Which Island Suits You?
Written: Apr 20 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: has that postcard feeling
Cons: nothing
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| TRAVELJAM's Full Review: Hawaii |
Can't decide which island(s) to visit? There are definite things to consider. I can help you with information from two of the islands; Oahu and Kauai.
First of all, you have to decide which kind of traveler you are: Budget? Luxury? Somewhere in between?
Next, what do you want from your Hawaiian vacation: Rest and relaxation, with pool side service? Hiking, sightseeing? On or off the beaten path?
Oahu (which is where Honolulu and Waikiki are) is the most populated of the islands. It has cities, high rise hotels, and tourist traps galore. BUT, it is also the island to be on if you have a limited amount of time or spending money.
Kauai is beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! Lush jungles, no high rises (there is a law against it), small villages, and it definitely gives you the feeling of "old Hawaii". However, take heed if you are an active person: as soon as 8 PM rolls around, you better just hop in bed, because everything is shut down. That is typical of small places. And remember that it isn't called the Garden Isle for nothing. There IS rain.
Oahu has GREAT shopping, and you will find the cheapest souvenir items here. It is great fun at the International Marketplace, because you can barter and there is never a shortage of things to look at.
Kauai doesn't have very much shopping, unless you don't mind paying inflated prices for items you know you can get on Oahu for half! But the window shopping is great, especially in the art galleries.
Kauai has the most beautiful plants and flowers. Alongside the road are banana trees, papaya trees, gauva trees, hibiscus, plumeria, bougainvillia, and SUGAR CANE!!! (not to mention a few thousand other species as well.) I kept thinking, "I have got to pick something and eat it!"
Oahu has the concrete jungle, BUT you can drive out of the city and find lush flora as well. Not as lush as the Garden Isle, but it is still beautiful.
Oahu has gorgeous beaches, especially on the other side of the island from Waikiki. However, I absolutely LOVE Waikiki. I know, it is a "fake" beach, and the sand is from another island, but the sight of the water is permanantly fixed in my mind. There is a feeling on Waikiki...however many people happen to be there. Hawaiian music coming from the platforms of the hotels sweep down the beach, and excitement is in the air. Where else can you walk through a 4 star hotel in your bikini and not get dirty looks?
Kauai has equally pretty beaches, but since it rains so much, I don't feel that we got to know them very well. A beautiful one is Polihale Beach. It is the very last road accessible beach on the island, and you have to go down a long dirt road through sugar cane fields to get to it. It is not a safe swimming beach, but perfect in beauty and sun soaking.
Kauai has the unparalleled Na Pali Coast. These are cliffs that just jet out of the water, and have water falls running down them all over. The best place to view them is from the air, or from the water on a boat. And that is the best place to view the dolphins and whales! Right next to you!
Oahu is full of activity and excitement, and when night falls, the excitement climaxes! The tiki torches are lit all over, and you can hear music coming from all different corners. Night brings a whole new Hawaii.
Kauai is serene and peaceful. A slow paced atmosphere conducive to relaxation. No body is worried about being late or being entertained at all moments of the day. The locals are so friendly and helpful, and full of advice as well.
Both islands have their own beauty, their own feeling. They are equally impressive, but in different ways. I have been bitten by the Island bug, and all that Hawaii has to offer. I like to experience ALL the different assets of each of these specks of land in the middle of the Pacific. I only have favorites if we are talking about certain things about them. Otherwise, I love them both, and they are both in my heart to stay.
Aloha...
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
TRAVELJAM
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Location: Pacific Northwest
Reviews written: 61
Trusted by: 49 members
About Me:
Love to travel and write about it!!!
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