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Awesome, non-touristy things to do in Hawaii
cloudeagle
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So my girlfriend and I are getting married later this year. It's not happening til September, but we're hoping to plan at least a decent framework of the honeymoon trip now so we can get things reserved and take advantage of low fuel prices.
Now, we're planning on doing some of the usual tourist things: Luau, Pearl Harbor, etc. etc. BUT, we're pretty adventurous and would love to try things off the beaten path. And we don't want to miss anything that's not obvious or not hyped to death. That's where you come in!
Let us know of some places we can go to that we'd love. Keep in mind we're visiting Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. Some of the things we'd like:
--Nature. I think we'll have volcanoes covered on the Big Island, but we'd like to see some natural sights like no place else on earth. I'm sure we'll do some driving, but we wouldn't mind suggestions for hiking or biking.
--Local color. I don't mean the Polynesian-flavored posed stuff they put on for tourists, I mean actual Hawaii. I'm sure we can just drive around and find this, though we're hoping to find something colorful rather than Hawaiians hanging around McDonalds.
--Good restaurants. We love to try just about anything, as long as it's not still alive, a former household pet or most mollusks.
--A good bed and breakfast on the Big Island.
--A good nightclub. We like to dance, and our hometown's a little lacking.
--Japanese stuff. I understand the Japanese are the biggest ethnic group in Hawaii, so would there be any chances to poke around good import stores, temples or anything like that?
And if there's anything else we should know, then tell us! Help make our experience as groovy as possible.
Now, we're planning on doing some of the usual tourist things: Luau, Pearl Harbor, etc. etc. BUT, we're pretty adventurous and would love to try things off the beaten path. And we don't want to miss anything that's not obvious or not hyped to death. That's where you come in!
Let us know of some places we can go to that we'd love. Keep in mind we're visiting Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. Some of the things we'd like:
--Nature. I think we'll have volcanoes covered on the Big Island, but we'd like to see some natural sights like no place else on earth. I'm sure we'll do some driving, but we wouldn't mind suggestions for hiking or biking.
--Local color. I don't mean the Polynesian-flavored posed stuff they put on for tourists, I mean actual Hawaii. I'm sure we can just drive around and find this, though we're hoping to find something colorful rather than Hawaiians hanging around McDonalds.
--Good restaurants. We love to try just about anything, as long as it's not still alive, a former household pet or most mollusks.
--A good bed and breakfast on the Big Island.
--A good nightclub. We like to dance, and our hometown's a little lacking.
--Japanese stuff. I understand the Japanese are the biggest ethnic group in Hawaii, so would there be any chances to poke around good import stores, temples or anything like that?
And if there's anything else we should know, then tell us! Help make our experience as groovy as possible.
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Fly to the big island, rent and SUV, and go see Volcano National Park. Bring some sturdy shoes, the trails are a little rocky. It's beautiful, and tourists are scarce in the off season. There's a volcano themed restaurant nearby that makes pretty good (although expensive) brick oven pizza's and sandwiches.
Make sure you stop in Hilo and visit Big Island Chocolates. Chocolate Covered Animal crackers are the BEST.
We didn't do the trip up Mauna Kea, since we only had a week and I tend to get altitude sickness above 8000 feet. o_O
Rent a car in Oahu and drive up the Kamehameha Highway to the North Shore.
Stop at a fruit stand and buy some pineapple with orange junk on it and some Kahuku sweet corn.
Stop in Kahuku and get some shrimp from one of the shrimp vans up there. It's messy and delicious.
Take your pick out of any number of stunningly beautiful beaches, and if the surf is up stop by Sunset Beach and watch the surfers.
Go to Pinky's Pupu in Kailua and get an 18 oz Mai Tai.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60652-d434193-Reviews-Pinky_s_Pupu_Bar_Grill-Kailua_Oahu_Hawaii.html
They have great food and atmosphere, and it's off the beaten patch. Kailua is where a lot of the ex-pats that can afford to live outside of Pearl City go.
Sign up for a trip with these people:
http://www.sailhawaii.com/dolphin.html
They are a group of Marine Biologists that truly respect the environment and the animals. I'm a Marine Biologist myself, and had a blast snorkeling with Spinner Dolphins and Green Turtles.
We only did Oahu and the Big Island, so I really can't recommend anything for Maui. My best advice is to hit that Kamehameha Highway, put on some slack key guitar or surf music, and just ride and ride and soak it all in.
the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
Some highlights that I would recommend:
- snorkeling in Kealakekua Bay. It can not be reached via road, so you need to take one of the boat tours to get there. This is on the west coast not far south of Alii Drive.
- Kona Brewing Co. has the best pizza I had on the island, and brews their own beer. We went to this place twice... maybe three times come to think of it. This is in Kailua-Kona.
- The waterfalls in and around Hilo are a sight to see, especially if it has rained recently.
- The best hike we did was on something called the Ka-hau-a-Le'a Trail. We read about it in a book called 'Hawaii: The Big Island Revealed'. It is a pretty tough trek through rainforest that ends abruptly as you hit an open space that has been damaged by lava. You get a glimpse of the active volcano from a side that most people never see it from. Be warned though that the road that leads to the trailhead is brutal (or was), and it isn't recommended that you leave your car there.
- In volcano national park, each evening a whole host of people will trek out across the lava field to watch the lava glow at dusk. I'd recommend it. You'll get to see parts of what used to be chain of craters road, but is now almost completely covered in lava. You might find this useful, as I'm sure the lava flow has changed in the three years since I was there: http://www.wizardpub.com/bigisland/bigvolcano.html
If you have time the road to Hana is a beautiful drive. It's a full day activity (could be two days if you really want to take your time). But it's a difficult drive. You're between cliffs and the ocean the whole way.
skydive hawaii
http://www.hawaiiskydiving.com/
I went skydiving here for the first time and it was amazing. Gorgous view, perfect weather, great staff, I felt very safe (but pumped with adrenaline on the flight up). Going in tadem gave me 30 seconds of freefall, which was an amazing feeling. Let me warn you though that when the shute goes up and you fall the rest in your harness, it hurts like a bitch being held up by your groin. Still totally worth it.
Sea turtles
Take highway 83, near Laie I think, there's a beach where sea turtles wash up on shore to rest and eat seaweed, then go back to sea after a couple minutes. You can be 2 feet away and watch them wash up, it's really cool (they're huge!) You'll have to stop and ask locals where exactly is the beach. It literally is 20 feet from the highway.
Hanauma bay
Great place for snorkling and seeing lots of tropical fish. I also saw a couple sea turtles swimming around
Manoa Falls hiking trail – it's inside University of Hawaii
Fun hike in to see a tall waterfall.
Sandy Beach
This beach has huge waves crashing into shore, fun to try to stay standing, or go body surfing with it. More than a couple times I was flipped and dragged through the sand back onto the beach
North East side – There is a beautiful Japanese garden, and a ranch
where you can ride horses. At least, so I'm told by someone who used to live here. I never saw it. Might be something your fiance is into.
If you want to go clubbing, check out the top floor lounge in Shelton, it's nice there. Again, something I was told, didn't see it myself.
Forgot to mention this is for our honeymoon, not our wedding.
Edit: Just saw TheDragon's post. Sea turtles! Nice. It makes me sick that we're apparently missing whale-watching season, ah well.
One of the things I really wanted to do but didn't get a chance to do was go see the Byodo-In Temple. Check it out here: http://www.hawaiiweb.com/oahu/sites_to_see/byodo-in_temple.htm
There is SO much to do in Hawai'i, even just driving around you will have fun. You should go to Ala Moana mall on O'ahu, there are the usual stores there but there's also some cool import stores too. And just to walk around a mall that's half indoors half out doors is cool.
There is so much GREAT nature stuff there, that I recommend just searching online to see what parks you can find. Most of them are free.
Go to the Buddhist temple in Hawai'i, it is SO beautiful and magical don't miss it. This video doesn't do it justice http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1140731/buddhist_temple/
Big Kahuna Pizza: OM NOM NOM NOM!
http://onokinegrindz.typepad.com/ono_kine_grindz/2006/02/big_kahuna_pizz.html
Like others said, go to the North Shore, and while you're on your way there stop in the Dole Pineapple Cannery and get some pineapple icecream.
Go the the Monaloa macadamia nut factory. Go to Waikiki beach. Climb Diamond Head.
GO TO HANUMA BEACH AND SNORKEL.
Hell...just move there. You won't want to leave.
Quick question: I know there's a ferry between Oahu and Maui, but how are the flights between Maui and the Big Island? Do we need to make flight arrangements just like any other airline in the continental U.S., or do we just show up that day and give them money?
i want to say on Maui or Oahu, there is this awesome hike. i read a NY times article on it a year or two back but it seemed pretty awesome. especially if you like scrambling type activities.
my suggestion is to not plan too much in advance, just go with the flow.
maui: paia fish market is a must.. cause its a delicious restaurant.
there is a really nice viatnamese place called A Saigon Cafe. Kind of tucked away little whole in the wall place with just a neon "open" sign marking it. Also pita paradise in kihei.
Some great snorkling down at the Ahi'i fish preserve and also at mile marker 14 as you drive around towards lahaina side. Just pull off at the little road side park, and swim out. Pretty soon you'll be in like 30ft walls of choral. If you go in the winter, whale watching is fun. Drive to Hana is cool, and drive up haleakala is pretty neat too. Go on a clear day and you can see the whole island.
Other than that, hang out on the beach. I'm rather cynical of the cultural aspects, and most of what you'll find is probably going to be very touristy.
Im actually going to give a dissenting opinion on this, as its kind of dangerous... as in people have died from getting hit with oncoming traffic. Enough in fact that they no longer let you bike down from the very top. They now bus you up, let you watch the sunrise, bus you down a bit so you are out of the national park (who has withdrawn permission from the bike companies) and then start the tour. There IS another tour where they basically just give you the bikes and drop you off, instead of everyone going down in a pack. Its much less touristy, and probably safer if you are competent on a bike (pull off for cars). I dunno, some people say it was the best part of their trip and dont miss it, but personally I'd steer clear. Sunrise is worthwhile, but I'd drive up for it, watch it, and get out of there before the bikers do (or you get kind of stuck) There are also plenty of places to pull off and just gaze out for a bit.
If you do go tho, bike or car, remember: People DO work up at the top (there is a space observatory as well as the park people) and generally drive way faster than you would think possible. They also get annoyed at tourists. So please pull off and let them pass at the next place available.
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edit: Read your post closer. How long are you staying on each island? You still should trade Oahu for Kaui. Just saying.