Welcome back Glitter!!!

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

Wow, I didn't realize the conditions were so diverse. It all sounds amazing, and I am really looking forward to our trip.

We'll wind up going all over the place, because that's what we do. The more I read these threads, the more excited I get. Each island sounds wonderful, in it's own way.

The Hawaiian Islands have several micro climates due to the prevailing tradewinds. The tradewinds come from the Northeast and act as the air conditioning of the islands. It's what keeps us nice and cool most of the time.

The "wet" side of each island is known as the windward side of the island. It is where the clouds drop their rain. As a result, the leeward side of the islands are drier and sometimes so dry that you get desert conditions. That's why we have Waimea Canyons, the Grand Canyon of Hawaii on the same island that we have the wettest spot on earth on Mt. Waialeale.

Personally, I prefer the Poipu area mostly because it is closer to the things we like to do. Princeville is a great place to spend a day or two. It's a good 45-60 minute drive between Poipu and Princeville depending on the traffic in Kapaa.

The one issue with Princeville is it is pretty much on the far end of the island. Think of the main road in Kauai as being like a horseshoe. Princeville is near the end of one side of the horseshoe. So, you end up doing a lot of driving if you want to see more than just the North Shore area.

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

You should really move all this Hawaii info to the Hawaii forum....good stuff.

We like to go to one island at a time 10 days minimum and three weeks if possible. I would choose the BI and Kauai before Maui. While we liked Maui we feel there are more gems and better beaches on the BI.

The beaches on the Kohala Coast (including Hapuna) on the BI are the best that we have found for all around beach activities. They have extensive sand reefs with minimal shore break and drop off so they are safer for the kids. They have multiple breaks so the kids can easily catch waves on their own closer to shore while the older kids/adults can catch the larger waves a bit further out. Every time we have gone there has been at least some fun surf and it lasts most of the day. It does not get nearly as blown out like what we experienced in Maui. And if you want to snorkel you can swim out to the rockier points or just go snorkeling to many wonderful sites all around the BI.

Edited to add that when on the BI we like to stay in different places....minimum one week in Kona area....one in the Waikoloa area.....and if possible one of these days we want to spend a few nights near the volcano or in the Hilo area. Then when we are in a particular zone we plan our activities to stay within that area (or half of the island) and that makes the driving and traffic less of an issue.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Traffic in Kapa'a was horrendous last week, travel time estimates from north to south were extended due to construction on the main road.

Angela, we fell in love with the north shore, and found the beaches and scenery there to be endlessly spectacular (though Polihale Beach on the south shore was pretty amazing, too . If you were going in summer, when I understand it is driest there, I would push you harder in that direction. But I hear they get lots of rain in other months.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Traffic in Kapa'a was horrendous last week, travel time estimates from north to south were extended due to construction on the main road.

Angela, we fell in love with the north shore, and found the beaches and scenery there to be endlessly spectacular (though Polihale Beach on the south shore was pretty amazing, too . If you were going in summer, when I understand it is driest there, I would push you harder in that direction. But I hear they get lots of rain in other months.

eta: BUT, you can take a catamaran tour from the south around to the Na Pali coast in the north, so you can at least see the coastline (breathtaking, unbelievable, awesome, I'm out of adjectives). Then you can drive up another day to explore the area and hit a beach or two.

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

When in Kauai we like to stay at least one week in the North and one week in the South including Lihue. Then we split up our activities in each zone when possible.

[Sydney Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close Sydney]

You should really move all this Hawaii info to the Hawaii forum....good stuff.

I've copied yours and a few others to this thread.
Please feel free anybody who's been to Hawaii to head over there and post your great tips. Having read some of your posts, I'll have to plan for 4 wks in Hawaii!

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

When in Kauai we like to stay at least one week in the North and one week in the South including Lihue. Then we split up our activities in each zone when possible.

We did 3 nights Lihue and 6 nights Princeville. Ideally, I think I'd have stayed in Poipu instead of Lihue since we were going north later anyway, but I'd do Lihue, or maybe Kapa'a, if I was only staying in one place (nah, who am I kidding, I'd just stay north the whole week). But of course a week at each would be sublime

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

I like the idea of 1 week in Princeville and 1 week in Poipu. It does seem that there is more exchange availability in the Poipu area than in Princeville. Or, may be that is just my impression.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

I like the idea of 1 week in Princeville and 1 week in Poipu. It does seem that there is more exchange availability in the Poipu area than in Princeville. Or, may be that is just my impression.

It's not hard to get into the Pahios in Princeville if you catch a bulk banking through RCI. Not sure about the independent exchange companies. But I'd rent at HBR rather than stay at the Pahios, if the cost worked out like it just did for us...

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

eta: BUT, you can take a catamaran tour from the south around to the Na Pali coast in the north, so you can at least see the coastline (breathtaking, unbelievable, awesome, I'm out of adjectives). Then you can drive up another day to explore the area and hit a beach or two.

We are definitely taking that catamaran tour.

We took a catamaran tour of the coastline in both Spain, and Italy, and we loved it. Although, I did get a little sick on the tour in Spain. The water was really rough that day. I hope it's smooth sailing in Hawaii.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

We are definitely taking that catamaran tour.

We took a catamaran tour of the coastline in both Spain, and Italy, and we loved it. Although, I did get a little sick on the tour in Spain. The water was really rough that day. I hope it's smooth sailing in Hawaii.

It will likely NOT be smooth sailing by the afternoon. Get the patch thing, a lot of people said it worked really well. Our sunset catamaran sail out of Hanalei Bay got cancelled, and I had to really scrounge to get us on any type of boat on our last day (only small boats leave from the north shore). We ended up on a hard bottom zodiac-type thing, but a little bigger, and my back is still messed up from the pounding I took on the ride home.

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

It's not hard to get into the Pahios in Princeville if you catch a bulk banking through RCI. Not sure about the independent exchange companies. But I'd rent at HBR rather than stay at the Pahios, if the cost worked out like it just did for us...

Also, I see 'The Cliffs Club' just about every day in II. Hanalei Bay Resort shows up too, but not as much.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Summer and Winter have different activities in the islands.

On Kauai, the summer months have calmer seas. So, you can do a zodiac tour on the Na Pali coast. You can't do that in the winter due to the high surf.

In addition, you can take a boat ride over to Niihau, the forbidden island. I want to go there to Scuba Dive. It's too late for this summer. I might do that next summer.

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

I'll be there from April 20th to May 4th. How is Spring?

Niihau...the forbidden island? Sounds intriguing, why is it forbidden?

Summer and Winter have different activities in the islands.

On Kauai, the summer months have calmer seas. So, you can do a zodiac tour on the Na Pali coast. You can't do that in the winter due to the high surf.

In addition, you can take a boat ride over to Niihau, the forbidden island. I want to go there to Scuba Dive. It's too late for this summer. I might do that next summer.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Summer and Winter have different activities in the islands.

On Kauai, the summer months have calmer seas. So, you can do a zodiac tour on the Na Pali coast. You can't do that in the winter due to the high surf.

In addition, you can take a boat ride over to Niihau, the forbidden island. I want to go there to Scuba Dive. It's too late for this summer. I might do that next summer.

My back is messed up from the summer ride. But it was worth it. I think the catamarans are easier on the bones. And we have decided to get certified before we go back, so we can dive Ni'ihau.

I'll be there from April 20th to May 4th. How is Spring?

Niihau...the forbidden island? Sounds intriguing, why is it forbidden?

It's really a privately owned island (owned by the Robinson family, whoever they may be). There is some controversy about it being called "forbidden," though not sure why. There are also some really expensive tiny colored shells found off the coast there, I forget what they're called, but they are certified and insurable, and pricey in the jewelry shops.