Hawaii recommendations for 2 week stay? Maui and [??]

Greetings,

I'm looking for some recommendations to narrow down plans on a 2-stop
itinerary, 2 hotels, and dive operators for a trip we're pondering
Hawaii in March for a 2 week stay. At this point, I'm not even sure
the best place to fly into! From what I've read and investigated,
about all I have it narrowed down to is "you'll really like Maui"
"skip Honoloulou-you've got enough of that big city crap in Chicago,"
and I think we'd enjoy staying week 1 and week 2 in different places,
and above all else this trip should be relaxing.

We're both early 30-somethings, and pretty active. We've been to the
Carribbean and Thailand in the past. Having the beach or water close
at hand for snorkeling is a priority, and we will be looking to dive
oh... say, 4 or 5 days over the course of our 2 weeks. I've got about
25 dives under my belt over the past 7 years and my SO was certified
last year, so we won't be looking for adrenaline filled diving or
anything.

Our last vacation was way overpacked on a go go go itinerary, so the
m.o. for this trip is "relaxing." For me that involves planting my
hiney near a large body of water in the sun, snorkeling, and some
diving. If there's beach volleyball to be had that's a pleasant
bonus. I wanna see the volcanoes, maybe some kayaking, maybe rent a
car and drive around the island. And I think I'd like to pick up camp
and move only once during the stay (so, I guess i'm looking for 2
hotels, one in Maui somewhere, and one on another island..unless
inter-island transport is too much of a pain).

We don't have money to burn by any stretch, but I'm also willing to
pay to be in a place that's clean and not run down. I've got a mental
idea of wanting to stay under $225 a night but I've also not looked
enough to whether that's terribly realistic.

I'd welcome any recommendations to narrow it down some! Thanks for
any experiences you can share!

Best Regards,
--
Todd H.
http://www.toddh.net/
To reply by email replace _invalid_ with tdh

If you want to see active volcano it'll have to be the big island. Maui has
a dormant volcano. The other island I can recommend is definitely Kauai.

"Todd H." <_invalid_@toddh.net> wrote in message
news:m0y8excano.fsf@ripco.com...
>
> Greetings,
>
> I'm looking for some recommendations to narrow down plans on a 2-stop
> itinerary, 2 hotels, and dive operators for a trip we're pondering
> Hawaii in March for a 2 week stay. At this point, I'm not even sure
> the best place to fly into! From what I've read and investigated,
> about all I have it narrowed down to is "you'll really like Maui"
> "skip Honoloulou-you've got enough of that big city crap in Chicago,"
> and I think we'd enjoy staying week 1 and week 2 in different places,
> and above all else this trip should be relaxing.
>
> We're both early 30-somethings, and pretty active. We've been to the
> Carribbean and Thailand in the past. Having the beach or water close
> at hand for snorkeling is a priority, and we will be looking to dive
> oh... say, 4 or 5 days over the course of our 2 weeks. I've got about
> 25 dives under my belt over the past 7 years and my SO was certified
> last year, so we won't be looking for adrenaline filled diving or
> anything.
>
> Our last vacation was way overpacked on a go go go itinerary, so the
> m.o. for this trip is "relaxing." For me that involves planting my
> hiney near a large body of water in the sun, snorkeling, and some
> diving. If there's beach volleyball to be had that's a pleasant
> bonus. I wanna see the volcanoes, maybe some kayaking, maybe rent a
> car and drive around the island. And I think I'd like to pick up camp
> and move only once during the stay (so, I guess i'm looking for 2
> hotels, one in Maui somewhere, and one on another island..unless
> inter-island transport is too much of a pain).
>
> We don't have money to burn by any stretch, but I'm also willing to
> pay to be in a place that's clean and not run down. I've got a mental
> idea of wanting to stay under $225 a night but I've also not looked
> enough to whether that's terribly realistic.
>
> I'd welcome any recommendations to narrow it down some! Thanks for
> any experiences you can share!
>
> Best Regards,
> --
> Todd H.
> http://www.toddh.net/
> To reply by email replace _invalid_ with tdh
>

> about all I have it narrowed down to is "you'll really like Maui"
> "skip Honoloulou-you've got enough of that big city crap in Chicago,"

All I can say is Maui Nö Ka `Oi -- Maui is the best.. Yes, you probably
should skip Honolulu, although there's quite a bit on that island.


> We're both early 30-somethings, and pretty active. We've been to the
> Carribbean and Thailand in the past. Having the beach or water close
> at hand for snorkeling is a priority, and we will be looking to dive
> oh... say, 4 or 5 days over the course of our 2 weeks. I've got about
> 25 dives under my belt over the past 7 years and my SO was certified
> last year, so we won't be looking for adrenaline filled diving or

You can get great diving in Maui or Hawai'i (Big Island). Maybe anywhere.
>
>I wanna see the volcanoes, maybe some kayaking, maybe rent a
> car and drive around the island. And I think I'd like to pick up camp
> and move only once during the stay (so, I guess i'm looking for 2
> hotels, one in Maui somewhere, and one on another island..unless
> inter-island transport is too much of a pain).

It's a pain, but not excessively so. If you've never been to the state
before, 2 islands are probably worth the trouble. Personally, I'd pick Maui
and the Big Island. Totally different, but both still pretty Hawaiian (esp.
Big Island).

>
> We don't have money to burn by any stretch, but I'm also willing to
> pay to be in a place that's clean and not run down. I've got a mental
> idea of wanting to stay under $225 a night but I've also not looked
> enough to whether that's terribly realistic.

Really easy to find a nice place for that either island. You gotta look
around a little, but it's do-able. It's really easy to pay too much if
you're not careful.

Personally, I think the Big Island has the best diving and where I'm partial
to Dive Makai. Since you have 2 weeks, I wouldn't skip Honolulu but give it
no more that 2 days. Snorkel at Hanauma Bay. Maui has the best beaches but
the diving is so so. Kauai has great scenery but never did get to dive
there.

"Todd H." <_invalid_@toddh.net> wrote in message
news:m0y8excano.fsf@ripco.com...
>
> Greetings,
>
> I'm looking for some recommendations to narrow down plans on a 2-stop
> itinerary, 2 hotels, and dive operators for a trip we're pondering
> Hawaii in March for a 2 week stay. At this point, I'm not even sure
> the best place to fly into! From what I've read and investigated,
> about all I have it narrowed down to is "you'll really like Maui"
> "skip Honoloulou-you've got enough of that big city crap in Chicago,"
> and I think we'd enjoy staying week 1 and week 2 in different places,
> and above all else this trip should be relaxing.
>
> We're both early 30-somethings, and pretty active. We've been to the
> Carribbean and Thailand in the past. Having the beach or water close
> at hand for snorkeling is a priority, and we will be looking to dive
> oh... say, 4 or 5 days over the course of our 2 weeks. I've got about
> 25 dives under my belt over the past 7 years and my SO was certified
> last year, so we won't be looking for adrenaline filled diving or
> anything.
>
> Our last vacation was way overpacked on a go go go itinerary, so the
> m.o. for this trip is "relaxing." For me that involves planting my
> hiney near a large body of water in the sun, snorkeling, and some
> diving. If there's beach volleyball to be had that's a pleasant
> bonus. I wanna see the volcanoes, maybe some kayaking, maybe rent a
> car and drive around the island. And I think I'd like to pick up camp
> and move only once during the stay (so, I guess i'm looking for 2
> hotels, one in Maui somewhere, and one on another island..unless
> inter-island transport is too much of a pain).
>
> We don't have money to burn by any stretch, but I'm also willing to
> pay to be in a place that's clean and not run down. I've got a mental
> idea of wanting to stay under $225 a night but I've also not looked
> enough to whether that's terribly realistic.
>
> I'd welcome any recommendations to narrow it down some! Thanks for
> any experiences you can share!
>
> Best Regards,
> --
> Todd H.
> http://www.toddh.net/
> To reply by email replace _invalid_ with tdh
>

In article <m0y8excano.fsf@ripco.com>, Todd H. <_invalid_@toddh.net> wrote:
>"skip Honoloulou-you've got enough of that big city crap in Chicago,"
>and I think we'd enjoy staying week 1 and week 2 in different places,
>and above all else this trip should be relaxing.

Hawaii's best restraunts and night clubs are in Honolulu. Honolulu
also has a higher residents-to-tourists ratio (at least outside of
Waikiki). If those don't interest you, then you won't miss much
by skipping Honolulu. The other islands have more natural beauty
and outdoor activities.

Thus spake _invalid_@toddh.net (Todd H.) :

>
>Greetings,
>
>I'm looking for some recommendations to narrow down plans on a 2-stop
>itinerary, 2 hotels, and dive operators for a trip we're pondering
>Hawaii in March for a 2 week stay. At this point, I'm not even sure
>the best place to fly into! From what I've read and investigated,
>about all I have it narrowed down to is "you'll really like Maui"
>"skip Honoloulou-you've got enough of that big city crap in Chicago,"
>and I think we'd enjoy staying week 1 and week 2 in different places,
>and above all else this trip should be relaxing.
>
>We're both early 30-somethings, and pretty active. We've been to the
>Carribbean and Thailand in the past. Having the beach or water close
>at hand for snorkeling is a priority, and we will be looking to dive
>oh... say, 4 or 5 days over the course of our 2 weeks. I've got about
>25 dives under my belt over the past 7 years and my SO was certified
>last year, so we won't be looking for adrenaline filled diving or
>anything.

When we do two weeks, it's usually a week on Maui, a week on The Big
Island, in Kona.

>
>Our last vacation was way overpacked on a go go go itinerary, so the
>m.o. for this trip is "relaxing." For me that involves planting my
>hiney near a large body of water in the sun, snorkeling, and some
>diving. If there's beach volleyball to be had that's a pleasant
>bonus. I wanna see the volcanoes, maybe some kayaking, maybe rent a
>car and drive around the island. And I think I'd like to pick up camp
>and move only once during the stay (so, I guess i'm looking for 2
>hotels, one in Maui somewhere, and one on another island..unless
>inter-island transport is too much of a pain).

Both Aloha and Hawaiian run pretty regular schedules. It's just a
matter of lining up for the best seats.

>
>We don't have money to burn by any stretch, but I'm also willing to
>pay to be in a place that's clean and not run down. I've got a mental
>idea of wanting to stay under $225 a night but I've also not looked
>enough to whether that's terribly realistic.

You can find a condo for around $175. I really recommend trying that
route.

>
>I'd welcome any recommendations to narrow it down some! Thanks for
>any experiences you can share!
>
>Best Regards,

--
dillon

"When the French are against it, you know we can't
be far wrong." - Adm. Bobbie Ray Inman

_invalid_@toddh.net (Todd H.) wrote:

[...]
>We're both early 30-somethings, and pretty active. We've been to the
>Carribbean and Thailand in the past. Having the beach or water close
>at hand for snorkeling is a priority...

Snorkeling isn't as great in Hawaii as it is elsewhere in the world,
and I also include our experiences in the Caribbean (the best, IMO)
and Thailand in that comparison. We lived in Hawaii for a year, and
spent about half that time exploring all the islands. Frankly, here
are just more interesting things to see and do there than spending too
much time looking for good snorkeling. There is much to see.

Having said that, diving along the Kona Coast on the big Island offers
some submerged lava cave exploration possibilities. On Oahu, there is
so-so snorkeling at Haunauma Bay. Much of the Hawaii shores are open
ocean, though, and too rough and disturbed for good snorkeling. Coral
reefs that protect inland bays are the best, but Hawaii's just not the
place for that configuration. (But the surfing is great!)

>Our last vacation was way overpacked on a go go go itinerary, so the
>m.o. for this trip is "relaxing." For me that involves planting my
>hiney near a large body of water in the sun, snorkeling, and some
>diving. If there's beach volleyball to be had that's a pleasant
>bonus. I wanna see the volcanoes, maybe some kayaking, maybe rent a
>car and drive around the island. And I think I'd like to pick up camp
>and move only once during the stay (so, I guess i'm looking for 2
>hotels, one in Maui somewhere, and one on another island..unless
>inter-island transport is too much of a pain).

>I'd welcome any recommendations to narrow it down some! Thanks for
>any experiences you can share!

Oahu is where you change planes. Maui is interesting but limited,
considering the alternatives, unless you are into hiking the trails at
Haleakala National Park. The Big Island offers the Hawaii Volcanoes
National Park -- a worthy destination. Molokai is very laid back, but
also limited other than the interesting Kaulapapa Leper Colony trip.

But considering your above comments, I'd give serious consideration to
Kauai. You could stay in the Poipu area (good weather, good services,
great restaurants, good beach) and tour the island at your leisure.

If you need further info on any of these places, just ask.


Caveat

Caveat wrote:

Never been to hawaii - is all travel between the islands by air?

Caveat <caveat@bogusaddy.com> wrote:

> If you visit Ala Moana Yacht Harbor on Oahu...

Actually the name of the Yacht Harbor is Ala Wai. It's at the
entrance to the Ala Wai Canal, near the Ala Moana Shopping Center, and
boats exit to sea past Ala Moana Beach Park.

"Caveat" <caveat@bogusaddy.com> wrote in message
news:1onfu01ef402m42au4qoadji34a8j5f4fa@4ax.com...

> Oahu is the air hub, and most flights are into and out of Honolulu
> Airport. There are direct flights from the mainland to Hilo on the Big
> Island, as well as Maui, however. Savvy travelers will try to arrange
> a trip from the mainland into Hilo, but out of Honolulu. With a
> stopover on Maui, they get a nice 3-island circuit tour. Unfortunately
> flights to Kauai are usually separate out-and-back trips from
> Honolulu. But most of would say that it's worth it .

Hilo? Divers would do much better flying direct to Kona. American, United,
and Aloha all have nonstops from the mainland direct to Kona.

And you're wrong about Kauai too, of course. United flies there nonstop
from LAX and Oakland.