North Shore: Is this too much in one day?

[sasha]

Sorry that I'm posting like crazy, but we're down to the wire and I'm freaking out about my itinerary!

We're planning on going to the North Shore one day, but wondering if this is too much to fit in:
-Aloha Stadium Swapmeet
-Dole Plantation
-Turtle Beach
-Shrimp Truck
-Matsumotos Shave Ice
-Waimea Falls

All this and we have to be back to Aulani by around 4 to get ready for our 5:30 Ama Ama reservations. It's my husband's birthday on the day we're going to the North Shore, so I'd love for him to have a relaxing day. Is this too much? Should we split it up into a couple of days? I'd hate for him to be stressed and stuck in traffic on his birthday. TIA!

 

[AJaquins]

That is a lot to do in one day and traffic would probably hinder and slow you down. Some of those are farther apart with traffic than you can realize. It also depends on the day of the week. It's easier to get into Honolulu on Saturday or Sunday for the swap meet.

 

[Lizziemom]

In my opinion Waimea Falls is not worth the price of admission. A "hike" on a paved path to an ok waterfall was not worth the price of admission. Have seen better waterfalls for free in both NH and MI. North Shore was wonderful with great food and swimming.

MB

 

[nkereina]

Yes, IMO, too much to do in one day. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you'd be going past the North Shore turn off from the H1 to get to Aloha Swap Meet. In other words, its out of the way and going towards the city so you may run into traffic. If it helps at all, we weren't impressed with the Swap Meet. It had the same cheapo tourist stuff you can find anywhere, but maybe a buck or two cheaper. Nothing special or unique at all, IMO.

At the Dole Plantation, the only things we did were browse the store, get a Dole Whip and ride the train. We didn't do the maze or any other garden tours. We were there for over two hours. If you don't get there when they open around 9:30am, it just gets busier and busier as the day goes on and the lines for things like the train can get backed up. We boarded the train around 10am and had about a 15 minute wait for it.

Matsumoto's can get busy during the day, but the line moves fast. As for Waimea Falls, they are open 9am-5pm. We did not swim at the falls, just walked around, and I agree with PP that it's not worth the cost of admission at $16pp. Now, if we had brought suits and planned to spend the afternoon there swimming, it would have been worth it.

Turtle Beach was a quick 10 minute stop for us, and there was no line at the shrimp truck when we were there, which was around noon on a Monday.

We left Aulani at 9:15am and did everything you listed except for the Swap Meet, and we were back at Aulani around 6pm.

 

[TinkFan74]

I agree with the previous poster that this is too much in one day. If you are planning on going to Pearl Harbor I would visit the swap meet on this day as they are side by side, just plan your PH day for a day that the swap meet is open, go to PH first thing in the morning, then go to the swap meet.

 

[twodogs]

Also there is a mini-mini swap meet "booth" in the parking lot of the area where Giovanni's shrimp truck is located on the North Shore. Had shirts, dresses, jewelry, flower hair clips etc and all pretty darn cheap. You could do that when you are eating at the shrimp trucks and skip the Swap Meet potentially (which is out of the way you would go to the North Shore as OP said). Your girls may love a sweet from Ono Yo, a Greek yogurt stand with many toppings that is in same parking area as Giovanni's and the mini mini swap meet stand.

I agree that traffic can be fine or horrid to and from North Shore. We experienced both extremes in one day on our trip. I think you will feel extremely rushed and stressed doing all that you listed and getting back to Aulani by 4. Even if driving straight to and from North Shore with minimal traffic and no stops, it is about one hour each way by my experience, so that's 2 hours chewed through just driving (and you would be making stops as well).

 

[sasha]

Thanks, Everyone!! This is EXACTLY what I was looking for! I rearranged things so we're going to the Aloha Swapmeet on the same day as PH, which is a Sunday morning. And we decided to do Waimea Falls & Turtle Beach on it's own day, on a Friday. Unless anyone can suggest more beautiful waterfalls to see on Oahu. Thanks again!!!

 

[sasha]

t the Dole Plantation, the only things we did were browse the store, get a Dole Whip and ride the train. We didn't do the maze or any other garden tours. We were there for over two hours. If you don't get there when they open around 9:30am, it just gets busier and busier as the day goes on and the lines for things like the train can get backed up. We boarded the train around 10am and had about a 15 minute wait for it.

This is the only thing that we're planning to do at the Dole Plantation. So glad you gave me the tips, and let me know how long you were there. Thanks!!

 

[alohamom]

This is the only thing that we're planning to do at the Dole Plantation. So glad you gave me the tips, and let me know how long you were there. Thanks!!

@sasha my kids were 14 and 16 the first time we went to Dole and they LOVED the maze. It is a do at your own pace sort of thing and it allowed them to stretch their legs and burn off some steam, they actually raced each other. The train is fun too but just wanted to let you know not to automatically discount the maze. We liked Waimea Falls, it was very scenic and a great walk but I agree it was pricey for a paved hike. There is a bacteria warning about swimming in the waterfall, just fyi. If it is going to be a particularly hot day, I would do Waimea early and the other stuff after. We LOVED snorkelling at 3 tables/sharks cove which is in the same area, kind of just north up the highway and across from Foodland as well as swimming at Sunset Beach which was just incredible.

 

[nkereina]

This is the only thing that we're planning to do at the Dole Plantation. So glad you gave me the tips, and let me know how long you were there. Thanks!!

Sure thing! Its right on the way to and from the North Shore, so it's a convenient stop. We enjoyed it. Have fun!

 

[sasha]

e liked Waimea Falls, it was very scenic and a great walk but I agree it was pricey for a paved hike. There is a bacteria warning about swimming in the waterfall, just fyi. If it is going to be a particularly hot day, I would do Waimea early and the other stuff after. We LOVED snorkelling at 3 tables/sharks cove which is in the same area, kind of just north up the highway and across from Foodland as well as swimming at Sunset Beach which was just incredible.

Bacteria Warning??? Yikes!

 

[Soccerluvinmama]

Personally, I think it would be too much for me. When we go to the North Shore we spend the entire day there. We walk through the stores in Haleiwa, stop by the Banzai Pipeline to watch the surfers, stop by Sunset Beach for a little dip in the water, and lunch at the food trucks. We love the North Shore and take our time when we are up there. So much to see!!!!

 

[alohamom]

Bacteria Warning??? Yikes!

Yup-there is a permanent sign posted right at the falls warning about the dangers of contracting Leptospirosis however lots of people were swimming when we went there. There was no way I was going in though, the water was a dark brownish and not worth the risk to me or my family. One thing I wouldnt do is go in with open cuts or dunk your head under, if you decide to swim. Here is a link from the DVC boards that has a small discussion regarding it...

http://www.disboards.com/threads/waimea-falls.3293628/

 

[newdeal]

The swap meet could take a very long time there are a lot of vendors. Luckily many of them are selling the same junk so if you are dedicated to getting in and out you could easily be done in half an hour. If you walk around trying to find the best deal it could take all day. When we had Matsumotos shaved ice the line was about 20 minutes long. When we went to Giovannis shrimp truck the line was around 30-40 minutes so don't expect to walk right up and get your food at those places

 

[buffettgirl]

I would not be swimming in the fresh water. Especially if you have any sort of open cut.

 

[CateinPhoenix]

We did Pearl Harbor, Swap meet and Leonards the same day and it was perfect.

 

[sasha]

One thing I wouldnt do is go in with open cuts or dunk your head under, if you decide to swim.

I had mentioned to my girls that they can only go in if they don't put their heads under water. But I'm an overly cautious mom, and now I'm having second thoughts...

 

[sasha]

O

We did Pearl Harbor, Swap meet and Leonards the same day and it was perfect.

Oooh, I forgot about Leonard's. We'll do that too. Thanks!

 

[DisneyBeach2]

Just know that swimming at the north shore gets harder to do in the winter. Not sure what month your going but winter is when all the surf pros go to north shore cause the waves are huge and the surfing competitions. If you ever go in December they have one of the biggest surf competitions going on which is nice to watch but brings crazy crowds

 

[alldiz]

Just know that swimming at the north shore gets harder to do in the winter. Not sure what month your going but winter is when all the surf pros go to north shore cause the waves are huge and the surfing competitions. If you ever go in December they have one of the biggest surf competitions going on which is nice to watch but brings crazy crowds

Been following this thread interested in North shore.
I LOVE watching big waves.. Surfers would be awesome.
Are there waves in the summer? I live in NY and my beaches are Fire Island.
I'm wondering if the waves on North shore are bigger than I would see in NY during summer.
Thanks
Kerri