Which Hawaiian island for our first visit to Hawaii?

[GLC1968]

OMG - I need to go there!

[Veronica]

Kauai - good snorkeling, hiking and kayaking. The helicopter tour is pretty cool too!

It didn't seem like a good place to road bike - part of why we keep going back to the Big Island.

Veronica

[GLC1968]

We chose Kauai.

We are booking now, but it looks like we will use miles on Alaska to discount our flights and then use the savings to partially upgrade our lodgings. I *think* we will be saying in a BnB for most of our stay and possibly in a resort for a couple of nights (only if we can secure an ocean view).

I can't wait!!

[indysteel]

Not that I've been there, but the more I thought about what you're interested in doing, the more I thought Kauai was the right choice (again, not that you could go wrong) for you. And, frankly, it's quickly moving up on my own to-do list. I so wish 2014 wasn't such an up-in-the-air year for me professionally; I'd love to start putting together our next big trip. We really want to do a self-guided walking tour in the UK with a few days in London tacked on. I've been to London; DH hasn't. After that, maybe Kauai. But I like to get way ahead of myself when it comes to vacation planning!

Have a great time, GLC. I'm really excited for you!!! Be sure to give a trip report when you return.

[GLC1968]

I totally will!

I've already got a helicopter tour, a sea kayaking tour to the Na'pali cliffs and a zipline tour on my radar for events. All three actually scare me, so I think it'll be a great adventure! I also expect that we'll do lots of hiking and snorkeling on our own. And maybe even just rent kayaks and do a river tour on our own as well (if we can). So, so many things to do and see!

We went budget-friendly on the hotel but made sure it was in a good location (with an ocean view) and we used miles on Alaska to save money on the flight so that we can afford to do more stuff when we are actually on the island. I'm so freaking excited!!

[jobob]

I would stay as far away as you can from Oahu.

It's been many many years since I lived there, but even then I would have said avoid Oahu.

LOL, the first thing that sprung to my mind when I read the original post was "Avoid Oahu like the plague!" Not that I've been on any other island in HI. Maybe someday.


Meanwhile, I hope you have a fan-tabulous trip, GLC!