I was with friends (mid 40s, 2nd marriage each) and they are getting married early June and want to go to Hawaii on their honeymoon. They need suggestions on where to go. They would like a nice place, but cannot afford top-of-the-line places. Something a little off the beaten track and somewhere they can ride horses on the beach. They have owned horses previously (and will again), so they don't want the beginners touristy places.

He is also an avid hunter (goes to Wyoming) and he mentioned bird hunting in Hawaii?

They will be flying in. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

For couples, the better places would be to go to either Kaui, or Maui. There are condos that can be rented. In Kehei Maui the Luana Kai condos work well. I dont recall the name of those in Kaui, but it's alot tamer there with exception of some of the larger beaches. I'm not sure about the horses, but have em look up a business called Eyes of Maui. It's owned by a guy named Blane Paradda. He can setup just about any adventure they want to go on.

I went there on my Honeymoon in 96. We spent 3 days in Kuai, 3 days in Maui, and 1 day on Oahu

I liked the Kiahuna Plantation Resort in Kuai. Prices were very good and they have beautiful gardens all over the property. The rooms were more "traditional" without the fancy modern decorations (complete with a Gecko in our room). There was also a lot of uncrowded beach in Kuai and not all the traffic.

The Helicopter tour we took of the Napali coast in Kuai was spectacular -- really nice. There were also some real nice hiking trails -- didn't pay any attention to horse rentals.

On Maui there is a bike trip you can take down the side of Haleakala Crater -- any of the big hotels will know and can book it. You get up early and ride up in a bus, watch the sunrise and bike down. I'd recommend doing this the first day you are there because we had jet lag and woke up at 3 in the morning anyway.

Maui was a lot busier but still very nice. A good place to go for a luau and if you are into the "party scene" (we are not).

We went snorkeling in Maui too. There was a real nice day trip we took by charter boat to a small island a few miles from Kuai. The snorkeling there was great.

The road to Hana is a fun drive, but start early in the day because it takes a couple hours each way.

Waikiki beach near Honolulu was a zoo. Pearl Harbor was nice, a must see IMO

We took a red-eye coming back which was actually a good move. Helped with jet lag.

Hope that helps . . .

Eric thanks for the info. Strange I haven't heard from the locals from hawaii smile.gif

The wife and I got married on the beach at sunset in Maui, 3 years ago this June. Just the two of us, and the minister, photographer and guitar player. Awesome. Stayed at the Ritz Carlton there. Did the usual helicopter rides, hiking, beaches, snorkelling, scuba, etc.
Went back on our first anniversary to Oahu at Diamond Head. Did the same plus tours and museums, Pearl Harbor, etc. I liked Oahu better.

But please tell your friend, no hunting. There are beautiful birds there. They belong there. Leave 'em alone.

We flew to Maui ten years ago and were married on Kaanapali beach, honeymooned for two weeks at the Hyatt Regency; did the day-trip on the big Navatek hydrofoil, took the submarine trip, chartered a helicopter for the day (instead of the canned 1-hour tours), landed on the black beach in Hana for a catered lunch and saw most of Maui the tourists never get to see, enjoyed Lahaina, chartered a sport fisherman for the day and the wife caught an 8-foot Marlin after a 45-minute battle from the fighting chair, and just relaxed on the beach.

Went back five years ago and did it all over again; Maui is a beautiful place. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

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