Travelmum's Waikiki Holiday Trip Report (non-Disney)
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Travel Mum
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- May 26, 2010
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- thanks for your trip report.
We are heading to Hawaii for Xmas this year and staying at Ohana Wakiki West and also doing a cruise on Pride of American around the islands.
Oh how amazing that you are staying at the same place as we did! It will be somewhat different if they have torn down the International Market by then but, although they say they are doing it this year, they've been saying that for years now. I'd love to do the Pride of America cruise sometime. I priced it up for this trip but, as we need two cabins, it was far too much $$$$. I hope you have a wonderful trip!
Yes it was such a perfect style of holiday as it had a bit of everything. Lots of relaxing and go-with-the-flow like a Pacific Islands holiday but also lots of shopping and eating places on offer just like a U.S. holiday. I'm so glad I booked us to stay only in Waikiki and to stay as long as we did as never felt any pressure to get things done there and then i.e. we were never under any time pressure and that was such a luxury.
Sounds like you had a great time! It's been years since I was in Honolulu - I would love to have a trip back. Maybe sometime soon!!
Waiting to hear more!
I had not been back in over 20 years. In some ways it has changed but in a lot of ways it's just the same - all good.
What a wonderful way to celebrate NYE! Your holiday sounds so relaxing
Andona
Sent from my iPad using DISBoards
Yes Andona, it certainly was!
sounds like a great way to spend the holidays.
we are thinking of hawaii for xmas and new years this year as well
What were the crowds like generally, we are used to travelling during quiet seasons. Usually we never travel over xmas due to crowds etc.
Was the weather ok? I read that it was pretty rainy in January this year.
we love CPK, very well priced and always consistantly delicious.
Well it was pretty busy especially the first week but totally bearable. We had some lovely hot sunny days especially at the begining and towards the end of our trip but this year the weather in January was very unusual and we had a string of rainy days. Every local told us that it was rare though.
Ditto Jade!!
I've never been to Hawaii and would love to one day. Too many places ago and not enough time or money seems to be the eternal dilemma
Try and go if you can as it's a fun place!
Travel Mum
DIS Veteran
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Gosh, my memory is getting a bit fuzzy now better get going with this!
We had two car hires during our holiday so this post is about the first one.
As parking at our hotel was about US$25 per day (fairly standard for Waikiki hotels) I didnt want to have to park a rental car there for long. As a result I booked our car to be picked up on the morning of January 3rd and to be dropped back in the evening of January 4th. So that gave us two days car hire but only one night of hotel parking. I had got a great rate at Discount Hawaii Car Rentals (they are a broker) which turned out to be with Dollar Rental Car. DH was the driver of our car and BIL was the driver of their car. Early in the morning the complimentary Dollar shuttle van picked DH, BIL and me up (I went since Id made the bookings) and drove us to the Dollar lot. My sister got the job of looking after the six children at the hotel!
Pickup went well and we got two mid size 4WDs as planned. We drove in tandem back to the hotel and picked up my sister and the children.
I had worked out an itinerary for us to follow and had prepared a document with the itinerary and some lovely photos of each spot. I had titled today as "RENTAL CAR DAY 1 CIRCLE ISLAND TOUR - A Driving Day exploring the Upper East Coast and the North Shore". But, due to the on and off rain, we missed out some parts. However, just in case any of you are going to Hawaii and find it helpful, here is what the itinerary said (minus my pretty pictures though). I've coloured my planned itinerary in pink:
Start in Waikiki at about 8 8.30 am
Take McCully or Kapahulu to H-1 West. Take Pali Highway (61) towards to Kaneohe. Either stop at Pali Lookout (for panoramic views) today or leave it until the end of Day 2 of Rental Car.
By the time we got to the Pali Lookout, it was raining quite heavily and the cloud was so low, we didnt bother to get out of the car because I knew there would be no view.
To continue to Kaneohe, make a left onto Highway (83) towards Kaneohe. At Kaneohe, turn left onto Highway 63 and then right onto Highway 83 North (Kahekili Highway). Go about two miles. Turn left into Valley of the Temples (Byodo-In-Temple). A stunning replica of the 900 year old Buddhist temple at Uji, Japan. Exquisite Japanese gardens and fish pond. Entry is $3 per adult and $1 per child. http://www.byodo-in.com
We pulled into go to the Temple and it was still drizzling so we were 50/50 about getting out and going in. However, we decided we might as well since we were there and Im glad we did. It was really beautiful and the rain stopped so we got to look around the gardens too.
Me ringing the bell for luck before I entered the temple:
DD8 and DN15 outside the side of the temple:
Head back to the Kahekili Hwy and continue around the island. In a mile or so Kahekili Hwy will end and intersect with Kamehameha Hwy (83). Continue around the island towards Haleiwa.
Possible Stops on Kamehameha Hwy on the way to Haleiwa:
Kualoa Regional Park/Chinaman's Hat (nice for pictures).
It was very windy and grey but we did stop and take photos of Chinamans Hat (an offshore island)
Walking along the beach with Chinaman's Hat in the distance:
There is a Macadamia Nut Farm Outlet on the right just before Kualoa Park. Nice stop for free samples, coffee trees, macadamia trees. They have an inexpensive tour if you want. - We kept driving.
Kualoa Ranch (where lots of movies and T.V. series were filmed e.g. Jurassic Park, LOST) is across from Kualoa Park (this would need to be visited on a separate day). - We didnt do this on our trip.
As we drove into Laie, we saw a Taco Bell! Both of our families love Taco Bell and, as there are none in Waikiki, our only chances to go were on our rental car days. So we pulled in and, as it was probably only about 10.30am, I guess youd say we had brunch there. So this stop was not planned but had to take advantage when we could! 
In Laie, make a right at the stoplight. Go to Laie Pt. Scenic, good for pictures. - We did stop here and it was a very scenic place.
Laie Point:
Polynesian Cultural Center is in Laie. Also Mormon Temple is in Laie. -Drove past them.
Just past Laie, is Malaekahana State Recreation Area. Scenic with an isolated beach and several islands. - It was not really beach weather so we did not stop and kept driving.
Kahuku Possible early lunch or snack stop. Several shrimp trucks are located here (these are famous in Oahu) including Giovanni's. http://www.giovannisshrimptruck.com Romy's is just on the other side of Kahuku. Those are the two most popular shrimp trucks and get rave reviews on Trip Advisor. Well this not timed well after all as we were too full from our Taco Bell! However drove past lots of shrimp trucks and they all had lots of people eating at them.
If possible pop in and do a brief visit to Turtle Bay Resort which is not far from Kahuku and on the way to Haleiwa (4.3 miles/ 9 minutes drive). - We did stop here and everyone came on a walk around with me while I took photos. I did not inspect rooms but still got an idea of the resort.
North Shore Beaches (where we will hopefully see the huge surf):
- Sunset Beach Park
- Ehukai Beach Park (Banzai Pipeline)
- Pupukea Beach Park (Shark's Cove)- Scenic with lots of small lava islands. If you make a left on Pupukea Road (at the stoplight), go up the hill and park off to the side where the road to the Heiau starts. Walk back on Pupukea Road about 1/2 block for great view of some of the beaches. Then drive to the end of the road to the Heiau about 1 mile) and park in the Heiau parking area. Take the short (about 1 block) red dirt trail straight ahead for a nice view of Waimea Bay.
- Waimea Bay Beach Park - Best scenic beach on the north shore.
- Laniakea Beach - About 1/2 way between Waimea Bay and Haleiwa. Look for parking on the opposite side of the road. Several sea turtles are here. The best time to see the turtles is the afternoon as they like to bask in the afternoon sun. This is also called Lani's Beach or Turtle Beach.
Sunset Beach, Ehukai Beach (Banzai Pipeline), Waimea Beach, & Haleiwa are four of the best known places to see surfers.
The surf had been at record highs earlier in the week but, on our day up there, was not very spectacular. We did stop at the Banzai Pipeline and watch surfers for a little while. We also stopped at Laniakea Beach in the hope of seeing a turtle and we did! There was one turtle lying on the beach so we got to have a good look at it and Im so pleased we got to see one.
That's the Banzai Pipeline in the distance (it was small that day):
That's the turtle in the background, to the right of DD8's head:
A closer photo of the turtle:
Continue onto Haleiwa - a plantation town that has come of age-old general stores co-exist with modern boutiques, art galleries and eateries (some say Honolulu as it used to be). Perhaps visit Matsumotos famous Shaved Ice: http://www.matsumotoshaveice.com/
By the time we got to Haleiwa, the traffic on the narrow two lane highway was bumper to bumper. There was no way we were going to stop as the town was packed with people. We did drive past Matsumotos and I took a picture out of the car window!
Take Highway 99 to Honolulu. Follow signs to Honolulu. We will pass the Dole Pineapple Centre. Stop there if we have interest, need the bathroom or want to have Dole Whip.
Since we hadnt stopped at Haleiwa, we did stop at Dole and we all had a delicious Dole Whip ice-cream or float.
The children enjoying their Dole pineapple frozen treats:
Continue south back to Honolulu and back to our hotel.
DRIVING DISTANCES/ TIMES (in ideal traffic conditions)
Fro
m Ohana Waikiki West to Byodo-In-Temple 17.5 miles / 36 minutes
From Byodo-In-Temple to Kualoa Regional Park 7.8 miles / 14 minutes
From Kualoa Regional Park to Laie Point 13.1 miles / 21 minutes
From Laie Point to Malaekahana State Recreation Area 1.9 miles / 4 minutes
From Malaekahana State Recreation Area Kahuku 2.1 miles / 5 minutes
Kahuku to Haleiwa - 15.8 miles / 27 minutes
(however, we will stop at the surf beaches and possibly Turtle Bay Resort along the way)
From Haleiwa to the Dole Plantation - 7.8 miles / 14 minutes
From the Dole Plantation to the Ohana Waikiki West - 28.1 miles / 35 minutes
Because we had not stopped as often as wed presumed we would have, we were finished much earlier than Id expected and, when we left Dole, it was only about 2pm. So, although we had not planned to go to the Premium Outlets until the next day, we decided to drive there from Dole. I must say thank goodness for the complementary GPS that came with the car because it gave us great directions everywhere we drove.
We got to the Premium Outlets and I went straight into the Osh Kosh outlet since Id got some good bargains at the Osh Kosh outlet in Orlando. Sure enough there were some good deals and I bought DD8 some new clothes. In the meantime DD14 and DD11 went into the VANS outlet because Id priced them at Ala Moana and told DD14 to wait until we got to the outlets before buying as theyd be cheaper. Well I was very wrong because they were the same price as is in the regular stores at Ala Moana.
I was not impressed and, on principle, told DD14 that I wasnt buying her shoes there! 
Converse was equally disappointing as I compared it to the Orlando Converse outlets where every shoe is much cheaper than in regular stores. Not so at the Hawaii outlet. Most shoes are the same price as retail and only the sale rack ones are cheaper. There were none on the sale rack in DD11s size that she liked but we did get a couple of pairs for DD8. By the way, DD14 had already got a great discounted pair of Converse at Ross in Waikiki a few days before.
So the outlet shops were really hit and miss as to whether they were cheaper than regular stores. One that was good value was the Juicy Coutere shop where DD14 and DD11 both got really nice hoodies that had originally been $130 and were now $30. On this visit, we did not make it to the GAP outlet as it was located in a different section and we didnt see it.
DD14 and DD11 were happy with their purchases:
Next, using our trusty GPS to guide us, we went to a Best Buys store for DH. He had been hoping to buy another SONOS speaker to match the one we bought in the U.S. on our last trip. They are over half the price in the U.S. of what they sell for here in N.Z. Well, they had to speakers he wanted but only in white whereas our one at home was black. DH didnt mind but I did and I wanted them to be matching. They were on special at Best Buys and DH really wanted to buy it but I argued that this was the first place hed looked so wanted him to wait and see if he could get a black one somewhere else. Well he grudgingly agreed but was not happy about it.
By this stage, we were all pretty tired so we got back into our car plus into the traffic and drove back to the hotel thereby ending Driving Day One.
We had two car hires during our holiday so this post is about the first one.
As parking at our hotel was about US$25 per day (fairly standard for Waikiki hotels) I didnt want to have to park a rental car there for long. As a result I booked our car to be picked up on the morning of January 3rd and to be dropped back in the evening of January 4th. So that gave us two days car hire but only one night of hotel parking. I had got a great rate at Discount Hawaii Car Rentals (they are a broker) which turned out to be with Dollar Rental Car. DH was the driver of our car and BIL was the driver of their car. Early in the morning the complimentary Dollar shuttle van picked DH, BIL and me up (I went since Id made the bookings) and drove us to the Dollar lot. My sister got the job of looking after the six children at the hotel!
Pickup went well and we got two mid size 4WDs as planned. We drove in tandem back to the hotel and picked up my sister and the children. I had worked out an itinerary for us to follow and had prepared a document with the itinerary and some lovely photos of each spot. I had titled today as "RENTAL CAR DAY 1 CIRCLE ISLAND TOUR - A Driving Day exploring the Upper East Coast and the North Shore". But, due to the on and off rain, we missed out some parts. However, just in case any of you are going to Hawaii and find it helpful, here is what the itinerary said (minus my pretty pictures though). I've coloured my planned itinerary in pink:
Start in Waikiki at about 8 8.30 am
Take McCully or Kapahulu to H-1 West. Take Pali Highway (61) towards to Kaneohe. Either stop at Pali Lookout (for panoramic views) today or leave it until the end of Day 2 of Rental Car.
By the time we got to the Pali Lookout, it was raining quite heavily and the cloud was so low, we didnt bother to get out of the car because I knew there would be no view.
To continue to Kaneohe, make a left onto Highway (83) towards Kaneohe. At Kaneohe, turn left onto Highway 63 and then right onto Highway 83 North (Kahekili Highway). Go about two miles. Turn left into Valley of the Temples (Byodo-In-Temple). A stunning replica of the 900 year old Buddhist temple at Uji, Japan. Exquisite Japanese gardens and fish pond. Entry is $3 per adult and $1 per child. http://www.byodo-in.com
We pulled into go to the Temple and it was still drizzling so we were 50/50 about getting out and going in. However, we decided we might as well since we were there and Im glad we did. It was really beautiful and the rain stopped so we got to look around the gardens too.
Me ringing the bell for luck before I entered the temple:
DD8 and DN15 outside the side of the temple:
Head back to the Kahekili Hwy and continue around the island. In a mile or so Kahekili Hwy will end and intersect with Kamehameha Hwy (83). Continue around the island towards Haleiwa.
Possible Stops on Kamehameha Hwy on the way to Haleiwa:
Kualoa Regional Park/Chinaman's Hat (nice for pictures).
It was very windy and grey but we did stop and take photos of Chinamans Hat (an offshore island)
Walking along the beach with Chinaman's Hat in the distance:
There is a Macadamia Nut Farm Outlet on the right just before Kualoa Park. Nice stop for free samples, coffee trees, macadamia trees. They have an inexpensive tour if you want. - We kept driving.
Kualoa Ranch (where lots of movies and T.V. series were filmed e.g. Jurassic Park, LOST) is across from Kualoa Park (this would need to be visited on a separate day). - We didnt do this on our trip.
As we drove into Laie, we saw a Taco Bell!
Both of our families love Taco Bell and, as there are none in Waikiki, our only chances to go were on our rental car days. So we pulled in and, as it was probably only about 10.30am, I guess youd say we had brunch there. So this stop was not planned but had to take advantage when we could! In Laie, make a right at the stoplight. Go to Laie Pt. Scenic, good for pictures. - We did stop here and it was a very scenic place.
Laie Point:
Polynesian Cultural Center is in Laie. Also Mormon Temple is in Laie. -Drove past them.
Just past Laie, is Malaekahana State Recreation Area. Scenic with an isolated beach and several islands. - It was not really beach weather so we did not stop and kept driving.
Kahuku Possible early lunch or snack stop. Several shrimp trucks are located here (these are famous in Oahu) including Giovanni's. http://www.giovannisshrimptruck.com Romy's is just on the other side of Kahuku. Those are the two most popular shrimp trucks and get rave reviews on Trip Advisor. Well this not timed well after all as we were too full from our Taco Bell!
However drove past lots of shrimp trucks and they all had lots of people eating at them. If possible pop in and do a brief visit to Turtle Bay Resort which is not far from Kahuku and on the way to Haleiwa (4.3 miles/ 9 minutes drive). - We did stop here and everyone came on a walk around with me while I took photos. I did not inspect rooms but still got an idea of the resort.
North Shore Beaches (where we will hopefully see the huge surf):
- Sunset Beach Park
- Ehukai Beach Park (Banzai Pipeline)
- Pupukea Beach Park (Shark's Cove)- Scenic with lots of small lava islands. If you make a left on Pupukea Road (at the stoplight), go up the hill and park off to the side where the road to the Heiau starts. Walk back on Pupukea Road about 1/2 block for great view of some of the beaches. Then drive to the end of the road to the Heiau about 1 mile) and park in the Heiau parking area. Take the short (about 1 block) red dirt trail straight ahead for a nice view of Waimea Bay.
- Waimea Bay Beach Park - Best scenic beach on the north shore.
- Laniakea Beach - About 1/2 way between Waimea Bay and Haleiwa. Look for parking on the opposite side of the road. Several sea turtles are here. The best time to see the turtles is the afternoon as they like to bask in the afternoon sun. This is also called Lani's Beach or Turtle Beach.
Sunset Beach, Ehukai Beach (Banzai Pipeline), Waimea Beach, & Haleiwa are four of the best known places to see surfers.
The surf had been at record highs earlier in the week but, on our day up there, was not very spectacular. We did stop at the Banzai Pipeline and watch surfers for a little while. We also stopped at Laniakea Beach in the hope of seeing a turtle and we did! There was one turtle lying on the beach so we got to have a good look at it and Im so pleased we got to see one.
That's the Banzai Pipeline in the distance (it was small that day):
That's the turtle in the background, to the right of DD8's head:
A closer photo of the turtle:
Continue onto Haleiwa - a plantation town that has come of age-old general stores co-exist with modern boutiques, art galleries and eateries (some say Honolulu as it used to be). Perhaps visit Matsumotos famous Shaved Ice: http://www.matsumotoshaveice.com/
By the time we got to Haleiwa, the traffic on the narrow two lane highway was bumper to bumper. There was no way we were going to stop as the town was packed with people. We did drive past Matsumotos and I took a picture out of the car window!
Take Highway 99 to Honolulu. Follow signs to Honolulu. We will pass the Dole Pineapple Centre. Stop there if we have interest, need the bathroom or want to have Dole Whip.
Since we hadnt stopped at Haleiwa, we did stop at Dole and we all had a delicious Dole Whip ice-cream or float.
The children enjoying their Dole pineapple frozen treats:
Continue south back to Honolulu and back to our hotel.
DRIVING DISTANCES/ TIMES (in ideal traffic conditions)
Fro
m Ohana Waikiki West to Byodo-In-Temple 17.5 miles / 36 minutes
From Byodo-In-Temple to Kualoa Regional Park 7.8 miles / 14 minutes
From Kualoa Regional Park to Laie Point 13.1 miles / 21 minutes
From Laie Point to Malaekahana State Recreation Area 1.9 miles / 4 minutes
From Malaekahana State Recreation Area Kahuku 2.1 miles / 5 minutes
Kahuku to Haleiwa - 15.8 miles / 27 minutes
(however, we will stop at the surf beaches and possibly Turtle Bay Resort along the way)
From Haleiwa to the Dole Plantation - 7.8 miles / 14 minutes
From the Dole Plantation to the Ohana Waikiki West - 28.1 miles / 35 minutes
Because we had not stopped as often as wed presumed we would have, we were finished much earlier than Id expected and, when we left Dole, it was only about 2pm. So, although we had not planned to go to the Premium Outlets until the next day, we decided to drive there from Dole. I must say thank goodness for the complementary GPS that came with the car because it gave us great directions everywhere we drove.
We got to the Premium Outlets and I went straight into the Osh Kosh outlet since Id got some good bargains at the Osh Kosh outlet in Orlando. Sure enough there were some good deals and I bought DD8 some new clothes. In the meantime DD14 and DD11 went into the VANS outlet because Id priced them at Ala Moana and told DD14 to wait until we got to the outlets before buying as theyd be cheaper. Well I was very wrong because they were the same price as is in the regular stores at Ala Moana.
I was not impressed and, on principle, told DD14 that I wasnt buying her shoes there! Converse was equally disappointing as I compared it to the Orlando Converse outlets where every shoe is much cheaper than in regular stores. Not so at the Hawaii outlet. Most shoes are the same price as retail and only the sale rack ones are cheaper. There were none on the sale rack in DD11s size that she liked but we did get a couple of pairs for DD8. By the way, DD14 had already got a great discounted pair of Converse at Ross in Waikiki a few days before. So the outlet shops were really hit and miss as to whether they were cheaper than regular stores. One that was good value was the Juicy Coutere shop where DD14 and DD11 both got really nice hoodies that had originally been $130 and were now $30. On this visit, we did not make it to the GAP outlet as it was located in a different section and we didnt see it.
DD14 and DD11 were happy with their purchases:
Next, using our trusty GPS to guide us, we went to a Best Buys store for DH. He had been hoping to buy another SONOS speaker to match the one we bought in the U.S. on our last trip. They are over half the price in the U.S. of what they sell for here in N.Z. Well, they had to speakers he wanted but only in white whereas our one at home was black. DH didnt mind but I did and I wanted them to be matching. They were on special at Best Buys and DH really wanted to buy it but I argued that this was the first place hed looked so wanted him to wait and see if he could get a black one somewhere else. Well he grudgingly agreed but was not happy about it.
By this stage, we were all pretty tired so we got back into our car plus into the traffic and drove back to the hotel thereby ending Driving Day One.
PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
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Oh WOW! That really brings back memories. It seems like your stops are the standard whistle stops when driving round the island. I did most/all of those stops as well.
areweindisneyyet
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Loved the update. If eel the same about Hawaii. The relaxation of a pacific a island beach holiday with the fun of US food and shopping when I'm sick of lying on the beach.
Loved the island itinerary. What did you think of Turtle Beach.
Loved the island itinerary. What did you think of Turtle Beach.
Minniemum
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Thanks for the update Travelmum.
You had wonderful luck catching sight of the sea turtle and the photo of all the kids around their Dole whips is gorgeous.
On our last trip to Orlando, the only thing DH had on his shopping list was "Best Buy-SONOS" so I had a giggle reading about your experience. I sure hope you managed to find some black speakers in the end.
You had wonderful luck catching sight of the sea turtle and the photo of all the kids around their Dole whips is gorgeous.
On our last trip to Orlando, the only thing DH had on his shopping list was "Best Buy-SONOS" so I had a giggle reading about your experience. I sure hope you managed to find some black speakers in the end.
Travel Mum
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Oh WOW! That really brings back memories. It seems like your stops are the standard whistle stops when driving round the island. I did most/all of those stops as well.
Yes Princess the itinerary was based on the standard Circle Island drive route except I believe we went in the opposite direction to the tour groups. Also I deliberately left out Hanauma Bay and the south western coast and put it onto another driving day the next week.
Oh Jade+3, if we had stopped on the way home from our Orlando trip, I would have been exactly the same!!
Just wait Minniemum, as the reason I mentioned it was because it was certainly a saga that continued!
Travel Mum
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Well to be fair, we were there when it was grey and drizzly so I'm sure it was not looking it's best. As the rest of the family had stopped as a courtesy to me, I did not go walking around the cottages and so just stuck to the main resort. The pools were nice and views out to the rough north coast pretty awesome. They seem to have created a beach for their guests which looked okay but quite a lot of coral in parts. I'm glad I saw it but it's not for me as I love the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. It's really isolated and so you'd be locked into eating there. I did notice some guests trudging along the side of the highway presumably on their way to the shrimp trucks but that would have been about a 20 minute walk. I'll post some photos:
Looking back at the hotel from the ocean side:
See what I mean about the weather?!:
Waterslide pool:
The swimmable beach area:
Oh, I forgot to mention that, after we left Turtle Beach Resort, we did go back to the shrimp trucks as we figured we get one plate to share just to try them. There are lots to choose from along this part of the highway but they all looked busy. We stopped at one that was recommended on TA and got in the queue but, once when we found out that it would be an hour's wait, we flagged it and got back on our driving itinerary. We did not need Garlic Shrimp that badly!!
This place seems to have grown out of its orginal shrimp truck:
Travel Mum
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Okay, moving right along. Today was our day we were scheduled to visit Pearl Harbour and then to go to the Premium Outlets. Pearl Harbour was what my DH was most looking forward to in our holiday so I warned the DDs that we would not be rushing in and that they should not moan.
I had pre-booked our tickets online to visit the USS Arizona Memorial and had made the booking for the 10 of us to go on the 11am session. You had to get there an hour earlier to pick up the tickets. We had planned to get there in time to pick up the tickets and, while we waited for our session, wed do the USS Bowfin submarine tour. Then, after we did the Arizona, my family would go and tour the USS Missouri battleship my sisters family were to have given that a miss.
So, we got there about 9.30am and went to pickup our tickets. To our surprise, we were advised that the USS Arizona tours had been cancelled for that day due to high winds. Well it was indeed a bit windy but, for we Wellingtonians, it was nothing! 
Anyway, that threw a spanner in the works. We decided to go do the USS Bowfin tour. We paid our money and were given head phones so we could listen to the audio tour. It was great because we could choose between the regular tour or the family (child-friendly) tour.
On to the sub we went and down inside it. The tour was very interesting and we enjoyed it.
Taken standing on the sub and looking back to the Pearl Harbour Visitors Centre:
The Kitchen on the sub:
A sleeping area:
The Toilet!!:
After the sub tour, we toured the adjacent submarine museum that was part of our ticket price and we got headphones and an audio tour for that too.
After that my sisters family left and my family grabbed a hot dog each before heading over to the Missouri. The USS Missouri is located on the naval base so you have to ride in a special coach to get there and no mobile phones can be on etc. We got to the Missouri and it is a huge ship. We were really close to the USS Arizona memorial (because we were on Battleship Row) so got a look at that which was good.
The USS Missouri:
Boarding the Missouri with the USS Arizona Memorial in the background. Note the wind!:
Up on Deck:
We toured the Missouri inside and out which took a while but we are pleased we did it. We had to wait a while to get a coach back to the Pearl Harbour Visitors Centre so that was a bit of a nuisance and we were all a bit hot, tired and over it by then.
We got back to the car and, as Id noticed a Baskin Robbins Ice-cream store while we were at the Outlets the day before, I suggest we go get an ice-cream there. As an aside, when I lived in L.A. as a child, we had a local Baskin Robbins store where Mum would take us for a treat now and again. Every time I go back to the U.S. and see a Baskin Robbins, I always go to it in the hope that one day they will have brought back their Chocolate Fudge flavour ice-cream because thats the flavour I had every time as a child. Well, its still not there but they do a nice Chocolate anyway
..
After our ice-creams, we went to the GAP outlet as wed missed it the day before. Its big and has quite good prices. Still not the incredible deals I have come to expect from Outlets but I did manage to buy a few things!
Funnily I was served at the checkout by a girl (in her twenties Id say) from Melbourne who now lives in Honolulu. She had been there a couple of years and was saying how she got homesick hearing all the Aussie accents in the store. So I was having a nice chat to her (and, in my head, trying to figure out how, passport/visa wise, she could be living in the U.S.) while my girls stood beside me most likely rolling their eyes. Apparently, according to them, I am regularly guilty of telling complete strangers our whole life story (and I can assure you that is definitely a gross exaggeration!) and, in their minds, this would have been an example of that. I heard this regularly from them on holiday but I keep replying that I am not ashamed for being a friendly person.
By then we were pretty tired and made way back to Waikiki. We returned our rental car and walked back to the hotel. Tomorrow was our moving day so we had a lot of packing to do!
I had pre-booked our tickets online to visit the USS Arizona Memorial and had made the booking for the 10 of us to go on the 11am session. You had to get there an hour earlier to pick up the tickets. We had planned to get there in time to pick up the tickets and, while we waited for our session, wed do the USS Bowfin submarine tour. Then, after we did the Arizona, my family would go and tour the USS Missouri battleship my sisters family were to have given that a miss.
So, we got there about 9.30am and went to pickup our tickets. To our surprise, we were advised that the USS Arizona tours had been cancelled for that day due to high winds.
Well it was indeed a bit windy but, for we Wellingtonians, it was nothing! Anyway, that threw a spanner in the works. We decided to go do the USS Bowfin tour. We paid our money and were given head phones so we could listen to the audio tour. It was great because we could choose between the regular tour or the family (child-friendly) tour.
On to the sub we went and down inside it. The tour was very interesting and we enjoyed it.
Taken standing on the sub and looking back to the Pearl Harbour Visitors Centre:
The Kitchen on the sub:
A sleeping area:
The Toilet!!:
After the sub tour, we toured the adjacent submarine museum that was part of our ticket price and we got headphones and an audio tour for that too.
After that my sisters family left and my family grabbed a hot dog each before heading over to the Missouri. The USS Missouri is located on the naval base so you have to ride in a special coach to get there and no mobile phones can be on etc. We got to the Missouri and it is a huge ship. We were really close to the USS Arizona memorial (because we were on Battleship Row) so got a look at that which was good.
The USS Missouri:
Boarding the Missouri with the USS Arizona Memorial in the background. Note the wind!:
Up on Deck:
We toured the Missouri inside and out which took a while but we are pleased we did it. We had to wait a while to get a coach back to the Pearl Harbour Visitors Centre so that was a bit of a nuisance and we were all a bit hot, tired and over it by then.
We got back to the car and, as Id noticed a Baskin Robbins Ice-cream store while we were at the Outlets the day before, I suggest we go get an ice-cream there. As an aside, when I lived in L.A. as a child, we had a local Baskin Robbins store where Mum would take us for a treat now and again. Every time I go back to the U.S. and see a Baskin Robbins, I always go to it in the hope that one day they will have brought back their Chocolate Fudge flavour ice-cream because thats the flavour I had every time as a child.
Well, its still not there but they do a nice Chocolate anyway
..After our ice-creams, we went to the GAP outlet as wed missed it the day before. Its big and has quite good prices. Still not the incredible deals I have come to expect from Outlets but I did manage to buy a few things!
Funnily I was served at the checkout by a girl (in her twenties Id say) from Melbourne who now lives in Honolulu. She had been there a couple of years and was saying how she got homesick hearing all the Aussie accents in the store. So I was having a nice chat to her (and, in my head, trying to figure out how, passport/visa wise, she could be living in the U.S.) while my girls stood beside me most likely rolling their eyes. Apparently, according to them, I am regularly guilty of telling complete strangers our whole life story (and I can assure you that is definitely a gross exaggeration!) and, in their minds, this would have been an example of that. I heard this regularly from them on holiday but I keep replying that I am not ashamed for being a friendly person. By then we were pretty tired and made way back to Waikiki. We returned our rental car and walked back to the hotel. Tomorrow was our moving day so we had a lot of packing to do!
PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2010
- Messages
- 108,012
Shame about the Arizona memorial. But at least you'll have a reason to take DH and the family back.
Franrose
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2011
- Messages
- 695
Am loving this trip report, you write great ones Travelmum!! Brings back memories for me too - I guess my trip there must have been nearly 30 years ago too - although we only went to a small fraction of the places you have visited by the looks.
Love DH's Hawaiian shirt!!
I think I want to go to Hawaii now, lol.
Love DH's Hawaiian shirt!!
I think I want to go to Hawaii now, lol.
Travel Mum
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 26, 2010
- Messages
- 1,508
Today was the day I had been most looking forward to. It was the day we were booked to check into our Penthouse Condo in The Imperial Resort. I found it on VRBO and booked directly with the condos lovely Australian owner.
Check in for the condo was not until 4pm so we had a leisurely morning and stayed at the Ohana Waikiki West until check out time at 11am. We then walked through the streets of Waikiki, each wheeling a bag, over to the Beachwalk area where The Imperial Resort is located. We had checked out the location earlier in the week so knew where we were going. We got to the resort and they confirmed the condo would not be ready until 4pm but they took care of our luggage and gave us access keys to the Owners Lounge. We went up to investigate the Owners Lounge which is ocean front on the 26th floor (our condo was on the top floor the 28th). It was a huge, spacious and very comfortable series of rooms including computers, huge screen TV, showers, bathroom, pool table, kitchen etc. The ocean views were spectacular as the only hotel in front of it is the low-rise (in comparison) Halekulani Hotel. So we had a look around the lounge, checked out the roof-top pool on the 27th floor and then decided wed go to lunch and then visit the nearby Military Museum.
We went to Cheeseburger on Beachwalk for lunch where DH and I had the best burgers of our trip. DD14 and I got Coke to drink and paid $6 each for them so that they came in a refillable mug. We did that because they were not just refillable during that dining session. Anytime we came back, we could bring the mugs and get them refilled and, most amazingly, we did not even have to be dining to get them refilled. So throughout the 10 days we were at The Imperial, DD14 and DD11 would often pop down to Beachwalk (just across the road from The Imperial) will the mugs and get a drink refill!
This photo is from later in the week. It's DD11 and DD14 at Beachwalk with their current drink refills:
The Military Museum was interesting, especially for DH, and I guess we spent an hour there.
Outside the Military Museum:
After that, it was about 2pm so we decided wed go up to the Owners Lounge and relax there while we waited for our condo. Earlier, Id paid the hotel front desk $15 for a week of WIFI so, although I read an actual book, the rest of the family were on their IPODs, Netbook and IPAD. A funny thing happened while we were there. DD11 was outside on the balcony when we heard her shriek. It turns out a bird had swooped in and landed on her shoulder! When we ran to see what the noise was about, the bird was still there. It must have been an escaped tame one because it let me take it off her shoulder and put it on my finger. We all had a turn with it on our fingers and then a hotel cleaning lady took it away to try and find the owner.
The bird incident:
Not long after that, we got the call to say our condo was ready. The Imperial elevators only go up to the 27th floor and so we had to go up a flight of stairs to get to our condo. We had a separate key to let us up to that level (ours was the only condo entrance up there) and felt very special! Well the condo was exactly what Id been hoping for and the photos on the website had been very accurate.
Its a Two Bedroom/Two Bathroom condo with pull out sofa in the lounge. It has a huge, extremely well-stocked kitchen, 3 TVs and two large balconies both with amazing views. I did not take photos that day but I did on various days later in the stay so Ill post them now:
Taken from standing in the kitchen. That's the front door behind the girls and their bedroom entrance is just to the left of the door in the photo:
The kitchen (the luggage racks were there because I'd been previously drying washing )
Taken from the balcony that ran along the kitchen, lounge and girls bedroom. That's looking back over the Royal Hawaiian and Royal Hawaiian Shopping Centre on Kalakaua Ave. To the left of the photo is the side of the pool deck on the floor below:
Taken from the same balcony but turning the other way and that's the Sheraton Waikiki in the left of the photo:
The girls bedroom:
Going down the hall towards the master bedroom now. The girls bathroom is that door to the right:
The girls' bathroom and see those windows at the back? They are slat windows:
When I climbed in bath one time later in the week and opened the slats, I took a photo of my family in the pool:
Here's our lovely bedroom:
And our lovely bathroom:
The view from our balcony was divine:
And here's the view looking the other way from the balcony with me in my favourite place to be. That's Beachwalk below:
Needless to say, we had a very comfortable 9 nights there
I found it on VRBO and booked directly with the condos lovely Australian owner. Check in for the condo was not until 4pm so we had a leisurely morning and stayed at the Ohana Waikiki West until check out time at 11am. We then walked through the streets of Waikiki, each wheeling a bag, over to the Beachwalk area where The Imperial Resort is located. We had checked out the location earlier in the week so knew where we were going. We got to the resort and they confirmed the condo would not be ready until 4pm but they took care of our luggage and gave us access keys to the Owners Lounge. We went up to investigate the Owners Lounge which is ocean front on the 26th floor (our condo was on the top floor the 28th). It was a huge, spacious and very comfortable series of rooms including computers, huge screen TV, showers, bathroom, pool table, kitchen etc. The ocean views were spectacular as the only hotel in front of it is the low-rise (in comparison) Halekulani Hotel. So we had a look around the lounge, checked out the roof-top pool on the 27th floor and then decided wed go to lunch and then visit the nearby Military Museum.
We went to Cheeseburger on Beachwalk for lunch where DH and I had the best burgers of our trip. DD14 and I got Coke to drink and paid $6 each for them so that they came in a refillable mug. We did that because they were not just refillable during that dining session. Anytime we came back, we could bring the mugs and get them refilled and, most amazingly, we did not even have to be dining to get them refilled. So throughout the 10 days we were at The Imperial, DD14 and DD11 would often pop down to Beachwalk (just across the road from The Imperial) will the mugs and get a drink refill!
This photo is from later in the week. It's DD11 and DD14 at Beachwalk with their current drink refills:
The Military Museum was interesting, especially for DH, and I guess we spent an hour there.
Outside the Military Museum:
After that, it was about 2pm so we decided wed go up to the Owners Lounge and relax there while we waited for our condo. Earlier, Id paid the hotel front desk $15 for a week of WIFI so, although I read an actual book, the rest of the family were on their IPODs, Netbook and IPAD. A funny thing happened while we were there. DD11 was outside on the balcony when we heard her shriek. It turns out a bird had swooped in and landed on her shoulder! When we ran to see what the noise was about, the bird was still there. It must have been an escaped tame one because it let me take it off her shoulder and put it on my finger. We all had a turn with it on our fingers and then a hotel cleaning lady took it away to try and find the owner.
The bird incident:
Not long after that, we got the call to say our condo was ready. The Imperial elevators only go up to the 27th floor and so we had to go up a flight of stairs to get to our condo. We had a separate key to let us up to that level (ours was the only condo entrance up there) and felt very special! Well the condo was exactly what Id been hoping for and the photos on the website had been very accurate.
Its a Two Bedroom/Two Bathroom condo with pull out sofa in the lounge. It has a huge, extremely well-stocked kitchen, 3 TVs and two large balconies both with amazing views. I did not take photos that day but I did on various days later in the stay so Ill post them now: Taken from standing in the kitchen. That's the front door behind the girls and their bedroom entrance is just to the left of the door in the photo:
The kitchen (the luggage racks were there because I'd been previously drying washing )
Taken from the balcony that ran along the kitchen, lounge and girls bedroom. That's looking back over the Royal Hawaiian and Royal Hawaiian Shopping Centre on Kalakaua Ave. To the left of the photo is the side of the pool deck on the floor below:
Taken from the same balcony but turning the other way and that's the Sheraton Waikiki in the left of the photo:
The girls bedroom:
Going down the hall towards the master bedroom now. The girls bathroom is that door to the right:
The girls' bathroom and see those windows at the back? They are slat windows:
When I climbed in bath one time later in the week and opened the slats, I took a photo of my family in the pool:
Here's our lovely bedroom:
And our lovely bathroom:
The view from our balcony was divine:
And here's the view looking the other way from the balcony with me in my favourite place to be. That's Beachwalk below:
Needless to say, we had a very comfortable 9 nights there
PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2010
- Messages
- 108,012
WOW Travelmum. That's an amazing place to stay. Well done you!
Aussie Wendy
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2008
- Messages
- 2,298
Loving the report and brings back lots of good memories when we visited with DD who was only 18 months then so must have been early 90's! Yes we could easily go back for a relaxing beach hol (haven't had one of those for a while-lol) and the direct flights with Hawaiian are now making it tempting. We visited Maui too and loved it (stayed in a fully self contained apartment there and I am sure the same place as you in Waikiki or somewhere next door). Love the apartment though. One of several memories of our trip-losing DD on the beach when we both must have looked away for a second and she had run off -turned out chasing after a man with a parrot on his shoulder...but it was a worrisome few minutes! This was in her - lets run away and/or hide and scare the pants of my parents phase.
aussie shaz
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2011
- Messages
- 924
Loving your report. Pity you couldn't do the Arizona Memorial. We were there in about 1998. It was quite emotional. One of my favorite photos of the trip was looking up from the Arizona at the American flag flying in the wind.
We didn't do the submarine though (if it was even there back then!)
I love the condo. How gorgeous is that view. Just how you imagine Hawaii to be.
We didn't do the submarine though (if it was even there back then!)
I love the condo. How gorgeous is that view. Just how you imagine Hawaii to be.
Caroline NZ
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2008
- Messages
- 981
Your condo looks lovely TraveMum
We are using VRBO at 3 different places in Califronia on this years trip, and then at Windsor Hills in 2014. We have stayed in plenty of holiday homes in NZ, but never overseas, so it will be a new experience for us.
We are using VRBO at 3 different places in Califronia on this years trip, and then at Windsor Hills in 2014. We have stayed in plenty of holiday homes in NZ, but never overseas, so it will be a new experience for us.
areweindisneyyet
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2010
- Messages
- 1,277
What a shame about the Memorial. My dad took us on the Bowfin in 85 but I remember it being further away. They may have moved it. He loved taking the grand kids on our last trip.
Baskin. And Robbins is chocolate chip cookie dough. nothing else compares except Tiramisu gelato.
The apartment looks great. We walked past the military museum every day and DH said I'll check that out tomorrow. No he did not.
It is making me want to go back. It will be my next trip to plan after this one. Although I can see Canada being added to this for skiing.
Baskin. And Robbins is chocolate chip cookie dough. nothing else compares except Tiramisu gelato.
The apartment looks great. We walked past the military museum every day and DH said I'll check that out tomorrow. No he did not.
It is making me want to go back. It will be my next trip to plan after this one. Although I can see Canada being added to this for skiing.
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