Howdy!

I would like to take my wife to Hawaii to celebrate 25 years this summer. The problem is, we have never been and I have no idea what to do.

My wife enjoys relaxing at resorts and I enjoy exploring places I've never been to.

What are your recommendations for an experience we both can enjoy? I don't want to break the bank, but I also don't know when we will ever come back. For those that go often - help a brother out!

Congratulations!! Hawaii is such a wonderful destination, you can do so many different types of trips.

What's the vision for your trip? Pristine beaches, outdoor activity, sailing, Volcanoes, etc. That will help narrow down which island(s) will be the best fit for y'all.

Also, how long do you have to stay? Do you want to hop islands or stay in one location.

Happy to answer questions or help if you're looking for it!

Kreg17 said:

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Congratulations!! Hawaii is such a wonderful destination, you can do so many different types of trips.

What's the vision for your trip? Pristine beaches, outdoor activity, sailing, Volcanoes, etc. That will help narrow down which island(s) will be the best fit for y'all.

Also, how long do you have to stay? Do you want to hop islands or stay in one location.

Happy to answer questions or help if you're looking for it!

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Beaches for sure. Hiking but nothing crazy. I love outdoor activity, but my wife is a little more resorty - so a balance of outdoor activity. I would love a volcano, but my wife would probably not want to even get on the big Island if there is a volcano there.

Somewhere around 6 nights is probably ideal. I don't mind hopping, but there would have to be purpose to it for my wife to want to hop.

I think 6 nights is better spent in one spot personally.

If your budget allows, I would suggest the Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island. Probably the best beach on the Big Island and one of my favorite hotels in all of Hawaii. Great food, spa, and close enough to Volcanoes NP to do a day trip or helicopter ride (no need to hop islands). Some of my favorite activities is the star gazing and coffee plantations, there are some really great tour operators.

I've been able to unlock some great benefits for guests at the Fairmont in the past, so feel free to reach if you're interested (no additional cost for hotels).

I've stayed at the Fairmont Orchid, the Grand Wailea (Maui), and the Grant Hyatt Kauai.

I absolutely agree with the assessment of the Orchid - best beach hotel in Hawaii, specifically because of its beach. I also think the Big Island has the most fun collection of activities to do. Renting a car and driving around is super easy.

As the previous poster mentioned, there is Volcanoes National Park, and you can also go to the summit of Mauna Kea (one of the worlds tallest mountains from its sea base), and you can snorkel with Manta Rays.

We've been three times and have hit all four major islands. For six nights, I also suggest sticking with one island.

I usually suggest Maui to people for their first time. Just a great variety of things to do there.

We watched lots of these videos over the years in preparation.

https://www.youtube.com/@TheHawaiiVacationGuide

Counterpoint said:

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All this time, I just assumed you were from the big island of Hawaii because of your username (Hilo), and it turns out I couldn't have been more wrong!

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That's funny. Never been. Hi-Lo was my camp name back in the day.

gigemhilo said:

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I would love a volcano, but my wife would probably not want to even get on the big Island if there is a volcano there.

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she won't want to go to Maui either then. I could be mistaken, but I believe the big island and Maui are the only ones with active volcanoes.

Just the big island right now (unless we are using technical definitions and maybe Maui would qualify). and it has been amazing lately. I hope it's still spewing when I'm there in May.

So for resorts experiences and hiking on an anniversary, I would choose Kauai. The old St. Regis in Princeville is a good spot. You can hang out at Tunnels and Kee and there is a really great boat ride along Napali (Napali Catamarans). The start of the trail at Kee is a good day hike. There's a nice waterfall a few miles in. We stay in Hanalei Bay Resort next door to the St. Regis when we travel as a family (condos and they are cheaper). Honestly, if I was there a week, I'd stay 3-4 days in Princeville and then move to the Grand Hyatt on the south side for 3-4 days to get both sides of the island in so you don't have to drive as much. Kauai has a cool chocolate farm and a coffee farm with tours that we enjoyed. Snorkeling is best on the north side but I will say that Maui is better for snorkeling and the Big Island is best. The helicopter ride around Kauai is a must (big island is a close second).

On the big island, you can snorkel at night with Manta Rays (we're diving with them this summer). The volcano isn't a "blow the top off" situation so your wife shouldn't worry. But it's totally worth checking out if you can. Stay at Volcano House on your first night there and your natural clock will have you up at 3am to see it at night. So cool!!!

All islands are pretty awesome so you can't really go wrong there. I agree with everyone above: don't island hop on a 6 day trip.

Counterpoint said:

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All this time, I just assumed you were from the big island of Hawaii because of your username (Hilo), and it turns out I couldn't have been more wrong!

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Dude. Same.

Halaekala hasn't erupted in a few hundred years, but is still considered an active volcano.

AggieOO said:

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Halaekala hasn't erupted in a few hundred years, but is still considered an active volcano.

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Ah. I was thinking it was longer than that. I just remember thinking it is likely done. But I'm no volcanologist (never used that word before so I'm stoked).

That said, Haleakala is a great sunrise and pretty cool spot to check out.

i had to look it up to be certain, but USGS believes it will erupt again.

and yes, its a great sunrise spot. My wife apparently didn't believe me that she'd need her cold weather clothes, so she froze her ass off up there.

I just looked as well. Yep. Dormant, but not dead. I'm sure there will be some notice from the scientific community when it decides to get going so the OP's wife shouldn't worry too much.

So yeah, we planned ahead for sunrise. We took ski coats and were fine. Other people there were freezing their asses off. As soon as we got down into town, we shipped that little suitcase home via UPS. It was our first stop (great for the time change) and we were island hopping so I didn't want to lug around all that. The Big Island volcano area can be chilly in the early morning hours, too!

Just a thought, but if pearl harbor interests you, that's on Oahu. Might not be a big enough draw to pull you away from going to other islands.

schmendeler said:

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Just a thought, but if pearl harbor interests you, that's on Oahu. Might not be a big enough draw to pull you away from going to other islands.

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We've considered that. It's something I would be interested in, but not enough to tank other plans.

I'd skip Oahu. Honolulu is largely a dump, Pearl Harbor being the only redeeming thing. Absolutely go to Pearl Harbor if you want to pay your respects or have a mainland layover though.

Yeah, We were in Waikiki right before Christmas and we stayed at the Military Resort (Hale Koa).

The resort itself was nice but I would have liked a more relaxed area, it was way too crowded. The wife and I took an island hopper over to Hilo to see the Volcano and other things and both of us thought we would have liked the smaller town (though Big Island) better.

We did go to Pearl Harbor (twice) and I actually could have spent more time there and if the weather had been better (LOTS of rain in December). The first trip we went out to the USS Arizona Memorial and then browsed the exhibits, The second trip we attended a commissioning ceremony for one of my BIL's former ROTC students on the deck of the USS Missouri. That was pretty cool, I even had a brief conversation with the Commander of the Pacific Fleet after the ceremony and he seemed like a pretty cool guy.

Maui or Kauai seem like the answers here. Kauai is a little less developed and more 'nature focused'.

South Maui has better sun and decent beaches.

Mega Lops said:

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I'd skip Oahu. Honolulu is largely a dump, Pearl Harbor being the only redeeming thing.

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Couldn't disagree more. Sorry Honolulu isn't up to your standards.

Doing Kauai for the second time this August, did Maui summer 2024, and Kauai initially in 2000. Changed planes in Oahu in 2000. I have scuba friends that only go to Oahu.

If you only had one day in Hawaii, a full day guided tour on the road to Hanna is your best option. Kauai is a great first visit option and still my overall favorite. We did a week on Poipu beach followed by a week on Anini beach the first time. We are beachfront near Tunnels Beach for ten days this August.

Hawaii is amazing.