We don't have a lot of time to visit, and considering we live almost on the other side of the globe,

My wife and I are going to travel from Portugal to Hawaii and staying how to travel from italy to austria by train for 9 days, from February 21 - March 1 2013. I am traveling for work reasons and staying in Oahu from Feb 16 - Feb 21, but I think I will hardly have the chance to visit the island properly, how to travel from italy to austria by train so these days don't really count.
We don't have a lot of time to visit, and considering we live almost on the other side of the globe, it's unlikely we will have a lot of chances to go back. So, on the one hand, we want to experience as much as possible of Hawaii in all its diferent aspects, but on the other hand it probably is not ideal to jump between islands, spending a couple of days in each one. We've been researching and trying to come to a conclusion but there's just so much to do and experience that it is now becoming a frustrating task.
a) Our starting and departure point will always be Oahu, due to flights. Our first plan was to spend a couple of days in Oahu and going just around honolulu, then on Feb 23 leave for the Big Island, because we would really like to visit Volcanoes NP. Again, spend a couple days there and visit the coffee plantations. Then, on Feb 25 fly to Maui and spend a few days mostly at the beach there. Also, watching the sunset/sunrise at the top of Haleakala seems just amazing! Finally, travel back to Oahu on March 1 and take our flight back to Europe.
b) As amazing as plan a) seems, I can't help but thinking it's one of those things that works well in theory but not so much in practice. There's a lot of traveling, and the balance between being at more places and actually enjoying them may be a bit off. Reading the guides here at Fodors it seems like a good compromise could be to focus on two instead of three of the islands. Maybe even just one, if it concentrates most of what we are looking for. My first instinct would be to consider a couple of days in Oahu (since we have to be there anyway), and then spend the rest on Big Island. It seems like it has everything: scenic routes (Hamakua), nice beaches (Kohala), how to travel from italy to austria by train local culture (coffee plantations), natural wonders (volcanoes). It just seems like we could spend a whole week there. Although I didn't explore much, maybe Oahu itself could be enough how to travel from italy to austria by train for the entire time and we wouldn't have to move. Maybe I have unfounded prejudices there, but I just fear it may be more touristic and not as genuine and diverse as Big Island.
I am sorry for the long message, I basically tried to give you as much information as possible. One way or another, we'll have to decide quickly because prices and availability are looking grimmer by the day. We would really apreciate any insight on these questions. It's a good kind of frustration, but we need to settle how to travel from italy to austria by train on a final decision.
My husband and I spent a month in hawaii and are looking forward to doing it again. how to travel from italy to austria by train Oahu is rich in destinations and experiences though you must find your own path. Honestly, we would recommend flying into the big island and one day is truly enough.
On Oahu, Things we loved, three tables a great beach hideaway on the north shore, and Lanikai and the shrimp trucks there. We drove around the island and through as well which only takes about 30 minutes non rush hour to the north shore. We snorkeled at a new beach each day for hours and be mindful of the dangerous shore rips and the scorpionfish, easy to step upon.We arose each day, packed picnic lunch and headed out to a different beach/beaches each day. Each one is so very different. We loved hiking diamondhead even though its crowded later in the day, take water, you will need it. We most remember Pearl Harbor, the dole pineapple plantation, The Paradise Cove luau was wonderful, the music, the whole experience was so romantic. I would also recommend how to travel from italy to austria by train the food tour which is the number one rated tour and learning to surf with the offduty firemen. We stay at a nondescript hotel with no pool called the Waikiki Circle, perrrfect location, parking right below the building and the driveway dumps you right into the main drag. We will stay there again, clean, adequate, and we love the staff.There is even a surfboard rack where you can stow your board. Enjoy your trip! We love the nightlife and incredible restaurants. check out groupon hawaii and the entertainment book for hawaii .We actually saved $200 on our flight/hotel with a coupon from the entertainment book. The time difference is a factor, lol the city awakens around 9 and all you see are tourists wandering how to travel from italy to austria by train about, unable how to travel from italy to austria by train to sleep, yet nothing is quite going on but surf lessons. The night extends to one or two am, with everyone out walking and enjoying the exceptional weather and gentle how to travel from italy to austria by train breezes. There is also a hiking group that recommends great trails. Do not miss Haunama Bay for snorkeling, and prepare for the surprisingly chilly how to travel from italy to austria by train water in Hawaii. Oh and we did spring for the Lei Greeting at the airport, a fond memory.When we were planning this trip, I asked my daughter who was living how to travel from italy to austria by train in Kona how to do it, she said you can spend a lot of cash or a little and basically you will take away the experience you choose, and we chose to steep ourselves in the beauty of the islands, the waters, the lands, the people, and that beauty forever how to travel from italy to austria by train changed our hearts, More beauty than the eyes can hold. Aloha Michele and Wayne.
Oahu is really only "touristy" around Waikiki - that doesn't make Waikiki bad, just more crowded, dense and fewer "regular Hawaiians" (meaning people who live and work in Hawaii, and not necessarily in the tourist industry). The rest of Oahu is wonderful, too. Kailua and Lanikai are beautiful (we spent a morning kayaking there), and have a pleasant "real" town to boot. Diamond Head offers a nice climb and great views, and the drive there from Waikiki is really nice, through some beautiful high-end residential areas (do you get the TV show "Hawaii 5-0"? If you do, watch it -- they're often on this part of the island). The drive from Kailua to the North Shore on the H-3 is truly one of the world's most spectacular drives. Haleiwa has a "surfer" vibe - cute littletown with great shave ice places, among other things. Obviously, fantastic beaches on the north shore (although they may still be a little rough for swimming in February?). of course, there are other "sights" such as Pearl Harbor, the Doris Duke Estate, Polynesian Cultural Center. I've only ever been to the first of those - a must for every American, I don't know if it will have the same meaning for you.
I think with 9 days and what might truly be a 1-time trip given where you live (we loved our time in Portugal by the way, Lisbon is a wonderful city to visit), I'd opt for 3-4 days on Oahu and the rest on another island, but I would personally choose Kauai because of it's natural beauty. We've been on Maui, Kauai and Oahu many times - the Big Island only once so I can't opine on that. Maui is great, we always have a lot of fun - but it isn't as jaw-droppingly beautiful as Kauai.
I agree with sf7307 about Kauai. It is "jaw-droppingly beautiful as her/his post mentiones. It is like going back in time maybe 50 years ago and you feel the beauty and peace of nature. We stayed at Princeville (a time share exchange) one year and every morning we looked out our windows to see the green, how to travel from italy to austria by train heavily wooded mountains and the mist over the mountain how to travel from italy to austria by train tops which created the most beautiful rainbows. We had little gecko "friends" how to travel from italy to austria by train who greated us every morning by plastering themselves on the glass windows!
I love Kauai, but I would disagree with nanabee how to travel from italy to austria by train here and recommend that you prioritize given your short time and limit to 2 islands, especially if you are going to the Big Island. I think if you want to see the Volcanoes national park, then you should definitely go to the Big Island. You can also Akaka falls and the spectacular how to travel from italy to austria by train rain forest.
My DH and I have been visiting Hawaii in January and February for over 30 years. This is a season how to travel from italy to austria by train to stay south on any of the islands; northern shores will be cool, wet and windy with rough ocean conditions. This is most true of Kauai, Oahu and to some extent on Maui. The Hilo area of Big Island and Hana on Maui will have some of the same, as will higher elevations.
I suggest that you enjoy Oahu in your non-working hours and for a few days afterwards. Rent a car for a day to tour east and north shores. Then hop to Maui for the rest of your visit. I would stay in Wailea or Kihei for better weather and to be closer to the main sights of the island: Haleakala and Upcountry, Iao Valley, and Road to Hana. Unless your flight home leaves from Honolulu in the early morning, you can fly Maui-Honolulu and just stay in airport security on departure day. (No need for a hotel in Honolulu and back and forth to HNL.)
If they have definately decided to go to the Big Island in addition to Oahu, then yes, you are right Kurosawa, a third island (Kauai) would be too much for a nine day trip. Good point and thanks for clarifing it.
Hi everyone. I can't thank you enough for all your kind messages and suggestions! how to travel from italy to austria by train It's the first time I am posting in such forums, and I am genuinely thankful how to travel from italy to austria by train for the time and thought you took to write these. I will be sure to do the same for people coming to Europe (Portugal in particular).
Your suggestions were tremendously how to travel from italy to austria by train helpful. I have been discussing with my wife and I think (as difficult as it is) we have now "dropped" Maui and will focus on Oahu and Big Island. As I said in my original post, my opinion how to travel from italy to austria by train on Oahu was totally based on what I read and the gut feeling I got. Oceana's amazing post made me rethink all that, and nanabee's and sf7307's follow-ups kind of settled things for us. We checked all your suggestions and got really excited to know these places. Terrific suggestions, all of them!
We still have a soft-spot for the Vulcanoes in Big Island, so we're considering flying there and spending 1 night (so, two days in total). Besides the VNP, there are two other spots we were keen on visiting: Kona coffee plantations (as portu