AULANI: Calling Oahu residents and experts-need help with itinerary

[Lyn-CA]

I was hoping that you guys could do me the biggest favor and help me with my proposed itinerary for our May trip. DH and I have been to the different islands 6 times before, the last trip being in 2003. We did a circle tour of Oahu on our own a couple of times but of course so much as changed since then.

We are spending half our time enjoying all that Aulani has to offer. The other half, we'd like to venture out. We are staying a week at Aulani and 3 days in Waikiki. I used google maps to try and group attractions together based on proximity. Could you guys review how I grouped things and make recommendations? Maybe move things around so they make better sense distance-wise, etc?

We love to enjoy good food and desserts in particular whenever we travel so we deliberately plan our meals right along with our sightseeing.

From Aulani home base:
Tuesday-North Shore: see turtles at Laniakea Beach, swim in Waimea Bay, eat at Giovanni's shrimp truck and Ted's Bakery.

Wednesday-Kailua/Lanikai Beach: which beach is a good swimming beach with a 4-year old? Do we need to cover both or will Lanikai do? We'd like to do Pali Lookout and Byodo Temple either before or after the beaches; eat lunch at Dean's Drive Inn

Saturday-Pearl Harbor, Aloha Stadium Flea Market, Punchbowl Cemetery; eat at Nico's and Liliha Bakery Nimitz

From Waikiki home base:
Monday-hike Diamond Head, Halona Blowhole, Iolani Palace, Capitol, Church, Kamehameha statue; eat at Helena's and Shimazu shave ice.

We also want to try the shave ice at Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha and Waiola and have mochi and ice cream at Bubbies but I'm not sure where to fit them in.

Thanks so much in advance.

 

[silvaohana808]

Your itinerary looks great! I actually have no suggestions but for Kailua and Lanikai it's pretty much the same stretch of beach. I would recommend Lanikai over Kailua but the parking has been a nightmare lately so I'm not too sure how it'll be when you actually go there. It may be better when you go! Will you only have one day to venture out while in Waikiki?

 

[Girimama33]

Lanikai is my favorite beach, but parking is horrendous at times because it is in a neighborhood. Kailua Beach has a very accessible parking lot. Definitely hit up Dean's Drive Inn. It is tiny, but the food is good. I suggest the surf and turf (teriyaki beef and ahi cake)
As far as Uncle Clay's goes, I would probably try and do that when you are in Waikiki or if you plan to head to Hanauma Bay or Sandy Beach.
Waiola Store can be done on the Monday in Honolulu...same with Bubbies.

 

[testingthewaters]

Very cool. This is our first time to Oahu and we are doing something similar...4 nights in Ewa Beach while we sightsee and 5 nights at Aulani to relax and enjoy the resort. Here's what I have - I may need to add turtle-watching to the itinerary!

Day 1: Arrive, get settled
Day 2: Bishop Museum, picnic/Royal Hawaiian Band concert at Iolani, Iolani tour, eat at Helena's, walk Kalakaua Ave.
Day 3: Dole Plantation train ride, early lunch at north shore shrimp trucks, Polynesian Cultural Center
Day 4: Diamond Head, KCC Farmers Market, Pearl Harbor, eat at Nico's
Day 5/6: Relax
Day 7: Aloha Stadium Swap Meet
Day 8/9: Relax

 

[Lyn-CA]

Your itinerary looks great! I actually have no suggestions but for Kailua and Lanikai it's pretty much the same stretch of beach. I would recommend Lanikai over Kailua but the parking has been a nightmare lately so I'm not too sure how it'll be when you actually go there. It may be better when you go! Will you only have one day to venture out while in Waikiki?

Mahalo for your helpful advice.

We'll have 2-1/2 days in Waikiki and they're shaping up to include lots of eating and desserts-which is just how we like it.

 

[Lyn-CA]

Very cool. This is our first time to Oahu and we are doing something similar...4 nights in Ewa Beach while we sightsee and 5 nights at Aulani to relax and enjoy the resort. Here's what I have - I may need to add turtle-watching to the itinerary!

Day 1: Arrive, get settled
Day 2: Bishop Museum, picnic/Royal Hawaiian Band concert at Iolani, Iolani tour, eat at Helena's, walk Kalakaua Ave.
Day 3: Dole Plantation train ride, early lunch at north shore shrimp trucks, Polynesian Cultural Center
Day 4: Diamond Head, KCC Farmers Market, Pearl Harbor, eat at Nico's
Day 5/6: Relax
Day 7: Aloha Stadium Swap Meet
Day 8/9: Relax

Wow, when are you going? We could very well run into you guys since we have quite similar itineraries. Wouldn't that be something?

 

[testingthewaters]

I wish! We'll be there in early July.

 

[silvaohana808]

OOooh awesome! Yes...definitely need to set aside some time for the ono food!!

 

[eyu830]

Just a heads up that Helena's is only open Tues-Fri, so you should plan accordingly. Also, consider eating at Rainbow drive-in one of the days you are in Waikiki for a lunch plate.

 

[Lyn-CA]

Just a heads up that Helena's is only open Tues-Fri, so you should plan accordingly. Also, consider eating at Rainbow drive-in one of the days you are in Waikiki for a lunch plate.

Thanks for that. I changed the day for Helena's on Tuesday. We are planning to do all the drive-ins: Rainbow Drive In, Highway Inn, Dean's Drive Inn. Speaking of all these local plate lunches, can you suggest what are the must have dishes that are the speciality of each one?

 

[eyu830]

Thanks for that. I changed the day for Helena's on Tuesday. We are planning to do all the drive-ins: Rainbow Drive In, Highway Inn, Dean's Drive Inn. Speaking of all these local plate lunches, can you suggest what are the must have dishes that are the speciality of each one?

A lot of the plate lunch places offer very similar food and the standard Hawaiian fare. Rainbow has daily specials that we've tried and enjoyed, but they weren't that special that we actually remember what they were. Ironically, we usually stick with the loco moco and mix plate (BBQ beef, chicken, mahi mahi, rice, and Mac salad). You can usually find those anywhere, but to us, they just taste better when you eat them in the Rainbow parking lot. Has become a tradition for us every year when we go back.

Yelp is probably your best resource to research what people like best at each location. There's always tons of reviews and helpful pictures of the food.

Hope you enjoy your trip!

 

[Deirdres]

I was hoping that you guys could do me the biggest favor and help me with my proposed itinerary for our May trip.

Great suggestions, we will be there in May also, I will have to "steal" some of these ideas.

 

[Lyn-CA]

Great suggestions, we will be there in May also, I will have to "steal" some of these ideas.

Please, help yourself