helicopter tour: April 2010

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Place to stay w/no 2-night minimum in Volcano?

Hi all,

I was trying to find somewhere to stay in Volcano for 1 night, but I am having trouble due to the popular 2-night minimum. We leave next week and everything else is booked, so I can%26#39;t change how many nights we can stay now. Anyone have any recommendations that cost around $100-150 a night?

Thanks in advance!

Place to stay w/no 2-night minimum in Volcano?

We stayed for just one night at Aloha Crater Lodge. If it%26#39;s getting close other places may take a one-night rather than be empty

Place to stay w/no 2-night minimum in Volcano?

staying at country goose inn and their rental homes were avail for 1-night. its within your price range.

countrygoose.com

We are staying at Carsons Volcano Cottage for one night in oct

http://www.carsonsvolcanocottage.com/

We had a hard time as well finding places for only 1 or 2 nights around the island.

Hope this helps.

I think the new place TT found and liked, the coffee cottages or something like that, has a one night. He posted the link to it in the Keaau topic ... which is on the front page right now.

It%26#39;s http://hawaiicoffeecottages.com and I stayed there for one night about two months ago. It%26#39;s about 15-20 minutes from the Volcano National Park. It%26#39;s a brand new B%26amp;B and I think I paid $100, including tax, cleaning, etc.!

I%26#39;ve booked one night at Kilaeau Lodge in Volcano in November.

Not knowing what your preferences are, I would recommend http://www.volcanohousehotel.com/ or http://www.kmc-volcano.com. Both are within the nat%26#39;l park and offer one night stays. I have never stayed at either, but will have a one night stay in November.

We are leaning towards KMC because they have jetted tubs; we made the lava field hike before. KMC requires you to either be military or a civilian sponsored by military. It took us about 10 minutes to think of someone we knew who could sponsor us. If you call, they will email you something giving required information for sponsorship. I am less clear on how long that process would take to complete.

Good luck!

Thanks to you all! You have presented so many options I didn%26#39;t know I had! :)

one day in Maui

We will in Maui for one day, from approx 10am to 8pm...any suggestions on what we can/should do in this short time period? Or is simply walking around what we should plan for? We are up for anything.

one day in Maui

Iao Valley State Park

Eat lunch at Da Kitchen

Check out Paia

Maui Tropical Plantation

one day in Maui

Cruise ship? Why one day? More info please? Are you flying in?

Are you docked in Hilo or Lahaina? Makes a big difference...also more info on www.cruisecritic.com

It really does matter whether you are coming by cruise ship and where you dock. Lahaina or Kahului. Will you have a car?

Love it when I get my islands mixed up! LOL at ';Hilo'; sheesh!

Thanks for the responses...we will be in Kahului. We are actually going to Honolulu for a week but will be taking the ferry to Maui for a day.

OK. that really makes a difference. Kahului Harbor is in an industrial area of Kahului. There is a strip mall across the street and Queen Kaahumanu Center(Maui%26#39;s largest mall), a few blocks down. To see anything worth seeing, you will need a car.

I wouldn%26#39;t waste my few hours on Maui going to the tropical plantation.

Iao Valley would be nice. You could head past Paia to Hookipa Beach where the windsurfers are. Not a really nice beach for swimming. If you are looking for beach time, the nicest and closest would be in Kihei down through Wailea and Makena. You could go to Maalaea to the Maui Ocean Center. Wonderful aquarium with nice shops and restaraunts.

You could also go for a beautiful drive along the Honoapiilani Hwy. to Lahaina for sightseeing of an old whaling town full of shops, museums, galleries and restaraunts.

You also would have plenty of time if you wanted to, to head ';upcountry';. You could drive to the winery, lavendar farm, goat farm or actually go to the top of Haleakala.

Since you will be arriving in Kahului ..... rent a car and drive to the summit of Haleakala...on the way down stop and enjoy all that the slopes of Upcountry offers! (That%26#39;s what I%26#39;d do if I only had one day...perish the thought....on Maui)!

ps....My husband is from Sask. and we were just there a couple of weeks ago! Hope it is a bit cooler there now!

I would rent a car and drive up Haleakala ... then to the west shore and visit the Maui Ocean Center. Then up to Lahaina, shop and goof around, have dinner and then head back to the ferry.

Thanks for the reponses....is there a car rental place close by to where we are docking?

Good %26#39;ole%26#39; Sask weather..was rainy and cool but plus 27 today and sunny!

Costco card-is it worth it!

We%26#39;re still debating on getting a costco card for our two week stay. We would really only be using it there on the island. (nearest one to us here is a 1hr and half away). But my questions is this, would it pay for itself being able to buy groceries there alittle cheaper?

KDgardens

Costco card-is it worth it!

Not worth it unless you can use it at home.

Costco card-is it worth it!

I don%26#39;t think that it will pay for itself. The cost is $50 and if you use it once, you will not save a whole lot. I%26#39;d suggest hitting Walmart for groceries...I see they are adding lots of refridgerated items....then go to Foodland or Safeway for what Walmart doesn%26#39;t have.

I%26#39;ll be hitting Walmart first on our next trip in April.

I bought milk at Star Market and paid $7.50 for a gallon....that was a shocker. Most everything else was within reason for someone who lives in CA.

Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!

Bear in mind that you can also purchase gas at the Costco here with a card - it is still a little lower than anyplace else on island.

Depends on how much you would be purchasing at Costco in order to make it worthwhile - things are definitely cheaper there than other stores - but you generally do need to buy in large sizes.

Wal-Mart has undergone a big re-vamp, but they are not a ';superstore'; with groceries - no produce, meats, etc.-- they do have a very, very limited number of refrigerated items (milk, hot dogs, poi, tofu) as well as bread, chips, candy, soda and wine. I wouldn%26#39;t plan on doing my grocery shopping there.

Big Save, Star Market, Foodland and Safeway are all other options for you in general.

Malama Pono,

Janet

Costco, as of last weekend, was only $0.03 cheaper on gas than the cheapest station in Kapa`a. (That would be the Shell at the V of Kuhio and Papaloa Road just north of Kuamo`o.) It definitely doesn%26#39;t make enough difference.

If you pony up for the upgraded membership, the gas is another 12 cts discounted (yearly rebate).

For two weeks for 2 people? I wouldn%26#39;t bother. You%26#39;ll be eating out some and it%26#39;s hard to go through their quantities anyway.

I was wondering the same thing. I heard there is not a Sam%26#39;s Club there, so can%26#39;t use our club card. We will be using our Dominicks (Safeway) card. That should help a little.

What is the price of gas? It dropped a little in the Chicago area. It%26#39;s ';down'; to $3.89 in the suburbs.

Thank%26#39;s everyone for your input! We have rented a one bedroom royal garden view at Kiahuna Plantation. We plan on doing quite a bit of cooking there. so we dont need to eat out 3 meals a day. Which one of the grocery stores has a discount card you can get before you shop and in what towns are they in. We need to stop somewhere to get provisions before we get to the resort. We will be there this friday!!!

And to top it off, i have been sick with bronchitis and the worst sore thoart and sinus infection i think i have ever had.Been taking antibotics for two days now and hopefully ,two more days of them will have me ready for Kauai! This has been a major bummer.

KDgardens

%26lt;%26lt;And to top it off, i have been sick with bronchitis and the worst sore thoart and sinus infection i think i have ever had.Been taking antibotics for two days now and hopefully ,two more days of them will have me ready for Kauai! This has been a major bummer.

KDgardens%26gt;%26gt;

KD sorry to hear you are sick - hope it%26#39;s not going around Michigan :) We like to use Star Market in the Kukui Grove Shopping center. I find they have good prices and lots to chose from. I do have a costco card and did use it when we were there in Feb. You will love the Kiahuna, the grounds are so beautiful!

One word of advice - find out from your doctor if you need to avoid the sun since you have been on antibotics. My daughter was on them once - actually 2 weeks before we went to Florida and she ended up with nasty sun poisoning - and it was caused by the antibotic! Feel better and enjoy your trip!

It is unfortunate that you do not have a costco near you on the mainland.

We use costco for a couple of reasons, and we use it a lot.

Price for food is one of them. Actually, they have more than food. Just picked up three pair of brand name board shorts for $ 12.95 ea.

We also are impressed with the quality of food that costco provides, and I mean great stuff.

High quality filet mignon, tasty aussie lamb, and also we like the boneless, skinless chicken, the pre marinated ribs, and the frozen tempura shrimp. And,actually the fish is good, but check it out first by inspecting that it is fresh.

Salad greens are also excellent quality, and also a bargain compared to the local markets. Milk, eggs, fake eggs, cereal, are also bargains.

Might depend on how many meals you are going to be eating at your lodging. The price of eating out someplaces, could be a weeks worth of dinners, breakfasts, etc. just for one evenings dining out.

But, the others have a good point, as to that membership fee. And , it does make a difference when you live here, or cook in a lot as a visitor.

If your are going out to eat a lot, as already suggested, probably not worth it.

We will actually go to costco sometimes, just for one or two items. I go by early right after work at the gym...10 a.m., and in and out, faster than star.

Denny

KD, both Foodland and Safeway have discount cards. We find we do pretty well with ours.

Sheraton Waikiki or Marriott Waikiki-- Help me decide!

Price seems to be about the same. Which would you choose for location, rooms and amenities? We are in our 30s and will be staying for 5 nights.

Thanks.

Sheraton Waikiki or Marriott Waikiki-- Help me decide!

The Marriott looks very nice. The Sheraton Waikiki is more in the heart of Waikiki ... Marriott%26#39;s pools look nicer. Both have good beach locations. Great views from the Sheraton ...

I%26#39;m interested in what others have to stay. I%26#39;m a little put off by the website ... things that are ';steps away'; from the Marriott are actually ALOT of steps away, but still walkable.

Sheraton Waikiki or Marriott Waikiki-- Help me decide!

We stayed at The Marriott last summer and enjoyed it. Have not stayed at The Sheraton Waikiki but I have been in it. Although it%26#39;s ';on the beach'; there is actually very little beach outside The Sheraton. The beach in front of the Marriott is much nicer. Like several hotels on Waikiki it%26#39;s actually 2 hotels joined into one-ask for the beach tower. The bed was fabulous and the room/hotel was clean!! Nice large pool if that%26#39;s inportant. In my opinion, I like staying towards the quieter end of Waikiki as opposed to the hotels that ';are in the middle of everything'; and a little too loud. It%26#39;s a 5 minute maximum walk to most restaurants in the area. You might check rates at The Hyatt-we%26#39;re staying there Sept 25- Oct 3 and we%26#39;re getting a great package rate! Make sure and go to Duke%26#39;s (in Outrigger Waikiki),Cheeseburger in Paradise (1 block up Kalakaua Blvd)and Bubba Gumps Shrimp Co in Ala Moana Shopping Center. Have fun!

Newcomel -- AAA has some great rates at the Hyatt.

we just came back from hawaii this week. looks like there%26#39;s some construction going on in the lobby of the sheraton. you might want to call and find out when they plan on finishing it. we like staying at the sheraton but this time around we stayed at resortquest waikiki beach instead. The sheraton%26#39;s a nice hotel, mostly japanese tourists, center of everything. yes the beach is small but if you walk next door, the beach by royal hawaiian is larger. newly developed shopping area by the sheraton as well.

Stayed at both hotels last year. Both are fine, but I personally liked the Sheraton a little bit more than the Marriott.

The Marriott was a large hotel, and we upgraded our room to a Diamondhead view jr. suite, so it was very big. Nice balcony that looked over the pool. The beds were comfy but the rest of the furnishings were lacking. The bathroom was in need of updates and overall, for the price, it just was not as ';resort deluxe'; as it should have been. 2 pools, one hot tub, large deck area (though no view of beach really). Solid location, though it is across the street from the beach.

The Sheraton%26#39;s shape makes it feel smaller, easier to manage to me. Cannot speak of lobby renovations (which are needed, along with halls) but we were in a standard, renovated room with 2 beds. It was small but well appointed with comfy beds, nice chairs %26amp; mat on the balcony, flat panel TV, lots of storage in the closet since there was not a dresser. The updated bathroom was average, but nice. 2 pools and a bar right on the beach, very nice to sit outside, watch the water, turtles, etc.

The big thing to do for both is see what is/is not under going construction/renovation while you are there as that will have as much to do with anything. FWIW.

mark makeup

How to get good priced Activies in Oahu

Is it possible to buy tickets online for activities in Oahu.

And where best to get best affordable prices?

How to get good priced Activies in Oahu

there are a lot of places you can prepay your tours, one I have used is http://www.fun-hawaii.com/ I have used them before, Another good idea is to try the tour companies direct eg

www.robertshawaii.com

http://www.polyad.com/

please IM me if you have any direct questions

John

How to get good priced Activies in Oahu

You can try these to compare prices:

www.hawaiifun

www.hawaiiactivities.com

www.activityworld.com

You can also get really good discounts using Entertainment Book. For almost all activities, you have to book directly with the activity to use the coupons.

www.entertainment.com

I purchased all my tours with tombarefoot.com they seemed to have very good prices...

Go direct.... many of these brokers take a 20 to 30% comission from the activity.... you can always get it for way less by going direct.... also use the phone not the computor in many cases.

In the airport luggage area you%26#39;ll find tons of booklets with discount offers.

You can also look into getting a Go Oahu card, worked very well for our trip. http://www.gooahucard.com/

Chances of Seeing Lava

I hope I don%26#39;t get flamed for this (pun intended), but I am newbie to BI and just trying to get a sense of what the odds are of one being able to actually see lave flowing at night from a place that is relatively accesable (.5 mile walk or less with kids 6 %26amp; 8) and before 10 PM. Is it like 20%?

The reason I ask is trying to get a sense as to whether we should commit to spending a night in Volcano Village with specific hope of actually seeing lava flowing from fairly up close.

Obviously no one can predict how nature acts, and what happens next week can be different from what happens in a month from now - but my question is more of an ';in general'; type.Any feedback would be appreciated.

Chances of Seeing Lava

For most recent information you can visit my ';Lava Update'; posts. They should give you a good idea of where to go, when to be there, what to bring, and how to get there.

Here are the most recent updates:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g29217-i268-k22378…

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g29217-i268-k22339…

Lava flows can change without notice. Check back frequently to make sure you have the latest information.

Chances of Seeing Lava

LOL, no flames ..

but I think if you say when you%26#39;re coming it%26#39;s easier to answer. Is it soon? If it%26#39;s more or less imminent, then the lava entry has been accessible, although more like a mile than a half. They ask you to leave by 10, and last car in is at 8.

You cannot see the lava flow most of the time, unless there%26#39;s a surface breakout. You can see from a distance where the lava is entering the ocean and causing explosions, which are very showy fireworks.

However, every so often the lava stalls out for a few days and the ocean entry stops or gets real quiet. Only staying one night, that could possibly fall on a bad night. I%26#39;d say from the way it has been, the odds are better YES than NO.

I was up at VNP last night and driving down there were an awful lot of cars coming the opposite way back up the mountain, and I wondered if they were lava viewers returning. On part of the road it was pouring. All of the road is dark, It seemed like the longest 20 miles -- and that is to the intersection of 130.

I really wouldn%26#39;t care to drive back from the lava viewing all the way to Volcano at night. I would rather drive back to Hilo, which is only 10 miles of decently lit road once you get to Hwy 11, and multi-lane.

As I was driving up yesterday, I asked my passenger if it%26#39;s ever NOT raining on Hwy 11 around the 2000 foot elevation and he agreed pretty much always. Rained both ways.

The vent at Halemaumau crater is looking like it%26#39;s going to erupt ... there is lava there and red in the plume now. So there you have a perk to staying overnight near the park, if it continues.

Ideally people come to the VNP not just to see the lava but to see the fascinating geology and so are not disappointed if it%26#39;s not happening.

Whatever you see, those flowing rivers of lava that you see on video footage are not happening most of the time and can only be seen by air in recent times. Those videos are mostly 10-20 years old and they should really stop showing them on the Visitor Channel and in ads. It raises expectations unrealistically.

We just got back from a trip to the Big Island and Kauai. We spent four nights on BI, two in Captain Cook, then one in Volcano, then one in Keauhou.

You can never attach a percentage to lava viewing. We spent the night in Volcano to give us the option, should Madame Pele be cooperative, to view any surface flow/ocean entry. But she must have a dark humor, as the moment the sun started to go down, and the explosions turned from gray and black to a fiery red, it started absolutely pouring down with rain. It was a pretty awesome moment. But my point is that you have to take a risk if you really want to see the lava. A drive back to Kona (or worse, Kohala) in the dark from the viewing area would be a fairly miserable long drive IMHO. The drive from the lava viewing area back to Volcano Village was not bad at all. Took about an hour, but we had no rain as mentioned above. But to add the ~3hrs to Kona would be a bit much, plus you would miss the pretty scenery on the drive back.

Had the lava not been flowing, we would have simply spent more time in the park, or maybe visited Hilo. Even with a chunk of the park closed due to vog, there was plenty to do. There%26#39;s a great list of day hikes available at the visitor%26#39;s center. The Kilauea Iki hike was absolutely stunning. If your kids are active I think they%26#39;ll be able to handle it.

And bring flashlights from home if you want to save money. You WILL need them and they are mandatory for everyone at the viewing area. I%26#39;ve already written too much, let me know if you want any more info on our trip.

cool report, tjbrooks,

%26gt;%26gt;the moment the sun started to go down, and the explosions turned from gray and black to a fiery red, it started absolutely pouring down with rain.

Yeah, that happened to me. Got soaked to the skin. Talked to a park ranger this week about that and she said pouring rain down there is very common.

So add umbrella or poncho to the take with list.

The rain blew up really fast too.

The park areas that are closed aren%26#39;t just voggy; there%26#39;s sulfur gas coming out of the vent and ground. The area where everyone used to view the vent is now subject to having dangerous objects exploded out of the vent -- rocks, shards of glass, volcanic ';bombs'; (one on display at Jaggar).

It%26#39;s not just about the bad air. It%26#39;s quite dangerous. The park collectors wear special ';lava proof'; suits to go over there now.

Luckily for everyone the trades are blowing the plume out of the vent away from Jaggar.

KamaainaK, you are right. Crater Rim Dr was closed between Jaggar Museum and Chain of Craters Rd due to sulfur dioxide (SO2), which is what is to blame for the vog.

I%26#39;ve put my photos up. They%26#39;re raw and unedited....and not very good. But you can get an idea of what it%26#39;s like. These were taken on Sept. 1st.

…google.com/tjbrooks/BigIslandLavaViewing

Notice that there%26#39;s a boat getting really close to the entry point. I don%26#39;t know what the heck they were doing, and whether it was safe or not.

WOW! Fantastic pix, tjbrooks. Thanks for posting them. I%26#39;ll be there next week %26amp; I hope it%26#39;s half as good a show as you saw! But I%26#39;ll be there on land...those folks in the boat are INSANE!

We were there a month back and I%26#39;ve posted a few photos at bigislandtripreportpart1.shutterfly.com

Despite flashlights being ';mandatory'; we saw loads of people without them. And in flip-flops!

Key thing is to arrive at least an hour before sunset so you can park reasonably near

nick

Kamaainak, lavaguyd, tjbrooks and the rest - thank you for all of your great feedback and advice - it is very much appreciatted.

We just booked our flights to Hawaii for next July and plan to spend at least 6 - 8 nights on the Big Island. We are already very much looking for to it.

What to do in Lihue for a few hours?

My DH and son%26#39;s flight will arrive 4 hours after (if on time) I arrive with our 2 girls, I know I will go to Costco for an hour before I pick them up but what can we do right after to pass time? Should I go to the Marriott/ Kalapaki Bay and hang out and have the girls play on the beach? Is there a fee for parking? What else is near the airport that would be fun for us girls to do while we wait?? 1st Condo will be in Princeville so I don%26#39;t want to drive up there and back and forth... Thanks for any info!!

What to do in Lihue for a few hours?

Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!

There is no fee for parking and going to Kalapaki Beach - while there is ';paid'; parking in the Anchor Cove Shopping Mall closeby the beach - don%26#39;t park there!

Drive into the main Lihu%26#39;e Marriot entrance - go past the hotel entrance and take the first right that goes down to another parking lot down by the beach area.

This is where most locals park in order to access the beach - you can park there with no worries, there is a bathroom closeby and as long as you don%26#39;t use the lounge chairs or swimming pool for the hotel guests - you can enjoy the length of Kalapaki Beach!

Really isn%26#39;t much else by the airport to ';do'; - you

can browse the shops at Anchor Cove (there is a walking path that goes there from Kalapaki Beach) - but that won%26#39;t take you long - I%26#39;d opt for the beach! You can shower off and change there as well.

Malama Pono,

Janet

What to do in Lihue for a few hours?

Lydgate park is only about 3 miles north of the Airport. Plenty to do their and facilities are better than at Kalapaki IMO. No significant difference in drive time to the airport.

Depending on the ages and interests of your girls, you could go to the museum in Lihue (I think it%26#39;s just called the Kauai Museum). They have interesting displays of life on the sugar plantations and the missionaries, as well as some beautiful historic Hawaiian crafts/artifacts (Niihau shells, etc). It%26#39;s a good introduction to the history of the island and a great rainy day activity. I think they have free admission on the first Saturday of each month, but don%26#39;t hold me to that (we were there last in 06).

Oh, and Kukui Grove shopping center is right near Costco, so you can stock up on beach mats/gear/books at Kmart, Borders, Long%26#39;s etc.

Have fun!

Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!

The Kau%26#39;ai Museum is on Rice Street in downtown Lihu%26#39;e - it is a great place to enjoy learning about the beginnings of Kaua%26#39;i all the way up to the Sugar Plantation era.

It is open Monday - Friday 8am to 4pm - Saturday from 9am to 4pm. ';Ohana Day'; is the first Saturday of each month and has special events at the Museum along with free admission.

Be sure you give yourself plenty of time to enjoy both buildings - lots and lots to see! And a wonderful gift shop - some of the best Hawaiian made crafts on island! And a wonderful book selection!

Malama Pono,

Janet

Here%26#39;s what I would do. Shop and eat. Across the street from Costco is Macy%26#39;s and Kukui Shopping Center. There is a nice bakery where you could pick up local baked goods, cute stores to get the girls a new bathing suit or matching dresses, food shops and more. I bet they would like to pick out postcards for their friends back home. You are 10 minutes to the airport. Another tip. The Lihue airport has an area where you can park and wait for your DH and jr to call on your cell phone. No need to park for a fee. When they have their bags you can swing around and grab them. You will be 45 minutes away from Princeville. You could even grab DH a Starbucks for the road next to Macy%26#39;s. Save the museum for the entire family. Girls just want to shop!

I know what I would do is take a tour with Air Ventures Hawaii. My family did our tour right after we flew in from Oahu. They are located right there at the air port. We just got our rental car and drove (about 30 seconds) over to their terminal and checked in.

It’s an amazing way to see the island, by plane. Kids of any age will appreciate the tour, I have four and they all loved it! The flight is narrated, so by the time you get back from your one hour tour you will know the island like the back of your hand and be ready for the week a head of you!

If you are looking for free fun I would also give Lydgate Park a big thumbs up, what a wonderful family beach park. We spent two days there and my kids never wanted to leave, I think they are still dreaming of it a night, haha!

Enjoy Kauai it is amazing!!!

Wow, thank you for all the great ideas! I think we%26#39;ll save Lydgate and the Air adventures for the whole family to enjoy- that sounds really cool! I know we%26#39;ll go to Lydgate 2-3 times during our stay. Joan, you%26#39;re my kind of girl, so funny, yes, that%26#39;s what I%26#39;ll do shop!! for some beach stuff and souveniers but also go check out Kalapaki beach to say hey, we%26#39;re here in paradise, look at the palm trees and the ocean, then head for Costco. Great to know there%26#39;s an area where I can park and wait at Lihue, yippee! ;)

Golf on Oahu

Visiting Oahu for a week in October, staying on Waikiki. I%26#39;m not a great golfer but enjoy the game. Don%26#39;t need a super course, but wouldn%26#39;t mind playing a round or two. What courses are not hugely expensive, rent clubs and don%26#39;t mind pairing up a ';low C'; player?

Golf on Oahu

Pull up City and County of Honolulu + golf.

You will find that the C %26amp; C of Honolulu has 6 golf courses. Ala Wai is the most busy. Their website has lots of info for you.

Were to buy groceries

My family and I have rented a condo at the Kolea Villas in the Waikola area for two weeks at the end of June. We are wondering where the best place and most resonably priced place to get groceries. I know there is a new store coming to the Waikoloa, when will that be completed?

Were to buy groceries

Waikoloa village Market, Waikoloa Village 8 miles away.

Were to buy groceries

It depends on what kind of groceries you want.

To stock up on meats, bottled water, green tea, cereal, milk, sodas, wine, and beer, stop at Costco before heading up to Waikoloa from the airport.

A few miles north of Waikoloa Beach is the King%26#39;s Marketplace which has a relatively new upscale market, Foodland Farms, with lots of organic and imported items (relative to other stores on the island), a great wine selection, really good deli items and desserts, and hard-to-find produce.

The grocery store at the Queen%26#39;s marketplace does not appear it%26#39;s going to open before the end of the year.

The Foodland at the Shops at Mauna Lani is excellent. Make sure that you sign-up for their discount card when you check-out for the first time.

every one before me is correct. But I want to clarify.

Costco for the stuff you expect at Costco.

For a FULL service grocery store, there is Waikoloa Village market. They have almost everything. 8 miles away. there is a great grocery store in Mauna Lani, it just isn%26#39;t your typical Ralphs or Albertsons. The grocery store in Waikoloa village is more like the big supermarkets you see in CA. (not quite, but close)

I%26#39;m sorry, I completely unintentionally screwed up the name of the shopping center where Foodland Farms is, it%26#39;s not the King%26#39;s Marketplace, which doesn%26#39;t even exist! LOL. It%26#39;s the Shops at Mauna Lani. The Kings Shops are at Waikoloa Beach and has no grocery store. Queen%26#39;s Marketplace across the street from the Kings Shops and is supposed to get a grocery store in the near future, but it%26#39;s not open yet.

For most things, the Foodland Farms at the Mauna Lani is cheaper than the Waikoloa Village Mart. However, Foodland Farms is pretty small. And yes, sign up for the Makai card the first time you go there - you%26#39;ll get great discounts. If you are a Costco member, a trip the first day or two may be worth your time and money depending on how long you are staying.

A Costco membership runs $50. In addition, when you consider the sizes of packages at Costco, it%26#39;s hard to justify purchasing a card. Costco opened about 3 miles from our home in Nebraska, and we joined, but never even bothered to shop at the Kona Costco as we knew we wouldn%26#39;t bother to finish off much of anything.

I%26#39;d probably suggest the KTA in Kona and the Waikoloa Village Market for most of your groceries. And for some staples such as milk, juice, breakfast cereal, and bread, you might be better off stopping at Walmart or Kmart in Kona.

One word of warning is that it%26#39;s about a half hour drive from Waikoloa to the Kona area, so be wary about perishables in the island heat, especially if you plan additional stops after shopping. (Bringing a collapsable cooler or even using a full-sized cooler as a suitcase for your trip can help.)

For fresh fruit, try to stop at one of the farmer%26#39;s markets. In the Kona area, it%26#39;s held Thursday-Sunday on Alii Drive. Much cheaper (and usually fresher) than the grocery stores.

We own a condo in Kolea. We have 4 children, so shopping at Costco, with its larger sized items, makes sense for our family. This is especially true because we prefer to eat at home. Hawaii is expensive enough without the additional cost of eating out. The selection and quality of fish at Costco is great as are their frozen burgers and salads. Every condo at Kolea has a built in outdoor gas barbecue so we grill at least one meal a day. The down side is the trip into Kona, which can be horrendous as late afternoon traffic can back up for miles. Luckily, Costco is north of town. If you have to go all the way into town, do it in the late morning and get out before late afternoon.

The supermarket in Waikola Village, just up the hill from the resort, is decent. They have a good selection of freshly made sushi, which is a weakness of mine. Avoid the frozen burger patties though. They are the worst.

the Waikoloa Village market has the best meat and produce on the island....They are the only ones to offer Parker Ranch Black Angus..... and have a old fashioned butcher counter.... and A great Bakery ( apple fritters) . The meat is cheaper than Costco.. which I dont use as I can get better deals at Safeway,KTA etc.....Costco is among the highest price here.

Only buys at costco are some bread, Butter, Kitkland cheese, canned veg, chicken breasts... thats pretty much it.....You wont have to buy water as our water is safe to drink... and thousands of scared visitors.. load up on water. discarding the bottles by the thousands on beaches, parks and along the road....its become a real porblem...water bottles eferywhere... the new cigarette butt.

We are a family of four that own a unit in kolea and one in waikoloa beach villas. Our favorite place to shop is the farmers market in hilo if we are arriving before wednesday or saturday. The farmers market in kona on saturday is also pretty good for all the fresh fruit that you should eat while here. We especially love the papaya, pineapple, bananas and white pineapple when in season. For small quantities the food land market in mana lani is great, closest and decent prices. We also will bring a cooler with us with frozen meats, packages foods that are not available on the island. You%26#39;ll love your stay in Kolea its a great resort. We are all waiting for the gourmet market to open, but so far they just have some electrical in, so it is going to be a while.

Seafood Festival

Does anyone know the dates of this in October?

Seafood Festival

I have not been to any of the previous years so can%26#39;t give you any more info.

2008 HAWAII FISHING AND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL

Place: Pier 38 Honolulu, Honolulu Fishing Village, Honolulu, HI 96817, 808-265-4962

Date: 10/12/2008

A FREE one day event that brings all together aspects of Hawaii%26#39;s Fishing and fresh Hawaii Seafood communities. A fun family and educational event where you can learn about modern and ancient fishing practices, current management measures, fresh Hawaiian seafood products, kids activites, local entertainment, food and more!

mark makeup

sightseeing on easy hikes

We are visiting in November and would like to see as much as possible in 2 weeks but cannot do difficult hikes. Are there any easy to moderate hikes and where are they?

sightseeing on easy hikes

I bought a great book called ';Hiking Kauai, The Garden Isle'; by Robert Smith at the bookstore. You can also check out this website:

www.KauaiExplorer.com for information on the most popular hikes.

sightseeing on easy hikes

Thank you for the information. We are looking forward to our first time in Kauai.

Question about VRBO

I%26#39;m wondering if you all use rental contracts when renting condos off VRBO. The person%26#39;s place I%26#39;m looking to stay at didn%26#39;t provide a contract and stated that the e-mail was our agreement. I%26#39;ve always used contracts before where there was an ';official'; agreement, with terms and such.

The ad has been up on VRBO since 2002, so I think it%26#39;s ok, but there%26#39;s always the ';what-if'; lingering in my head, since I have to send off full payment up front. I searched and searched on this forum and I only found one post from 2005 where someone mentioned this unit (it was fine by the way). Just wanted to get some feedback. Thanks

Question about VRBO

We don%26#39;t have a formal contract either. We do employ a rental management agency and provide the guest a copy of their reservation confirmation, but the rental terms are so simple we never drew up a formal contract.

Question about VRBO

We rented 2 condos last year with no contract. We are also renting 2 condos March 09 without a contract. They just sent us a letter stating some of the rules, check in and check out, and the breakdown of costs etc.

As I stated in another thread, sometimes the contracts actually stress me out a bit. I%26#39;m also not to fond of security deposits ( although I know why they have to exist ).

There is a type of insurance on VRBO which is free. They will cover up to $5000 that you have paid any owner. You have to register your trip on line before you pay the owner though. I%26#39;m going to do this.

Bellini

Thanks for the replies, I didn%26#39;t know about the VRBO insurance. I went ahead and signed up for it, even though today I put a check in the mail for the unit. Technically they haven%26#39;t been paid yet, so we%26#39;ll see what happens.

Went with vrbo for the first time this year and rented a place at Maui Kamaole. No contract. We did almost everything via email. The owners sent us a statement via snail mail. Everything was paid in full 30 days prior to our trip.

What to do?

Hi all. We will be on the BI at the end of October for ten days, and have decided to add 3 additional days in Maui. We fly in around 1:30 on the 28th. We are planning on flying out of November 1 in the evening. There will be 4 adults traveling. None of us have ever been to Maui, therefore we need some ideas. I must apologize, I have not researched much yet, as I just recieved the call about the %26#39;change of plans%26#39;. I am heading out to the bookstore to pick up some reading material.

Can anyone suggest places to stay? Not sure what part of the island is ideal. Would rather have condo/house over hotel. We are not exactly the %26#39;resort%26#39; type.

We love the outdoors... hiking, snorkeling, you name it! Would rather steer clear of the %26#39;tours%26#39;.

Local cultural attractions? Have heard there are great festivities for Halloween?

Any suggestions would help. We would love to pack our days full of adventure, as 10 days on the BI will be relaxing. Thanks in advance!

Peace,

What to do?

The Halloween festivities in Lahaina have really been toned down in the last couple of years. Permits were pulled, I believe and there won%26#39;t be as much going on. Most of it will be geared toward the children. That doesn%26#39;t mean there won%26#39;t be anything going on for adults inside the bars. Still could be worth checking out. It could be very crowded and traffic could be a nightmare.

Snorkeling the north and west shores of Maui in October could be iffy. Thats when the winter swells start coming in. The south shores will be the smoothest. I will tell you, the snorkeling on the Big Island is rated #1 with Maui coming in second. Snorkel both!!

The south side of Maui also will get less rain on average, than the west and north sides.

What to do?

We had a blast in Lahiana on Halloween, and we left early! The kids parade was awesome, the adult parade was nuts! Suggest you book now for a place to have dinner and watch the fun through the evening!

IF you have ever been to New Orleans in Feb...it%26#39;s a bit like that...or used to be!

Our experience in October has been good weather and snorkeling on Maui. I recommend that you snag a hotel on Ka%26#39;anapali soon. Kind of a short stay for a condo.

Poke into www.wizardpub.com to help you sort through the options for accommodations. From the home page click the Maui link and you%26#39;ll get a fairly comprehensive list of the condo and resort options on the island. Each option shows an aerial view, review of the property, and rack rate pricing.

Lactose-free milk

I searched for the Lactose free milk. Not soy or Silk need whole lactose free milk for the wife, seems Safeway has it. Was wondering if anyone knows if maybe, the Big Save or the Kukui%26#39;ula Market or there type of markets has it also.

Mahalo in advanced.

This is great forum a must read for anyone traveling to Kauai or any island.

P%26gt;S%26gt; Nine days till we are on your wonderful island for 10 days.

Lactose-free milk

Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!

I don%26#39;t know for sure, but pretty positive that Big Save doesn%26#39;t carry it.

Kukui%26#39;ula Store here in Po%26#39;ipu - good possibility - I%26#39;ll look for you when I%26#39;m in there next.

Papaya%26#39;s Natural Foods in Kapa%26#39;a or Hanalei - very probably would carry it as well.

I%26#39;ll report back after I go to Kukui%26#39;ula Store.

Malama Pono,

Janet

Lactose-free milk

Aloha from Princeville!

Foodland Princeville carries it...

Both Foodland and Safeway carry it. It%26#39;s going to be around $10/gallon, about $9/gallon on sale.

Aloha!

My boys are lactose intolerent.

I am almost positive we got it at Safeway in Kapaa last time. Last March, in Maui, Safeway had it as well.

Bryan Brown

BBrown9825@aol.com

Thank you for the replies guess it will be Safeway to get the milk. Will post about other locations for future reference, when we get there Sept 8th.

Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!

I asked Terri, one of the owners of Kukui%26#39;ula Market if they carry it - they do indeed!

So there is one more place to add to your list - this one right in the Po%26#39;ipu Beach area!

Malama Pono,

Janet

Just to post for future searches, the Kukui%26#39;ula Market does have the Lactaid lactose free milk, but the best price for size is at the Big Saves, you can get the half gallon size for about six bucks.

I do not know if this is really high or not for Lactaid since we do not buy it at home, Albertson has a brand we use which is now about 4 bucks.

The big Saves are a very good small Independent type market with good selection of meat, fish etc, depending on what you want the prices are not bad for being a long way from most of there suppliers.

Three beach parks close due to increased shark sightings

http://hawaii.gov/dlnr

is reporting the following:

09/11/08 - THREE BEACH PARKS CLOSE DUE TO INCREASED SHARK SIGHTINGS ALONG KONA COAST, -DLNR, the Hawaii Fire Department Ocean Safety Division and the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation closed Waialea Bay State Park, Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area (SRA), and Spencer County Beach Park, September 8, due to the sighting of large sharks ranging in size from 6 – 15 feet. There are confirmed reports of 15 large sharks from Waialea Bay to Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor area.

Other information, along with timeline and 10 point precautionary measures included in releases over the past week.

Three beach parks close due to increased shark sightings

Yeah, yeah, tell us about it! Every time we tried to go snorkeling we joked that we were living the line from Chevy Chase%26#39;s ';Vacation';: ';Sorry, Folks! The beach is closed';.

We snorkeled A-Bay anyway, despite the signs. Didn%26#39;t lose anyone.

Three beach parks close due to increased shark sightings

Head down south to Kahalu%26#39;u Beach Park or 2 step to snorkel... much better anyway and no sightings in Kona Town!!!

Contract with drivers license # and birthdates?

I asked this on another thread but would like to know if asking for this information is normal when wanting to rent a condo? We%26#39;ve rented before and haven%26#39;t had to sign a contract or provide personal details.

Anyone know?

thanks,

Bellini

Contract with drivers license # and birthdates?

Its possible that someone would request the DL # (especially if paying by check) but why on earth would someone need your birthdate??? If they are concerned about the age of the renters, a simple check box indicating you are over 21 should suffice.

Contract with drivers license # and birthdates?

I would think a rental agreement would be reasonable. After all, this rental is the person%26#39;s second home. I don%26#39;t think your birthdate is necessary unless the person wants to make sure that they are not renting to a bunch of college students. I would say that is another reason they want to see your license to verify your birthdate. Just a thought. I actually feel much better when I am renting by owner and they provide a rental contract. Just do what you feel is right. If it doesn%26#39;t feel right, don%26#39;t provide the information and rent elsewhere.

Maybe they are going to do a background check or credit check at intelius or the like. (I think it is kind of ironic people think hotels are not good if you want your privacy.)

We have never, ever been asked for DL# or birthdate on a rental contract. Usually, they just want your money. I wouldn%26#39;t give it out nor would I give my SSN. This might be appropriate if you are renting long term and using the owner%26#39;s car but not to stay on Maui for a week. I would ask what they are using this info for.

I have been asked this when renting by owner, and if you think about it, if they ask for a copy of your ID, they would be getting the same info.

It%26#39;s funny, as consumers we worry about getting ';ripped off'; while we forget that we are asking someone to trust us with their million dollar asset. I would imagine that they want as much information as they can legally ask for.

My long term tenants balked at providing their SSN, and when I said, if you want me to trust you with my XX dollar asset, you need to trust me too.

Might it have something to do with registration? Vacation rentals are required by law to know who is in residence. Your driver%26#39;s license shows your date of birth anyway.

Given how often banks, credit card companies, dept stores, etc. loose/sell personal information, I think providing a DL# and/or birth date for a rental would be pretty low on the dangerous side.

mark makeup

local goods at Costco= impressed

We were very pleased to see that the Costco in Lihue had so many local businesses represented at the store. Not only were there the normal Mac nuts and such, but cakes (Icing on the Cake in Kapaa), Anahola Granola, Mac nut cooking oils, Aunty Lilikoi products and much more.

It was great to see so Costco supporting the local business, still making money themselves, and giving their members opportunity to save as well.

Kudos to Costco.

local goods at Costco= impressed

Thanks for the info. I was going to ask this exact question yesterday.

local goods at Costco= impressed

It is a great place to get Kona coffee too! I always get extra and bring it home.

Are there other places to get Kona coffee on Kauai?

You can get Kona coffee at Longs, ABC, Walmart and many other stores on the island.

We did not make it to Costco and now I wish we did. I%26#39;ll put it on my list for next trip.

thanks for the info! We%26#39;ll be there in October and I was hoping I could find Aunty Lilikoi products. And I can get some Kona coffee to boot!

We use Kaua`i coffee. Every bit as good as Kona and locally produced. Costco sells large bags of whole beans.

Costco has really good poke, too.

Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!

Poke, tako poke, boiled peanuts, takuwan, kimchee, kimchee pickles, laulau, furikake, arare, Kaua%26#39;i Coffee, Kona Coffee, wun tun strips --- these are just a few of our ';local'; goodies at Costco - and these are only from the top of my po%26#39;o - there are tons more!

Malama Pono,

Janet

So they carry both Kona and Kauai coffee? Awesome, I want to try the Kauai coffee too.

Does Costco have a specific section for local goods, or is it spread all throughout the store?

The products are spread throughout the store but most of the visitor oriented stuff (ie packs of chocolate covered mac nuts, etc) tend to be towards the front.

We (my wife is the OP) found the local products all around the store. There are two tourist-y sections as mentioned above. The Aunty Lilikoi set ($16,dressing,jelly,syrup,mustard) was in the front of the stores, directly across from the cash registers. That%26#39;s where most of the chocolate/macnut products were. We got our macnut oils near the back, in front of the meats in the center row of the store. Everything there was very gift-basket like, so that area might actually be there for the winter holidays...early and crazy, I know.

Other things like coffee and refrigerated goods were located in their proper locations. The line for buying poke was long....always a good sign when buying fish.

Other tasty looking items I saw, a dim-sum party platter, fresh saimin, Portuguese sausage (5lb for $8!?), manapuas, kalua pork, and char-sui. Now we can make local food in our condo for Costco prices!

But a couple negatives to report though. We went there about 15 minutes before closing. The food stand outside had literally ran out of everything except Caesar salads and chocolate soft-serve (and three churros). Never seen that before. And gas wasn%26#39;t much cheaper, while on BI it was over 20 cents/gallon.

And a question for the local experts, I bought a pound of Hanelei Poi there, and it%26#39;s in my fridge at home right now....how long does poi ';last'; in the fridge?

Sheraton Luau at Black Rock

These are pretty expensive tickets and we were disappointed with a few things.

1. To get a good seat, we had to get in line an hour early and there were no seats or shade to wait in. Sunburn city!

2. I drank 4 Mai Tais and didn%26#39;t even get tipsy. So do they just fill rum bottles with water and brown food coloring? I tried a screwdriver and the same thing - all OJ.

3. Where was the salmon in the Lomi Lomi salmon. LOL. We ate there on July 28 and there were 10 people at our table and ONLY 1 person could find salmon chunks in their Lomi Lomi salmon.

The show was fun -we had a good time. The Kahlua pork was to die for but I heard they ran out at the end of the line. Did you offer them some sort of compensation since there was no salmon or pork by that point??

Sheraton Luau at Black Rock

Thanks for the post. We will be staying at the Sheraton this November, and are considering doing this Luau, since we have a 30% discount for it. We have 2 kids, and didn%26#39;t want to spend as much as OLL charges! Do they do professional photos at the Luau? We will probably end up paying the extra money for preferred seating, as I have heard it makes a huge difference in having a good experience. Did you stay at the Sheraton? How did you like the hotel itself? Thanks for the report!

Sheraton Luau at Black Rock

The Sheraton does do professional photos but when we saw that there was no special backdrop (he just took pics of people standing in line in front of one of the plants) we just had some friends take our photos of us at our table and in front of the Tiki heads/torches.

The lei is just a shell necklace (same one you get at the Hilo Hattie stores). I would totally recommend preferred seating so you don%26#39;t have to get in line so early. Luckily we were in front and had a great view! We didn%26#39;t stay at the Sheraton - too expensive. We stayed in the Kaanapali Villas (on the other side of black rock next to the Royal Lahaina) and we had a great time. Got an awesome deal on Priceline (although I won%26#39;t deal with them again...grrr) We love the free shuttle between resorts.

We went to this luau in November and actually got there kind of late, about one half hour after they started seating. We did not have preferred seating and were seated about the third row of tables back from the stage, right in the middle. I thought our seats were good and we had a great view of the stage.

Lindsay - you%26#39;ll love the Sheraton and can PM me with questions.

We don%26#39;t care for luaus -- the whole mass feeding thing. But, since we stay at the Sheraton, we often cheat and watch part of the show from outside the luau.

There is this old adage that says ';you get what you pay for';. I%26#39;m not sure what you mean by ';pretty expensive? Sorry you didn%26#39;t have a great time at the Sheraton%26#39;s luau. Next time check out either OLL or the Hyatt%26#39;s Drums%26#39; of the Pacific. Always at luau%26#39;s if your alcoholic drinks are weak, go to the bar, much better there!!

Msfuzz is right, next time check out the OLL. We%26#39;ve tried several, and OLL is by far the best. Drinks are stronger if you go to the bar. And at OLL, you get a orchid lei. Definately worth the few extra dollars. Food is pretty good, also.

Thanks BLBL! We are very excited, as this is my family%26#39;s%26#39; first trip to Hawaii, although I have been once as a child. We got lucky and found a great deal for the Sheraton. Normally it would definately be way over our budget! I will Pm you if I can think of any questions. I have been checking the boards like crazy and getting lots of great information. Great idea about watching the Luau from the hotel. I%26#39;ll probably end up booking it anyways, as this might be our only trip to Maui! Thanks again to everyone for the info.

The SL was good but....the OLL is the best! We really enjoyed ourselves. The food was delicous and the drinks from the bar were awsome! If you do go to the OLL, book your reservations before you leave! You%26#39;ll be glad you did!

Restaurant Recommendations

I am traveling with my 6 year old and needed some restaurant recommendations. Kid friendly but still caters to adults! We are staying at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel but we have a car. We love food.

Restaurant Recommendations

The Gazebo

Restaurant Recommendations

We love Kimo%26#39;s in Lahaina and have been taking our son there since he was three.

Hula Grill at Whaler%26#39;s Village would be OK. Aslo, Bubba Gumps on the water in Lahaina.

I support the previous post%26#39;s recommendations-Bubba Gumps, Hula Grill.The little one wouldlike Bubba Gumps-it is a bit eccentric in decoration,but plenty of choice.

All in Lahaina. Bubba Gumps, Hard Rock Cafe, and Cheeseburger in Paradise.

I agree with Kimo%26#39;s, Hula Grill, and Bubba Gump%26#39;s for kids. We enjoyed the Sea House in Napili even though the service was slow the night we were there. If you make it to Kula in upcountry, try the Kula Lodge----good food and views.

If you need a great place for breakfast, or lunch right behind KBH next to the highway is CJ%26#39;s. Great food and prices. We%26#39;ve seen many locals there. They make a great Hana box lunch too.

http://www.cjsmaui.com/

Lahaina - BJ Pizza! Both of you will love it.

Lahaina - Bubba Gumps and Hard Rock can be ear-bleeding noisy ... seriously noisy. Bubba Gumps is very into merchandising and their food is so-so. I guess the word I am looking for is ';gimmicky.'; Nice view! I guess you could say the same for Hard Rock.

Ka%26#39;anapali - outdoor seating for Leilani%26#39;s or Hula Grill. It%26#39;s fun and you%26#39;ll both love the food. A more kid-friendly menu, although the indoor seating in both restaurants may have special kids%26#39; menus.

Lahaina - Moose McGilloughcuddy has a great breakfast. Not a place for kids after dark, but a very family place for breakfast.

The burgers at Cheeseburger in Paradise are not so good -- but I love the T-shirts.

There are plenty of other posts about restaurants in general on Maui, burgers, and family oriented restaurants ... so please do a search.

The Gazebo is great for breakfast, but you need to be willing to wait or arrive early to get a window table with a view.

Aleka Loop

I notice on the map that there is an ';Aleka Loop'; behind and north of the Coconut Marketplace. Is this good for walking or only for driving?

Aleka Loop

Aleka Loop is what you use to access four hotels and the Coconut Marketplace. It is meant for driving, and I don%26#39;t think there%26#39;s any defined sidewalk to it.

Aleka Loop

There%26#39;s a good walking path on the other side of the four hotels right by the ocean.

pzp: Thanks! We will be sure to use it as we will be close by.

Aleka Loop does indeed have a very nice sidewalk it%26#39;s entire length--quite a rarity on Kauai. It even has a barrier that protects it from the road. While it is much nicer to walk along the path closer to the ocean, this sidewalk is very practical for accessing Foodland and other stores from all these hotels/condos.

There is a very nice meadow here, between the straight part of the ';loop'; and the ocean path, so the views are actually very nice from the sidewalk as well. But enjoy them while you can, there are plans to build more condos there.

Kuhio Shores Condo Locations

Hi all,

Still refining my search for a condo on Poipu and have a question about Kuhio Shores. Does any one have a map of the condo number locations there? Which ones face the east and which the west. Any information or thoughts about Kuhio would be greatly appreciated.

Mainerman

Kuhio Shores Condo Locations

Units at Kuhio Shores face either east or south, but none face directly west. East-facing units end in ';01 through 08';, and south-facing units end in ';09 through 18';. The east-facing units face the bay and receive the morning sun, while the south-facing units face the open ocean and receive more of the afternoon sun.

I just returned from Kuhio Shores earlier this week and had stayed in #308. Two years ago I had stayed in #303. Both units were nice, facing the bay. #308 was a bit nicer, more updated and a little further out from the road. I didn%26#39;t really have an issue with any road noise either time though. If you want to be close to the water and love hearing the ocean waves while you are in your unit, you can%26#39;t go wrong with Kuhio Shores.

Kuhio Shores Condo Locations

Here%26#39;s a good map of Kuhio Shores.

www.kuhio-shores.com/ks-views.html#oceanside

We stayed at Kuhio Shores in early June and it is a lovely, quiet property. We likes facing the bay because it didn%26#39;t heat up so much - sunrises are awesome. Road noise no issue for us, it was lull of the surf.

For sunset viewing you want a unit that ends in the larger numbers. Bay view units get the morning sun.

Have you checked out this website? You can find the one jam1961 stayed in.

http://www.kuhio-shores.com/

I love 316. I%26#39;ve been inside and it is gorgeous. Downside to KS. No A/C or pool. Upside is right on the water, great views, next door to a great restaurant.

Good choice for the South Shore.

Jam1961,

What is the construction situation like at Kuhio? I%26#39;m staying there next month and hadn%26#39;t heard any updates on the work that they were/are doing on the building.

The construction has been going at a pace that is painfully slow. The work has shifted to the ocean and bay side of the complex as of a few weeks ago. I believe the work should be completed by the end of this month though. I would inquire with whomever you are renting through, however, just to get the ';latest scoop';. I was not personally annoyed, but on a few occasions I did hear the workers drilling and using chain saws.

I won%26#39;t be there until October 25th, so I%26#39;m not too worried. Thanks for the info.

We will be at the Kuhio Shores from Sept. 9 till Sept. 18, will report Thursday of so (hope to be on Hawaiian time by then) about construction at that time.

Kim

We are at the Kuhio Shores now, the construction is no bad at all they show up about 7:45am and begin about 8:00am. There is a lot of painting going on there was also some jackhammering of the walls to be re-cemented.

They are done about 3:30p or so. If you have things planned you will miss the noise, which is not bad. We have been gone for most of the mornings returning for lunch about the same time they take lunch and leave for the afternoon exploring when the start up, get back when they are done. Unless you stay the whole day in the condo it is no problem at all.

Hope this helps

Kim

Mosquitoes

I have read a few comments on this forum regarding mosquitoes on Kauai. Are they all over the island or just in certain areas? Have there been any cases of West Nile virus on the island?

Mosquitoes

Na makika (mosquitoes) are all over, but you%26#39;ll mostly encounter them in wooded areas and if you%26#39;re out on the lawn after dark. You probably will never see one on any beach because there%26#39;s usually enough breeze to keep them away.

Mosquitoes

So are you saying I should wear skeeter repellent during our Lu%26#39;au on Wed. night? :)

I%26#39;d recommend it just to be sure. Oh... no West Nile here that I know of, and I%26#39;m sure we%26#39;d have heard.

We%26#39;ve been on Kauai all week without wearing bug repellant. Thought we got a couple of bites on the hike to Hanakapiai beach, but they didn%26#39;t itch at all (a refreshing change from the way our Cdn. mosquito bites do.) I think the Deet would be more harmful to you than the mosquito bites will be.....and the breeze does a good job of keeping the mosquitos away.

If you%26#39;re worried about DEET, and from a few things I%26#39;ve read you should be, check out these products. We got the chemical free sunscreen which does not harm fish and coral like regular sunscreens do. They also make a DEET free mosquito repellent.

Help if I put up the link.

www.barnaclekove.com/barnaclekove/mexitan.htm

I do experience mosquitos on Kauai, especially around dusk.

I use 2 products. One is the Skin So Soft from Avon. They make a sunscreen repellent that is very good. When I traveled to Tahiti a few years back, the travel boards recommended a product by Buggspray. You can find it on www.buggspray.com. It does have 25% deet, but it was exellent.

Some people get bit and others don%26#39;t. My son is one that get%26#39;s bit big time. He must be the sweetest in our family. :)

We do have some mossies here on kauai, and generally not too much of a problem. But, dusk, and after rains they might be bothersome.

I never see the rascals, and we are hiking interrior trails quite often. Seldom have been bit, but that is not 100%.

The bites seem to aleivate by the time we start to drive back down to the coastal road. For me , they do not hang on like the caribbean no-seums, which ravage me from toe to top. Guess the Kauai types , bite with aloha. Pretty mild for me.

Erica does not seem to get bit. Funny how that works.Each indivdual can react differently on not get a single bite.

So, you might use some type of repellant , especially if going out at night, or after a rain.

Just to keep comfortable and not be worrying.

Oh, in skippering boats to various islands in the caribbean, that Skin So Soft did zero as far as preventing any no-seums or other biting critters from attacking me.

Even came back to the U.S. with very uncomfortable itching for some time after being in the caribbean island. That is the Bahamas to almost Grenada, over several visits.

In Austraila I picked up a stick of RID, when hiking in the rain forests,and that worked for me. I still use it here on Kauai once in a great while, always successfully.

Denny

I use Avon Skin So Soft on a regular basis. We don%26#39;t have a lot of mosquitoes where we live so I%26#39;m not sure if it helps or not.

I%26#39;m a bit paranoid when it comes to the little buggers since my Dad had spinal meningitis when I was in grade 12 and nearly died. The cause was being bit by mosquitoes.

I guess I';m unlucky; I get eaten alive. Never see or feel the little buggers, never know I%26#39;ve been bitten until the next day when the bites start to ITCH.

mark makeup

Flying Maui to Oahu and making our AA flight

In March we%26#39;ll be flying from Maui to Oahu to catch our American Airlines flight back to the states, which leaves Oahu at 8 pm. If we take a flight from Maui arriving at 5:30, can we make our 8 pm flight? Specifically, is it easy to get from one terminal to the other, and do you have to go through security again? Thanks!

Flying Maui to Oahu and making our AA flight

Absolutely will make it.

If you are on a direct flight (Hawaiian Air)

Your flight will arrive by 6pm and you have 2 hrs to get over to AA.

Flying Maui to Oahu and making our AA flight

You%26#39;ll make it if Hawaiian doesn%26#39;t cancel or delay their flights!

We allowed almost that amout of time between our Maui/Honolulu flights and Hawaiian cancelled our flight and then delayed the next one so we missed our Qantas connection to Australia.

My advice would be to go to Honolulu well before you;re flight leaves.

Back to the states? Australia ??

We also had our flight from Maui to Honolulu cancelled on our recent trip to Hawaii, luckily for us we were staying in Waikiki for three days before traveling back home to Australia.

We also experienced delays on our arrival in Hawaii resulting in a five hour wait at Honolulu Airport.

Two and a half hours should be plenty of time to make your flight back to your mainland , excluding delays and cancellations of course.

From our recent experience don%26#39;t expect to be informed or helped when things do go wrong!

I am presuming you are flying with Hawaiian Air, if so GOOD LUCK!

You may need it!

Journey to Paradise: Trip Report from HNL to Kauai

Reading this board has helped me a lot especially in choosing our itineraries. Just want to give something back by sharing our travel journal (with lots of pictures).

We took a cruise with NCL鈥檚, Pride of America on August 9-16 with the following Ports of call: Honolulu, Maui (2days), Hilo, Kona, and Kauai (2 days).

I know this is a cruise report but I included the places that we鈥檝e visited in each port cities.

I鈥檝e read lately about people asking about POA (Pride of America), ports of call, parking in Maui and Kauai.

Hope our travel journal will help others in planning their future trip.

I鈥檝e also posted this in the cruise critic board.

Here鈥檚 the link:

NY to HNL: