Tiki Central / Tiki Travel / Hawaii Vacation Tips
Post #167144 by tikiwinebear on Tue, Jun 21, 2005 9:05 AM
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tikiwinebear
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Tue, Jun 21, 2005 9:05 AM
Our favorite island so far is Maui. We haven't been to Kauai yet, and I am sure it will rank high as well. I have been very fortunate in visiting the islands 15 or more times over the last 12 years, mainly for business, and mainly to Oahu. Honolulu provides lots of entertainment, but if you want a true (affordable) Hawaiian adventure, I would suggest either the Big Island or Maui. This (early November) will be our 3rd annual trip back to Maui. I discovered a wonderful, small condo complex on the northwest side of the island, away from the hustle of Ka'anapali. This condo complex is called the Honokeana Cove Resort, and is situated on a small cove full of fish, coral, and sea turtles. The HCR is actually in Napali, just north of Ka'anapali and south of Kapalua (where the Ritz Carlton is located). The complex has about 50 units, 2 stories tall, and was built at least 25 - 30 years ago. It is not plush, nor are the prices. This year, we booked our regular condo at $160 per night. It has 2 full bedrooms (king bed downstairs and queen bed upstairs in a loft) and 2 full bathrooms (one up and one down) along with all full sized appliances (refrigerator, stove, dishwasher,etc), complete set of dishes / glasses / cooking utensils, television / CD player / VCR, and complete living room setup. Pricing the hotels in the area, the medium price was between $215 and $325. They have a large grassy area and a freshwater pool (for non-snorkelers and sun bathers), 3 gas grills for everyone to use, and very nicely kept grounds. The entire complex has an old Hawaiian look complete with lava rock buildings, palm trees, and lots of vegetation. The condo we book has an unabstructed view of Molokai, and literally sits above the rocky shoreline of the cove. The HCR is around a small jetty of land from the Napali Beach, but doesn't have beach around the cove. It is such a treat to suit up, grab the snorkeling gear, and walk 2 minutes down to the water without having to drive / park / fight other folks / snorkel / pack back up / drive home. The fish are abundant, and you are almost guaranteed to see at least one turtle. (During a normal 1-1.5 hours worth of snorkeling, we spot 3-5 turtles.) Snorkeling guide books rate this cove with either an A- or B+ (the water can get a bit murky at times if the ocean is rough). Lahaina is only 15 minutes away from HRC, so if shopping and nightlife are necessary, its very convenient. There are markets and restaurants near the condos. But, we like it best for its quiet atmosphere and closeness to snorkel all day long. During our last visit, we met other renters and owners from all over California (5 from our area) and other parts of the country. On Wednesday night, the manager of the complex hosts a PuPu gathering, asking all attendees to bring a PuPu to share. You get to meet other residents and make friends. If anyone is interested in more information, please contact me, or check out their web site. After you have been there, you know which units have the best views or nicest lanai's, etc. But I found asking the right questions when booking a condo, and being flexible in my travel dates, got us a GREAT choice. The Honokeana Cove Resort won't rate high on having tiki's on the property, but the Ohana factor is the highest I can rate it. Darn, I want to be there now!! See some pictures of the place here: Aloha May the Tiki be with you, and float the Aloha to all parts of the world! [ Edited by: tikiwinebear on 2005-06-21 18:46 ] |