Hawaii Big Island

[Danny83]

Dude that time change would kill me lol. Please check out Browns Beach house inside of Fairmont Hotel.

[brandrea]

I hope you and your wife have a ton of fun Seth. I’ve never been but heard wonderful things about it.

[Dubshack]

If you get to Kauai, I’d recommend Kipu Ranch ATV tours and going to see Waimea Canyon State Park.


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[Ballzzz]

Stay at the FS’s best resort we have even been too, hands down.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by Ballzzz

Stay at the FS’s best resort we have even been too, hands down.

That’s where we are booked.

I’ve heard it’s incredible.

[42itus]

Volcanoes National Park

Akaka Falls

Probably some sick ziplining tours on the Hilo side (I've heard Kapohokane Adventures is good)

Hawaiian Style Cafe for Hawaiian food. Gotta try it at least once!

Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park (that's a mouthful!) I recommend if here if you want to learn a little about history. I was born and raised in Oahu and I totally enjoyed this.

If you can squeeze in a flight over to another island then you absolutely should go to Pearl Harbor.

If you need help with anything send me a PM and I'll be happy to help.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by 42itus

Volcanoes National Park

Akaka Falls

Probably some sick ziplining tours on the Hilo side (I've heard Kapohokane Adventures is good)

Hawaiian Style Cafe for Hawaiian food. Gotta try it at least once!

Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park (that's a mouthful!) I recommend if here if you want to learn a little about history. I was born and raised in Oahu and I totally enjoyed this.

If you can squeeze in a flight over to another island then you absolutely should go to Pearl Harbor.

If you need help with anything send me a PM and I'll be happy to help.

That’s all amazing. Ty.

Parks, culture and history are def the focus. I’ll hit you up for sure.

January can’t come soon enough.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by Danny83

Dude that time change would kill me lol. Please check out Browns Beach house inside of Fairmont Hotel.

I’m similar. It’ll be painful for sure.

[42itus]

Originally Posted by superdog

That’s all amazing. Ty.

Parks, culture and history are def the focus. I’ll hit you up for sure.

January can’t come soon enough.

if you're interested in history I would look up the Pu'uhonua park that I mentioned. It's a part of Hawaiian history that I knew nothing about. I was a chaperone for my son't class when he was in elementary and I swear the adults enjoyed it more than the kids! And if I recall it's not far from Kona so you won't spend a whole lot of time going there.

But yeah, I'm not on the Island of Hawaii but if you need help from someone a little closer than Jersey I'd be happy to help. My real name is Tom, lol.

[Rockrolex]

Been to Japan many times, Australia twice and the Tahitian Islands once. Never been to Hawaii and have no real desire to go. Probably going to Morocco next summer.

[jnelson3097]

The time change was a killer for me in a June when we did Maui for 12 days. I can’t speak to the big island, but I can definitely recommend hopping over to Maui for a few days. I’d try to extend the stay some, 12 days for us seemed to be the perfect length.

[Blansky]

I go Hawaii every 6 months and it works out to a month a year, mostly Maui but been to all the other islands plenty of times.

By the sounds of things Seth has problems with slowing down, and Hawaii is a great place to slow down and clear your mind. Others have listed lots of places to go and do but my advice is take your time, slow down, get into Island Time and enjoy yourself and your wife's company.

Life is too short to be bombing around all the time.

The magic of Hawaii isn't bringing the mainland and it's rat race to Hawaii with you, it's going to Hawaii and letting Hawaii wash over you.

When you go there and stay in all the resorts and do all the resort things, you may as well go to any resort anywhere. You're missing out.

[superdog]

^^^^

Wow. I teared up at that just a little. It’s super appropriate. And appreciated. And likely a very good idea.

Maybe just secure a bit of good snorkeling and then see what happens.

Some great ideas in here that I’ve written down. So if we are bouncing off the walls, we will have ideas. But yeah man, I like where your head is at.

[V25V]

I have only been to Maui and Oahu but my understanding was that Big Island is the more lush and under-developed of them all and the place to go and relax, not be active so much?

[quakeroatmeal]

I normally only do weekend trips as well.

I did 6 days in Honolulu (not including flight days), it was great.

I went in February last year, I'm assuming January is similar weather wise, which was perfect for me. Warm with a slight breeze.

I just got back from Japan, my week long trip turned into a 10 day trip because of that HUGE typhoon they got.

Honestly, I never want to go back.

Make sure you go to a luau! No matter how touristy it feels! xD

[superdog]

Originally Posted by V25V

I have only been to Maui and Oahu but my understanding was that Big Island is the more lush and under-developed of them all and the place to go and relax, not be active so much?

Understood. I likely should have, but I didn’t know that when booking. My wife’s boss suggested it to me explaining it was the most beautiful place on the planet and that it’s our style.

So this is good actually. And it’ll force us to slow down a bit. Lush scenic views are always welcome.

As long as we see a bunch of turtles all will be well. And likely we will take a night or two on another island.

Can’t wait.

[V25V]

Originally Posted by superdog

Understood. I likely should have, but I didn’t know that when booking. My wife’s boss suggested it to me explaining it was the most beautiful place on the planet and that it’s our style.

So this is good actually. And it’ll force us to slow down a bit. Lush scenic views are always welcome.

As long as we see a bunch of turtles all will be well. And likely we will take a night or two on another island.

Can’t wait.

It is gorgeous, you will love it. I had never been and was a bit resistant but man it really is out of this world! Enjoy it.

[TheVTCGuy]

Take me with you

[superdog]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Take me with you

You didn't get your ticket yet?

Its in the mail!!

[Dr. Robert]

To the OP..... I have been to Maui, Oahu & Kauai.....never Hawaii. You mentioned your wife is not a strong swimmer.
In winter the ocean is strong on some parts of an island, not sure about the island of Hawaii.
I prefer Kauai, I stay on the south shore in the winter, calmer water and north shore in summer....in winter water is rough.

[encarter13]

I have never been to the Big Island, but I have been to Oahu, Kauai, and Maui.

There are so many wonderful things to see across Hawaii, it will be impossible to see it all. It also looks like you have plenty of recommendations, so I will give you one - Take a day trip to Oahu just to see Pearl Harbor.

[Ballzzz]

Originally Posted by superdog

That’s where we are booked.

I’ve heard it’s incredible.

Reach out to Kristen or her TRF husband GfromMT she will hook you up if your not already ...

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=623348

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by superdog

^^^^

Wow. I teared up at that just a little. It’s super appropriate. And appreciated. And likely a very good idea.

Maybe just secure a bit of good snorkeling and then see what happens.

Some great ideas in here that I’ve written down. So if we are bouncing off the walls, we will have ideas. But yeah man, I like where your head is at.

Something we do every time we go is find a beachwalk, boardwalk or trail that's at least a mile or three long, and we do it every morning around sun up, which is around 7ish (Hawaii is approximately a 12 hour day/night). It's the most beautiful time of the day.

At sunset it's pretty traditional for people to go down to the beach or find a place for drinks and watch the sunset.

We've been going to Hawaii for about 20 some years and we do this every day, maybe 300-400 times. It never gets old. When I'm pining for the fjords in rainy winter days at home that's what I remember and think of.

And believe me I've seen every waterfall, lava field, beach, and shopping center on all 4 main Islands and the morning beach walk is what I always remember.

Simplify and enjoy yourself. Aloha.

[superdog]

Love this. Thank you.

[Sjmoore11]

Wow, this thread is really making me want to plan a trip back to Hawaii!
With just 8 days, my advice would be to stay on Hawaii. One of the coolest things about it is how varied the landscape and scenery is and you can see dramatically different places in a short drive. It is a big island after all!
That said, I love Maui too! You mentioned wanting to see turtles - you’ll probably see plenty anywhere but if you end up in Kihei area check out Kama’ole Beach II...turtles guaranteed!

[Sperry]

In the late '90s and early '00s I did three three-week visits to Big Island. Developed skills in doing nothing. Wake, breakfast of eggs rice pork papaya, then under the banyan tree for coffee. Swim a couple of miles. Lunch, nap, swim a couple more miles. Intersperse visiting reading touring. Friends with various locals helps a lot. Light supper, early to bed exhausted.

Rise and repeat.

A few memorial moments: Jumping off the cliff at South Point. A dawn visit to an organic farm, eating fruit right off the trees. Getting pile-driven off Hapuna Beach. A David Lynch movie The Straight Story in a rural barn-like structure on mis-matched folding chairs. Dinner off the grid, living for a few hours with friends who live with no connection to power or water grids. Walking among the incredibly spiny surface of a solidified `a`a flow. Snorkeling off Ho‘okena Beach.

[Yoda_Eating_Pizza]

When I used to drink beer, I used to hit Kona Brewing Co in Kailua-Kona. Fire Rock on tap.

Hmm. Come to think of it, I don't have much more info to offer, despite living in Hawaii. I'm based on Oahu, flew back and forth to all the major islands every year for a couple of decades for work. Also I almost died in the Ka'u desert trying to hike to Halape, lol. Funnily enough, I don't have much adventuring advice.

Mrs Yoda is from the Big Island, but in the boonies (like Dagobah). I only have one humble highlight to mention. Volcanoes National Park, if you're interested. Current status updated here:
https://www.nps.gov/havo/recovery.htm
Haven't gone there in a while, but it is magnificent.

If you plan to visit Oahu:
- Pearl Harbor
- Diamond Head hike (very easy)
- There are a lot of eateries, but would need an idea of what you have in mind, in order to narrow it down
- Heads up: protests are going on in certain areas; also certain things to be mindful of (PM if interested, don't want to get into it here)

[BigBlue1]

Good luck and have fun, stay safe. I haven't been yet but do wish to go someday.

[tuna_gmt]

I think Hapuna state beach on the west coast of the Big island is one of the nicest beaches I’ve been to in the USA.

The big island in general is very underrated.

I would recommend going up to the Mauna Kea observatory, get there just before sunset. To me it was unreal. Like standing on the moon. (I don’t think it’s necessary to go to the summit.)



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[hdrazor251]

Do a manta ray night snorkel in Kona. It's AMAZING!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7SHbXurbYo