help with plans in Hawaii
 

I will be arriving in Honolulu Feb 9 and leaving Feb 11 for a cruise around the islands, then return to Honolulu from Feb 18 - 22.

We would like to go to Pearl Harbour - any suggestions on when will be the best day? We thought that Friday the 10th would be the best day - however, we are just beginning to plan so we are open to any thoughts.

thanks

Normally Friday's are fairly good days to go to Pearl Harbor.

But, the Pro Bowl (football) game will be on Sunday, February 12th. That means thousands more visitors than usual will be on Oahu for the few days leading up to the Pro Bowl game and for a couple days after. Many of those thousands will be going to places like the USS Arizona Memorial while they are on Oahu.

You ought to make your plans to visit Oahu's main attractions like Arizona Memorial or Polynesian Cultural Center when you return to Oahu.

By then all of the "extra" visitors will be back on the mainland or visiting other islands.

Here's a thread with lots to do on Oahu. Many of the sites are good for all islands.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34696831

Go to Arizona memorial as early as possible in the morning. They open at 800am. During the day expect long waitinglines.

The Visitor Center opens at 7:30AM, at which time they begin handing out (free)timed tickets for entry to the orientation film and launch to the Arizona. The first group is admitted to the film at 8AM. Here's the website: http://www.nps.gov/usar/ Be sure and read the section on planning your visit and what you can and can't take into the memorial.

my thought is compliment this trip with a visit to Iololani Palace. Probably not good for the same day but it in my opinion is the best place for Hawaiian history on any islands and you won't need an entire day for it. I think the tour without an exporation of the extensive artifacts in the basement only takes 45 minutes.

Hope you don't mind this is not a direct response to Pearl Harbor, that is a moving tour also. Just not sure all first timers to Oahu know how moving the tour to Iolani Palace is.

I have had to drag guests on trips in with family but everyone is always glad once we have done this tour!

Two years ago, my daughter, mom, and I took a tour to the USS Arizona. This included a drive thru of the Punchbowl, Honolulu, China Town and a brief stop at the Kamehameha statue. We left the tour there, and crossed the street to the Iolani Palace for a tour. Well worth it. Docents are very good and the place is interesting.

MY