Good ideas for a trip to HAWAII???

Travel Info
my family is going to Hawaii this summer - what are some great places to visit? we need a lot of ideas because we're going there for 12 days!!! :) I'm really excited but I'm in charge of making the itinerary, so what are some good ideas?!!?!

and we're visiting Oahu and Hawaii (the big island)

Travel Tips

There are a ton of things to do on the islands, especially Oahu. Check out 101 things to do & also Hawaiiweb.com Here are some favorites:

Ideas for Oahu:
-Pali Lookout
-hike to Manoa Falls
-Arizona Memorial
-snorkel at Hanama Bay
-Paradise Cove Luau
-horseback riding at Kualoa Ranch
-hike Diamond Head
-Swap Meet (inexpensive place to buy trinkets)

Ideas for the Big Island
-visit Rainbow Falls
-visit Big Island candies
-Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
-rent a jeep & go to the green sand beach (sand is really green)
-visit a black sand beach Source(s): http://www.101thingstodo.com/
http://www.hawaiiweb.com/
Other Travel Tips

1. morning coffee at the Hawaii bean and tea company by the Japanese memorial at Kalakaha & Kuhio.
2. A jog or brisk walk around ala moana park
3. an early morning hike up diamond head.
4. surfing lessons
5. a 20 dollar sailboat ride (beer for dad 2 bucks!!)
6. shopping at don quixuote (near the pan am blvd.) for souvenirs and nummers
7. Run Sushi California Pizza kitchen Todai buffet
8. Theatre at the Diamond head
Save renting the car for the big island. Please don't rent small motor bikes etc. in Honolulu or on the big island & get hurt or killed!!
def. the Polynesian cultural center in Oahu. it has lots of great activities that will interest the kids and has lots of great information about the history of the polynesian islands. they have great activities inside too. like a luau and shows that are included in the admission! the kids loved it! check out the website:

http://www.polynesia.com/

and check out waikiki beach (also in oahu)! the kids loved that too! the water is warm enough to swim in and there are lots of neat shops near the beach!
you must visit MAUI!!!!!! I loved it!!
I'm sure you'll get lots of responses of places to go so I'll just tell you where is good to eat, cuz thats what I love to do when on vacation.

OAHU
North Shore Area:
Shrimp Shacks (Giovanni's is the local favorite)
Matsumoto's Shave Ice (if too busy the one near it is just as good)
Kuaaina Burger - great burger, but I would pass on the fries
Dong Yang Inn - meat jun is the best ever
Ted's Bakery - Chocolate Haupia pie

Windward side (Kailua & Kanehoe)
Boots & Kimo's - Macadamian nut pancakes w/ lilikoi or coconut syrup & palehu ribs
Kin Wah - spicy ginger won ton, chinese food

Honolulu:
Ono's Hawaiian Food - kalua pig, haupia, watercrest soup
HK's - fried noodles with bbq chicken
Keawe BBQ - palehu ribs, kobe burgers
Mitsuken - garlic chicken
Zippy's - Chili
Leonards Bakery - malasadas
Side Street Inn - Pork chops, but everything is good there
Forty Niners - hamburger steak!!

Big Island:
Hilo
Seaside - Steamed fish is delicious they're fresh from their pond (dinner; also my favorite place to eat in Hilo)
Miyo's - seasame chicken (lunch)
Kuhio grill (breakfast)
Big Island Candies - great original shortbread cookies (snack)
Two Ladies Kitchen - Strawberry Mochi!!(snack)

Sorry don't go to Kona often and I'm sure you're staying in Kona, but I would definately eat at those places if you do pass through Hilo, cuz If not, you might be disappointed with the other places there.
The must see place in Hilo is Rainbow Falls, but it will only be like a short shop to just take a really nice picture.
Kilauea of course is another stop.
My goodness, I was delighted to see your post so I signed on just to reply. (With all the information I'm surprised they didn't ask for a blood sample!) laugh...anyway my family JUST got back from Hawaii (Big Island for 3 Days and the rest of our 2 week vacation on Oahu).

ON THE BIG ISLAND you must go hiking on the volcano area. If you don't have gloves maybe the ranger will have extra which came in real handy since we hiked 6 hours! Bring good tennis shoes that are comfortable, lot's of water (6 quarts per person recommended) a poncho (it rained on and off and it can get real windy and chilly at night) . The first 2 miles are marked but after that your on your own and that's where things get interesting...) We left at 4pm so it was cooler (no bathrooms) and came back in the dark so you can see the real orange color of the lava flow. This is not for anyone with a bad back, the elder nor children (except for the short marked hike). Be sure to bring a couple of really good flashlights. You will find that at night you will not be able to take (NO JOKE) even one step without looking. Every step you take has either a wide crack in the ground or sharp, irregular surface. After we passed the 2 mile marker we were on our own. I highly suggest someone not do this alone! The
terrain changes the further we went that's what I mean by it got more interesting. The ground got more crunchy and when you brushed your foot against it, it just turned to sand. Steam vents here and there began as well. Our goal was to hike to the opposite side to see the lava flow into the ocean but that 1 more mile meant 2 miles and it would have been 3am until we would get back so we had to turn around (all of us were in our early 30's) since we were getting tired. We wore t-shirts and shorts which the ranger suggested long pants and long sleeve shirts. You will trip on the ground, you may even fall (both the guys who were in super muscular shape fell once, thankfully unharmed. I slid or lost my footing countless times but never fell. Of coarse that doesn't help when it rains and makes it slick.) The terrain is quite amazing as far as the lava you have to try to walk over it which can be so high it will amaze you. At night is the best time to see the lava flowing down. I wouldn't waste my time going in the day, you could barely see it and it's so VERY hot during the day. Please note, every half mile or so (can't really see at night so judge your distance accordingly to stay between the mountain and the ocean) there is a marker to be a guide so that you don't go towards the inside of it which would bring you dangerously close to the cliffs...which are known to just drop off. Some poor sap got misguided that night and had no idea he was on the INSIDE of the marker where he shouldn't be and said he never saw the markers. Also not wear flip flops unless you like to bleed.
Like I mentioned we went past the 2 mile markers (many do) and just so you know, they are like blinking beacons at night so that helps once you get close enough upon return. The mounds of lava get real high when your climing up and down so it's tricky at night...lava is black, the night is black...the cliffs are... It's a lot of fun but be safe! Flashlights, Parka, change of cloths if you like, I highly suggest GLOVES (ranger may or maynot have extra), 6 quarts of water per person, snacks, camera (actually video camera picked up the lava flow better than any of our digital cameras; toilet paper and thanfully we didn't need any bandages but recommended as well. Wish I knew this before we got there. You will drive quite a ways to get to this place (through the desolate mountain area with nothing around) then you park and hike the rest of the way.
God Bless and have an awesome time! How many people can say they hiked an active volcano...Kilawaha!!! It's awsome.
Side note: We stayed at the most awesome hotel here's the link: http://www.hiltonwaikoloavillage.com/ind...
It's a Hilton Resort. Rooms were only like $250 or something a night. It's just as amazing as one of the main hotels on the Las Vegas Strip (I used to live 20 min from there). There's a lagoon you can snorkel at (ocean water goes into it) which has fish and a couple of turtles, a boat takes you through a tropical canal to your room and different area's of the resort, there are 2 major pools (one has an awesome slide! I was like a 12 year old out there) the other slide was more for younger kids. The hotel is right on the beach. Golfing there too for those golf lovers. There is an incredible restaurant (all part of this huge resort which has many unique neat places to eat and even food for the casual burger to eat on the go) This particular restaurant was a special treat that averages $30 a plate that has amazing delicious food. You can sit outside with the torches and the beach view. Have a chi chi there, it's one of the best drinks and ranked right up there with my dads. (We used to make them when we lived in Hawaii) It's a tropical drink. Or, have a "Volcano" those are tasty too! The food is a little pricey at the hotel but the hotel itself is AMAZING. I've traveled and lived around the world and this is top notch.

OAHU: I highly suggest that you now book for things you would want to go on. You must, MUST go to a Luau naturally. ;-) I suggest the Royal Hawaiian Luau. It's located beach front and a great view of diamond head. It's a buffet, lots of food you can eat and lots of various desserts. Yes, it's an all you can eat. Food was good, something for everyone. Even had poi you can sample. (I never did like it but you can say you had it.) With our tickets you have a choice of either 1 alcoholic beverage or 2 sodas. You get a pinapple on your table (open the "lid" and eat some while you wait for dinner). Get these tickets now while you can.
Next YOU MUST go to the north shore and have some "shaved ice" it's only $1 for the small size. It's just along the roadside in a surf shop. Just ask a local. IT'S deeelicious! We tried another place on Waikiki beach and it was like a snow cone or the kind on the mainland and very dissapointing go you MUST have one on the North Shore! (North Shore is known for Shaved Ice) Oh yes, the North Shore is where the Big surfing competitions happen during the winter time.
Oh, we used to live in Hawaii when I was younger so we toured around to some of the better places where not a lot of tourists buses go. Beaches... bring your snorkeling gear and head for the north shore as well. Three Tables, Sharks Cove (no sharks it's just shaped like one) are all nearby. Naturally you should go to the famous Hanama Bay for snorkeling. Lot's of neat fish, the coral has lost it's color over the years but still neat to see but if you can get there early say 6:30am you will not have to stand in a VERY long line (they only let so many people onto the beach at one time during the day to conserve it. Besides, you'll get to pick out the best place to park your goods (go to the left side!) and you don't have to pay either since technically it's not open. BUT! If you leave to get a snack make sure you get a stamp on your hand before you leave since the snack stand is outside the front entrance that way you won't get any grief to get back in. (Burger I think was like 8 bucks or so, it looked really yummy) Okay, now, this is going to sound crazy but IT'S NOT what all the hype is about...you should go (kids too) on a Shark Encounters on the North Shore. There are 2 different ones but you want to go on the one with the guy named "Rich". (This tour has been on discovery channel, BBC, etc.) This tour has the largest cage the other company has a smaller one. (Don't mistake it for the other one since they are both at the same dock) Your totally safe and the sharks just swim around the cage that floats 2 feet above the water and your hands and feet rest safely inside the cage. My 7 year old niece went. However, if you get motion sickness get the EARLIEST tour out first thing in the morning and take Bonine the night before (as suggested by the locals as a secret) and an hour before you go. Bring your snorkel and mask since that's how you'll be checking out everything but if you forget, they have plenty on board. A couple family members freaked out about the idea but went along anyway and afterwards said they are glad they did and really enjoyed it. Bring that underwater camera! There were 5 of my family and another 5 people on the boat. Let them go first and that way when it's your turn you'll get to see more sharks! ;-) You won't be dissapointed...or scared. Really. Below I'll give you my email so you can get more details since my husband is sleeping so I can't recall the exact name of the company, I want to make sure you get on the right one. I can even get phone numbers for you since I feel like they know me with all the calls I've done. Also, just a side note, if you or your family are military/retired deals around the island and discounts for them/you so email me if you have that and I'll give you some more details. Honestly, I didn't like swimming at Waikiki Beach (pretty though) since there is has a rocky bottom and not soft on the feet. Besides, why do that when you have the North Shore! Important tip: Bring extra toilet paper when your driving around. I was really surprised to find out their wasn't much if any in many bathrooms even along the shopping areas in Waikiki. If you are on Waikiki Beach area there is a long stretch of shopping areas. MANY "ABC" stores which are great for family and friend souvenir shopping, I think t-shirts were 12 bucks. You'll find it busy everywhere you go since you can get macadamia chocolate nut gifts for cheap as well as on the go sandwiches, bottled water etc for pretty cheap. You'll find the well known "International Market Place" which has lots of t-shirts (you'll see many places advertise 10 shirts for $20.) Not the best quality but some are cute! This place is more like a flea market so to speak. I wasn't really delighted with it as much as the venders just along the main shopping street. I bought a tank top for 6 bucks (just shopping by the street) (I HAD to have it... as well as I found a matching towel for $8) It was a white shirt and has a thick red cross and red words that said, "Life Guard" "North Shore Hawaii" (On the Back of the shirt and the front said the same thing but smaller and in the corner.) Now, for the good/fun t-shirts! They are located at "CRAZY SHIRTS" you must go there! They are about $28 bucks but they are so soft and comfy, have unique and some funny designs and sayings. They are pre shrunk. If you buy 10 you get 1 free so make sure you get a card if you plan to get a bunch of them. (Dah! I was only 3 shirts away but you can use them on the mainland like Las Vegas. But, Hawaii has t-shirts just for Hawaii as you probably know) Man, your going to have a GREAT TIME!!! I have more to tell but I would have questions for you that might help steer you in more what you would like to do. So much to tell! I have some important little secrets to tell ya...like the airport situation on where to go when the lines are super long for checking in as well as the less traveled screening area which would save you tons of time just a few seconds away. You may or may not know this but do not for any reason carry anything liquid or gel on a carry on or held in your hand. I can't tell you how many people purchased sun tan lotion just to have it taken away. Or the guy who just purchased a large container of alcohol as a souvenir and they took that away. Secure that stuff in your checked in luggage. If you have more questions on places to eat, more tours to go on like to Pearl Harbor (GO TO THE EARLIEST ONE!!!) or you'll be stuck in a very, very, very long line. And if we had to do that tour again we would have drove ourselves since they had some mix up and forgot to pick up at a couple different hotels (leaving poor stranded tourists) and calls had to be made and 2 hours later for someone to pick us up. (I can tell you later the name of the company but I would have to ask the sleeping husband. ;-) There is so much to do and see so you'll have more to do than time. Lots of tour things average 100 bucks. Yes their is surf lessons (we ran out of time) I wanted to take from some well known local firemen (who better to know safety and for a rescue?) I think they were called Fire Hawaii but again, I need to ask my hubby. He's the one that found it and wanted to have the lessons. (I can get you the website from him too) I suggest get a rental vehical AND RENT the GPS thing. Huge help (that was $50 I think for the 2 weeks or so we were there..I think it was 50.) You can type in Pearl Harbor and it will show you the way! Poli Lookout is another beautiful popular tourist area mostly for looking out over the island for a pretty view, picture time...and very windy but that was something my family wanted to see. You just stand there and look, it's quite beautiful and you don't stick around long. (Some people think it's a big deal to go to as you can tell by all the Japanese tourists). Again, depends on what your interested in. (Go to the bathroom before you get there, no restrooms there) ;-)