Oahu First time - 4 days
 

Hi,
I'm leaving for Oahu on Wednesday, November 21, arriving in Honolulu at 4pm. Other than Thanksgiving day which I am spending with relatives, how would anyone recommend making the most of my remaining days? I return Sunday at 11pm. I enjoy the beach so want to save some time for that. I'm staying at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Is the Polynesian Village worth it? How about a luau? A walking self tour? Thanks.
Regards,
mentin

Polynesian Cultural Center is the best Polynesian entertainment in Hawaii.

Some tours including walking tours on some of the sites in this list:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34812564

Also:

http://www.waikikihistorictrail.com/

Four days is not that long. I'd spend a lot of it right at Waikiki beach myself.

You don't really need a walking tour for Waikiki, it's all fairly obvious. But maybe if you wanted to visit Chinatown, or Bishop Museum, or Iolani Palace all located in Honolulu?

Absolutely personal choice, but with only 4 days I would not do PCC or a luau either one myself.

Would you be intereted in a catamaran sunset cruise, or surfing or boogie boarding? You can arrange those right down on the beach.

You have to do a luau on your first trip to Hawaii. So, please consider spending a day at Polynesian Cultural Center. They have the best luau on Hawaii.

Also, consider spending a morning at Pearl Harbour. You have to arrive very early to get admission. The USS Missouri is nearby, where we signed the peace agreement with Japan.

You might spend the rest of the day driving around Oahu. Highlights include Pipeline surfers on the North Shore (you can check to see how waves are), Byodo-In Temple, NaPali Cliffs, Blowhole, Chinaman's Hat.

If you are interested in snorkelling, I have heard very good things Hanauma Bay. But, I understand that you should arrive early to avoid being turned away.

If you are a culture buff, the Bishop Museum has the best collection of Polynesian artifacts in the world.

When I was there, I visited the Doris Duke estate through the Hawaiian Academy of Fine Arts. The house is beautifully situated on a bluff in Kahala overlooking Diamondhead. Ms. Duke decorated her house with Islamic art, sometimes importing whole walls from temples from India and the Middle East. We really enjoyed that.

You are not going to fit in everything that I mentioned. I just thought that I'd mention what I think are the best things to do on Oahu.

mentin, you will only have two days (Fri/Sat) to explore. I would not spend one of those precious days at Polynesian Cultural Center! I'd enjoy the real thing ... go to Waikiki Beach, experience Pearl Harbor, maybe take a half-day tour to see as much as I could of the rest of the island.

Wow! That's a lot of really good information. Thank you. Even though I have to check out of the room and because my flight doesn't leave until 11pm on Sunday, do you think I can do a full day on Sunday? I'm sure I'll figure this all out! Many thanks.
Aloha!
mentin

Sure, on Sunday just leave your packed suitcase at the hotel front desk after you check out. They'll keep it, you can swing by on your way back to the airport in the evening.

I loved the Doris Duke estate ShangriLa tour mentioned above (Google, there's a website) but with only 4 days, I probably wouldn't do that either
:-)

You can't go to Oahu without seeing Pearl Harbor. And you must go snorkeling... Hanauma Bay is a great place to do that.

I think you should go to a luau for your first visit, but I did not go to the PCC, so I can't comment on that.

I think you'll have plenty of time on your last day. 11 p.m. is a late enough departure to take advantage of at least a day relaxing at the beach!

Have fun :)

The problem with the beach for the last day (as I see it) is you've already checked out of your hotel so don't have a place to shower & change for your flight home. There are public outdoor showers at either end of Waikiki, near Ft de Russy park and in front of Queen Kapiolani park, I guess that could work.

I'd probably choose instead one of the more city things like a tour of Chinatown and visiting Bishop museum.

Sorry, mentin, I read your departure as 11 A.M. Sunday. So you do have three full days to explore ... I'd still pass on the PCC, unless you just chose to do the luau and evening show, which would be worth taking a tour van from your hotel to do. (The concierge can set it up.) The show is magnificent. With so little time in the Islands, I'd want to experience the real Hawaii, and would only ever do the Villages if I had more time and young kids with me! Have a wonderful trip ...

I would do Pearl Harbor. We spent a morning there (but get there early). I also loved the beach at Waikiki. At first I didn't think I was going to like it, but I did. It is a little crowded, but a fun place. We had fun walking around the streets of Waikiki at night. They had street performers of all kinds up and down the street. It has a sort of carnival atmosphere. I also loved the beaches on the North Shore. We took a ride down Farrington Road - one of my favorite drives. If you are a LOST fan, you will especially appreciate it.

If you are staying at HHV you can leave your suitcases with them and they will give you a room to shower and change later in the day...We had a 9pm flight and spent the day on the beach before showering and heading to the airport...Enjoy!

Thank you all so much! This has definitely helped. I will definitely do Pearl Harbor and take all your information to heart! I'm sure it will all work out well. I appreciate you all and thank you for taking the time to respond.
Regards,
mentin

mentin: We visit Honolulu every year and stay ay the Hilton Hawaiian Village Two things to keep in mind for the deaprture day. The Hawaiian Village has luggage storage for guest who check out, but have to wait for the "red eye" filght back to the mainland. It also has showers and changing rooms if you decide to spend the day on the beach. The other thing is make a quick trip to the airport and chececk in your luggage for the flight, then go be a tourist. It's better than dragging luggae with you all day, but not all airline accept the early luggage check-in.

If you're flying Hawaiian Airlines, you can check your bags in the morning of your departure (6 a.m. - 10 a.m.) for a small fee at a few of the Outrigger & Ohana hotels, but when I was there this summer I was told you cannot check your luggage at the airport more than a couple of hours before the flight, so you might check into it.

You will have plenty of time on your last day to get in a full day of sightseeing or at the beach. Just don't get so busy you forget to relax and enjoy your time in paradise.