First Trip to Oahu-Absolutely Lovely!!
Nov 15th, 2010 | 01:11 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 117
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First Trip to Oahu-Absolutely Lovely!!
Just to fill you in a bit, I am new to Fodors and I am taking a break from planning our trip to Italy to document our time spent on Oahu. I was supposed to go to Oahu as a graduation present when I was eighteen but things did not work out so thirty years later my dream was realized. I did not do very much planning for this trip other than to book a suite for us at the Turtle Bay Resort. My parents passed away recently(within two weeks of each other) so my husband said "book a room in Hawaii, we need to get away." So this trip was VERY serendipitious (is that even a word?)
So here goes: October 7th we awoke at about 6 a.m to catch our 10 a.m. flight with Hawaiian Airlines. We decided to leave this early because the last time we traveled I lost our tickets. So planning in extra time is always in our favor.
After going through the wanding, and usual security checks we stopped off, ( when I say we I mean my husband and fourteen year old daughter, both are sweethearts!) to have an uneventful breakfast at the airport, actually it was plain yucky.
The plane started boarding right on time and I had booked us bulkhead seats so we could board with first class but we decided just to wait and let the others get on first. By the way, purchasing bulk head seats is something I will always do and highly recommend. My husband is a big guy and we had plenty of room to stretch our legs.
The flight was so smooth, the attendants were wonderful and I would definitely fly Hawaiian again.
Once we landed in Honolulu we were greeted with a lei greeting. This was a bit on the cheesy side, but I did appreciate how she directed us to find our luggage and rental car. We rented from Hertz, we had a discount coupon, and it was a generic car but it got us from point A to B and that was all we needed.
When we checked into Turtle Bay I was amazed at the beauty. We had a two room suite (Pikake Suite.) We could see, hear and feel the surf pounding outside our balcony. The North Shore is amazing, we never tired of wathcing the brave surfers!! Our rooms were tastefully decorated, clean, comfortable and quite large. We had two t.v's, two bathrooms, a sitting room, three beds, and a small office area with free wi-fi. Coconut cookies were left each evening and if we did not shut our balcony doors we had local birds hanging out in our room munching on the cookies. My daughter loved that part.
So the first thing we do after unpacking is head down to the beach on the resort property to snorkel. I could not believe the clarity of the water and how warm it was. We jump in, stick our heads in the water and are rewarded with colorful fish. Then I see what I came here to see. A Sea Turtle! He swims right up to me, places both his fins around my legs in a hug, and looks up at me. I will never forget that moment as long as I live. He swam with my daughter and me for a good half hour, just munching on his snacks and swimming around our legs.
About now the sun was setting, and it was a beautiful sunset, all orange and purple. We watched it go down and then cleaned up to get some dinner. I really can't remember where we ate the first night, I was so exhausted and excited.
The next day I awoke at 4:30 in the morning, in fact the whole trip I was up between 4:30 and 5. I never got used to the time change. This day we went to Waimea and hiked to Waimea Fall. It really isn't a hike, just a leisurely walk through a park filled with beautiful plants and flowers and some very interesting looking birds. When we arrived at the waterfall my daughter and husband did not want to go in the water with me because it looked dirty. The water is extremely rich in iron so it has an eerie orange tint to it. Before swimming you have to hear a liitle speech given by the lifeguard and then you are free to go in. You wade out and then the shore just drops into nothingness, so glad I could swim!! I had fun splashing about in the water and eventually my daughter joined me and we joked about how we looked like a couple of glow sticks due to the water. After getting out of the water my skin felt so soft and smooth-they say it has healing properties.
After the waterfall we went in search of the shrimp trucks. My daughters orthodontist had recommended the Kahuku truck so that is the one we tried and it was delicious. I am a vegetarian but on this particular day I was a bad vegetarian and I did not feel guilty about it (well maybe a little guilty) It was soooooo good! My husband and daughter tried Giovannis truck on a separate day and they did not like it as well as Kahukus. So when you go, try them both and see what you think.
After lunch we wandered through Hailewa (I hope I spelled that right) and then back to the hotel for some swimming and dinner. We ate dinner at Ola which is okay. You can't beat the view but the food was not remarkable.
LUAU DAY
I woke up at 4:30 and just enjoyed listening to the sound of the surf crashing against the reef below my balcony. I loved listening to the birds wake up and see the sky slowly turn from black to grey to pink and then blue. Very nice morning. My family woke up at around six so we pulled on our swimming gear and headed down to breakfast. I never got over how warm and sensous the air was. I never needed a sweater and even at six in the morning I could walk around in my bathing suit and be comfortable.
I guess I should mention that breakfast was included with our room and that was actually the best food we had the whole time we were in Hawaii. I became addicted to the macademia nut rolls!!
On this day we went to Sharks Cove for snorkeling and it was well worth it. We saw so many beautiful fish, you can stick your face in the water anywhere and not be disappointed. I recommend going early because once people start arriving the water tends to get stirred up and it is harder to see. You can also buy t-shirts here for about ten dollars for two shirts. After snorkeling we headed out to get shaved ice at Matsau and it tasted yummy. A little too sweet with the ice cream but just by itself was perfect for me. Then we headed back to the hotel for a quick change and drove to the Polynesian Cultue Center. My husband had booked the Ambassador package so we had front row seats at all the shows which was nice, and we also had a lei greeting. I enjoyed the shows, I did not care for the luau. The food was served buffet style and it wasn't anything special. With the Ambassador package you can choose the luau or to have the prime rib/lobster dinner, I think we should have chosen the lobster.
After the luau, we were taken by bus to the Mormon temple-I still am trying to figure out how this happened! I found out later that the Polynesian Culture Center is owned and operated by Brigham Young (my daughter thought it was bring-em young!) so we had a small tour, video and then back on the bus to see the show. We had front row seats and the show was wonderful. I loved the flame throwers and the beautiful dancing done by the women and men together, it was a lovely show.
We were given an ice cream treat at intermission and after the show there was plenty of time to souvenir shop. Since we were there in October the Halloween show was going on as well. It looked like it was pretty scary and if I had known about it I would have booked tickets to attend, good for teens and adults. They have a mellower version for the little pumpkins too.
After the luau we headed back to the resort where I had a lava flow and just hung out by pool, listened to the waves and watched the stars. It was pretty late at this point so after my drink I just went on to bed.
The next day my daughter woke up with a nasty head cold and some sores from the appliance she has to wear to correct an overbite. So while I made her some hot tea and did laundry my husband took off to go snorkeling in some areas that were more advanced. He came back with lots of fish stories. While he was gone and after my daughter perked up a bit, we checked out the tide pools which are nothing like ours here in California. There were so many little fish, crabs and life!! During our walk we found stables so we booked a ride for the next day, it is on the resort property and even though it was pricey I have always wanted to ride a horse on the beach so I indulged. After our walk I took my daughter back to the room so she could nap and I went snorkeling on the beach at the resort. The waves were kicking up and you could really feel the current. I cut my snorkeling short since it was becoming apparent I was fighting the current and headed back on shore for a drink. My husband met me on the beach and we checked in on our daughter. She was resting so he and I went out for a drive and dinner at the Crouching Lion. We were the only ones here so the pianist starting playing tourist songs (tiny bubbles, etc.) the waitress gave us passion fruit from the tree by our table and my husband made friends with the parrot that lives there. It was a nice dinner, food was quite good here. We brought in McDonalds for our daughter. McDonalds is expensive in Hawaii, but it was worth it for her. The McDonalds there looks Hawaiian, reminds me of the tiki tiki room in Disneyland.
PEARL HARBOR
Today we spent the day at Pearl Harbor. The drive to the site was pretty and it was raining off and on with rainbows here and there, very nice drive. Now, before I get angry responses from the veterans let me clarify that on the day of our visit Pearl Harbor was under construction. So our trip was not enjoyable. It was very disorganized, we had to wait three hours to board our ferry and once we arrived at the memorial I was only allowed to stay for five minutes before the ranger rushed me back on the ferry. I complained to him but he did not budge. Add to this the factor that our daughter was not feeling well and this day was just not the best one for us. We also were upset because the next day was our last day!!
Last day in Hawaii
Today my daughter and I went horseback riding on the beach and by the area where they filmed Pirates of the Caribbean. We also saw more sea turtles at a spot that is only know by locals (I guess.) From the resort you head towards Waimea and after you pass the first white picket fence where they keep horses you look for the street sign on the right that says Papa..... after turning on this street you will turn left into a private road and park anywhere even though it says you can't. Look for the beach access sign and walk to beach. You should be able to see some turtles in the water and maybe sunning on the rocks. I swear these are the directions I was given. I am surprised we found the spot but we saw a baby sea turtle swimming with his mommy and a bunch more. Well worth the hunt!! We finished this day snorkeling on Turtle Beach and having dinner at Olas again.
Fly Home Day
Bonnie who had been serving us all week did not want us to leave, we took pictures with her and said our goodbyes to the island. We boarded our plane and settled in for a smooth flight home. My daughter and I used the in-flight entertainment which was very fun. Hawaiian Airlines really caters to a passengers needs. We chased the sunset all the way home and arrived to a foggy California.
This trip was amazing and I know I did not do it justice in my posting. I thoroughly recommend staying at Turtle Bay Resort it is an amazing property and we felt like visiting royalty the whole time we were there. I also recommend just driving around the island, it doesn't take long and the views are breathtaking. If it is raining you can see waterfalls coming down the cliffs.
Aloha!!
So here goes: October 7th we awoke at about 6 a.m to catch our 10 a.m. flight with Hawaiian Airlines. We decided to leave this early because the last time we traveled I lost our tickets. So planning in extra time is always in our favor.
After going through the wanding, and usual security checks we stopped off, ( when I say we I mean my husband and fourteen year old daughter, both are sweethearts!) to have an uneventful breakfast at the airport, actually it was plain yucky.
The plane started boarding right on time and I had booked us bulkhead seats so we could board with first class but we decided just to wait and let the others get on first. By the way, purchasing bulk head seats is something I will always do and highly recommend. My husband is a big guy and we had plenty of room to stretch our legs.
The flight was so smooth, the attendants were wonderful and I would definitely fly Hawaiian again.
Once we landed in Honolulu we were greeted with a lei greeting. This was a bit on the cheesy side, but I did appreciate how she directed us to find our luggage and rental car. We rented from Hertz, we had a discount coupon, and it was a generic car but it got us from point A to B and that was all we needed.
When we checked into Turtle Bay I was amazed at the beauty. We had a two room suite (Pikake Suite.) We could see, hear and feel the surf pounding outside our balcony. The North Shore is amazing, we never tired of wathcing the brave surfers!! Our rooms were tastefully decorated, clean, comfortable and quite large. We had two t.v's, two bathrooms, a sitting room, three beds, and a small office area with free wi-fi. Coconut cookies were left each evening and if we did not shut our balcony doors we had local birds hanging out in our room munching on the cookies. My daughter loved that part.
So the first thing we do after unpacking is head down to the beach on the resort property to snorkel. I could not believe the clarity of the water and how warm it was. We jump in, stick our heads in the water and are rewarded with colorful fish. Then I see what I came here to see. A Sea Turtle! He swims right up to me, places both his fins around my legs in a hug, and looks up at me. I will never forget that moment as long as I live. He swam with my daughter and me for a good half hour, just munching on his snacks and swimming around our legs.
About now the sun was setting, and it was a beautiful sunset, all orange and purple. We watched it go down and then cleaned up to get some dinner. I really can't remember where we ate the first night, I was so exhausted and excited.
The next day I awoke at 4:30 in the morning, in fact the whole trip I was up between 4:30 and 5. I never got used to the time change. This day we went to Waimea and hiked to Waimea Fall. It really isn't a hike, just a leisurely walk through a park filled with beautiful plants and flowers and some very interesting looking birds. When we arrived at the waterfall my daughter and husband did not want to go in the water with me because it looked dirty. The water is extremely rich in iron so it has an eerie orange tint to it. Before swimming you have to hear a liitle speech given by the lifeguard and then you are free to go in. You wade out and then the shore just drops into nothingness, so glad I could swim!! I had fun splashing about in the water and eventually my daughter joined me and we joked about how we looked like a couple of glow sticks due to the water. After getting out of the water my skin felt so soft and smooth-they say it has healing properties.
After the waterfall we went in search of the shrimp trucks. My daughters orthodontist had recommended the Kahuku truck so that is the one we tried and it was delicious. I am a vegetarian but on this particular day I was a bad vegetarian and I did not feel guilty about it (well maybe a little guilty) It was soooooo good! My husband and daughter tried Giovannis truck on a separate day and they did not like it as well as Kahukus. So when you go, try them both and see what you think.
After lunch we wandered through Hailewa (I hope I spelled that right) and then back to the hotel for some swimming and dinner. We ate dinner at Ola which is okay. You can't beat the view but the food was not remarkable.
LUAU DAY
I woke up at 4:30 and just enjoyed listening to the sound of the surf crashing against the reef below my balcony. I loved listening to the birds wake up and see the sky slowly turn from black to grey to pink and then blue. Very nice morning. My family woke up at around six so we pulled on our swimming gear and headed down to breakfast. I never got over how warm and sensous the air was. I never needed a sweater and even at six in the morning I could walk around in my bathing suit and be comfortable.
I guess I should mention that breakfast was included with our room and that was actually the best food we had the whole time we were in Hawaii. I became addicted to the macademia nut rolls!!
On this day we went to Sharks Cove for snorkeling and it was well worth it. We saw so many beautiful fish, you can stick your face in the water anywhere and not be disappointed. I recommend going early because once people start arriving the water tends to get stirred up and it is harder to see. You can also buy t-shirts here for about ten dollars for two shirts. After snorkeling we headed out to get shaved ice at Matsau and it tasted yummy. A little too sweet with the ice cream but just by itself was perfect for me. Then we headed back to the hotel for a quick change and drove to the Polynesian Cultue Center. My husband had booked the Ambassador package so we had front row seats at all the shows which was nice, and we also had a lei greeting. I enjoyed the shows, I did not care for the luau. The food was served buffet style and it wasn't anything special. With the Ambassador package you can choose the luau or to have the prime rib/lobster dinner, I think we should have chosen the lobster.
After the luau, we were taken by bus to the Mormon temple-I still am trying to figure out how this happened! I found out later that the Polynesian Culture Center is owned and operated by Brigham Young (my daughter thought it was bring-em young!) so we had a small tour, video and then back on the bus to see the show. We had front row seats and the show was wonderful. I loved the flame throwers and the beautiful dancing done by the women and men together, it was a lovely show.
We were given an ice cream treat at intermission and after the show there was plenty of time to souvenir shop. Since we were there in October the Halloween show was going on as well. It looked like it was pretty scary and if I had known about it I would have booked tickets to attend, good for teens and adults. They have a mellower version for the little pumpkins too.
After the luau we headed back to the resort where I had a lava flow and just hung out by pool, listened to the waves and watched the stars. It was pretty late at this point so after my drink I just went on to bed.
The next day my daughter woke up with a nasty head cold and some sores from the appliance she has to wear to correct an overbite. So while I made her some hot tea and did laundry my husband took off to go snorkeling in some areas that were more advanced. He came back with lots of fish stories. While he was gone and after my daughter perked up a bit, we checked out the tide pools which are nothing like ours here in California. There were so many little fish, crabs and life!! During our walk we found stables so we booked a ride for the next day, it is on the resort property and even though it was pricey I have always wanted to ride a horse on the beach so I indulged. After our walk I took my daughter back to the room so she could nap and I went snorkeling on the beach at the resort. The waves were kicking up and you could really feel the current. I cut my snorkeling short since it was becoming apparent I was fighting the current and headed back on shore for a drink. My husband met me on the beach and we checked in on our daughter. She was resting so he and I went out for a drive and dinner at the Crouching Lion. We were the only ones here so the pianist starting playing tourist songs (tiny bubbles, etc.) the waitress gave us passion fruit from the tree by our table and my husband made friends with the parrot that lives there. It was a nice dinner, food was quite good here. We brought in McDonalds for our daughter. McDonalds is expensive in Hawaii, but it was worth it for her. The McDonalds there looks Hawaiian, reminds me of the tiki tiki room in Disneyland.
PEARL HARBOR
Today we spent the day at Pearl Harbor. The drive to the site was pretty and it was raining off and on with rainbows here and there, very nice drive. Now, before I get angry responses from the veterans let me clarify that on the day of our visit Pearl Harbor was under construction. So our trip was not enjoyable. It was very disorganized, we had to wait three hours to board our ferry and once we arrived at the memorial I was only allowed to stay for five minutes before the ranger rushed me back on the ferry. I complained to him but he did not budge. Add to this the factor that our daughter was not feeling well and this day was just not the best one for us. We also were upset because the next day was our last day!!
Last day in Hawaii
Today my daughter and I went horseback riding on the beach and by the area where they filmed Pirates of the Caribbean. We also saw more sea turtles at a spot that is only know by locals (I guess.) From the resort you head towards Waimea and after you pass the first white picket fence where they keep horses you look for the street sign on the right that says Papa..... after turning on this street you will turn left into a private road and park anywhere even though it says you can't. Look for the beach access sign and walk to beach. You should be able to see some turtles in the water and maybe sunning on the rocks. I swear these are the directions I was given. I am surprised we found the spot but we saw a baby sea turtle swimming with his mommy and a bunch more. Well worth the hunt!! We finished this day snorkeling on Turtle Beach and having dinner at Olas again.
Fly Home Day
Bonnie who had been serving us all week did not want us to leave, we took pictures with her and said our goodbyes to the island. We boarded our plane and settled in for a smooth flight home. My daughter and I used the in-flight entertainment which was very fun. Hawaiian Airlines really caters to a passengers needs. We chased the sunset all the way home and arrived to a foggy California.
This trip was amazing and I know I did not do it justice in my posting. I thoroughly recommend staying at Turtle Bay Resort it is an amazing property and we felt like visiting royalty the whole time we were there. I also recommend just driving around the island, it doesn't take long and the views are breathtaking. If it is raining you can see waterfalls coming down the cliffs.
Aloha!!
Nov 15th, 2010 | 03:00 PM
#2
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,025
Likes: 0
Nice trip report.
There is construction at the USS Arizona visitors center. They are building a new visitors center which is almost completed now.
Though there are some problems right now, including limited parking & not all of the exhibits are available for viewing.
However the three hour wait is not unusual on many days. If one is lucky the wait is 1-2 hours. If unlucky then one can expect a three hour wait.
While you are waiting for your "tour" to start, you can see the exhibits, visit other museums time permitting, walk through the visitors center to the Circle of Remembrance & good photo op for USS Arizona Memorial, USS Missouri and USS Bowfin. Or you can leave & come back for your tour.
As for time on the memorial, there are 150 seats on the ferry to & from the memorial. The time on the memorial is about 15 minutes.
Everyone is required to leave with their tour. If some were allowed to stay & wait for the next ferry, then you would be forcing others to wait for the next simply because there are not enough seats for them
Example:
There are 150 people on the first ferry that leaves at 7:45 & arrives at the memorial about 5 minutes later. It drops off the 150 people & goes back to the visitors center.
The next ferry leaves the visitors center at 8:00 and drops off 150 people & picks up the 150 people from the first ferry & takes them back to the center
If 20 of those on the first ferry decided to wait one extra ferry, then 20 people would be forced to wait because the 20 from the first ferry took their seats.
I hope this explains it somewhat for you and for other future visitors.
There is construction at the USS Arizona visitors center. They are building a new visitors center which is almost completed now.
Though there are some problems right now, including limited parking & not all of the exhibits are available for viewing.
However the three hour wait is not unusual on many days. If one is lucky the wait is 1-2 hours. If unlucky then one can expect a three hour wait.
While you are waiting for your "tour" to start, you can see the exhibits, visit other museums time permitting, walk through the visitors center to the Circle of Remembrance & good photo op for USS Arizona Memorial, USS Missouri and USS Bowfin. Or you can leave & come back for your tour.
As for time on the memorial, there are 150 seats on the ferry to & from the memorial. The time on the memorial is about 15 minutes.
Everyone is required to leave with their tour. If some were allowed to stay & wait for the next ferry, then you would be forcing others to wait for the next simply because there are not enough seats for them
Example:
There are 150 people on the first ferry that leaves at 7:45 & arrives at the memorial about 5 minutes later. It drops off the 150 people & goes back to the visitors center.
The next ferry leaves the visitors center at 8:00 and drops off 150 people & picks up the 150 people from the first ferry & takes them back to the center
If 20 of those on the first ferry decided to wait one extra ferry, then 20 people would be forced to wait because the 20 from the first ferry took their seats.
I hope this explains it somewhat for you and for other future visitors.
Nov 18th, 2010 | 06:01 PM
#6
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,309
Likes: 0
GG, thanks for the trip report. I am sorry for the loss of your parents. Hawaii does seem like a wonderful healing place to spend time with your husband and daughter. I have fond memories of staying at Turtle Bay many years ago when it was still a Hilton. It has changed so much since then. The bungalows we stayed in were torn down to build the timeshares.
Ahhh, those turtles. The first time I snorkeled I had an encounter similar to the one you describe but I didn't get a hug. Mahalo!
Ahhh, those turtles. The first time I snorkeled I had an encounter similar to the one you describe but I didn't get a hug. Mahalo!
Apr 2nd, 2011 | 08:29 PM
#8
Original Poster
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
Thank you SeeHag,
You are so right, Hawaii was a wonderful, healing place for me. I will always treasure my time there. A bit bittersweet, but I came back from the trip with the desire to live my life now. Life is just too short.
I will be returning, this time to visit Maui. I will try to post a picture of "my turtle" so you can see him, (I think he was a boy.)
GG
You are so right, Hawaii was a wonderful, healing place for me. I will always treasure my time there. A bit bittersweet, but I came back from the trip with the desire to live my life now. Life is just too short.
I will be returning, this time to visit Maui. I will try to post a picture of "my turtle" so you can see him, (I think he was a boy.)
GG
