Hi Everybody! We just got back from our first trip to Hawaii and fell in love with the place. We have found our Utopia. I'm already trying to figure out how soon we can afford to go there again!

Here's a little background about us. We are a child-free, pet-free couple in our early 40's and have been married for 11 years. We are both college educated professionals who love to travel (but never seem to have enough time off to do as much as we'd like). We are not big partiers (my husband does not drink and I drink only a little) and we are not "beach people". That said, we LOVED Hawaii. It has so much to offer, no matter what you enjoy.

The first 5 nights we spent on Oahu. We stayed at the New Otani Kaimani Beach Hotel which is located right on Waikiki Beach on the Diamond Head end. The hotel is lovely and has a warm, welcoming staff. The rooms are rather small and ours did have a definite smoky odor. (They don't offer non-smoking rooms.) The room had a comfortable king size bed, glass top table and two chairs, a safe ($2 per day fee), a small fridge and a decent size balcony. We watched many sunsets from our balcony, which was just heavenly. The bath area was also small but very workable. We were very pleased with our hotel choice. They have a fabulous restaurant, Hau Tree Lanai, which I would highly recommend. Try to get there before sunset because it is outdoors, but is covered by the tree's canopy.

We went to Pearl Harbor to visit the Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri. This trip should be on everyone's "to do" list. We got transportation for only $6 pp/rt (VIP Transport). We had lunch at Duke's that afternoon and meandered our way back to our hotel for a late afternoon dip in the ocean. We had dinner at the hotel's sushi restaurant, which I would NOT recommend. Next day we hiked up to the top of Diamond Head which was awesome. Not too difficult if you're a hiker, but there are a lot of stairs to climb. Went to dinner at Nick's Fishmarket which was excellent...both the service and our meals. This may have been the best dinner of our trip. Next day we rented a car and drove up to the North Shore and spent a few hours at the Waimea Park, where they have cliff divers. Then we drove down the windward side of the island and stopped at many places along the way. Last day we went golfing at Ko'olau in the morning (I rode along since I don't golf). This course is extraodinary with one breath taking vista after the next. Later we stopped at more beautiful spots along the coast, such as the blowhole. Finally late in the afternoon we found Hanauma Bay and snorkeled. It was just as beautiful as the pictures with tons of fish! Because we got there so late, the crowds were light but the visibility wasn't great by then either. Beware there is a long steep walkway down to the beach which seemed rather punishing after a long day of activities! We ate at a Chinese restaurant in the Hilton Hawaiian Village (don't recall the name) which had okay food, but was ridiculously overpriced (even by Hawaii standards!) Next day we checked out and flew to Maui for the second part of our vacation. Please see part 2 (to come). Aloha!

Oops! Sorry about the spelling screw-up on Oahu. I'm still jet lagged. Please be kind!

You probably ate at the Golden Dragon. It is very pricey to say the least! Honolulu has tons of Chinese (and other ethnic) eateries outside of inflated Waikiki. New Otani's my fav- hotel in Waikiki. It's a well-kept secret, but, I'm afraid, word's getting around!

Yes, you're right. It was the Golden Dragon. I looked it up in my Fodor's book. They give it a star and $-$$ rating which is way off base. We spent about $80 and all we got was soup and our main course, plus I had a beer. The menu is a la carte so they even charge for rice!

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Lenore,
Regarding the hike to the top of Diamond Head, were there parts of the hike that were right along the drop? I am interested in this hike, but am terrified of heights. I suspect it may not be the best choice for me, but I'd love to see the view from the top.

I don't recall any terrifying drop offs, but I'm not fearful of heights. The hike itself is really not very interesting. It's the views from the top that are awesome. The main thing is the steps. There are lots and lots of steps and parts of the hike are in the dark. We brought small flashlights but a lot of people didn't! We were very glad we did this hike. Enjoy!

Hi Lois, we were just in Oahu and Maui last week. We climbed Diamond head. We were able to get to the top in around 30-40 minutes. You would definitely need a flash light and water. There are many steps but they are really not that bad. My boyfriend and I are both atheletic, therefore, the climb was a breeze. The view up there was incredible. I suggest that you give it a try. I don't find it dangerous at all, just make sure you have good walking/hiking shoes. The rocky ground can easily twist your ankles if you are not careful. Other than that, we had a great time.

I am still leaning toward doing the Diamond Head hike. I am still not sure if I asked the question clearly enough. Does the path or steps to the top lie close to the edge of the rim [where you can see how far down it is]? Hope someone can help. I would hate to go that far up, through dark tunnels, etc. and then have to turn around before reaching the top because of my fear of heights, and let me tell you, it's a huge fear!

Lois, the Diamond Head hike is a breeze, and the path is pretty wide all the way up. I don't think there are stretches which would be scary for you. The most dizzying part is at the top, but then you could stand way back from the edge.

Nope, not any more scary than standing on a 40 story balcony -- you don't have to put yourself anywhere near the edge. Diamond Head is considered one of the easiest hikes if you stay on the main route. It's nothing like those Koolau mountain hikes with 2000ft sheer cliffs on one side and a 600 foot valley drop on the other along a ridgeline with only a few inches wide for you to make way through. Now that's scary!

Thanks for the Diamond Head info. I'm looking forward to the trip!

Always have to throw this in when someone mentions Diamond Head. A more scenic and certainly less touristed hike is the Makapu lighthouse hike (20 minute drive over the pali from Waikiki. Go when it is overcast or early morning for panaramic views of the windward and southeast coasts. Just a more beautiful view IMO, very few people and paved roads leading you to lighthouse area. Lighthouse location is closed but there are fenced vistas in nearby spots that afford you incredible views.

Don't worry Lois, I also have a great fear of heights and had no problems with the Diamond Head hike. As others have mentioned, the paths are wide and there are railings along the whole route.