Tips for Your Hawaiian Vacation

* The only guide book you need is Andrew Doughty's "(insert island name) REVEALED: The Ultimate Guidebook." It is usually current and it is well researched and filled with great travel tips. We found his restaurant picks to be good too.
* Bring a jacket or sweater -- it gets cool at night and up in the mountains
* Be prepared for scenic diversions and don't over plan your day
* Make sure your rental car has cruise control. The speed limit is lower than anywhere I've ever been but you'll need it to insure you are at least going the posted minimum speed. There are so many breathtaking distractions that driving is quite challenging.
* If your phone doesn't have GPS, be sure to get GPS with your car. The street street names are so similar to one another that every vowel counts when looking for your location.
* If you are prone to motion sickness, pack ginger tablets. You'll need them for driving just as much if not more than you need them for adventures on the sea.
* Always carry your bathing suit, a beach towel and your snorkel gear. You never know when the a picturesque beach will call your name.
* Bring binoculars -- you can see whales from the shore
* When going inside places be mindful of whether or not you need to take your shoes off

AS FOR THE ISLANDS WE VISITED:

OAHU

* Bring an umbrella or rain jacket with you. It rains at least a dozen times a day
* Go to ISLAND SNOW for "shave ice" (we liked the Pali Pog)
* Spend time at KAILUA BEACH PARK
* Snokel at HANAUMA BAY (the best snorkel spot on our three island tour)
* Go to LEONARD'S BAKERY for the Li Hing malasadas
* Visit PEARL HARBOR and tour all the on-site museums. Take time to watch all the videos. Be sure to leave all your bags at the hotel or in your car otherwise you will have to check it for $3.

BIG ISLAND

* Whenever you have the option to eat something made with LILIKOI do it.
* If you are staying near KEALAKEKUA go to ISLAND NATURALS MARKET, get a cup of organic Hawaiian java and watch the sunset from the lanai
* MOUNTAIN THUNDER coffee is delicious and the drive up the mountain to the plantation is nice.
* If you are staying in Waimea go to MAMANE BAKERY and get a cheese danish. The store looks like a warehouse but if you enter from the side they will sell you yummy baked goods.
* The best meal we had on our trip was at HILO BAY CAFE in HILO. Save room for desert.
* When you first arrive at VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK check at the visitor's center for the daily activities. We enjoyed the crater walk/tour with a park ranger and the ukelele lesson at the art center.
* The food at the LAVA ROCK CAFE in the town of Volcano was OK but the lilikoi cheesecake was the best treat we had on our trip.
MISSED: Mauna Kea stargazing ideally on a night when there is no moon or it is at less than 15%. Here's a link: http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/info/vis/visiting-mauna-kea/star-gazing-program.html

MAUI

* We really enjoyed the TRILOGY snorkel cruise to Lana'i. Don't skip the tour of the city of Lana'i if you go.
* WHALES! There are whales all along the HONOAPIILANI HIGHWAY and we often pulled over and just watched the show.
* Ma La restaurant for a nightcap or nosh
* If you are near Lahaina on a Sunday, go to the 10:30a service at LAHAINA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. It is a lovely Hawaiian experience.
* If you go to HANA, take the back road home. They sell t-shirts that say "I survived the Road to Hana." Forget that... when you finish you will feel worthy of a medal.
MISSED: There is a sunset lookout on Highway 37. I think it is Sun Yat Sen Park near Keokea. I wanted to stop and take in the sunset but it was threatening rain so we kept on going. If I had another day in Maui, I would have gone back.