Hello all, we are traveling to Oahu & Maui in Jan. 06. 5 days each island. We have never been to either before. Do you have any recommended must do's for us as well as places to eat? Thank you so much!! Lydafur

Pearl Harbor, the Queens Palace, snorkle at Hanama Bay, drive all around the island, hike up Diamond Head, apply copious amounts of sun screen and hit the beach, shop...and you will get so many more suggestions. There are many threads about Oahu..wee if you can do a search..and I know you will get more answers. On Maui you can take the road to Hana, go up to Haleakala crater, hit the beach, take a whale watching cruise..I didn't take the cruise but saw whales from the shoreline..it was wonderful seeing them...drive around the island and just poke around the little towns, stroll Front Street in Lahaina...junky store, nice stores, interesting and fun art galleries...more to do than you will have time for, so pick the important things and then just relax, it's Hawaii after all. Have a good trip.

On O’ahu...

Pearl Harbor (Honolulu)
•Arizona Memorial
•Battleship Missouri
•Bowfin Submarine

Chinatown (Honolulu)
•Watch the ladies string leis
•Fresh produce & bakery (coconut loaves are great)

Shopping
•International Marketplace - Waikiki
*Aloha Tower - Waikiki
•Swap meet @ Aloha Stadium – cheap souvies - Honolulu

Snorkeling
•Hanauma Bay (closed on Tuesday) – Southeast point

Drives
•Tantalus & Round Top – we haven’t done this but have heard it’s great esp. at dusk
•Circle Drive – Pali Highway – stop at the Pali Lookout – very windy
•Windward Coast (East) to the North Shore back through central plateau
(reversed is good too). This is a full day. Good stops on this drive:
Byodo-In Temple
Mac Nut Outlet – free coffee & nut tasters
In Laie – Morman Temple (near the PCC – see below)
Romy’s or Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck for a “snack” (sorry Brenda, just shrimp)
Fruit Stands for fresh pineapple & locally made crafts
Sunset beach –get out & watch the surfers on the big waves
Haleiwa - Aoki’s for a shave ice, Wyland Art Gallery, K’ua A’ina for a sandwich
Drive out to Kaena Point – if you have a jeep you can 4-wheel out past the parking lot and drive almost to the end

Luau
*Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC is near Laie on the windward-east coast)

Other Ideas in Waikiki:
•Hula show in Kuhio Beach Park @ sunset (near the Duke statue)
•Seeing Iolani Palace
•Honolulu Zoo O’ahu

Notes:

You’ll want to drive the windward (east) coast during the day – it is spectacular – don’t miss it.

Have a wonderful time!

oops... ignore the "sorry Brenda just shrimp" comment. These were notes I wrote for friends traveling to O'ahu.

Lots to do on Oahu:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34696831

For a free pdf download Oahu Circle island driving tour map and a free pdf Oahu movie location map:

http://www.discoveringhawaii.com/ Look in the middle of the page for the free downloads.

Maui:

www.mauihawaii.org This is a great website.

www.visitmaui.com

Definatly the Arizona Memorial and make sure you don't miss the North Shore.

I went on a mission once to find the best Pina Colada on Oahu. That was 25 years ago and can't remember who won. Really, I liked them all.

lydafur, on Oahu .........Pearl Harbor, a walk down Waikiki Beach at sunset as the sun goes down and the lights are music commence at the resorts, swim at Sans Souci Beach in front of the New Otani, a drink (and maybe dinner) at Duke's at Outrigger Waikiki, a day at Lanikai Beach ... more to come, gotta run!

thank you to all of you who replied, you gave me tons of ideas and I truely appreciate that. If you think of anything else let me know, I will check this every now and then before I go. Thanks tons!! Lydafur