Gidget went to Hawaii I probably will not ,how about you.

[whogo]

Southwest had ridiculously low fares from Chicago to Hawaii for this fall, $300 to Honolulu and $376 or less to Maui, Kona, or Kauai. I decided against booking, because of rental car uncertainty. Only visited a couple of times on cruise ships, beautiful islands, but we were really not that into Hawaii. Our travels will take us elsewhere.

[Silver Sweethearts]

11 hours ago, dolittle said:

When old things like pineapple factories ,luau and lei greetings(do they still have that) are still around it means there are not new and better things to replace them. 

 

There is an old saying: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".  

[Covepointcruiser]

We went to the big island in February and it was wonderful.   There were a few tests (COVID) required so you received your official QR code but after that you were great.   Beautiful beaches, Mauna Kea Observatories, Parker Ranch, Volcano National Park and we were never bored.   Plenty of RentL Cars in Feb and March.   Believe United now has a non stop from Newark in addition to the flight from Chicago and Houston.  Price for Business Class was reasonable and we had a snack and slept most of the way.   Would never hesitate to travel there if the airfare is good.

[pseudoware]

I'm in Kihei on Maui right now.  I was in Waikiki in October, the moment they opened the pre-travel testing program.  Kona in 2019.  Lost count of how many trips here, and I will keep coming.  Been to Oahu's North Shore several times, but never to the Dole Plantation, nor the Polynesian Cultural Center, Pearl Harbor, etc.  Been to a luau once, likely never again.  Don't come here for that stuff.

 

Been to several Caribbean islands and all the Mexican vacation spots.  I'm good with Hawaii from now on.

[Joebucks]

I love Hawaii. I couldn't imagine anyone being bored there unless you are not a travel person. I did a trip there two years ago to Kauai and Oahu. Kauai was absolutely beautiful. Our resort's beach had reefs right there. Didn't have to go far at all to see beautiful marine life. There was giant sea turtles napping on the beach. We did the helicopter tour. A beautiful tour. All of Hawaii has no shortage of beautiful beaches. I can't go wrong with that!

 

Oahu was very different. It is your big city. However, all of the islands still have beautiful nature and beautiful beaches available. The big city life isn't your only option if staying in Oahu. With that said, Oahu did the big city just fine. Waikiki is beautiful and vast. There is tons to do. Everyone should probably see Pearl Harbor at least once.

 

As much as I like Hawaii, I haven't found myself once looking to live there. Perhaps it is the combination of costs, politics, accommodations, and proximity to the US. I would definitely travel there more if it wasn't so far.

 

  

On 6/15/2021 at 9:51 PM, Hlitner said:

I would guess that you were on Oahu which is the one island I prefer to avoid.  Oahu is great for those that like Miami Beach kind of places with lots of traffic, commercialism, high rise hotels, etc.  Go to Maui and get out of the main towns, spend time on the Big Island, or enjoy Kauai and it is a lot different then Oahu.   I also doubt if Southwest is to blame for tourism in Hawaii.  There are only so many hotel rooms and they are often full during the busier months.   Southwest is just one more airline.

 

Hank

 

While I can appreciate people not wanting their rare opportunities in Hawaii to not be spent on the big city, I would easily chose Oahu over Miami Beach. 

[Hlitner]

Just now, Joebucks said:

I love Hawaii. I couldn't imagine anyone being bored there unless you are not a travel person. I did a trip there two years ago to Kauai and Oahu. Kauai was absolutely beautiful. Our resort's beach had reefs right there. Didn't have to go far at all to see beautiful marine life. There was giant sea turtles napping on the beach. We did the helicopter tour. A beautiful tour. All of Hawaii has no shortage of beautiful beaches. I can't go wrong with that!

 

Oahu was very different. It is your big city. However, all of the islands still have beautiful nature and beautiful beaches available. The big city life isn't your only option if staying in Oahu. With that said, Oahu did the big city just fine. Waikiki is beautiful and vast. There is tons to do. Everyone should probably see Pearl Harbor at least once.

 

As much as I like Hawaii, I haven't found myself once looking to live there. Perhaps it is the combination of costs, politics, accommodations, and proximity to the US. I would definitely travel there more if it wasn't so far.

 

  

 

While I can appreciate people not wanting their rare opportunities in Hawaii to not be spent on the big city, I would easily chose Oahu over Miami Beach. 

LOL.  I would not choose either :).   For us, Miami is just a gateway to drive down to the Keys.  And Oahu is sometimes a gateway to one of the other islands.

 

Hank

[cruisemom42]

2 hours ago, Joebucks said:

I love Hawaii. I couldn't imagine anyone being bored there unless you are not a travel person.

 

I'm a travel person. But not a beach person or natural views person or even wildlife. I like culture, art, museums, great food, ancient ruins, great civilizations -- things associated more with cities probably.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy I visited. I did enjoy some good food there and visited Pearl Harbor, the cultural center et al.  Not such a big fan of the rest. And yes, I found it a little boring.

 

 

[ldubs]

2 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

I'm a travel person. But not a beach person or natural views person or even wildlife. I like culture, art, museums, great food, ancient ruins, great civilizations -- things associated more with cities probably.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy I visited. I did enjoy some good food there and visited Pearl Harbor, the cultural center et al.  Not such a big fan of the rest. And yes, I found it a little boring.

 

 

 

Some time back I was "commuting" to Hawaii every quarter over a two year period to fulfill a gov't contract.  By myself, it was just about like any other long plane ride for work.  I say "just about" because it obviously is better than traveling to a lot of other places, especially in the winter.   I found Hawaii fun for our family trips when the kids were younger.  But now for Mrs Ldubs and I, not so much as a final destination.    

[Sea Hag]

On 6/15/2021 at 2:36 PM, dolittle said:

So friends of mine went to Hawaii and shared a lot of the trip on F.B. It   struck me that they did the same things that Gidget's family did in 1960. I know it is beautiful but it seems like beside that, the attractions are pretty old and stale . I mean the pineapple factory and a luau were in this movie and my friends trip. Scenery is great anywhere but after awhile I would need something else. Hawaii was once the dream trip of many in the U.S., today few on the east coast go or want to. With what flying is like today the distance for us is way to much. Is Hawaii high on your list it is not on ours . How about you

It sounds like Gidget's family and your friends had a completely different experience from what we did. No pineapple factory or luau for us, although we did visit the Mac Nut Store. We did a doors-off helicopter ride over the volcano. Walked up Diamond Head. Found a gorgeous hiking trail up in the mountains on Oahu. Whale watching boat. Submarine. Waimea Canyon more than once. Walked through Thurston Lava Tube. Walked across the Kilauea Iki Crater on the Kilauea Ike Trail. There are probably some things I can't think of off the top of my head. I'm nowhere near finished with my agenda for Hawaii.

[Joebucks]

5 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

I'm a travel person. But not a beach person or natural views person or even wildlife. I like culture, art, museums, great food, ancient ruins, great civilizations -- things associated more with cities probably.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy I visited. I did enjoy some good food there and visited Pearl Harbor, the cultural center et al.  Not such a big fan of the rest. And yes, I found it a little boring.

 

 

 

To each their own. It always does fascinate me with people who don't like those types of things. Maybe I'm looking at it wrong, but why not just stay at home at that point and watch documentaries?

 

On top of Pearl Harbor, we rode tubes down a channel once created for sugar cane irrigation while learning about the farm, we did the traditional luau (which I get some are more commercialized), we did a helicopter tour of island of Kauai, ate at that cultural market in Oahu (forget the name), and a few other things. We unfortunately ran out of time and didn't see the pineapple plantation or diamondhead. Never once did it ever cross my mind that this was boring.

 

To add onto the downfall of Hawaii I posted with the travel, that continues even when you get there. Each island has so much to offer. It's very impractical for the average person to be able to experience all of it. 

[cruisemom42]

17 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

To each their own. It always does fascinate me with people who don't like those types of things. Maybe I'm looking at it wrong, but why not just stay at home at that point and watch documentaries?

 

Same reason you wouldn't stay at home and watch documentaries of what YOU like. It's a different thing, seeing it, experiencing it, tasting it in person -- whether that be a hike up a volcano or a visit to a set of Roman ruins. Do you think the pyramids look the same in a photo as they do in person?

 

Doesn't seem that difficult to understand...

 

[ilikeanswers]

6 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

I like culture, art, museums, great food, ancient ruins, great civilizations -- things associated more with cities probably.

 

Some of the best food, art, ruins is in the middle of nowhere in Australia😂. 

 

Have to admit I wasn't expecting much of the food in Hawaii but it really did blow me away. Loved the slow cooked meats, fresh pokes, creamy taros, stewed greens, the Asian influences, just fit with my palette I guess. 

[ilikeanswers]

1 hour ago, Joebucks said:

but why not just stay at home at that point and watch documentaries?

 

Unfortunately some places are better in documentaries than real life😜. Though even when a disappointment I am glad to have had the first hand experience. That is part of travel, it is not always about getting your mind blown sometimes it is just to be able experience the reality behind the famous sites🤗

[rkacruiser]

If for no other reason, one ought to visit Honolulu and spend an entire day at Pearl Harbor exploring the artifacts and visiting the exhibits the NPS has created.  How can one not be emotionally affected when one visits the USS Arizona Memorial?  

[dolittle]

I like a mix of things to many ruins or scenery can get old . That is what is so great about Europe it has old(ruins) and new many times in great cities. Europe is one of the only places where you have all choices and not too much of one thing. I could do without the men's bathing suits.

[rkacruiser]

5 minutes ago, dolittle said:

I like a mix of things to many ruins or scenery can get old . 

 

I agree regarding European city tours.  "Oh, it's another Cathedral."  The exception for that thought for me would be Rome.  Each that I visited was different in their own way and some visits that I had were quite emotionally moving for me.  

 

What I have found most interesting is visiting the religious sites of those religions that are different from mine.  Visiting a mosque or a Buddhist temple and being explained as to what I was experiencing was another learning experience for me.  My visit to India and witnessing their Hindu and Sikh worship sites was an eyeopening experience for me.  
 

[ilikeanswers]

30 minutes ago, dolittle said:

 Europe is one of the only places where you have all choices and not too much of one thing.

 

I'm not sure Europe is the only place. I like an eclectic trip too and so far I have found everywhere is a good mix as long as you do your research. Maybe Antarctica is an exception, a few shacks it probably would not be enough to keep a ruin aficionado entertained😜. 

[ldubs]

On 6/24/2021 at 2:13 PM, cruisemom42 said:

 

Same reason you wouldn't stay at home and watch documentaries of what YOU like. It's a different thing, seeing it, experiencing it, tasting it in person -- whether that be a hike up a volcano or a visit to a set of Roman ruins. Do you think the pyramids look the same in a photo as they do in person?

 

Doesn't seem that difficult to understand...

 

 

Ahh, remember the Griswold's visit to the Grand Canyon!  haha.   Here is a link:  

 

[mayleeman]

I think visiting anywhere requires imagination and preparation. Basing any possible destination on a friend's FB post doesn't seem to involve much of either. The scenery might be more interesting if you actually learn about it rather than just looking at the scenes that are reminiscent of Hawaii 5-O or Magnum PI.

 

I cannot imagine being bored in Hawaii unless you expect a passive vacation experience with no idea of the limitless possibilities.

 

That said, many activities require spending more than you might expect....

[dolittle]

15 hours ago, ldubs said:

 

Ahh, remember the Griswold's visit to the Grand Canyon!  haha.   Here is a link:  

 

Had the pleasure of staying at the hotel he robs .

[olemissreb]

I was planning a graduation cruise for my youngest DS along with my oldest DS and my mother, but my budget got in the way.  🙂  Anyway, we were going to do a luau, but we were also going to do things like ziplining on Maui, tubing through a sugar cane plantation, bicycling down Haleakala just after sunrise, going into Volcano National Park, and taking a Kodiak boat tour of Na'apoli Coast.  We were also going to do things on Oahu prior to the cruise like walking up Diamondhead, Pearl Harbor and possibly the Dole Plantation or even a "Hole in the Wall" food tour in Honolulu.  Now all of this sounds great, but I was going to be doing this with a 22yo and 18yo (at the time).  My mother was going to take part in some of the not so adventurous things as she was 81 at the time.  Hoping one day, we'll get to do all of this, but college tuition (for the youngest) comes first for now.

[AKJonesy]

LOL.  I think the OPs idea of HI is quite dated, and hey, we are glad that EC ppl don't go there!  OK, now I'm just messing a bit with the OP.  LOVE HAWAII.  Haven't been on Oahu for decades, and unless I had to go, I probably would not.  But, we were just on the Big Island in January and it was fabulous.  We are not beach people but it was nice to just walk on the beach in the morning with our coffee.  Other than that, we were out exploring all of the nooks and crannies of the island.  I was booked for a Eurodam cruise for 18 days, but COVID stopped that.  Now, I think I would not do that because there is just so much to explore in Hawaii and the short port days are not enough.  

Edited June 30, 2021 by AKJonesy