Hawaii

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I'm thinking of going there solo for a few days, just because it's one more place i need to visit at least once in my lifetime... I plan to do this probably in spring, April at the soonest.

I realize it's expensive to go there -- even from the West Coast -- but I was looking into tips on what to do there, what NOT to do there, etc. to avoid getting stung even more as far as my pockets go.

I'm initially thinking Maui would be where I'd most want to be, though I want to see the better parts of Oahu and Kauai if feasible.
(Based on my experience in Anchorage, Alaska, I figure Honolulu would be analagous, so I don't plan on spending too much time in the city per se).

Is a car necessary?

Are there often package deals that aren't worth several grand?

Those of you who have visited Hawaii before, school me!

― donut bitch (donut), Saturday, 14 February 2004 19:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Have a good time! I wish I could add something constructive but I haven't been there for thirty years -- I'll send you my address from then and you can go to Aiea north of Pearl Harbor and laugh, if you like. ;-) One of my students at work is from Hawaii, I'll get her thoughts.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 14 February 2004 19:20 (twenty-two years ago)

A car is very necessary. I didn't have one but luckily I was there with a friend who drove us around. It was a very odd experience, coming from Japan and not long after 9/11 (so not many people). I haven't been there for 3 years... I can only remember having massive headaches (as I can't stand *big winds*). Been there once and probably wont ever go there unless my boyfriend wants to.

― nathalie (nathalie), Saturday, 14 February 2004 19:31 (twenty-two years ago)

I live in Honolulu, and my advice would be not to come to Oahu. Seriously, I am constantly surprised that all the tourists aren't utterly disappointed by their visit here. But that may be because I live here so it's all boring to me now. I can't speak for the other islands cuz I havent been to any of them.

― nikolaus winter (bokkengro), Saturday, 14 February 2004 21:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Every time I see this thread, all I can think of is:

let's go to fucking Hawaii...

― Kim (Kim), Saturday, 14 February 2004 22:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Wow, never expected the thread to turn out like this. I'm already kinda saddened (and slightly perplexed) by the needing-a-car thing. :(

― donut bitch (donut), Saturday, 14 February 2004 23:23 (twenty-two years ago)

why, can you not drive?

― oops (Oops), Saturday, 14 February 2004 23:44 (twenty-two years ago)

not nowadays. I have a car. but my anxiety/panic issues that sharply arose last summer haven't quite been subdued enough to make me a safe driver yet.

― donut bitch (donut), Saturday, 14 February 2004 23:45 (twenty-two years ago)

(not to be too pedantic, but there are lots of people on ilxor who don't know how to drive.. i'm kinda surprised you're surprised by this..)

― donut bitch (donut), Saturday, 14 February 2004 23:48 (twenty-two years ago)

(no, not surprised, just didn't know if it was a I-can't-drive issue or a I-have-no-money-to-rent-a-car issue)

― oops (Oops), Saturday, 14 February 2004 23:49 (twenty-two years ago)

heh, well if i was going to hawaii, i'm sure car rental costs would be pretty small compared to the airfare, no matter where you were coming from (outside Hawaii of course).

(Interesting side note: Seattle is one of the main piers where people from Hawaii moving to the mainland must transport their cars. The cars usually arrive here, then they have to pick it up and drive to wherever they're moving to... which is why I often see Hawaii license plates in town)

― donut bitch (donut), Saturday, 14 February 2004 23:56 (twenty-two years ago)

But overall, I'm mainly surprised that Hawaii is more car-dependent than I initially thought. It makes perfect sense that everyone has to drive in Alaska, for example.. but maybe I'm probably underestimating how big those islands are. You mean there's no semi-decent bus/shuttle system in Hawaii, given all the tourism?

― donut bitch (donut), Saturday, 14 February 2004 23:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Nikolaus: yeah, I heard Honolulu isn't exactly an awe inspiring city, and expect it is just nothing but chain hotels and touristy inns, and then grimy on the outside. Are you going to school there? Or have you lived there your whole life?

― donut bitch (donut), Saturday, 14 February 2004 23:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Once on the way from Virginia to Hong Kong, I spent a night in Hawaii. I took the shuttle from the airport to the hotel, amazed by the number of signs with Japanese writing. I checked in, and walked around "downtown," with designer clothing stores and hotels, looking for a place to eat. Every restaurant has a steak dinner package, so I had a cheap steak. Then I tried to find the beach, but couldn't, so I went back to the hotel. The next day, I went on to Hong Kong. But that's a story for another day.

― NA (Nick A.), Sunday, 15 February 2004 00:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Lost on Vacation

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 15 February 2004 00:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Funny, I don't remember Scarlett Johannsen's ass being involved.

― NA (Nick A.), Sunday, 15 February 2004 00:29 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

are all posts dated with tomorrow's date here now?

and does anyone have any other advice on hawaii, this thead makes it sound pretty dismal which is depressing cause i just found a super cheap flight and wanted to go PLUS i also saw blue crush recently.

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Friday, 16 September 2005 16:06 (twenty years ago)

Honolulu has excellent public transportation. Whoever said that upthread is way off the mark.

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 16 September 2005 16:17 (twenty years ago)

Maui is excellent, though you do need to rent a car to see the best parts of the island, away from the tourist crowds. You can fly to Maui directly and bypass Honolulu (though the town around Maui's airport is also its most generic, with Kmarts and malls and such).

Once you're there, you can: spend time in the little surfer/hippie town of Paia (good veggie food & coffee, excellent big waves to watch); drive the twisting road to Hana, stopping at lovely scenes and fruit stands; drive up to the misty top of the big-ass volcano; go snorkeling or scuba-diving on the sunny west side of the island; visit the old cute town on the far west side of the island; etc.

― Lurky McLurk, Friday, 16 September 2005 16:54 (twenty years ago)

The big island is really really really incredible. The volcano park is probably my favorite place in the universe.

― Zack Richardson (teenagequiet), Friday, 16 September 2005 17:05 (twenty years ago)

Well, since i started this thread, I've found out the following:

* Honolulu has one excellent excellent vegetarian restaurant that's worth going to
* Maui has become overwrought with honeymooners.. nothing wrong with honeymooners, but for people looking to visit to avoid that element, Maui may not be the best choice
* Kauai is underrated, even though it's highly rated
* The big island (Hawaii) is GROSSLY GROSSLY underrated..

Add anything here...

― donut Get Behind Me Carbon Dioxide (donut), Saturday, 17 September 2005 07:20 (twenty years ago)

i'd love to see hawaii. it's one of a very small handful of u.s. states i still haven't been to (that list includes alaska too).

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Saturday, 17 September 2005 07:33 (twenty years ago)

I'll be returning in two years as part of my parents' 40th anniversary celebrations.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 17 September 2005 07:38 (twenty years ago)

What, nobody mention the "plate lunch"? What's a matter, bra, you don't like da kine?

― k/l (Ken L), Saturday, 17 September 2005 07:58 (twenty years ago)

Kauai is awesome. Lot less people and oh so beautiful. Can't remember the name of it, but Hawaii has an amazing ice cream chain. I'd kill for some right now.

― Tree of Stars, Saturday, 17 September 2005 09:07 (twenty years ago)

two years pass...

I'll be returning in two years as part of my parents' 40th anniversary celebrations.

And, as muttered in various spots, I did.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 20:39 (eighteen years ago)

Can't remember the name of it, but Hawaii has an amazing ice cream chain.

Lappert's?

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 20:39 (eighteen years ago)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2112/1725481843_638b088a5c.jpg?v=0

This is my view from my apartment. Hehehe....

― Super Cub, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 21:17 (eighteen years ago)

ned u missed some good sushi last saturday ur loss.

wau(i)

― tremendoid, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 21:26 (eighteen years ago)

I am crying nonexistent tears, tremendoid. Did I mention I had dinner Sunday at Nobu Waikiki?

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 21:26 (eighteen years ago)

Since it's Nobu, do you have the pics to prove it? I mean, there must have been paps outside like in LA. ;-)

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 21:35 (eighteen years ago)

Start here, scroll forward.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 21:37 (eighteen years ago)

(Actually as the photos are in reverse chronological order, scroll to the left in the browse function.)

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 21:38 (eighteen years ago)

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Oct/23/ln/hawaii710230365.html

― Michael White, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 22:12 (eighteen years ago)

one month passes...

So I'll be in Maui all next week. I'm going to try to get to the big island for at least a day or two, but right now my victory conditions are as follows:

1. Go to summit of Haleakala. Stare at volcano goodness
2. Check out the bamboo forest at Oheo Gulch
3. Drink some local coffee
4. Avoid making "Elvis In Hawaii" jokes

― Elvis Telecom, Saturday, 22 December 2007 00:50 (eighteen years ago)

Damn good plan. Have a blast! Next time I'm over I'm definitely making it off Oahu; my parents always loved Maui in particular.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 22 December 2007 00:53 (eighteen years ago)

<a href="http://www.quartzcity.net/2008/01/03/and-back/";>Mission accomplished</a>!

I can't thank Grady enough for suggesting Colleen's in Haiku. Holy crap that was a good meal.

― Elvis Telecom, Thursday, 3 January 2008 08:56 (eighteen years ago)

Bah, stupid late night copy-pasting... I meant <a href="http://www.quartzcity.net/2008/01/03/and-back/";>this</a>

― Elvis Telecom, Thursday, 3 January 2008 08:57 (eighteen years ago)

Note to self: sober up first.

― Elvis Telecom, Thursday, 3 January 2008 08:57 (eighteen years ago)

I went to Maui for my honeymoon last year, a bike ride down Haleakala is highly recommended. 40 miles, all downhill! Through clouds and lavender forests! Very cold at the top, very hot at the bottom.

― nate woolls, Thursday, 3 January 2008 09:22 (eighteen years ago)

Glad you liked it. How was the drive to Hana?

― gr8080, Thursday, 3 January 2008 15:28 (eighteen years ago)

a bike ride down Haleakala is highly recommended. 40 miles, all downhill

I believe these have been suspended following a series of deadly accidents.

― Super Cub, Thursday, 3 January 2008 17:24 (eighteen years ago)

one year passes...

I'm going to Oahu in June for my brother's wedding. The church is in Waikiki, so we'll probably find a place to stay around there. Any tips, particularly ways to save money?

― lindseykai, Monday, 16 February 2009 23:21 (seventeen years ago)

two years pass...

Interesting event for anyone who's in or near Hawaii in about 5 weeks' time: http://www.joanocean.com/SYMP011/

― StanM, Wednesday, 11 May 2011 18:56 (fourteen years ago)

eight months pass...

So any chance of Waikikifap tonight or tomorrow?

― an a drive (los blue jeans), Saturday, 28 January 2012 04:15 (fourteen years ago)

one year passes...

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/11/19/2966371/hawaii-homeless-smash/

In Hawaii, Democrats hate homelessmen?

― peace on earth and mercy mild (how's life), Wednesday, 20 November 2013 13:08 (twelve years ago)

one year passes...

Gr80 tell me how to live
Fia pon moose mcgilligudy
Tide pools?

― breakfast josiah (los blue jeans), Sunday, 18 January 2015 14:25 (eleven years ago)

WAILANA COFFEE HOUSE ATM

― breakfast josiah (los blue jeans), Sunday, 18 January 2015 14:30 (eleven years ago)

eight years pass...

Utter devastation left by the wildfires in Maui, Hawaï. It is far from hyperbole to say that Lahaina has been wiped off the map.

Credit: Vince Carter pic.twitter.com/dlwxTNY51R
— Nahel Belgherze (@WxNB_) August 9, 2023

jfc

― vodkaitamin effrtvescent (calzino), Wednesday, 9 August 2023 21:37 (two years ago)

Fish hurricane is a term meteorologists use to describe storms that are in open oceans that don’t have any direct impact on humans.

pencil that one in the new terms list for me.

But yeah, this is horrible stuff.

― Ste, Thursday, 10 August 2023 13:28 (two years ago)

Going to Oahu soon
Recs?

― calstars, Saturday, 19 August 2023 03:36 (two years ago)

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