I am going to see if I have enough time to write a full trip report with more details, but to get some info up for forum readers here is a link to photos from my trip last week and some quick highlights:

http://travel.webshots.com/album/555123152FipDUz

Dining on Kaua'i

1. Koloa Fish Market
2. Pono Market (near Kapa'a...a poke paradise)
3. Hamura Saimin
4. Oki Diner (just OK tasting food, but HUGE portions for the hungry folk)

Dining on the Big Island

1. Pahu'ia - among the best restaurants in the western US
2. L&L Hawaiian BBQ Waimea - one of the better L&L locations
3. Kona Mixed Plate - new owners produced mixed results...try it and see for youself...the death of a classic? Maybe, maybe not.
4. Teshima's in Kealakekua - should be on everyone's must-eat list. The sashimi (only ahi is served) is to-die-for
5. Fujimama's - we tried channeling the spirit of the departed and deeply missed Izakaya Kai, the former tenant of this space on Sarona and Ali'i, but this new restauranted failed to impress, although the loud noise and hype made us feel like we were in trendy California. I would skip it and head for Teshima's. For the same money that Fujimama's charges for morsels of sashimi that wouldn't feed a sparrow, you would eat so much ahi sashimi at Teshima's that you might grow gills.

Kaua'i Activities

1. Awa'awapuhi Trail - not for those with a heights problem, but the walk back from the trail end is the best cardio workout you will ever have. Bring a picnic lunch to eat at the overlook at the end of the trail.
2. Kalalau Valley Lookout - don't go after 10am unless you like staring at clouds - and don't park and view where everyone else is. Park your car and walk about a mile or so up the closed paved road to a far better overlook of the whole valley
3. National Tropical Botanical Garden - even if you don't do gardens, this one is worth checking out

Big Island Activities

1. Lava hike from the Kalapana side. Try it, and you may never go through the National Park side again (depending on where the lava is flowing, of course). Either go it alone or with Arnott's Lodge
2. Stargazing from the Onizuka Visitors Center at Mauna Kea. No matter how many times you do this activity, it's equally amazing and breathtaking every single visit
3. Visit Waipi'o Valley - the overlook is nice, but get down into the valley to get a real taste. We were booked with Na'alapa Stables, but they cancelled due to a rockslide in the valley, so we switched to the wagon ride. Even so, the trip was well worth it. The "revealed" books suggest the people who live down in the valley are abit 'odd', but that can't be further from the truth. They are real, friendly, and live in their own private paradise. A couple of the homes down in the valley rival some mainland homes for luxury digs.
4. Wild Dolphin Swim. This always stirs controversy, but we do it every year with a guide who conducts a caring and ethical swim - the dolphins always engage us in play (the leaf game, where we trade Ti plant leaves back and forth) and make for wonderful and awe inspiring companions in the water. If anyone wants to do a swim, PM for my guide's contact details.
5. Dinner at Pahu'ia - regardless if your trip plans call for luxury or roughing it, a dinner at the cornerstone restaurant of the Four Seasons Hualalai is not to be missed.
6. A visit to the Pu'uhonua O Honaunau. Steeped in history and tradition, you will feel the spiritual touch of the Hawaiian ancestors who called this place 'sanctuary'.

Aloha bocastephen!
Awesome photos, brilliant itinerary, if I wasn't kama'aina, I'd be envious!
A hui ho!

Dining on the Big Island

4. Teshima's in Kealakekua - should be on everyone's must-eat list. The sashimi (only ahi is served) is to-die-for

I second on Teshima. ^
http://onokinegrindz.typepad.com/ono_kine_grindz/2005/11/teshimas_restau.html

bocastephen,
Your reports are great - keep it up ^
How long was this latest trip, and what would you do over 14 nights?

Thanks for the compliments, everyone :)

My trips tend to be short, because my travel companion is finishing a medical residency and they are strict on vacation - saturday to the following sunday only.

This year, getting to HNL before noon on Saturday was a gift of almost an extra full day - which we would have taken advantage of (there was a festival up at Koke'e on Kaua'i) if there wasn't a constant downpour all day.

The pace of our travel isn't for everyone - because we go to Hawai'i fairly often, we can pick and choose what we want to see, leaving things for next time without feeling we missed out, or going back to see favorite spots again.

If you're talking about 14 nights on the Big Island, that is more than enough time to see just about every highlight and tour available with no stress and time left over to relax at the hotel. I think a 14 night trip should be spread over two islands (or even 3 for some), but that's me.

With 14 nights, you could certainly split your stay area between Kona, Kohala and Volcano.

We easily cover two islands from sat-sat without stress or missing out on alot.

Super pictures! I'll be visiting Kaua'i in 2 months and can't wait to see these sights in person!

Super pictures! I'll be visiting Kaua'i in 2 months and can't wait to see these sights in person!

Hey, check it out: On the drive from Kapaa to Hanalei, you're gonna pass Ono Char Burger on the makai side of the road - a red, one story shack next to a Whaler's General Store. Turn around and pull in! Family owned, picnic tables out back, kittys and chicks to toss your crumbs to, Ono Char Burger is a must eat! There's no burger on Maui as ono as Ono Char Burger on Kaua'i!!!
(For a very good, expensive meal - The Bull Shed, in Kapaa!)

Super pictures! I'll be visiting Kaua'i in 2 months and can't wait to see these sights in person!

Thank you...these places are amazing to see in person. Waimea Canyon is often hazy (at least when I'm there), so if you have a SLR camera, you might want to invest in a circular polarizer - not to mention how dramatic it makes a blue sky and sunsets. Some minor touchup work to balance exposure, increase contrast and color saturation can sometimes make a hazy washed out photo look good.

There are alot of spots to view Waimea Canyon, so don't just follow the crowd...some great waterfall views are available on the road to Koke'e up from the Canyon viewpoint turnoff.

As for Kalalau - get there before 10am. This is my new mantra, as it took four visit attempts over the years for this fact to actually sink in. When the clouds fill the valley, it happens fast. 20 minutes after the photos in my link were taken, the valley filled with clouds and another 15 minutes after that, it was totally socked in at the viewpoint. When driving up from Koke'e, if you see blue sky at the military site near the top of the road, you should have an ok-to-great view. If you see fog or clouds there, it won't be good.

For the must-see sights, like Kalalau, leave time in your itinerary to go back in case bad weather washes out the view.