First time visit to Honolulu?

Oahu has some great activities all easy to get to, tourists are well catered for. TheBus is an easy way to get around and exceedingly well priced. Iolani Palace, and Queen Emmas summer palace are both close to Honolulu, as is Bishops Museum. Polynesian Cultural Centre is a must see, stay for the Ali'i Luau and nightly show. Ride the open air Hilo Hattie trolley, its free and they do have a great range of souvenirs. If you want gift calenders etc, Walmart, just behind Ala Moana Center has a good selection. The food court in Ala Moana center means you can eat very reasonably, hot dog chips and drink under 10$. If you sat at the Marina end of Waikiki it is quieter, and there is a good selection of hotels, Hilton Hawaiian Village for example. If you rent a car beaware that parking can be expensive. Kauai is beautiful and just 30 minutes away by Hawaiian airlines, always book interisland before you go, you get the best prices and seats. The big Island has a volcano, and lots of other great sights, the Akatsuka Orchid farm is amazing.

Wow, where do I begin? Based on the information you provided, I don't think Honolulu or Oahu would be the best option. Oahu has the best beaches in Hawai'i and some okay hiking. However, Honolulu is a large city with the worst traffic in the country. If you go there, stay away from Waikiki. It's all high rises.

Maui is my favorite island and I can't say enough about it. It may be a bit more expensive to stay here, but the benefits are well worth it. I recommend looking into condos in Kihei. It's a beautiful town right on the beach and is centrally located. You will definitely find deals here since it's not near the pricy resorts. Maui has fantastic hiking in rainforests, to waterfalls, in a volcano, even through redwoods.

However, I think you may like Kauai the best. It's the most lush, very laid back, peaceful, with the best hiking in the state.

Make sure to read these travel guides below. Will give you detailed maps and the best advice. Written by Hawai'i locals.

Best Time To Visit Honolulu

I just got back from Oahu yesterday and had a terrific time. We stayed in the Ko Olina resort area, which was absolutely beautiful and not crowded or noisy like Waikiki. We stayed at Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club in a one bedroom villa. Unless you are a timeshare owner, they only put you on floors six and below - perfect for those who aren't fond of heights. It has a fully equipped kitchen with stores nearby for grocery shopping. The Fia Fia Luau there on Tuesday nights is terrific. You can take Speedi Shuttle for $16 pp each way between the resort and airport. I'd recommend that you just rent a car directly in the resort lobby from Enterprise for the days you want to venture out from the resort. Highly recommend. Go and celebrate your 25th anniversary!