<blockquote><div class="name-said">KoreAmBear;667047 said:</div><hr>I do know that Hula Grill has a location in Waikiki and is owned by the same company that owns Duke's (Hula Grill is above Duke's in Waikiki). Pretty good.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />I really like Hula Grill for breakfast--good food, fairly reasonable prices, spectacular view.

<blockquote><div class="name-said">WildBear;666422 said:</div><hr>Yeah, definetly, let me know how Maui is, hotel, food, etc. WOuld love a mini-report.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />One other thing to really consider is the time of year that you visit. If you visit over the holidays (esp. Christmas/New Years) it is CRAZY as all the activities and eateries are jammed... However, we come out here in January and it is very affordable (we pay about $320 for airfare per ticket), you can get good hotels for $150-$175 per night, and all of the activities are open for booking. <br /><br />Also, you really do want to understand what the ocean will be doing when you visit... We love January because it is cheap and a fun time to see the big north shore waves, but the south shore (Waikiki is DEAD)... We also love June-August because you can get some great south swells on Waikiki, which are an absolute hoot... This year we caught a huge south swell and were like pigs in slop surfing and boogey boarding...

Oh, if you go to Waikiki, you also HAVE to get malasadas at Leonards!!! Worth the trip!!!

<blockquote><div class="name-said">PHillBear;667250 said:</div><hr>Oh, if you go to Waikiki, you also HAVE to get malasadas at Leonards!!! Worth the trip!!!<hr></blockquote><br /><br />Guy guys guys - thread is pretty much over, unless you want to wax poetic about your Hawaii trips. Dude is going to Maui.

LOL... Exactly!!! I love Honolulu and should get paid for all the PR that I do for them on the mainland...

<blockquote><div class="name-said">WildBear;666052 said:</div><hr>So the wife and I are looking to go to Hawaii around April 5-10 (for five or six nights) and needed some advice from those of you who are familiar with Hawaii. <br /><br />We're debating between 1. Waikiki (at the Sheraton, mostly likely, but Royal Hawaiian is an option) 2. Kauai (St Regis Princeville) or 3. a combo of the two. <br /><br /><br />We are looking a place that is fun (not interested in night clubs, but like to have people around, especially our age--early 30s). Dont want a super crowded beach, but do want people around. Since we're there for a 5-6 nights, would like options other than just lounging at the pool (hiking, sightseeing, etc...)<br /><br />Thanks!<hr></blockquote><br /><br />I have been to Hawai'i well over 50 times for vacation or work and your original choices are my two favorite islands Kaua'i and O'ahu. I would do as you originally thought and go to both. Some good suggestions in this thread re: both islands. <br /><br />Don't know if you surf, but if you don't Waikiki is the best place on the planet to learn. I love just renting stand up paddle boards there too--lots of long rides on waves too small for those without paddles (so you have the waves to yourself). The view of Diamond head is iconic and great place to hear Hawaiian music. It is crowded, but just enjoy the crowd. Definitely have lunch with Koreambear, Sanseibear and any Island bears.<br /><br />Kaua'i I almost can't even speak to I love so much. I'll let Israel Kamakawiwo'ole say it: <a href="<a href="<a href="<a href="<a href="http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evzfGbFTr0Q"""""" class="postlink " target="_blank">http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evzfGbFTr0Q"""""</a> class="postlink " target="_blank"><a href="http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evzfGbFTr0Q""""</a>" class="postlink " target="_blank">http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evzfGbFTr0Q""""</a></a> class="postlink " target="_blank"><a href="<a href="http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evzfGbFTr0Q"""</a>"" class="postlink " target="_blank">http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evzfGbFTr0Q"""</a>"</a> class="postlink " target="_blank"><a href="http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evzfGbFTr0Q"""</a></a>" class="postlink " target="_blank">http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evzfGbFTr0Q"""</a></a></a> class="postlink " target="_blank"><a href="<a href="<a href="http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evzfGbFTr0Q""</a>""" class="postlink " target="_blank">http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evzfGbFTr0Q""</a>""</a> class="postlink " target="_blank"><a href="http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evzfGbFTr0Q""</a>"</a>" class="postlink " target="_blank">http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evzfGbFTr0Q""</a>"</a></a> class="postlink " target="_blank"><a href="<a href="http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evzfGbFTr0Q""</a></a>"" class="postlink " target="_blank">http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evzfGbFTr0Q""</a></a>"</a> class="postlink " target="_blank"><a href="http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evzfGbFTr0Q""</a></a></a>" class="postlink " target="_blank">http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evzfGbFTr0Q""</a></a></a></a> class="postlink " target="_blank">LINK</a><br /><br />Definitely hike the Kalalau trail, zodiac tour of the Na Pali Coast--tunnels will be too rough for snorkling. As others have said, it is sleepy at night, but that can be wonderful--serene... a nice meal, warm night, walking under the stars...

<blockquote><div class="name-said">KoreAmBear;667252 said:</div><hr>Guy guys guys - thread is pretty much over, unless you want to wax poetic about your Hawaii trips. Dude is going to Maui.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />KAB you lucky dog, you live there. We are just funning' and salivating thinking and sharing our love for your islands. I would add a catamaran trip along the Napali coast---don't get in the caves per se as on a zodiac, but sweet sailing.

<blockquote><div class="name-said">PHillBear;667257 said:</div><hr>LOL... Exactly!!! I love Honolulu and should get paid for all the PR that I do for them on the mainland...<hr></blockquote><br /><br />It's fun living here and esp. as I have gotten really into hiking (terrific hikes here). But the other day, as I got back from the mainland where I didn't sweat one minute, I ran an errand while wearing my business clothes and I was in a full sweat, as the trades were down and it was voggy. On those days, I don't mind some chilly weather - esp. in winter. But usually a few trips to the mainland resets my island fever index.

OK, you guys got me hungry now for some coco puffs!<br /><br /><img src="<img src="<img src="<img src="<img src="" />" />" />" />" />

I went to 'hawaii's best beach' this summer, and the next day I saw that the beach was closed (on the same day I went) due to shark sightings. Yikes! I took a double-take, and couldn't believe it was closed right after we left.<br /><br />It was an amazing beach like KAB says, but it does remind me of the movie "island"<br /><br /><blockquote><div class="name-said">KoreAmBear;666277 said:</div><hr>Kailua and Lanikai beaches are amazing beaches. Waimanalo is another very pristine beach off the beaten path. Tourists don't know about it because there are some tent communities by it and scares em all off. But the waters are amazing clear light blue. Bellows and the beach off Sherwood Forest are good bets. Watch out for Portuguese Man O War!<br /><br /><img src="<img src="<img src="<img src="<img src="" />" />" />" />" /><hr></blockquote>

<blockquote><div class="name-said">calumnus;667284 said:</div><hr>Don't know if you surf, but if you don't Waikiki is the best place on the planet to learn.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />I agree that if you go to Hawaii, you just gotta try surfing, and yes, Waikiki is the perfect place to learn because the waves are so gentle, and they rent you a surf board/boat, meaning a surf board so big that it's like riding a boat.<br /><br />However that does not mean it's easy. Learning to surf taught me why those surfers have strong bodies. It's a A LOT of work paddling out, and then paddling to catch a wave. I was exhausted afterwards. The good news is, you can just collapse on the beach, and it's all good.<br /><br />Another thing I gotta mention about the islands are the beautiful people there. They are so friendly and mellow. No horn honking when the light turns green!

to Waikiki for the for the time this past late August. The kids are 25, 21, & 18.<br />After 15 years of going to the Big Island with all the kids/cousins and many visits to Maui and Kauai, we decided to do the tourist thing in Waikiki. Had a lot of good references from friends that go there a lot and their friends that live there.<br /><br />Gotta stay at the Outrigger on the Beach. It's in the middle of all the action and the staff is fab! It also has the infamous Duke's where every evening there's a party going on. The food was great and there were many other options. I researched the hell out of this trip because i figured the next time I was able to take the kids, they'd have their own. <br /><br />We did Pearl Harbor the first day because you need to get there early and with the time change it was easy to get up early the first day. Hiking Diamond Head was great as well. Stand up paddle boarding, surf lessons and the outrigger canoe ride were all worth the money. The biggest expense but the best investment was the helicopter ride (Blue Hawaiian) around Oahu.<br /><br />I have an entire list of restaurants, etc, if you want them. Message me and they're yours.

<blockquote><div class="name-said">HoopDreams;667579 said:</div><hr>I agree that if you go to Hawaii, you just gotta try surfing, and yes, Waikiki is the perfect place to learn because the waves are so gentle, and they rent you a surf board/boat, meaning a surf board so big that it's like riding a boat.<br /><br />However that does not mean it's easy. Learning to surf taught me why those surfers have strong bodies. It's a A LOT of work paddling out, and then paddling to catch a wave. I was exhausted afterwards. The good news is, you can just collapse on the beach, and it's all good.<br /><br />Another thing I gotta mention about the islands are the beautiful people there. They are so friendly and mellow. No horn honking when the light turns green!<hr></blockquote><br />The other part about learning to surf at Waikiki is the history: hire an old Hawaiian beachboy for lessons and help keep an institution alive--drape a lei on the statue of Duke Kahanamoku... <br /><br />True about how exhausting paddling out is, especially for us old guys, that is why I love stand up---easy to paddle out and cruise around Waikiki, taking in the views of Diamond Head, catching long, long rides on waves too small for "real" surfers to bother with--I can't wait to get back! Planning on moving there someday soon...

In case anyone cares or is interested, BA has a special right now where if you buy something at Nordstorm's through the BA mall, you get 36 points per dollar spent.

What this means is if you buy something for $747 or so dollars, you get about 25k miles, which is enough for a trip from the west coast to Hawaii on American or Alaskan Airlines--(every other airline is at least 35k miles, if you use AA to book directly, it is 45k miles most of the year). Also enough for a flight anywhere in the US. So say a trip to Hawaii costs $750, you're basically getting the clothes/watches, etc for free. THis is great for people who have upcoming Hawaii trips.

Nordstorm also has a costco like return policy, so buy now, worry later if you're not sure. It should work and it looks like one person already got the miles using this. If you need help booking, I can help with that.

Thought I'd pass this along:

http://thepointsguy.com/2012/02/amazing-deal-alert-36-british-airways-avios-per-dollar-spent-at-nordstrom/

My wife and I went to Oahu and Kauai a few years ago. Great trip. We went back to Kauai and spent time there exclusively on our return. Kauai is a bit more mellow, but for beauty, you can't beat it.....some ot the most breath-taking views in the world. Waimea Canyon and Kalalau Valley are simply incredible. Lots of fun options of things
to do. We went ziplining last time, which was a blast!