Hi everyone - I was hoping to plan an early-December 2007 trip to Oahu, but I'm having second thoughts after reading the notice in the Fodors.com destination guide about all the renovations to the major touristy sights/areas.

We're first time visitors to Hawaii and history buffs so the Pearl Harbor Memorial, etc. would be tops on our to-do list and, besides, I'd hate to fly all the way out there fron NYC just to see their version of the Big Dig

Does anyone have any more detailed info on the Oahu renovations this year or where I can find more info? Thanks!

Hi rdlao7 -

You might wish to check out waikikiimprovement.com. We were out in Waikiki last fall and renovations are greatly underway. Good luck!

The renovations you are referring to are mainly in the Waikiki area. I would HOPE you don't spend all your time there!

I agree with the above post. At the very least, make sure to go to the North Shore of Oahu--very lush and beautiful. Pearl Harbor is a "must see", but if you can, island hop to at least one other island. It will be worth your while.

Don't worry about any renovations.

Lots to do on oahu:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34812564

Even right within Waikiki, the construction did not prove a problem for me (was there just a couple weeks ago). Lots of stuff is under scaffolding, but unless YOUR particular hotel is under remodel, it didn't prove an issue at all for us.

Wow, thanks for the quick responses!!

We were planning on staying at the Halekulani, so we'd be spending some time in Waikiki and we probably won't be doing any island-hopping during our one-week trip. The reservation person I spoke with said that while the bulk of the nearby renovations have been completed, there may be noise during the weekdays... maybe I should just focus my beachtime for sat & sun

I just went to the Halekulani area on Saturday and much of the construction is surprisingly complete. The new Embassy Suites is done.

We didn't find any construction noise once we were on the beach, and we were all up & down Waikiki, every day for a week (including in front of the Halekulani.

Really the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center being all boarded up on the main street side was the most noticeable.

We had dinner at Arancino (great italian btw) on Beach Walk and stopped in to visit at The Hawaiiana Hotel and things were pretty much back to normal... just with fancier sidewalks, new upscale street-side retail, etc.

^

The Star Bulletin has a story on all the remodeling: http://starbulletin.com/2007/02/14/special/story00.html

i would be more concerned about where, exactly you are planningon doing your beachtime as there is actually no beach in front of the haleakulani.

lovely property, though. the water is right there...but no sand.

Thanks again for the replies - and for the Star Bulletin link, Jolie!

I just read about (and saw on the Hotels.com map!) the non-existent beach in front of the Halekulani... I suppose I can hang by the pool or walk along the beach until I find a good spot.

I would've preferred to go to the Four Seasons on the Big Island, but it's our first time to Hawaii and visiting Pearl Harbor, etc. is a priority and we're only staying five nights, sigh. Next time, I suppose...

Thanks again!
-ronna

ronna~ there's lots of beach to choose from, either to the left or right of in front of the hotel. The further in either direction you go, the less people you'll find (but you need your own set up since you won't have the hotel lounger chairs or anything).

In front of Fort de Russey in one direction or in front of Queen Kapiolani park in the the other, there's less people on the beach plus the ammenities of having a bathroom, outdoor shower, and snack stand right there.

Ditto on the more quiet/ calm Fort de Russey beach. We stayed at the military resort Hale Koa there and it's a great beach (more depth sand wise than the main Waikiki beach). I liked walking around the Hilton Hawaiian Village also.