2 1/2 days in Oahu - what to do?
Sep 30th, 2004, 07:35 AM
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2 1/2 days in Oahu - what to do?
In Feb. we will arrive at HNL 10pm on a Sat. and go to Maui Tues. noon. Will stay at the Airport Hotel Sat nite. Need help with next 2 days. Want to include Punch Bowl,Pearl Harbor,Pineapple Plantation or Dole Cannery (Which??)and the North Shore. Will have a car. Where to stay Sun & Mon, when to see Waikiki?
Sep 30th, 2004, 09:47 AM
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Do you have to stay at the airport Sat. night? It's only a 20 min. drive into Waikiki, if you can base there for all 3 nites and drive to N. shore and beaches on Sunday and Monday, I think you'll have a better time.
Sep 30th, 2004, 10:02 AM
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Agreed. The 2 hotels closest to the airport are very low-end with regard to furnishings and clientele -- and noisy.
If you don't want to bother with renting a car to get yourself into Waikiki, there are other methods:
http://www.hawaii.gov/dot/airports/visitor_info.htm
If you don't want to bother with renting a car to get yourself into Waikiki, there are other methods:
http://www.hawaii.gov/dot/airports/visitor_info.htm
Sep 30th, 2004, 10:44 AM
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Agree with other posters here. Would not stay in an airport hotel, with Waikiki only twenty minutes away. We used a shuttle to get to Waikiki, when we didn't rent a car, and it's so convenient and pretty reasonable.
I would spend one day enjoying Waikiki Beach/Honolulu, and the other driving to the North Shore, if I only had two days there.
I love the New Otani Kaimana Hotel. Get an oceanview Junior suite, on the highest floor you can, with the wraparound view of the ocean, city lights and Diamond Head. What a breathtaking view! Click on the link below to check out their rooms and Virtual Tours!
http://www.kaimana.com/accommodation...mmodations.htm
I would spend one day enjoying Waikiki Beach/Honolulu, and the other driving to the North Shore, if I only had two days there.
I love the New Otani Kaimana Hotel. Get an oceanview Junior suite, on the highest floor you can, with the wraparound view of the ocean, city lights and Diamond Head. What a breathtaking view! Click on the link below to check out their rooms and Virtual Tours!
http://www.kaimana.com/accommodation...mmodations.htm
Oct 1st, 2004, 01:31 AM
#7
Definitely stay in Waikiki. Dole Cannery would also not be on my list for tourists. There's a movie theatre, discount sneaker shop and some other small shops.
I'd get up early on Sunday and head for Pearl Harbor. Once done there, you can head out to the North Shore, stopping at the Dole Plantation to get a snack.
Have lunch in Haleiwa town or get takeout food and stop off at a nice beach to watch the surfers. The water may be very rough that time of year. make sure to only swim where there are lifeguards who say its okay to go out.
Keep going clockwise around the island. Stop at Valley of the Temples (a cemetery, but there is a beautiful japanese temple in the back)and keep on till you get to Kailua. Take the Pali back towards Honolulu and make sure to stop at the lookout.
The next day, head for Hanauma Bay or hike up the inside of Diamond Head crater. Keep driving after Hanauma Bay aruond the ragged coastline. You can keep going thru Waimanalo and then back over the Pali or watch the surf or go hiking above Makapuu beach, then turn around and head back.
Enjoy the rest of the day in Waikiki..there's Kapiolani Park, or take surfing lessons from the Beachboys near Duke's statue. You can shop waikiki or go to Ala Moana or Ward Center (I like this better, smaller, unique shops).
The next day, you can visit Punchbowl on your way to the Airport.
Depending on your budget, the New Ohtani Hotel is nice and in a nice location (and would be my choice).
The Ohana chain has more budget hotels, or there are many other hotels in all price ranges.
I'd get up early on Sunday and head for Pearl Harbor. Once done there, you can head out to the North Shore, stopping at the Dole Plantation to get a snack.
Have lunch in Haleiwa town or get takeout food and stop off at a nice beach to watch the surfers. The water may be very rough that time of year. make sure to only swim where there are lifeguards who say its okay to go out.
Keep going clockwise around the island. Stop at Valley of the Temples (a cemetery, but there is a beautiful japanese temple in the back)and keep on till you get to Kailua. Take the Pali back towards Honolulu and make sure to stop at the lookout.
The next day, head for Hanauma Bay or hike up the inside of Diamond Head crater. Keep driving after Hanauma Bay aruond the ragged coastline. You can keep going thru Waimanalo and then back over the Pali or watch the surf or go hiking above Makapuu beach, then turn around and head back.
Enjoy the rest of the day in Waikiki..there's Kapiolani Park, or take surfing lessons from the Beachboys near Duke's statue. You can shop waikiki or go to Ala Moana or Ward Center (I like this better, smaller, unique shops).
The next day, you can visit Punchbowl on your way to the Airport.
Depending on your budget, the New Ohtani Hotel is nice and in a nice location (and would be my choice).
The Ohana chain has more budget hotels, or there are many other hotels in all price ranges.
Oct 1st, 2004, 08:31 AM
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I agree with everyone here; Stay in Waikiki.
If you do go to the Dole Plantation, the hedge maze is sort of fun but it is really hot in there. The hedges block the breeze and you are walking all the time. There is a reward though when you are done that makes it well worth it. The sell the most amazing pineapple or mango sorbet cones in the gift shop. Mango is my favorite but whichever you choose, don't miss it. When we got home we searched far and wide for good mango sorbet but it just isn't the same. It must be the hot hedge walk that makes the cold sorbet so great.
Don't miss Pearl Harbor but get there early.
On your other early morning I highly recommend the hike to the top of Diamond Head. Leaving Waikiki just head through Kapiolani Park to the ocean side of Daimond Head and then just follow the clearly marked signs to the parking area in the crater. Get there by 7:30am so that it is not too crowded when you reach the top. Space up there is limited and it gets really packed. The hike is not too bad and takes less than an hour up even if you take several breaks for photos, views and a breath. The views from the top of are the best you can get of Waikiki. Below is Kapiolani Park and Sans Souci, then Waikiki, Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, Punch Bowl and the west Oahu mountains. Absolutly spectacular and you can get back down for a 9:00am breakfast. Due to the multi-level viewing area at the top you can get a photo of your friends with Waikiki in the background that looks as if you are the only ones on the top if you get there early. This is one of those photos you will want to frame and then continue to say to yourself "Were we really there?!?"
Have fun!
If you do go to the Dole Plantation, the hedge maze is sort of fun but it is really hot in there. The hedges block the breeze and you are walking all the time. There is a reward though when you are done that makes it well worth it. The sell the most amazing pineapple or mango sorbet cones in the gift shop. Mango is my favorite but whichever you choose, don't miss it. When we got home we searched far and wide for good mango sorbet but it just isn't the same. It must be the hot hedge walk that makes the cold sorbet so great.
Don't miss Pearl Harbor but get there early.
On your other early morning I highly recommend the hike to the top of Diamond Head. Leaving Waikiki just head through Kapiolani Park to the ocean side of Daimond Head and then just follow the clearly marked signs to the parking area in the crater. Get there by 7:30am so that it is not too crowded when you reach the top. Space up there is limited and it gets really packed. The hike is not too bad and takes less than an hour up even if you take several breaks for photos, views and a breath. The views from the top of are the best you can get of Waikiki. Below is Kapiolani Park and Sans Souci, then Waikiki, Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, Punch Bowl and the west Oahu mountains. Absolutly spectacular and you can get back down for a 9:00am breakfast. Due to the multi-level viewing area at the top you can get a photo of your friends with Waikiki in the background that looks as if you are the only ones on the top if you get there early. This is one of those photos you will want to frame and then continue to say to yourself "Were we really there?!?"
Have fun!
Oct 2nd, 2004, 06:06 PM
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If you only have two days, definitely take a drive around the island. Stop to look at Hanauma Bay, Halona Blowhole, Makupu'u Lighthouse. Make sure you stop at Byodoin Temple along the way and then a meal in Haliew'a (we liked Hawiew'a Joe's, its casual). If its your first time there, I don't think the plantation or the cannery would be the best use of your time there. If you go to Pearl Harbor, you have to get there early, or you will waste hours waiting to get in. Aloha.
Oct 3rd, 2004, 06:02 PM
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When you say "straight through" to the North Shore... if you take H-1 to H-2 to Wahiawa, that's 30 minutes, then another 15 via local roads to Haleiwa. However, that's only the closest part of the North Shore. From there you'd want to go east along the North Shore and then down the windward side back to Waikiki.
Oct 4th, 2004, 10:52 AM
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Agree with everyone that you should scratch the airport hotel and stay all three nights in Waikiki.
Then, here is what I would recommend:
Saturday: Check in. You will be jet lagged, so if you can't get to sleep, you can stroll down the beach. My favorite place to get drinks is outside under the big tree at the Sheraton Moana.
Sunday: So glad you have a car! From Waikiki, take the Pali Highway (61) toward Kailua/Kaneohe. You can stop at the Pali Lookout for a grat view of winward Oahu. Can stroll down the old highway a bit. Really windy! At the bottom of Pali, take a left onto Kamehameha Hwy (83). This road will take you through Kaneohe and all the way to the North Shore. It's the most BEAUTIFUL drive ever! Along the way, you can stop to get fruit or coconuts at roadside stands. You MUST stop at the "Original White Shrimp Truck" but beware of the hot & spicy shrimp! This road will go past Sunset Beach and Waimea Beach, all the beaches. You can stop at one to get a few rays. Look for a bright sign for Haleiwa town. Get shave ice at Matsumoto's. Line won't take long. Get ice cream at bottom. Recomment Li Hing Mui flavor! Yum! Afterward, go shopping at really cute stores. TONS of cute stores. Dole plantation place is nearby. But it's boring, so I'd just swing by for the yummy pineapple Dole whip cones! Then take H-1 back to town. Here is a good map:
http://www.driveguidemagazines.com/oahu_maps.html
Monday: Get up early and visit Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. On your way, buy a fresh flower lei that you can drop in the water to pay your respects.
For the second half of your day, you have several options:
-- Head back downtown and visit Iolani Palace in downtown Honolulu. Where the former kings and queens of Hawaii lived. Very cool!
-- Continue toward Waipahu for the Waikele outlet stores! Totally a local thing. Can get stuff from Local Motion, Anne Klien, Bene, BCBG... Love it. Better prices than Ala Moana.
-- Spend the day in Waikiki? You can rent boards and learn to surf near the Duke statue. The waves in Waikiki are calm 2-3 footers and long, so very ideal for beginers. Afterward, you can get drinks at "House without a Key" and hunt for bargains at the International Marketplace.
-- For a more laid back experience, drive across the Pali Highway again, except this time, don't turn left onto Kam Highway. Keep going into Kailua town. You will go thru a series of lights. After you pass the 7/11 and Police Station, go one more block and the highway will dead end onto Kalaheo. Take a right. This will take you to Kailua beach and Lanikai. You can rent kayaks and paddle out to the Moke Islands! Or, try kite sufing? Or, just lay out on the beach... After, get some shave ice at Island Snow. And if you want to do dinner nearby, I recommend Buzz's.
Have fun!
Malia
Then, here is what I would recommend:
Saturday: Check in. You will be jet lagged, so if you can't get to sleep, you can stroll down the beach. My favorite place to get drinks is outside under the big tree at the Sheraton Moana.
Sunday: So glad you have a car! From Waikiki, take the Pali Highway (61) toward Kailua/Kaneohe. You can stop at the Pali Lookout for a grat view of winward Oahu. Can stroll down the old highway a bit. Really windy! At the bottom of Pali, take a left onto Kamehameha Hwy (83). This road will take you through Kaneohe and all the way to the North Shore. It's the most BEAUTIFUL drive ever! Along the way, you can stop to get fruit or coconuts at roadside stands. You MUST stop at the "Original White Shrimp Truck" but beware of the hot & spicy shrimp! This road will go past Sunset Beach and Waimea Beach, all the beaches. You can stop at one to get a few rays. Look for a bright sign for Haleiwa town. Get shave ice at Matsumoto's. Line won't take long. Get ice cream at bottom. Recomment Li Hing Mui flavor! Yum! Afterward, go shopping at really cute stores. TONS of cute stores. Dole plantation place is nearby. But it's boring, so I'd just swing by for the yummy pineapple Dole whip cones! Then take H-1 back to town. Here is a good map:
http://www.driveguidemagazines.com/oahu_maps.html
Monday: Get up early and visit Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. On your way, buy a fresh flower lei that you can drop in the water to pay your respects.
For the second half of your day, you have several options:
-- Head back downtown and visit Iolani Palace in downtown Honolulu. Where the former kings and queens of Hawaii lived. Very cool!
-- Continue toward Waipahu for the Waikele outlet stores! Totally a local thing. Can get stuff from Local Motion, Anne Klien, Bene, BCBG... Love it. Better prices than Ala Moana.
-- Spend the day in Waikiki? You can rent boards and learn to surf near the Duke statue. The waves in Waikiki are calm 2-3 footers and long, so very ideal for beginers. Afterward, you can get drinks at "House without a Key" and hunt for bargains at the International Marketplace.
-- For a more laid back experience, drive across the Pali Highway again, except this time, don't turn left onto Kam Highway. Keep going into Kailua town. You will go thru a series of lights. After you pass the 7/11 and Police Station, go one more block and the highway will dead end onto Kalaheo. Take a right. This will take you to Kailua beach and Lanikai. You can rent kayaks and paddle out to the Moke Islands! Or, try kite sufing? Or, just lay out on the beach... After, get some shave ice at Island Snow. And if you want to do dinner nearby, I recommend Buzz's.
Have fun!
Malia
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