The Hawaiian Happy Dance

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Yay for you!

Double YAY!

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Look what I found on CNN!

http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/05/travel...html?hpt=hp_c3

Oh God, we are such cheapskates....I LOVE it!

[StressCadet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StressCadet]

Ha! Love it. My advice..skip the plantation tour just go for the Dole Whip!! Yummo! Also, if you really want a nice military history tour that includes Pearl Harbor, but isn't cheap..I recommend this http://www.pearlharborhq.com/pearl_harbor_tour.html My DH and son did it and really couldn't stop talking about it. They were able to spend time with a WWII veteran. Highlight of their trip (Son LOVES history, especially WWII) If not-then make sure you reserve your Pearl Harbor tickets online...just like it stated. This is fairly new and I have friends who are there today as a matter of fact. I almost told them you just drive up...good thing I looked online. I had no idea you had to pre reserve now.

Edited to add: If you do decide to do the tour-you have to drive in to Waikiki from Ko'olina and meet at one of the hotels for pick up....early. Just so you know.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Book Description
Publication Date: September 23, 2010
Hawaii has long been a favoured tourist destination. Almost every tourist brochure and magazine is filled with picture perfect scenes of people lazing in the sun. But what if you want something more than sun and surf?. This couple set out to explore what else the island of Oahu has to offer. Their discoveries included the North Shore, the Dole plantations, the south-eastern beaches and a visit to the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbour.

This short travelogue is ideal reading for people that love travel and travel stories.

Free Kindle Book - 33 pages
http://www.amazon.com/Hawaii-Aloha-U...s_159936011_27

[billymach4 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close billymach4]

Thank you for the great travel tips on Hawaii. Pearl Harbor is at the top of my list for Oahu. Will also download the kindle book on DW's Fire!

Now I am happy to report I will also be visiting Volcano National Park on the Big Island! I expanded my search beyond Maui for my first 3 days and managed to snag a 2BR unit at SVC Paniolo. It looks like it is nestled up on the mountainside away from the populated areas.

Has anyone ever been to SVC Paniolo. It has one of those golden premier ratings from II. Not expecting a 5 star experience but this will be suitable for a 3 day tour, prior to 7 days on Oahu!

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Almost all the Shell properties are very, very nice with the exception of one or two. Paniolo is very nice but would not be most people's choice for a stay on Big Island. It is in the middle of a golf course and a 10-15 minute drive to the beach and ~ hour to Kona. Expect to drive a ways to anywhere. Far too far for the 3 days you've allotted.

It was always the easiest resort to get on the BI through RCI when SVC was affiliated with them.

[billymach4 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close billymach4]

I did take into account the driving on the BI. My only expectation during the 3 days is to hit the Volcano NP. Beach is a plus. Will do plenty of Beach time at Ko Olina. Figure I will go crash the Mouse over at Aulani as well.

[StressCadet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StressCadet]

I did take into account the driving on the BI. My only expectation during the 3 days is to hit the Volcano NP. Beach is a plus. Will do plenty of Beach time at Ko Olina. Figure I will go crash the Mouse over at Aulani as well.

If this is the case, then you might consider flying in to Hilo instead of Kona and renting a place. Maybe a BNB near VNP. Is your 3 days only 2 nights? If so-it makes a lot more sense. When we went, we stayed in Waikoloa...drove...stayed one night in a BNB. Did night seeing of Volcano and then drove past to see the black sand beach and back for day time at VNP. BUT-I will admit. I loved the long drive. The climate changes,the scenery changes. We stopped for Malasadas (portuguese donuts) and smoothies at a little shack..Akaka Falls....there is a bontanical garden on the ocean as well. My daughter just came to me last night and asked if we could get malasadas in Calif. She was missing those BI ones....you get them made to order...hot and fresh..OMG. I want to go back!

You need Luanne to chime in on this thread. She is the BI resident expert AND I beleive she has stayed at Painolo.

[tennisWalt Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tennisWalt]

http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/576474861IFKYIc

Here are some pictures from the Big Island and the Big Island Resorts. The Paniolo Resort pictures are near the end of the slide show.

Walt

[StressCadet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StressCadet]

http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/576474861IFKYIc

Here are some pictures from the Big Island and the Big Island Resorts. The Paniolo Resort pictures are near the end of the slide show.

Walt

I've seen your pics before-but it was wonderful to see them again. Bill, is time (off) a problem? 2 weeks....you need 2 weeks. One for BI and one for Oahu.

[billymach4 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close billymach4]

If this is the case, then you might consider flying in to Hilo instead of Kona and renting a place. Maybe a BNB near VNP. Is your 3 days only 2 nights? If so-it makes a lot more sense. When we went, we stayed in Waikoloa...drove...stayed one night in a BNB. Did night seeing of Volcano and then drove past to see the black sand beach and back for day time at VNP. BUT-I will admit. I loved the long drive. The climate changes,the scenery changes. We stopped for Malasadas (portuguese donuts) and smoothies at a little shack..Akaka Falls....there is a bontanical garden on the ocean as well. My daughter just came to me last night and asked if we could get malasadas in Calif. She was missing those BI ones....you get them made to order...hot and fresh..OMG. I want to go back!

You need Luanne to chime in on this thread. She is the BI resident expert AND I beleive she has stayed at Painolo.

Thanks Walt for the Great Pics.

I have plans for a total of 10 days. 3 on the BI and 7 on Oahu.

Since the first 3 days are slated during the week of Thanksgiving, and I did not yet have accommodations, I was getting a little nervous. Especially after I started to see the price of hotels for 3 nights on the BI during Thanksgiving weekend. (It is 3 days and nights on the BI )

So I started to search early in the morning like just like our wonderful sighting ladies Angela, and Lawren (Bless them both ) , and on my second morning of searching the BI with a 1BR studio from Marriott Ocean Pointe, I hooked the SVC Paniolo! Admittedly I had no clue about this resort other than the fact that II regards it as a Premier Resort. So I just rolled the dice!

So far I am happy with my choices. My plan is to fly in to the BI. Rest the first day, catch up with the time zone. Tour the island the second day, then depart for the island of Oahu on the 3rd. Since I gave us 10 days, it did not make sense to me to spend it all on one island. All I ever hear about in HI is the island hopping?

[StressCadet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StressCadet]

I think you did fine. A studio for a 2bd is always a "high five" day at my house. You really aren't far from the beach at Waikoloa (google maps say 7.7 miles) ....you could always walk around the Hilton Waikoloa Village Hotel on your first day just for that scenery. That place is AMAZING. Just know that day 2 will be a loooonngggg day. It's about 2 1/2 to 3 hours drive to VNP. Get up early, enjoy the drive. Don't rush. Stop if you want along the way (honestly-don't miss Akaka Falls..it's just a short side trip along the way. 10 min walk through lush foliage to an amazing waterfall http://www.gohawaii.com/big-island/r...lls-state-park) Chose your route through VNP. We just went straight to the visitors center at the caldera. BUT, also don't miss Thurston Lava tube. We loved that too. If you manage any time beyond that..go past VNP to Punaluu Black Sand Beach and see the turtles. http://www.gohawaii.com/big-island/r...ack-sand-beach and drive back. Whew! You are gonna have all the beach you can handle at Ko'olina plus driving around the island on Oahu. It's just such a short time on the BI...expect the long day and I bet you can get more out of it than what you came for.

[billymach4 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close billymach4]

I think you did fine. A studio for a 2bd is always a "high five" day at my house. You really aren't far from the beach at Waikoloa (google maps say 7.7 miles) ....you could always walk around the Hilton Waikoloa Village Hotel on your first day just for that scenery. That place is AMAZING. Just know that day 2 will be a loooonngggg day. It's about 2 1/2 to 3 hours drive to VNP. Get up early, enjoy the drive. Don't rush. Stop if you want along the way (honestly-don't miss Akaka Falls..it's just a short side trip along the way. 10 min walk through lush foliage to an amazing waterfall http://www.gohawaii.com/big-island/r...lls-state-park) Chose your route through VNP. We just went straight to the visitors center at the caldera. BUT, also don't miss Thurston Lava tube. We loved that too. If you manage any time beyond that..go past VNP to Punaluu Black Sand Beach and see the turtles. http://www.gohawaii.com/big-island/r...ack-sand-beach and drive back. Whew! You are gonna have all the beach you can handle at Ko'olina plus driving around the island on Oahu. It's just such a short time on the BI...expect the long day and I bet you can get more out of it than what you came for.

These are great tips! Need to visit the gohawaii.com site for sure!

[StressCadet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StressCadet]

OMG! It's almost time for you to go. Have been thinking about you and your trip a lot lately...I've got Hawaii slated for next summer but want to live vicariously through you as you experience it for the first time. Have an absolutley WONDERFUL trip! AND....

[happymum Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close happymum]

New to this thread, but I too am anxiously looking forward to hearing about your trip. I will be on the Big Island in January and currently have Paniolo Greens booked, so look forward to hearing your review .