kevbone Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Looking for information on Hawaii. Thinking about going there with an 18 month old child. Is one island better than another? How is Kauai compared to Oahu or Maui? I heard Kauai has less swim able beaches than the others and is more rugged? Looking for suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Conway Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 pipeline is fine for beginners and the locals are friendly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevbone Posted January 24, 2008 Author Share Posted January 24, 2008 I have been to Oahu years and years ago. We will not be going there. I guess I am looking for information on Maui apposed to Kauai? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayB Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Been to Kauai and the others and Kauai is the only one that I'd have much interest in returning to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayB Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Maui = more people, more development, more condos, more of the aggro-tropical-redneck-poly-mullet localism. Good news is that if you are into meth/crack/heroin, it will take all of 3 minutes in Wailuku/Kahalui for someone to roll up and offer you and/or your kids any/all of the above, so Maui has that going for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Conway Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 I've been to the Big Island. There's some fun snorkelling at random small beachs. As beach destinations go Hawaii is a) really expensive b) really crowded and c) really developed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevbone Posted January 24, 2008 Author Share Posted January 24, 2008 What is it like getting to Kauai? How long is the layover and how long is the flight from the bigger island to Kauai? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recycled Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 We've gone to Kauai every 2-3 years for about 20 years. It's a great place to take young kids - lots of good beaches and beginning->advanced snorkeling. If you go in Winter, try to get lodging towards Poipu. You'll spend less time driving to beaches (assuming that's your thing), plus you can still take day trips up North in either direction. If you go in Summer, the Hanalei/Princeville area may be better. The reason it changes seasonally is that the prevailing winds shift around and make various beaches better in different seasons. I've noticed that Craigslist seems to have some good deals on lodging. That seems to be where a lot of last minute cancellations show up, often at a steep discount. Stay away from the Hostels on Kauai. I've stayed in the one on the beach in Kapaa, and it was an interesting experience. I wouldn't stay there with a kid. We're heading to Poipu in March and we're counting the days. PM me if you have specific questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recycled Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Short layover and lots of flights. Go to the Hawaiian Air website and you'll see the schedule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayB Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 I've been to the Big Island. There's some fun snorkelling at random small beachs. As beach destinations go Hawaii is a) really expensive b) really crowded and c) really developed When someone asks where they should ski in, say, Summit County - I'm glad to know that you'll be there to inform them that relative to the global aggregate, all of the resorts are a)really expensive b)really crowded and c) really developed. Seems like flights were leaving every half-hour or so, and the flights were something like ~30-45 minutes long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevbone Posted January 24, 2008 Author Share Posted January 24, 2008 Thanks everyone for the great info.....one more question. What island would be best for the last week in April? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaskadskyjKozak Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Been to the big Island and Kauaui. I liked the Volcano Park on Hawaii, but other than that I have to say that Kauaui rules. Take a cruise around Na Pali, snorkel in Poipu. take a drive up to see the canyon. Lots of good stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaskadskyjKozak Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Thanks everyone for the great info.....one more question. What island would be best for the last week in April? That's when I visited. We were on the "dry" side of Hawai for 5 days - no rain. On Kauaui, had one rainy day out of 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denalidave Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Nepali Coast Trail on Kauai is really cool too. kind of sketchy for a small child though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayB Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 There's also some fun, family-friendly flatwater kayaking available there. Can't remember the name of the river, but you could pretty easily bring along the tike for the paddle, and the hike to a nice waterfall/pool at the end of the paddle. I think the hike is about a mile long, over flat ground, through a rain-forest. Can't remember the name of the river, but it's pretty much the only one on the island. There's also a very scenic beach with a nice reef protecting the water near the shore near the NaPali coach that'd be a good one for families with small kids that want some protection from the waves. Link a map of Kauai and I could point out both.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Conway Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 When someone asks where they should ski in, say, Summit County - I'm glad to know that you'll be there to inform them that relative to the global aggregate, all of the resorts are a)really expensive b)really crowded and c) really developed. Pretty much. If one were looking for a beach destination within 6hrs flight time of PDX I'd suggest the baja peninsula. And if someone asks "wheres the best place to ski in Washington, DC" I'll say "don't fucking bother" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevbone Posted January 24, 2008 Author Share Posted January 24, 2008 This is were we are looking to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hydroman Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Seems like a nice place for the money. I’ve been to Hawaii for 2 trips of a month each with all but 3 days spent on Kauai. It’s a chill island. That place is up on the north shore where I spent most of my time. In that area is Anini beach which is shallow and protected which would be good swimming with a kid though the better snorkeling is further down near the end of the road. Though everybody thinks Hawaii is expensive to visit you can go there and live for next to nothing as well. Camping at the beachparks is 5$/ night (when they collect, which is rare) which includes showers and toilets and the hitching is easy. Most of my time there I’ve lived on $10-15 day for basic camping/food/snorkel rental and spent my time relaxing, swimming, reading and hiking around. I also remember eating avocadoes off the tree everyday in a grove just down the road. Car rentals are cheap and if you don’t mind going ghetto there are even a couple folks on the island that rent out beaters for like $10-15/day. I’m going in March and last I looked tickets for Feb were like $350 to Honolulu. Gotta add fare to get to the other islands though. Flights go between pretty much all islands about every 30 mins as I recall.. I always flew to Honolulu and grabbed the next plane out to Kauai for about $40 each way. I think the tickets were a few bucks cheaper if you bought them on site at the airport from an ATM machine but traveling with a kid you probably want to book ahead of time to avoid a layover in case you get in and the next few flights are sold out. Have a great time and pack a pullover. It’s sunny and warm but the north shore can have AM rain showers almost daily sometimes and with avg temps around 72 (perfect) you might want a layer in the evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevbone Posted January 24, 2008 Author Share Posted January 24, 2008 Thanks for all the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Conway Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Seems like a nice place for the money. baja = camp on beach for free. indo = $10-$15/day for hotel, beer + meals out thailand = slightly more than indo airfare to baja = same airfare to indo & thailand = $8-900 which isn't that much worse than Hawaii. ergo, not such a nice deal for the money. Oh, and the locals elsewhere aren't nearly the assholes hawaiians can be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaskadskyjKozak Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Seems like a nice place for the money. baja = camp on beach for free. indo = $10-$15/day for hotel, beer + meals out thailand = slightly more than indo catching dengue fever - priceless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sk Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Kev I love the big island. there are a ton of things to see and do and lots of differnt types of beaches and climates. and they have mountains... well sorta. any way that would be my sugestion. My ex badvoodoo grew up in Hawi and it is an awsome little town. I can't think of any where in Hawaii i wouldn't go with a kid. the water is good, and (some) people speak english. Just go, have fun, WEAR SUN SCREAN!!! seriously even if you don't usualy burn you will there. happy travles!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevbone Posted January 24, 2008 Author Share Posted January 24, 2008 Oh I burn....I am a red head. ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dechristo Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 like the dick on a dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Conway Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Oh I burn....I am a red head. ..... sweet! another reason to pick on you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.