Has anyone been to Hawaii??

[mizzwanned]

Originally Posted by kalina82

I loved the Road to Hana. We left ass early in the morning to beat the traffic. Saw people along the way but they never slowed us down. the roads are kinda scary tho in some places. Instead of backtracking when we were done we just kept going around and boy are those cliffs steep. There were also quite a few cows in the way at some parts LOL i thought it was hilarious. We also drove around the north west part of the island which sacred the hell out of me. the roads were 5 times worse then the back end on the road to hana. talk about falling to your doom. If you don't get a jeep or all terrain vehicle do not go up there. Very pretty tho and lots to see if your brave.

o god are the roads like high cliffs you always see on tv? I am scared of those! That sounds like Puerto Rico to me..sometimes there will be cows in the way

[mizzwanned]

Originally Posted by Rhapsody

I've been to Hawaii a few times. Gosh the entire place is so beautiful, and I can't think of a place that isn't a must see, lol, but I'd definately visit the Pearl Harbor memorial while you are there. Truly a moving place and it really brings WWII into reality. Have a safe and fun trip!!

Thanks! I'll make sure to visit it

[mizzwanned]

Originally Posted by LuvMySissy

Hi there!!! I've been to all the islands. We have been going every year for the past 9 years. Long flight, but well worth it.

My least favorite place is Oahu. I call it "New York City on a beach". Waikiki is always voted one of the 10 most beautiful beaches, but I find it dirty, loud and crowded. Visiting the Arizona at Pearl Harbor is a MUST!! Diamond Head is a really great hike and the North Shore is awesome in every way, but I found the Polynesian Cultural Center to be pretty corny. If you don't go to Oahu but fly in and out of your destination through Honolulu, you can take the first flight to Honolulu on the day you leave and spend the day at Pearl Harbor before you fly out.

My favorite place is Maui. I love the atmosphere!! It is very laid back and you can find virtually everything there. The volcano is not active but has great views and much to do around it, the Road to Hana is fun (and the back road coming home is just FINE to drive if you are used to big city driving and horrible road conditions). The Iao Valley is nice, the Old Lahaina Luau is simply the best there is on any island (been to LOTS of them)!! There is just so much to see/do. There is awesome yoga and the town of Lahaina is just so much fun to shop and people watch. I can also recommend a fabulous surf instructor here. This is the best island to see the humpback whales during the season (January-March) as they calve and mate in the channel.

I also really love the Big Island of Hawaii. Two very different halves of the island; one volcanic and one rainforest. The island is very easy to drive. The Volcanoes National Park is fabulous. The rainforest side of the island has spectactular waterfalls and flora and the volcanic side has the best snorkeling with lots of green sea turtles.

Kauai is very quiet and laidback. Great for folks who love hiking, kayaking and golf. In most of the smaller towns, everything (and I mean everything) closes at 2:00pm, so it can be VERY BORING at night unless you are at a major resort. Gorgeous scenery and the Waimea Canyon is beautiful.

Molokai has a very different feel altogether. Not very welcoming to tourists, but a highly spiritual island. Home to the Father Damien Leper Colony and can only be seen on a tour.

Lanai has hardly anything on it, a couple hotels, some houses and a few golf courses. Worth doing a dolphin/snorkel/island adventure for one day if staying on Maui if time permits.

Love everything about the Hawaiian Islands. Highly recommend them to everyone!! Would love to live there some day!!!!!! PM me if you'd like more details........

P.S. The quarantine information has changed in the past year. As long as the paperwork is filed with enough notice, you can bring your baby. The problem is they MUST fly cargo and you MUST route through Honolulu and arrive to claim your baby prior to 5:00pm!!

omg thank you! You have given me tons of information! Everyone has been so helpful! How many Hawaiian islands are there? So Oahu is that busy? lol I def. want somewhere that there are things to do but also beautiful at the same time. And then I want to visit like the country side with the nice scenery, even if it's boring. My younger step brother lived in Hawaii for a year because his sister was stationed there and I was like how can you come back HERE? lol I would have wanted to stay. Thank you soo much! I am going to PM you if I need help with anything

[scrappymomma]

I was also born and raised there on O'ahu....Kailua. We usually go back once a year, all of my family is still there spread all over the island. I was just there in Dec.

Luvmysissy, I thought they changed the quarantine to 5 days now? I remember when it was 30 days. That would be awesome if you didnt have to do it but also it would open Hawai'i up to Rabies. When I take my kids back we go for 3-4 weeks but the last 2 years I leave before them because I didnt want to leave the dogs for that long. How nice that would be if I could take them with me, shoot I might not come back home to Oregon...lol

[camly]

Originally Posted by njoydaride

Definitely go to Oahu then! You could even look for deals where you can visit a different island for a weekend or something. If you do go to Oahu, go around the island. It only takes a few hours and you can visit all the scenic points. When you go to the North Shore, be sure to stop by Matsumoto's Shaved Ice and get it with ice cream and red beans. You won't be sorry! Also visit Ko Olina beach if you go on the west of the island. It's a very relaxing, quiet beach. Hanauma Bay is also beautiful and you can snorkel and see fishes, but it's a lot more busy. If you do go to a luau, I suggest the Germaine's luau. My Mom always sends visitors there and they love it.

I'm sorry, I'm rambling. There's just so much to see and do.

OMG! the shaved ice with red beans looove that .. we have that here

but we spent a week in Maui, a friend of ours has a house there .. it was beautiful .. i highly reccomend if you're able to go scuba diving by the crater (the name escapes me .. molokai??) we went snorkeling but damn would have wished i brought along my scuba gear. i went there just to relax so spent most of my time on the beach.

when you go take lots of pics and post when you get back!

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by mizzwanned

How lucky are you!!!! I wish I were leaving in 2 weeks!!! Take a lot of pictures!! Are you taking Eddie and Jack with you?

No, unfortunately, we're not taking Eddie and Jack. I thought they still had the quarantine until I read luvmysissy's post! But I wouldn't ship them cargo anyway. Yeah, I will be a picture taking fool, I'm sure.

[LuvMySissy]

The quarantine has been lifted, but there are still lots of hoops to jump through. You have to complete special paperwork, make sure it is filed and received by their animal control and approved so many days prior to your arrival, you must enter the islands through Honolulu to claim your pet prior to 5:00pm on arrival day (or then they have to stay in quarantine for least 24 hours and you have to pay for it) and they must fly cargo. Too many regulations for a visit and I'd never put my small babies in cargo!!!

We did the helicopter tour while in Kauaii. It was fabulous and the only way you can see all the cliffs and many of the waterfalls up close. I've heard the one on the Big Island is also really neat, but you only see the red lava flow at night.

Take your time on each island, otherwise you only get a taste and you'll be exhausted. There is literally so much to see and do that you could be running from sun up till sun down every single day!!!!

Snorkeling/snuba/scuba at the Molokai crater off Maui is a good thing to do, but if you are into snorkeling or you are certified to scuba - there are many great places you can do this on your own without incurring a whole day and lost of $ as well. And, truly the Old Lahaina Luau on Maui is really the best there is. The dance is authentic and very good, as is the food. We've been to luaus on every island at all the recommended places and they don't even come close to comparing. Plus, our daughter has been a Polynesian dancer for 11 years, so we know our dancing.

For everyone wondering, yes there is Polynesian dance in Michigan!!!! Our daughter is actually VERY good at it and wants to make this her career. She will be visiting with a professional Polynesian dance troupe just outside of San Diego in August to audition for a permanent fulltime position starting in January!!!

[njoydaride]

Even though they lifted the mandatory 120 days in quarantine or whatever it was, you still have A LOT to consider like the dog has to be vaccinated twice in it's lifetime and administered more than 90 days apart. It's crazy. Here's the checklist:

http://www.hawaii.gov/hdoa/ai/aqs/aqs-checklist-5.pdf

It's 4 pages long.

[TLC]

Originally Posted by njoydaride

Even though they lifted the mandatory 120 days in quarantine or whatever it was, you still have A LOT to consider like the dog has to be vaccinated twice in it's lifetime and administered more than 90 days apart. It's crazy. Here's the checklist:

http://www.hawaii.gov/hdoa/ai/aqs/aqs-checklist-5.pdf

It's 4 pages long.

Yes. This is what my sister had to go through. It take many many month to get it all done and if you are not able to complete each task 100%, then the pet must go to quarantine.

[mizzwanned]

Originally Posted by margaritaville

We were in Hawaii in May on the Big Island. If you possibly can swing it take the helicopter tour-great view of the volcanos at the national park. It's amazing watching the fire and steam rising out of them.

A helicopter tour sounds nice!!

[mizzwanned]

Originally Posted by TLC

My sister has lived there for 1.5 years now (and her Silky Girl - LuLu).

Her and her boyfriend and LuLu moved to Oahu, Waikiki. Just this past month they all moved to the "Big Island" - I think Kona, but I am not sure.

Anyway, they just opened a Sushi and Martini Bar

It is called - Sushi En Fuego
It is located on the beach, next to Hooters and Bubba Gump Shrimp!

Check it out if you happen to go the "Big Island"

Her name is Dana and her Boyfriends name is Dave, tell them Nicole (Big Sis) sent you, they would freak out

How great!! How is business going for them?? My bf wanting t be a chef and all wants to open up restaurants in the future..Hawaii would be a great place..but i think he's studying carribbean food. On the beach..that sounds nice. If I go I will stop by there and tell them you sent me

[mizzwanned]

Originally Posted by TLC

I don't think you can just bring pets for vacation

It took my sister about a year to get LuLu into Hawaii. Go to the Dept. of Agriculture for Hawaii, you'll learn about it from there

Are you seious?? Oh mannn I really wanted to take Teddy and London..

[mizzwanned]

Originally Posted by scrappymomma

I was also born and raised there on O'ahu....Kailua. We usually go back once a year, all of my family is still there spread all over the island. I was just there in Dec.

Luvmysissy, I thought they changed the quarantine to 5 days now? I remember when it was 30 days. That would be awesome if you didnt have to do it but also it would open Hawai'i up to Rabies. When I take my kids back we go for 3-4 weeks but the last 2 years I leave before them because I didnt want to leave the dogs for that long. How nice that would be if I could take them with me, shoot I might not come back home to Oregon...lol

I'm confused..what is a quarantine? Is it good if it is 5 days or 30 days?? Srry I have no clue about this.

[nvnvgirl]

I'm a Big Island fan too! The "Big Island" is the island of Hawaii. There's just such a diversity of things to do there. My dad lives there and also owns a really nice condo in Kona just a block from the main drag in Kona on Kailua Bay...PM me if you want some info and I'll find out from him. You can see the bay from the lanai and it's so great to just be able to walk all over the town. I'm not sure when he's got the condo rented; he does rent it out for as long as people want I guess, unless it's already reserved (which it ALWAYS is during the month of October for the Ironman, either by ME , or by another athlete). I love it there!

As far as taking your dog there, I know it used to be that you had to put them into quarantine, but they've changed it and now there's a litany of things you have to do first; microchip (it supposedly HAS to be a HOME AGAIN chip, not AVID or any other), heartworm, flea stuff, the health check within 10 days of flight, and a few other things. My groomer said he takes his 2 dogs with him all the time and the first time it cost him about $1000 to get everything done, but after that it's mainly just the health check just before going).

I can tell you some great places to eat (and drink) if you want, but don't want to go on and on here. It's really a wonderful island and the spirit of Aloha is just amazing! Wherever you go, I know you'll enjoy it. Oahu is fun too, it's beautiful and there's lots to to, but it's incredibly busy; it's a BIG CITY type of place. But still fun. I'm just more at home on the Big Island

[nvnvgirl]

Oops...sorry; the quarantine thing has already been covered succinctly. From what I understand, and perhaps it's just the specific airline on the way back to the mainland, pets can be in the cabin on the way back, but have to go in cargo on the way there. Regardless, I'd never put my animal in cargo.



SUSHI EN FUEGO!!! I've been there! It's really good! My dad and stepmom go all the time! And it's right there in Kona on Alii Drive. Bubba Gumps is a great place too to sit on the deck and watch the sea turtles (along with eating and drinking ).