Oahu itinerary????????????
Apr 4th, 2006 | 02:24 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 17
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Oahu itinerary????????????
We will be in Oahu for 2 and a half days after a cruise. Can the experts here tell me is this itinerary doable?
Day 1
Leave ship around 8am and take taxi to airport to pickup National Rent-a-car.
Drive to Radisson Hotel Waikiki and drop luggage off. Will check-in later.
Drive a loop around the Southeast: H-1 to Hwy 72, stop at Hanauma Bay, Halona Blowhole, Sandy Beach-Koho Crater, Makapua Beach, SeaLife Park, Waimaonalo Beach, continue to Kailue town.
Then head back to Waikiki via Route 61-Pali Hwy. See Pali Lookout.
Check-in at hotel
Finish the day at Duke's for dinner.
Day 2
Up early for hike to the top Diamond Head. Afterwards, drive to the Northshore with expected arrival at Polynesian Cultural Center around 4pm to take advantage of the Twilight Package which includes luau dinner and Horizons Show. Figuring we'll have a leisurely time to stop at the Dole Plantation, and the coastal sites as we come around the north end. H-1 to H-2 to Hwy 99 and then connecting with Hwy 83. Return to Waikiki after the show which should end around 9:30pm. Hope we don't get lost in the dark.
Day 3
Up early to be at the Arizona Memorial at 7:30am.
Next go to Aloha Stadium Swap Meet
Drop car at airport at 3pm.
Flight leaves at 6:30pm
*************************************
So does this sound leisurely or hectic. Comments please.
Day 1
Leave ship around 8am and take taxi to airport to pickup National Rent-a-car.
Drive to Radisson Hotel Waikiki and drop luggage off. Will check-in later.
Drive a loop around the Southeast: H-1 to Hwy 72, stop at Hanauma Bay, Halona Blowhole, Sandy Beach-Koho Crater, Makapua Beach, SeaLife Park, Waimaonalo Beach, continue to Kailue town.
Then head back to Waikiki via Route 61-Pali Hwy. See Pali Lookout.
Check-in at hotel
Finish the day at Duke's for dinner.
Day 2
Up early for hike to the top Diamond Head. Afterwards, drive to the Northshore with expected arrival at Polynesian Cultural Center around 4pm to take advantage of the Twilight Package which includes luau dinner and Horizons Show. Figuring we'll have a leisurely time to stop at the Dole Plantation, and the coastal sites as we come around the north end. H-1 to H-2 to Hwy 99 and then connecting with Hwy 83. Return to Waikiki after the show which should end around 9:30pm. Hope we don't get lost in the dark.
Day 3
Up early to be at the Arizona Memorial at 7:30am.
Next go to Aloha Stadium Swap Meet
Drop car at airport at 3pm.
Flight leaves at 6:30pm
*************************************
So does this sound leisurely or hectic. Comments please.
Apr 4th, 2006 | 04:26 PM
#2
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,025
Likes: 0
It is doable and much like what I would do. I like the beaches, but get too sunburned to lie around on the beaches.
You cannot get lost on the way back from PCC. You can either go back the way you came or go toward Kaneohe and take Likelike Highway back to Honolulu.
Forget Sea Life Park. It is OK, but would eat of a lot of time. If you had more than 2 1/2 days, then OK.
I copied and pasted these driving tours. You can take the first one and add Byodo-In Temple to it.
The second one, you will be doing in reverse, but the stops wil be the same until you get to PCC. Stop at Laie Point.
Here are two driving tours on Oahu.
You can combine the two if you want, but it is better to split them especially if you make frequent stops and want some beach/dining/shopping time.
1. Mini-circle island tour.
Start in Waikiki:
Diamond Head Lookout & Lighthouse on Diamond Head Road.
Continue on Diamond Head Road. When Diamond Head Road turns to go around Diamond Head, go straight on Kahala Ave. This will go through a residential area with nice houses. (Note): You can also take Diamond Head around to the entrance to Diamond Head. Even if you cannot do the hike, you can go through the tunnel into the crater to see what it looks like. Turn around just before the pay booth. Also Kapiolani Community College (KCC) has a nice cactus display. KCC is almost straight across from the entrance to Diamond Head.
After about 2 miles on Kahala Ave, turn left onto Keala'olu Ave (just before Kahala Mandarin Hotel).
Take Keala'olu Ave to Kalaniana'ole Hwy (72).
Continue around island to Hanauma Bay (don't need to go to the visitors center). You can get some excellent views & pictures from the steps and lookouts that go up and to the left of the visitors center. $1 for parking.
Continue to Halona Blowhole and Halona Cove (From Here to Eternity Beach) next to it. Halona Blowhole lookout also overlooks Sandy Beach.
Sandy Beach - Nice beach.
Makapuu Lighthouse Trail - Just past Sandy Beach and just after the road turns inland, look for a gate and a paved trail on the right. Trail is about 1 mile one way. You can often see whales from near the lighthouse.
Continue to Makapuu Pt. Lookout. Overlooks Manana (Rabbit) Island & Makapuu Beach & Sea Life Park.
Continue to Waimanalo Bay Recreation Area (just past Waimanalo Beach). Scenic isolated beach (just before Bellows AFB). Bellows Beach is also nice. Open to the public on weekends.
Continue to Highway 61 (Pali Highway). Make a left onto Pali Highway. Take it back to Honolulu, stopping at Pali Lookout.
Note: If you were to make a right onto Pali Hwy (63), you could go to Kailua and Lanikai Beaches. You can stop there with either tour.
2. Circle island tour.
Start in Waikiki:
Take McCully or Kapahulu to H-1 West
Take Pali Highway (61) across to Kaneohe. Stop at Pali Lookout.
Continue to Kaneohe. Make a left onto Highway (83) to Kaneohe (or go straight if you want to go to Kailua and Lanikai Beaches).
At the far side of Windward Mall in Kaneohe, make a left onto Haiku Road. Take Haiku Rd. across Kahekili Highway to Haiku Gardens. The botanical garden is just below Haleiwa Joe's Restaurant. Nice small Botanical garden with a Koi pond. It's free.
Go back to Kahekili Hwy. Turn left. Go about two miles. Turn left into Valley of the Temples (Byodo-In Temple). Very Scenic.
Back to Kahekili Hwy. Continue around the island. In a mile or so Kahekili Hwy will end and intersect with Kamehameha Hwy (83). Continue around the island to Haleiwa.
Stops on Kamehameha Hwy:
Kualoa Regional Park/Chinaman's Hat (nice for pictures). There is a Macadamia Nut Farm Outlet on the right just before Kualoa Park. Nice stop for free samples, coffee trees, macadamia trees. They have an inexpensive tour if you want. Kualoa Ranch is across from Kualoa Park.
In Laie, make a right at the stoplight. Go to Laie Pt. Scenic, good for pictures. Polynesian Cultural Center is in Laie. Also Mormon Temple is in Laie.
Just past Laie, is Makaekahana State Recreation Area. Scenic with an isolated beach & several islands.
Kahuku - Several shrimp trucks including Giovanni's. Romy's is just on the other side of Kahuku. Those are the two most popular shrimp trucks.
North Shore Beaches:
Sunset Beach Park
Ehukai Beach Park (Banzai Pipeline)
Pupukea Beach Park (Shark's Cove) Scenic with lots of small lava islands. Nice for snorkeling in the summer. If you make a left on Pupukea Road (at the stoplight), go up the hill and park off to the side where the road to the Heiau starts. Walk back on Pupukea Road about 1/2 block for great view of some of the beaches. Then drive to the end of the road to the Heiau about 1 mile) and park in the Heiau parking area. Take the short (about 1 block) red dirt trail straight ahead for a nice view of Waimea Bay.
Waimea Bay Beach Park - Best scenic beach on the north shore.
Laniakea Beach - About 1/2 way between Waimea Bay and Haleiwa. Look for parking on the opposite side of the road. Several sea turtles are here. This is also called Lani's Beach or Turtle Beach.
Just before Haleiwa, make a left onto the bypass to Honolulu. (Go through Haleiwa if you have more time). Take Highway 99 to Honolulu. Follow signs to Honolulu. You will pass Dole Pineapple Center. Stop there if you have time.
Continue to Honolulu.
Here are three sites/links with driving tour info:
www.discoveringhawaii.com Free (pdf) download Circle Island Driving tour map. Also free (pdf) download Oahu movie location map.
http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/tours/ Good driving & walking tours.
www.alternative-hawaii.com Good narrative drive guide w/photos.
You cannot get lost on the way back from PCC. You can either go back the way you came or go toward Kaneohe and take Likelike Highway back to Honolulu.
Forget Sea Life Park. It is OK, but would eat of a lot of time. If you had more than 2 1/2 days, then OK.
I copied and pasted these driving tours. You can take the first one and add Byodo-In Temple to it.
The second one, you will be doing in reverse, but the stops wil be the same until you get to PCC. Stop at Laie Point.
Here are two driving tours on Oahu.
You can combine the two if you want, but it is better to split them especially if you make frequent stops and want some beach/dining/shopping time.
1. Mini-circle island tour.
Start in Waikiki:
Diamond Head Lookout & Lighthouse on Diamond Head Road.
Continue on Diamond Head Road. When Diamond Head Road turns to go around Diamond Head, go straight on Kahala Ave. This will go through a residential area with nice houses. (Note): You can also take Diamond Head around to the entrance to Diamond Head. Even if you cannot do the hike, you can go through the tunnel into the crater to see what it looks like. Turn around just before the pay booth. Also Kapiolani Community College (KCC) has a nice cactus display. KCC is almost straight across from the entrance to Diamond Head.
After about 2 miles on Kahala Ave, turn left onto Keala'olu Ave (just before Kahala Mandarin Hotel).
Take Keala'olu Ave to Kalaniana'ole Hwy (72).
Continue around island to Hanauma Bay (don't need to go to the visitors center). You can get some excellent views & pictures from the steps and lookouts that go up and to the left of the visitors center. $1 for parking.
Continue to Halona Blowhole and Halona Cove (From Here to Eternity Beach) next to it. Halona Blowhole lookout also overlooks Sandy Beach.
Sandy Beach - Nice beach.
Makapuu Lighthouse Trail - Just past Sandy Beach and just after the road turns inland, look for a gate and a paved trail on the right. Trail is about 1 mile one way. You can often see whales from near the lighthouse.
Continue to Makapuu Pt. Lookout. Overlooks Manana (Rabbit) Island & Makapuu Beach & Sea Life Park.
Continue to Waimanalo Bay Recreation Area (just past Waimanalo Beach). Scenic isolated beach (just before Bellows AFB). Bellows Beach is also nice. Open to the public on weekends.
Continue to Highway 61 (Pali Highway). Make a left onto Pali Highway. Take it back to Honolulu, stopping at Pali Lookout.
Note: If you were to make a right onto Pali Hwy (63), you could go to Kailua and Lanikai Beaches. You can stop there with either tour.
2. Circle island tour.
Start in Waikiki:
Take McCully or Kapahulu to H-1 West
Take Pali Highway (61) across to Kaneohe. Stop at Pali Lookout.
Continue to Kaneohe. Make a left onto Highway (83) to Kaneohe (or go straight if you want to go to Kailua and Lanikai Beaches).
At the far side of Windward Mall in Kaneohe, make a left onto Haiku Road. Take Haiku Rd. across Kahekili Highway to Haiku Gardens. The botanical garden is just below Haleiwa Joe's Restaurant. Nice small Botanical garden with a Koi pond. It's free.
Go back to Kahekili Hwy. Turn left. Go about two miles. Turn left into Valley of the Temples (Byodo-In Temple). Very Scenic.
Back to Kahekili Hwy. Continue around the island. In a mile or so Kahekili Hwy will end and intersect with Kamehameha Hwy (83). Continue around the island to Haleiwa.
Stops on Kamehameha Hwy:
Kualoa Regional Park/Chinaman's Hat (nice for pictures). There is a Macadamia Nut Farm Outlet on the right just before Kualoa Park. Nice stop for free samples, coffee trees, macadamia trees. They have an inexpensive tour if you want. Kualoa Ranch is across from Kualoa Park.
In Laie, make a right at the stoplight. Go to Laie Pt. Scenic, good for pictures. Polynesian Cultural Center is in Laie. Also Mormon Temple is in Laie.
Just past Laie, is Makaekahana State Recreation Area. Scenic with an isolated beach & several islands.
Kahuku - Several shrimp trucks including Giovanni's. Romy's is just on the other side of Kahuku. Those are the two most popular shrimp trucks.
North Shore Beaches:
Sunset Beach Park
Ehukai Beach Park (Banzai Pipeline)
Pupukea Beach Park (Shark's Cove) Scenic with lots of small lava islands. Nice for snorkeling in the summer. If you make a left on Pupukea Road (at the stoplight), go up the hill and park off to the side where the road to the Heiau starts. Walk back on Pupukea Road about 1/2 block for great view of some of the beaches. Then drive to the end of the road to the Heiau about 1 mile) and park in the Heiau parking area. Take the short (about 1 block) red dirt trail straight ahead for a nice view of Waimea Bay.
Waimea Bay Beach Park - Best scenic beach on the north shore.
Laniakea Beach - About 1/2 way between Waimea Bay and Haleiwa. Look for parking on the opposite side of the road. Several sea turtles are here. This is also called Lani's Beach or Turtle Beach.
Just before Haleiwa, make a left onto the bypass to Honolulu. (Go through Haleiwa if you have more time). Take Highway 99 to Honolulu. Follow signs to Honolulu. You will pass Dole Pineapple Center. Stop there if you have time.
Continue to Honolulu.
Here are three sites/links with driving tour info:
www.discoveringhawaii.com Free (pdf) download Circle Island Driving tour map. Also free (pdf) download Oahu movie location map.
http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/tours/ Good driving & walking tours.
www.alternative-hawaii.com Good narrative drive guide w/photos.
Apr 10th, 2006 | 08:00 AM
#6
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,708
Likes: 0
An interesting side you might enjoy is the Pu'u O Mahuka heiau on the North shore - its close to Waimea- there is a website with directions on how to get there if you enter into search engine.
I think its very interesting ( a heiau is an old Hawaiian temple) It is quite well preserved - and the views from up there are great- many Hawaiians still come and leave offerings so you will see lots of little bundles wrapped in ti leafs - think its more interesting that a tour of Dole Plantation
I think its very interesting ( a heiau is an old Hawaiian temple) It is quite well preserved - and the views from up there are great- many Hawaiians still come and leave offerings so you will see lots of little bundles wrapped in ti leafs - think its more interesting that a tour of Dole Plantation
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Apr 10th, 2006 | 04:52 PM
#8
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,025
Likes: 0
The directions to the Heiau are in my driving tour message.
I didn't have the name of the Heiau handy at the time.
Pupukea Beach Park (Shark's Cove) Scenic with lots of small lava islands. Nice for snorkeling in the summer. If you make a left on Pupukea Road (at the stoplight), go up the hill and park off to the side where the road to the Heiau starts. Walk back on Pupukea Road about 1/2 block for great view of some of the beaches. Then drive to the end of the road to the Heiau about 1 mile) and park in the Heiau parking area. Take the short (about 1 block) red dirt trail straight ahead for a nice view of Waimea Bay.
I didn't have the name of the Heiau handy at the time.
Pupukea Beach Park (Shark's Cove) Scenic with lots of small lava islands. Nice for snorkeling in the summer. If you make a left on Pupukea Road (at the stoplight), go up the hill and park off to the side where the road to the Heiau starts. Walk back on Pupukea Road about 1/2 block for great view of some of the beaches. Then drive to the end of the road to the Heiau about 1 mile) and park in the Heiau parking area. Take the short (about 1 block) red dirt trail straight ahead for a nice view of Waimea Bay.
