember that was 25 years ago.
I definitely want to go back.

 

Went 2x for work, but many years ago. As others have said, O'ahu was very commercial. Nice places to eat, terrible traffic, but the north shore was very nice. Drive around island also very nice, good snorkeling.

My favorite was the big island. I stayed in Hilo at a mom and pop hotel with no AC - definitely more low key than O'ahu. Favorite part was hiking through Volcanoes National Park and making the drive to the top of Mauna Kea where the observatories are and watching the sunset. You go from sea level to 14k feet - surf to snow. Have to stop for an hour at the visitor station to acclimate.

No idea of current state of things due to COVID.

Have fun!

 

first thing first: see if you can book a rental car.
I heard of $2K rate for a week for a car rental.

if first time in Hawaii, Oahu checks most of the boxes imo.

 

I've been to Kauai and Oahu multiple times. Both very different feel as people have said. There is no shortage of things to do on Oahu but I actually like the noncrowded small island feel of Kauai much better. I like hanging out at the beach and relaxing all day. I go there to rest. Rent a 4x4 Jeep (I know it sucked) to go explore the beaches in Kauai. They have remote areas you can drive to

One thing I tell everyone is be prepared to spend a lot on food. Restaurants and grocery stores are extremely expensive over there. Other than that have fun!

 

I always liked staying at BnB in Lanikai/Kailua.
Very relaxing.
Lots of good food on Oahu.

 

One of my favorite beaches on Kauai if end up there
https://goo.gl/maps/XoieQ51XSXbCSUQq8

 

I think this ^ is a ready-made itinerary! I also appreciated the detailed suggestions @Darkness gave. And the reminder to research car reservations; in these pandemic times, there’s “scarcity” to contend with.

Everyone agrees that HI is really expensive. If you stay at a place with a kitchenette, and/or you’re willing to be creative with 1 or 2 meals each day so you can afford one really nice meal out, hitting up Costco after arrival (if easily accessible) is a good way to go. The prices are much more in line with what you’re used to than many other sources (almost all food staples are imported). Another creative, fairly inexpensive option on many islands, is to eat from food trucks— I’ve done this in many places… usually just us and local regulars— many of which offer fresh local food.

 

Costco is a great idea for the bigger islands for sure. Food trucks can be pricey too. On my last trip to Kauai I blindly ordered off a mexican food truck and got slapped with $65 bill for 2 carne burritos, 2 kids quesadillas and drinks. LOL. Being from Socal and eating mexican food almost everyday it didnt even occur to me to check the prices of a taco truck!

 

I would say there are no bad trips to Hawaii. I think most of the islands have a good variety of activities. Weather is also pretty nice pretty much all the time. My experiences:

2012 - Big Island: last "official trip" with my family (parents and brothers). Stayed in Kailua-Kona for a week, which, as mentioned above, is the nice side of the island, at a timeshare my parents were able to get in a trade. Rented a car for the week, which is the way to go if you're staying anywhere other than Honolulu/Waikiki. Great variety of activities: night snorkeling with manta rays (only island where you can do this and highly recommended!); Volcano National Park, all day snorkeling tour; luau; took a day to drive around the island and check out black sand beaches, waterfalls around Hilo and the like; a couple days just relaxing on the beach.

2020 - Honolulu & Maui: Wife and I took this trip as sort of a "second honeymoon"/last big trip for a while before having kids. We did 2 days in Honolulu. Stayed at a crappy overpriced hotel in Waikiki; in hindsight, for 3 nights we should have just sprung for something high end. We just checked out the shops and the beach, saw a few sights from the old Hawaii Five-O tv show, climbed Diamondhead and my wife checked out the Ala Moana shopping centre. If you have more time on Oahu and want to rent a car, there are some activities on the north shore that were recommended to us, including the Polynesian Cultural Centre and swimming with sharks. I think the north shore is also where the good surfing is if you're into that.

After that, we did about a week and a half in Maui. We were unimpressed with the hotel options so we found a really nice, recently renovated condo on Air BnB for a really reasonable rate in Kihei, which is where I would stay again if I went back. The other option is Lahaina, which is just a little bit fancier/more pretentious and not really our style.
Some activity highlights:
Road to Hana: we took a van tour but you could drive it if your wife is less of a backseat driver than mine is. Aunty Sandy's is the "most famous" place to get fresh-made banana bread but the shop at "Halfway to Hana" is "the best". (Joke in Maui is if you're not the best, you have to be the most famous.) Hana Farms was an amazing place for lunch. There's one spot with a pool under a waterfall that you can swim in; swim in it like my wife and I did and don't chicken out like everyone else on our bus did. The water is cool but it's nice when it's so hot and humid.
Haleakala: if you're into hiking, this is pretty much it for Maui (we did a bit in Iao Valley but we were underwhelmed compared to the Rocky Mountains). Great day driving up and stopping a few places along the way to do some short hikes. If we'd been more prepared and ambitious, we could have actually hiked down into the crater but we're not used to the heat and we generally don't like going down at the start of our hike and back up at the end. Also found a really nice and interesting forest of a bunch of trees brought in from other parts of the world part way up the road to Haleakala.
Snorkeling at Molokini: amazing trip. Definitely a must-do. Our trip also went to Turtle Town, which would have been more fun if we'd seen any turtles there.
Kula area: this was probably my wife's favourite day. Tour of Surfing Goat Dairy farm. Ali'i Kula Lavender farm. Kula Botanical Gardens.
Sunset dinner cruise was more fun than we were expecting but at that time they had 4 to a table so we had to sit with 2 strangers (not fun for two introverts). It was also fun because we were there in whale watching season, which you guys won't get.
My wife liked Paia but I don't really think it's as quaint and picturesque as it's made out to be. Prepare for tons of boutiques if your wife is interested in those.
Maui Ocean Centre was pretty interesting and a good activity for a cooler/rainy day (though you'll still need a raincoat as, like everything else in Hawaii, it's partially indoors at most )

My wife would like to go to Kauai next as it's supposed to be less developed/touristy and more natural but we haven't done any research into it yet. She's also interested in Moloka'i but I think it's sacred to the Hawaiians so I think you need "permission" to go there.