Anyone from Hawaii around here?

[jdlk]

Hey everyone, just checking in to see if there's anyone from Hawaii around here.

I have the opportunity to get free return airfare for my girlfriend and me from Canada to Maui. So we were hoping to make the most of it by staying for around a month.

Is there a months worth of stuff going on in Hawaii? Any advice on furnished apartments? Is it tough getting around between islands?

I'll be doing much more of the research myself, however why not get a leg up on this mini-retirement style trip by someone who lives or has been there.

Cheers!

[kamakiri]

I spent some time in Hawaii last summer and it was expensive as hell. We had a last minute opportunity to change our ticket from Japan to the US, and thought, "Hawaii would be nice."

Don't do what I did, because we spent a bundle. Getting around is hard there. I just rented a car for the convenience, so if you have time, take the bus. It is cheaper and takes a lot longer though.

When will you go? There are some opportunities you can take advantage of, like milage deals and car rental deals.

[phil]

I spend 2 to 3 months a year in Hawaii and love it.

What do you like to do? Perhaps I can suggest a few different options.

If you go now, you can enjoy the whale season.

Partying - Waikiki on Oahu, but it gets old after a few days
An awesome hotel there is Hotel Renew - great value, 1 block from beach, modern boutique style
Turtle Bay resort on the north shore of Oahu is a relaxing place away from the big city of Honolulu and Waikiki

Awesome hikes all over Oahu
Skydiving is really fun

I'm not a big fan of Oahu, because it is too crowded. But I always end up spending some time there since friends want to go.

My favorite is Maui because it is more relaxed.

I spent some time on Lanai recently, and wow, it is amazingly secluded and private. No one there except you and spinner dolphins.

Kauai is beautiful too, but it gets a ton of rain.

Use this link/site to get corporate code rates which give you free additional drivers / no charge for under 25 year old drivers: http://www.discounthawaiicarrental.com/emergency_reservations.htm

Renting condos last minute has worked great for me. You can find nice ones around $100 - $150 / night. Try craigslist first. Confirm what they mean by beachfront. Is it 50 feet from the beach, but a noisy road runs between you and the beach?

Getting between the islands is pretty easy with inter-island flights. Usually $50 to $100 per person for one-way. Just look on kayak.com

[Frank]

Like Kam said, it's very expensive there. Expect to pay about 50% more there for everyday items than you'd pay in the continental states.

We rented a car through Hotwire.com and got a deal of about $14 a day for a subcompact. If you go that route, experiment with pick-up and return times. Sometimes changing the times by an hour or two can save you big bucks for the week!