Resources for Hawaii for Disabled Cruisers

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Let's use this thread to copy over and post resources from the old forums for disabled cruisers to Hawaii. Please don't use this thread for posting questions.

Queenie2
Cool Cruiser

posted 06-06-04 02:13 AM
Sunshine Helicopters in Maui has accessible flightseeing tours of Maui, Molokai and Hawaii. See the FAQ page of their website for photos of their boarding chair/lift for wheelchair-users. Some of the other companies will physically help you into the helicopter, but Sunshine is the one that has the lift.
http://www.sunshinehelicopters.com/
Candy

Splinter
Cool Cruiser

posted 09-27-03 05:10 PM
We also like to rent cars in Hawaii, although in Honolulu I can also endorse taking the local bus (The Bus). All the buses are lift equipped. Few if any of the "free shuttles" at Aloha Tower can accomodate a chair without several hours notice, if at all. Ala Moana beach here is fairly accessible.

Poipu Park beach in Kauai has only a short distance from the parking to the sand (level) and is a very nice drive from the dock in Nawiliwili. There is a restaurant across the street (not accessible, but they have takeout) and as I remember the new bathrooms here are also accessible. We have also driven all the way to the end of the road north past Hanalei Bay, as well as around the south to Waimea canyon. There is a lot to see here from the car, or with a very short walk.

Kona is a tender port, but there is a small nice accessible beach at the hotel right by the dock that rents snokeling gear. If you can swim, it is a short distance out to a lovely reef. We saw green sea turtles here.

We most recently drove from Lahaina (a tender port too) on Maui to Hana and back and had a lovely time. Warning: There are porta-potties, but none are wheelchair accessible. We did not go to the new Aquarium in Maui, but understand it is accessible and quite nice.

Suebee
Cool Cruiser

posted 02-05-04 08:35 PM
There were LOTS of sand wheel chairs on the Jan 2004 Fanning Island trip. Only the beach has deepish sand...the walkways seemed firmly packed. I would go early to make sure to get a chair close by the food, pier etc.

Please add to this thread.

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Posted recently:

#26 November 28th, 2004, 06:19 PM
Ruth Creasy
Cool Cruiser Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 49

Accessible transportation - Hilo

I am in Hilo, Hawaii today and found a lift bus on the pier. It is was County Hele-On Bus (a white bus with green stripe). Ask the information ladies on duty and they will point it out. It gave me a nice 2-hour tour for $1.00. It stopped at the Island Candy Factory (and coffee), The Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Farm and Store (recently purchased by Hershey's), Richardson's Beach with a running narrative of the flora and fauna of the area. They offered options of stopping at the zoo and botanical gardens. It was raining so the whole bus declined. Thought that you could add this info to your compilation.

Rascal Rider Ruth

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We were in Honolulu recently and used The Cab in addition to The Bus. Both provided good service and were fully accessible. Reservations strongly recommended for The Cab, at least 24 hours in advance. Call (they are not good about picking up their e-mail).

http://www.thecabhawaii.com/transportation.asp

We rented a car in Maui and drove to the Maui Ocean Center (aquarium). It was lovely, fully accessible including nice bathrooms and a great restaurant with an ocean view. Highly recommended.

[bugsm]

We will be tendering in Maui and Kona. We will be on the RCCL Rhapsody of the Seas in Sept. Do you know if it will be a problem if you are in a wheelchair. It is our third time in Hawaii. Can't wait to go back. We are celebrating our 55 anniv.

Sorry I just realized I was not supposed to ask Questions.

[daju22]

These are the ships tours we took with Celebrity (Infinity) 14 days to Hawaii roundtrip from San Diego:
My husband uses a scooter and it was stored under the tour bus. The bus driver was very helpful and so were all the passengers! He is a slow walker and can board the bus slowly and carefully. I can help him if there are curbs by lifting the scooter. We just walked/rode around at the other ports.




Had a great time on this tour. He only missed the stop to walk out a long path and look over the smoldering crater and the Thurston Lava tube. He waited on the bus for me. Museum was accesssible and could see crater from there. Nut factory good but crowded with souvenier buying. Nice grounds to walk/ride and see nuts growing on trees.

Volcanoes National Park - HL05

Location: Hilo, Hawaii Approx Duration: 4 hour(s) 30 minute(s) *Current Price: Starting from
57.00 Adult (USD)
39.00 Child (USD)
0.00 Infant (USD)Activity Type: Flightseeing | Sightseeing and/or City Tours | Wilderness & Wildlife ToursActivity Level: MildRestrictions: N/A Advisements: Drive through the tropical forest to the Volcanoes National Park, 4,300 feet above sea level to view Kilauea Volcano - home of Pele, the legendary Goddess of Fire. You will stop at the Kilauea Visitors Center, learn of the Big Island's formation at the Jaggar Museum, walk through the Thurston Lava Tube and ride along the 11-mile Crater Rim Drive. Here you will view two kinds of lava, the smooth Pahoehoe and jagged A'a, as well as lava tubes, sulphur banks and bleak desert areas. Returning to Hilo you'll stop at the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory where you will sample firsthand one of Hawaii's most famous agricultural exports. You will not view molten lava on this tour. The Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory is closed on Sundays; the gift shop will be open.


This excursion worked well for us, but had to wait in a long line for tickets, then went on tour of Honolulu and Punchbowl. Came back for Pearl Harbor Tour. Scooter under bus and allowed in movie and on boat to the memorial. We saw everything!
Arizona Memorial & City Sightseeing
Location: Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii Approx Duration: 5 hour(s) 15 minute(s) *Current Price: Starting from
46.00 Adult (USD)
28.00 Child (USD)
0.00 Infant (USD)Activity Type: Sightseeing and/or City Tours | Shows & EntertainmentActivity Level: MildRestrictions: N/A Advisements:

Relive a moment in history with a visit to Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial. Visit the Arizona Memorial Visitors Center where you'll watch a film depicting the events of the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack. Afterwards, board a Navy launch for the short ride to the Memorial itself, where you'll disembark for an up-close, unforgettable experience.
Your sightseeing continues, touring downtown Honolulu and its authentic Chinatown district. Also see Iolani Palace (the only royal palace on American soil), Kawaiahao Church, the impressive King Kamehameha Statue, Honolulu City Hall, the Hawaii State Capitol, the Governor's Mansion and the quaint homes of the early missionaries. At Punchbowl Crater experience the serenity of the Punchbowl National Cemetery, featuring the "Courts of the Missing," the chapel and detailed mosaic maps of the Pacific theaters in action in World War II and Korea.
Handbags, backpacks camera bags or other items that offer concealment are not allowed at the Arizona Memorial. Due to the Arizona Memorial's popularity, delays at the venue may be unavoidable.



This Kauai excursion was a great drive, but due to fog, we didn't see the canyon. This happens alot, they said.
The lookout is very accessible with a power scooter or chair, but I'd hate to be pushing up the switchback ramps. Lots of wild chickens! Didn't get off the bus at the blow hole-just looked.




Waimea Canyon - NA02

Location: Kauai (Nawiliwili), Hawaii Approx Duration: 5 hour(s) *Current Price: Starting from
49.00 Adult (USD)
35.00 Child (USD)
0.00 Infant (USD)Activity Type: Wilderness & Wildlife Tours | Sightseeing and/or City ToursActivity Level: MildRestrictions: N/A Advisements:

Visit one of Kauai's most popular attractions, Waimea Canyon - the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific." From the lookout at 3,400 feet, you'll experience an unsurpassed view of the 2,857-footdeep canyon and the surrounding countryside. The canyon's dramatic size combined with the reds and browns of exposed volcanic rock and the blues and greens of lush tropical vegetation truly create a magnificent sight. A stop will be made at Kauai's Spouting Horn blowhole before returning to your ship.

[KL&KR]

We went to this a few years ago and had a great time--the bus taking us there was accessible (added bonus in Hawaii--they UNDERSTAND heavy people!); the gardens and animals were charming; the food was good, and the show was fun. Website: http://www.smithskauai.com/

Kristen & Kathy

[Hebe]

We just returned from Hawaii. We rented cars in most ports. We called the Special Needs desk at National and they brought the car directly to the port for us. We then drove back to the rental site where we completed the paperwork and left off the driver. Coming back we drove to the rental location who provided us with a driver to take us back to the port.

All of this needs to be done prior to getting to the ports.