We are going to Oahu in July, 5 days will be business during the day. I saw your comment about Honolulu/Oahu when reading the Kauai trip report, Bonnie Broad. We have never been to any Hawaiian island, but were beginning to wonder if it was worth spending time in Oahu. We love to eat and all the restaurant advice but we are really more interested in the tropical feel of the island and spending time outside. Of course I know the beaches are supposed to be great and would enjoy hiking and spending time in rainforest enviroment. Is this possible? All comments I have read are about crowds and tourist spots. We plan on doing a few, such as the Polynesian Cultural center. Do you have any advice on where to stay etc. Would probably enjoy the North Shore, but must be in Honolulu for 5 days. Would like to stay in a condo or rental if anyone has advice on locating something close enough to Honolulu to attend to business for 5 days. Or any hotel advice. We were going to stay another week, but we are not sure after all the negative infomation about crowds and ... Please help! Would 2 weeks be too long in Oahu?

Aloha Texas,

Just returned in April from O'ahu... 10 days... wishing it were 30.

To answer your question, NO, 2 weeks on O'ahu is not too long. Stay in Waikiki for the time you need to do business... there's plenty to do & see from there. Then when you're finished up, head to the north shore for the duration.

We did 3 nights at the Aston Waikiki Beach Tower, a condo w/ a full size kitchen... 1 & 2 brs are available. Use an Entertainment Card and you'll get 50% off rack rate... quite the bargain for oceanfront condo in Waikiki. I believe our 1 br ran $268 per night w/ free parking.

On the north shore we rented at Ke Iki Beach Bungalows (keikibeach.com) and I just can't say enough about this spot.

If you'd like more info, read my trip report http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...1&tid=34492836

Much to do on O'ahu, you won't be sorry. DH & I experienced O'ahu in '02 for the 1st time (9 days), and couldn't wait to get back to hit all of the spots we missed... and we still didn't get to them all.

Great reason to get back again! ><

Happy planning & much aloha!

Makai1 is soooooooo correct!
We spent 7 days in a rented bungalow
on the North Shore and could have easily stayed on. Wish we had stayed at
Ke Iki bungalows. The house we had was nice, but it was to close to the Kamehameha Hwy. Oh for a snorkle at Shark's Cove!
R5

aloha R5!

Texas, I have found that not too many people that frequent this board travel to O'ahu and stay put... thus not having the chance to experience the diversity of the entire island.

A few posters live here and have great info to share, but many stop here for only a day or two and then make negative comments based on a lack of knowledge of all that this island has to offer...

The contrast between Waikiki and the north shore is amazing and great to experience.

A great resource is Richard Sullivan's, Driving & Discovering Hawaii, O'ahu... great info, directions, photos, etc.. It's a great planning tool before coming.

Whatever you decide... have fun!

Texas04:
Oahu is worth it. Many wonderful places to go and see; as indicated by above posts.

Just wanted to mention a couple ideas.
1. Sand Island: Sand Island State Recreation Area. - not many tourist; more of a local spot. But interesting to find so close to downtown Honolulu.

2. Beach on the north shore [across from Dillingham Airfield]. During the week this part of the beach is virtually deserted. Fun to walk along the beach, swim.......Hwy H1 to Hwy2 just past Pearl City(heading north), stay on H2 until end, take Hwy 99 to Hwy 803(Wilikina Dr.)...stay on Hwy 803 to Thompson Corner, stay to the left to Hwy 930 (Farrington Hwy.)Keep going for 5-6 miles. Around the airfield you will see open beach.

Hawaii....it's all good!

Texas, you have gotten great advice from the posters above. I will just relay some of my experiences to you, and tell you why I love Oahu. First off, I'm one of those who truly enjoys Waikiki for a few days, though granted it is crowded and definitely citified, but what terrific city, on a gorgeous beach, with the best restaurants and entertainment in the Islands, in my opinion. If you stroll down Waikiki Beach, behind the resorts, at sunset, watching the lights come on, hearing the Hawaiian music drifting out from the resorts, well.......... there's nothing quite like it!

Our favorite hotel experience in/around Waikiki was the New Otani Kaimana on Sans Souci Beach (technically not Waikiki....... but most think of the area as one.) And that was because of the view from our room, and that amazing beach, the water like a big, warm, sloshy............. and gentle............ bathtub. It's a great place to swim, our favorite of all the beaches we've been on. And if you get an "ocean-view junior suite", especially on a higher floor, you will get the most amazing wrap-around ocean-Waikiki-mountain view that will blow you away. At night, when the lights come on, you think you're in heaven! The ONLY thing I don't like about this hotel is that all rooms are "smoking" because it gets a lot of Japanese tourists, most of them smokers. They also have the Hau Tree Lanai restaurant, utterly charming, with wonderful food and views.

We love the historic aspects of Waikiki/Honolulu........ Iolani Palace, Bishop Museum.......... so much to see. And I think the very best show in the islands is the one at the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu. The show itself is worth the price of the ticket, in my opinion, even if I'd seen nothing else.

Good friends live on Kailua Beach, and part of our next visit will be at a B&B there. It is a gorgeous area. There is also Lanikai Beach.......... and on and on, as the posters above noted. My favorite guidebook for Oahu is Frommers, with good info on EVERYTHING, and I always find them very "current."

We have also stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, which was wonderful. My sister was at Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, and the Kahala Mandarin Oriental, and enjoyed both. Good friends were at the Aston Waikiki Beach Tower, and loved it. (I would like to stay there sometime......... if I can tear myself away from the view and beach at New Otani!)

I would like to suggest that you go to "alternative-hawaii.com" and look at all the beautiful pictures of and info on Oahu on that site. I think you would only scratch the surface of Oahu in two weeks!;-) Have a wonderful trip!

Texas. It is not too long in my book. I agree with all the other posters. This fall we will be making our 4th trip and each trip is longer, yet we find it is still not long enough.

The other posters have said it well --Oahu is very interesting and beautiful! I lived on Oahu for a time and have traveled to most of the other islands. Each of them are special but I really like Oahu. I'm always surprised at how under-appreciated it is.

In addition to the previous advice, don't miss Hanauma Bay Park for snorkeling (yes, weekends are crowded) and if there are any concerts at the Waikiki Shell in Kapiolani Park, I can't think of a nicer place to sit on the grass and enjoy some music. If you like art, there's the Honolulu Academy of Art. Queen Emmas's summer palace is a nice treat in a pretty neighborhood. Honolulu has a beautiful botanical garden as well.

There's lots to do; Honolulu is a vibrant state capital with a lot of culture and history.

Yikes! ...each of them IS special...; Queen Emma's summer palace. Had to correct myself!

Thanks for all the great advice. I'm excited again. Really appreciate y'all for taking the time to post!

I also LOVE Oahu! I've been four times, each time for a week. The last trip I took, I was determined to get to a couple of the other islands as well. You know, this IS an option.. to go for a day.

I was traveling alone so didn't really feel comfortable flying over and renting a car to drive around on my own. So I went with Polynesian Adventures, I think it was. I spent one day on Maui and one day on Kauai. Yes, it was on a tour, but I got a feel for each island because the drivers were very knowledgeable and the tour groups were very small. Keep that option in mind.

When I go back to Hawaii, I'll still go to Oahu for the better part of my trip, as I love all the shopping and restaurants and Waikiki Beach. But, I know now which other island would be a choice for a few days of total peace and quiet... Kauai!

Aloha Texas04, I'm going to Oahu in Jun,for 6days so just as you i'm searching for all of the info I can get. As soon as I hit the tar mat in Big H town I'll post all i can, we are staying @ the Hale Koa I ve heard great things on it. A cool info site is alohafriends.com pics, loads of places to eat, with types of food and price ranges ect. Also lots of info on things to do www.alohafriends.com HOWEVER Fodors is the best. Cant wait stay pumped Tx04, BigPOP

I agree with makai1, if you stay on Oahu go to north shore to stay, it has a slower pace, tropical, and more like the Hawaii you imagine. Honolulu is so busy. O.K. for a few days, but I spent a week there and hated the hustle n' bustle of the city. I'm a laid back/outdoor, no frills type traveler so the Big Island and Kauai is more my style of vacation, so if you don't want to interisland it, the other side of the island would be a good choice.

for a condo try
vrbo.com
i have used this sight world wide and have had success

All of y'all are so nice. BIGPOPTEXAS I can't wait to read your e-mails from you June trip. I have been told, and have read that the Hale Koa is wonderful, but not available to me. You must be in the military, or retired I think. The grounds area around the Hale Koa sounds beautiful and large. I hope you have a wonderful trip. I'm going to check out alohafriends.com as soon as I finish here. TropicalBreeze, I am going to vbo and check out the condos after that. Lots of Texans out there--I live in a small town in East Texas, really small. Thanks for all your posts everyone.

Aloha Texas04, hmmmmmm small east Tx town sounds like Liberty, Dayton o wait I think the smallest is Devers not even a red light just a yellow flashing light lol, 23 days WOOO HOOO I'm getting pumped cant wait ..

Many visitors from the midwest or coastal areas without Chinatowns are the curious and interested in touring Honolulu's Chinatown.

Honolulu's Chinatown, being the oldest and most cosmopolitan, is more welcoming and accomodating than other "gateway" communities.

There is no more exotic and curious neighborhood in Hawaii, so if you are interested in exploration, it is for you.

Chinatowns are all about nooks and alleys. You cannot drive by and see and hear what makes a Chinatown unique.

There are inexpensive walking tours in Chinatown. The Chinese Chamber of Commerce has one every Tuesday morning, two hours for $5 a head, telephone 533-3181.

Chinese Culinary Society has one every Thursday for $15, dim sum lunch included, see and contact:

http://www.hawaii.rr.com/leisure/rev...bcritworld.htm