Hawaii 5 oh

[TonyHuntimer]

Hey guys,

I'm going to a cruise to Hawaii soon and would like to know if there are some points of interest I should not miss. I'll be seeing 4 islands with less than 10 hours at each stop.

Most people say I should go to at least one Luau.

Thanks,
Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

[jy211]

don't do the luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center....there was no liquor..... , and it's wasn't the type of Luau I imagined having in Hawaii....food was a buffet style inside a building...

Look for one that's done on the beach...

http://www.germainesluau.com/

[astroracer]

The Germaines Luau is okay. At least it's outdoors and the entertainment was excellant!
On Oahu you HAVE to do the USS Arizona Memorial and climb Diamond Head. 10 hours doesn't give you any real time though so look at the times for the Memorial Tour and do it after you hit the big "D"...
If you are going to the Big Island there isn't much there other then the volcano and seeing the fresh lava flows on the south side... Very humbling displays of Natures power. Look for the Donkey Crossing signs if you drive north of Hilo on Route 19. It runs through an old lava flow and is pretty desolate.
Mark

[chet]

if your only there for 10 hours it will be during the day and most luaus are at night. If so try and get to the volcanoes on the the big island. It will eat your whole 10 hours but is very cool. I never spent much time on oaho or maui as we always go to the big island as there is more outdoors stuff to do and less people.

[Damn True]

DONT DONT DONT DONT go on a helicopter tour.
Those are some of the worst maintained, worst flown aircraft I have ever seen. When I was stationed in Hawaii I don't think there was a month that went by that there wasn't at the very least an "emergency landing", if not a full on crash. On three occasions (one in '95 and twice in '97) I had two crashes in one day, all with multiple fatalities.

[chet]

plus they are a total rip off! We took one on our honeymoon on the big island and of the 2 hours spent in the air 15 minutes of it was worthwhile. the rest was a waste.

[TonyHuntimer]

Thanks for the info.

I had totally wanted to do a helicopter tour. I guess maybe I should stay on the ground.

One of the days we don't board the ship until really late, so that's a good day for a luau. We actually hit the big island twice. Once on the way in and once on the way back home. I think the ship is docking on two different sides of the island.

I definitely want to visit Pearl Harbor.

Any suggestions on good restaurants? The food on the ship is always an option, but we prefer to taste the local food when possible.

Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

[chet]

On the big island the Kona side is nicer. If you stay late their go to the luau at the king Kam hotel (its virtually right beside the dock) Also if you come off the dock and turn to your right and head down the beach there is a few nice restaurants down there to get good seafood at.

The other side of the island is Hilo. Its nice too just rainy and not as touristy. You can go to the mac nut factory on that side! Yum!

[Damn True]

On Oahu go to Sushi Sasabune. Genuine old school Japanese style sushi. After eating there you will never eat in another California sushi joint.

Also check out Sam Choy's (either location)
Roy's is great as well (but not cheap)

[mpozzi]

And for God's sake . . . DO NOT EAT POI!!!

Mary Pozzi

[ssx]

Tony,
Hey I live in Kona on the Big Island! If you come to the Big Island, Hilo is okay, but not much to see except the Volcano and a few shops. Waipio Valley is super cool also but it is between Kona and Hilo and a 2 hour drive at least from either side each way. As for Luau's I can tell you King Kamehameha Hotel's Luau is very good and reasonable complete with a little hula show, King and Queen coming in on a Canoe etc. and the food is good. It is at night though. Oahu is the place to go for shopping but is super crowded and busy with traffic etc. If you can manage it go to the Four seasons Resort (Big Island) for lunch or even dinner (they have a few different options) but during the day they have a huge "pond" with lots of fish and big Manta Rays etc they have little shows that you can feed or even swim with the Rays I believe. When are you going to be here? I could give you better options, I could maybe even show you around a little (it would have to work with my schedule as I work 24 hour shifts at the Firehouse an hour away and have a 3 year old and 8 month old sometimes when my wife works).
2 last things:
At the end of June and beginning of July there is a big car show/cruise here. Kind of like a small version of Hot August Nights. It will have events/concerts etc. Lots of very nice cars from the West Coast were shipped over about 2 years ago and believe it or not there are some very, very nice cars on the Island for such a small population. A few hundred cars the last time and this show is supposed to be a lot bigger!
The Helicopter tour. I worked for 7 years on our Fire Dept Medivac chopper. The sites I got to see in that time I will never forget, "UNBELIEVEABLE" this is the only way to see all the Valleys and Waterfalls etc. There have been problems with crashes etc but very rare and "Blue Hawaii Helicopters" have a very nice outfit in the Waikoloa area, with a lot of new "birds". Anything in life is a risk, driving down the road is danger (I see it all the time at work) If it was me, I would definately do the Helicopter tour! You will not regret it! .....Steve
http://www.bluehawaiian.com/bigisland/
http://www.fourseasons.com/hualalai/
http://hawaiimotorhead.com/feb06/Cru...adisePage.html
http://www.konabeachhotel.com/din.cfm#Luau
http://www.atlantisadventures.com/ad...hp?cat=&site=7