OldSouthernBelle

This is the proposed itinerary thus far:

Thurs.: Arrive from Maui 10:54AM
Check In HHV
Lunch...any recommendations?
Outrigger Canoe ride
or Iolani Palace...(would we have time?
Dukes for dinner& Hanohano Room for
drinks (for the view)

Fri.: Will use Jerry & Sharon's Trip Plan
for Circle Island Tour (with some ajustments) including:
Diamond Head Hike
Lanikai Beach
Kailua Beach
Heeia Kea Boat Harbor(Tuna sandwich)
Tropical T's (Old Poi Factory-for
Kalua pig and rice and Choc.Haupia)
Waikane Store (hotdog sushi) Kualoa Mac Nut Farm/Gardens
Crouching Lion
Kahana Bay
Laie Point
Giovanni's Shrimp Truck in Kahuku
Sunset Beach
Bonsai Pipeline
Shark's Cove (snorkel)
Pu'uUmakulu Heiau
Waimea Bay (snorkel)
Turtle Beach
Matsumoto's in Haleiwa/Shave Ice
?Dole for whipped pineapple ICcones
Waimea Valley Audubon Center/
Waterfall
? Hang Glide (DH)@Dillingham Field
Ko'Olina lagoons (snorkel
Sat. Hanauma Beach (snorkel)
Polynesian Cultural Center/Luau &
Horizons Show

Sun. Pearl Harbor
Swap Meet
3:15 -4:30 Workshop
Dinner at Shorebird's?

Mon. Business until 1:30PM
Either Manoa Falls or Kapena Falls
Hike
Dinner?

Tues.: Chinatown Tour with PorkPakeChop!!
Drive Pali and/or H3(from Kailua to
Honolulu)
Dinner?
Drinks/Music at Royal Hawaiian

Wed.: Tantalus/Round Top to Pu'uUalaka'a
State Wayside Pk./PunchBowl
Check Out HHV by 3:00PM
(?Have them hold our bags?)
Flight out 9:15PM

I know we won't have time to do all the stuff listed on Fri.

Thought maybe I could divide it up into a day and a half. If so, how would you divide it?

I thought about doing Diamond Head early, then driving up to Dillingham for the ultralight, then come back via H3 (scenic)for the 1/2-2/3 day. What else might work? Belle

rjscott

Belle,
By the time your flight arrives from Maui, you get your luggage and get to the hotel, I think it will be too late to go back to Iolani Palace. Besides, to take the tour of Iolani, you need reservations (you can walk around the grounds and the outside of the bldg only w/o a reservation). You could combine Iolani with your Chinatown tour on Tues, as it's not at all far from Chinatown.
Yes, you do have waaay too much planned for Fri. You need to allow at least 1 1/2 hrs for the Diamond Head hike; allowing for a bit of time to enjoy the view at the top. Continuing on your Circle Island tour is good, but to try and snorkel twice and make the stops you plan is overplanning. Try to decide what you "must" do, and see how you're doing timewise as you go, and maybe you can add a few of the "maybe's" back in.
The hotel will certainly have a place to hold your bags until you are ready to go to the airport. The drive up Tantalus/Round Top, combined with Punchbowl is a good idea, and how we did it. You could either check out of the HHV b/f you leave for your drive, or ask for a late checkout, do your drive and Punchbowl, and have lunch b/f checking out.
Hope this helps a bit.

dusty56438

Way too many things for Friday.

Kapena Falls is only a three to five minute hike from Pali Highway. It is only a few miutes away from downtown Honolulu. Park at the Pagoda Lookout. You could do all three hikes (Diamond Head, Manoa Falls and Kapena Falls) all together as you would probably want to go back to HHV and shower after hiking.

Tantalus/Roundtop Drive and Punchbowl are between Pali Highway and Manoa Falls. So you could do that on the same trip as the hikes.

This trip from HHV and back would take 4-5 hours, so you could do all of this on Wednesday before you check out of the hotel.

That would free up Monday after your business. And it would also eliminate the Diamond Head Hike form your circle island tour.

Ko'Olina Lagoons is nice, but it really wouldn't fit in with your circle island trip. Perhaps you could do this on Monday afternoon.

If you go to Dillingham on a separate trip, then you could stop at Dole Pineapple and stop in Haleiwa on the same trip. Perhaps on Monday afternoon.

I would add Byodo-in-Temple and Haiku Gardens to the circle island trip. They are both very scenic.

OldSouthernBelle

Mahalo for both replies! VERY good suggestion! I will work on it and get back to you!

dusty: Do you actually go inside the Byodo-In- Temple or just view it from Outside? How long do you think this stop takes? Actuall, I meant to have listed it, also!

Another? I've heard mixed reviews of Giovanni's...read Romey's is better? Are they in the same area? Belle

OldSouthernBelle

Oh no, I found I also left off Fri.'s list the HHV fireworks and torchlighting ceremony! Ugh! So much to do!!! Belle

dusty56438

You can actually go into the temple. You will have to take your shoes off though if you want to go into the temple. It's about a 1/2 hour stop.

Nice pictures of the temple at:
http://www.portaloha.com/SecretsOfHawaii
Also for Tantalus/Round Top

If you only have time for either Haiku Gardens or Byodo-In Temple, choose the temple.

About Friday evening's fireworks, if you still plan to do the circle island trip, make sure you allow enough time to get back to HHV so you can get seats to watch the Polynesian show. Much better than if you are late and have to stand around to watch it. Check with the hotel when you should get there to watch the show and get seats. Probably 1/2 hour before the Polynesian show starts.

When you get back near Honolulu, traffic will be pretty bad.

I presume you are going to Polynesian Cultural Center straight from Hanauma Bay. If so, stop at Halona Blow Hole. It's kind of rugged & scenic around there. From Halona parking lot, there is a small cove & beach just to the right. That is called "From Here to Eternity" Beach. It's where Deborah Kerr & Burt Lancaster had the love scene on the beach in the movie.

brittany21

you have got alot going on

Budman

We just spent 3 1/2 days on Oahu. I had a list of 100 things to do, and just about as many restaurants to eat in, and you know what, I never took that list out of my suitcase.

We only had one "must do" and that was Pearl Harbor/AZ Memorial but never planned a specific day to do it. We got up in the morning, had breakfast, and enjoyed the ambiance. We then decided what we wanted to do for the day.

I think too many people want to do "drive by shootings" and put the check in the box. Relax, you're on vacation. Enjoy Oahu, and if you didn't see something, there's always next time.

You do have a lot on your plate.

OldSouthernBelle

Trouble is, Budman, there very likely won't be a next time for this OSB!

I hear what you're saying, but I enjoy the planning! It's part of the fun!

I don't imagine I will get to everything on the list...but researching it gives me insight that comes in handy for decision making while there!

I can sleep/lounge/read by the pool at home!Belle

iceeu2

Belle, I did the same as you and overplanned activities. Like Budman, a lot of the things never got done. But, we usually tried the night before to decide on the next day's agenda. Just know that you likely will not achieve everything and be happy with some "drive-bys" at certain places.

On Sunday, instead of dinner at Shorebird's drive down to Aloha Tower and have dinner at Chai's. It's great and on their website is a coupon for bogo! Wonderful entertainment also.

I would also highly recommend Duke's for breakfast. A wonderful buffet with omelet station. On the mornings we ate breakfast there, we didn't eat again until dinner...well, except for little snackies! Seems like it is only $12.95pp.

Do Diamond Head early, before it gets hot and definitely plan 1 1/2 hours.

On the day you do the Chinatown tour with PPC, don't have anything pressing you absolutely must get back for. You really will enjoy it that much..and then dim sum..yum, yum!

We didn't eat at Giovanni's but instead opted for Romy's..it was great..also, if you miss the turnoff to La'ie Point, turn around and go back to see it. It's that great!

Have tons of fun! Pick up some of the loofah soap at the Kualoa Mac Nut Farm (they have it in the ladies room for you to wash your hands with..so you can try it first).

The Swap Meet is ok, especially if you need cheap tee shirts and/or some trinkets for souvenirs.

OldSouthernBelle

icee: Thanks for all the good tips!

What is bogo? (Not another interesting part of the chicken, I hope!

Will plan on the BF @ Dukes!

Also heard Todae was good...right across the street from HHV...so should I pass it up for Chai's?

What other good dining experiences did you enjoy?

Belle

iceeu2

BOGO-Buy one, get one free. I can't say whether or not to skip something for another because I definitely do not know. Just know that we did enjoy our dinner at Chai's.

We also had dinner at Hau Tree Lanai..on the south end of Waikiki..far from the HHV. The food was good and the atmosphere was great. But, I'm sure there are just as good or better places with the same wonderful atmosphere.

juanita1989

Hi, OSB. I've done Sharon & Jerry's trip around the island -- with Sharon & Jerry! -- and, as written and leaving from Ko'Olina, it's about a 6 hour day. A lot of fun, but we always make sure to have nothing else planned that day as we like to relax afterwards. It's Hawaii, so you've gotta find time to relax. That's half the fun of being there.

As for the shrimp trucks, I and all of the friends we've taken, love Giovanni's. I've not eaten at Romey's, but when we were having lunch at Giovanni's last April a couple arrived at Giovanni's. They had just eaten at Romey's and said the portions were so small that they were still hungry. They'd also been told by someone else that Giovanni's was better. But, that's just MHO.

Have a wonderful time!

OldSouthernBelle

icee: Oh my goodness! Now I'm wearing EGG on my face! I thought you were telling me about another gourmet something or other! LOL! Will Check it out!

OK Juanita, I'm still figger'n! Thanks! Belle.

MelissaHI

just my humble opinion....if I had to choose between Todai and Chai's, I'd pick Chai's. Todai is a good deal since it is a buffet, but it's basically Japanese cafeteria food. Nothing special.....better to eat at Makino's in Las Vegas if you are going for a buffet!

iceeu2

Belle, you are funny! That's typically the way I would think! It would be "oh, my goodnes..I've never heard of bogo..but I bet it's good." Aren't you glad you asked here instead of waiting until you get to Chai's and ordering it???????!!!!!!!!

As far as the shrimp trucks, I have no idea about Giovanni's, but when we ate at Romey's the food was good and ample portions. We spoke to 2 different groups of locals who said they eat there every week. Why not share a plate at both places and decide for yourself!

Glad to see you are going to get the chocolate haupia at Tropical T's...I had it at Ted's and really wasn't too hepped up on it. Let us know how it was, ok?

Aren't fodorites just the best to help you plan a vacation of a lifetime? You are definitely on the right forum for great advice. Keep asking away and I promise people will continue to give you great answers.

PakePorkChop

Re yur choice between Todai and Chai's.

If I had the time and money, I would do both, as each is fun in its own way.

Chai's is superior in ambience and culinary variety and skill; Todai is a rare experience in excess and marketing.
If I had to choose, I'd go to Chai's, but I'd be the first to arrive at Todai if invited the next day!

rjscott

Belle, if you like Thai food, Singha's is just up the street from the HHV and has fabulous food, beautifully presented. They also have entertainment in the evening; beautiful, graceful dancers in costume.

Budman

We wanted to do Thai on Oahu, and there were numerous recommendations on this board that Keo's was the best on the island. My wife wanted to go to Singha's based on a write up she read in an island magazine.

Both the bartender & a waitress in our hotel said the two restaurants were more Thai-American, and if we wanted authentic Thai, we should try Payao's in restaurant row. We did, and were very disappointed.

iceeu2

OSB, just tonight at dinner the real icee laued as how he really loved the Chinatown tour with PakePorkChop!

Thought you would want to know that!

Plus, he wants to know if you live in LA? He travelled there for years and years and years..to Andalusia..anywhere near there?