thanksgiving in waikiki
 

I am traveling to honolulu nov 22-26, 06 with my husband. we are staying at the resortquest waikiki beach hotel.

we are looking for tips for things to do. we are up for anything-adventure, relaxation, shopping, etc.

will attractions, restaurants, etc. be open on thanksgiving day? any suggestions for a good hawaii thanksgiving dinner?

any tips are greatly appreciated!

Most restaurants will be open. You won't have any problem finding a good Thanksgiving dinner in Waikiki.

Some attractions will be open. Some closed. USS Arizona Memorial will be closed.

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

www.visit-oahu.com Official Oahu Visitors Bureau. They will send a free brochure. The brochure & website have over 400 websites of attractions, restaurants, shopping, hotels, etc.

Hawaii's largest industry is tourism, so you can bet most things will be open on Thanksgiving! Restaurants will be, for sure.

As for a "good Hawaii Thanksgiving dinner," what are you looking for? Traditional turkey? Or something different?

Not specific to the time of year but some interesting things to see and do around Waikiki/Honolulu include: Bishop Museum, Iolani Palace, Doris Duke's ShangriLa, Honolulu Academy of the Arts, Chinatown, Diamond Head. For shopping the main boulevards of Waikiki and Ala Moana Mall are both great spots.

MelissaHI- we're up for any type of Thanksgiving dinner!

I have no idea what they are offering, but I am a big fan of the Banyan Veranda restaurant at the Moana Surfrider hotel. Excellent views, tables along (well obviously!) a veranda. I had a lovely fixed-price dinner with them including wine.

I second suze's advice! Any of the big hotels will have a nice dinner planned, so you should select one of these special hotels for your meal. After I thought about it, I think the hotels will give you the option of turkey dinner, so if you start craving that, no problem!

IMO the Banyan Veranda should not be missed, especially if they lay on one of their Sunday buffet type affairs for Thanksgiving...and even if they don't the location and ambience are unforgettable.

Lucky you. I have had the pleasure of being in Waikiki twice over the Thanksgiving holiday. You have been given great advice on where to eat that's for sure. My husband and I decided to do a picnic dinner on the north shore one year. Not your traditional dinner but one I'll never forget. We stopped at a "shrimp truck" (on the North Shore) and picked up a delicious shrimp dinner and took it to the beach to eat.
Hopefully you will rent a car atleast one day and take a drive around the island. If you don't venture outside of Waikiki you will not see how beautiful this island is! The mountains on the east side of the island are stunning and the drive to the north shore will reveal beautiful beach after beautiful beach. Kailua Beach and Waimea Bay are my favorites.
There will be plenty of shopping at this time of year. Honolulu / Waikiki/ Kailua will have the holiday decorations up at this time and there will be a parade with fireworks down Kalakaua Ave which is the main route through Waikiki.
Some things you might enjoy:
The climb up Diamond Head. Great view of Waikiki from the top.
A catamaran ride at Waikiki Beach. (My husband and I love to do this).
A luau.
It's a special time of year to be there. Hope you have a great time!
Annika

A bit off subject, but the one time I was in Waikiki in early November, I did some great Christmas shopping! I sent everyone really wonderful Hawaiian Christmas cards that year. And found interesting andn unique Hawaiian made crafts from the art galleries around.