Going to Hawaii for the first time, need advice

[streetjudge79]

We are going next September , the prices are better then.

 

[Tremont]

I've snorkeled all over Maui/Hawaii. TBH, despite what most of the guide books say, I liked the big island the best. Pristine snorkeling without the crowds, even the places described in the guidebooks were usually pretty deserted. Because there are less crowds, there tends to be more fish and more coral since people aren't stepping on it all the time. The only major drawback is if you leave your car somewhere alone, you are almost guaranteed to have your car broken into - looking for piles of shattered windows on the ground is a good way to determine the safety of you car (better yet, just leave it empty a window rolled down and the trunk open).

To me, Maui was over hyped. All of the spots were packed with tourists (I saw kids harassing turtles wherever I went) and I wasn't very impressed by the coral. The only place I went that really impressed me was all the little coves around La Perouse Bay. Not so great on coral but the fish were incredible and it was mostly deserted. Molokini was underwhelming, may have just been an off day when I went.

-Tre

 

[philter4]

I'm not sure where some of you get your flt times, but I go to HI at least twice a year, and from Sacramento (where my parents live so I go there first to break up the flt times) to Honolulu is under 5 hours, I just returned from a collecting trip on oct 14th(see reef fish forum for pics) and it was 4 hours 39 mins with the tail wind.

I don't snorkel much, the fish I like to collect and keep are usually in deep water so I scuba, but if you want to see morish idols they are everywhere, at all of the boat ramps I saw morish idols while were were putting the boat in the water. We collected several young morish idols while were diving and though I didn't bring any back on this trip, in 2006 I brought 9 back, 7 of which are still alive.

 

[streetjudge79]

I looked in the reef fish section, did not see a thread on your collecting trip, can you link it?
Steve

 

[x2uranium]

Streetjudge good luck, I just got back from Maui and the snorkeling was incredible right off the beach at almost every spot. Sea turtles are everywhere, and be prepared to move there. Im trying to sell my house as we speak to move there lol.

 

[philter4]

I'm not sure how to post a link, but if this doesn't work go to reef fishes forum, the last post was dated 10/25/08 so go to the posts from that date and it is titled "I just got back from a short trip to HI"

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1495777

 

[streetjudge79]

That's awesome, thanks for posting the link.

 

[murphysfish]

LOTS of sun tan lotion

 

[x2uranium]

True, the sun at 9 am will even fry you.