Aulani - Oahu--things we want to do

[wink13]

Background: We will be going to Aulani in October 2011. It will be DW, DS (17), DS (12) and myself. Due to sports and school schedules we will only have 4 full days and one 1/2 day. We arrive on at Wed at 2 p.m and leave Monday morning 7 a.m. This leave us Th, Fr, Sat & Sun to fit in the things we want to do. Please help me pick the things we might be able to do out of this list.

Pearl Harbor - must do -DW will not let us go without doing this.

Helicopter Tour

Diamond Head Hike

Dole Plantation

Luau - Paradise Cove most like due to location.

Snorkel and Beach Day - most likey on Sunday before we leave.

My thoughts are:

Wed - Check in at Aulani and check out resort. Relax from flight.

Thursday - Pearly Harbor morning - Dole Plantation afternoon.

Friday - Helicopter Ride morning - Luau evening

Saturday - Diamond Head Hike morning

Sunday - Snorkel and Beach

I like to go go my DW likes to hang at the beach. DS's are more like me they want to do things not just lay on beach. What do you all think?

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Thanks for the list!

We're going in 5 months and my planning seems way off so far.

I'm trying to sneak in a LOST tour to see some of the shooting spots in and around Oahu.

 

[bakenatj]

I've only been to Maui, but from what I've been told is get to Pearl Harbor early to make sure you get to see it.

I'm like you two hours of beach time and I'm ready to do something exciting. That's why I've taken up diving. The wife can sit on the beach while I'm exploring the world under the sea!

 

[kiddo76]

I'd skip the Dole Plantation. I spent a couple months on Oahu a few years ago while DH was working. I saw pretty much everything that was listed in my guidebook and the Dole Plantation is the one thing I would definitely recommend skipping. It is the definition of tourist trap.

I'd recommed taking a drive to the North Shore instead.

Plan to get to Pearl Harbor before it opens or expect to wait a long time. It's amazing and very much worth it.

 

[fijidoc]

only issue could be Pearl Harbour. First I want to say that I totally agree that it is a must do. Problem is you can't just go up to it in the morning and tour it as you want. Very limited number of tickets sold at entrance for the day so almost have to go through a tour company. So you catch a bus or it picks you up at your resort. After all of it's pick ups you arrive at Pearl Harbour. Depending on what time bus arrives determines when you enter. Tour groups line up to enter. Once you enter your group is given a number for the day. When your number is called you get to go in and watch the movie, then go to get on boat to take you out to Arizona Memorial. Then you tour that and get boat back to shore. Tour bus sets time for departure to allow people time to look around facility. Even if you are one of the first groups to enter it is not a short day, and if your tour group doesn't get there til later it could be a very full day if not all day.

So need to have some flexability on that day. Plan for touring dole plantation but if Pearl Harbour day is long do something else that doesn't take as long and move Plantation tour to another day.

A lot of people don't understand how Pearl Harbour works. They think they can just go and tour it(which is what we thought til we got there). Luckily we were there a whole week.

Also want to book tour group before you get there. These tour groups fill up fast. When we went we coudn't book a group until the day before we left. They were all booked up for the first 5 days we were on the island because we didn't book tour ahead of time.

 

[wink13]

Thanks for the info. Dole Plantation is one we may skip then.

I'd skip the Dole Plantation. I spent a couple months on Oahu a few years ago while DH was working. I saw pretty much everything that was listed in my guidebook and the Dole Plantation is the one thing I would definitely recommend skipping. It is the definition of tourist trap.

I'd recommed taking a drive to the North Shore instead.

Plan to get to Pearl Harbor before it opens or expect to wait a long time. It's amazing and very much worth it.

 

[wink13]

Great info. I'll look into a tour group for our family.

Any suggestion our tour companies?

only issue could be Pearl Harbour. First I want to say that I totally agree that it is a must do. Problem is you can't just go up to it in the morning and tour it as you want. Very limited number of tickets sold at entrance for the day so almost have to go through a tour company. So you catch a bus or it picks you up at your resort. After all of it's pick ups you arrive at Pearl Harbour. Depending on what time bus arrives determines when you enter. Tour groups line up to enter. Once you enter your group is given a number for the day. When your number is called you get to go in and watch the movie, then go to get on boat to take you out to Arizona Memorial. Then you tour that and get boat back to shore. Tour bus sets time for departure to allow people time to look around facility. Even if you are one of the first groups to enter it is not a short day, and if your tour group doesn't get there til later it could be a very full day if not all day.

So need to have some flexability on that day. Plan for touring dole plantation but if Pearl Harbour day is long do something else that doesn't take as long and move Plantation tour to another day.

A lot of people don't understand how Pearl Harbour works. They think they can just go and tour it(which is what we thought til we got there). Luckily we were there a whole week.

Also want to book tour group before you get there. These tour groups fill up fast. When we went we coudn't book a group until the day before we left. They were all booked up for the first 5 days we were on the island because we didn't book tour ahead of time.

 

[fijidoc]

I would totally agree on skipping Dole Plantation.

I also agree that North Shore is cool.

If you were into the show Lost, I have heard that the Lost tours can be pretty cool.

 

[fijidoc]

I would recomend contacting the Disney resort. They may have tour groups going to pearl harbour or speak to conceirge at the resort and see who they recomend using. That is what we did with resort we stayed at when we were there.

 

[jekjones1558]

Have you considered the Polynesian Culture Center? If you rent a car you can also check out the North Shore. Or you could book a bus tour there. The tours often include stops at the North Shore beaches and/or Dole. You could do the luau there if you really want a luau.
We have done the Diamond Head hike and it was fine but I would not consider it a top choice for activities. Pearl Harbor is a must and you need to be there right away because the tickets are handed out in order and the trips out to the Arizona are in groups. Again a tour may be easiest when your time is so limited.

 

[mdsd8700]

We are hoping to go in June of 2012 for DS HS graduation. So even though more than a year out, I am loving this thread.

Is there anywhere to zip line on the island? That just sounds like so much fun.

Thanks.

 

[wink13]

Thanks all for your suggestions. We will have a car and we are thinking about doing the Helicopter Tour from Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore so we could tour that area along with the Helicopter tour.

I will contact Disney as the resort is closer to opening to see if they have any tours for PH or a suggestion for a tour company.

 

[kiddo76]

Have you considered the Polynesian Culture Center? If you rent a car you can also check out the North Shore. Or you could book a bus tour there. The tours often include stops at the North Shore beaches and/or Dole. You could do the luau there if you really want a luau.
We have done the Diamond Head hike and it was fine but I would not consider it a top choice for activities. Pearl Harbor is a must and you need to be there right away because the tickets are handed out in order and the trips out to the Arizona are in groups. Again a tour may be easiest when your time is so limited.

We loved the PCC. I would definitely recommend going there on a longer trip or if you've already been to Oahu before. For a short first time trip, I wouldn't commit a whole day just to go there and it really deserves a whole day. The show was amazing, but the actual luau was just ok. FYI, the PCC is run by BYU, so there is no alcohol served. So if a fruity, alcoholic drink is part of your ideal luau, I'd skip it.

I've heard Germaine's Luau is the best, most authentic luau on Oahu. We missed it while we were there when DH got sick with leptospirosis after we went swimming in a water fall.

 

[littlestar]

We've never booked a tour when we toured Pearl Harbor/Arizona Memorial - we just caught a city bus (early in the morning) and had no problems getting in. Tickets are free and on a first come, first served basis. I've been four times to Pearl Harbor and never had a problem getting in if I arrived early in the morning. Here's the info on the gov site:

http://www.nps.gov/valr/planyourvisit/index.htm

If you want to tour the battleship Missouri (Mighty Mo) or the Bowfin submarine at Pearl Harbor, you can buy tickets for that once you arrive at Pearl Harbor.

http://www.ussmissouri.com/
http://www.bowfin.org/

 

[jesschris]

Make sure you stop at the shrimp trucks on the North side of the island.

 

[wink13]

Will do, I've heard good things about the shrimp trucks.

Make sure you stop at the shrimp trucks on the North side of the island.

 

[DisneyStoryMania]

Just want to add a couple things, The best snokling on the island is at a place called Hanauma bay, this should be on your list it is a great beach like park link is down below, and another place I would say is a must see for your family is Polynesian cultural center (link below) this is an all day event that has a great luau,,,the shows are great and you get to see every culture kind of reminds me of a Hawaiian Epcot... Your list looks great for must sees.. you will love Pear Harbor real sad but nice to see. I lived in hawaii for 2 years so if anyone has any questions feel free to PM me..



CULTURAL CENTER

HANAUMA BAY

 

[wink13]

Thanks for the info and the links. Looks great.

Just want to add a couple things, The best snokling on the island is at a place called Hanauma bay, this should be
on your list it is a great beach like park link is down below, and another place I would say is a must see for your family is Polynesian cultural center (link below) this is an all day event that has a great luau,,,the shows are great and you get to see every culture kind of reminds me of a Hawaiian Epcot... Your list looks great for must sees.. you will love Pear Harbor real sad but nice to see. I lived in hawaii for 2 years so if anyone has any questions feel free to PM me..



CULTURAL CENTER

HANAUMA BAY

 

[slp87]

Just returned from Oahu and went to Hanauma Bay and it really is a great place to go snorkling! We also went to the luau right next door to Aulani (can't remember the name), but it was the best luau I had ever been to.

 

[wink13]

Thanks. We've been looking at Paradise Cove Laua so it's good to hear a good review. The location can't be beat when staying at Aulani.

Will definately look into Hanauma Bay.

Just returned from Oahu and went to Hanauma Bay and it really is a great place to go snorkling! We also went to the luau right next door to Aulani (can't remember the name), but it was the best luau I had ever been to.