Anyone been to Oahu-- or live there?

[thinkerbell]

We are trying to make plans for Oahu for next summer. I have read several books, been to several websites but thought I would ask someone who has been there. I feel very uncomfortable making reservations because I don't know anything but what I have read.
For anyone knowledgable about Oahu, where is the best place to stay, Honolulu or Waikiki? We want to be on the ocean--not necessarily the room facing the ocean but we want the hotel to be on the ocean. We can probably spend $200-250/night and we like clean and nice, like Disney. We just stayed at the Polynesian this summer and loved it. Are there parts of Oahu to definitely stay away from? I know when we go to Las Vegas there are parts that we will go to and parts that we will not. It is so easy to plan a vacation to Disney because I feel like I know the area and I know that a Disney hotel will always be nice and clean. It is hard to make reservations for somewhere you have never been before. Any help will be appreciated.

 

[Serena]

No advice, I just want to hide in a suitcase.

 

[MAC3]

I too would like to hide in your suitcase, but I just asked a girl in the office who goes there often (hopefully that island). When/If she responds I'll get back to you.

I have been there but it was almost 20 yrs ago and I'm sure things have changed a bit since then. So I figured I would leave my failing memory out of it!

Lisa

 

[Deb in IA]

If you want to be on or near the beach, go with Waikiki. There are lots of hotels in a range of prices to choose from. Waikiki is one of the most famous beaches in the world.

As for Honolulu, I suppose that as with any big city, there are less savory areas, but we found all of Oahu to be fairly safe, friendly, and accomodating.

You might want to try these:

http://www.hawaii4less.com/waikiki.htm

http://www.greathawaiivacations.com/PropertyHtmls/OAM188T.HTM

http://goto.hawaii-connections.com/186.htm


If you are feeling particularly wealthy, you may want to check out the "granddaddy of them all", the famed Royal Hawaiian.

http://www.royal-hawaiian.com/

Have fun!!

 

[MAC3]

Here is her reply Thinkerbell....

PM me if you want the file she refers too.

Hi,



I have a file on my computer at home regarding all the islands in Hawaii.

Tell this person I will get my file off the computer tonight and I will forward

it to you.



Basically, there are all kinds of hotels in Honolulu and Waikiki. If they would

like to be right on the ocean I would suggest the Hilton Hawaiian or the Moana

Surfrider which is right in the heart of Waikiki. The Moana may be a little pricier

but I’m not sure. I stay at the Sheraton Princess Kailuani (sp?) (“Princess K” for

short), which is priced reasonable and right across the street from the Moana.



Honolulu itself is just a big city. Make sure you get a rental car and get a

good map and tour the island. Definitely hit the North Shore to Waimea Bay.

Also on the East side is Kailua and Lani Kai Beach which is listed in the top 5 of

the most beautiful beaches in the world. I love it there!



Also, make sure you take in the Polynesian Cultural show. You can go see just

the show or include a Luau with it. Fabulous show and well worth seeing!

I go every time I am there.



I’ve been to Hawaii 5 times and stayed at Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the big island

Hawaii. Each one is beautiful. Sight see as much as you can but enjoy your

time in the water!



Again, I will get my file tonight and forward that too.

Regards,
Lisa

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have been to Hawaii many times, and while Oahu is our least favorite, it still has plenty to do and see. It is also a good "first" trip to the islands. The above post said most of it, but be sure to take in all the historic places as well. We usually spend one day seeing the historic sites, and one day at the Poynesian Cultural Center, and one day just driving around the north side of the island. Be sure to do the Palace and state capital.

As far as beaches go, Waikiki is VERY crowded and busy. The best beaces are definately on the outer islands. Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island of Hawaii all have their own charms. I like them all for different reasons. I would rank them as Hawaii my favorite followed closesly by Kauai and Maui with Oahu a definate last.

 

[fklhou]

Oahu is my family least favorite island. The Big Island has so much to do.

There is a little breakfast place near the Hilton Hawaiian Village called "Eggs and Things" that is really very good (or was very good five years ago)

Have fun

 

[thinkerbell]

Thanks so much for all of your replies. It sounds like maybe we should change to a different island. I thought from reading the books and such that Oahu was the best but now I see why I came here to you guys. It is always best to get real people's advise. Maybe we will go to Hawaii--the big island. Please keep any comments and suggestions coming. I was dead set on Oahu but you have helped me open up my mind a little. I really want to know what is the best to do. This is REALLY a trip of a lifetime and I do not want to mess it up.

Thanks again.
Karen

 

[Towncrier]

Another vote to skip Oahu (or only spend a day or two there). We visited Maui and Oahu in 1997 (in that order) and I spent nearly the entire time on Oahu wishing that I was back on Maui. If we manage another trip to Hawaii in the future, we will most likey base our stay on Maui and perhaps head over to the Big Island to see the active volcano. There are plenty of wonderful things to see and do on Oahu, but I preferred the beaches and tranquility of Maui.

If you are on Oahu, you must see the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. If you have a car, you might drive around the island and find Matsumoto's General Store and have a shave ice. It's worth the trip.

Have a great time in Hawaii. Good luck deciding where to stay and what to do.

 

[Michelle]

Funny you should ask, I'm in Oahu right now.

I call Waikiki (where we are) Manhattan on the beach. Lovely area but VERY VERY crowded and really not the relaxing Hawaii most people crave. I agree that Oahu should be a short stop on your way to another island. There are historical things here you won't find on the other islands, and there are some great restaurants, so it is worth a few days, depending upon the length of your trip.

We're heading to Maui tomorrow for the rest of our vacation...Wailea, which we love...and I can't wait!

 

[dalepool]

They don't call Waikiki Beach resort area--- "Little New York" for nothing. If you are looking for "Old Hawaii" or are invisioning an Island similar to The Swiss Family Robinson---Ohau is not the island of choice. I love the beach area----along with the hustle and bustle of city life. We happily spend our winters enjoying the sun and beaches of Waikiki.

With the dollar amounts you mentioned---- conceirge at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Waikiki Beach is doable. I would think 4 to 5 days sightseeing would be plenty-- You would have time to see Pearl Harbour---including Missouri and Arizona Menorials, Spend a day at the Polynesian cultural center, Take an Island guided tour. and spend atleast one day laying on the famous beach--Waikiki.

I would then go the the Big Island --Hawaii--Again I'd stay at the Hilton Waikaloa ( not sure if I have the correct spelling). I hear rave reviews about this resort. I have not stayed there but again I have heard nothing but good reviews. Again once there you can plan your sightseeing as the mood sets. ( Just for help ---we have found that the longer we stay in Hawaii the more layed back we get---gotta love what they call Hawaiian time)

In July of 2004 there will a cruise ship (2) that will travel from Honolulu to the other Islands for either 3 or 4 day cruises. I plan on doing the 3 day cruise some time the winter of 2005. For me it is the best of both worlds---living in Honolulu--visiting the outer Islands ----without having to spend hours at the airport and I don't have to keep packing and unpacking. (I hope to get a last minute walk on rate.--as I will be flexable on travel dates.)

One more thing --tourism has been down the last couple of years on Ohau with that in mind I would think you could find some really great travel bargins.

One peice of advice----windward and leeward---each Island has a side that gets lots of rain and wind. Exsample ---east side of Ohau will have wind and rain----while we in southren beach area are enjoying the warm sun.

When my husband and I visited the Poly a couple of years ago we both were amazed by the " Hawaiian feeling" that the resort provided.

Patty

 

[mamajoan]

Hi... We were stationed in Hawaii on Oahu and lived on the Windward side...Kanehoe. Our favorite beach is Kailua Beach Park... nice family park.. great swimming and a sandy beach.

Oahu is a great experience! There is much to see and do on the island itself. Yes "the keys" Waikiki is very much a city set up for the touristy of tourists.. which is fine.

The Hotels on the beach are lovely.. the Hilton Village being the big Queen of them all.

On Oahu you can see Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial, do a luau that can be scheduled by your hotel if necessary. Come on over to the windward side to the Polynesian Cultural center for an entire day.. enjoy the night show and the luau too. Great fun for the entire family. Go Snorkeling at Hanama Bay.. easy snorkeling even for the most basic of swimmers.. hec take a float mat and a mask.. tons of little fishies to see. If Hawaiian History interests you .. check out the Bishop Museum.. way cool!


Eat some poi if you must .. but check out the local drive ins for good representation of local food.. have some haupia cake, some chicken long rice, saimin soup, or even loco moco for breakfast! and realize that rice and macoroni salad come with everything.

Eat local Shaved ice..... Tat's is great little truck over on the windward side.... add some red beans to the shaved ice like the locals do.

If you enjoy dancing and the nightlife.. Waikiki is the place to be.. dozens of clubs to enjoy a cocktail and dance music.. along with a hula show or two.


Wear sunscreen to avoid the Molohini rash! that is when tourists are sunburned on one side of their bodies from forgetting to turn over!

Take your time in Oahu... it can be a great place if you let it be..

Enjoy the other islands too! The Big Island of Hawaii is superb! Maui is a grand adventure too!

Most of RELAX!!! and Enjoy the people of Hawaii!

happy traveling..

Joan

 

[thinkerbell]

WOW!! This is great info. Some of you sound like you could be travel agents for Hawaii. I really appreciate all of the info. Keep it coming.

Michelle, I hope you are having a great time!!!
Karen

 

[Towncrier]

We spent the better part of a day at the Bishop Museum. I give that place two thumbs up. I would advise skipping a trip to the Dole Plantation, however. Not much to see there.

All this information about Hawaii has me more determined than ever to make a trip back to the islands. Perhaps I'm going to have to revisit my idea of swapping out some Disney Vacation Club points for a week in Maui.

 

[fklhou]

Big Isand

The Big Island is our favorite. We were lucky that the lava was flowing above ground the last time we were there and we hiked about a mile and half over the cooled lava bed to an observation post where you could see the lava flow into the Pacific. It was a tremendous view. My then six year old DD had a great time and did better moving over the lava bed than some adults.

The Sanctuary place park is facinating on the big Island and has a great place for snorkling. I would also consider taking a boat tour to the underwater park off Cook's burial site for snorkling.

Get an Entertainment Book and use the coupons. We saved a great deal with the coupons and had a great time.

Maui

This is a beautiful island with some great historical sites. The trip to the inactive volcano summit is wonderful. Keep your car in low gear.

I remember getting the best onion bagel at Maui Bagel on our first trip. We were tired from driving down the volcano and it was just wonderful.

Have fun

 

[LuvTigger]

Thinkerbell,

I'm sorry I didn't see this post sooner, I was away on a business trip to the Big Island and just got back!

I've lived on Oahu my entire life, and I agree with those of you who said it's your least favorite island! Haha...it has a lot to offer, but it probably isn't the Hawaii most people imagine since it has grown so much. Anyhow, it's not a bad place, just a lot busier than the other islands. I agree that it might be the place to start if it's your first trip though, some people go into shock when they go to the neighbor islands because it's so much slower paced than they're used to. If you can, you might want to consider splitting your time between Oahu and another island (I like them all, but Maui is special to me).

Waikiki is where the bulk of the hotels are. You can walk to the beach from almost anywhere, but if you want to be on the beach, the Hilton Hawaiian Village is my favorite because they have beautiful grounds that you can walk around. My second choice would be the Sheraton, which is a little more towards the middle of all the action in Waikiki, if that's important to you. I know a lot of people who like the Moana Surfrider, but be prepared to valet park, and the price is probably pretty high. It's an "old style" restored hotel, very beautiful.

If you want to be in a secluded area, consider the Ko Olina resort. It is GORGEOUS, but I've heard that even the kamaaina (resident) rates can be high. It's on the west end of the island and it's beaches are more secluded and much less busy than Waikiki. The downside is it's pretty far from everything else that you'd probably be interested in. The Turtle Bay Resort is also a favorite of ours (it used to be a Hilton), but also in an area that is far from everything.

Feel free to PM me if you have more questions about Oahu.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

You've gotten lots of good advice here. I too like the Moana Surfrider, beautiful grand hotel but my favorite is the Royal Hawaiian (both on Waikiki). RH is the historic pink hotel on the beach (check out the old "Giget goes Hawaiian" movie - rooms don't look like that but there's lots of exterior shots, it cracks me up), there's a mall for shopping within walking distance and if you're looking for nightlife there's more of that around Waikiki than the other islands. I also love the Kahala Mandarin Hotel but it's off in a more secluded area, more residential around it. If you're looking for peaceful, Hawaiian relaxation kind of thing - well my favorite island is Maui, lots of nice hotels past Lahaina (can't remember what that stretch is called).

Good luck planning and have a great trip.

 

[thinkerbell]

Thanks guys. I have printed out the entire thread so far. I think this is really going to help with our planning.

LuvTigger--- I may just take you up on those PM's when I start getting my act together about everything. We are really focusing on airflight and reservations for hotel right now. Once we get those in then we can get down to the nitty-gritty. I planned out every day of our Disney trip. I don't know whether to try that with Hawaii or just go and decide day to day what to do since we really know nothing about Hawaii.

Deb--- thanks for the Websites. They are great although I think we will have to forego the Royal Hawaiian. It's a bit pricey for me.

This has really gotten me excited!!!

 

[stego]

... and saw Finding Nemo on opening day. We even took our son, who is 8yo, to see Nemo at the Aquarium. Since I have been taking him to disney for vacation since he was 3yo, I thought he would be bored. The first day I bought him a boogie board at one of the convenience stores-and he was set the rest of the trip. Oahu is a beautiful island. I researched it for a year,
and made the decision to rent a car so we could spend two days and nights up on the north shore. When we stayed at the hotel in Laie, we walked to the beach across the street. NO ONE WAS ON THE BEACH. The water was clear, the sand white. The pacific ocean as far as you can see, and facing the shore, the green mountains stretching into the clouds. On our way to the northshore, we stopped at the pali lookout. The view of the east side of the island-well, words can't describe it. I did spend an afternoon in Haliewa; is it just me, or did that town just freeze after 1960? Very down to earth, and very slow-paced. Surfing is just a way of life on this side of the island. I can't imagine what it's like in the winter when the waves are big. It was remarkable seeing the changes while driving back from the north shore into honolulu. There is quite a bit of traffic, and congestion in downtown. I did also figure on renting a car to see stuff around honolulu. The USS Arizona, Ford Island, and the USS Missouri.
We also went snorkeling one morning at Hanuma bay. Quite an experience, unfortunately, the coral is beat up from all the tourists. I did find out that Waikiki is very touristy. Lots of people everywhere. However, we did stay at the Hyatt. This is probably the biggest hotel in the area. It was right across the street from the beach. We got a room on the 33rd floor-the view of the ocean and diamond head-incredible! Nothing like waking up in the morning, going out to the balcony, and hearing the pacific. Yes, the surfer's are allready out in the waves, but they were very gentle there. They got to between 1-3ft. There were a few places to rent surfboards, and also get lessons. We had to watch out a time or two for a "rookie" coming in. I was amazed how small the garage and pool were for such a big hotel. I guess most people catch a ride to the hotel, and stay the whole time there. Tours are offered to many parts of the island. And why would you swim in the pool, with Waikiki beach across the street? The small hotel we stayed at on the north shore was right next to the Polynesian Culture Center (PCC). So we drove up this two lane road (one side ocean, one side mountains) to get there. Time really does slow down there. There was more than enough to do and see for a week. I even got up to the summit of diamond head (my wife made me buy her the "I climbed and made it to the top" t-shirt), and the view was astounding. My family and I created many wonderful memories in Oahu. I too, concur, it would be a great place to go for the first time. We do look forward to coming back some time and visiting Maui and Hawaii. (I think if I came to Oahu in the wintertime to see the waves I'd never go back)

 

[FOJMO]

We, too, are planning a Hawaiian trip next May. We haven't been there in 17 years. I'm sure a lot has changed. We LOVED Oahu the last time we were there and stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and want to stay there again. It's terrific!

Our DD (17) and her friend want to go surfing, but don't know the first thing about it. Can anyone tell us if there is a place that gives lessons, possibly at the Hilton? If not, somewhere else? I'd like a reputable/reasonable place.

Another place we loved when we went back in 1985 was the Zoo. It was very nice.

This thread has helped me with my planning also. Thanks!