I will be attending a convention in Honolulu in a few weeks. DH and I have never been to Hawaii, but would like some advice for the little time we'll have to explore on our own.

We will have about a full day and a half to do other things, what other island would you recommend, what 'must do' should we try?

Thanks for getting me started.

if you only have 1 1/2 for your own personal exploration, that isn't nearly enough time to even try and visit another island. Our favorite thing on Oahu was The Punchbowl Crater...drive all the way up to the top of the summit, it has great views. That was the most spiritual place i had ever been.

Thanks. As I've read more, I'm finding that there is more to Oahu than at first glance. In general, people I've talked with make it sound like Oahu is to be avoided, and the other islands are 'better' somehow. But as you pointed out, we don't have all that much time, and I feel fortunate that we get to go at all, expenses paid by my employer. We're staying at the Royal Hawaiian, that sounds like a treat in itself.

Will you have a car? If you have an entire day all to yourself, do the Circle Island Drive.

As a recommendation, just type in OAHU in the search box, highlight the state of Hawaii, and click on SEARCH. There's lots of general Oahu stuff, including dining, where to stay (you probably already have a place), and sites around the Island. The drive/sites from Waikiki around Diamond Head, to the East Shore and up to the North Shore is not to be missed.

Aloha SLG,

O’ahu is one of my fav Hawaiian islands for many reasons... you could spend a month there & still come away with places you didn't get to. Don't listen to those who say "poo poo O'ahu"... my guess is that they've never spent more than 1-2 days there.

These are a few tips I've given to friends who had just a short amount of time on the island. Also, get your hands on the book "Driving and Discovering Hawaii, O'ahu" by Richard Sullivan. Great guide book w/ excellent photos, descriptions, and maps w/ directions.

PEARL HARBOR - HONOLULU
•Arizona Memorial
•Battleship Missouri
•Bowfin Submarine

CHINATOWN - HONOLULU
•Watch the ladies string leis
•Fresh produce & bakery (coconut loaves are great)

SHOPPING
•International Marketplace - Waikiki
•Swap meet @ Aloha Stadium – cheap souvies - Honolulu

SNORKELING
•Hanauma Bay (closed on Tuesday) – Southeast point

DRIVES
•Tantalus & Round Top – we haven’t done this but have heard it’s great esp. at dusk
•Circle Drive – Pali Highway – stop at the Pali Lookout – very windy
•Windward Coast (East) to the North Shore back through central plateau
(reversed is good too). This is a full day.
Good stops on this drive:
Byodo-In Temple
Mac Nut Outlet – free coffee & nut tasters
In Laie – Morman Temple (near the PCC – see below)
Romy’s or Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck for a “snack”
Fruit Stands for fresh pineapple & locally made crafts
Sunset beach –get out & watch the surfers on the big waves (winter)
Haleiwa - Aoki’s for a shave ice, Wyland Art Gallery, K’ua A’ina for a sandwich
Drive out to Kaena Point – if you have a jeep you can 4-wheel out past the parking lot and drive almost to the end

LUAU
•Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC is near Laie on the windward-east coast)

OTHER IDEAS IN WAIKIKI:
•Hula show in Kuhio Beach Park @ sunset (near the Duke statue)
•Seeing Iolani Palace
•Honolulu Zoo

SLG, also check out the old thread "Why I love Oahu too", http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...1&tid=34515901

Aloha... happy planning!

List of things to do on Oahu
These are some hints/suggestions for things to do and see on Oahu.

Arizona Memorial: (free) get there early, preferably by 8am. Opens at 7:30am. If you get there after 10am the lines can get long and you may spend 1-2 hours in line. Battleship USS Missouri and Submarine USS Bowfin are in the same area. These are about $15 each so you can go or skip them. Look for coupons in brochures for two for one. You can take pictures of them from Arizona Visitors Center and the Arizona tour ferry. Go on the lawn behind the Visitor's Center. You can also walk around the Bowfin Memorial area for free without taking the tour. Its worth the time. The Swap Meet is only a couple blocks from here at Aloha Stadium.

Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC): www.polynesia.com General Admission about $40, but I prefer the buffet package ($55) or the luau buffet package ($75). The evening 'Horizon' show is the best Polynesian show in all of Hawaii. It comes with all ticket price options. The higher priced ticket packages get the better seating for 'Horizons'. Also the earlier you get there, the better the seating is for 'Horizons'. The Ali'i Luau Show that is part of the luau package is also a good Polynesian show. IMAX, Canoe Pageant, Samoa and Tonga villages and Canoe ride are the best other attractions (these are included with any type ticket). Plan on this as an all day event. Get there by 1pm (earlier if possible), leave around 9:30pm. When I take visitors, I try to keep on this schedule: IMAX 1:30, Canoe Pageant 2:30, Samoa 3:00, Tonga 4:00, Canoe Ride around 4:30, regular buffet or Ali'i luau buffet 5pm and 'Horizons' at 7:30. The other villages are nice also, but there is not enough time for all of them. You will have time to do some shopping or looking around between the buffet or luau and 'Horizons'. Closed on Sundays. You can go back for free for two days. Check with PCC employees for instructions before leaving the Center if you want the extra days.

Diamond Head Summit: Drive right into the crater and hike to the top. ($5 per carload or $1 each if you walk into the crater). I prefer to drive in. Awesome 360 degree view from the summit. Best time is around 8am or around 4pm. In between it can get hot walking to the top. Takes about 1 - 1 1/2 hours roundtrip.

Punchbowl (National Cemetery of the Pacific): (free) While you are there, drive to the overlook area. Short walk to the summit that overlooks the entire city. If you have time, take the Mt. Tantalus/Round Top drive through a rain forest. Stop at the Puu Ualakaa State Wayside about 2/3 of the way to the top of the mountain. It has an awesome view of the city from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor. Punchbowl is near the bottom of Mt. Tantalus.

Hanauma Bay: Snorkel. Its for any age. You can rent snorkeling equipment there or some places in Waikiki or bring your own. Closed on Tuesdays. Try to get there as early as possible. If you drive, the parking lot gets filled up by 9:00 or 10:00. ($1 for parking, $5 for each person). You can reserve snorkel tours with several companies. They provide equipment, transportation, etc. They seem to have better equipment than the park does. You can also take the city bus. But the first city bus doesn't leave Waikiki until 8:30 am. Website: http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/parks/f...ay/welcome.htm

Byodo-In-Temple (Valley of the Temples): $2 each. Just past Kaneohe.

Chinaman's Hat: (free) Kualoa Regional Park is just past Byodo-In-Temple. Nice for pictures, picnic, swimming.

Swap Meet: You can buy almost any souvenirs here much cheaper than anywhere else. All items are new. Vendors wrap around the stadium twice. Located at Aloha Stadium near Arizona Memorial. Open Wed, Sat, Sun.

Hilo Hattie's: Nice place to shop. Higher prices than swap meet, but not too much more on many items. Has good selection of clothing, candies and souvenirs. Check brochures for coupons. Can take free Hilo Hattie's shuttle from Waikiki.

Ala Moana Beach Park: (free) Nice beach. Great sunset location in the winter. Walk all the way out to the end of Magic Island. Great view of Waikiki, Diamond Head, Ala Wai Boat Harbor (shown in opening scene of Gilligan's Island).

Hike to Manoa Falls: (Free) You can drive right up to the trailhead and park for free. Or you can pay a few bucks in a nearby lot to have someone "watch" your car. One mile one way. Short hike through a rain forest also bamboo there. Treetops restaurant there (at the previous Paradise Park site) has a good Chinese buffet.

Hike to Makapuu Point Lighthouse: (free) Great view from here. Easy one mile hike. In winter months (mid-November to mid-April) it's great for whale watching.

Other Hiking on Oahu:
http://www.hawaiitrails.org/
http://www.backyardoahu.com/
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/oahuhikingtrails/home.html
http://oahuhiking.com/

North Shore Beaches: Haleiwa, Banzai Pipeline (Ehukai Beach), Waimea Beach, Sunset Beach, Shark's Cove & Chun's Reef. Chun's Reef has sea turtles. Other nice stops for pictures in the area. Can be huge waves in winter. Good snorkeling at Shark's Cove and Chun's Reef in the summer.

Other beaches: There are close to 100 beaches on Oahu. Besides North Shore and Waikiki beaches these are some of the better ones: Makaha Beach (west shore), Waimanalo Beach, Lanikai Beach, Sandy Beach, Hanauma Bay and Kailua Beach (east/Windward side), Ala Moana Beach Park (south shore). All public beaches are free except Haunama Bay.

Dole Pineapple Plantation: On H-2 just past Wahiawa. Can visit on the way to or back from the North Shore. Nice gift shop to browse, but expensive. Go behind the center for pineapple exhibits and carp feeding pond.

Kualoa Ranch: Several movies have been set here: (Jurassic Park, Mighty Joe Young and others), ATV rides, horseback riding, tours. Located across from Kualoa Regional Park.

Waikiki: Beaches, shopping, dining, nightclubs, shows, some museums. Wide range in dining prices. $3-4 breakfasts, $6-10 lunch buffets, $20-$25 fine dining and anywhere in between. Best Waikiki shows: Creation: A Polynesian Journey, John Hirokawa's Magic of Polynesia, Society of Seven, Blue Hawaii (Elvis impersonator), many more to chose from. Many Waikiki shows offer cocktail show along with the dinner show. They seat you after everyone else has eaten. Regular price of shows around $40-$60. Cocktail show about $25-$35. There are several short free hula shows and other demonstrations in Waikiki daily. Check the brochures for location, days and times. Check brochures for coupons for shows/dining/shopping, etc.

Downtown Area: Aloha Tower (take elevator to the top, nice view), Chinatown, Hawaii Maritime Center, Iolani Palace, Bishop Museum, other museums.

Botanical Gardens: Oahu has many botanical gardens. Most are free, the others charge a few bucks. Haiku Garden in Kaneohe is nice and is a nice stop if you are taking an island driving tour. Located near Byodo-In-Temple (Valley of the Temples). Check brochures or get info on-line. Search: oahu botanical gardens

Other: Sea Life Park, Zoo, Aquarium, Dinner cruise, whale watching cruise, submarine tours, parasailing, helicopter tours, horseback riding, Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park, scuba, surfing lessons, other luau shows (Germaine's, Paradise Cove). Many other attractions, things to do. Check the brochures.

Brochures: (free) Can be found in the airport baggage claim area or at hundreds of news stands throughout Waikiki, in hotels, in stores, and at some attractions. These are excellent "things to do and see" guide books (maps, attractions, beaches, dining, night clubs, etc.). There are a lot of coupons in these for dining, shopping, etc. The best brochures are: 'This Week on Oahu', 'Oahu Gold', '101 Things Oahu', 'The BEST of Oahu'. Some of these brochures can also be found for other islands (Maui, Kauai, Big Island) unique to that island. Most of these brochures also have on-line versions.

Websites:
www.thisweek.com 'This Week On Oahu' They will send up-to-date brochures for a few bucks. Also This Week Maui, Kauai, Big Island.
www.spotlighthawaii.com 'Oahu Gold' They will send up-to-date brochures for a few bucks. Also Maui Gold, Big Island Gold, Kauai Gold.
www.gohawaii.com This is the official site for Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau. They will send a free brochure.
www.101thingstodo.com
www.visit-oahu.com Oahu Visitors Bureau, for free brochure 1-877-525-6248 (toll free)
www.hawaii.com Good site for comparing hotel locations, prices, etc.
www.hawaiiweb.com
www.alternative-hawaii.com
www.hawaii-hotels.com Compare hotels
www.bookit.com Compare hotels
www.alohafriends.com
www.honoluluadvertiser.com one of two main Honolulu newspapers, has dining & entertainment guides, TGIF calendar
www.starbulletin.com one of two main Honolulu newspapers, also has dining & entertainment

Automobiles: Oahu is the only island that you can get around by bus. Oahu has a good bus system, but a rental vehicle gets around a lot better. Parking in Waikiki can be a problem at times. If you plan on renting a car, make sure your hotel allows parking at the hotel or in a nearby lot or garage. Get the parking pass at the hotel registration area. Probably $8-$14/day to park at the hotel. You can get city bus passes at any ABC store in Waikiki for $20 for 4 days. Or you can pay $2.00 per trip. There are also many shuttles, tour buses and vans and trolleys that go to many places (some are free).

Internet Search Engines: Use Yahoo, Google, Dogpile or any other search engine to find information on any thing else on Oahu (or other island) that may interest you. Type in: hiking hawaii, hiking oahu, bed and breakfast oahu, condominiums oahu, botanical gardens oahu, oahu hotels or any other terms that will get you information.

Hotels: Most hotels (or hotel chains) have their own 800 numbers and/or websites: www.outrigger.com www.sheraton.com www.ohanahotels.com, etc. Or you can use a search engine to find the website or use the search engine's yellow pages for the phone number.

Entertainment Book
Entertainment books for Hawaii and many other locations can be purchased online at www.entertainment.com. They cost around $35-$40 plus shipping or if you wait until mid-March, the price is reduced to about $25 (or less) with free shipping. Expires November 1.
Coupons include half price tickets for John Hirokawa's Magic Show. Hundreds of other coupons for reduce price luaus, shopping, dining, movies, attractions, etc. The Hawaii book also has many mainland coupons for hotels, car rentals, Universal Studios, Sea World, etc.

Phone Cards: If you don't have a cell phone, the best phone cards right now can be found at Costco or Sam's Club. Right now they are only $.03/m, 24 hours a day, seven days a week with no monthly charge. Can be used from pay phones ($.25 or eight units surcharge from pay phone), hotels, homes.

It will be hard to beat Dusty's reply.
Most people think of Honolulu as just another big city to be avoided, but that's not true. Also if your arrangements have been "pre packaged" they never include a rental car in Honolulu b/c it's easy to get around with public transp or walking. This is true, but if you only have a short time and want to make the most of it, you will need a rental car. Pick one up when you arrive the airport and drop it off when you leave. You will have to pay to park at Royal Hawaiian.

A MUST is to visit Pearl Harbor. Get up bright and early and (if you're inclined you can walk to the top of Diamond Head for outstanding view). Drive to Hanauma Bay then drive around the island heading east/north to the north shore to see one of the world's best surf areas. Cut down the center of the island and stop at Punch Bowl crater for the history/view. Head back to Royal Haw. to freshen up, have dinner and walk/window shop the streets of Honolulu. So many things to do, but BEST ADVISE is to get a Fodor's Hawaii book and read about what is available and pick the ones you like the best and have time for. Everything else will have to be left for the nest trip. Enjoy.

Sunlovingirl, what do you normally like to see & do when you go on vacation? Also, what are the dates you will be here? I'm just asking because you can check out a bunch of happenings on the calendar at gohawaii.com, and frequent posters on this board can help you with suggestions.

The concierge and guest services desks at the Royal Hawaiian are very good. I just went to visit them this past week. Just a quick tip, try to avoid visiting them around 4-5 PM, as they are slammed with people during that time!

I'm biased, but I have to suggest Aloha Tower Marketplace (www.alohatower.com). Getting to the top of the tower is free, open between 9-5 daily. Then you can shop around, eat at Don Ho's, stuff like that.

Sunlovingirl - Are you going to be on Oahu for more than a few days? Does the convention last only a day or two? Do you have other mornings, afternoons or evenings free? Have you booked activities with groups from the conference? Can you extend your trip a few days?

It would be much easier for everyone to reply if they had more information.