We are thinking about going to Hawaii for the first time this July.
Lots of questions:
1) Is July a good month to go or will there be way too many tourists to contend with?
2) Which island should we fly to?
3) Where should we stay? Oceanfront would be just grand!
4) Do we need a rental car?
5) Is food expensive in Hawaii?
6) What is a must-do or must-see there?
We have a family of 4 and desire to go somewhere "tropical" this summer. If anyone has been to Hawaii and has any suggestions for us, that would be so great...or if you think we should go somewhere else, just let us know... thanks!
Hawaii??
March 12th, 2010 at 02:49 pm
March 12th, 2010 at 03:33 pm 1268407980
2 - I have been to Oahu a couple of times which is a great introduction to Hawaii (very touristy and all) BUT we are going to Kauaui this summer. My dh has been there many times - it is just stunning.
4 - You'd probably need a rental car? If you stay somewhere like Waikiki you can probably get by without a car. If you want to do lots of hiking and explorting though, I'd get a car. Depends where you go/what you do.
5 - OMG, yes food is expensive in Hawaii!!!
6 - I'd vote snorkeling and boogie boarding. Other activities? Depends where you go.
March 12th, 2010 at 03:41 pm 1268408518
March 12th, 2010 at 04:12 pm 1268410353
When we went to Waikiki in June it was with REALLY small kids. There was an aqaurium and plenty of stuff like that to entertain the kids. OF course, my eldest was up to some big hikes, which was nice. There are some BEAUTIFUL hikes there, and I don't remember the trails being that crowded, summer and all.
March 12th, 2010 at 05:11 pm 1268413879
March 12th, 2010 at 05:40 pm 1268415632
Jerry
March 12th, 2010 at 05:54 pm 1268416445
Oahu is basically Las Vegas next to the beach. Yuck. Yes, the package prices (air/hotel/car) are the lowest, but try to resist. If you do Oahu, try to find an off the main tourist area hotel.
On Oahu is the only 'underwater park' which is a preserved area perfect for low cost snorkeling. The water is shallow (waist deep) and the colorful fish will wow you. I took the city bus to get to it. Here is a link
http://www.friendsofhanaumabay.org/history.html
On another trip I purchased a AAA package to a Maui Wailea resort. Very different experience, more adult oriented. I went to the tennis courts and toured around the whaling history.
And the 3rd and final trip I went to the Big Island. This time with a rental car, with a husband and 1 year old. My impression is that this island is more 'normal', full time resident families, regular people. (Maybe that was the fact I had a kid). Supplies for taking care of the small family were very expensive. But easy to hang out on the beach, etc. We went to a coffee plantation. My husband was very interested to go to Volcano Nat'l park, a long drive around the island. If you are interested in geography/geology it is worth it (active volcano).
Find your interest and focus on that, ie beach bathing, surfing, snorkeling, native history, astronomy (the Keck observatory and other world class observatories are on the islands).
Hope this helps.
March 12th, 2010 at 06:28 pm 1268418538
March 13th, 2010 at 02:49 pm 1268491788
Food is spendy,but if you go off the tourist strips there are places the locals eat for cheaper.
March 13th, 2010 at 10:40 pm 1268520037
For fun we of course attended a luau, went whale watching, snorkeling, took a tour on a submarine to see the underwater sealife, and also a helicopter tour to see the entire island from above. Some things wre expensive but when else would I get the chance?
Enjoy!
April 6th, 2010 at 05:10 pm 1270573849
For food, I'd recommend the local mom and pop places. They look like a hole in the wall but have AWESOME food. Although I'm not too sure how many locals would be happy that I'm sharing their "non tourist" places to go. I like L&L though, plate lunches have HUGE portions and with our family of 6 we were able to eat in Hawaii at a very affordable rate considering the location.
So if you go, I recommend trying a bento, a plate lunch, etc. Rainbows Drive Inn, then there is a shave ice place up the street. St Louis Drive Inn, JRs Korean BBQ, just pay attention to what the locals are doing - where are they going to eat? That'll give away the really good places. And you can tell the locals from the non-locals. Locals don't seem to care as much about fashion, its rubbah slippahs, hair pulled back, tank tops and shorts (obviously with a few variations). Its the tourists who are the most well dressed & accessorizing.