Been to HAWAII?? Share.....
 

You are going to have such a great time!! I've never been to Maui but heard it is beautiful. I've been to Kona, Hawaii and Kawaii and Honolulu, Oahu. I love Hawaii.

Hi Lea, You and Patrick are going to love the Grand Wailea!!! It is so gorgeous!! It will be like a second honeymoon for you two! You will fall in love with this resort! We used to layover at the hotel right next door so I know the area well. You will need to rent a car for Maui, there isn't any good public transportation there and if you want to drive to Kanapali or Lahaina you will need to drive since Wailea is about 30 minutes away. There is a little shopping mall near the hotel but it is very expensive, save your money now!! You should definitely try to do the Hana Road trip or go up to the volcano and bike ride back down at sunset, so pretty. Have a great time!!

Hi Lea, You and Patrick are going to love the Grand Wailea!!! It is so gorgeous!! It will be like a second honeymoon for you two! You will fall in love with this resort! We used to layover at the hotel right next door so I know the area well. You will need to rent a car for Maui, there isn't any good public transportation there and if you want to drive to Kanapali or Lahaina you will need to drive since Wailea is about 30 minutes away. There is a little shopping mall near the hotel but it is very expensive, save your money now!! You should definitely try to do the Hana Road trip or go up to the volcano and bike ride back down at sunset, so pretty. Have a great time!!

My dad lives on the Big Island (Hawaii). Don't take anything other than your favorite swimsuit and your toiletries; buy it at Walmart or the KTA stores there (or you can spend a fortune at the boutiques there too). Everything is VERY casual almost EVERYWHERE, people don't really get dressed up. If you go to the Big Island, see the volcano, Akaka Falls in Hilo, you can go on a snorkeling trip that you get to dive in two areas Here:
MORNING SNORKEL ADVENTURE Snorkel Kealakekua & Honaunau (this is a VERY fun trip and you not only get to dive in two places (Kealakekua Bay and Honaunau Bay which are both beautiful), you get a lot of interesting facts and folklore on the way to and from.

Have stellar sushi and martinis at Sushi En Fuego on the waterfront downtown Kona ~ owned by a fellow YT's sister and bf...here's one online review:
"This one of the best restaurants we have been to in Kailua Kona. The sushi and fusion dishes are delectable, the fancy martinis are a blast (especially during happy hours when they are $7) and the view is spectacular."

Go to the Kona Brewing Co. for great beer and pizza (and music): Kona Brewing Company > Home

Check out the Kona coffee growers~ just check in the little free magazines all over and see which ones offer tours and/or tastings.

Check out the little village of Hawi north of Kona. A few good restaurants and interesting shopping.

So much to do there! And so many fun places to go and eat and shop~! If you're interested in Kona, PM me and I'll set you up, LOL. Oh..you could always visit my dad and stepmom too:D

Ugh, I'm JEALOUS! I'm sure it is going to be amazing! You better take a lot of pictures and share them with us when you get back! SAFE TRAVELS!

Ooh the grand Wailea is nice...went to Maui a year ago....a must have book on what to do, see, and eat is called 'Maui Revealed'.

You guys are gonna love Maui!!!! Are you extending for another 5 days there or going to another Island? Maui is my favorite, followed by the "big" Island of Hawaii.

I prefer the other side of Maui (between Kaanapali and Kaapalua) since it is so close to LaHaina and we go there every day when we're in Maui. But, you are really close to a little town called "Paia" that is really awesome. Kind-of hippy, but way cool and a short street of boutiques that aren't too pricey. There is an awesome beach over on the North side where the locals surf that is awesome to see at sunset. Baldwin beach is also really nice. If you like to hike, the Iao Valley is also a great place to visit. The road to Hana is a must!!! Stop at the gas station just past Paia to purchase the tour CD - it will tell you mile markers to stop at and what to look for, otherwise you miss a lot. Unless you are going during whale season (late December to end of March), don't bother taking a whale watch tour. If you want to see the spinner dolphins, do once of the excursions to Lanai. The ones in the Zodiac boats are cool.

There is really no need to do a snorkeling trip. On the side of the island you will be on, there are plenty of little coves that offer great snorkeling right off the shore, particularly if you continue heading South once the paved road ends.

Feel free to PM me for any other details. I've been to Maui 9 times, twice to Hawaii, once to Kauaii and Ohahu.

Kona is on the Big Island (my 2nd favorite place)!!!!

I stayed at the Grand Wailea Resort and it was awesome! So beautiful!
Also, if you're a shopaholic.... Maui is going to be the place for you... Very high end. :)

Nope - Hawaii is comprised of several islands. The "Big" Island is the island of Hawaii itself, the other islands are Maui, Ohau, Kauaii, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau, Kahoolawe. Kona and Hilo are the big cities on opposite coasts. Waikikii and Pearl Harbor are on Oahu, Maui is known best for Lahaina, Kaanapali, Kaapalua and Wailea. Kauaii has the Napili coast, and is primarily known for the Waimea Canyon, Lanai is a very small island with really only one town, Molokai has a couple towns and a lot of space, but is very rural, Niihau is a private island and Kahoolawe is owned by the US government and was primarly used to test bombs!!!!!

You're so lucky! I've always wanted to go to Hawaii!! I want to swim with Dolphins!!

Maui is my favorite of the islands...it is simply GORGEOUS!!! Hubby and I bought this book and I HIGHLY recommend it. It shows you fun, hidden treasures of the island, like waterfalls and secret roads to take.
Maui Revealed - The Ultimate Guidebook

Hope you have a wonderful time!!!
p.s. I am VERY jealous...;)

We stayed at the Grand Wailea Resort over spring break. We truely love it! It is so beautiful! We spend spend most of our time at the hotel and the mall. I had to drag my children away... to get them to see other things.

Just be prepared, everything is very expensive!! I live in the bay area of CA, where the cost of living is high and I was still shocked by the prices!

Enjoy your trip!

Maui
 

We went a couple of years ago..... only for 1 week.... Maui is so small that I was really ready to leave after 5 days... very expensive......

Grand Wailau is great place. We stayed next door at Maui Prince. Just off the beach is called Turtle town so we got to snorkel with lots of sea turtles.

Definitely go on road to Hana ? It's a great drive...... take lots of pictures of the beaches and waterfalls.

Have fun.....

OMG Lea...you are so lucky! I have never heard anyone say anything bad about the Grand Wailea! Everyone I know that has stayed there raves about it. I've wanted to go there for a long time!!! I heard the spa and spa services there are great!

That's my daughter and boyfriend that owns Sushi en Fuego (sushi on fire) in Kona, on the big island...It's incredible, it's on the second floor overlooking the ocean...(in the gray pier upstairs from Bubba Gumps Shrimp) I'm not saying that because it's my daughter, it's really good !! They are both originally from Jersey and he (one of the chefs) worked for Wolfgang Puck...The atmosphere is as good as the food....You can eat on the deck and not get flies or mosquitos !!! Watch the sunset too.... Have fun even if you don't get a chance to go there...Aloha

Ooohh I spent 8 days in Oahu! PARADISE! Have a blast!!! :) I am jealous! :)

Oh my goodness...I almost forgot one of the most amazing (romantic) parts about Maui. It's a restaurant called Mama's fish house. It is easily the most romantic spot hubby and I have even eaten at in our lives...and we take a lot of of tropical and romantic vacations! I cannot believe it slipped my mind!

Welcome to Mama's Fish House Restaurant and Inn - Maui, Hawaii

:luvu:

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So far we havent planned on going to other 'islands'...But I will keep this in mind since we'll be in Hawaii for 10 days.

I'll have my blackberry (to log on to YT) on me so I'll PM you if we decide to go to Kona.

Thank you so much! :)