Aloha – Hello or Good-Bye?

t know how many people are still tracking my eariler Hawaii conversations, but… seems to me, this is a slightly more important (read: pressing) issue to tackle. Related Content: The Truth is Out There – or is it?Aloha – Hello or Good-Bye?Macworld or Hawaii? Paying Your Bills Online Erin McGee of MyWireless.org

Have to see the Banyan tree with the open air market under and around it.

We went to Maui on our honeymoon a few months ago… The one thing you absolutely can not miss is the road to Hana.
Rent a ragtop jeep… Take the top down, get the CD from the Shell station right by Kahalui Airport and make this trip… You will never forget it.
–
Matt Berther

I visited Waikiki back in July. The weather is awesome, (mid 80's with a chance of light rain, everyday). The coffee is just great. Everyone talks about how expensive it is there, but the only time I noticed a price increase was at the resturants. Everything else seemed to be fairly reasonable, plus/minus a buck.
Although we didnt' go to Maui, I'm sure you'll have just as much fun.

I second the road to Hana, and would suggest that you do the whole loop past Hana and around. If you do, make sure that you get gas in Hana – there is no gas station until you get past the winery (we barely made it… :) Beautiful though!
Also, do the drive down past Waileia to the lava fields. Unreal! But don't go past the end of the road without a Jeep!
Noah

My suggestions:
1. Stop complaining and start enjoying or you'll miss something really special. :)
2. Drive around the north shore and stop a lot. Drive a convertible – you can talk the rental agencies into a Mustang or similar easily enough, often for little or nothing extra if they have extras sitting around.
3. Be sure to stop at one of the local stands alomgside the road (the little ones in the middle of nowhere are best) and they'll cut up fresh pineapple that's a whole world of difference better than anything you can possibly get in the states.
4. Relax, enjoy, get sandy and get wet. You're hating it now, but you'll be hating the leaving part in a few days.
Have fun dude.

Say hello to Mr. Roarke and Tattoo for me!

Chris – You gotta go to Mamma's Fish House. Enjoy your vacation.

Travel safely!
(I told Ponzi that she should let you off of snorkeling, but you must take her to Mama's Fish House and order the Polynesian Pearl Dessert!)
:)

How's about tossing a samich into your carry-on? I'm starving in here.

all i can say is volcano national park. but thats on the big island. if you have time, you have to go. Flowing lava? in real life? YES! can you walk up and touch it? Yes, but i wouldnt use your hand.

Try the sugarloaf pineapple. It's awesome because it is a great tasting pineapple, BUT there is no strong citric acid in it like the others. You could eat all you want and it won't burn your tongue or whatnot.
Can't make suggestions for Maui, I was an Oahu person myself. Weather should be great though.
And Aloha is hello and goodbye. I don't know if the title was rhetorical or not.

I agree with renting a Jeep and driving the road to Hana, and keep going all the way around the island. There are lots of things to see and do. Also haleakalas sunrise is very beautiful (and COLD!!!). Also on the top of haleakala there are some unique plants called “silver swords” that look pretty funky.

PS. A warning….Dont leave anything in your car, in sight!!! Things have a way of magically vanishing from cars in Hawaii.
ET
http://www.almostageek.com

Forgot a link
http://banana.ifa.hawaii.edu/crater/

I third the road to hana! hope you have a nice time.
Abdul

The road trip around Hana, make sure your rental agreement allows this… :).
If you are up for camping or just simple site seeing check out Wai‘anapanapa State Park on the road to Hana. Standing on the rocks feeling the ocean pound at your feet and feeding the fish with the locals is a great experience. A ton of tide pools and caves makes for great swimming and snorkeling too.
Sunset at the top of Haleakala is just as good as the sunrise and not as crowded, if you bring a boxed dinner from your Hotel/Resort or local restaurant, it is romantic as well. When you see it set you can head to the bottom where it is warm and still light out…and you don't have to wait in the cold for the sun to rise. If you do either, bring sweatshirt/jacket and pants. Watching the clouds and vapor move through almost the same pattern every day is really cool. Also if you plan it right you might be able do a ranger guided moonlight walk into Haleakala, really cool…5 mile hike from Sliding Sands to Ka Lu'u o Ka 'O'o all by moonlight …
Mountain biking on Haleakala is really cool for beginners and advanced-tons of lava gullies and other lava formations.
Gravity bike ride down Halekala to Winery… very nice smell of Eucalyptus trees…if you are looking for an easy almost no effort pace without being herded like cattle, Mark and Karen have a good tour here:
http://www.mauibike.com/
Surfing or body boarding at Maalaea ,Honolua Bay, Rainbows, D. T. Fleming Beach Park(aka Kapalua Beach). For beginners I suggest Olowalu and Puamana beaches.
Snorkeling and Scuba for beginners Black Rock — Ka‘anapali Beach and Kihei Beach are a good start pretty much most of the beaches in Wailea are good.
Also there are ton of charters for Whale watching Humpbacks…very cool…
Enjoy!!!

Click here for enlightenment Hawaiian-style!

For discussion boards where all matters of visiting
the Islands are discussed, argued over, etc. try:
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=62
You don't have to be a cruiser to read all the good
tips.

aloha =hello from people on vacation.
aloha= goodbye from the locals.
Blackrock has the best snorkeling.
The road to Hana is one of those things that you've been there and done that. but you probably won't waste want to waste your time doing it again