Gidget went to Hawaii I probably will not ,how about you.

[dolittle]

So friends of mine went to Hawaii and shared a lot of the trip on F.B. It   struck me that they did the same things that Gidget's family did in 1960. I know it is beautiful but it seems like beside that, the attractions are pretty old and stale . I mean the pineapple factory and a luau were in this movie and my friends trip. Scenery is great anywhere but after awhile I would need something else. Hawaii was once the dream trip of many in the U.S., today few on the east coast go or want to. With what flying is like today the distance for us is way to much. Is Hawaii high on your list it is not on ours . How about you

[cruisemom42]

I was lucky enough to go there for a work-related meeting and arranged to spend some time there afterwards. All I can say is that I'm glad I didn't spend my own money to get there and back. But as I've said many times, I am not a "sand and sea and scenery" kind of vacationer. Many people love it.

 

 

[CruiserBruce]

Only been there over 30 times. I will let you know when I get tired of Hawaii. 

[Ashland]

Would love a RT from LA to Hawaii...But I am booked on a TP Hawaii-Vancouver for 2023.

 

I lived in Kealakekua/Captain Cook early 1970's during my hippie years...fun times !!!

[zekekelso]

I’ve never been to Hawaii. But if all it has going for it is perfect weather, stunning scenery and fantastic beaches, that enough for me. 

[taglovestocruise]

Doing the 13 night Honolulu to Vancouver in 2022. One night pre cruise near the cruise terminal  is enough for us. 

[shipgeeks]

We did a Celebrity cruise, about 5 days San Diego-Hawaii, about 5 days there at different islands, and about 5 days back.  Quite frankly, I enjoyed the sea days more than the ports.  No complaints, just not as magical as I might have been expecting.

 

[Hlitner]

I do like Hawaii but have no interest in ever returning to Oahu.  The other islands all have lots of charm.  But we think Hawaii is a much better place for an extended land trip rather then a few port days.  

 

Hank

[SelectSys]

@dolittleDistance is the key factor for east coast travel to HI.  Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean are somewhat close substitutes as beach destinations.  It makes sense that most people from Philadelphia pick other destinations.  I would suggest that all HI offers is an Gidget's beach holiday from 1960 seems a bit unfair and it was maybe your friend's choices on vacation that led to you getting that impression.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[evandbob]

The OP starts with Gidget and his friends stay there - Goodness, Hawaii has way more to offer.  The question the OP should be asking his friends is "why didn't you do other stuff?".

 

Granted, we have spent one week splitting time between the Big Isle and Maui, and another 10 days between Kauai and Maui.  We had so much to do every day from beach to mountaintop to volcanos to road trips to whale watching to snorkeling in a mountain crater on Molokini.  Others will visit Pearl Harbor and solemnly reflect on that history. Some may consider the way the islands were acquired by the USA and acknowledged the harm done to local culture and economy.

 

I totally agree that Hawaii should be enjoyed by staying there rather than a short shore visit.  Same with the Polynesian isles.  Cruises do have limitations!

[Pudgesmom]

Deleted

Edited June 15, 2021 by Pudgesmom

[mom says]

According to DH, who has visited several times, if you're bored  in Hawaii you just haven't tried very hard. We'll visit 3 of the islands on our Princess LA to Tahiti RT. I'm quite looking forward to it. My elder DD lived on the big island for 6 months and loved it.

[jtwind]

I was there just before the pandemic became a "thing".  I've never seen it so crazy crowded.  All hotels other than the most expensive were fully booked.  Lines at the rental car pickup were an hour long.  We couldn't park within ½ mile a few snorkel spots.  I asked the employees at restaurants, hotel, and car rental what was going on.  They all said that it had been that way since Southwest airline started flying there.

[dolittle]

20 minutes ago, SelectSys said:

@dolittleDistance is the key factor for east coast travel to HI.  Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean are somewhat close substitutes as beach destinations.  It makes sense that most people from Philadelphia pick other destinations.  I would suggest that all HI offers is an Gidget's beach holiday from 1960 seems a bit unfair and it was maybe your friend's choices on vacation that led to you getting that impression.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clearly my friends choices were weak ,except for the volcano(which I would  love) I could not think of any A-ticket attractions most people would know. It is just soooo far from the E.C. We were once at a travel show and they had guy from the Cook islands the only place further than Hi. no thanks.

[broberts]

2 hours ago, dolittle said:

So friends of mine went to Hawaii and shared a lot of the trip on F.B. It   struck me that they did the same things that Gidget's family did in 1960. I know it is beautiful but it seems like beside that, the attractions are pretty old and stale . I mean the pineapple factory and a luau were in this movie and my friends trip. Scenery is great anywhere but after awhile I would need something else. Hawaii was once the dream trip of many in the U.S., today few on the east coast go or want to. With what flying is like today the distance for us is way to much. Is Hawaii high on your list it is not on ours . How about you

 

It of course depends on the islands visited but I can't imagine running out of things to see and do. But I'm the sort that could snorkel every day and be happy 😀.

[dolittle]

4 minutes ago, jtwind said:

I was there just before the pandemic became a "thing".  I've never seen it so crazy crowded.  All hotels other than the most expensive were fully booked.  Lines at the rental car pickup were an hour long.  We couldn't park within ½ mile a few snorkel spots.  I asked the employees at restaurants, hotel, and car rental what was going on.  They all said that it had been that way since Southwest airline started flying there.

Glad they are doing well (pre-pan ) do not know the numbers but not many people from the east go anymore.

[frantic36]

Just now, dolittle said:

Glad they are doing well (pre-pan ) do not know the numbers but not many people from the east go anymore.

 

Friends of ours from California were there less than a month ago and Hawaii was very busy. They were glad they had booked accommodation and car hire well in advance as that was difficult to get at the last minute.

[CruiserBruce]

8 minutes ago, jtwind said:

I was there just before the pandemic became a "thing".  I've never seen it so crazy crowded.  All hotels other than the most expensive were fully booked.  Lines at the rental car pickup were an hour long.  We couldn't park within ½ mile a few snorkel spots.  I asked the employees at restaurants, hotel, and car rental what was going on.  They all said that it had been that way since Southwest airline started flying there.

In 2019, Hawaii set a record for visitors in a year...breaking 10 million for the first time. Unfortunately, infrastructure expansion...new hotels, condos, etc, hasn't kept up.

[SelectSys]

6 minutes ago, dolittle said:

We were once at a travel show and they had guy from the Cook islands the only place further than Hi. no thanks.

We have (or at least had) non-stop flights to both French Polynesia and the Cook Islands from LA.  The travel time to Tahiti really isn't that too bad from LAX and it is a great destination even though it is more expensive than HI.  Interestingly, it's quicker for us to go to Tahiti than for you to travel to HI from Philadelphia. 

 

I haven't been to the Cook Islands so I can't comment on that as a destination. 

[dolittle]

8 minutes ago, SelectSys said:

. 

 

I haven't been to the Cook Islands so I can't comment on that as a destination. 

 

[dolittle]

Just now, dolittle said:

 

If you go past the Cook islands you fall of the face of the earth.

[ilikeanswers]

58 minutes ago, dolittle said:

If you go past the Cook islands you fall of the face of the earth.

 

Wow I no idea as Australians we were floating in space😱

[ilikeanswers]

I have visited 5 islands in the Hawaii archipelago and I have to say I loved it. Amazing scenery, fantastic hikes,incredible road trips interesting geology, fascinating culture, fabulous food could easily spend more time there. Also been to 2 Islands of the Cooks absolutely loved it too. The Aitutaki lagoon is breathtaking and Rarotonga is full of culture, amazing food and great mountain hikes. 

[Hlitner]

2 hours ago, jtwind said:

I was there just before the pandemic became a "thing".  I've never seen it so crazy crowded.  All hotels other than the most expensive were fully booked.  Lines at the rental car pickup were an hour long.  We couldn't park within ½ mile a few snorkel spots.  I asked the employees at restaurants, hotel, and car rental what was going on.  They all said that it had been that way since Southwest airline started flying there.

I would guess that you were on Oahu which is the one island I prefer to avoid.  Oahu is great for those that like Miami Beach kind of places with lots of traffic, commercialism, high rise hotels, etc.  Go to Maui and get out of the main towns, spend time on the Big Island, or enjoy Kauai and it is a lot different then Oahu.   I also doubt if Southwest is to blame for tourism in Hawaii.  There are only so many hotel rooms and they are often full during the busier months.   Southwest is just one more airline.

 

Hank

[navybankerteacher]

Hawaii is OK - certainly worth seeing either on a cruise (which I did RT from San Diego) or a land visit (I had three weeks on several islands about a dozen years ago) — but I think generally way over-rated. Sort of the Carnival Cruise Line of island groups— falls far short of the Aegean islands, the less crowded Caribbean islands, even Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket (before they got over run).

 

A friend of mine refers to Hawaii as the Jersey Shore of the Pacific.