Our Final Post . . .

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We have taken you through six weeks in Hawaii. We set foot on 6 different islands: Hawai'i, Maui, Moloka'i, Kaua'i, Oahu, and Lana'i. And we have done stuff. Despite the ankle experience, we managed to still do quite a bit, and this is what I want to share with you today.

If you have fantasies of going to the islands even for a week, it really helps if you have a place to start. You talk to people and family that have been there, you search the internet, read travel magazines and books. You become an informed individual. Then and only then can you plan a trip styled after your tastes and delights and that of your family also.  Believe me it is not easy. We are only two people but we had very different ideas of what we wanted in this trip. Plus, we were inviting friends and while that was a lot of fun, it did put more challenge into planning the trip.

So what follows is a chronological list of what we did with the website I used to plan. Now a good internet researcher knows that there are always multiple sites and so do use my ideas as gospel unless that is exactly what you want. Your tastes could be different and probably will be different. Use my ideas as a starting point and make your trip uniquely your own.

Most of all have fun planning! Have lots of open discussion about exactly what you want and don't want. Include ideas from each member of your group so that all can feel that they had a part in the planning. It will make it that much more enjoyable. Let them do the research. If it turns out great, you will have a wonderful time and some great memories. If it turns out not so great . . . well, you will still have a good time but you will have some fun memories to share also.

Believe me, folks. You cannot have a bad time in Hawaii, no matter where you stay, do or eat. It is a place that just won't let you have a bad time unless you specifically plan it that way.  But I really don't think that will happen . . .

So, Mahalo Nui Loa (Thank You Very Much) for following our excursion to Hawaii. Someday we hope you too might be able to experience what we have over these last six weeks.  We hope the following links help you to plan your best vacation yet!

Our research started here:

Frommers Travel Guide - www.frommers.com/destinations/Hawaii

How we all got around:

Hawaiian Airlines - www.hawaiianair.com
Island Airlines - www.islandair.com
ATA Airlines - www.ata.com
Norwest Airlines - www.nwa.com

Thrifty Car Rental – www.discounthawaiicarrental.com

Week 1 - Hawaii (the Big Island)

The Kona Coast Resort - www.alohacondos.com
The Kona Country Club - www.konagolf.com/konagolf/golf-course-Mountain.cfm
Dolphin Quest - www.dolphinquest.org
Waikoloa Beach Resort - www.waikoloabeachresort.com
Diving Hawaii - www.jacksdivinglocker.com
Hawaii Volcanoes - http://www.nps.gov/havo/
The Town of Hilo - http://www.downtownhilo.com/hilo/tour.htm
Macadamia Nut Tour - http://www.maunaloa.com/visitus.htm#visitorcenter
Flumin' da Ditch - http://www.flumindaditch.com/flumin/index.html
Waipio Valley - http://www.waipiovalleywagontours.com/
Akaka Falls - http://www.hawaiiweb.com/hawaii/html/sites/akaka_falls_state_park.html
Island Breeze Luau - http://www.luausinhawaii.com/hawaii/island_breeze_luau.html

Week 2 - Maui (the Valley Isle)

The Papakea Resort - www.papakea.com
Iao Needle State Park - www.hawaiiweb.com/maui/html/sites/iao_valley_state_park.html
Olvine Pools - www.hawaiiweb.com/maui/html/sites/olivine_pools.html
Aloha Mixed Plate Grill - www.mauimenusonline.com/restaurants/mixedplate/
The Road to Hana - www.alternative-hawaii.com/special/mns.htm
Mama's Fish House - www.mamasfishhouse.com
Snorkeling at Molokini - www.mauidiving.com
Zipline on Haleakala - www.skylinehawaii.com
Haleakala National Park - www.nps.gov/hale
Kayaking on Maui - www.keliiskayak.com
Mountain Biking on Haleakala - www.mountainriders.com
Sugar Cane Train - www.sugarcanetrain.com
Royal Lahaina Luau - www.royallahainaluau.org

Week 3 - Molokai (the Friendly Isle)

Molokai Hilltop Cottage - www.molokaihilltopcottage.com
Kanemitsu Bakery - www.frommers.com/destinations/molokai/D42656.html
Drive to the West side - www.vthawaii.com/MOLOKAI/WestSide/west2.html
Mule Ride to Kalaupapa - www.molokai.com/muleride/
Halawa Valley (East Side) - www.vthawaii.com/MOLOKAI/Halawa/halawa2.html
Kaluakoi Golf Club - www.teetimeshawaii.com/index.php?cPath=449

Week 4 - Kauai (the Garden Isle)

The Cliffs Resort - www.cliffs-princeville.com/resort.php/CLIFFS_AT_PRINCEVILLE
CJ's Steak & Seafood - www.valuetravelhawaii.com/Featured/Restaurant/cjsteak.html
Lighthouse Christian Fellowship - www.foursquare.org/locator/churches.sd?iid=30981
Queen's Bath - www.hawaiiweb.com/kauai/html/sites/queens_bath.html
Kilauea Lighthouse - www.hawaiiweb.com/kauai/sites_to_see/KilaueaLighthouse.htm
Ono Family Restaurant - www.frommers.com/destinations/kauai/D39559.html
Pizza Hanalei - chefmoz.org/United_States/HI/Hanalei/Pizza_Hanalei1054860432.html
Princeville Golf Club Makai Course - www.princeville.com/play/makai_desc.html
101thingstodo.com/hawaii/kauai/entertainment/southpacificdinnershow/index.php
Wrangler's Steakhouse - www.innwaimea.com/wranglers.html
Spouting Horn - www.kauai-hawaii.com/destinations.php?51
Bali Hi Restaurant - www.hanaleibaykauai.com/abouthanalei/dining.html
Princeville Golf Club Prince Course - www.princeville.com/play/prince_desc.html
Polynesia Cafe - www.polynesiacafe.com/
Waimea Canyon - www.hawaiiweb.com/Kauai/html/sites/waimea_canyon.html
Poipu - kauai.aloha-hawaii.com/hawaii/poipu/
Ke'e Beach Snorkeling - www.hawaiiweb.com/Kauai/html/beaches/kee_beach.html
Smith Family Luau - www.luauparadise.com/kauai/smiths-tropical-luau.php
 

Week 5 - Oahu (the Gathering Place)

Kapolei Golf Course - www.kapoleigolfcourse.com/door/
Pearl Harbor National Park - nps.gov/usar/
Waimea Falls Park - www.hawaiiweb.com/oahu/sites_to_see/waimea_falls.htm
Hawaii Prince Golf Course - www.thegolfcourses.net/golfcourses/HI/12514.htm
Germaine's Luau - www.luauparadise.com/oahu/germaines-luau.php
Parasailing in Oahu - www.tombarefoot.com/oahu/hawaiian_parasail_oahu.html
Zippy's - www.zippys.com/
Turtle Bay Resort - www.turtlebayresort.com/
Dole Plantation - www.dole-plantation.com/
Makaha Resort Golf Club - www.makaharesort.net/golf.asp
Ko'Olina Beach Resort - www.koolina.com/
The Hula Grill Restaurant - www.hulagrillwaikiki.com/

Week 6 - NCL's Pride of America Cruise of Hawaii

Norwegian Cruise Lines - www.ncl.com/fleet/pam/intro.htm
Panaewa Rainforest Zoo - www.hilozoo.com/
Lava Tree State Park - www.hawaiiweb.com/hawaii/html/sites/lawa_tree_state_park.html
Kapoho Lava Flows - hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/history/1960Jan13/
Trilogy Catamaran - www.sailtrilogy.com/adventures/lanaisunset/
Maui Ocean Center - www.mauioceancenter.com/
Holualoa Coffee Plantation - www.konalea.com/
Original Hawaiian Chocolate Company - www.originalhawaiianchocolatefactory.com/
Hawaiian Vanilla Company - www.hawaiianvanillacompany.com
Kauai ATV Tours - www.kauaiatv.com/html/menu.html

Na Pali Coast (cruise by) - www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dsp/NaPali/na_pali.htm