Oahu advice please

[soccerchick]

We will be in Kauai this summer and want to take the kids over to Oahu to see Pearl Harbor. The in-laws keep telling us to do just one day - fly there in the am and do Pearl Harbor and come home that evening.

I'm interested in staying at least one night and doing PH one day and seeing some other sights on the next day.

Has anyone been to the Polynesian Cultural Center?

Other must-sees?

Thanks

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Pearl Harbor will not take all day. There is also a military museum (I can't remember the name) that was interesting too. You could also take surf lessons on the beach.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

Pearl Harbor took all day for us. We had my grandmother with us and she is a WWII vet so we took our time.

If you do spend the night I would suggest going down to Waikiki beach at around sunset. Not only is the sunset beautiful but buff Hawaiian men in loin clothes run down the beach lighting the tiki torches. The men in your group may not appreciate it but the women certainly will

 

[anniemae]

we hiked up diamond head. It was a great view at the top. We also did the beach, which was beautiful.

 

[nymets]

Polynesian Cultural Center is very interesting. It shows all of the islands and how people live there different styles of dancing and drums. They will also teach you how to climb a coconut tree and crack a coconut. They also have a parade of boats in the river.

 

[Binnie]

Diamond head is awesome, and so is Hanauma Bay (snorkeling there is like being in an aquarium!). The pineapple fields/tour are cool, if you're into that. If you're going in winter, there's the north shore to look at the waves (North shore is cool anytime in my book, but the waves are supercool and big in the winter).

PCC isn't as cool as you'd think. There are better luaus in Waikiki, as far as I'm concerned.

In my book, Oahu is a more than 1 day trip...

 

[dopeysgirl01]

I second the vote for hiking Dimond Head. It was incredible! We took half a day at Pearl Harbor and then hiked Diamond Head.

 

[soccerchick]

Thanks for the input so far. If I"m spending 400-500 to fly from Kauai to Oahu for our family, I'd like to get a little more for our money, KWIM.

Would kids be okay on the Diamond Head hike?

Anyone been to Turtle Bay?

The Royal Palace (not sure of the correct name).

We don't need to swim, luau, surf or shop as we will have plenty of time to do those on Kauai.

 

[jelloarms]

Thanks for the input so far. If I"m spending 400-500 to fly from Kauai to Oahu for our family, I'd like to get a little more for our money, KWIM.

Would kids be okay on the Diamond Head hike?

Anyone been to Turtle Bay?

The Royal Palace (not sure of the correct name).

We don't need to swim, luau, surf or shop as we will have plenty of time to do those on Kauai.

How old are your kids? Diamond Head has a LOT of stairs. A lot of adults I know can get a bit tired going up. I wouldn't reccomend Diamond Head for very young children.

I think the Iolani Palace tour is really cool. Where else in the U.S. can you go and look at a palace?

 

[MichelleinMaine]

We really enjoyed PCC, lots of hands on stuff for the kids to do. (We learned to play ukeleles, another instrument I now forget, spear throwing, cooking on the fire in a banana leaf, fishing, "dress up"... lots of fun things- get in there and explore.) Plus different dance shows, fire starting, craft demonstrations, really something for everyone! As another said, the luau dinner is nothing spectacular at all. I cant remember if you can buy dinner-less tickets, I know there was an option to do just a cafeteria sort of dinner. I surely would not again pay more for the luau.

Diamond Head- do it early in the morning, it gets HOT! DS 8 had no problems at all climbing, DD3 did have to be carried parts. (Disclaimer we also had to hike over a mile in because the road was closed for the Triathalon- ah!) *I* was ready to give up about 1/2 way, mostly because of the heat. DH and my parents (in their 50's at the time) had no problems. (Yes I felt like a wuss, lol)

Pearl Harbor, I'd also recommend morning because the boats go out to the memorial on a first come/first served basis. Earlier you are there, less time you need to wait for the boat. (There is a museum there to look at as you are waiting, but it's not a huge thing.)

 

[momtotreasure]

First, let me say, you are going to have a great time on both islands (but you probably already know that.) Kauai is very laid back, has little night life and is very beautiful. So is Oahu, and in addition, it has the nightlife, great restaurants and history.

You will be very awed by Pearl Harbor and the Missouri. Depending on you, it could take 2 hours or 5.

On Oahu, you could do tours (we did the LOST tour through KOS guides and it took us through a large part of the island.)

We also flew ultralights on the North Shore on Paradise Air. That was the most amazing and unique adventure we ever did.

If you venture to Waikiki, there is shopping, lots of action, including great dining. If you book ahead, you can do surfing, outrigger rides, harbor cruises, etc. right off the beach at Waikiki.

We did the Polynesian Culteral Center and it lasted most of the day. It was fun, well organized, but we felt it was somewhat commercial, but very family oriented.

I suggest you also look at the forums on tripadvisor.com to get additional advice from Oahu experts. Whatever you decide, it will be wonderful.

 

[Wis2InTink]

You've received some excellent suggestions here. We just took our time and several breaks to hike D.Head. It's worth it. The kids would still be faster than me! To save time, we skipped the luau at PCC. We had lunch at Turtle Bay and saw the famous green sea turtles! With limited time, we saw a lot. Do PH in the am. and if you're there overnight, you could still climb DH first thing in the morning. Don't forget to try a Dole Whip if you're in the center of the island.

 

[shortbun]

While I understand your need to 'get more for the money', I'm going to play Devil's Advocate. Why spend the money in the first place? If I were going to go to another Island from Kauai, it would NOT be Oahu. I'd definitely go to Hawaii and tour the Volcano National Park. While Pearl Harbor was somewhat emotional to me, otherwise it was meh. Now the Volcano Park was really interesting, educational, visably stunning and something you can not see anywhere else. War monuments are all over the world. Of all the islands, I find Oahu the least valuable. Poly Cultural Center is NOT the real thing - the volcanos are real.

 

[PatsGirl]

I would definately spend at least one night unless you plan to get back to Hawaii anytime soon

I wouldn't miss Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, an hour at Waikiki Beach (to say you've been there, lol), the national cemetary, Turtle Bay and the north shore to watch the surfers and eat off a shrimp truck.

I was disappointed that we chose to spend TOO much time in Oahu, almost a week, and so little time on the other islands (one day on each with the exception of Maui where I spent one week) but I think an overnight with two full days would be perfect!

 

[jodifla]

We will be in Kauai this summer and want to take the kids over to Oahu to see Pearl Harbor. The in-laws keep telling us to do just one day - fly there in the am and do Pearl Harbor and come home that evening.

I'm interested in staying at least one night and doing PH one day and seeing some other sights on the next day.

Has anyone been to the Polynesian Cultural Center?

Other must-sees?

Thanks

How are you getting to Hawaii? Don't most flights from the mainland go in and out of Oahu?

 

[ChristmasElf]

We will be in Kauai this summer and want to take the kids over to Oahu to see Pearl Harbor. The in-laws keep telling us to do just one day - fly there in the am and do Pearl Harbor and come home that evening.

I'm interested in staying at least one night and doing PH one day and seeing some other sights on the next day.

Has anyone been to the Polynesian Cultural Center?

Other must-sees?

Thanks

The Polynesian Cultural Center has gotten to be ridiculously overpriced!
If you want to do a luau, do Paradise Cove up in Ko Alina. Food is good, shows are great, they have activities for the kids berfore everything gets started and the grounds surrounding are really nice for pictures.
You will need to spend the night on the island if you stay to do this.

 

[soccerchick]

How are you getting to Hawaii? Don't most flights from the mainland go in and out of Oahu?

Nope. We fly direct into Lihue.

To the other poster, we've already done Maui. We love Kauai and it is our home base for each trip.The reason we are going to Oahu is because I want to see Pearl Harbor/USS Arizona and never have had the chance to see it. I have no plans to ever spend much time on that island. We are really looking to do the things unique to Oahu since we will be in Kauai for three weeks.

Kids are 7 and 10.

Thanks for all the input. Looks like Iolani Palace is a must do. PCC is so expensive and the reviews are mixed here and on Tripadvisor (and from others who have been there.) Will probably nix that one.

 

[Deb in IA]

We were on Oahu for a week last summer.

We really liked the Polynesian Cultural Center, and it was my highlight.

Your kids will be the perfect age for Diamond Head. Don't miss it - the view is spectacular!!

I agree with getting to Pearl Harbor as early as possible. We arrived at about 8:30 am, and they were already up to 11 am launch times for the boats that go to the Arizona Memorial. There are a lot of things to do and see while you wait for the boat - you can tour a submarine, and there is a small museum there. You can also buy tickets for the USS Missouri which is docked nearby (where the Japanese signed the Instrument of Surrender), and the Pacific Avaition Museum on Ford Island, where the kids can try their flying skills in a combat flight simulator.

We also liked the Dole Pineapple Plantation. They have train tours of the fields, and a pineapple maze, and yes, they have Dole Whips!!

 

[pilotwife_02]

I agree with getting to Pearl Harbor as early as possible.

I agree with this also! Depending on what is going on the day you go (tours, holiday weekend, etc.) you could get there at 9am, but not have a boat launch for hours. Also a tip for Pearl Harbor, they don't allow you to take bags in there, they do have a "locker" area, like a coat check, where you can hand your bag/purse over to someone and they will give you a ticket. So you may not want to bring a purse with you at all. I just brought my camera with me and let DH carry my license and stuff in his wallet.

I really like Paradise Cove's luau and thought the prices where better. IF you want to drink alcoholic beverages I believe you can't do that at the Polynesian Cultural Center, if I remember correctly, because it's run by the Mormon Church, so that's something to consider also.

Like others said Diamondhead is fun! It's an AMAZING view when you get to the top. We also just love driving around the island and stopping and various places, not like you can really get lost

We LOVE Oahu and whenever we visit Hawaii, we go there for a few days and then pick another island to visit.

 

[Deb in IA]

I forgot to add Bishop Museum. They have a lot of information about the Hawaiian Royal Family, a model of a real volcano, a planetarium, and they just finished a major refurbishment of the Hawaiian Hall. We missed it last year - it was scheduled to open a month after we were there - but I hear it is quite spectacular.