mrsgo

HI! We are 2 seniors who wish to get away from the COLD NY weather next Feb. and March. Not having much experience with Hawaii travel, we were hoping that the Fodor Community could help recommend places we could investigate.
Where in Hawaii?
Ideally, we are looking for :
at least 1 bedroom/ 2 baths - contemporary design
near, or on the beach
nearby golf, tennis, restaurants, tourist attractions, biking and walking trails, intellectual options

An all inclusive resort might be too much money; we are hoping to find a rental.

Thanks so very, very much!
Suzy

sf7307

sylvia3

We like the waikoloa resort area on the big island for the easy access to many nearby beaches (and snorkeling), shopping, restaurants (including food court), and A-bay. It is also easy to get to the Daniel Inouye highway (once Saddle Road) to cross the island for Hilo, Volcanoes National park, and the Hamakua coast attractions. The drive to the north includes scenic stops and archaeological sites, and Kona to the south is a 20 minute drive. There are well-reviewed 2 bd/2 both condos in the $130s on VRBO.

sylvia3

Lots of golf on the Kona coast, and check out upcountry (Alaska airlines lets you bring clubs as a checked bag; use their cc and get 2 free checked bags)

kureiff

We do, too. I've been looking at options in this area for Thanksgiving. It's a nice location for us.

Kathie

Do you. know which island you want to visit? They are quite different from each other.

suze

I would choose Waikiki/Honolulu area on Oahu for your first time. There are no all inclusive resorts (that's a Mexico, Caribbean thing) and besides I don't think you'd want that for a 2-3 month stay.

I like Waikiki in that you don't need a car, public transportation is readily available. There are loads of rental choices of all kinds. "golf, tennis, restaurants, tourist attractions, biking and walking trails, intellectual options" it's got everything you request.

That said... I know you are considering Mexico too. In Puerto Vallarta I get similar to what I get in Waikiki, with almost everything at about half the price.

But I love them both. And can compared for you PV (30+ trips) to Oahu (5 trips) if you have specific questions. sincerely, suze

kanunu

In a 2 month stay, I suggest 2 islands. All the main islands have what you want, I'd suggest visiting Oahu first, for sure, to better get into the history, culture, see Pearl Harbor, more entertainment options, etc., and then spend a quieter month on Maui (DW choice), Kauai (my choice), or Big Island, but you really can't go wrong, as the "Aloha spirit" is alive and well in all of them. And you'd best experience this by also mixing with the locals, not just tourists, as you seem to indicate is your preference. It will also keep the costs down for you, if you avoid the big resorts.
On Oahu, we like Turtle Bay Resort, either the hotel or the plentiful condos on site. TBR and North Shore are nothing like Waikiki, and we're glad they aren't, but you'd have to do a bit of driving from there, to take in all the sights and activities of Oahu.
On Maui, we have stayed in Wailea at Grand Champions Villas, which seems to match your interests, but there are many places in nearby Kihei that should also be suitable. Wailea and Kihei are central enough for enjoying all of Maui, without moving to another area.
As for golf, there is lots of it available, and while it is not cheap, there are some deals to be had, and some courses that are "don't miss". So decide on which islands you prefer, and then you can start to short-list everything you want to do and see.
You have a lot of planning to do, but it will be worth it!

edjim

I second the choice of Maui and the Kihei area. If you are staying for a while, there's a variety of things to do, including golf, and we have found that Kihei is well situated for not only the Wailea resorts but the other courses at Kaanapali and Kapalua, with dinner in Lahaina an option.

Kauai would also be a must for me as well.

MoBro