April 2nd Trip Quickly Approaching - Itinerary Help

[tntstults]

I've planned and planned and our trip is quickly approaching. Would you all mind taking a look at my itinerary and let me know if you see any time issues?

Day 1
Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens
Pali Lookout
Byodo In Temple
Experience Nutridge Luau at 4pm

Day 2
Pear Harbor 9am
Marugame Udon near Pearl Harbor
Daiso, Don Quiote
Monkeypod Dinner across Aulani 5pm

Day 3
Hopefully snag a 7am Hanauma Bay reservation
Teddy's Bigger Burgers
Halona Blowhole

Day 4
Wake up early and drive from Aulani to North shore, but take the longer route that drives along the east coast.
Stop along the way for photos at the beach swings
Laniakea Beach for sea turtles
Sunrise Shack
Sunset Beach
Big Wave and Surf n Salsa Food trucks
Matsumoto's
Dole Plantation just for the gift shop and dole whip
Marine life tour at 5pm

I'm concerned I have too much scheduled for Day 4 on the North shore. However we likely won't spend much time at the beaches, just site seeing. And we probably could do Dole Plantation a different day since it looks to be about 30 min from Aulani.

Thanks for the help!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I've planned and planned and our trip is quickly approaching. Would you all mind taking a look at my itinerary and let me know if you see any time issues?

Honestly I think your entire itinerary is WAAAAY too aggressive. You're planning more in 4 days than I did in 8 days, and we were go-go-go. When are you going to relax? On a couple of the specifics:

Wake up early and drive from Aulani to North shore, but take the longer route that drives along the east coast.

You'll already do most of this drive the day you go to to Byodo-In Temple. I would go straight up H2 this morning and hit Dole first thing. It gets crowded very quickly but if you hit it right when it opens, you can get in and out quickly.

Matsumoto's

Disney uses the exact same ingredients at the Aulani shave ice stand. There's no need for a special stop IMO.

 

[kmedina]

I've planned and planned and our trip is quickly approaching. Would you all mind taking a look at my itinerary and let me know if you see any time issues?

Day 1
Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens
Pali Lookout
Byodo In Temple
Experience Nutridge Luau at 4pm

Day 2
Pear Harbor 9am
Marugame Udon near Pearl Harbor
Daiso, Don Quiote
Monkeypod Dinner across Aulani 5pm

Day 3
Hopefully snag a 7am Hanauma Bay reservation
Teddy's Bigger Burgers
Halona Blowhole

Day 4
Wake up early and drive from Aulani to North shore, but take the longer route that drives along the east coast.
Stop along the way for photos at the beach swings
Laniakea Beach for sea turtles
Sunrise Shack
Sunset Beach
Big Wave and Surf n Salsa Food trucks
Matsumoto's
Dole Plantation just for the gift shop and dole whip
Marine life tour at 5pm

I'm concerned I have too much scheduled for Day 4 on the North shore. However we likely won't spend much time at the beaches, just site seeing. And we probably could do Dole Plantation a different day since it looks to be about 30 min from Aulani.

Thanks for the help!

Are these your only days at Aulani? I'd be remiss to go to Aulani and not spend any actual time at Aulani. Maybe add a couple of days or cut some things so you can enjoy the resort as well.

 

[tntstults]

We will be at Aulani for 7 nights. I have 2 days with no hard plans, so some things can slide here or there. Thank you for the suggestions!

 

[tntstults]

Also we are on the east coast, so I'm assuming we will be up super early every morning.

 

[Lew]

Monkeypod Dinner across Aulani 5pm

You're scheduled to arrive at Monkeypod just as Happy Hour (3:30-5:00) ends. They offer some pretty good Happy Hour pricing.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Also we are on the east coast, so I'm assuming we will be up super early every morning.

You're scheduled to arrive at Monkeypod just as Happy Hour (3:30-5:00) ends. They offer some pretty good Happy Hour pricing.

Especially when you combine these two points together. Coming from the East Coast, you'll be up super early... and want lunch by 10:30... and be ready for dinner by 3:30.

 

[alohamom]

I think your Day 4 might be a little tight.
I would also caution you about Sunset Beach at this time of year. It has a fairly deep drop off and pretty strong currents, even in the summer. The beach is stunningly gorgeous but it can be dangerous. Make sure you look up the surf forecast for that day before you swim there. (surfline.com) Chun's Reef is a great alternative, although it has some coral patches here and there.

Otherwise, I think this a well planned itinerary.
You have mixed things in that could be skipped if needed along side of timed events and that gives you some leeway.
It might be a bit ambitious but it will give you a great feel for Oahu.
If anything you might find yourselves trying to kill time on Day 1 but if you do Tantalus Lookout is right down from Nutridge.

Other posters have a good point about Monkeypod, I would see if you can make them just a little earlier if happy hour pricing is important to you.

 

[tntstults]

Especially when you combine these two points together. Coming from the East Coast, you'll be up super early... and want lunch by 10:30... and be ready for dinner by 3:30.

5pm was the earlier reservation I could get. I plan to try to do walk up during happy hour.

 

[tntstults]

When we are on the North Shore we really don’t plan on swimming. It’s more for sightseeing, watching some big waves and surfers may be some sea turtles. Thank you for all of your replies

 

[WAstateDVCDaddy]

If you do swing out to Hanauma Bay, I’d highly recommend a stop at KokoNuts in the Hawaii Kai Marina, or Uncle Clay’s in Aina Haina on the way there.

 

[Paul Stupin]

Honestly I think your entire itinerary is WAAAAY too aggressive. You're planning more in 4 days than I did in 8 days, and we were go-go-go. When are you going to relax? On a couple of the specifics:


You'll already do most of this drive the day you go to to Byodo-In Temple. I would go straight up H2 this morning and hit Dole first thing. It gets crowded very quickly but if you hit it right when it opens, you can get in and out quickly.


Disney uses the exact same ingredients at the Aulani shave ice stand. There's no need for a special stop IMO.

Totally agreed. Sounds exhausting…I got tired just reading it! We do Aulani differently though. We’re going for two weeks in May. One day we’re going to drive to the North Shore and do Climb Works, and stop at the food trucks but not Giovanni‘s because there’s another one right there with no line and better shrimp, and another day we’re going to check out the farmers market in Kakaako. We’re renting a car and will no doubt explore around like we usually do, but nothing else planned. After a few relaxing days it’s hard to leave Ko Olina!

 

[tntstults]

If you do swing out to Hanauma Bay, I’d highly recommend a stop at KokoNuts in the Hawaii Kai Marina, or Uncle Clay’s in Aina Haina on the way there.

Thank you! I definitely want to try Uncle Clays!

 

[achinforsomebacon]

Another couple of things to consider for day 4 are lines and traffic. We were recently there and there was a line at Matsumoto's. It moved fairly quickly but was a bit longer when we left and I've heard it can be a long wait at times. Traffic was also bad in both directions and things can go south quickly with only one lane each way. We also went up the east coast. It wasn't too bad around midday and cleared up after making a few stops. The other direction was worse for a longer time. This was also on a Saturday, which I would assume is worse than a weekday.

 

[WAstateDVCDaddy]

Another couple of things to consider for day 4 are lines and traffic. We were recently there and there was a line at Matsumoto's. It moved fairly quickly but was a bit longer when we left and I've heard it can be a long wait at times. Traffic was also bad in both directions and things can go south quickly with only one lane each way. We also went up the east coast. It wasn't too bad around midday and cleared up after making a few stops. The other direction was worse for a longer time. This was also on a Saturday, which I would assume is worse than a weekday.

Personally, I’ve never been impressed with Matsumoto’s. Having grown up on Oahu, it was always hit or miss - sometimes it seems they let quality come second to meeting demand. (The finer you shave the ice, the better it is, but the slower it goes)

If you’re going to Matsumoto’s to go to Matsumoto’s, the lines go pretty quickly, and they do have great options.

but if you’re going for shave ice, then there are lots of other places to go. I’m much more familiar with places on the east side of the island, so can’t comment as much on Matsumoto’s local competition, but I would choose KokoNuts, Clay’s, or Waiola Shave Ice (the Waiola location) before Matsumoto’s.

 

[mort1331]

Totally agreed. Sounds exhausting…I got tired just reading it! We do Aulani differently though. We’re going for two weeks in May. One day we’re going to drive to the North Shore and do Climb Works, and stop at the food trucks but not Giovanni‘s because there’s another one right there with no line and better shrimp, and another day we’re going to check out the farmers market in Kakaako. We’re renting a car and will no doubt explore around like we usually do, but nothing else planned. After a few relaxing days it’s hard to leave Ko Olina!

Any chance at food truck name..like to try different ones..thanks

 

[WAstateDVCDaddy]

Big Wave is very good, and doesn’t have the crowds.

 

[WAstateDVCDaddy]

Big Wave is very good, and doesn’t have the crowds. It’s across the street. Paul is probably talking about Hawaii Ono, which is in the same food truck pod as Giovanni’s.

 

[newdeal]

to me day 4 is the least of your concerns. Day 1 I feel like there are way better things you could be doing (Manoa Falls Hike, Diamond head hike), day 2 Pearl Harbour requires a full day, Day 3 you should think about doing Kualoa as long as you are over in that area. Day 4 I would choose Waimea valley over the Dole Plantation but you could have time for both realistically if you skip the marine life tour. No idea what that means but if it is captive animals I would tend to pass on it.

 

[tntstults]

to me day 4 is the least of your concerns. Day 1 I feel like there are way better things you could be doing (Manoa Falls Hike, Diamond head hike), day 2 Pearl Harbour requires a full day, Day 3 you should think about doing Kualoa as long as you are over in that area. Day 4 I would choose Waimea valley over the Dole Plantation but you could have time for both realistically if you skip the marine life tour. No idea what that means but if it is captive animals I would tend to pass on it.

Thank you for the input. Thr marine life tour is through Ocean Outfitters and is an 1.5 boat tour on a fast boat that takes you around to see dolphins, possibly sharks and hopefully a whale.