kgymn

The Arizona memorial tour tickets are separate from the narrated tour.

Unless you would be paying a lot for transportation to pearl harbor, I would just go yourselves versus a tour bus. Much cheaper and then you decide how long you want/need at each.

 

~Katy

Just wanted to add, if someone wanted dole whip in Hawaii but didn't want to go to Dole planation, most (if not all) ABC stores have it. This includes the ones run by ABC stores in resort areas like Ko Olina or Waikoloa (big island) that have fancy resorty names other than "ABC store".

 

~Katy

Just to clarify, in case others who read this thread get confused- the Arizona memorial along with the bowfin are in an area that while technically is within pearl harbor, it is outside the security gates. While you cannot get onto the active military base (joint base pearl harbor hickam) the Arizona memorial itself is accessible to everyone, with a ferry that runs to ford island where the uss Missouri, Pacific aviation museum, etc are located.

 

~Katy

The poster specifically mentioned Four Seasons Makena, on Maui, which doesn't exist. Makena is near Wailea, but the Four Seasons Maui is in Wailea.

 

Oh I see now they also mentioned on Maui. To be fair, Wailea and Makena are right next to each other. Even on Google maps the area is referred to as wailea-makena so I can understand the confusion.

Pretty sure the Four Seasons is in Wailea, at least it was when we stayed there 4 times. But, agree, it is very nice, as is the other resorts (Grand Wailea and Fairmont) in the area. Haven't seen the two new places there yet.

 

Of course, the OP hasn't offered any specifics yet.

 

There are multiple 4 seasons. There is one at Wailea, but that is not the same island as the one mentioned by the previous poster.

 

~Katy

I did paradise cove with my family in September, we had no complaints and the location for the sunset is unbeatable as far as Oahu luaus go. I haven't attended Germaine's but have been at the adjacent park when the luau was being held, it's in an industrial area but right by the water.

As far as traffic, that occurs long before you would be returning from a luau. If it says it will return your at a specific time you can trust it barring construction (which to my knowledge isn't going to be a factor going back to the ship from any of the luaus in March.)

 

~Katy

There are some nice protected areas with calm water where you can learn. There are protected bays as well as streams. I took a couple lessons at hickam harbor (you need to have base access to do it there though) and the wind was more of a concern than the waves. Certain other beaches I wouldn't suggest for learning, as there are bigger/more frequent waves. It all depends on time of year as well. There are surf forecasts you can use to see where on the island will have the calmest waters a couple days in advance (as with any forecasts, the accuracy goes down exponentially the more days in advance)

I wasn't in the best shape when I first learned and I did OK. As long as you are prepared to be falling in often. The one thing that really stood out for me, personally, was when first getting started we kneeled rather than standing all the way up which wasn't great for my knees.

 

If you do a lesson, rather than just renting a board and having a go yourself, you should be fine as instructors will keep an eye on the forecast and are familiar with the waters and will keep you away from anywhere unsafe. The first lesson I took they cancelled halfway through because the wind picked up too much for beginners. Most instructors safety is their primary concern.

 

~Katy

For sure, but there's not much of a difference regardless. Something I had not thought about, which I realized when looking at the lists of sunset times by month, is that because Hawaii is located much closer to the equator than most of us are, the day lengths vary only by 2 or 3 hours year round. As compared to Chicago where the variation could be 4 hours or more.

 

A couple hours still makes a huge difference logistically. The sun setting at 5:30 vs 7:30 are quite different. Especially if you have, say, a 4pm flight arrival and want to plan if you will have any daylight to enjoy after settling in to the hotel. Or if you get out of work at 5 and want to enjoy the sunset from somewhere other than you car ;)

 

There's also much more to do in Hawaii during daylight hours. You can fit much more into a day where the sun sets a couple hours later.

 

~Katy

You would easily have time to drive up to the edge of the Napali coast and back before sail away. We did that and stopped at a couple beaches and did some quick shopping and were back to the ship in plenty of time. You can make it as early a morning as you wish, since the ship is already in port, so you still have quite a bit of time. The one lane bridges and the gorgeous scenery along the northern coast were a highlight of our day.

 

~Katy

I think you will be happy with your choice not to do a whale watching tour. There's a good chance you will see some on your way up to the north shore, as well as from the ship. So paying for and taking time for a tour probably won't be necessary.

 

~Katy

Thank you all!

I think the plan is going to be to rent a car. It looks like the personal tours are pretty pricey and I haven't liked group tours in the past.

We're going to go to Akaka and Kahuna Falls from Hilo. I estimate we'll be there less than 30 minutes . We will then hit Rainbow Falls when we head south for VNP. It looks like Rainbow falls is a shorter visit as well.

 

VNP - I'm interested in the lava tubes. I'm not sure what else I'd specifically want to do or see. What's a suggested time to spend there?

 

Depending on how much time we take at VNP, we might go to Punalu'u beach. I really just want to see it, take a picture or two, and walk in black sand. I estimate 30 minutes here, but I know the driving time is what will really matter. There's only a few things on my must do list for Hawaii, and a black sand beach is one of them.

 

There is a smaller black sand beach right in Hilo called Richardson beach park. Definitely much smaller, but pretty, has black sand and turtles, and some nice snorkeling as well. It may be easier to hit than punaluu with the busy day you have planned.

 

~Katy

I have actually been looking at the Waipio tours recently, and the one I am planning to do is only 2 hours, so 3 hours to/from Kona and 2 hour tour (10:30, 12:30, 2:30 times) most ships that are on for at least 6.5 hours should have plenty of time to do it. 6 hours may be cutting it close with picking up and dropping off the rental car, but 6.5 or more would be fine, it allows a whole hour and a half to deal with the rental car.

~Katy

[quote name='Susan-M']kgymn - Waipio Valley is a popular destination, but maybe not so much as a day trip on a cruise.

Waipio is at the opposite end of Pololu, with several valleys in between - Waipio is at a higher elevation, so when viewing from above, a more scenic view - but Pololu is still very scenic, and the drive to it (up 270 and back down 250) is much more scenic IMO.

For a day trip from a cruise stop in Kailua Kona, I'd opt for Pololu, but if driving from the west side of the BI to the east side, or for a day trip that included a tour into the valley, then agree that it's a good destination. And some might enjoy the drive to it on a cruise stop, even if they don't have time for a tour into the valley and can only view from the lookout at the top.[/QUOTE]

The drive time from Kona to both valleys is the same, so both are viable options for a day trip on a cruise. I suggest Waipio as an option because there are short tours taking you into the valley (I found none that take you into pololu) and it has those famous waterfalls. I have heard great things about the lookout at pololu. I think if I were just driving to see the view from the lookout I may choose pololu, but for actually going into the valley I'd choose Waipio.

~Katy

We quite liked Hapuna beach on the kohala coast. Very doable for a nice long beach day, gorgeous long stretch of beach. Alternately, one I don't hear people talking about that I have started thinking about recently is Waipio Valley. It's an hour and a half each way from Kona, and you can take a 2 your tour through the valley. I plan to do this with my husband in a couple weeks when we go to Waikoloa for the weekend. It's a gorgeous valley with a rich history.

~Katy

Hawaii is a totally different "feel" from the Caribbean...don't expect the same experience! There is no comparison in the waters.....generally, the Caribbean is clear and warm...Hawaii's waters are beautiful blue, but not as clear, and definitely not as warm or as calm!!!

 

I'd say that depends on what beach you go to and the time of year. I suppose our water is slightly cooler and more so in the winter. And yes, we can get some very rough days for surf. But other days the water is calm as can be. And some beaches have the clearest water I have ever experienced (particularly west side of Oahu, where I spend the most of my time)

 

~Katy

Thank you all for the helpful advice and suggestions!

 

We will be in Honolulu in late March.

 

I'm a little worried with what I have been reading about beaches being full by 9am....are we going to be driving around just passing full parking lots?

 

Ok March is a little iffy for surf conditions, cause it's at the end of the winter season so you may see some big swells come in to the north shore. Hanauma will probably be your best bet for snorkeling on Oahu, unless it's particularly calm on the north shore then I would recommend The Tables. If you were coming in the summer season I'd have suggested snorkeling 3 tables during your drive along the north shore, which is where it is. On the plus side for March, it will still be whale season. :) there some excellent beaches along the drive up the east coast to the north shore, so consider stopping for a dip along the way. The sand is amazing along waimanalo and kailua!

 

As far as packed beaches, hanauma is the main one to be concerned with. The lot does fill up, as it is such a popular spot. But most beaches, especially on week days, you shouldn't have trouble finding parking.

 

For your first day, sun will be setting around 6:45. So you may or may not have a chance to get to the beach IF you do beach before dinner instead of after.

 

~Katy

I have to disagree about there not being good snorkeling on Oahu. I haven't been to Hanauma bay yet, because o refuse to battle crowds and pay for parking when there's good snorkeling elsewhere on the island. I wasn't impressed with the snorkeling we did on a tour in Maui, it was supposed to be molokini but was too windy to go there so we were taken north instead. And yeah, I have better snorkeling 15 minutes from my house in Oahu than I experienced there. I did enjoy snorkeling off the beach on the Big Island quite a bit, though.

I suppose it depends on what you are looking for when snorkeling.

 

~Katy

Besides being exhausted by the time you are done with dinner, to depending on time of year it is highly likely that the sun will be gone by the time you are done with dinner. Currently the sun is setting about 6:25, it will continue to set earlier for some months now setting about 5:30 at the earliest. In summer the latest it sets is 7:30, so that would be the only time of year you even have a chance of making it to the beach after dinner.

Honestly a lot of your plans I may have some suggestions for depending on exactly what time of year it is. What month is your trip?

 

~Katy

The only part of Waikiki I have been to is the hale koa, and at least along there it has a walkway. If you look at Google maps sattelite imagery, it would appear there are boardwalks off and on between there and the outrigger, but at least some portions you'd be walking across sand.

 

~Katy

I would also recommend speaking to the location you'll be renting the car from. They will know what time you need the car back by in order to make it back to the ship on time. Keep in mind, renting cars is very popular on this cruise so there will be a number of people returning cars at once and you may be waiting in a line to check the car back in when you get back. Then there is the wait for the shuttle. The rental office you will be getting the car from is used to this since they do it every week and they will know the time it has to be back to be safe.

 

~Katy

My son lives in a high rise in downtown Honolulu (his view is actually the cruise ships!) and I'm on the phone with him almost every morning as he drives to Schofield Barracks. Even at 5:15 am he is complaining about the traffic!

 

We head there Sept 1. for our first visit so I will get to see the traffic for myself!!

 

Really? And he's going against traffic! That's the good way to be going at that time.

Personally we find the traffic not *as* bad as some other places (southwest Connecticut and southeast Virginia come to mind!)

 

~Katy

What time of year will you be here? I live on Oahu and would be happy to give you suggestions and tips for avoiding traffic. As someone pointed out parking can get right certain places, in particular hanauma bay. It fits the bill for beach with snorkeling, but if the lot is full you get to hike up the hill after parking elsewhere. Depending on the time of year I have some back up suggestions for you.

 

~Katy

The gift shop is lovely! You will have no problem finding something appropriate.

 

~Katy

My husband is a veteran and the TA we used said NCL does not discount for Veterans - was the discount from NCL or Costco?

 

thx

 

Time for a new TA as they didn't do their job and had incorrect information. Or worse, intentionally didn't extend a discount you were entitled to just to up their commission. The NCL website very clearly states that the military rate/discount is available to "veterans with proof of military service"

http://www.ncl.com/promo/military

 

~Katy

Did anyone take the Pride of Aloha? We took it in March 2008 and it was a 11 day cruise. It seems when it changed to the Pride of America the cruise went to 7 days. Does anyone know why?

Larry

 

I'm not sure what this question has to do with this thread. But it didn't "change " to pride of america, it changed to a non Hawaii ship. They kept just POA here because they'd over saturated their Hawaii market with too many ships, and 7 day cruises are most popular I suppose.

 

~Katy