Need help on planning Hawaii trip

[mylilnikita]

Hi
I am planning a trip to Hawaii to see some friends.And even though I have planned cruises and trips to WDW, I am at a loss for Hawaii. Even though we can stay with our friends, I want that whole Oahu experience, the hotel looking out at the ocean and a view of Diamond Head. And the flight, how long should the flight be? Help, it is appreciated

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

#1. Invite Mady/sophiemom


Seriously don't know alot, but depending where you live- I've heard it is often cheaper to book separate flights. One to LA, and the LA to Hawaii.

Have fun!!

 

[Patty3]

We have been to Oahu twice in the past three years. For hotels, we stay at the Halekulani and get a diamond head view room. This hotel is a slice of heaven in busy downtown Honolulu. We love taking a drive to the north shore and stopping along the trip to get a shaved ice at Matsumotos. I would not have thought they would taste this good. A friend of mine grew up on Oahu and she said that we must try it and she was right. We go in winter and the waves are incredible. We just sit on the beach and watch the surfers. We hiked Diamond head, drove to the Poly lookout, swam with the fishes, right now, I can not remember the name of the place. I am sure others will come along knowing where I mean. For dinner, we love going to Alan Wongs. He is one of Hawaii's top chefs and his restaurant is not easy to get into. We booked about three months ahead. The first time we sat at the counter watching them prepare the food. It was alot of fun. Another place everyone seems to like is Dukes on Waikiki Beach.

For a moving experience, I strongly recommend that if you do nothing else, go to Pearl Harbor. The tears were just streaming down my face and I had to keep my sunglasses on to try and hide the tears. There is a short film before you tender to the Arizona. You will see a pot welded on a stove, oil still coming out the ship. It is said that the oil are the tears of those that went down. It is one thing that you will never forget.

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

There might be some helpful info on these Hawaii threads....

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1151778

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=992120

 

[bekkiz]

Coming from Virginia, you'll probably fly through LA (or maybe dallas?) Anyway, it's about 5-6 hours LA to Ohau, so add that to the flight from the east coast (~5 hours).

This is a fantastic guide book
http://www.wizardpub.com/oahu/oahu.html

If you don't mind spending a bit of money, the W hotel in Waikiki has Diamond Head and ocean view rooms, and is very posh.
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/rooms/index.html?propertyID=1246

 

[AprilShowers]

swam with the fishes, right now, I can not remember the name of the place. I am sure others will come along knowing where I mean.

Hanauma Bay. Not sure if it's spelled right, but you must go there and swim/snorkel. Another good snorkel spot is Shark's cove.
Polynesian Cultural Center is a neat place where you see shows from the different Polynesian cultures that are represented on the Hawaiian islands. At night there is a big show.
Another vote for Shave Ice at Matsumotos. And it's SHAVE Ice, not SHAVED Ice. LOL! Just ask the locals, they'll tell you! It is amazing, you'll be hooked!
Enjoy your Hawaiian vacation!

 

[pfishgirl]

Hawaii to NJ the flight was about a 12 hour flight

 

[meeskamouska]

Another vote for Matsomoto's!!! It is in the village of Hale'iwea!!! There is plenty of shopping and soem amazing food there!!! We spent most of our time there as we stayed up on the North Shore in a beach house!!!

 

[honeymom]

It is a 5 hour flight from the west coast (la or sf). It is 5-6 hours to the west coast. Then there is layover time.

Halekulani is definitely one of the best Waikiki hotels. We haven't stayed there, but we once ate at La Mer. Tres pricey, but worth it for those views at night! It was the single most romantic restaurant that I have ever been to (a good thing - it was our anniversary) as well as the priciest.

Ditto on Pearl Harbor. I don't think that Oahu is everybody's idea of paradise, but I think that everybody should try to make a trip there just to see Pearl Harbor. It was very moving.

 

[trip]

Ditto on Pearl Harbor. I don't think that Oahu is everybody's idea of paradise, but I think that everybody should try to make a trip there just to see Pearl Harbor. It was very moving.

Just remember that it is the Arizona Memorial you want to visit. Pearl Harbor is the Naval Base.