Renting a car for the day - where to go?

[KateP85]

We will have a rental car for one day during our Aulani stay next month, and we're not sure where to go. I keep reading about the North Shore, but what is there to do there? Beaches, places to eat, little out-of-the-way places, etc? I'd love to find somewhere really pretty to hike, but we're travelling with a 3-year old and a 3-month old baby, so it would have to be a kid-friendly hike.

We've been to Honolulu in the past so we don't necessarily need to see Waikiki Beach or Pearl Harbor on this trip, although we're thinking of going into Honolulu for dinner. Does anyone have a recommendation for a nice dinner spot, either somewhere around the North Shore area or in Honolulu?

Thanks in advance folks!

 

[cleophus12]

I too suggest the North Shore. The drive itself is beautiful and there are some really nice beaches along the way. We scheduled a surfing lesson in Haleiwa so that was where we began our day. From there we found food trucks and enjoyed shrimp and crepes. Then we drove to Matsumoto's for shave ice. There are several little towns to explore in. On the way back to the resort you can stop at the Dole Plantation and at the coffee plantation (for samples and coffee purchases). And you can always take that opportunity to make a Target or grocery run.

 

[nkereina]

at the coffee plantation

Is that the Waialua Coffee Plantation? I saw that during my research but it looks like we'd have to go slightly out of our way to visit it. Is it worth the trip? We'll be stopping at the Dole Plantation early in the morning, then heading to Haleiwa and Waimea Falls.

 

[KateP85]

Is that the Waialua Coffee Plantation? I saw that during my research but it looks like we'd have to go slightly out of our way to visit it. Is it worth the trip? We'll be stopping at the Dole Plantation early in the morning, then heading to Haleiwa and Waimea Falls.

This is somewhere I'd seen mentioned as a good place to hike, but I'm not sure how easy of a hike it is. Hopefully someone who has been there might chime in.

 

[GooglyBear808]

Makapu'u lighthouse hike is super do-able for your family [ if ] you have a stroller for both children. The trail is paved and takes approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours roundtrip; maybe a little longer if you stop to take photos. As far as must eats ... Leonards malasadas (stop at the Leonard's in Waikele Shopping Plaza), Highway Inn (either Waipahu or Kakaako) for local Hawaiian food like lau lau, kalua pig, lomi salmon, and Char Hung Sut in Chinatown for THE BEST manapua and chow fun!

 

[cmph]

I'll be heading to Aulani in just 3 days and have Waimea on my to-do list, based on this helpful thread:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/tr...k-from-a-10-night-stay.3497773/#post-55467838

She mentioned that the path is paved, so totally doable with little ones. It makes for a good one day itinerary combined with Dole and the North Shore and/or PCC (which is only open in the afternoon).

 

[ggc]

The Waialua Coffee Estate is on the north shore just east of Haleiwa, not out of your way. If you want to see how coffee and cacao, chocolate, are grown and produced a worthwhile stop. There is a store and they sell what they grow. Hawaiian chocolate, not bad.

 

[cmph]

The Waialua Coffee Estate is on the north shore just east of Haleiwa, not out of your way. If you want to see how coffee and cacao, chocolate, are grown and produced a worthwhile stop. There is a store and they sell what they grow. Hawaiian chocolate, not bad.

Do they have a tour or something? or just a store? The web-site doesn't say much - no store hours even listed, unless I'm just not seeing it?

 

[OKW Lover]

I'd suggest a couple of separate days to drive around to other spots on the island.

• Heading up to the North Shore, make a stop coming or going at the Dole Plantation. At the coast, just drive along the shore and pull into any of the several locations that offer great views or places to eat.
• On a different day, head to the south east coast of the island. Drive past Diamond Head and follow H78 along the coast up to Kailua. Some really spectacular views. There's a blow hole along the way. Then take H3 back towards Aulani. Some pretty spectacular scenery along that stretch too. In fact, this might work better if you did it the other way around.

 

[Saxsoon]

My family really enjoyed the movie/tv tour at the Kualoa Ranch. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60653-d108380-Reviews-Kualoa-Kaneohe_Oahu_Hawaii.html

Lost, Jurassic Park, Hawaii 5-0, Godzilla, a lot of iconic movies and television shows were filmed there and they do multiple other tours as well.

 

[KateP85]

I'll be heading to Aulani in just 3 days and have Waimea on my to-do list, based on this helpful thread:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/tr...k-from-a-10-night-stay.3497773/#post-55467838

She mentioned that the path is paved, so totally doable with little ones. It makes for a good one day itinerary combined with Dole and the North Shore and/or PCC (which is only open in the afternoon).

Aha, thank you! So I'm thinking we put the baby in his carrier and DS3 can walk. That's definitely on our list, as is the Dole Plantation.

 

[KateP85]

My family really enjoyed the movie/tv tour at the Kualoa Ranch. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60653-d108380-Reviews-Kualoa-Kaneohe_Oahu_Hawaii.html

Lost, Jurassic Park, Hawaii 5-0, Godzilla, a lot of iconic movies and television shows were filmed there and they do multiple other tours as well.

Off to look this one up!

 

[dbenlee]

For those with smart phones and who are renting a car, there is http://gypsyguide.com/package/waikiki-oahu-full-island/. It is an app that leads you on a circle tour of the island. It uses no mobile data and you can do as much or as little of the tour as you chose and at your own pace. We bought the app and have used it twice and really enjoyed it.

 

[cmph]

Just back and will post more in my own thread, but I wanted to add that our favorite drive was to Kualoa Ranch and from there down to Sea Life park. Driving through the green-green-green mountains was AMAZING, and that coastline was lovely. We did the jungle jeep tour, although that may not be little-one-friendly b/c of the bumpiness. They had a boat tour option too. But that was our most memorable drive. If (no, WHEN!) we go back, we won't tour the island nearly as much but we will make a point of going back to that side of the island. So if I had only one day with a car - that's where I'd head. The Byodo-in temple is on the way to Kualoa and gorgeous, very easy with kids and they get to hit a giant gong. We picked up Subway across the street from the temple and picnicked on the side of the road heading to Byodo-in.

The north shore is pretty, of course! We did that, with Waimea and Dole, and also took a catamaran ride out of Honolulu that went along Waikiki; and Pearl Harbor and the swap meet. I wouldn't waste my one car day ever dealing with the Honolulu or Waikiki traffic. It's pretty awful (says someone who lived almost her whole adult life in the DC metro area and has also driven in Chicago and LA rush hours more than once...) Definitely head north or east! And rent the car on Sat or Sun - much much better traffic on weekends!!

 

[happymommy]

I've never eaten there, but Alan Wong's in Honolulu is supposed to be spectacular for dinner.

We always have a car the whole time on Oahu, and can't imagine not. We go out during the day but are always back for dinner and pooped out (or too tired from swimming and enjoying the beach), so tend to do lunch out if that.