Anniversary in Hawaii... what to do
 

My huusband and I are going to Hawaii in August for our 1 year anniversary. We are staying on Oahu and are thinking of getting the inter-island pass on one of the airlines. Any suggestions on romantic things to do (or cannot miss), we'll be there for two weeks!!!

Don't miss the Arizona Memorial or snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. Spend a day on the North Shore if you can because it's completely different from Waikiki. When you go up there, try to visit Waimea Falls Park. Walk along the beach in Waikiki at Sunset. Hike up Diamond Head. Eat at the Ala Moana Mall Food Court - I recommend Patti's Chinese Kitchen. Walk around downtown Honolulu at lunchtime, check out Chinatown, and visit the Aloha Tower Shops. Walk around in Kapiolani Park. Drive all the way around the island. Make sure you have a car for at least a few days to do these things. Go to Maui if you can!

Sorry Celeste but I have to add that the food courts at Alamoana are similar to food courts in any mall and not worth a special trip unless you have kids with you. IMHO skip aloha tower if you are pressed for time, a place to spend money in shops that are focused exclusively on the tourist dollar. If you are in Honolulu on August 18-19 you can hit the "Made In Hawaii" festival on at the blasdale, just a squeak outside Waikiki. Here you will get authentic Hawaiian crafts at the prices everyone pays. You will hear Hawaiian contemporary music, sample local munchies and actually shop with the community that lives on Oahu. <BR> <BR>China town is a great excursion. I would do a walking tour so as to learn the history of the area. I would also pay a trip to the Japanese Cultural center and learn how the island's Japanese community dealt with the aftermath of Pearl Harbor. There is also a tearoom and if you are lucky you can see a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. This week two members of the Imperial Family are in Honolulu visiting a tea ceremony school. I am wondering if it is connected to JCC. Do you know Celeste? You would need to call for these details. <BR> <BR>Chinatown is where you want to do some of your dining and lunching. Buy the gorgeous leis you see in the hotels on the cheap here. Drive around the island but hit Byodo temple, Makapu look out, stroll around on the grounds of Kualoa Ranch on windward side. Bishop Museum closer to Pearl Harbor is very similar in some respects to Ellis Island museum, if you have been. There are a couple of floors dedicated to all the immigrants that have flocked to the islands over the years. You see a sampling of the traditional dress and articles they brought with them. <BR> <BR>I also like the leeward side of the island. It is out of the way but unspoiled. Also you need to exercise some caution on this end of the island, higher in crime and poverty here. Let's not forget beautiful Waimanalo. As you can see much to do on Oahu. A good book to buy, "Driving and Discovering Oahu". I can't find the book in NYC but bought online at Amazon. <BR>P.S Hanauma Bay and North Shore are also great suggestions

You guys posted some good stuff, but I do have to add to the comment on Aloha Tower. It's a stone's throw from Chinatown, so you could possibly do both--explore Chinatown, then lunch at Aloha Tower. There are 3 restaurants of note there--Chai's Island Bistro, which is a little upscale but I love the food, particularly a Kadaifi Shrimp dish. Don Ho has a restaurant there, often featuring live music. And Kapono--a local entertainer--recently opened Kapono's, which also features live music. I haven't tried Kapono's yet but the other 2 are quite good.

My husband & I just celebrated our 25th in Hawaii. Spent only one day on Oahu- next time we'll spend at least three there. One week was on Maui and I would strongly suggest you get an interisland flight and stay there for a couple days, at least. It's so romantic there! We rented a jeep and drove all around the island, experiencing breathtaking views. The road to Hana is a full day, not-to-miss tour. We particularly liked the continuing road from- more adventuresome, but we nearly had it all to ourselves, and watched the sunset over rocky cliffs with crashing water. It's very "backroads" and cattle roams free- even on the road. Maui is a feast for the senses and there are plenty of places to feel all alone there. A drive up to the Haleakala crater will make you feel as if you are at the top of the world.

In Oahu snorkling at Hanauma Bay is a definate. I would also recommend a few days in Maui. The road to Hana is beautiful and I would recommend the Haleakama Crater. I prefer Maui over Oahu, I found it much more relaxing and not as touristy.

I highly recommend Kauai over Maui. Maui is in the midst of a drought and it is very brown and a lot of the waterfalls on the way to Hana are really not that pretty because of the lack of rain. Kaui on the other hand is spectacular, beauty beyond belief. I have been back home for two weeks and I am still in awe.

My husband and I were just there in May. We spent 1 week in Oahu and 1 week in Kauai. There is so much to do in Waikiki that 1 week was almost not enough time, but we loved Kauai and will definitely go back there. All the recommendations above are good. Here are a few more. <BR> <BR>For dining in Oahu try: <BR> Auntie Pasto's (northeast of Waikiki) <BR> Indigo's (Chinatown) <BR> House Without a Key (Halekulani) <BR> Duke's for the salad bar <BR> L&L Drive In plate lunch <BR> Shore Bird for breakfast (it's in a hotel on the beach at the west end of waikiki) <BR> Take out on the beach at sunset <BR> <BR>Don't miss Pali Lookout. Rent a car and drive the north side of the island. Try a glider ride from the smaller airport on the north side of the island.

Good restaurant list terry. I forgot about shorebird. That has an excellent view for the price Angela.