Woo-hoo! I booked our next trip to O'ahu today! We will be in Waikiki for ten days, and on the North shore for seven days. Hoping to make it to the Prince Lot Hula fest, and do a few things I have not done on previous trips, like going to the Art Academy. We are lucky that my siblings are joining us and we get to spend beach time with them and the neices and nephews.

We procrastinated on finalizing our exact dates, and I missed out on the best airfare on Southwest/ATA. So I called a local travel and she got us a good price on everything, with a better flight schedule, through Blue Sky Tours.

I am very happy! Cheers to everybody else who is planning a trip to Hawai'i now, or remembering the enjoyment of a past trip

Congrats Aloha! I know how you feel - it's wonderful to make those definite bookings and know you ARE going for sure. I'll be going too - in just 36 days, to be exact, but who's counting?

If you haven't gone on the tour of the Iolani Palace - try to work that into your schedule - it's one of my favorite things to do on Oahu. Have a great trip!

Hi BashfulLV. Yep, it is a good feeling. We will be on O'ahu a little after you are there. I can't wait!

I appreciate the recommendation for Iolani palace, I think it is a great thing to experience. I have gone twice. The first time, in the early 80s, the docent who led our tour was a very passionate Hawaiian lady who warned us she had quite strong feelings and proceeded to enlighten us as to why she was angry. It was heartbreaking and I remember getting choked up hearing the sad history she related. My second, more recent, visit was not so emotional. I don't know if we will do it again this time or not.

I hope your trip is wonderful, too!

I really wasn't interested in Hawaii. I didn't want to make that long plane ride over there. But since being on fodor's has really changed my mind. All the posts and questions have my juices flowing. Discovery Channel did a "best beaches" segment and it's really got me interested.

aloha, have a great time and I look forward to reading your trip post when you get home.

Theresa in Detroit

Thank you, Theresa. If you do decide to go to Hawai'i, I am sure you will enjoy it.

Congratulations, Aloha! When are you going?

Thank you, Faina. We are going in late July. Have to work within the academic calendar so the kids can go. Otherwise, I would wait til fall when it would be a little less crowded and a little cooler. But we are just thrilled to be able to do the trip with our relatives 8-)

Oh, it's better to go when you can rather then not to go at all! Have fun

Aloha, don't worry about crowds too much. We went in August and it wasn't bad at all. Waikiki certainly didn't feel overcrowded by any means, and if you're planning on visiting Kailua Bay or the North Shore, you'll feel like you have it to yourself (At least we did, compared to the Jersey shore!)

Whatever crowds there are, I will be happy to be part of them!