Week vacation in Hawaii--Recommendations?

[BigIslandBum]

Exploring the Big Island would easily consume your week so I wouldn't recommend spending the time and money to visit another island if you decide on Hawaii, The Big Island.

[McFrostyJ]

Originally Posted by gookgette

hmm... what other islands are your favorite and why? a volcano would be cool, but i also want to experience other beautiful scenery and culture. do you recommend 1,2,3, or 4 islands for a weeklong trip? any must see or dos?

Kaua'i is my favorite when it comes to scenery, but they don't have an active volcano. If you only have one week, then only do one island. Too much to see on either Kaua'i, O'ahu, Maui or Hawai'i to split up that week!

[CyberCity]

Originally Posted by gookgette

hmm... what other islands are your favorite and why? a volcano would be cool, but i also want to experience other beautiful scenery and culture. do you recommend 1,2,3, or 4 islands for a weeklong trip? any must see or dos?

IF the volcano is active, and IF the flow is within a decent hiking distance to view, then the experience of seeing flowing lava is a "must see". And IF you can safely approach up close, it is actually more of a "must do". Poking a stick into slow flowing lava is really amazing. Standing next to a almost still lava flow that is glowing red in the night is an unbelievably unique experience with nature.

Volcano park has beautiful scenery. The horse ride down into Waipio Valley is great. The black sand beaches are amazing. The West side offers lovely beaches and the water is inviting. Hilo has easy walks to nice waterfall lookouts. The various hotels offer commercial luaus, which offer a bit of culture. There are casual hula and singing group performances (free) at the Queens Shops in West Hawaii, and elsewhere.

Guess I'd have to vote for the Big Island ... you'll need a week to see the entire island at a leisurely pace, especially since you want to observe lava. [But, remember the possibility of seeing lava has a lot of lucky IFs to it!]

[gookgette]

actually, i've already seen a volcano, so it's not on the top of my list. i've never done scuba/snorkeling or swam with sea turtles, so that's at the top of my list...

[Jungjohann]

Your first priority should be to make it a TWO week vacation, seven days just don't cut it. I'd recommend making up some kind of a story, once you get here, as to why you'll have to stay an additional week. The ever present but not often discussed threat of cannibalism can sometimes get you that sought after additional week, just a phone call to the mainland and a simple, 'Cannibals have surrounded the airport, AGAIN, and we're stuck at our hotel, AGAIN, have been restricted to the beach or the ocean, (long held belief that cannibals will sometimes swim after their meals is totally unfounded, maybe in fresh water, but never salty). Your employer on the mainland may question the whole 'Cannibals surrounding the airport", with, "We haven't seen anything about it on the news over here" all you have to do is say, "If YOU were a major tourist destination, and YOUR airport was surrounded by cannibals, would YOU want everyone to know about it? I THINK NOT!!!" Sooo, once that is settled, and you have 14 days as opposed to 7, you should spend them all on Maui, south side is the place to be, weather has been perfect as of late, and the fat tourists from Alaska are all over the place. Whales that is.

hope this helps
Aloha from the Cannibal Aisle