oahu trip
 

Just got done with my Maui details, so I'll do my best to give some information from Oahu. Stayed at HHV. See my Maui-Oahu report for the hotel details. I simply had too much to say about Maui and decided to start a separate thread on Oahu. <BR> I had been here before and did not rent a car. Took a tour to the eastern shore of Oahu last time and saw a completely different side of the island than I imagined. Over in the Waianalo area it is stunningly beautiful. North shore is gorgeous. Problem is, most accomodations are in Waikikki area and require driving the dreadful highways and contend with city traffic. But if you go to Oahu and see nothing but Waikikki, you will sell this island short. Highlights included, Pearl Harbor, Hanaumau Bay snorkeling, Wainalo State Park, drive to North shore.

Coming from Maui, Waikikki is a culture shock and takes adjustment. After a few days it begins to grow on you. We took a tour to Hanaumau Bay to snorkel since we had done this a few years back and really enjoyed it. Back then we waited an hour to catch a bus, had to leave due to a bomb threat, return again the next day on the same darn bus and finally snorkel. I made things easy this time and booked with Tommy Tours. $15pp with departures at 6:15, 8, 10, 12 etc. and pretty flexible return time. Tommy actually was the driver for our van and a wealth of information about not only snorkeling, but Oahu in general. He dropped a few folks off at Diamondhead on our way back which he didn't have to do. Gave them a bottled water too. Made sure all our gear worked, and was flexible as he could be for return trips. (Not everyone can return at the same time in one van). Highly recommend. There are cheaper tours (like Sunbird) but if you want to be smashed in like sardines as a barely able to speak English van driver picks you up and drops you off, go ahead and save a few bucks, but Tommy did a fantastic job. Do the earliest snorkel tour possible. The 6:15 group swam with turtles and had perfect conditions. We went at 8 and it was very good, but no turtles and it was beginning to get crowded. Parking lot will be full by 10am. Best snorkeling I have ever experienced.

Pearl Harbor: get there early. It is whatever you make it out to be. Saw some teenagers who looked bored stiff, and some older folks moved to tears. Very somber, and an area deserving of your respect when visiting. Did the Missouri tour afterward and it was excellent. The best photo ops of Arizona memorial are at the front end of the Missouri. $14 pp was a bit pricey, but my wife and I both enjoyed it. Got there around 8:30 after I had to pull over to get a roach out of our rental car. My wife was in tears as it sat there 6 inches from her on the overhead visor saluting her and inching ever so close. Never seen her so scared. So watch for roaches in your rental cars. Didn't believe it until I saw it.

After Pearl Harbor, we drove north to Mililani. If you want to buy supplies in Oahu, this is an excellent place. Wal-Mart, Longs Drugs, restaurants. My wife likes the restaurant Chili's and they had one. Almost the same price as on the mainland. You may ask why we would eat there, but we don't have fancy dining tastes, but were sick of McDonald's and Taco Bell. Bought 6-pack of Coke for $1.49. HHV charges 1.50 a can at the hotel. Continued on to Dole Plantation. Cute stop. Nothing fancy. Continued on to North Shore. Missed Haleiwa and didn't get shave ice there. Planned to go later but ran out of time. Drove around to 83 and on to 72 around diamondhead. Good orientation drive and it was somewhat rainy that day, so made for a good break from the sun.

Waiamanalo State Park. What a stretch of beach. We spent a few hours at packed Waikikki one day. The Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, we headed to Waiamanalo. Nobody within 50 yards of us. Calm water, sandy bottom and good swimming. Usually good boogie boarding, but no wind and low surf made poor boarding. Ate lunch at Keneke's around the corner. Best darn plate lunch I have ever had. Little hole in the wall with a fly riddin eating area, but for $6 or less you get a mountain of delicious food from Kalua pig to Teriyaki chicken. For $2 you get 3 large banana pancakes and syrup. I ate the pancakes and then a plate lunch it was so good. Had to take home the rest. For 2 plate lunches plus pancakes we paid $13 including 2 32oz cokes. If you don't want to eat in the fly infested dining area, take the food back to the beach park and grab a picnic table. This place is incredible!(assuming you like good ol fashioned diner food).

Finally, Polynesian Cultural Center. We like it, but its not for everyone. The shows were word for word exactly like we had seen a few years ago. Same jokes and everything. You would think some stuff would change. Entertaing at best. Nice grounds and a good way to spend an afternoon, but once is enough. Problem is they open at 12:30 and shows end by 6pm making it difficult to see everything. This is why we went back. The evening show is quite good with an excellent fire dancing display if that's what you like. Skip the buffet, skip the buffet, skip the buffet! You have read the type of food I normally eat, and even for a McDonald's greasy spoon type appetite it is not good. In fact go to McDonalds next door and eat for $10 or less and then return for the evening show, or simply buy a grounds only admission and head home ahead of the crowd. Excellent photo ops if you can stay ahead of the crowd or go back through when they are at the buffet and take some nice pictures along the river and in front of tiki's and huts. Well, that's all for Oahu. A very fun island that requires some investigating if you don't want to feel like you are stuck in the middle of Detroit and Tokyo. Any questions I will try and answer. Aloha, and as I said in the Maui report, you people going to Hawaii soon are some lucky s.o.b.'s and I am eternally jealous.

Aloha Toledo Dave,<BR>Thanks for the great trip report. We are leaving tomorrow for Oahu and Maui also.<BR>We will be staying at HHV on points also. If the Rainbow Tower's rooms are old, which other tower is closest to the beach, besides Ali'i? I don't think they will upgrade me to Ali'i with free points. Would like to stay as close to the beach though.<BR>Is Hanauma Bay still open at 6 AM?<BR><BR>Mahalo,<BR>Cathy

Cathy, if you have not left yet, I would think Rainbow Tower would be fine if you get a room that is non smoking. This assumes you do not smoke of course. It has the best location, but truly needs a renovation of its interior, and has rather small rooms compared to the other towers. And yes, Hanaumau Bay still opens around 6am. I know some tours that pick you up at 6, so maybe it opens at 7, but you can go pretty early(highly recommended). Aloha.