Oahu/Maui Trip Plan after inputs from this forum. Seeking Review.
 

Hello Fodorites,

First of all, lots of thanks to all of you for the information and recommendations provided in this forum. I browsed through the posts made in this forum to plan my trip. I could get all the information I need without posting a single message. However, it would be great if I can get some feedback on my trip plan below. I am landing in Oahu Sep 03 (noon). Leaving for Maui on Sep 08 (6 PM). Returning from Maui on Sep 12 (noon).

OAHU (Staying in Waikiki. Depending on TheBus):

Sep 03 - After lunch, explore the Waikiki area and collect relevant brochures from the hotel, Hike to Diamond Head, Walk down to Waikiki Beach. Enjoy the night view and Hula there. Kodak Hula Show, Kapiolani Park, Dinner.

Sep 04 - Pearl Harbor and Arizona Memorial. If time permits, US Missouri. Aloha Stadium Flea Market. Have Lunch in Aloha Tower Market Place, Walk through Washington Place, State Capitol, Iolani Palace, King Kamehameha Statue. Go to Chinatown and Foster Botanical Garden, Pali Lookout, Dinner, Round top Drive, Tantalus Mountain.

Sep 05 - Snorkel at Hanauma Bay. Koko Crater, Halona Blowhole and Sandy Beach Park, Hike to Makapu Point, Sea Life Park, Waimanalao Beach Park, Bellows Beach, Return to Waikiki and Have Dinner

Sep 06 - Lanikai Beach, Kailua Beach Park, Kaneohe Beach Park, Byodo In Temple, Kualoa Beach Park, Chinaman's Hat, Sunset Beach, Waimea Bay Beach Park, Waimea Valley, Waimea Falla, Haleiwa Town and Beach Park. Look for Sunset, Views of Pali Highway. This is actually north shore area being covered anti clockwise

Sep 07 - Polynesia Culture Center

Sep 08 - Stay at Waikiki. Keeping it open for any surprise activity/sight or relaxing. In afternoon, we fly to Maui.

MAUI (Staying in Lahaina. Renting Car):

Sep 09 - Sunrise at Haleakala and Bike Down, Explore west maui sights, Sunset view at Ka?anapali beach

Sep 10 - Drive to Hana. Dinner at Mama's Fishhouse.

Sep 11 - Enjoy the Blue Hawaiian Helicopter Tour in forenoon. Explore south maui sights (Kamaole Beach, Ulua Beach, Makena) in afternoon. Ulalena show in the evening.

Sep 12 - Fly back to SF.

Please let me know if I am missing something important. I am still looking for some pointers for eating places in Oahu. Does this schedule looks very tight? Do I need to re-adjust? Your review comments shall be highly helpful.

My first thought on your itinerary is that you're planning to do a little too much on most days. And that September 3 could be very warm for hiking Diamond Head in the afternoon. Also, you will spend a lot of valuable time using the bus on Oahu; with all the things you want to see and do, I would spring for a car! Also, I would not allocate a whole day to the PCC; I'd arrive no sooner than 4 PM, stroll around, stay for the evening show and luau. Have a wonderful time........ :-)

I wholeheartedly agree with bonniebroad re: hiking Diamond Head. This is one to be done by visitors only in the cool early morning.

Kodak Hula Show no longer exists.

Waaaaaaaay too much planned for Sep 04! Do Aloha Stadium Flea Market _early_ (7a.m.), then head for the Mighty Mo and the Arizona. After all that walking, lunch and a stroll at Aloha Tower will probably be enough for one day. Don't forget, daytime temps will be in the upper 80s, with accompanying high humidity. Visitors tend to "melt" when too many activities are attempted. 8-)

Sep 05 & 06 -- cut each day's planned activities in half, and relaxxxxxxxxx

Sep 07 - you want to do so much, yet you plan a _whole_ day at PCC??? Follow bonniebroad's suggestion, and go for their "twilight" shows instead -- use your morning for Sea Life Park or something else in that area.

We who live in the islands are usually baffled by visitors who want to see/do _everything_, and return home exhausted. Better instead to just pick one or two activities per day. Allow yourself time to relax....

Great. Your inputs are priceless. I would move the hike to diamond head to morning of Sep 07th and then go to sea life park. I guess, after finishing these two, I will have comfortable time to reach PCC.

We are crazy about scenic palces and beaches. Would anyone please proritize for us the beachparks that I listed for Sep 06. That will help me dropping some off my list

Also, I am making it lighter on Sep 04 and Sep 05.

Thanks a lot. This is remarkable.

On the weekend you should really try to hit Bellows Beach. It is only open to the public then. Best spot on the island.

Lanikai Beach- a beauty
Kailua Beach Park-great swimming and view
Kaneohe Beach Park (You can drive right past this and check out the view- there is no real park or beach- just a lot of chickens and cats,
Byodo In Temple,
Kualoa Beach Park/Chinaman's Hat-good for a few minutes of photos
Sunset Beach- must do
Waimea Bay Beach Park-pretty flat lately
Waimea Valley, Waimea Falla- not really top on my list unless you are into plants
Haleiwa Town and Beach Park. Town's good- park isn't a must see.
Look for Sunset, Views of Pali Highway. This is actually north shore area being covered anti clockwise. - Not sure you get much of a sunset at the Pali.

HI, recently returned from 3 nights in Waikiki and 7 on Maui so can offer some input ... agree you have way too much scheduled for most days, especially the ones in Waikiki. We had kids with us, but Diamondhead took us several hours including travel time. Pearl Harbor (w/o Missouri) and Honolulu City Tour (organized tour) took from 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Traffic really slowed things down in Honolulu. We got to Pearl Harbor at 9 a.m. and were given tickets for the 12:15 tour! Some people had to hang around all that time (and there is not that much to do there, only a gift shop and snack bar), we got to get back on our bus and do the city tour, then come back. So you might need to plan to get there, get tickets and then do something else. We did tours in the a.m., early afternoon, then enjoyed Waikiki beach in the late afternoon/ evening. We were so glad we did organized tours, didn't rent a car, didn't need one. Since we had limited time in Waikiki, made everything much easier. Maui -- rent a convertible if you can, it really enhanced the experience for us -- so great driving along the road, top down, ocean on one side, mountains on the other, well worth the extra cost. We did a lot of different things on Maui than you are planning since we had kids and we had more time, so can't offer much there. Sunset dinner at Whaler's Village in Kaanapali is fun, also enjoyed Plantation House Inn in Kapalua, incredible views. Make reservations in advance, Lahaina is crowded, crowded, may be better in September.