Zipline

I%26#39;ve read you can%26#39;t walk the zipline if you prefer not to ';zip.'; Is this true. Are the landings hard? Would like to join our group to take photos if I can%26#39;t participate.

Zipline

in Maui Revealed it says that you can hike along but they still charge you $39. Don%26#39;t know about the landings. There are only three cables, each one a little longer than the last. If you are scared of heights probably not for you. Bet even if you don%26#39;t zip line you will still get some wonderful photos.

Zipline

I%26#39;m not sure what you mean by, walk the zipline.

No...you have to zip it....no walking allowed.

The landings aren%26#39;t hard at all....very smooth...as long as you have the speed to reach the landing, plus there is a guy there to grab you.

I have not done the Zipline in Hawaii but I have done it in Jamaica. It was incredibly fun. The ';zipping'; is the best part. Not scary at all. Plus, there is a crew to help you the whole time so you feel safe.

We will be in Maui this summer, and this is something we will defintly do!

Yes, You can be a spectator instead of a zipper. I took my kids 14 %26amp; 17 last April. They got the last 2 spots on the tour. They do charge $39.00 to watch. Which I think is a little expensive, but worth the memories. It%26#39;s a pretty easy hike and you get to see them either zip away or to you at each ';zip';. You actually stay on the south side of a big gully, as they zip back and forth. For the last zip the ';catching'; guide and you will drive about 1/2 mile to their landing spot and you get to watch them come in and get grabbed by the catcher and the climb down a big ladder. Again, I enjoyed watching and being the official photographer for the group. We are going again in July 07 and will do this again. But, this time I won%26#39;t be watching, I%26#39;ll be zipping. Aloha!!!!!

When hubby and I went last October, he went first, then I let a couple people go in front of me, so he could take the time to get ready so he could take a picture of me zipping.

Really cool.

Entertainment Book

This is going to be a really dumb question. For the EB does it have to be the Hawaii EB. In our community they sell the EB but if I purchased this one it would not give me the values as the EB for Hawaii. I am on a budget and would it be worth getting the EB for Oahu and Maui. The Aqua Wave is suppose to be giving coupons so I do not know if this will cut it. Should I book online the EB for Hawaii.

Thanks.

Entertainment Book

Most coupons in the EB are city-specific (in fact, I know the Atlanta book specifies the exact location where you can use the coupon: not just any Dunkin Donuts, but the one at xx Peachtree Rd . . . ). There are some travel discounts in the book that you might be able to use in Hawaii, but that would be about it.

Most of the coupons are for Oahu, so if you%26#39;ll be there, you might want the book. Do you plan to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center? The coupon for the PCC pays for the book--plus all the BOGO coupons for restaurants and Dole treats. You can visit www.entertainment.com, enter Honolulu as the city, and view some of the coupons available. Seeing the offers might help you decide if the coupons are ones you%26#39;d use.

web proxy server

Always visit in June, what about October?

For the past 5 years, my husband and I have traveled to the big island at the begining of june, but this year we are thinking about going in the middle of October. (the week after Ironman is over)

Can you tell me a difference in percipitation (a general idea, i know that the rain varies, etc)

What about the amount of other visitors to the BI?

I am not one for change, but i would rather go to Hawaii anytime than not go at all!

Always visit in June, what about October?

I apologize for hijacking your post, but we are planning on being on the BI Oct 10-14. I am wondering if we should aoid those days due to the Ironman? I didn%26#39;t even realize that it was scheduled for the 13th. I%26#39;ll be watching yoour post beacuae I am alsointerested in the answers to your questions.

Always visit in June, what about October?

Lissete,

We always go when the Honu is going on (the very begining of June) and we even had our wedding the day before it occured in 2005 and i can tell you it is pretty busy then, but we have never ever had any issues except 19 is closed from like 7am to noon that day. The mauna lani is busy around that time because that is where the Honu ';home base'; is, but again, it was never a big issue.

We were there last October 23-27.

The ironman was raced on Saturday and we arrived on the Monday after. I didn%26#39;t experience a whole lot of people, but this was AFTER the race.

I%26#39;ve heard it%26#39;s CRAZY during that time.

The weather was very nice...not terribly hot, but I live in AZ, where 110 degrees is the norm.

We visit each January and have also visited in July, August, once in October. October was GREAT! I don%26#39;t recall the precipitation (we are at Mauna Lani and that is mostly sunny) but the water was warm and calmer than winter so since we are avid shore snorkelers it was fantastic.

IMHO I%26#39;d avoid the Ironman if I could--more crowded, the road closure, and probably higher rates and harder to get upgrades on flights.

The 2007 Ironman is scheduled for October 13, 2007.

I would avoid the west side of the Big Island at all costs the week before, during and after. It is a zoo, and everything is more expensive. Supply and demand, you know. Stay in Volcano, or move your dates if you can.

The weather in October is fine. Not really any different than June, a tiny bit cooler, shorter days, etc. Weather on the BI is more a function of location rather than season, IMO. The difference last year in daily average precip was 0.06 inches as measured at the NWS in Hilo between June and October.

Good luck and happy travels!

echolynch,

when you say before durring and after....

how long after?

I agree with echo, avoid the Big Island one week prior and one week after the Ironman. It%26#39;s a zoo here during those two weeks. Traffic is terrible, everything is crowded, activities are hard to book, etc. While we know it brings $ to our local economy, we don%26#39;t like it and I know many locals who actually spend the Ironman weekend on the East side.

Princeville Resort Hotel

Hello,

Thinking about visiting Kauai and wondering how Princeville Resort is? Also, when would be good time to visit Kauai? (I have a 4 year old that loves playing in a beach)

Your input would be appreciated.

Princeville Resort Hotel

there are many reviews of the P-ville hotel on the site. Just click the hotels tab and scroll down until you see the hotel that interests you.

P-ville is decidedly mixed as they are overdue for a refurb. Thread just below yours has a start date on that project of Sept 1.

Best times are April-May and then Oct in my opinion. Summer is hotter and more humid not to mention more crowded.

Princeville Resort Hotel

Princeville is on the North Shore, they get a lot of rain up there during the winter months, so the best time would generally be May-September. We went late September and had perfect weather.

You%26#39;ll find mixed reviews on Princeville, but we had no problems at all. We thought it was a very good resort, and the location can%26#39;t be beat. Good Luck.

Kahala resort VS. JW Marriott Ihilani

From what I gather Kahala resort is closer to Waikiki. Is there anything near the JW Marriott? Also, is are either of the resorts and nice as their website states?

Kahala resort VS. JW Marriott Ihilani

The Kahala is very nice. The rooms are good size and the bathrooms are bigger than my first apartment. It%26#39;s also tucked away in a quiet upscale neighborhood. The biggest drawback IMO is that you can%26#39;t walk anywhere, but they do have a shuttle. It%26#39;s only about 10 or 15 minute drive to Waikiki and even less to Hawaii Kai and the Kahala Mall.

I%26#39;ve never actually been to the JW Marriott, but I can only assume it%26#39;s a nice hotel because that%26#39;s where the Pro Bowl players stay. However, I%26#39;m not crazy about the location. It%26#39;s right in between an industrial port area and what is basically the bad area of Oahu.

Kahala resort VS. JW Marriott Ihilani

JJP

I%26#39;ve stayed at the Kahala twice (once while it was a Mandarin Oriental property). It%26#39;s now an older hotel, built I believe in the 1960%26#39;s and operated for many years as an upscale Hilton resort.

Because of its age some parts of the resort are getting pretty worn. I believe the new owners are slowly investing in upgrades. The rooms are nice (if dated) and the bathrooms are superior (with separate His and Hers sections.) Service is generally very good. The primary restaurant, Hoku%26#39;s is among Honolulu%26#39;s best, but my preferences were the morning buffets at the beach side Plumeria restaurant and the evening meals in the also beachside Cabana%26#39;s.

If you watched any of the recent SONY golf tourney you may have caught glimpses of the Kahala right beside the golf course. This resort is situated in a very nice residential neighborhood where access to the beach is limited by the lack of vehicle parking. If you are not staying at the hotel or the adjacent condo%26#39;s or nearby homes there%26#39;s nowhere to park a car - so the hotel has what amounts to a very nice private beach.

Access to Waikiki and the Ala Moana Centre is easily available on a shuttle bus.

Others will have to report on the JWM. It certainly looks like an attractive property - somewhat like the Hyatt in Kauai with extensive pools and lagoons.

Both resorts are really great. The JW Marriott is Quite a distance

from Waikiki. The Kahala is a 15 minute ride from Waikiki.

When you arrive at the airport the taxi fare to the Marriott is about 65.00

and to the Kahala abour 40.00. Theirs more to do in Waikiki. If you stay

at the Marriott a rental car is recommended. Taxi fare to Waikiki

from that property is about 80.00

If you want a large Holiday Inn type of expereince stay at the JW, if you are looking for a Hawaiin experience stay at the Kahala. The Kahala is a little old but is one of the most beautiful and private locations you will find in hawaii.

I%26#39;ve stayed at the JW Marriott and its a solid 4* place and the rooms are a good size 450-500 sq ft] and exactly like the photos on the website. Lanais are large and comfy. There%26#39;s a luau right next door. The lagoon is a great spot for easy swimming. Aside from the obvious distance from the nightlife at Waikiki, the construction at the Beach Club timeshares would be annoying to many. The pool is way too small for the resort but there is a second one at the spa. I didn%26#39;t use the spa, but it gets great reviews and there%26#39;s a golf course right there. My room faced west northwest so it was very quiet and tropical. The other direction the higher floors will have partial views of a large power plant - which is actually pretty interesting at night. Restaurants are fair to very good. Sunday brunch at Azul is worth the price.

Stayed at the JW Marriott and loved it. We wanted to be away from Waikiki some anyway. Only thing about it is the pool is small. If you are planning on going to the pool for the day, get out there early 7-8am for chairs.

Eating at Roy%26#39;s nearby was great also.

We ate lunch at the Kahala resort last Thursday. Seaside Cabana%26#39;s Grille. Wonderful Food. Nice dining lunch location (beach side). Weather wonderful. We walked the outside grounds and a little inside. Appeared to be a nice, upsale resort - Although we didn%26#39;t stay there so I can%26#39;t comment on the rooms. Location is great if you are looking for privacy and serenity.

Jenn

Haven%26#39;t stayed at the JW Marriott but did stay at The Kahala two years ago, when it was the Kahala Mandarin. My friends and I really enjoyed the resort. While the JW Marriott is away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki, it%26#39;s too far out of the way. The Kahala was just 15 minutes from Waikiki, the hotel provides a shultle that runs frequently, and you can drive along the backside of Diamond Head to get into the city.

While the Kahala could use some updating, the overall appeal of the hotel is upscale and traditional - it does feel like ';old'; money. I%26#39;ve stayed in some of the best hotels and I still haven%26#39;t found a hotel with the large room size provided at the Kahala unless it%26#39;s a junior suite. And the bathroom is second-to-none, very large and one of the best soaking tubs ever.

The pool is rather small but the beach is the best... rent a cabana, which I think is $30 for the full day, order the pineapple drink and enjoy the fantastic beach. The amentities are great, the best hotel gym with a view to die for.

wrinkles

thankyou dinner

OK Now that I have my accessories figured out any ideas for a nice place for me to take my friend to say';Thanks'; for inviting me to stay for free in Hawaii. I was thinking of a nice dinner. Price is not really important. She lives at 7----Walua Rd.(I don%26#39;t feel comfy writing her exact address)

thankyou dinner

Don%26#39;t know where that road is and am too lazy to map it. But if N. Kona/S. Kohala is in driving distance, here are some ideas:

Pahui%26#39;a at Four Seasons

Alan Wong%26#39;s Grill at Four Seasons

Browns Beach House at Orchid (we had a terrific meal there 1/16)

Canoe House at Mauna Lani

less money:

Huggos in Kailua

thankyou dinner

i second the Canoe House.

Great location and perfect meals every time

Thanks fo rthe advice. How about some locals? When I tried to map it I got confused because she said it was near the beach but on the map it looked far. Anyway I think it is south of the Kona airport near the University of the Nations.

Check out the restaurant reviews at konaforum.com. It%26#39;s geared for more local places instead of the touristy ones.

looks to be between central Kailua-Kona and Keauhou ... so you have to decide if you want to drive a fair distance north out of town for dinner to dine at the best places, or stay in town. I imagine you%26#39;ll have a way better sense of this once you%26#39;re on island so you might want to gather some names and wait and see.

In your general area,

You could go south to the Outrigger or Sheraton or north to Huggos or Kona Inn.

If your friend already lives in Hawaii or is a frequent visitor (I missed this info), if I were in your place I%26#39;d probably ask her 1) her favorite place or 2) name a place you%26#39;ve always wanted to eat and we%26#39;ll go.

If she is a newbie to the island, then I imagine she%26#39;d be impressed by you researching a fabulous place and surprising her.

Last thing -- what%26#39;s her taste in food and mood?

My friend lives part time in Hawaii and part time inSanDiego. She knows her way around I am sure however I know from experience that when you tell someone you%26#39;d like to take them out somewhere for dinner and they should pick the restaurant,they tend to kind of ';low ball it'; since they don%26#39;t want to take advantage of you.

I am kind of surprised that the only restaurants that people mention are in hotels. I always think that hotel restaurants are fine if you are staying there and don%26#39;t want to travel much for dinner but even here in SanDiego we have our share of fine hotel dining but yet when folks ask for suggestions we don%26#39;t usually mention those restaurants. I guess every town is different. I f locals want to celebrate a birthday or an occasion do they go to the hotel restaurants?

Local economics is that the resorts are where the most expensive restaurants are sustainable. Alan Wong has a non-hotel restaurant on Oahu but on the Big Island, he%26#39;s at the Four Seasons. An exception to the ';:hotel'; location is Roy%26#39;s at Kings Shops, near Mauna Lani. We ate there last night and it was supurb, with attentive staff and a good wine list. Firs time we%26#39;d been back in a few years but it seems to have turned aorund.

';I f locals want to celebrate a birthday or an occasion do they go to the hotel restaurants?';

Yes, quite often, if we can afford to and if the view is important.

The resorts here, with their huge resources compared to the small restauranteur, have snagged all the gorgeous views. Their resources attract the highly skilled chefs.

There are non-resort restaurants like Merrimans, Daniel Thiebaut, Roy%26#39;s, Bamboo Restaurant, Kilauea Lodge, Restaurant Kaikodo, but they can%26#39;t offer an ocean view or for most of these any kind of architectural interest. (Kaikodo has it, in a historic building, and the Lodge has the fireplace),

People come here and they want to sip cocktails and see a sunset over the ocean when they dine, but the little guy simply can%26#39;t acquire a lease on that kind of property.

Thanks for the explanations. I understand better now although it makes me kind of sad.

Another thing you%26#39;ll see when you get here is that in many areas, a prospective restauranteur can%26#39;t just ';put up a building'; in a likely location. It%26#39;s all lava! The resorts that make the investment in developing on lava become hubs for shops and restaurants.

South Kihei - Hale Pau Hana Resort

We are looking into staying at the Hale Pau Hana Resort in early June. I was wondering if anyone could tell me if there is much to do in that area? Such as restaurants, shopping, tours... And what about visiting the nice resorts in Walilea, is this allowed even for non-guests of the resort? Is most of this in walking distance? Sorry for all the questions, this is our first time to Maui and we don%26#39;t want to stay in too much of a secluded area.

South Kihei - Hale Pau Hana Resort

I sure am seeing alot of questions about Hale Pau Hana lately! We love it there. We are returning for our third stay there this May. We have stayed in Kaanapali, Wailea and North Kihei. We like them all.

Hale Pau Hana is located in South Kihei where there is plenty of shopping and restaurants that tend to be a less expensive than Wailea. Wailea is right down the road and yes you can eat at the restauarants there, use the beaches and walk the beach path. It%26#39;s a bit of a walk from Hale Pau Hana but you could do it if you wanted.

Hale Pau Hana is located on a fabulous beach. We find we spend more time hanging out in Kihei every visit and spend much less time in Wailea or Lahaina.

South Kihei - Hale Pau Hana Resort

I scour this forum every day searching for where to stay on our next trip (I really spend way too much time here considering I don%26#39;t even know if we can swing a trip this year) and every day I find something else I like.

Today it%26#39;s the Hale Pau Hana! It looks really nice and pretty reasonably priced. If I was making reservations today, this would be a top contender.

we were staying in Wailea which we loved at Ekahi Village and once at Elua Village but you can%26#39;t get as close to the beach there and the pprices are just so high. This was a good alternative for us. We love being on a great swimming beach and I like being able to view my unit first.

We also really like Sugar Beach Resort in North Kihei but I haven%26#39;t stumbled upon a unit that I love yet. But it%26#39;s a lot less expenive and a little quieter which we really like. Their pool area is bigger and nicer than Hale Pau Hana%26#39;s also. We are doing Hale Pau Hana again because we are traveling with friends who will be next door at The Royal Mauian.

All beaches in Hawaii are public, so you can go to any beach no matter where you%26#39;re staying. You cannot use a resort%26#39;s facilities, however, unlesss you%26#39;re a registered guest.

But you can walk around the resorts and eat at the restaurants without being a guest, right?

absolutely, all beaches are public. When I said you couldn%26#39;t get close to the beach I emant you can%26#39;t get a condo at the waters edge like you can at Hale Pau Hana.

And what about any restaurant suggestions for dinner in that area?

There are a lot restaurants, Cafe O Lei across the street is great, We love Da%26#39;Kitchen for cheap local food. It%26#39;s right across the street, you can head down to Kalama Village for inexpensive restaurants or head to Wailea for fine dining. Either way you go there are many many restaurants within minutes...

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