Critique my Aulani Plan! Oct 2017

[KayKayJS]

Hi guys!! We are going on our Honeymoon to Aulani Oct 14-21 this year and I have definitely struggled to find time to plan with all the wedding planning, but here is what I've got! Please let me know your thoughts!!

Saturday 10/14 - Arrive @ 212PM. Plan to hit target for groceries then rest as we are from the East coast.

Sunday 10/15 - Resort Day

Monday 10/16 - Kualoa Ranch Tours (Catamaran & VIP movie tour) , Dinner @ Resort

Tuesday 10/17 - Resort Day , Aulani Luau (is this only certain days?)

Wednesday 10/18 - North Shore - Dole Plantation onto way to North Shore for surfing

Thursday 10/19 - Resort Day

Friday 10/20 - Potentially a tour or off site experience? Would like to swim with dolphins or turtles in the ocean.

Saturday 10/21 - Flight out @10PM. Was planning on making this a resort day and doing a couples massage.

Additional things I am interested in but don't know anything about/what day would be best to do them/where they are located on the island:
-Diamond Head
-Waimea Falls
-Volcano day tour? (have seen some very pricey excursions for this on viator)
-Restaurant with great views in Waikiki

Any suggestions are welcome.

 

[DVCRSheridan]

Hi guys!! We are going on our Honeymoon to Aulani Oct 14-21 this year and I have definitely struggled to find time to plan with all the wedding planning, but here is what I've got! Please let me know your thoughts!!

Saturday 10/14 - Arrive @ 212PM. Plan to hit target for groceries then rest as we are from the East coast.

Sunday 10/15 - Resort Day

Monday 10/16 - Kualoa Ranch Tours (Catamaran & VIP movie tour) , Dinner @ Resort

Tuesday 10/17 - Resort Day , Aulani Luau (is this only certain days?)

Wednesday 10/18 - North Shore - Dole Plantation onto way to North Shore for surfing

Thursday 10/19 - Resort Day

Friday 10/20 - Potentially a tour or off site experience? Would like to swim with dolphins or turtles in the ocean.

Saturday 10/21 - Flight out @10PM. Was planning on making this a resort day and doing a couples massage.

Additional things I am interested in but don't know anything about/what day would be best to do them/where they are located on the island:
-Diamond Head
-Waimea Falls
-Volcano day tour? (have seen some very pricey excursions for this on viator)
-Restaurant with great views in Waikiki

Any suggestions are welcome.

10/14- Smart! If you guys are planning on snorkeling while there, I would recommend getting yourselves a snorkel set at Target also. We did this our 1st trip and brought them back with us each time after. They're MUCH better than the stuff available to rent at Aulani. I believe we got the Speedo snorkeling sets. Having done the flight from the east coast 3 times, I'd recommend trying to force yourselves to stay awake until 8-9pm at least. Otherwise you'll be struggling with the time change. When we went for our honeymoon we knocked out at like 6pm and then were screwed up for 5 days waking up at 2am and not being able to adjust. Our next 2 trips we forced ourselves to stay up that 1st night and it made a huge difference.

10/15- Get down to the beach at 8am (when rentals open) and get yourselves a casabella for the day! You'll love it. It's about $40 for the day and well worth it! My wife and I loved them so much that we made sure to get 1 almost everyday we spent at the beach. You have to be down there right at 8am tho as they reserve quickly (or at least they did the times we were there).

10/16- Haven't done this personally, but had a friend who did and LOVED it! Highly recommended it to us. We're gonna be sure to do it next time we go back.

10/17- See casabella above lol

10/18- We love the North Shore. Check out Turtle Beach up there for the sea turtles and also Sharks Cove for some awesome snorkeling. If you want to do Waimea Falls, this is your day. We've done it each time and love it. It's an easy (paved), enjoyable hike with a waterfall at the top that you can swim in. As for the Dole Plantation, if you guys are really interested in that then go for it....personally I wouldn't waste my time though. Check out Haleiwa town. Some cool shops, shrimp trucks, shave ice etc...

10/19- Casabella Part3!! lol

10/20- If you're looking for an offsite tour, Pearl Harbor is a MUST! Get there early and do the full deal. The Missouri, the Arizona, the aviation hangar etc...

10/21- Couples Massage! Yes! We absolutely love the spa there. Each time we've done a massage it's been 1 of the best we've had. The outdoor hydrogarden is fantastic also and you'll have full use of this with your massage. You're gonna love it!

Dining - - AMA AMA for breakfast is heaven! We ate here nearly everyday lol the food's great, but the view is what keeps you coming back. Nothing quite like eating breakfast overlooking the beach. Makahiki was fine, but nothing special. Not bad though. Our favorite dinner spot is MonkeyPod Kitchen across the street. Great food, drinks and live music! Request a table outside or on the 2nd floor balcony. Roy's Ko Olina was very nice also if you're looking for a fancier meal near the resort.

....and now I want to go back!!! lol We went for our honeymoon in '13 and loved it so much that we went back in '14 and '15 also. We just had our 1st child last month and we can't wait to bring him there!