Anyone been to Hawaii?

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Originally Posted by cassandra

I've been to Hawaii twice - once to the west side of Maui (touring with a theatre group - I used to costume), which I enjoyed, and then in Honolulu for work. I brought Rick with me the second time and it was the TRIP FROM H-E-DOUBLE TOOTHPICKS...just some highlights of the low points of that trip: we had to travel on separate flights, Rick fell on an escalator at LAX and ripped open his knee and missed his flight because he was at the hospital, nearly missed his next flight the next morning...I got flipped off (yes the BIRD) by EVERY SINGLE DRIVER IN HONOLULU for no apparent reason (aloha to you too)...Rick had stitches and bandages and we couldn't go swimming...when he finally could go swimming, the next day he had a terrible head cold...it was the most humid week of that entire year, so it was just SWELTERING...


Anywho, I don't like Hawaii anymore...however, I can tell you about the parts we did like. =)
- the beaches on the west, north and east sides...even tho we never went in the water, they were gorgeous and had lovely walk-stumbles (poor Rick) down several of them. There was one on the west side that is known for having special visitors - big sea turtles. They were there the day we stopped by - very freaking cool. =) I'm sure that beach has a name ("sea turtle beach"?) which I'm guessing someone else can give you...
- Wailana Coffee House in Honolulu. Great food and cheap. We ate there a lot.
- Duke's. To placate our misery, we drank ourselves through their tropical drinks menu -- twice. We both stumbled home. :D
- ABC Stores. They are EVERYWHERE. Love'em. 7-Eleven Island style...if they don't have it, you don't need it.

And you gotta go to an evening luau...one is plenty...but it's like a rule or something. =) The one Rick and I went to was at the...um...pink hotel on Waikiki...it was pretty cool.

Oh and if you don't like rum, ask for a "chi-chi"...it's a pina colada made with vodka instead of rum. (Silly people not liking rum, but Rick really got into chi-chi's...the drink was good too)

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Being college students, we didn't have much spare, but I learned about the Pai-ai (sp) <pie-yie> drink, that when I go again, I want to order and try.....

It was described to me as a pineapple that's been cored, and then filled w/diff. things. SUPPOSED to be really good..........I'm not one for the alcohol flavor. :puke: I prefer sweeter drinks, so this was a suggestion to some of us. lol:rolleye2:

My husband and I went for our anniversary 2 1/2 years ago. We traveled to the islands of Maui and Kauai. Both were very different but lovely.


On maui, we stayed in a private cottage in Huelo surrounded by a flower farm. It was awesome! While on the island we enjoyed snorkeling the molokini crater, the drive up to the summit of Heleakala for sunrise (wear very warm clothes), the great beaches, bars and restaurants around Ka'anapali and we loved the drive on the Hana hwy (drove ourselves so we could stop when we wanted to) - especially the black rock beach at Wai'anapanapa and stopping at a roadside vendor to buy a whole pealed and cored fresh pineapple.

On Kauai we stayed at a private condo at Princeville - it was beautiful. We really loved the helicoper ride over the island, but my most memorable treat was driving the Waimea canyon road (remember I live in Florida so big mountains and canyons are amazing to me) and the look out over parts of the NaPali coast.

Two books that came highly recommended to me by several friends that had been are "Maui Revealed" by Andrew Doughty and Harriett Friedman and "The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook" by the same authors. Both books were published by Wizard Publications inc. They have a great website at http://www.wizardpub.com Both the authors have lived in Hawaii for years and give all the local info - not the touristy (sp?) stuff.

Keep us in the loop about your trip. I am so excited for you.

p.s. one thing I found very funny . . . those that grew up in Hawaii love spam. It is the first thing to disappear from the store shelves when a storm is coming and is served for breakfast, even at McDonalds! Go figure. :)

Wow! Thank you all so much. Lots of great info! :clap: You guys are GOLD! :love:

Well I've been lei-ed. My husband brought one home to announce that our trip is officially on! Woo hoo! http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...e/wootwoot.gif

So I'll be taking a 2 week hiatus from the forums, for that glorious beach vacation. (with no kids to boot!) 100 days, until I'm basking in glorious paradise. :clap: I've still got to decide the activities but I'm much closer to making those decisions. :yes:

Can ya tell I'm a teensy bit excited? http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...ulke/blush.gif

Congrats Christie! Well deserved vacation! And pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeee take lots o f pics! :D :D :carrot: :sunny:

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Originally Posted by iceman25

Congrats Christie! Well deserved vacation! And pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeee take lots o f pics! :D :D :carrot: :sunny:

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Thanks. Pictures are such a given! Hopefully I'll come across some awesome wildlife, and I know the scenery will be awe inspiring. :D

two weeks without kids? make sure you have LOTS of birth control girl... or you'll be taking home an unexpected souvenier :eek:

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

two weeks without kids? make sure you have LOTS of birth control girl... or you'll be taking home an unexpected souvenier :eek:

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Bite your tongue woman! :O :bolt: (where's the quivering under the bed in fear smilie when you need it?!)

hahahahahaha when your belly begins to swell we'll all know what you did on vacation :P

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

hahahahahaha when your belly begins to swell we'll all know what you did on vacation :P

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You're an evil, evil woman! :evileye: I've had too many people say once you give away all the baby clothes/accessories you wind up pregnant. I've done that, so I'm still a bit nervous. This oven is closed for business!!! :bolt: