What's fun about Hawaii in the rain?

March 28, 2006 8:41 AM

There's a lot of questions here on AskMe about having fun in Hawaii. Problem is, they all pretty much assume the weather is nice. My parents are in Hawaii right now. It's pouring rain. They're sad. Any rainy-day tips for things to do if you're rained out in Hawaii?
posted by 40 Watt to travel & transportation (8 comments total)

what island?
posted by leafwoman at 8:48 AM on March 28, 2006

Generic: cooking classes, SCUBA! (you're already wet), snorkeling, yoga classes, massages, cards, shopping, rent a jeep and drive around, print making class, etc. But what island and what do they like to do normally?
posted by fionab at 8:52 AM on March 28, 2006

Consider visiting a rain forest. No, I'm not being silly... We went to the Iao Valley when visiting Maui, and it was enchanting, mist, rain, and all. We didn't make it out to Hana, but that's supposed to incredible, too.

Also, most of the islands have a rainy zone and a dry zone. We were staying in Kihei (always dry, when we were there) but other areas were always rainy.
posted by Robert Angelo at 9:34 AM on March 28, 2006

I drove to Hana on Maui in the pouring rain. It was awesomely intense and rather stupid. I was pretty lucky my rental car didn't die on me — or get swept away entirely on the washed out roads.
posted by smackfu at 9:49 AM on March 28, 2006

They're flying from Kailua to Kauai today, and they'll be going to Honolulu on the 3rd where they'll be until they leave. They mentioned to me that Kauai has flash-flood warnings posted right now, so that may limit what they're willing to drive around and do.

My dad is in his 60s and has broken his back in the past, so a little physical activity is good but nothing too strenuous. My mom is in her 50s but neither of them are the mountain-climbing, SCUBA diving sort. I think they were planning to do a lot of sitting around on the beaches and swimming.
posted by 40 Watt at 9:57 AM on March 28, 2006

It can indeed suck when you want to veg on the beach and it's pouring. My idea of Hawaiian/Pacific Rim cooking classes still stands though. Take this opportunity to get fit (yoga and pilates and massages (Thai, hot rocks, swedish, deep tissue) are easy and fun), get cooking and eat the results! It looks like it'll be raining in Kauai until the 1st, when it will be cloudy with some rain. That usually means in the afternoon. Talk to the locals and/or hotel and find the non-rainy spot on the island for those days. It will exist!
posted by fionab at 11:01 AM on March 28, 2006

Museums, Rainy Day Activities, Art Centers and Art Nights, lots of classes.
posted by fionab at 11:09 AM on March 28, 2006

This same thing happened to my father and his girlfriend when they went there a few weeks ago. Obscene record-setting rain, complete with landslides and such.

At the time, it was raining so hard that they were limited solely to indoor activities that were at their hotel, so he wound up doing all the cheezy and womany activities offered by the hotel (the spa, yoga, and such).
posted by I Love Tacos at 11:49 AM on March 28, 2006