Journey to Hawaii 2015: Kauai and The Big Island - My Final Thoughts

When we first started to plan our 2015 trip, we were originally just going to return to the Big Island for the entire length of our stay.  As we started to plan a little more, we decided to see how easy/difficult it would be to add another Island to the stay.  I am so glad that we decided to do this.  Here are a few final thoughts from each of the Islands and overall thoughts from the entire trip.  Hopefully some of these will help you plan your own "Journey to Paradise".

Kauai

1.  Kauai is a beautiful Island with so many diverse areas.  You can see beautiful beaches, colorful canyons and rugged mountains. You definitely need to rent a vehicle for at least one day of your stay on this Island so you can take a trip around to see all of these beautiful sights.   Kauai is a very small Island compared to Oahu, Maui and the Big Island.  This makes it very easy to get to all the major points of interest in a minimal amount of time.  If you have made the decision to go there, be sure to see all that the Island has to offer!

2.  Kauai is a very laid back Island and you can certainly find relaxation here.  Take time to just sit back and relax and enjoy the beautiful weather.  The Island is the northermost in the chain so temperatures in Kauai were slightly cooler and the weather a bit wetter than the other islands.

3.  Kauai is one of the more expensive of the Hawaiian Islands.  Since lodging is limited, prices tend to be a bit higher here.  If I was ranking the cost of a stay in the Hawaiian Islands I would say from most expensive to least expensive:  1. Maui  2. Kauai 3. Oahu 4. Big Island.  

4.  We ended up staying 4 nights on Kauai.  The first day was lost to travel and the last day was a partial travel day as we island hopped.  So that gave us a little over 3 days to relax and explore.  We honestly felt that for us this was plenty of time.  Any more and we would have run out of things to do (we have a hard time relaxing and just sitting so please take that into account when you plan your own length of stay). Any less time than that and I'm not sure that we would have been able to explore everything that we wanted.  

5.  The Grand Hyatt Kauai was a very nice hotel.  Customer Service was fantastic and the resort grounds were amazing.  I would definitely stay here again and would recommend this resort to anyone traveling to Kauai.  We liked that it was on the southern shore of the Island.  The St. Regis Princeville is another very highly rated resort.  It is located on the North Shore of Kauai and we found the weather on that shore to really fluctuate and it tended to be a bit wetter.  

6.  The Kauai Airport in Lihue was very easy to maneuver for both our incoming and outbound flights.  If you are flying between Islands, you do not have to go through Agriculture Check so it does not take as much time to check in for your flight.  The airport is modern with jetways and has a Hawaiian Feel to it but is also very modern.

Big Island

1.  This was our second trip to the Big Island.  Our first was in February 2014 and this one was February 2015.  Both trips we stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Kona side of the Island.  There were some differences in our stays but both were nice.  The service that we received at the Hilton on our first stay was amazing.  This stay it was a bit disappointing in a few ways.  While the grounds were beautiful and well kept, the facilities themselves seemed in a bit of disrepair.  While partially due to the high winds that were around for a few days, some of the things could have been fixed in a more timely way.  It also seemed as though the hotel was very understaffed and service suffered a bit.  

2.  Having said that.....the Kohala Spa Experience was absolutely wonderful and I would highly recommend it.  If you have been to the Spa Grande at the Grand Wailea on Maui, this is not quite at that level (I'm not sure any other spa is at THAT level!) it is a very nice spa and our services were amazing!

3.  If you will be staying at the Hilton Waikoloa Village for an extended period of time, purchasing the dining card will end up saving you money.  It is also good for their Luau so be sure to use it if you plan on making reservations.

4. Make sure you rent a vehicle when you stay on the Big Island.  The Island is very large in comparison to the other islands and you definitely need to take some day trips to see all that this island has to offer.

5.  If you can, make the trip to The Green Sand Beach.  Allow a good part of a day for this day trip and just go and enjoy the adventure.  The view was amazing!  It was the one thing that we regretted not seeing on our first trip and we had to go back and see it for ourselves.  Make the time to see it if you can!

6.  Whale watching on the Big Island was much better than on Kauai.  I'm not sure if it was just the time of year but we saw many more whales on the Big Island.  The whale watching trip offered by Ocean Sports is a terrific way to see the whales up close and personal.  I would just caution you to check the weather before you sign up for it.  This year's choppy waves made for a less enjoyable experience.  Make sure you take Dramamine or something similar if you are prone to seasickness.  I would actually encourage you to take it even if you aren't or don't know if you are.....there is nothing worse than spending a couple hours at sea feeling miserable.

7.  The conditions at the Volcano change rapidly.  Our first trip we had great views of the caldera at night.  This year it rained and the whole area was filled with VOG so viewing was terrible.  Recently the lava lake inside the caldera has risen and is giving quite the show.  Make sure you check the Hawaii Volcanoes Website before you go.  It will help you plan the best way to view the area.

8.  If the weather isn't cooperating on one side of the Island, check out the other side.  This island is large enough that the weather varies from side to side.

9.  While there isn't the high end shopping that you find on Maui or Oahu, you will find more shopping here than on Kauai. 

10.  Take time to relax and enjoy the beautiful contrasting colors of the turquoise ocean, blue skies and black lava rocks.

11.  The Kona Airport is pretty much an outdoor airport.  There are a few covered areas if there is rain but not many.  Also, they do not have jetways so don't be surprised when they roll the steps up to your plane and have you walk across the tarmac.  Security lines tend to get long as many flights depart around the same time of day.  Be sure to arrive early in order to get through security and agriculture check.  There is only one restaurant and a couple gift shops with a few sundries.  If you want to eat before your flight, get there even earlier or find something outside of the airport. 

Final Thoughts

This was our 5th trip to the Hawaiian Islands.  We have made 2 to Oahu, 1 to Maui, 1 to the Big Island exclusively and 1 to both the Big Island and Kauai.  If you would like to see some of my past blogs comparing the Islands, please click on the links here.

A Comparison of Oahu and Maui 

http://travelswithmel.blogspot.com/2013/04/maui-vs-oahuwhich-island-to-visit.html

A Comparison of Oahu, Maui and the Big Island  http://travelswithmel.blogspot.com/2014/06/which-island-is-for-me-comparison-of.html

1.  My thoughts on Kauai are that while it is a great Island to visit and I would highly recommend it, I don't know that I would plan an entire stay there.  For me, there just wasn't enough to do to sustain a weeklong stay and with the higher expense of staying there, I just don't know that it would work for me as a complete destination.  That being said, it is an amazing place and not to be missed so I would recommend combining it with another Island.

2.  Island Hopping:  This was the first time that we had tried Island hopping.  Here are my personal thoughts on it:

a.  It was easier to do than I thought.  You simply book your flight through Hawaiian Airlines, make your way to the airport and end up on a new island.  Flights are relatively inexpensive, are usually on time and there are many per day so it can easily fit into any schedule.

b.  While it is easy to do, Island hopping still takes time.  You have to make your way to the airport and return your rental vehicle on one island, get through security, very possibly make a connecting flight in Honolulu, land on your new island destination, pick up a rental vehicle and make your way to your new lodging.  I would plan on spending at least half a day involved in some sort of travel associated with the island hopping.

c. Taking all this into account I'm not sure that I personally would do the Island hopping again.  It worked well in this case because we wanted to split time on two of the islands.  However, I didn't really like losing travel time in the middle of the vacation.  It is certainly a great option if you want to visit more than one island on one vacation.

3.  Sometimes when you go back to the same place, it isn't quite as you remember it.  While we had a very nice stay at the Hilton Waikoloa Village and had a nice whale watching tour with Ocean Sports, I believe that our first experience (2014) was a little better.  It wasn't as though this stay was bad by any means.  It was still very beautiful and we had a wonderful time.  There was just a little something missing this time around.  Weather was a little different this time also and may account for some of the overall difference.  I would just say to be flexible....each vacation is different and just be ready for new experiences.

4.  I love the Hawaiian Islands.  All of them are wonderful in their own way.  Oahu gives you that big city with a beach feeling.  Maui is romantic and tropical.  Kauai is so diverse and intimate.  The Big Island has so many amazing things to see and is more affordable.  Out of all of the islands though, Maui is my personal favorite.  There is just something so special about Maui.  I'm saving all my hotel points and airline miles in order to make that a possibility once again!!

Coming Next:  Colorado National Parks

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Journey to Hawaii 2015 - Days 8: Spas, Cabanas and Relaxation

The Kohala Spa - Hilton Waikoloa Village

When my husband and I went to the Big Island in 2014, we had really planned on having a day to just sit back and relax and head to the spa.  We booked our reservation for a couples massage as soon as we arrived.  The second day that we were on the Island, I came into contact with the sap from a mango tree.  Little did I know that it contains the same chemical in it that poison ivy does!  And yes since I am allergic to poison ivy I contracted a really nasty rash all over my legs and hands.  

Tip:  Don't touch the sap from a mango tree (or pet a dog that has come into contact with the mango tree - which is what happened in my case) or touch the skin of the mango fruit if you are allergic to poison ivy!

Needless to say, the rash wasn't gone by our spa day and there was no way that I could have gone there with this rash. So on our 2015 trip to the Big Island we were bound and determined that we were going to the Spa come Hell or High Water!

When we arrived for our stay on the Big Island, we made a stop at the spa to book our couples massage for the last day of our stay.  What better way to end our vacation and prepare for the long trip back home to frozen tundra that is Northeast Ohio in February? Now the day had finally arrived!

We booked our massage early in the morning so we could have the rest of the day to relax in the cabana that we had rented that had a wonderful ocean view.  That was the plan at least.  We headed to the spa and checked in.  The spa has separate facilities for men and women so we were shown where to go, given a locker and instructed to change into our robe and slippers that were provided and wait in the waiting room till they came to get us.  The spa area was large.  Many restrooms, very clean...separate dressing rooms within the sex specific areas so you didn't have to dress and undress in front of the rest of the spa clientele.  There was also a jacuzzi in both the men's and women's area.  Tip:  If you are a HHonors Diamond Member you can access the spa any time during your stay as often as you want to use the facilities.  This does not include any services...those you pay for as you book them.

My name was called and I was led to a very nice room where I met up with my husband and we had a very nice couples massage.  We had chosen the Lomi Lomi massage and boy was it amazing.  I was so relaxed afterward that my whole body felt like spaghetti!  They also had this wonderful "Respiratory Therapy" Aromatherapy that they used at the end of the massage.  I would highly recommend that you pick some up in the store after your service!  It is wonderful!  After our massages we got dressed and met again in the main lounge where we were given champagne and chocolate covered strawberries!  This doesn't happen all the time....it was a Valentine's Day special so we lucked out when we booked!

This was an amazing morning.  So relaxing.  They usually offer the couples massage by the ocean but due to the high winds a few weeks earlier the cabana had been damaged so we only had the indoor option.  It was actually fine with us but if you are thinking of booking at a later date and would like the outdoor option, please be sure to ask if it is available.  

After our morning massage, we headed back to our room to change into our bathing suits and pick up our sunscreen and various beach items to take to the cabana for the rest of the day.  So far so good.....unfortunately our luck was about to change.

Cabana - Hilton Waikoloa Village

View from the Roofless Cabana

Sometimes, even in paradise you just have one of those days!  I am sharing this only to point out that as much planning and forethought that goes into a vacation, there are just some things that are out of your control.  Just remember to be flexible!

We had rented the same cabana last year (#70) and it is in the perfect location by the pool and with an amazing view of the ocean.  You can watch the whales all day from this spot and just relax and enjoy the shade of the cabana or get some sun by the pool.  We were excited that the same cabana was available this year for the date that we wanted and booked it the day that we arrived to be sure we had everything well planned.

The cabana service is available 10 AM - 5 PM so we arrived shortly after 10 AM and were shown where our cabana was.  As the cabana personnel showed us to the cabana he said, "Well you might notice that the roof is off of the cabana.  We had to take it off due to the high winds last night.  We have to have an engineer come and replace it for you.  It should be done here soon."  Ok.....the main reason someone rents a cabana is to have a shaded area but ok....the winds were high and they were going to come and replace it so no problem we would just set up and wait.  

Well.....a couple hours went by....no sign of the person who was supposed to be providing our cabana service....(towels, water, fruit were all included in the $200.00 fee for the day that we paid).  We went and got our own lunch and took it back to the roofless cabana.  My son and I tried to go into the pool and it was FREEZING.  I don't mean a little cool....it was FREEZING.  Obviously they do not heat the pools in Hawaii.  So now we can't go in the pool because it is so cold. The cabana person hasn't been around to check on us...we still have no roof and the sun is beating down on us at high noon!    

Our location was close to the pool as well.

My husband went to the Ocean Sports rental hut and asked if someone would be by to put the roof on.  He was told that they were very busy because of the high winds and they weren't sure when they would be able to do it.  Next thing we know a security officer came over to talk to us to tell us that the engineer was tied up because of the high winds last evening and he might put it on tomorrow or the next day.  Really????  We couldn't even sit in the cabana (which was very disappointing because the view was just as beautiful as I had remembered and the whales were really active.)  We finally went back to the Ocean Sports hut and told them that we simply could not stay in the cabana without a roof and we still hadn't seen hide nor hair of our cabana person.  They refunded our money so we weren't out anything but we were badly sunburned and disappointed.  Don't be afraid to speak up if your experience isn't what was advertised.  

Just goes to show you that sometimes when you repeat a stay you can have a totally different experience. Our experience in 2014 was much better.  I don't know if they were just very short staffed or what has happened during that year but the service didn't come close to what it was the prior year.  

Everything Was Broken

After giving up on the cabana, we headed back to our room to change and relax for the rest of the afternoon.  It's a long walk across the resort grounds but we had fun walking around just looking at the sights.  When we made it back to the Ocean Tower we found that both elevators for the tower were now broken.  One had been broken all week but now both of them were out of service.  So we climbed up to our room on the 6th floor.  No harm but we were trying to figure out how we were going to get our luggage down all those flights of steps the next morning if the elevator was still out of service!

Our last sunset of the stay

Ruth's Chris to the Rescue

Since it was kind of mixed bag of a day, we booked dinner at the Ruth's Chris again this evening.  We figured that we might as well end the day and our vacation on a high note and you can always count on Ruth's Chris Steakhouse for a terrific meal!

Final Day

Big Island Breakfast

The final day of a Hawaiian vacation is always bittersweet.  While you have enjoyed your time away and have wonderful memories to take with you, it is always hard to pull yourself away from the sun and surf.  It is especially hard to pull yourself away when you know you are returning to temps that are below zero!  So as much as you try to be upbeat while packing your bags and ready for the long trip back....it is really hard!

We went to the Big Island Breakfast at the resort on our last day to start the day off right.  Then it was time to take a final walk around the grounds.  I just never get tired of views here!

When we went back to our room to make a final check and wait for bell services to come and get our bags. Tip:  If you stay at the Hilton Waikoloa Village plan on just paying for bell services to take your bags to your room.  The resort is huge and especially if you are in the ocean tower you will be dragging your bags for a long time!  It is worth the price of the tip.

Daily hula Lesson

As we waited we were able to watch the free hula lesson that the resort offers daily.  Wish I had been able to attend but from watching it looked like a lot of fun!

Bell Services arrived right on time and we headed to the hotel lobby for the last time.  This is another pet peeve of mine about this particular resort....it always seems to be understaffed in service areas that really affect the guests.  Let me explain this.....the valet parking is very convenient (especially because the self parking is quite a long walk from the resort and still costs you to park).  It is, however VERY slow.  No matter how early you call ahead for your vehicle it still takes a really long time for it to arrive.  (Now remember if you call from your room in the Ocean Tower and leave right away for the lobby you are a minimum of 15 minutes away from the valet).  If you wait and request the car from valet once you arrive in the lobby you have a VERY long wait.  When we stayed last year I thought the understaffed valet stemmed from the busy times when flights arrive Tip:  Definitely use bell services if your room is a long way from the parking area.  Definitely call them early and give yourself plenty of time to get your baggage and your vehicle from valet.  I would plan on this taking at least 45 min.
all at once.  However, it seems to just be a
staffing issue all the way around.  We also had a horrible time getting our bags once bell services

brought them to the valet area.  There was a long line and again no staffing.  So here is my

Once we got our bags and car we were on our way to the Tip:  Get to the airport well in advance of your departure time.  Add extra time if you plan on trying to grab a bite to eat. There is only one restaurant at the airport and it fills up quickly.
airport in Kona.  Again, this is an outdoor airport with very little cover.  It works well on most days but just pray there is no rain.  This year we were lucky and the weather was dry.  Staffing issues at the airport came into play also.  Security lines were extremely long and many flights were departing at the same time.  

All too quickly it was time to say good-bye to the Islands.....at least for the time being!

Coming Next:  Kauai and The Big Island - My Final Thoughts

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