January snorkeling???

Can anyone recomend another good snorkeling spot besides hanauma bay? With it being January i know some of the north shore spots would not be so safe. Thanks for any help.

January snorkeling???

You are right, the best places I have found are on the north shore which is usually a no go in January!! There are some areas on the leeward side that are nice but can also be subject to large surf in the winter. Your best bet is to go with a snorkel company so you can get on a boat. They will take you to the places that are accessible at the time!!

packing for trip

well my trip wont be until june but im always thinking early. anyways....i was wondering is there anything i need to bring besides the ordinary.

i know lots of spf, bug spray, water shoes and water proof bag.

thanks!

packing for trip

warm clothes if your going up to the crater for sunrise/sunset

packing for trip

Regardless of how much you%26#39;ve traveled in the past and where you%26#39;ve been there is one good rule to follow when coming to Hawai%26#39;i, leave as much as you can at home. Seriously, bring only what you%26#39;ll need during your stay and nothing more.

As far as clothing goes, that%26#39;s usually a few pairs of shorts, several T-shirts, sandals or flip-flops, and a good visor or hat, anything made of a cotton blend is usually good. A light jacket and a long pair of pants might also be nice for those visits to higher elevations on Haleakala.

With the motto, “less is more” in mind, here are a few other items to bring. Sunblock (the UV on Hawai%26#39;i is typically 14+ in the spring, summer, and fall), a backpack (for any hikes) and a water bottle, slippers (flip flops, shower shoes, zoris), mask, snorkel, and fins (or rent locally instead), two bathing suits (one to wear while the other dries) and a cover-up, camera and film (or digital cards), lightweight raincoat or poncho (for mountain/rain forest hiking), bug spray with DEET (for any forest hikes), hiking boots, hiking rods, and most importantly a list of all your troubles to leave behind.

Hope that helps.

-John

if i were you i%26#39;d just buy the sunscreen in hawaii. otherwise jc has it right ... less is more. if you%26#39;ll be hiking, hiking shoes will come in handy (dont attempt any ';real'; hikes in slippers...not safe). If you%26#39;re going up to Haleakala, a sweatshirt or jacket and jeans. It%26#39;s cold.

mdyblue5- JC covered it very well -

There is nothing wrong with ';thinking early';, hate those last minute runs to get whatever, I%26#39;ve already got our luggage in the spare room and tossing things in along with a list posted!! Nothing wrong with being excited!

thanks everyone! i think i got it.

Please do a search or scroll down through the past month%26#39;s posts. This question comes up constantly, and you%26#39;ll get lots of good input.

Ziploc bags for leftovers and wet suits to go home. Minimal spices for any cooking you may do.

A few coffee filters.

Embarrassing question...

I apologize in advance for this question, but are there public restrooms at any of the Kauai beaches? I have a walnut-sized bladder, and it takes the fun out of a day at the beach if you have to walk 20 minutes to find a restroom every hour. Sorry to be crass...thanks.

Embarrassing question...

Yes, Poipu Beach, one by the Sheraton, Salt Pond, Those are the ones I am sure of -- I think Lawai has one too across the street. NOT embarrassing at all!

Embarrassing question...

You will have no problems at the more popular beaches like Hanalei Bay, Kee, Anini but at off the beaten track places you may have to hold it!!!!!

There%26#39;s one across the road from Lawai Beach.

All beaches have a huge restroom, it%26#39;s called the Pacifiic Ocean :)

This is good site for some of the more popular beaches %26amp; their amenities:

www.hawaiiweb.com/kauai/beaches/default.htm

Just a note, the website above lists Kalihiwai without a restroom. There are 2 port-a-potties. I always send hubby in first so he can tell me how clean or bad they are. Only once was it really awful!

3Chihuahuas

Any word on when the new bathrooms will be up and running at Kee? Or maybe the lifeguard tower? Supposedly funding was in place to complete this project, but the only news I can find is close to a year old.

savekauai.org/oceans/鈥?Be-beach

Last time I was there a month ago it was still just portable luas.

Haena Beach Park just up from the end of the road at Ke%26#39;e has real bathrooms and a shower.

%26lt;%26lt; All beaches have a huge restroom, it%26#39;s called the Pacifiic Ocean :)%26gt;%26gt;

EEEWWWWW!!!!!

Please use this as a last resort!~

%26lt;%26lt; All beaches have a huge restroom, it%26#39;s called the Pacifiic Ocean :)%26gt;%26gt;

That sounds like a man thing :)

3Chihuahuas

hahahahahaha...............

You know they say ';THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE';....

We have all (most) done it......

Ya! When I was 7!

eye pencil

Please Help! (urgent)

I am suppose to go to Cozumel in a couple of days, looks like those plans are now ruined. At this point, I am able to cancel those trips and receive a full refund. Looks like Hawaii will be our next stop. I have no idea where to stay / go / play/ which island! I only have 2 days max to decide! Please Help! Here%26#39;s what I%26#39;m looking for: 1) nice but inexpensive with kitchen (on the beach) 2)great place to shallow snorkel (not too rough of water and not too deep) 3)Close to other areas that are good for snorkeling and grocery stores,etc... Can you help? I have been doing Cozumel research for months and I am lost! Thank you! -Pete

Please Help! (urgent)

You can fly direct to Maui from DFW on AA. Maui has the most beaches, good from-shore snorkeling, a wide range of lodgings. I%26#39;d look at Kihei in South Maui and Kahana or Napili in West Maui.

See all Hawaii lodgings here: www.wizardpub.com Ignore pricing; it was written before Recession.

FIRST thing I%26#39;d do is reserve a rental car. They are in short supply and you will need one on Maui (or any other place outside of Honolulu, which has a decent bus system).

Please Help! (urgent)

Maui is easiest for what you are seeking. Agree to get the car NOW.

Look for posts by MsFuzz on snorkeling. She has a list of good shore spots. This is on the cusp of winter/summer conditions, so some of the northern spots like Honolua may not be good this month. Ask about spots and seasonality.

Thank you thank you thank you! I%26#39;m on it! -Pete

I would run, not walk, to your favorite travel agent and get a package to Maui. Something that includes a car, a condo (Ka%26#39;anapali is nice) and flights.

Don%26#39;t worry about the snorkeling. You will find plenty of great places.

Pleasantan Holidays or United Airlines, maybe Classic Hawaii have good packages. If you are a Costco member, give them a call.

I have this stupid flight credit now for Continental Airlines that I need to use (they were the original carrier to Cozumel), but now it looks like I need to book the majority of stuff through them to get a better rate... I%26#39;m still searching for deals and I REALLY appreciate the input from y%26#39;all! thank you TA for being here! (I%26#39;d be lost without ya!)-Pete

You need to get your flights sorted out first and everything else will fall into place after that. Unless you have credit with Contintental vacations for accommodations don%26#39;t use them to find a hotel or condo! Going directly to owners you%26#39;ll get much nicer places for the price.

What island? Doesn%26#39;t matter, wherever continental will take you they are all good! Maui is a very easy choice for a first trip. Take a look at these beach maps

http://www.hawaiigaga.com/oahu-beaches.aspx

http://www.hawaiigaga.com/maui-beaches.aspx

http://www.hawaiigaga.com/kauai-beaches.aspx

www.hawaiigaga.com/big-island-beaches.aspx

See you can%26#39;t go wrong. You can also do a rental search on that web site. The cool thing is you can plug in your dates when doing a search and it will tell you what units from vrbo.com and other web sites have availability. Saved me last year when I had to make plans quick.

Fraudulent Pupu 'O Ni'ihau lei - beware!

Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!

Interesting letter to the editor yesterday - about a couple who were visiting here - bought an expensive ';Ni%26#39;ihau Shell Lei'; (they thought) from a ';Lihu%26#39;e Retailer'; and then found out later it was not indeed from Ni%26#39;ihau.

Here is the letter - kauaiworld.com/articles/2009/04/29/opinion/l鈥?/a>

So be cautious when buying something advertised as a ';Ni%26#39;ihau Shell Lei'; - anyone can print up a ';Certificate of Authenticity'; I%26#39;m afraid - this poor couple did the right thing afterwards and filed a complaint against the business - since we have a law on the books that prohibits someone from advertising a ';Ni%26#39;ihau Shell Lei'; unless it actually comes from the island of Ni%26#39;ihau.

I was so happy to hear about what the Kanahele ohana did for them - I have purchased all my

Pupu %26#39;O Ni%26#39;ihau lei from Ehu Kanahele and they are truly generous, loving people - what they did there does not surprise me a bit!

So sad that these folks now consider Kaua%26#39;i the place where they experienced consumer fraud - I hope they feel differently about us sometime in the future - after all a majority of Kanahele ohana live here and sell their lei here (Ehu Kai in particular).

When spending $900 on a Pupu %26#39;O Ni%26#39;ihau - you need to make sure you get the ohana%26#39;s name that created the lei and a good background so you can check if anything comes up - I asked today at the Museum who told them - I think it was the lady in the gift shop - since we sell many Pupu %26#39;O Ni%26#39;ihau lei there.

Sad they were so unhappy with Kaua%26#39;i after this unfortunate incident.

Malama Pono,

Janet

Fraudulent Pupu 'O Ni'ihau lei - beware!

I have to agree with most of the comments to the letter in the newspaper.Why would you blame the whole island and never want to return? There are unscrupulous paople everywhere. I%26#39;m glad she had a happy ending but her blanket statement makes no sense.

Marie

Fraudulent Pupu 'O Ni'ihau lei - beware!

Sad story, but with a happy ending....Also wonder if she got her money back. I know people can get ripped off on the lei, but I was shocked at where it was purchased that it could have been a fake.

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g28932-i36-k265863鈥?/a>

3Chihuahuas

There aren%26#39;t too many jewelry stores in Lihue and maybe they were taken too. Maybe some guy came in and said, ';sell these they are authentic';. Any reputable jeweler would take those ';pearls'; back in a heart beat.

What a lovely end to the story when she really did get authentic Ni%26#39;ihau pearls.

Good advice on buying any piece of jewelry. Know what to look for.

Thanks 3chis for forwarding that thread. Wow! I know that store at Kilohana and they have fabulous pieces of jewelry and very, very expensive. After this lady went to the Kauai Museum and they told her the necklace was a fake did she go back to the store? That is a very reputable dealer. I can%26#39;t imagine he wouldn%26#39;t take it back. Now look at the negative publicity it%26#39;s generating. Something just isn%26#39;t right with this story.

Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!

I know that most of the stores (if not all) at Kilohana are pretty highly regarded - but the problem is sometimes the kahelelani shell leis are being sold as ';Ni%26#39;ihau Shell Leis'; because these shells which are also found on Kaua%26#39;i (in much lower quality though) are a very popular shell in the true

';Pupu %26#39;O Ni%26#39;ihau'; - I%26#39;ve seen a few folks - mostly at crafts fairs thru the years who were talking about their ';Ni%26#39;ihau Shells'; when they are obviously

not actual ';Pupu %26#39;O Ni%26#39;ihau'; - you can also tell by the way the shells are strung - most are very specifically tied to various ohana from Ni%26#39;ihau.

I am surprised really that this retailer (who was anonymous in the letter to the editor) did this though - just about everyone knows that it is illegal to sell leis as one thing (even with a ';certificate';) when they are another. They should have known better and now their reputation is ';clouded'; at best.

Kinda sad story - especially since the people are so down on Kaua%26#39;i now.

Malama Pono,

Janet

Yes, I see something wrong in this too. Not saying it was a known fake and sold as authentic, but such a highly reputable dealer should have made damn sure of what they were selling. I sold diamonds for 12 years, you check, test and double check your stock. The lei are considered fine jewelry and can be insured as such. I鈥檓 thinking switcharoo behind the counter. I鈥檓 sure there鈥檚 more to the story.

3Chihuahuas

Too bad these folks are so down on Kauai right now because of this experience.

But here%26#39;s the irony in it - Niihau shell jewelry is sold throughout the islands. As such, chances are probably much greater that one would be sold a fake on Maui, Big Island, Oahu, etc. She just completely lucked out in coming face to face with the Kanahele ohana while they were at a show on Maui.

Now before anyone gets their dander up because I said it would be easier to sell a fake on the other islands, let me explain. I say this because of their proximity from Niihau and the probably lesser attention to authenticity of them and knowledge of them by the retailers and tourists to those islands. I%26#39;m not saying the retailers on those islands are overall less scrupulous. Just saying it might be easier to even unknowingly sell off a fake elsewhere.

Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!

I agree with ';Napaguy'; on this one - because the push for the legislation that created the law against fradulent Pupu %26#39;O Ni%26#39;ihau came from Kaua%26#39;i and the fact that retailers here in general are much more akamai about these shells and their significance (not to mention the distinct possibility of running into someone actually from Ni%26#39;ihau!) - I think that you would be more likely to run into a ';fraud'; on another island.

I%26#39;m not sure if the kahelelani shells that are found here (mostly in the Anini area) are also found elsewhere in the island chain - but in the last few years I%26#39;ve noticed our crafters being very cautious about making it clear that these shells are not ';Pupu %26#39;O Ni%26#39;ihau'; - they are still very beautiful and can be made into lovely and expensive pieces - but not true Ni%26#39;ihau pupu.

I always recommend folks to purchase their

Pupu %26#39;O Ni%26#39;ihau lei from Ehu Kai in Port Allen - run by the Kanahele (Ehu Kanahele)ohana - my personal favorite.

Malama Pono,

Janet

Which of these hotels would offer the best view?

Well I%26#39;m leaving in a few weeks and finally need to make a decison re: where to stay. I have accumulated enough points on a mastercard to choose from the following hotels: Deluxe ocean view room at Hyatt, Ocean View at Outrigger Reef (a little concerned about how much of an ocean view these rooms really are), Embassy Suites (no view), or Ocean View room at outrigger waikiki (again, concerned about how much of an ocean view these rooms really have, and the beach in front of that hotel is a mob scene). We love to sit on our Lanai and have cocktails before we go to Dinner. Probably leaning towards the Hyatt as we have stayed in the Reef, and this time maybe want to be located in the more central area of Waikiki, but would appreciate any opinions. Thank you in advance for your help!!

Which of these hotels would offer the best view?

I would go with the hyatt, the outriggers look into the back of other hotels. Also the best view I found is mid ht, and set back a lttle from the beach.

Which of these hotels would offer the best view?

I%26#39;m just guessing here, but I%26#39;d also take the Hyatt from the way you describe your choices, and knowing the locations... for best bet for a lanai with a good view.

Considering all your comments, I%26#39;d say the Hyatt.

Deluxe oceanview at the Hyatt has a great view of the eastern Waikiki area and Diamond Head. However, it is not an oceanfront view (which is even better).

The higher you go, the better the view.

I have had two Ocean View rooms at the Outrigger Waikiki and it all depends on where the room is located. Our first room was 10th floor facing the Royal Hawaiian. It was further away from the beach so we had to look to the left to see the water. Still not bad. Our second room was 14th floor, on the Diamond Head side, closest to the beach. (I have a picture posted under my contributions.) GREAT VIEW! I guess the key to the Outrigger Waikiki is the ability to ask for what you want. I recommend the Diamond Head side based on how the hotel sits on the beach. My husband and I really enjoyed the view from our 14th floor lanai and from inside the room.

Take the Deluxe Ocean View at Hyatt. Whenever a hotel has the word ';Deluxe'; in front of Ocean View, that means that it is very much guaranteed a great ocean front experience. I stayed in a room at the Hyatt that was Deluxe Ocean View and it truly was a grand. Just make sure you are facing the front or have a view of Diamond Head Crater. Seeing Diamond Head Crater and the blue Pacific Ocean makes the view even grander. Hope you have a great stay in beautiful Hawaii!

Thank you for all of your informative responses. This board is fabulous!!! Leaning towards the Hyatt, but have been reading reviews about rundown rooms??? (Can anyone comment on this?) Also, my wife kind of likes the idea of the free breakfast/cocktail hour at the Embassy Suites, but I am a little concerned about it being overrun with kids and the construction next door at the Trump Tower, and probably won%26#39;t have any sort of ocean view. Any other input that others have regarding these two hotels would be appreciated. Thanks again!!!

I have a gripe with the Hyatt about their pool. It is tiny and awkward. It is also right next to their restaurants. The hot tubs are just the ususal kind of separate units you would buy in a store. Sort of in a conspicuous place right by the bar. Judging from the number of people in lounges around the pool, a fair number of their guests do not want to lie on the beach.

I know the beach is right across the street. It is very crowded. I like to have a decent pool to enjoy for times when I just don%26#39;t want to go to the beach, or it%26#39;s windy or whatever. Their pool was laughable.

This may or may not be a consideration of yours.

Embassy Suites in nice. Pool looks modern but it is very small. It would get very crowded quickly. The breakfast and the evening cocktails are nice and the rooms are very spacious. You can get a very small ocean view and trump towers should not be too noisy if you are on the Diamond Head side of the building. You would walk right through the Outrigger Reef to get to the beach. The beach is on the uncrowded side of Waikiki Beach. Outrigger Reef might also have a deal with breakfast, you should check. They just went through a complete renovation, so their rooms would be very nice. I have not stayed there, but I am going to get a look at the rooms next time I am in the area. I would say that all three hotels are great. Hotels like these three will tell you the truth about their renovations. If you call Hyatt and ask them if their rooms have been renovated recently or ask them if they are in need of renovation, they will tell you.

I would opt for Outrigger Reef.

Best value excursions (for snorkelling, night cruise, atv)

Who has the best valued rates for excursions on Maui? We want to do a helicopter tour, snorkel, night catamaran cruise, and atv....

Thanks!

Best value excursions (for snorkelling, night cruise, atv)

We all have our favorites, be it value or not!! What kind of value rates are you looking for? On the left side of this page is a menu, click on things to do. Your price will also depend on what time of year you are planning your trip. Where you stay may also dictate which companies it would be easier to use. You can also google for web-sites. It seems that most companies will offer discounts through their web-sites. Most activity companies will find cheap rates for you but it might not be the best value for your money.

Best value excursions (for snorkelling, night cruise, atv)

We%26#39;re going in May and staying at the Westin Villas in Maui...

A day trip to Lana%26#39;i is always fun. The lest expensive option is to take the ferry over and snorkel on your own at Hulopo%26#39;e Beach. It is only a 10 minute walk from the ferry dock. This is a much cheaper option than taking tours like Trilogy, $60/person round trip. You would need to bring rented snorkel gear along from Maui, as there is none available for rent on Lana%26#39;i. Here is a link to their website:

http://www.go-lanai.com/

In addition you will still be able to look for dolphins from the ferry, with the exception that the ferry will not go out of its way to get a better look. Once on Lana%26#39;i you can also take a nice short hike up to Pu%26#39;u Pehe Overlook (Sweetheart Rock), where you will have great views of Maui and Kaho%26#39;olawe. There are also great tidal pools to check out around the beach. You can also take the 5 minute walk up to the Four Seasons Manele Bay Resort and check out the great artwork and beautiful gardens. Lunch at the Ocean Grill there has great views although it is fairly expensive. Otherwise you can bring a picnic lunch and have it right on the beach. There are picnic tables, as well as facilities and showers there.

And if you are really interested in checking out the island, rent a Jeep from Adventure Lana%26#39;i Ecocentre and explore all the great isolated off-road sites. Their website is:

http://www.adventurelanai.com/

My only warning is that you will have such a good time on Lana%26#39;i that you will not want to return to Maui at the end of the day. ;-)

It really does depend on what you want to do, especially with helicopter and snorkel tours.For example, between different companies and their tour sites, I%26#39;d guess there are at least 100 different snorkel tours on Maui right now. So it%26#39;s a really broad question to ask - The more details you can provide to us, the better we can help you.

I agree with previous posters - figure out which specific tours or companies you want to use. Using the left hand navigation bar will help you - read reviews of activities and THEN google them - you%26#39;ll usually find a dozen or more activity warehouses looking to help you online at a ';great discount';.

I have booked lots of tours online:

Discount for booking directly with UFO parasailing on their site

Discount with tom barefoot for booking a Pacific Whale Foundation snorkel tour (PWF offers online discounts on their site, but tom barefoot had a better one)

Discount with Trilogy on a sunset sail - their site gives 10% off and right now if you book a lanai snorkel trip you get 50% off any other less expensive trip with them

Kai Kanani - book online (their site) and get an internet discount

Ziplines - book online for Haleakala or Kaanapali ziplines and get online discounts

So, see there are a lot of good companies and good deals to be had - just need to decide which ones you want to go with and then do a little search. We can help you too if you%26#39;re looking for something specific.