Hawaii help needed

[brownsnest]

Hubby has conference on Maui in Nov. for 5 days but afternoons will be free to see island.

We arrive 5 days before conference and do not have a clue where to spend the most time, and which
island to just ignore maybe.

1. what about the interisland travel? is ferry best, or plane, or both?

2. We love nature, scenery, flowers, and forest.......but we can't hike many miles.
Hubby has bad hip....my neck is bad. Just had surgery and headed for another.
Any suggestions?

3. What about driving? Which islands would you DRIVE on and which would you take a TOUR of?

4. Which island is not worth visiting if you can see everything on other islands?

5. Where do you visit pineapple growers and purchase some to bring home? Macadamia nuts?

6. What is weather like in November?

Thanks so very much for your kind help with getting us started.
Any websites would be welcomed also.
Happy New Year to all,
nan

[everyann]

1. what about the interisland travel? is ferry best, or plane, or both?

My preference would be by plane and I've seen some last minute deals on Hawaiian airlines that offers travelers dirt cheap rates just to fill the aircraft.

2. We love nature, scenery, flowers, and forest.......but we can't hike many miles.
Hubby has bad hip....my neck is bad. Just had surgery and headed for another.
Any suggestions?

I would suggest the Kuloa Point Trail, it's only about a half a mile. If you're looking for a bit longer, then the Wai'anapanapa Coastal Trail, but it's a bit rugged...read more about it here.

3. What about driving? Which islands would you DRIVE on and which would you take a TOUR of?

I would drive Maui and Oahu. Tours...depends what kind of tour your looking for. Each island has great tours. What kinds of tours do you prefer, scenic or exciting?

4. Which island is not worth visiting if you can see everything on other islands?

Hm. If you want to do the more tourist type of things then don't miss Oahu. However, if you want to see some of the volcanoes then you can't miss the Big Island.

5. Where do you visit pineapple growers and purchase some to bring home? Macadamia nuts?

If you're on Oahu there's the Dole plantation that you can visit to get the Pineapples. As far as Macadamia nuts, I'm pretty sure you can find those on any island.

6. What is weather like in November?

Well on average you'll probably get something around high 60s to low 80s. On some years it can be the beginning of the rainy season but just keep your eye out on the forecast.

[brownsnest]

Thanks so much for the GREAT advice.....you asked what kind of tours...we would want scenic, and
I also love to snorkel, and would prefer the BEST reef.
Thanks,
brownsnest

[everyann]

Hm. As far as tours go, consider a helicopter tour. They're available on Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island. I guess it'll just depend if you fly out of Maui. Each island has a great aerial tour. However, if you're not into the aerial thing, there's always island tours.

Maui has great adventure tours in addition to the helicopter tours.

Oahu offers a cruise option for touring the island. Personally, I'd rather be surrounded by the landscape or as close as possible. However, if you're more into the great views from a distance, this may be the option for you. If not, there is and island tour that drives around the island. Mind you, this will take up a big chunk of your day but it's always nice to see all of the sights.

The Big Island offers a circle island tour that will take you around for the entire day. This would be your chance to see all of the natural wonders of the Big Island.

Here are some links of interests for your tours:

Oahu Tours
Kauai Tours
Maui Tours
Big Island Tours

In regards to the snorkeling, I'm a bit biased but I would say you should try Oahu snorkeling and you can't do no better than Hanauma Bay. If you don't have a fear of sharks, then there's always Shark's Cove on the North Shore of Oahu. For this location, it's best to get there early.

Now that doesn't mean that the other islands aren't worthy of snorkeling. Maui snorkeling is great at Honolu’a Bay from what I hear. It is also a popular surfing area, so if you're out there with the surfers, watch for the boards!

I've listed them as separate events, but they could very well be part of your tours. I have seen tours that offer snorkeling in addition to the normal tour. My preference would've been to do them on separate days but hey you may like to get it all done at once. The choice is yours, I hope you have a great time in Hawai'i!