petitepois

Hi there --
Leaving Tuesday to accompany my husband on a trip to Honolulu. I am a Hawaii virgin! We are staying at the Prince Hotel Waikiki. I've done some preliminary searching on this board and see that it's not steps from the beach. Could any of you Oahu experts tell me the best way to get to the beach (by bus?). Also looking for suggestions on great restaurants (NOT fine dining, just local flavors), and any suggestions for activities for a 30-something, active young woman who loves food, books, hikes and cocktails with beautiful views. I'll be sightseeing alone most of the day as hubs has meetings everyday.

Thank you!!

MelissaHI

Well, it,s not "on the beach" per se, but if you look at a map you'll see that you can walk to Ala Moana Beach. Go out the front door facing Ala Moana Blvd., turn left, walk for a couple of minutes till you come to a park. You can't miss it. Turn left into the park and the beach is there.

petitepois

Thanks, MelissaHI -- I was hoping you'd respond. To clarify, the actual name of our hotel is the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki. Aside from the beach, does anyone have any recommendations for other sites to see, or good restaurants that are walking distance? Any shrimp trucks or great places for shaved ice?

LG2

See Google Maps for what lies near the hotel: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=e...UTF8&z=17&om=1.

Sounds like you will be without a car. You can get most anywhere by bus. http://www.thebus.org/

If you are direction-challenged like my wife, consider one or more tours (http://www.enoa.com/).

If on a tight budget, see: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15021583/

hulajake

Ala Moana foodcourt gets good reviews and many places close by.
While you can get most anywhere by the Bus outside of Honolulu I would get a car.
You can find a shrimp truck on Kuhio in Waikiki and shaved ice on the beach, many go to northshore and Haleiwa for those.

hawaiiantraveler

petitpois,

You can use the bus or the Waikiki Trolley which has a stop at your hotel to get around Waikiki and Honolulu if you do not have a car

http://www.waikikitrolley.com/

If you go out the back door of your hotel towards the harbor and make a left turn in the parking lot, the beach access may be a little closer than going out the front door(if walking) and making the right.

Lots of great hiking around Honolulu. If you have a car and get a map Tantalus has some easy trails with beautiful views of Honolulu. Also many other trails around Oahu...see below link

http://www.backyardoahu.com/

Wa'ahila ridge trail is one of my favorites in Honolulu and easy to get to if you have a car.

Sarrento's next door to your hotel at the Ilikai has gorgeous sunset views for dinner or cocktails. You can also go to Le Mer in the Halekulani Hotel and ask for a sunset view or if your budget won't allow that try the Hau Tree Lanai at the Kaimana Beach Hotel.

If you have an ocean view room at The Prince you should have a perfect sunset view from privacy of your own balcony. You should also be able to see the Friday night yacht races at 6:00pm and the fireworks at 8:00 pm from your room if you are there till Friday.

There are lots of restaurants to eat at in and around Waikiki my favorite lately being Sabrina's Italian Restaurant located at 3036 Waialae Avenue a couple of miles away but still in sight of Waikiki. Authentic Italian food(chef / owner is from Rome) with very reasonable prices. They don't have a liquor license but you can bring your own bottle of wine or beer and they don't charge any corkage fee. Let us know what kind of food you like and we can make recommendations accordingly. For local flavors you can always try the Side Street Inn. Hope this helps!

Aloha!

MelissaHI

If you go out to the North Shore, Aoki's or Miura's shave ice is better than Matsumoto's. If you stay in town, just outside of Waikiki is a place called Waiola Shave Ice:
http://onokinegrindz.typepad.com/ono..._bakery_s.html

MelissaHI

Don't forget to come shopping at my mall. Here are some coupons:
www.alohatower.com/promotions.html

dusty56438

Nearest beach to Hawaii Prince is at Hilton Hawaiian Village. It is less than 5 minute walk to the beach from Hawaii Prince. The entire beach stretches over 2 miles.

You can also go to Ala Moana Beach Park, just across the bridge from Hawaii Prince. A little more than five minute walk.

Map of Waikiki. Hawaii Prince is at Ala Wai Yacht Harbor. The map has a good magnification feature.

http://www.spotlighthawaii.com/Spotl...kiki-2007a.pdf

Popular attractions including other beaches around the island by bus:

http://www.thebus.org/pop/pop.asp

lcuy

HT- We ate at Sabrinas on Sat night. Really good food! thanks for the recc.

Leburta

You might enjoy hiking up Diamond Head. If you go early on Saturday morning before it gets too hot, you can go to the Diamond Head farmer's market when you're done (farmer's market closes at 1:30, I think, but the earlier you get there the better). In addition to Hawaii produce and flowers, there are other gift items (Hawaiian fruit flavored lavosh, coffees, etc.).

There are lots of restaurants and a big food court at the huge Ala Moana Shopping Center, right near you and across from the beach park. You can also catch the bus to anywhere from there, including one that goes around the island for a pittance.

hawaiiantraveler

lcuy, glad you enjoyed Sabrina's. It's one of our favorites and so cheap

Aloha!

petitepois

Thank you so much for all your help! I am here right now, typing this as I gaze at the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor. Today we had a small eyewear disaster -- the hubs's glasses snapped in half. Luckily, the folks at Paris Miki in the Ala Moana mall were incredibly helpful and were able to reuse his lenses in another set of frames! Alas, dealing with the glasses and doing a bit of work has taken up most of today, but I am sneaking out soon for a few hours on the beach -- think I'll head to Ala Moana. Thanks again for all your advice... tomorrow is Waikiki and hopefully a hike.