going to hawaii...looking for advice!

[worm761]

one of my good friends just moved to hawaii. can't wait to go see her. she is living on the island of O'ahu. i am just now starting the planning phase. i could use any advice you guys would be willing to give me. i will be staying with her. it will be me and another friend going out to see her. i am thinking of staying for a week. what can i do in that amount of time? and what are the must do's? do you know of any good websites to go to for info?

thanks a bunch!!!

 

[monkeyboy]

If you find an idol on a construction site...................leave it there

 

[Maleficent13]

Originally posted by monkeyboy
If you find an idol on a construction site...................leave it there

 

[Dan Murphy]

It's been many years since we were there, but let's get this back on page one for some ideas.

 

[Jeafl]

We're going in June and mommytotwo has been a great help to me. She lives on O'ahu, so you might try PMing her.

Also, aprincessmom and DawnCT have both recently returned from Hawaii, they might be able to help you.

My absolute favorite website is www.tripadvisor.com. It has reviews on every hotel and restaurant you can imagine. It is a wealth of information about Hawaii. Also, try doing a Google search on Hawaii. I've found some great information on many different websites. I've also found a couple of discussion boards, but both of them are VERY slow. They only have a couple of posts a month, so they aren't worth visiting.

Try your library for any guidebooks. I like the "revealed" books. I know there is one for Maui and the big island, so there is probably one for Oahu as well. Good luck!

P.S. From what I understand, the very best advice of all is to bring TWICE as much money as you are planning on bringing.

 

[DawnCt1]

Oooh, my favorite subject! I love Hawaii and I feel bad that you will only have one week. Would you be able to eek out a bit more time to allow for a visit to another another also? If not, there are fun things to do on O'ahu. Hiking Diamond Head. You will get a great view of Honolulu, and a deal of O'ahu itself. It's an easy hike but its hot so start early in the morning and enjoy the views topside. Be sure to visit Pearl Harbor, the Arizona, the Missouri and the Bow Fin and sub museum. Get there early. The Arizona is free but the tickets go quickly. There is a fee for the other two. Definately drive along the coast of O'ahu to the North Shore. We liked the Polynesian Cultural Center. It is operated by the LDS and is closed on Sundays. The Bishop Museum and the Iolani Palace are certainly worthwhile. The Dole Plantation and the maze would be interesting, we haven't done that yet. China Town is another place you could explore and we loved the Honolulu Zoo. They had a great Orangutang exhibit. Of course, Waikiki Beach is nice. There are nice restaurants and night life and a luau is a great idea as well. If you have time for a few days on another island, then you are faced with a really tough decision; I love them all. If a day trip is possible consider the Big Island and Volcanos National Park. Where else can you see Mother Nature at work destroying trees with acid rain and building more land! The hikes there are really wonderful. Another day trip DH and I took from Maui, but of course you could take it from Honolulu was our trip to Molokai and the leper colony of Kaulapapa and Kalawao. I was very moved by what I saw and heard. I had read about it prior to our trip and in the Michner novel, Hawaii, but there is so much more to know about that time and place. Have fun planning.

 

[aprincessmom]

Hi there,

I can't help with O'ahu. We went to Maui and I have to say it was the best vacation we ever had. If you have the chance to go to Hawaii do it...you'll never regret it. There is so much to do and see...truly paradise!

As for cost, I didn't think it was bad at all. In fact, it cost more for us to stay at a hotel in San Francisco than it did to stay in a condo on the beach in Maui. I didn't find it any more expensive than NYC, San Francisco, LA or Boston.

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by aprincessmom

As for cost, I didn't think it was bad at all. In fact, it cost more for us to stay at a hotel in San Francisco than it did to stay in a condo on the beach in Maui. I didn't find it any more expensive than NYC, San Francisco, LA or Boston.

I agree with you regarding the costs. There are pricey hotels and ways to save money. I have a theory. The nicer the destination, the less important it is to stay in absolute luxury although, I thought the places we stayed in were pretty terrific. I could have been happy with less because after all, Hawaii is paradise. Food comes in all price ranges from plate lunches to dinner at Roys. It's totally a choice.

 

[Carl]

The one thing that I did not like about Hawaii was the food. The only meal I enjoyed there was spaghetti. But that is just me. Lots of people love the food there.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

Originally posted by monkeyboy
If you find an idol on a construction site...................leave it there

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by Carl
The one thing that I did not like about Hawaii was the food. The only meal I enjoyed there was spaghetti. But that is just me. Lots of people love the food there.

I love the food. I can't think of another destination, World Showcase at WDW included, where there is such diversity in food. There is everything from standard American fare, substandard American fare (McDonalds, Burger King, Wendys, ) Pacific Rim, local, Mexican, Viet Namese, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, French, Italian and more, all within fairly close proximity. One thing that they have there that I haven't had here is ono. I love it in fish tacos.

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by monkeyboy
If you find an idol on a construction site...................leave it there

There is definately some truth to that. They seem to like shrines and memorials. On the Kohala Coast of the Big Island on miles upon miles of rolling lava, there are huge fields of white graphitte. My first impression when I saw it was isn't a shame that they spray painted the lava. Upon closer inspection however, you can see that it is very lumpy. They use white coral, taken when they first built the road and use the coral to form huge letters. If you want you graphitti to last, then build it far from the road. Along with the graphitti are shrines with flowers, leis, etc. En route down to Kaulapapa on Molokai, while on a narrow, steep, trail, there was a shrine dug into the wall of the pali. It did cross my mind that it might be a memorial to someone who fell off of their mule, so I hung on to the saddle horn a lot tighter.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

We were there last year. Don't miss Pearl Harbor. Have a cocktail at the Royal hawaiian (pink hotel on Waikiki beach) in there lounge at sunset (gorgeous). Go snorkeling. Theres an awesome bay there forget what its called where you can see the sea turtles, and have good snorkeling.

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by Tink&SquirtsMom
We were there last year. Don't miss Pearl Harbor. Have a cocktail at the Royal hawaiian (pink hotel on Waikiki beach) in there lounge at sunset (gorgeous). Go snorkeling. Theres an awesome bay there forget what its called where you can see the sea turtles, and have good snorkeling.

Haunauma Bay.

 

[chyam]

If at all possible try and add a couple of days to your week, not only to see more, but from the looks of things you are close to FL which means you have an 11 hour flight over and back and depending on what time of the year you are going from here it is a 5 hour time difference, 6 hours in the summer and you would be surprised on how that affects you. My parents used to live there and when I arrived at 4 pm there I was ready for bed since it was 10 pm here and of course I would wake up at 3 am since it was 9 at home, You get used to it pretty quick though. You will love it, and defineately climb Diamond Head. The International Market Place is interesting also. I never found the islands to be to hot and it seemed to be pleasant all the time with the trade winds. The people are great also, and ohhhhhhhhh the color of the water! Hawaii always brings fond memories for me..........have a great time!

 

[aprincessmom]

I have to agree with DawnCt1...the choices of food were varied and very good. There is something for everyone there. And if you are a foodie you'll be in heaven!

 

[worm761]

thank you all for the info and suggestions. things i know i want to do are snorkeling, pearl harbor, and see the volcanoes. and i have to get in some good shopping. and of course i want to see a luau (sp?). thanks!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Where's Lissa, Angela? Miss her. And hope all is well with you too.