Travel Guide for O'ahu

[Crystal824]

Oahu Revealed is probably the best guide out there. I couldn't find my copy, so I just ordered another one for our trip this summer.

I agree with this. We went to Hawaii on our honeymoon and used these for Maui and Oahu. I thought hte Maui book was better but the Oahu one was good too.

 

[wvjules]

We did Kauai, Maui and Ohau last Christmas. The key is to make all of your interisland flights early in the morning or late in the evening so you can enjoy almost a full day on that island.

December 21 - Arrived in Kauai at 7pm
December 22 - Kauai
December 23 - Kauai
December 24 - Kauai
December 25 - Departed Kauai at 9am and arrive on Maui at 10am
December 26 - Maui
December 27 - Maui
December 28 - Maui
December 29 - Departed Maui at 7:15pm and arrive on Ohau at 7:45pm
December 30 - Ohau
December 31 - Ohau
January 1 - Ohau
January 2 -Departed Ohau for home at 11pm.

We'd been to Ohau before so next time, we'll skip it all together.
I think 9 days for 3 islands might be pushing it a little. 14 days would be optimal. I would have liked one more day on Maui.

Our next trip I want Maui 6 days, Hawaii 3 days and a day trip to Lanai for a total of 10 days but we've been to Maui and Hawii before so we don't need to do it all, kwim?

Have fun planning your trip. I love Hawaii.

Oh, and I second Valley of the Temples and Iolani Palace.

 

[nd5056]

Just you and wife going? Also, do you prefer sightseeing or would you rather sit on the beach and

.

 

[psimon]

Just you and wife going? Also, do you prefer sightseeing or would you rather sit on the beach and

.

We are a family of 5... us parents, 1 24yo, and twin 16 year olds.

As to destinations, I want both sightseeing AND sitting on the beach with a tall cool one!

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[limace]

What time of year? Definitely recommend north shore to watch big wave surfing, hit Matsumoto's for shaved ice and the shrimp truck. Polynesian Cultural Center was really interesting-though if you aren't LDS, you might want to skip the "free temple tour" -the center is an LDS site. the Arizona had me in tears-my grandpa was working for the Navy at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed so it felt really powerful to me.

We had fun on Oahu for a week, but I do have to say that was plenty. We do two weeks or so in Maui every other year and I never get tired of it-so relaxing.

 

[Kbella's mom]

I also suggest the Revealed books.

Luau - we did Germaines on our first trip and Paradise Cove on the second one. I liked them both equally. I like the pre-dinner festivities and Paradise cove a little better though.

Snorkeling- find somewhere other than Hanauma Bay. It's very touristy and crowded and the coral is not pretty at all.

Pearl Harbor - agree with get their early. Be there at opening preferrably. DD17 loved the Bowfin. Shocked me actually!

If you go in the winter, definately make time to go to the North Shore to see the huge waves. You can also go to Turtle Bay Resort and wark around.

Duke's Canoe Club in the Outrigger on O'hau - Must go even if just to have the Hula Pie.

We swam with the dolphins at Sea Life Park. You get a decent amount of water/dolphin time. They also have a Sea Lion enounter and some others.

We stayed at the Sheraton Waikiki on our first visit and had a great ocean front room. Last Christmas we stayed at the Hilton Hawaiin Village. I liked the Sheraton a lot but I LOVED HHV!

Also, make time to go visit the PunchBowl Cemetary.

Oh, the Lava Flow drink is at every bar and restaurant. It's a pina coloda with strawberry stuff in it.

+1

I took DS and DD three summers ago. We love Duke's!
Our favorite beach (in June) is Waimea Bay on the North Shore and my kids want to go back to eat at Ted's Bakery!

We stayed in Waikiki for ten days and rented a car for two days. Parking is very pricey and there's was a rental place a block from the hotel. We took the Roberts bus to and from the airport and left the traffic worry to someone else. Lesson learned...do not take the public bus to Pearl Harbor. It's a long trip. They gave out the last memorial ticket to the couple in front of us in line.

 

[wide awake]

Shangri-La, Doris Duke's house is amazing...check out Honolulu Museum of Art for tickets. We rented a car for one day, the first time we visited, because we had a whale watching trip on the other side of the island. Really, it is much easier to just book a tour if you want to see something outside of walking distance/Honolulu bus service. One of the best things about Hawaii is the walking...fabulous weather, tons of stuff to see. Don't miss the pancake place on the street next to Ft. DeBussy. Hawaiian food tours is great too.

 

[jackdis]

Another vote for the Oahu Revealed book!!!
We have been twice, and a lot of wonderful places were mentioned!
Definitely try to rent a car and drive around the island, stop on the North Shore, and at various other spots along the way. Beautiful!!! Enjoy!! We can't WAIT to go back!

 

[nd5056]

We are a family of 5... us parents, 1 24yo, and twin 16 year olds...

Last time We've been there in 2000, but i don't assume it did change drastically since then. Every Island has something unique and wonderful to offer. But Waikiki beach and Honolulu is like any other larger city with a Downtown and a night life that's associated with it. And I'm not talking clubs or dancing, just talking a walk on the beach or anywhere else after the sunset is kind of impossible, without those street and building lights we're all used to. It gets dark out there!

On Maui, Kauai and Hawaii Islands, most people kind of disappear with the sunset just to reappear along with the sunrise. Very relaxing, but might be too much for some.

Yet there's so many unique things to do. like on Maui, you have one of a kind black sand beaches in Hana. Just driving there is an experience you'll never forget. 60 Miles ride that take on average 3 hours to get there. Or there's a service that takes you to the top of Haleakaka volcano (10,000 ft) to watch the above the clouds sunrise and then they put you on a bike and you'll ride it downhill. They'll have a guide in front so you don't hurt your self speeding. And the submerged crater of Molokini is one of the top 10 best scuba diving and snorkeling spots in the world. But i did see people leaving Maui wearing cast, be careful.

And the beaches are more dangerous with deeper water and powerful waves compared with those found on Oahu where you can walk a long way in a shallow water. Unless you go to the Sunset Beach, the water will be shallow and warm.

There is a reason why they call Oahu the gathering Island.
.
Now what's best for your family? Only you know what you, your kids and wife like to do on vacation...

 

[psimon]

Last time We've been there in 2000, but i don't assume it did change drastically since then. Every Island has something unique and wonderful to offer. But Waikiki beach and Honolulu is like any other larger city with a Downtown and a night life that's associated with it. And I'm not talking clubs or dancing, just talking a walk on the beach or anywhere else after the sunset is kind of impossible, without those street and building lights we're all used to. It gets dark out there!

On Maui, Kauai and Hawaii Islands, most people kind of disappear with the sunset just to reappear along with the sunrise. Very relaxing, but might be too much for some.

Yet there's so many unique things to do. like on Maui, you have one of a kind black sand beaches in Hana. Just driving there is an experience you'll never forget. 60 Miles ride that take on average 3 hours to get there. Or there's a service that takes you to the top of Haleakaka volcano (10,000 ft) to watch the above the clouds sunrise and then they put you on a bike and you'll ride it downhill. They'll have a guide in front so you don't hurt your self speeding. And the submerged crater of Molokini is one of the top 10 best scuba diving and snorkeling spots in the world. But i did see people leaving Maui wearing cast, be careful.

And the beaches are more dangerous with deeper water and powerful waves compared with those found on Oahu where you can walk a long way in a shallow water. Unless you go to the Sunset Beach, the water will be shallow and warm.

There is a reason why they call Oahu the gathering Island.
.
Now what's best for your family? Only you know what you, your kids and wife like to do on vacation...

Thanks for the insight.

Aside from touring, we do need a "down" day. A lazy day to just hang by the pool or the beach. Read a book, swim up to a bar (or walk up to one if there is no 'swim up to' ) and grab a tall cool one and just relax. We can't have the entire trip on the run. When we do WDW, we always take a day in the middle of the week and just sleep late and do nothing to recharge for the rest of the trip. I want the same for Hawaii.

I was planning to do that wherever we stay at Maui.

Thoughts?

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[travelbug]

Random question - I've seen shrimp trucks mentioned in trip reports, but I don't know much about them. I'm assuming they probably sell shrimp baskets with fries or whatever. Is there seating somewhere by them? Any particular shrimp truck that someone recommends? Are they mainly up by the North Shore?

 

[nd5056]

Thanks for the insight.

Aside from touring, we do need a "down" day. A lazy day to just hang by the pool or the beach. Read a book, swim up to a bar (or walk up to one if there is no 'swim up to' ) and grab a tall cool one and just relax. We can't have the entire trip on the run. When we do WDW, we always take a day in the middle of the week and just sleep late and do nothing to recharge for the rest of the trip. I want the same for Hawaii.

I was planning to do that wherever we stay at Maui.

Thoughts?

---Paul in Southern NJ

Maui is the best when it comes to this. The smell of the flowers in the air, the birds, no one is rushing anywhere, etc. And I'd concentrate on a pool rather then the swimming beach since the waves are kind of rough over there, but that's just me. Make sure to check TripAdvisor reviews.

Enjoy.

 

[bear_mom]

:Aside from touring, we do need a "down" day. A lazy day to just hang by the pool or the beach. Read a book, swim up to a bar (or walk up to one if there is no 'swim up to' ) and grab a tall cool one and just relax. We can't have the entire trip on the run. When we do WDW, we always take a day in the middle of the week and just sleep late and do nothing to recharge for the rest of the trip. I want the same for Hawaii.

I was planning to do that wherever we stay at Maui.

We did this on Maui for several days, we didn't do the whole day, but for the morning/afternoon and then would relax and then do something in the evening.

Our plan was to head down early in the morning (9'ish) and grab two chairs by the pool (I liked the shade and dh wanted to be in the sun, so this took planning). We would then go between playing in the ocean, relaxing on the lounge chairs, and being in the pool. Lunch and drinks were delivered by awesome waitstaff who served those in the pool areas. We would do this until 3/4'ish and then would head up a shower and head out for an evening activity (luau, zip lining, etc).

Emily

 

[psimon]

We did this on Maui for several days, we didn't do the whole day, but for the morning/afternoon and then would relax and then do something in the evening.

Our plan was to head down early in the morning (9'ish) and grab two chairs by the pool (I liked the shade and dh wanted to be in the sun, so this took planning). We would then go between playing in the ocean, relaxing on the lounge chairs, and being in the pool. Lunch and drinks were delivered by awesome waitstaff who served those in the pool areas. We would do this until 3/4'ish and then would head up a shower and head out for an evening activity (luau, zip lining, etc).

Emily

Sounds good.

Suggestions for accommodations?

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[HarperAnnesNana]

We have been to Oahu 8 times. Oahu Revealed is absolutely the best source I have found. I ordered mine from Amazon. WalMart in Honolulu sells Oahu Revealed in the tourist section in case you lose yours like I did. Have a great vacation.

 

[bear_mom]

Sounds good.

Suggestions for accommodations?

---Paul in Southern NJ

We stayed at the Shearton, it was right at Black Rock Point and was an easy walk down a boardwalk to the other resorts and to Whaler's Village which had several different restaurants and shopping. It was also an easy drive in Lahania.

Emily

 

[disykat]

Random question - I've seen shrimp trucks mentioned in trip reports, but I don't know much about them. I'm assuming they probably sell shrimp baskets with fries or whatever. Is there seating somewhere by them? Any particular shrimp truck that someone recommends? Are they mainly up by the North Shore?

Yes, on the way between Honolulu and the North Shore. Sort of teriyaki style shrimp and Rice. We had garlic shrimp at a place called "Romy's" I believe - and loved it. There were picnic tables under a large tent. We happened to go when it was pouring rain and were fine. It's messy and we rinsed our hands under one of the downspouts it was raining so hard.

 

[jackdis]

We ate at the Shrimp Shack on the North Shore. It was actually featured on a food network tv show. To this day, I still mention the shrimp and rice I had there. Garlic butter shrimp, I think. Next door was a small store where we picked up some (adult!) beverages, and we sat at a picnic table and ate right there. Fantastic!!

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

No one has mentioned the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Spend the whole day there, and don't miss the show at the end of the day - Hā: BREATH OF LIFE

Expensive, but I wouldn't miss it in the world. You can do a Luau there too.

Other then that, many great sightseeing spots and places that are one of a kind. Like Valley of the Temples or Waimea Valley

Just Google "101 things to do in Oahu" and find what's most appealing to you.

Have fun.
.

I agree 100% with the above post. I have been to the Polynesian Cultural Center several times and it is a must do on my trips to Oahu. We love it there and have also done the luau there and always stay for the evening show. The entire event takes a full day and it is about 1 1/2 hours away from downtown Honolulu but well worth it.

 

[travelbug]

Yes, on the way between Honolulu and the North Shore. Sort of teriyaki style shrimp and Rice. We had garlic shrimp at a place called "Romy's" I believe - and loved it. There were picnic tables under a large tent. We happened to go when it was pouring rain and were fine. It's messy and we rinsed our hands under one of the downspouts it was raining so hard.

Glad to hear there's seating at some of the trucks. We'll have to watch for that, as I'm sure now that we'll want to try eating at a shrimp truck. You mentioned that the shrimp are messy. Were they boiled or fried?

We ate at the Shrimp Shack on the North Shore. It was actually featured on a food network tv show. To this day, I still mention the shrimp and rice I had there. Garlic butter shrimp, I think. Next door was a small store where we picked up some (adult!) beverages, and we sat at a picnic table and ate right there. Fantastic!!

Sounds great, including the adult beverages!