Surprise activities for son and girlfriend
 

Son and the GF are going to Honolulu for a week in March for their spring break.
They are staying at a VERY cheap motel, and on a budget. I would like to surprise them with some prepaid activites.

They are athletic and adventurous. I thought of surf lessons...nice romantic restaurant..etc.

Any ideas?

They are 21 so drinking is ok.

couple hikes should be on the agenda. <a href="http://www.oahunaturetours.com">oahu nature ours </a>

i enjoyed it because i didn't have to do any driving, and the guide was very knowledgeable.

Why don't you get them a couple of nights in a nice hotel room, maybe on the north Shore.

There are all sorts of activities you could purchase for them through Expedia.

Sunset dinner cruises are always a fun time.

www.shangrilahawaii.org
is a tour of a very beautiful estate run thru Honolulu Academy of the Arts. you need to reserve tickets in advance $25/pp.

What about a luau?

How about a luau?

Polynesian Cultural Center would be a great activity/luau.

Lots of info:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34812564

For activities/tours you can look at these sites:

www.hawaiiactivities.com

www.activityworld.com

www.hawaiifun.org

Instead of prepaying for activities, you could buy them a book or two so they can get out & see Oahu.

'Oahu Revealed' and/or 'Driving & Discovering Hawaii, OAHU, Honolulu & Waikiki'.

I think surf lessons and a guided hike sound like winning ideas, especially for athletic types.

My thought was the athletic activites are mostly free on Oahu (hiking DiamondHead, etc.)

So a nicer dinner, show, tour, or luau would be more what they might enjoy but not be able to afford themselves.

How about a better hotel?

Other than that, I would send them to a luau (with transportation included) and surfing lessons.

Better hotel and surf lessons.

Maybe they're happy with their cheap motel.

I'd give them money for nice meals instead. Someplace like the Banyon Veranda at the Moana, or Shorebird or Ocean House at the Outriffer Reef.

A snorkeling trip out on a boat.

Thank you for all of your suggestions.

I might add that they won't have a rental car, so things need to be somewhat close to the cheapie motel near Waikiki Beach.

Surf lessons and the luau sound good.

Their little motel has a kitchenette and is clean and run by a nice family. They won't be in the room for very much time...so I think a nice meal would be better.

Re Surf Lessons:

Can someone recommend which company for this near Waikiki Beach?

I think a very fun thing to do is the Outrigger Canoe rides

I lived in Hawaii for a couple of years and never did the outrigger rides because I thought it was too
"touristy" but later did go back as a tourist and I thought it was very fun!!

We had a blast

Rutheye, we're always in the market for a cheap motel! :-D What is its name, and does it have a website?

Lee Ann

I think it's a sweet idea to surprise them. What about a gift card (Visa or American Express) so they can choose what they want to do? You could provide them with a list of suggestions. They might prefer to choose their own activities and not be locked into anything. They could also choose to splurge on a souveneir or dinner that they would not get to on a tight budget.

The inexpensive motel is called Waikiki Prince Motel. I found it after ALOT of research for these kids. Almost had them book the hostel down he street, but this seemed almost as cheap and offers individual kitchenettes. Here is the website:

http://www.waikikiprince.com/

I think that hotel looks like a great choice! I'd be very interested to hear how it turns out for them, or from anyone else who knows the hotel. It's not easy to find nice low cost rooms in Waikiki.

What about a rental car for a day so they can get out and explore the Island a bit more.

Was just going to suggest renting them a car or jeep for a day or 2 to explore the island.

If getting a rental car, I'd suggest only for 1 day, otherwise you'd have to get into the parking situation, how much $, is it even available at the hotel, etc.

They can't rent a car because under 25. I am sending them "THE BUS" info.

Here is my list: I need to narrow it down a bit because it is pretty expensive.

1. Sunset Sail - Outrigger Catamaran on Friday night so as to see Hilton fireworks display.
$82 total

2. Surf lessons - Aloha Beach Desk
$70 total

3. Windsurfing lessons with Prime Time Sports
$90 total

4. Dinner at Hau Tree Lanai - either fixe prix or ala carte
$130 ? total

5. Outrigger Canoe ride
$20 total

What shall I cut? Right now $397. Cheaper dinner somewhere? I was thinking on the beach/romantic. They are prob. not foodies like I am...

Thanks for all of your advice!

are you sure about the car rental? My daughter rented plenty of times when she was under 25 - she was older than 21, but under 25 - now, this was not in Hawaii, but was in various states in the U.S. -.....
b/c I think being able to drive around the island for a day and stop at all the sites, snorkel, lunch, would be a great day !

from the web:
If you are over 21 but under 25 you can rent a car but
there is good news and bad news. The good news is yes you can rent a car. The bad news is it will cost you about $20-25 extra for being young and reckless. Alamo and Dollar are your best bets."

There are several companies on Oahu that rent to under 25 with no additional cost.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...hu_Hawaii.html

Wow! You can rent an economy car in HNL for $13/day. Perhaps I should skip their dinner and rent a car for 3-4 days.

How is parking/traffic/driving on the island?

So...looking at my "list"...what would be your top 3-4 items?

Is the outrigger canoe ride that great? Only $10/PP.

I am leaning towards the sunset sail and surfing lessons as a definite.

Windsurfing sounds wonderful as well.

Jees! I suppose I should just give them the printed out info and a debit card and let them choose.

Just found out that the hotel charges $10/day for parking.

They would have to arrange getting to airport at least one way for pick up of rental. The BUS?

How about them getting the rental when they arrive?
They could do a drive of the island - we loved it when we did that - we went up past Waikiki beach - and darn, I can't remember all the names but snorkeled, then saw the Blow Hole and Chinaman Hat (excuse if my spellings are wrong it was over 8 yrs ago) - and up to Polynesian Culture Center, and all along the coast - one very nice, long day of driving and stopping and seeing things -

we really enjoyed that - the next day we did the other side of the island -

It might be a nice overview for them either at the beginning or end - then they can return the car and do the outrigger canoe ride or something -

maybe you are best giving them the rental car, if you like that idea, and just some 'mad money' and let them choose - give them the money and print out the ideas you have had - the surfing, outrigger, etc - and give it to them like a packet and let them choose?

That way, if they choose to use it all for one amazing sunset dinner on the beach at a fancy restaurant, so be it - or if they choose to do 2 or 3 activities, it's at least their choice and on their timeframe -

I just hope son and GF appreciate you rutheye b/c you are one generous and thoughtful person !! :)

whatever you do I am sure will be greatly appreciated.

Speaking from my own experience, I would prefer to receive a gift card so I would not be locked into something I prefer not to do, does not fit into my schedule, is not of interests or makes me feel guilty when I don't use it. A gift card will be appreciated and give them the freedom to choose their own activities.

Why do they have to go all the way back to the airport to pick up the rental car? There's car places right in central Waikiki.

I also would perfer (to receive myself) a gift card with a monetary value, and perhaps a LIST of the suggested activities.

Reasoning, I HATE to be tied to a schedule in Hawaii mand never book anything ahead of time or commit to certain things on certain days, never. For me, that wouldn't be a gift I would really appreciate.

Based on the rental car companies listed above that rent to under 25 WITHOUT added surcharges...the only one is at the airport. (ADVANTAGE)

They are arriving on a Thursday, prob. in afternoon. I thought that if they took the BUS from their hotel to airport on Sunday night, they could keep car for 2 days, and drive Mon/Tues when it is not crowded up at the windy shore beaches. Weekends apparently can be quite crowded. The BUS ride to the airport isn't too long, is it? They are on island time, so why not?

I am now leaning towards the mad money and gift "idea cards." Have done my research and printed out maps and such from Lonely P/Frommers/Trip Advisor/etc.

I may reserve the Hau Tree Lanai restaurant for their last night. Views are great and food is at least good. They are college kids...so it doesn't have to be gourmet. Any cons to that choice?

Again...many thanks for all of your suggestions! Ruth

The only con is that I'd rather pick my own restaurant :-) For myself, I'd rather eat several meals at more casual places, instead of dropping $$$ on one meal. Not to mention, in Hawaii I don't particularly enjoy the more high-end tourist-type places that I feel I'd need to dress up a little bit to fit in.

Oh, and yes, they can take The Bus back to the airport area. It's only ~1/2 hour. There is a website with schedules and information at:
www.thebus.org

Hands down for surf lessons use the Hans Hedemann Surf School based in Waikiki.

Also a fun day is a boat excursion where they anchor off shore in Waikiki, feed them lunch, water trampoline, slide off the 2 story boat into the water, kayaking, snorkeling, etc... People of all ages love this.
http://www.hawaiiactivities.com/us/h...hu/sg/25/ag/70