We'll try this again, as I got cut off for some strange reason. We just returned from a 2 week land tour over 3 islands. It was our 4th time in Hawaii. The first time was on the old America-Hawaii Cruise Line, Constitution. We were on the islands 5 years previous, and boy, how they have built up. As ridiculous as it sounds, there is a MASSIVE traffic problem on Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. We only did Hilo on our first trip, so can't speak for that. I would not advise that you try anything on your own, based on this fact. The ship will leave without you, if you're not back, but if you're on a guided tour, they will hold the ship back for you. I Kauai, you are in an old shipyard, with just a few stores a considerable walk away. We were at the Marriott close by, watching the ships come and go, and seeing the people walking, not an area that I would want to walk in. Waimea Canyon, the North Shore Beaches, Blow Horn, and Fern Grotto are all magnificent, and must be done on a tour. Lehaina is something different, as you'll tender in there, and can do wonderful shopping without leaving the area. You'll come right in where you can book snorkel tours, or whale watching (in season), November to May. We did that, and it was a blast. Biking down Haleakala Crater should be done from the ship, if that's an option, as should helicopter tours. I recommend that strictly for maintenance, as the cruise lines go for the better maintained vehicles. There's many accidents on both, but they're kept low key. Hope this gives you a little more insight. Wish we were going back to the islands now. We had 2 weeks of doing basically nothing. That was such a joy.
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