Hawaii Honeymoon? Big question

Hi all, I%26#39;m getting married (a second time. I%26#39;m 40, she%26#39;s 35) and considering Hawaii. I%26#39;ve been to the Caribbean numerous times (some well regarded top resorts) as well as Europe (Sardinia, Greece, Spain for beach destinations.) I%26#39;ve never considered myself a Hawaii person but that probably shows my ignorance on the subject and the more I look at Hawaii, the more I realize I%26#39;ve missed out.

My question is if a budget is no consideration, and our parameters are a no headache great hotel with good top rooms (we%26#39;re easy, but the room has to be superior), with great surrounding ambiance, a swimmable beach and some things (cultural as well as natural) to see nearby, what does one do?

So far in my research, I%26#39;ve %26#39;discovered%26#39; Kauai and it looks great. To date in theory, I%26#39;ve got three to four days at the Grand Hyatt in Kauai and three to four days at the Four Seasons in Maui. Does this sound like a blow-out honeymoon to anyone?

Negatives to me, and forgive me as I%26#39;m only reading from guide books, the beaches at Kauai seem either too dangerous to swim in or are non-existant and the hiking trails overused or treacherous. (We%26#39;re athletic people but an overused trail should be given a rest.) A helicopter tour? Cool sounding but that%26#39;s a lot of noise to the %26#39;paradise%26#39; and people below.

Any help will be much appreciated and thank you!

Hawaii Honeymoon? Big question

Consider the new St. Regis in Princeville on Kaua`i, set to open, I believe, this September/October. It will definitely be the most upscale accommodation on the island.

Many of Kaua`i%26#39;s beaches are not swimmable, but many are. I can%26#39;t think of anyplace where I%26#39;d describe the beach as non-existent; not sure what you%26#39;ve read. The only possibly over-used hiking trail would be the first 2 miles of the Kalalau, usually called the Hanakapi`ai trail, which is all you can do without getting a permit and camping.

The helo tours are almost unnoticeable. Most of the area covered by the tours is inaccessible any other way, hence, not inhabited or frequented by people. They also avoid residential areas. Kaua`i is THE island for a helo tour, as it%26#39;s the only way to see much of the island.

Hawaii Honeymoon? Big question

I%26#39;m not sure I%26#39;d split a stay of just one week. If you%26#39;re flying direct (Continental) from the East, you%26#39;ll go into Honolulu, then have to hop to Island #1. Then another hop to Island #2, and still another hop back to Honolulu to fly home. Each hop can eat nearly half a day. Flights are short, but there%26#39;s mandatory airport time, messing with luggage and car rentals. The alternative is a longer travel day from the East to the West Coast -- then hop to Kauai or Maui.

I%26#39;d suggest staying on just one island, and I%26#39;d choose the Four Seasons on Maui. That goes double if you%26#39;re visiting in winter/early spring when the northernmost part of Kauai will be cool, windy and wet. (Maui to a lesser extent.)

While Kauai is gorgeous, it%26#39;s *small*. Maui has a wider choice of restaurants, sights to see, things to do.

I agree with Sue about not splitting up the trip and sticking to one island if you%26#39;re only planning on staying a week. 4-5 days is probably the minimum amount of time you%26#39;ll want to spend on any island.

Kauai is gorgeous--it is prettier and more unspoiled than the guidebooks make it out to be. You most likely won%26#39;t notice the helicopters. There were plenty of beautiful swimming beaches (we loved Tunnels and Ke%26#39;e, along with Poipu), but the weather definitely can make some beaches unswimmable at times.

I couldn%26#39;t tell you about Maui, since we haven%26#39;t been there yet. However, I will tell you that my husband had never been to Hawaii before our honeymoon 2 years ago and said to me, ';This had better be worth the 12 hour flight,'; numerous times on our flight to Honolulu. After our first days in Oahu and the Big Island, he not only decided that he didn%26#39;t ever need to go back to the Caribbean, but he was already mentally planning our trip to Kauai. It%26#39;s definitely worth the trip. :-)

Agree with everyone else about staying on only one place on one island if you only have a week.

Four Seasons on Maui would be an excellent choice. The Grand Hyatt on Kauai seems to me like a much bigger, much more pedestrian resort. Not really so plush.

You also don%26#39;t mention what time of year. The remodeled St. Regis in Princeville would also be a great choice, if they have been open long enough to get some reviews. Even before remodeling, the rooms were wonderful.