You may recall that my parents, Todd and I had a trip planned to the UK in September. We had already purchased our tickets a few weeks ago and were scheduled to depart on September 9th…five days before the baby is due.
Whoops.
With that trip cancelled, we decided that a relaxing vacation in the sun was in order. We landed on Hawaii in May. I’ve never been to Hawaii and the thought of loads of sun, reading and good food was too wonderful to pass up. And, my lovely aunt owns a condo in Maui that we can borrow!
The place sounds great, and I believe her condo is on the 9th floor so I am keeping my fingers crossed for a great view! It looks as though the kitchens are fabulous and there is a nice market on site, so perhaps I will have the opportunity to cook with some new ingredients.
I will be pushing on 24 weeks and nearing the end of my second trimester by the time we go, so hopefully I am not obscenely huge. My mother is very active and my father is gung-ho on seeing Pearl Harbor and volcanos. We haven’t made any solid plans, and while I am planning on spending most of my time in the sun and pool (I bet the pool will be so nice on my tired body) I would love to hear your recommendations. Have any of you been to Hawaii? Any favorite spots or must-sees?
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*seething with jealousy*
I’ve never been, but ye gods do I want to. I think Anthony Bourdain’s Hawaii episode is on Netflix streaming…I usually want to go just about every place he visits.
Hawaii is fantastic. I went to Honolulu for my honeymoon (a spot we chose simply because my husband was running the Honolulu Marathon at the end of our honeymoon week) and it was incredible. Hawaii is definitely very touristy and very crowded, but none of that really matters. Whereas the touristy nature of Europe can be a bit irritating when you are there trying to take in the experience and culture, in Hawaii it just doesn’t really bother you. Everything is very laid back and just easy going and enjoyable. We hiked Diamond Head on Oahu in the very early morning and reached the top in time to watch the sunrise. Not sure if you’ll be up to that at 24 weeks, but it was definitely an amazing experience and made for some of the best pictures I have ever taken. Have fun! I’m very jealous. My husband goes back every year for the Marathon, but I’ve only been that one time and I’m itching to get back there someday. You’ll have an amazing time.
24 weeks along will be the perfect time for a getaway! you’ll still have all that great 2nd trimester energy and i doubt you’ll be “obscenely huge”….like, ever.
i’ve only spent time on the big island and could give you tons of tips if you decide to puddle jump over. from kona to hilo, the big island is where it’s at.
Oh my god. I’m so jealous.
I’ve never been but I have to say, I’d prefer Hawaii to the UK :)
Also you should read some Joan Didion to prepare. (She wrote several essays about Hawaii in the 70s)
lucky duck! I’ve never been and the plane ride from the east coast is a serious deterrent- but it really looks spectacular. my fiance went a few years back and said the hiking is unbelievable- apparently there are a lot of less-strenuous hikes too with amazing views, but like Claire mentioned above, they are probably more tourist-heavy than the steeper climbs. maybe it’s a good time to buy a new camera, and just take photos all day :) is this the same aunt with the place in Vancouver?
As far as islands go, I have to agree that Hawaii is preferable to the grey UK. I have absolutely no advice for you because the only time I went to Hawaii I had a hot fling with a French Olympic sailor and it’s all kind of a hazy (but lovely) dream. Although 24 weeks pregnant with your family is unlikely to yield such a result for you, I think you pretty much can’t go wrong. Too bad you’re not supposed to eat sushi!
Hi! Just stumbled upon here. If you’re going to be on Maui and are up for the long, winding drive, seeing the sunrise or sunset at the top of Haleakala is quite the sight.
If you’re on O’ahu, I’m sure your father will love Pearl Harbor, especially if he likes military history. They’ve added a number of museums and sights. Must-see of course is the USS Arizona, but it’s also worth going to see the USS Missouri. They also have a submarine, the USS Bowfin, and a number of museums (I like the Pacific Aviation Museum).
Oh, and go eat Hawaiian food. It’s good. :)
Haleakala if you can–it’s like a moonscape. If you can stand being in a car, the Hana Highway is pretty neat too…but I hear Maui’s also good for, you know, sun and sand and relaxing.
Well, you won’t be able to see Pearl Harbor or an active volcano unless you fly to Oahu or the Big Island, respectively. But there’s plenty of gorgeousness on Maui to keep you occupied! If your dad wants to see volcanoes, perhaps he’ll be satisfied with the crater (and sunrise) on top of Haleakala. A lot of people do the bike-down-the-volcano thing after sunrise, but I tried it and busted my ass 5 minutes in—it’s not for the faint of heart (and you definitely shouldn’t do it pregnant, although most bike companies will let you drive back down in the van while your more active friends ride bikes, if they’re into it). There are also some creepy/cool lava fields in southern Maui (just south of Makena). I highly recommend scoping out the northern tip of Maui. Look up Nakalele Blowhole and the Olivine Pools—just gorgeous. Lots of fun to be had clambering over rocks with the ocean crashing right next to you. The whole west coast of Maui is just gorgeous. Lahaina is cute, with good restaurants. Feel free to e-mail me as the time approaches—I spent 8 days on Maui last summer (and 6 on Big Island).
Maui is a lot of fun, though you’ll find that places that look to be really close on a map take a while to get between. I haven’t spent a lot of time in Ka’anapali (I’ve stayed twice in Kihei, and once near Pa’ia), but downtown Lahaina can be fun. Morning snorkeling at Honolua Bay is tremendous. And I love the little town of Pa’ia — it’s this laidback surfing spot on the wet side of the island. It’s the last real town on the road to Hana — which in my experience was overrated.
You can go to most of the major resort hotels and wander around and even use their beaches — I think it’s the Grand Wailea in Makena that has a lot of high-end shopping? I’m going to second the idea of visiting Haleakala. Even at mid-day, it’s this dramatic otherworldly place — like the surface of Mars. And if you’re into a mellow snorkeling experience (and you don’t get seasick), you might want to do a boat trip to Molokini island: perfectly calm water, lots of fish, in a sunken crater.
And I have to recommend the tasting menu at Sansei Seafood & Sushi in Kihei. It’s on my list of top 10 dining experiences, ever. The butterfish is so good.
When I was 16 I was given that choice between a trip to Hawaii and a trip to London. I chose London. Although I went to Hawaii a few years later. We went to the Big Island and got really bad food poisoning. Needless to say it wasn’t the greatest trip.
I have a lot of family in Maui so I’ve been wanting to go. My paternal grandmother comes from a huge Portuguese family that has been living on that island for generations