Hawaii - any tips for an independent holiday

[HatethedarknightsQW]

Any tips for a trip to Hawaii. DH might be going on a conference there next year for 3 days and I can tag along. We were thinking of tacking some time on so we'd be away a week or 9 days. It looks like a really long trip to get there.

The conference bit will be in a big All Inclusive.

So we'd like to do something a bit more independent afterwards but have no idea where to base ourselves or whether to travel round and have a couple of different bases - or where would be good to have a more chilled experience but with stuff to see and do too. Both active, like nature, in our late 50s, happy driving out there.

We stayed in Honolulu for three nights and did Pearl Harbour etc, then flew to Maui for a week. Maui has lovely beaches, lots of history and amazing scenery.

Have a look on trailfinders type site for ideas for itineraries - there’s loads to do on the different islands; they are all so different, easy flights between them on Hawaii airlines into open air airports! It’s a very long way though! The furthest you can go without crossing the date line!

We did exactly this a few years ago. We flew into Maui and then got the ferry across to my work thing which was at The Four Seasons on Lanai (good, but a little isolated and creepy, as everyone works for that Larry Ellison Oracle bod who own the island and its a bit Steford).

We then went back to Maui and had a weeks holiday on our own there, which was excellent. We booked a condo via VRBO in Kaanapali and had a great holiday, including driving The Road to Hana which really takes you into the lush parts of the island and then round the whole of Maui, looking at all the waterfalls, snorkeling, beautiful sunsets and lots of nice bars and restaurants, especially around Whalers Village. Sadly we also spent a lot of time in Lahaiina, which was beautiful and such a great spot, but as you probably remember, it was devastated by a wildfire a shortly after we were there and I'm not sure how much that part has recovered. Its a great spot for whale watching at certain times of the year, depending on when your trip is.

Other people went on to Oahu/Honolulu instead afterwards and the consensus was that Maui was better for a weeks holiday after a conference, though I guess you could do both if you had time (and Big Island with the active volcanoe).

Thanks all and especially @allthemind - I'd looked at Maui so it's nice to get a confirmation that it would be good for a break.

We went in June for third time. Honolulu is OK but a bit like Vegas on sea - I love it for a bit of people watching and some cocktails. Really easy to drive round island - we got a soft top. This is good https://www.kualoa.com/ - we did Jeep tour. Our fave island was Big Island - v easy to fly over. Volcano park was fab. Don’t get a soft top there though as roads are mad and it’s wet!

I love Hawaii, went for 3 weeks for my 40th and another time for about 8 days. I didn’t particularly like Honolulu but plenty of people do. If you’re only going to Oahu then the national park near Honolulu is nice and the north shore is great.

We went to Maui, the big island and Kauai and loved them all but all have their differences. Probably my favourite is the big island. We hired cars on all the islands and did loads of beach and ocean things plus the volcano on the big island.

I live down under so it’s much closer for me. From the UK I’d want to be going for 2 weeks because it’s a long way

We did Big Island for 5 days before going to Maui for DH's conference for 3 days where I stayed at the pool and added 3 days afterwards for us to explore.

Based on some descriptions from colleagues we opted not to go to Oahu and I don't think we missed something.

We went to Maui - one of the most beautiful places I've been. We also stayed in Lahaina and hate to think about what happened it afterwards. Volcano Park on The Big Island was amazing.

Lahaina on Maui is still very much under construction after the wildfire that decimated the entire town.

If you travel to the Hawaiian islands from the U.K. you will need to break the journey both on the outward and return legs. Flight times to Oahu from the West coast is around 6 hours. Honolulu and Waikiki beach are very much American. There is a three hour time difference between the West Coast and the Islsnds. The best way to travel between islands is by air but it can be expensive because there is a monopoly on such travel. Ferries do not travel between islands because it’s not been proven to be economically viable.

Hawaii ‘expert’ here, in that I have been over 10 times in the past 20 years.

What are your interests and what type of holiday do you like?

I have been to the 4 main islands, however it is Big Island that I always want to go back to. I love its size, the dramatic scenery, the beaches and the volcano.

I am not a fan of Maui as it is too touristy.

@OllysArmyRidesAgain we like nature, not too touristy, staying in ideally locally owned places. Volcanos sound good. Lying on a beach isn’t our thing. Snorkelling appeals. Stunning scenery would be great. Happy to drive around by ourselves.

On Big Island we would usually rent a Condo in the Waikoloa Beach Resort area or Mauna Lani area.
Loads of snorkelling, you can also see turtles from the beach most days. You can also Stand up paddle board or canoe.
It’s a long drive to the Volcano National Park but well worth it. Some people will advise you to spend a few days close by.
Driving is simple but the distances are long and it’s very dark at night.

We stayed here https://www.kilauealodge.com/ (good food here as well) when we visited Volcano national Park and downloaded Shaka Guide to do a self guided tour around it. Top tips - get in park first thing and go to lava tubes you can walk through. We were there on our own. And don’t eat at the lodge in the park - in top 3 worst meals I’ve had! We spent a few nights at Fairmont Orchid before. At end we stayed near Kona and went snorkelling with manta rays - do second night tour if you do this. More chance of seeing them. Went with these guys who were great https://seaparadise.com/2nd-manta-ray-snorkel-tour/

Oh gosh @ZoeyBartlettyouve reminded me about the manta ray experience. We did that. Unreal. They were so close to us

Like a previous poster we stayed in Honolulu for 3 days which was enough (flew via Vancouver); then onto Maui where we stayed in Paia at a friend's house who was away. As avid windsurfers it was perfect as close to Hookipa. We were there for over 3 weeks so toured around the island loads - hated Lahaina as too manicured and American, much preferred the north and east side of the island and the back country. Loads to see and do.
Flew back to Vancouver and spent another week there.

Amazing wasn’t it!

We went for 2 weeks, based ourselves in Honolulu but traveled all over the island (day trips, very doable) and flew over to the big island for a few days. We loved the big island, we joke that's where we will retire. So much to do and see you really can't go wrong.

There’s a lot more to Oahu than Honolulu. I lived there for a semester as a grad student -north shore is a completely different vibe to oahu with a more bohemian vibe. Known for the surfing, less mass market tourism, small communities and access to some great hikes.

each island has its own vibe - big island for adventure, Kauai is more romance (big honeymoon destination) and less developed - more of an escape. Maui is maybe a middle ground between oahu and kuai, and probably would have been my recommendation for first time visitors unsure of what they are looking for as offers a bit of everything. My last visit preceded the wildfires, though, and I am not sure to what extent it has changed the experience.

We really wanted to go up Mauna Kea - I believe you can drive up 🙃- but it was blocked due to protests. It’s technically the highest mountain in the world due to the vast underwater base!
it’s an amazing place. Standing on the huge rim of active volcano and volcanic rock fields everywhere which are hundreds of years old. The maps show the dates

Just be aware that going to Maui is talked about on the west coast like going to the canaries in the uk, it’s mass tourism, do careful research as you may find it isn’t what you are expecting. I last went 25 years ago but it was very touristy then