I'M BORED!!!!!!!!! what are you doing???

MAN- this week SUCKS already!!!!  Babygirl is with my mom so I can be at work late - I have been BULLSHIOTTING all dayum day!!!!  I have done all the online shoppin my wallet can handle, have done all the setup for babygirl's new school, doublechecked and balanced my checkbook and emailed my homies who are TOO BUSY to reply......

so - da heyl YALL up to?  talk to me people!!!!!  LOL 

Just got back from lunch..

About to suft the internet deciding where I want to travel in October for our anniversary/hubby birthday trip.

Dang - I just told myself that I am GOING to vacation next year, no doubt - it's been 2 yrs since my last one.... I want go to New Mexico or Colorado.

where are you thinking about going?  Hawaii is nice at that time.

Ionknow - ain't that still during Hurricane season?  It's one thing to be in Florida for a 'cane but Hawaii????

girl, hawaii is much safer then florida during hurrican season.  the last time a can hit them was in 94 and is a lot more fun!!  lived there for 2 years & try to get back when i can.

Hi Gigilani!

I'm going to Hawaii for 2 weeks in October.  We will be in Oahu for a week and in Maui for a week.  Any "must do" suggestions?

Yess!  For oahu, Do Not pay to tour pearl harbor.  You can get there on $1.75 by riding the bus & the exhibit is free.  Got get there early.  I would do that on Saturday morning, then you can walk directly over the Aloha stadium & go to the swap meet, to pick up all your souiveners.   Great snorkerling in Haunama Bay

I would suggest renting a car for the day, to drive around,  that way you can explore a lot more, as opposed to being at the mercy of da bus (that is the real name).  Go to the Polynesian cultural center.  It is a really cool place, as they have replica villages of pacific islands.  They also have a luau at night, so this could be a all day thing for you.  Then you want to go to Haunama Bay.  You can hike Diamond Head.  Do Atlantis subs, take a dinner cruise.  Go to the Dole pineapple plantation.  go to Ala Moana shopping center.  Their food court is the bomb.  They have a pandas there & it tastes totally different than on the mainland.   Plust Ala Moana is the largest open air shopping center in the world.   Whatever you may like in Aisan cuisine you will find totally different in Hawaii.  I rarely eat Chinese food in the mainland anymore because Hawaii spoiled me.  Try to get to get to a Zippys, that is  a local hangout & is 24 hours.  They have great food.  The polynesian market place also has a good food court.  When you order food it is referred to as a lunch plate.  You may want to share w/hubby, cause they load them down.  2-3 meats, 2 scoops of rice, 1-2 veggies is normal & anywhere from $6-$8.    Try their chinese food. The sweet & sour pork & chicken is made totally different there & is my fave!

There are a few vegas style shows in Waikiki, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village & The Outrigger Waikiki.

I havent been to Maui for a while, but you definately want to do the drive to Hana, go up to Haleakula & hang out in Lahania & the Iaio needle.  They say that it is a profile of JFK.  I never could see it, but it is beautiful in there & sister doesn't usually like to hike!

What hotel are you staying at in Waikiki & Maui? 

Thanks for all the great information!!!

We are staying at Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore of Oahu.  We will have a rental car during our stay there.  I understand Waikiki is where most tourist stay but I wanted to experience something a little more upscale and different even if it is further away from the main attractions.  Hiking at Diamond Head sounds good and so does the Atlantis dinner cruise. The Dole Plantation and shopping at Ala Moana is already on the list!

In Maui we are staying at the Grand Wailea Resort and Spa.  We did not reserve a rental car for that week but we plan to rent one when necessary.  I read about the drive to Hana and it sounds looonnnnnggggg but that is on the list too -- don't know if we should take a guided tour or drive it ourselves though.  I read that luaus are better in Maui -- know anything about that?

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.  I'm definitely adding some of your suggestions to the plan.

Actually I would say rent a car for your stay on Maui as well.  Maui is not as populated as Oahu, so I think you would find you would be more inconvienced by not having a car, as opposed to only renting occassionally & the transfers alone have got to be as much or more than a day for car rental.  I would never let my clients do that!  OR I would make them sign a waiver.     Grand Wailea is beautiful & I would to have told you to head for the Ihilani, but word is with their renovations, it is really nice now.  What I would suggest you do is call or fax the GM & tell them it is a special occasion & would like to request  complimentary upgrade.  Then followup at check in, then specifically ask it they can put you in a oceanview/oceanfront room, if they hadn't allready.

If you want nightlife, you are going to have to drive into Waikiki.  I don't know what clubs are hot anymore, but your front desk can help you with that.  Definately go to resteraunt row, they have some really nice restaraunts & I think a jazz club still.  There is also the Aloha tower has the same.

Drive to Hana is beautiful, even if you don't make it, you want to get as far as the 7 pools.  Drive yourself, there are all kinds of picture ops throughout the drive.  Maui is famous on the Island for their caramel popcorn. 

The Lahaina Luau is really good.  That is the one that Eddie Cibrian goes to all of the time.  Poly center's is great too. Another one that is good in Waikik is Germaine's Luau.  One word of warning,  start with a dab of poi & I mean a dab!!   I highly doubt that you will like it.  Taro is what they use to make it. Taro chips are good,but when it's made into poi...well, lets just say it's an aquired taste.  Like they have to start you on it when you're a baby. 

If I  can think of anything else I'll let you know.