My husband, our 18 year old college student daughter and her friend from college will be going to the BI and Honolulu in mid-June to celebrate our 25th. This is our second trip in 3 years doing the same itinerary, only a longer trip. What makes it different this time is that now my sister-in-law and her husband are joining us in Honolulu and of course we have along the friend. With all that being said I have things I have to do differently this time.
1. We would skip a luau because we had done one 3 years ago and enjoyed it but really didn't need to go again. Now we have all these people joining us and I feel like we need to take them to a luau. It will need to be in Oahu because that is where everyone will be. I'm worried that any luau there will be over-crowded and not as nice as the one we did on the BI 3 years ago. Any thoughts?
2. 2 18 year old girls-you can't really tell them what to do or what not to do. But, are there safe places for them to go on the BI and Waikiki area if we older adults want to go out to over 21 areas and leave them on their own?
Any help would be apppreciated.

Why not let those who have not done a luau, do so if they want to (I think everyone should do one once) and you and your husband could go do something else--or nothing at all!
Your daughters may enjoy shopping at the upscale malls in Honolulu. I wouldn't miss going to the Arizona Memorial. This is a must-see.
PS You could also go to the northshore(my favorite place) and go to Pipeline and Sunset Beaches. These are where the surfing championships are held.

One thing about the luaus on Oahu--they sure are out of the way! If you are near the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in waikiki, I believe they have a luau once a week. It's kinda pricey, but it's not out in the boonies. That way you can drop them there and go off shopping or something. Just one suggestion, although tcapp's suggestion is fine.

By "over 21," do you mean bars & clubs? At night, Waikiki shops don't close till about 11 p.m. so they could walk around Kalakaua Avenue and know that there will be lots of people around. Aloha Tower Marketplace (gotta put in my plug!) has waterfront bars with live music, and they can get in with you. The stores there are open till 9 p.m. Monday - Saturday.

On the Big Island, the shopping area along Ali'hi' drive in Kona wouldbe fine to let your girls wander along by themselves. There's a good shave ice shop there that has an internet cafe in it if they want to check email, too.

We did the luau at the King Kamehameha Hotel in downtown Kona, and it was just fine. If you didn't want to go with the rest, you could have dinner at one of the places downtown and meet them afterwards.

The girls should be safe in Waikiki, I can't imagine why not if they have common sense...

Things I like to do that might suit them include: stroll the main boulevard, watching the free dance and music at the state at Royal Hawaiian shopping center, see the guy run down the street and light the torches at sunset, there's tons of fabulous shopping both cheap and designer, loads of casual fun restaurants, get ice cream and sit and watch the people go by, take The Bus to Ala Moana mall, sit on the beach watching sunset while a couple locals play drums, like that.

stage (not state)... there's a free stage just in from the sidewalk with nightly free performances. I'm not sure if this is always true but the group I saw were artists from the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Thank you. I think my husband and I will have to go for the luau again though, tcapp because it is his sister and brother-in-law that are coming to be with us and my daughter's friend needs to see one and she would not go without my daughter. Everyone is going to want to sort of do some things together and since I sort of feel like the queen bee as far as this trip goes, I feel like we need to take everyone to a luau. Maybe I just need to please everyone but it is in my nature. But it sounds like maybe the one at the PCC might be ok.

If you go to PCC, there was a coupon in the Entertainment Book (last year) for $27. It was buy one get one free for their basic ticket. But they will take $27 off any priced tickets. You'll need to present the coupon when you go to PCC. You can still make reservations in advance.

If you wait until mid-May the book is only $9.99 + $5 shipping. So just the one coupon will pay for itself and then some.

For that price you could buy two books.

www.entertainment.com