Waikiki Area questions and my Aulani Itinerary.

[funhouse8]

Can't wait to try the pies! Yum!

I think I might take one home for breakfast. lol Have fun JerseyGirl...When is your trip?

 

[jerseygal]

Our youngest DS graduates from high school this Friday!

SO PROUD of him!

Wow, a whirlwind of a week! Nephews college graduation tomorrow and sons prom, graduation this Friday for DS!

Tuesday, off to Aulani! WOW, its finally coming soon! YAY!
Paradise!

 

[cedricandsophie]

Personally, we never want to leave resort. Spent nine days there recently and talked about a lot of things but love the place so much we couldn't leave except to go to store in Kapolei. Have been told by a friend who lives in Honolulu not to bother with Diamond Head...very crowded. Pearl Harbor is great. We did go to waimea falls this year on our last day and drove north shore. Monkeypod is good for drinks and listening to music but the food at the sushi place across the street is fabulous. Avoid Just Tacos. There are fitness classes in the beach every day and the fitness center is great. Also if you are into tennis, you can play at the Marriott next door for $23 an hour. We had our own rackets with us but they have some there if you need them. Also Azul is a restaurant at the Marriott and is very good.

 

[lovetotraveltx]

I have similar questions

We have 2 nights in waikiki before we move over. It's me, my dh and 2 dd's in their 20's. Haven't done Punchbowl cemetery, bishops museum and the chinaman's hat. Also want to do a little Hawaii 5 0 hunting, lol! Are these things we should be doing while staying in Waikiki? Any suggestions on an itinerary.

1st full day is a Sunday and we are doing Swap Meet in the am. Then day free. 2nd day 2 of us hike Diamond Head early, then that's our travel day to Aulani. What's the best time to head towards Aulani?

Thank you!

 

[Cinderpamela]

Personally, we never want to leave resort. Spent nine days there recently and talked about a lot of things but love the place so much we couldn't leave except to go to store in Kapolei. Have been told by a friend who lives in Honolulu not to bother with Diamond Head...very crowded. Pearl Harbor is great. We did go to waimea falls this year on our last day and drove north shore. Monkeypod is good for drinks and listening to music but the food at the sushi place across the street is fabulous. Avoid Just Tacos. There are fitness classes in the beach every day and the fitness center is great. Also if you are into tennis, you can play at the Marriott next door for $23 an hour. We had our own rackets with us but they have some there if you need them. Also Azul is a restaurant at the Marriott and is very good.

I agree about never wanting to leave the resort!!
That's why on our last trip we stayed in Waikiki for the first 4 nights and then moved out to Aulani.
We really loved our hike up Diamond Head... was it crowded?... yes a bit, but not too bad that we could not enjoy it. I am so glad we got a chance to do it on this past trip, we got some great photos at the top that will be family treasures. I would recommend experiencing it at least once.

 

[swooshbear]

Blueberry Scones, yum. Is it hard to park at this market?

The market has a small parking lot but you should be able to find street parking (Monsarrat Ave) if the parking lot is full. There are three spots we love to go, all within the same two blocks:

1. Diamond Head Market (Blueberry Scones)
2. South Shore Grill (one of the best fish tacos I've ever had and they are only $2 on Tuesdays)
3. Diamond Head Cove Health Bar (Acai bowls!)

 

[lovetotraveltx]

Bump

 

[funhouse8]

Bump

Thanks for the bump lovetotraveltx LOL

 

[islandtimect]

DD has wanted to swim with dolphins for a while and Sea Life Park offers this. Has anyone tried this, and what did you think? Price is reasonable vs Discovery Cove in Sea World.

 

[funhouse8]

DD has wanted to swim with dolphins for a while and Sea Life Park offers this. Has anyone tried this, and what did you think? Price is reasonable vs Discovery Cove in Sea World.

I'm not sure about this, but you might get a response if you post this question on a separate Thread. I think it got lost on mine. Good luck.

 

[Cinderpamela]

DD has wanted to swim with dolphins for a while and Sea Life Park offers this. Has anyone tried this, and what did you think? Price is reasonable vs Discovery Cove in Sea World.

We did not do this but I did come across some reviews of it on the "Aulani and Oahu Must Do's" thread-
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2977561

Here is what they said:

Would people recommend the Sea Life Park and swimming with dolphins and sea lions?

Hey there - not long to go now A friend of mine did it and absolutely loved it. I was considering it, after all it is cheaper than Sea World in Australia, but then I had a look on You Tube of people's videos and there seems to be a lot of people in each program, like at least 20. So I might wait and do it at Sea World back home, they have a 5 person limit!

Dean also recommended it on this thread "Aulani/Oahu Plans":
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=47246353

Not a whole lot of postings about it, so as funhouse8 suggested, you may want to start a thread and ask the question, it would be great info for others too I bet.

 

[MSUmom]

We are planning a September 2015 trip. Thank you to everyone who posted ideas.

 

[Brancaneve]

I must reiterate that just like the OP I had grand plans and then gave it all up once we arrived. It took about three days of being at the resort before we ventured out. Have fun

 

[kelly3kids]

We are leaving on Sunday for Aulani. Our boys are very excited. We are going to do the Monoa Falls. I have read great things about it and the boys wouldn't make it up Diamond Head yet.

Excited about our trip.

 

[funhouse8]

We are leaving on Sunday for Aulani. Our boys are very excited. We are going to do the Monoa Falls. I have read great things about it and the boys wouldn't make it up Diamond Head yet.

Excited about our trip.

We leave tomorrow maybe we will see you there.

 

[DisneyBelle99]

Aulani is so beautiful and relaxing!

I agree with Pearl Harbor being worthy of the trip outside the resort. make sure to allow plenty of time to park your car, and arrive a few minutes ahead of your reserved time. We were shocked at how crowded it was in the parking lot, and we were there in February.

If you go to the beach at Waikiki, I like the shopping at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Cute dresses, inexpensive and very expensive jewelry, etc. You can park there ( for a fee, read the signs, I forget if you need a token or something). Then go across to the Hotel, and see some Hawaii 5 0 locations. There are indoor and outdoor restaurants, and a Starbucks. And a LeSportsac store that sells some exclusive to Hawaii bags.

If by any chance, someone reading this is Catholic, you can skip the fancier Churches, and go to a Mass at a very humble !!! Church. St. Rita's on Farrington Hwy. what a warm and welcoming Pastor, who did college and seminary on the mainland, and loves to explain all the Hawaiian touches to the celebration of the Mass.

I also vote for souvenirs at the Walmart, and our biggest discovery....Sears at the Big Mall (Mauna Loa or something like that) has the most reasonable Aloha shirts, and the biggest selection.

We stayed at Hilton about 5 yrs ago, and Aulani in2012. Both excellent vacations. We loved the Polynesian Cultural Center, and did the luau package on our first trip.

Hope all this helps.

 

[carissa1970]

Aulani is so beautiful and relaxing! I agree with Pearl Harbor being worthy of the trip outside the resort. make sure to allow plenty of time to park your car, and arrive a few minutes ahead of your reserved time. We were shocked at how crowded it was in the parking lot, and we were there in February. If you go to the beach at Waikiki, I like the shopping at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Cute dresses, inexpensive and very expensive jewelry, etc. You can park there ( for a fee, read the signs, I forget if you need a token or something). Then go across to the Hotel, and see some Hawaii 5 0 locations. There are indoor and outdoor restaurants, and a Starbucks. And a LeSportsac store that sells some exclusive to Hawaii bags. If by any chance, someone reading this is Catholic, you can skip the fancier Churches, and go to a Mass at a very humble !!! Church. St. Rita's on Farrington Hwy. what a warm and welcoming Pastor, who did college and seminary on the mainland, and loves to explain all the Hawaiian touches to the celebration of the Mass. I also vote for souvenirs at the Walmart, and our biggest discovery....Sears at the Big Mall (Mauna Loa or something like that) has the most reasonable Aloha shirts, and the biggest selection. We stayed at Hilton about 5 yrs ago, and Aulani in2012. Both excellent vacations. We loved the Polynesian Cultural Center, and did the luau package on our first trip. Hope all this helps.

We visited St. Rita's this trip as well! My husband stayed there 35 years ago for a month with his parents in a church program, and we drove up there last week so he could revisit it. Adorable little church and super nice people.

To the OP, we are finishing up an 11 night trip and have done some very cool things. I would be happy to share our itinerary if you are interested. Just let me know!

 

[Cinderpamela]

Sears at the Big Mall (Mauna Loa or something like that) has the most reasonable Aloha shirts, and the biggest selection.

That a great tip about the Sears, we went to Ala Moana mall but didn't go to the Sears, will be sure to add it to my notes and check it out next time! Thanks!