Which Hawaiian Island?
- Thread starter SeaIsle
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JokerGirl
Whistler's Mother
I've been to Maui and Kauai. Of those two, I also would have to recommend Maui. There's plenty to do above water as well as below. There's plenty of good beach snorkelling, and there's a couple of different boat trips you can take as well - to Molokini and Turtle town.
JokerGirl
Whistler's Mother
Depending on your personality, I really enjoyed the last place I stayed at several weeks ago. It is located in Kihei and is called the Hotel Aloha Pualani. It's a small B&B style hotel with only 6 rooms and a private pool. It was absolutely fabulous, and the prices aren't bad either. We really enjoyed it because neither of us are into the crowded resort/tourist areas.
gregmoeck
New member
Maui info for snorkeling people.
You want to stay in Kihei which is south Maui. There are plenty of condo's for rent if you look on vrbo.com. Be prepared to spend a lot of money on groceries. Food is expensive to buy in Maui and the rent a cars are expensive in Maui.
Staying in Kihei allows you access to all the great beaches. You can walk across the road to the beaches or drive down to Makena or Wailea maui. It's like Florida, you have lots of little parking area's to pull off (beach access). Some have showers and bathrooms. Snorkeling is excellent right off the beach. Triggers, tangs, eels, turtles everywhere. I really enjoyed snorkeling at the black sand beach. There was only 4 cars there and I could have spent days snorkeling that reef and not have seen it all. You can take a boat out to the crater and snorkel or scuba but really the shore snorkeling is great and its a waste of time to get on a boat if you ask me.
You want to stay in Kihei which is south Maui. There are plenty of condo's for rent if you look on vrbo.com. Be prepared to spend a lot of money on groceries. Food is expensive to buy in Maui and the rent a cars are expensive in Maui.
Staying in Kihei allows you access to all the great beaches. You can walk across the road to the beaches or drive down to Makena or Wailea maui. It's like Florida, you have lots of little parking area's to pull off (beach access). Some have showers and bathrooms. Snorkeling is excellent right off the beach. Triggers, tangs, eels, turtles everywhere. I really enjoyed snorkeling at the black sand beach. There was only 4 cars there and I could have spent days snorkeling that reef and not have seen it all. You can take a boat out to the crater and snorkel or scuba but really the shore snorkeling is great and its a waste of time to get on a boat if you ask me.
percula99
New member
Here are a couple of useful web sites you can look at. Maui had excellent snorkeling. If you get a chance to go to the Big Island of Hawaii go to the Kapoho tide pools. They were my favorite snorkel experience in Hawaii.
http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/Hawaii/index.htm
http://www.letsgo-hawaii.com/snorkeling/hilo.html
http://www.discounthawaiicarrental.com/?gclid=CLSo1cSMjZECFUtyOAodXGKJGA
http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/Hawaii/index.htm
http://www.letsgo-hawaii.com/snorkeling/hilo.html
http://www.discounthawaiicarrental.com/?gclid=CLSo1cSMjZECFUtyOAodXGKJGA
We go every year, been to kauai, Oahu, Lanai, Maui and Hawaii (The Big Island).
For a first timer/honeymooner, I would also suggest Maui. The snorkeling is great, restaurants of every type adn plenty to do away from the beach.
Here is my generalization of each:
Kauai - Very slow, laid back, sometimes difficult to find places to eat, not a whole lot to do other then relax, but very beautiful and not at all commercial.
Oahu - Honolulu and people, but you can find quiet areas. Just not my favorite or even in the top three for vacation.
Lanai - Even slower than Kauai, great day trip, but that's about it for me.
Maui - Whatever you want, it's here, like I said above. I also suggest the south side (Kihei/Wailea/Makena), but try to get out and see the whole island. Do not bother trying to drive around the northwest side of all the way around from Hana, waste of time, IMO. Speaking of Hana, if you have not done it before, do it once.
The Big Island - Definitely stay on the west coast/Kona side. The bid resorts are here, but so are the beaches. It's a bit more laid back than Maui, especially as you get away from Kona, but not as much as Kauai. It and Maui are my favorites. Great snorkelling at either. The Volcano is really something and plan to try and stay at the observation area until dark. Do the park/crater during the day and drive down (get dinner on the way) to the observation area about an hour before sunset.
Anyway, best books I have found are the one's the sell at www.wizardpub.com, written by Hawaii residents. You can find them at most major bookstores. They are generally blue with an aerial pic of the island on the cover and titles like The Ultimate Maui Guidebook. They will show you every beach, tell you about the services at that beach and show you which side of the beach has the best snorkelling.
I was in Maui and Hawaii this past August. While snorkelling just off the beach from our hotel (The Grand Wailea), I saw octopi, eels galore, triggers, great coral and then had a nice size 10'-12' Manta Ray swim about 10' right under me, coolest thing I have ever seen. I knew they were out there though since people had seen four of them earlier in the day. You could actually see them from the beach.
Have fun and try to get out of your room. I realize it's your honeymoon, but Hawaii is awesome.
For a first timer/honeymooner, I would also suggest Maui. The snorkeling is great, restaurants of every type adn plenty to do away from the beach.
Here is my generalization of each:
Kauai - Very slow, laid back, sometimes difficult to find places to eat, not a whole lot to do other then relax, but very beautiful and not at all commercial.
Oahu - Honolulu and people, but you can find quiet areas. Just not my favorite or even in the top three for vacation.
Lanai - Even slower than Kauai, great day trip, but that's about it for me.
Maui - Whatever you want, it's here, like I said above. I also suggest the south side (Kihei/Wailea/Makena), but try to get out and see the whole island. Do not bother trying to drive around the northwest side of all the way around from Hana, waste of time, IMO. Speaking of Hana, if you have not done it before, do it once.
The Big Island - Definitely stay on the west coast/Kona side. The bid resorts are here, but so are the beaches. It's a bit more laid back than Maui, especially as you get away from Kona, but not as much as Kauai. It and Maui are my favorites. Great snorkelling at either. The Volcano is really something and plan to try and stay at the observation area until dark. Do the park/crater during the day and drive down (get dinner on the way) to the observation area about an hour before sunset.
Anyway, best books I have found are the one's the sell at www.wizardpub.com, written by Hawaii residents. You can find them at most major bookstores. They are generally blue with an aerial pic of the island on the cover and titles like The Ultimate Maui Guidebook. They will show you every beach, tell you about the services at that beach and show you which side of the beach has the best snorkelling.
I was in Maui and Hawaii this past August. While snorkelling just off the beach from our hotel (The Grand Wailea), I saw octopi, eels galore, triggers, great coral and then had a nice size 10'-12' Manta Ray swim about 10' right under me, coolest thing I have ever seen. I knew they were out there though since people had seen four of them earlier in the day. You could actually see them from the beach.
Have fun and try to get out of your room. I realize it's your honeymoon, but Hawaii is awesome.
Depending on budget and timing, a great trip would be 6 nights on Maui and four on The Big Island. Interisland flights are cheap and you can get one-stop flights from both islands back to NY.
If budget were no issue, then I would stay at either The Four Seasons, the Grand Wailea or the Kea Lani in Wailea, Maui and The Four Seasons on The Big Island. The Four Seasons on The Big Island is a special place.
If you get certified to Dive, there are some great boat excucursions from the Kihei boat harbor and from Maaleaa. Some of those will take you over to Lanai. There is also a few great beach dives on the Wailea side of the island. I actually got certified on Ulua Beach in Wailea 20 years ago...god, I'm old.
If budget were no issue, then I would stay at either The Four Seasons, the Grand Wailea or the Kea Lani in Wailea, Maui and The Four Seasons on The Big Island. The Four Seasons on The Big Island is a special place.
If you get certified to Dive, there are some great boat excucursions from the Kihei boat harbor and from Maaleaa. Some of those will take you over to Lanai. There is also a few great beach dives on the Wailea side of the island. I actually got certified on Ulua Beach in Wailea 20 years ago...god, I'm old.
Do two islands - kauai and maui, stay in Wailea in maui (highest chance you won't run into rain) - kaui south end Poipu is unbelievable. kauai is much more rustic feeling and laid back, a place you can rent your car and just cruise around. Maui is upscale and ritzy - a place to be pampered
fitlerreef
New member
I prefer Kaui because it is more remote (less touristy) than others. It's incredibly beautiful and there are plenty of things to do. The Big Island is also beautiful but more built up...
Maui is great, of course, but it is REALLY touristy.
Maui is great, of course, but it is REALLY touristy.
Ive been to Big Island (kona) and Oahu, by far the big island has better snorkeling. If you do decide to go to the big island make sure you go down to south of Kona to "The place of refuge" amazing amount of coral/fish and when we went a pod of dolphins of about 30 were there to swim with.
MarcusSmith
New member
ive been to Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Lanai, Big Island. My wife and I went to Kauai for our honeymoon and loved it but we didnt snorkel there.
We went to Maui 2 years ago and snorkeled in a few spots, the best spot for us was right in front of the maui prince hotel, we could even see giant turtles without even getting in the water.
There was alot of coral and fish just 15 yards from walking in the water. My wife cant swim and we still enjoyed the snorkeling, we rented those floating pads that go around your waist along with the mask and snorkel for the week. I wanted to take the boat out to molokini but we ended up doing the reefdancer boat instead.
Aloha mixed plate restaurant was our favorite place to eat. It is next to the old lahaina luau in Lahaina.
We went to Maui 2 years ago and snorkeled in a few spots, the best spot for us was right in front of the maui prince hotel, we could even see giant turtles without even getting in the water.
There was alot of coral and fish just 15 yards from walking in the water. My wife cant swim and we still enjoyed the snorkeling, we rented those floating pads that go around your waist along with the mask and snorkel for the week. I wanted to take the boat out to molokini but we ended up doing the reefdancer boat instead.
Aloha mixed plate restaurant was our favorite place to eat. It is next to the old lahaina luau in Lahaina.
Hawaii - Snorkle
Hawaii - Snorkle
Best Island by far to see fish and coral is the big Island. If yor see 5 yellow tangs on Maui you will see 50 - 100 on the big Island. Game fishermen, locals all know Maui's reefs are poor and the fish are few. Maui is a cooler Island on land and the big Island is cooler in the water.
Hawaii - Snorkle
Best Island by far to see fish and coral is the big Island. If yor see 5 yellow tangs on Maui you will see 50 - 100 on the big Island. Game fishermen, locals all know Maui's reefs are poor and the fish are few. Maui is a cooler Island on land and the big Island is cooler in the water.
MarcusSmith
New member
you might consider doing maui and the big island if you have the time, you dont want to be in a rush though.
the one thing I still remember about the big island was the awesome view of the stars at night, and I wasnt even at the top of mauna kea which is 14,000 feet.
the one thing I still remember about the big island was the awesome view of the stars at night, and I wasnt even at the top of mauna kea which is 14,000 feet.
