Hawaii - island trade-off

On Thu, 08 Sep 2005 07:38:00 -0400, H Huntzinger
<{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005@huntzinger.com> wrote:


>Given the choice, which one would you pick and why:
>
>Oahu - Honolulu area
>-or-
>Kauai - Lihue area

With the caveat that I haven't been there in 20 years, I'd take
Kauai/Lihue. Below the water there's not much difference - mostly wet
and quiet. <grin>

Above water Kauai is a tropical paradise. Watch an episode of "Lost"
on ABC or get the old Mitzi Gaynor movie where she washed that man
right outa her hair. Recommend a rental car and a tour around the
east side through Hanalai to road's end. Then hike for 2 miles to an
unbelievable beach. Last time I visited there was a naked broad
sunning herself on a rock. Of course, she's probably gone by now (and
somebody's great-grandma), but it was memorable at the time.


-HW "Skip" Weldon
Columbia, SC

"H Huntzinger" <{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005@huntzinger.com> wrote in
message
news:{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005-D1B060.07380008092005@news.isp.giganews.com...
> Might be able to choose between the two locations for getting in a quick
> dive or two later this year...my first diving opportunity in Hawaii.

> Given the choice, which one would you pick and why:
>
>
> Oahu - Honolulu area
>
> -or-
>
> Kauai - Lihue area

I haven't had the pleasure of diving Oahu yet as it's ranked 4th on my list.
I've already dove Maui and the Big Island which would probably be most
peoples' #1 and #2 islands for diving in no certain order and where I'd
suggest you go if you weren't already set on Kauai or Oahu. This year,
however, when I was planning on Maui again but had no luck finding any
decent non-stops from LAX, I figured I'd give Kauai a try instead if I were
forced into changing planes at Honolulu. I now have four diving days
scheduled with Bubbles Below in late October, a mix of morning, afternoon,
and night dives.

It's not that I don't want to dive Oahu, because I do. I'm one of the rare
travelers that actually loves Waikiki. But Oahu is definitely a more
populated experience than the other islands, especially Kauai, and I wasn't
ready for that sort of vacation. I have no idea how the actual diving
stands up, though I understand Oahu is more wreck oriented, possibly because
the reefs have suffered far more abuse over the years like the one Hanauma
Bay which even has signs posted and volunteers canvassing the beach telling
people not to walk on the reef and they still do. But I am sure that,
topside, Kauai is infinitely more relaxing than Oahu, and I craved a
vacation where I could relax for a change.

Suds wrote:
> "H Huntzinger" <{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005@huntzinger.com> wrote:
> >
> > Might be able to choose between the two locations for getting in a quick
> > dive or two later this year...my first diving opportunity in Hawaii.
> >
> > Given the choice, which one would you pick and why:
> >
> >
> > Oahu - Honolulu area
> >
> > -or-
> >
> > Kauai - Lihue area
> >
>
>
> You've got to give me more information than this.


You're right.

Hawaii Trip#1 may be in November. The trip's not finalized yet, but its
tentatively a week on Kauai, with a "1 business day" stop off on Oahu.
This results in a weekend to get a dive in, with my choice of island.

I'm predisposed to spending it on Kauai, because:

Hawaii Trip#2 is in December and is only on Oahu (land portion). We'll
have IIRC 3 days to de-jetlag and hit the usual tourist stuff before our
cruise to Tahiti that I mentioned a few months ago. But getting a dive
in in Oahu isn't a definite thing, so hence the question.


BTW, during trip#2, we'll have to try to get together at least for a
meal or something...Margaret & I will be staying at the Hale Koa on
Waikiki; haven't decided yet on a car or not. Drop me an email and I'll
send you the dates that we'll around to see about schedule conflicts.



> There is some good shore diving here too, especially if you
> arrived before the winter swells begin.

A shore dive would be fine by me. What's the generally expected date
for these 'winter swells' conditions?



-hh

"Reef Fish" <Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1126271369.544240.57300@z14g2000cwz.googlegro ups.com...
> >
> Do you know someone who is less dumb than me?
>

You're an English whiz.

H Huntzinger wrote:

> Hawaii Trip#2 is in December and is only on Oahu (land portion). We'll
> have IIRC 3 days to de-jetlag and hit the usual tourist stuff before our
> cruise to Tahiti that I mentioned a few months ago.

Since it sounds like you'll be flying from the east coast to Hawaii, I wouldn't worry
about jet lag, though YMMV. I wouldn't lock anything in for early the first morning,
but I'd plan on doing something with a flexible schedule.

For our Palau trip we left Newark at about 10 AM and landed at HNL about 3 PM local
time. We hit Ala Moana beach for the sunset, had dinner, and got back to the motel
around 10ish. We stayed up a bit longer before going to bed sometime well past 4 AM
home time. We were up early enough to wander around and have a leisurely breakfast
before leaving for the airport again at about 11 to continue on to Yap, arriving at
9:30 PM local time. We hadn't booked dives for the first day, but we felt good in the
morning, so we headed out for our first dives at about 11 AM. Basically, we just
stayed up late for two days but got a solid 8 or 9 hours sleep before getting up again.

The trip home, OTOH, was a killer. Next time we'll definitely plan a Hawaii
layover/time adjustment for the trip home instead of the trip out. Or maybe we'll
just keep flying west until we get back. The overnight in Hawaii on the way out is
still excellent insurance against a winter weather delay in getting out of the northeast.


--
Steve

The above can be construed as personal opinion in the absence of a reasonable
belief that it was intended as a statement of fact.

If you want a reply to reach me, remove the SPAMTRAP from the address.

Neither really. The best diving by far is on the Big Island, with Maui
a second choice. I know this reply is probably of no use to you, but
having dived on all the islands, that is my opinion.

Brian

Might be able to choose between the two locations for getting in a quick
dive or two later this year...my first diving opportunity in Hawaii.

Given the choice, which one would you pick and why:


Oahu - Honolulu area

-or-

Kauai - Lihue area



TIA,


-hh

On Thu, 08 Sep 2005 07:38:00 -0400, H Huntzinger
<{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005@huntzinger.com> wrote:


>Given the choice, which one would you pick and why:
>
>Oahu - Honolulu area
>-or-
>Kauai - Lihue area

With the caveat that I haven't been there in 20 years, I'd take
Kauai/Lihue. Below the water there's not much difference - mostly wet
and quiet. <grin>

Above water Kauai is a tropical paradise. Watch an episode of "Lost"
on ABC or get the old Mitzi Gaynor movie where she washed that man
right outa her hair. Recommend a rental car and a tour around the
east side through Hanalai to road's end. Then hike for 2 miles to an
unbelievable beach. Last time I visited there was a naked broad
sunning herself on a rock. Of course, she's probably gone by now (and
somebody's great-grandma), but it was memorable at the time.


-HW "Skip" Weldon
Columbia, SC

"H Huntzinger" <{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005@huntzinger.com> wrote in
message
news:{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005-D1B060.07380008092005@news.isp.giganews.com...
> Might be able to choose between the two locations for getting in a quick
> dive or two later this year...my first diving opportunity in Hawaii.

> Given the choice, which one would you pick and why:
>
>
> Oahu - Honolulu area
>
> -or-
>
> Kauai - Lihue area

I haven't had the pleasure of diving Oahu yet as it's ranked 4th on my list.
I've already dove Maui and the Big Island which would probably be most
peoples' #1 and #2 islands for diving in no certain order and where I'd
suggest you go if you weren't already set on Kauai or Oahu. This year,
however, when I was planning on Maui again but had no luck finding any
decent non-stops from LAX, I figured I'd give Kauai a try instead if I were
forced into changing planes at Honolulu. I now have four diving days
scheduled with Bubbles Below in late October, a mix of morning, afternoon,
and night dives.

It's not that I don't want to dive Oahu, because I do. I'm one of the rare
travelers that actually loves Waikiki. But Oahu is definitely a more
populated experience than the other islands, especially Kauai, and I wasn't
ready for that sort of vacation. I have no idea how the actual diving
stands up, though I understand Oahu is more wreck oriented, possibly because
the reefs have suffered far more abuse over the years like the one Hanauma
Bay which even has signs posted and volunteers canvassing the beach telling
people not to walk on the reef and they still do. But I am sure that,
topside, Kauai is infinitely more relaxing than Oahu, and I craved a
vacation where I could relax for a change.

"Reef Fish" <Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1126238657.220038.116410@g47g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...

>
> Oahu SUCKS in at least one respect. It's the ONLY State in the
> USA in which you can get a...

You really are a very dumb person. Surely you must know that.