If there is a more ideal environment on earth than Hawaii, I haven’t been there. Whether you’re making your first visit to paradise and want to get an overview or you’re a return visitor ready to find the perfect spot to stay awhile, I can help you
A view from Kauai's Napali Coast Trail
design the experience that suits you. These days, an excellent way to introduce yourself to several islands is a cruise. You don’t have to carry your gear in a backpack and use your feet and your thumb to get around, as I did in 1975. You don’t have to pack and unpack several times like I did in 1979.
A fantastic alternative for return visitors is settling in to get to know the delights and contrasts of a particular island. Since I have stayed on all the major islands repeatedly, I have the first-hand knowledge to put you in a place that has exactly what you are looking for.
Here is an overview of the characteristics of the islands:
KAUAI
There are great resorts on opposite sides of the Garden Isle. On the sunny south side is beautiful Poipu Beach with an array of hotels and condos. Where to stay depends on what you want to do. Do you prefer a luxury hotel with sprawling tropical gardens or close access to surfing and snorkeling with kitchens and barbecues for cooking your meals? Up north, your choices range from a luxury cliff-side resort to funky hippie-style cottages amid fields of green.
Poipu Beach has much going for it, including great surfing.
Either spot offers a jumping off point for Kauai’s many delights. Or you can split your time between to two to reduce longer drives. Once you’ve settled in, you can spend time on some of the world’s prettiest beaches (Poipu regularly makes those Top 10 lists and Ke’e Beach is a snorkler’s delight), play stellar golf courses, snorkel with colorful tropical fish and giant sea turtles, kayak up a river and swim under a Fantasy Island-style waterfall, explore the spectacular Napali Coast by foot and by boat, take in what Mark Twain dubbed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific and savor a picture-perfect al fresco dinner at the Beach House Restaurant as the sun sets.
For more about Kauai, see Kauai: Paradise Found.
BIG ISLAND
The Big Island of Hawaii also has a spilt personality, but spread over a much larger land mass. The sunny Kona Coast’s expansive resorts, renowned coffee plantations and green golf courses provide a striking contrast to the black lava flows that dominate much of the slopes of the massive Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea volcanoes. The higher elevations of the mountains retain snow for much of the year. So skiing and surfing in 80-degree water within hours is quite possible. If deep-sea fishing is your thing, Kailua-Kona is the jumping-off point for some of the world’s finest
The Big Island continues to grow, courtesy of Kilauea Volcano.
Elsewhere on the island is a rain forest chock full of waterfalls, the hot lava of the very active Kilauea Volcano, black- and red-sand beaches plus a mountaintop observatory offering some of earth’s clearest view of the heavens. As you can tell, making the most out this island (bigger than the rest of the chain combined) also takes careful planning.
OAHU
Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, the Polynesian Cultural Center and McGarett’s Hawaii Five-0 make for a wonderful introduction to Hawaii. A luau anywhere on the islands provides the Cliff Notes, but to really learn about the Polynesian culture, read James Michener’s fictionalized history before arrival and then visit the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints magnificent cultural center.
Be sure to check out Oahu's Polynesian Cultural Center.
Honolulu’s Waikiki is a great place to take a surfing lesson on mild waves and ride an outrigger canoe, then prowl the nightlife scene into the wee hours. An alternative to the urban buzz is the Ko Olina resort, home to a JW Marriott Hotel, Marriott Vacation Club Villas and Disney’s new Aulani Hotel.
Hanauma Bay offers outstanding snorkeling, but get there early before the busloads crowd the place. Pearl Harbor, with its Arizona Memorial above the sunken ship that still entombs casualties from the surprise attack that prompted America’s entry into World War II, is a sobering stop that reminds of the sacrifices that those in the military make for our benefit. Head across to the North Shore in the winter to view the huge waves that challenge brave surfers at Sunset Beach Waimea Bay and Pipeline.
The new Aulani resort melds the magic of the islands with that of Disney.
MAUI
Relaxing on Ka'anapali Beach.
Susan and I returned to Maui, site our our honeymoon, to celebrate our 30th anniversary. For us, it still really is the a Magic Isle. I always have a great time in Maui, whether bunking on the deck of a boat, honeymooning at the low-key Napili Kai Beach Resort or relaxing in one of beautiful Ka’anapali Beach’s sprawling resorts.
Napili Beach still has some of the best snorkeling, plus the funky and popular Gazebo restaurant is right on the point. Wanting to sleep a little longer, we did sunset rather than sunrise at the Haleakala Volcano summit. It was spectacular. And we got out on the water with a catamaran snorkeling trip over to Lanai.
Behold sunset from the top of a volcano.
Whatever your preferences, I would love to help design the perfect Hawaii vacation for you. Call (949) 201-4246 or email chrismeyeroc@gmail.com. I will ask a few questions about what you are seeking and present some great alternatives.
