Bus Tours In Oahu
Jan 6th, 2006, 05:32 AM
#1
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Bus Tours In Oahu
I will be Oahu for 3 days, and Kauai for 5 with my husband and 9-year old son in March. We've read and been told that driving can be difficult especially during spring break. We're coming from NYC, and honestly, we would like to hold off on doing any driving until we get to Kauai. Would you recommend any of the bus tours in Oahu?
Jan 6th, 2006, 07:10 AM
#2
Sorry, no tour recommendations, but wanted to mention that public transportation is great on Oahu. There's a website for "The Bus" you can check out for schedules and routes. Within Honolulu between The Bus, trollies, taxis, I've never felt the need to rent a car.
Jan 6th, 2006, 07:52 AM
#3
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When I was still selling tours in Hawaii, I used to sell all of the following, and they are all good in their own way:
E Noa Tours (PHONE: 808/591-2561) uses minibuses and trolleys and likes to get you into the great outdoors. http://www.enoa.com/
Polynesian Adventure Tours (PHONE: 808/833-3000) has motorcoaches, vans, and minicoaches. http://www.polyad.com/
Roberts Hawai'i (PHONE: 808/539-9400) has equipment ranging from vans to presidential limousines. http://www.robertshawaii.com/
E Noa Tours (PHONE: 808/591-2561) uses minibuses and trolleys and likes to get you into the great outdoors. http://www.enoa.com/
Polynesian Adventure Tours (PHONE: 808/833-3000) has motorcoaches, vans, and minicoaches. http://www.polyad.com/
Roberts Hawai'i (PHONE: 808/539-9400) has equipment ranging from vans to presidential limousines. http://www.robertshawaii.com/
Jan 6th, 2006, 01:45 PM
#4
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I'm not much of a bus person, either, and I had been warned that Oahu traffic could be awful. But I really wanted to see Peal Harbor! I did a day tour with Polynesian Adventures and they were very professional. 
Jan 6th, 2006, 01:57 PM
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Any additional traffic in Hawaii from spring break is negligible.
Hawaii does get some visitors that come for spring break. But Hawaii does not promote or cater to big spring break parties like Ft. Lauderdale or other places like that.
There is a lot of traffic in Honolulu/Waikiki like any other metro area, but the rest of Oahu is OK. If you don't drive during the morning rush hour or the evening rush hour, even Honolulu/Waikiki is no worse than any other city.
Between 8 am and noon is the best time to tour around the island.
Lots to do on Oahu:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34696831
http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/tours/
http://www.discoveringhawaii.com/ You can download a free (pdf) circle island driving tour from this site. Also an Oahu movie location guide.
Hawaii does get some visitors that come for spring break. But Hawaii does not promote or cater to big spring break parties like Ft. Lauderdale or other places like that.
There is a lot of traffic in Honolulu/Waikiki like any other metro area, but the rest of Oahu is OK. If you don't drive during the morning rush hour or the evening rush hour, even Honolulu/Waikiki is no worse than any other city.
Between 8 am and noon is the best time to tour around the island.
Lots to do on Oahu:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34696831
http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/tours/
http://www.discoveringhawaii.com/ You can download a free (pdf) circle island driving tour from this site. Also an Oahu movie location guide.
Jan 6th, 2006, 04:56 PM
#6
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I should have mentioned that one of the three days in Oahu will be spent at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Another day would be spent at Pearl Harbor/Diamond Head. I thought that on the third day a guided bus tour would allow us to catch a glimpse of the rest of the island.
Jan 7th, 2006, 08:01 AM
#7
Assuming you are staying in Honolulu/Waikiki, if you don't plant this before you arrive just pick up any of the "101 Things To Do" or similar guides which are given away free literally everywhere. They list all kinds of tours and activities you could call and arrange.
Jan 7th, 2006, 12:04 PM
#8
Dear bcm64:
We did a similar trip in two years ago. On Oahu, I sent my husband on a more military tour: Pearl Harbour, which included the USS Arizona and the battleship Missouri, and a stop at the Punchbowl cemetary. Your husband and son will probably really like the battleship. My mom, daughter and I went on the Pearl Harbor/City tour. This included the USS Arizona, drive thru the Punchbowl and City and brief stop at the Kamehameha Statue in town. We ditched the tour hear and crossed the street to join a docent tour of the Iolani Palace. This was very cool. Then we just taxied back to our hotel.
The next day we headed to the PCC for the entire day and evening program.
I don't think a car would be necessary. All kinds of bus tour and public bus options are available.
Have fun,
MY
We did a similar trip in two years ago. On Oahu, I sent my husband on a more military tour: Pearl Harbour, which included the USS Arizona and the battleship Missouri, and a stop at the Punchbowl cemetary. Your husband and son will probably really like the battleship. My mom, daughter and I went on the Pearl Harbor/City tour. This included the USS Arizona, drive thru the Punchbowl and City and brief stop at the Kamehameha Statue in town. We ditched the tour hear and crossed the street to join a docent tour of the Iolani Palace. This was very cool. Then we just taxied back to our hotel.
The next day we headed to the PCC for the entire day and evening program.
I don't think a car would be necessary. All kinds of bus tour and public bus options are available.
Have fun,
MY
Jan 7th, 2006, 01:48 PM
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Don't know if you drive in NYC, but if you do, Oahu should be a piece of cake. It really might not be a bad idea to pick up a car rental just for the day (would be maybe $20-30 bucks at most) and take a drive around the island. There are some truly beautiful beaches & scenery on the Windward (Lanikai & Kailua) & North Shore areas. With the car you can stop and go as you please which may be good since you're traveling with your 9yr old.
If that's not a consideration, I never took a bus tour but friends took one which went around the island, stopped at Dole, stopped at North Shore & Turtle Bay for lunch, by Chinaman's Hat, etc.
Have fun!
If that's not a consideration, I never took a bus tour but friends took one which went around the island, stopped at Dole, stopped at North Shore & Turtle Bay for lunch, by Chinaman's Hat, etc.
Have fun!
