Yesterday (12/26) it was clear and beautiful. From last night, though, it started pouring. right now (11 a.m.) it is gray and cloudy all over. What a contrast! You can still see the Pacific Ocean from here, though...... :)

Come see the tanman who has just returned from hawaii and met don ho...click below
http://community.webshots.com/album/235662752aSCkpD
http://community.webshots.com/album/235674893VwJsDS

love how this thread developed :>))

Aloha tanman,

OOhhhhhhhh, are you just attempting to make us all jealous????? B-)

Mahalo for sharing... aaahhh the memories... esp. on a 20 degree day in Chicago.

With fond thoughts... ((R))

Great thread, tanman, but reading all these great posts sure makes me wish I was in paradise instead of behind a desk here in "Sin City!"

Why I love Oahu? I love it the moment I set foot in the airport, just stepping into the open air concourse and gettng that first whiff of the unmatched scents of Hawaii. One good, long deep breath and I realize I'm in heaven. The trade winds breezing through and just the electric energy that IS Oahu.

And of course all the rest - the magic I feel when my toes first sink into the warm sand as I head off on my maiden walk on Waikiki beach - looking toward Diamondhead - and heading straight for the Banyon Bar at the Moana!

The amazing ocean with all it's power, beauty and awesome waves. The sunsets that are incredible. Dark blue skies. Welcome showers on humid days. Driving along toward North Shore, usually seeing numerous rainbows on the way, and the deserted beaches we always manage to find.

The smiling faces all around - no where - not even here in the adult playground I live in - do you see such an abundance of smiling, happy faces. I love people watching in Waikiki - both at the beach and everywhere else, especially from a rocking chair on the lanai of the Moana.

I love taking The Bus anywhere & everywhere and talking to the locals who are so friendly and willing to share their time and their stories.

Now you've got me sitting here daydreaming and wishing I could jump on a plane this afternoon!

I am daydreaming also!

My grandson who works in Oahu asked if I could come there in April to visit him. The answer is YES!!!!!

I am another one who loves Oahu. Cannot give a better description then tanman10 did.

Happy travels everyone.

topping... because it's SNOWING outside AGAIN and I DESPERATELY need an OAHU fix...and a Kauai fix...and a Maui Fix...Molokai...Lanai...Big I.s.l.a.n.d....

DAMN...I'm depressed!
((S))((*))

Leaving for Oahu in 3 weeks....

My vote is for Zippy's. Much like Denny's but it has hawaiian-asian flare specialties including scoops of rice which my husband loves ((L))

Don Ho - that guy amazes me, he must be in his late 70's by now still going strong

while scrolling through all these threads I noticed that someone wrote about the Tahitian Lanai being gone.

I have many memories of that place during the 60's when Val the piano player was there and a lot of the local guys would come and sing Hawaiian music.

Anyone else remember that.

One of my favorite memories is working at Queens Hospital - the birds would be flying in out/ some of the patients would have ukeleles and be strumming and singing while we did our work -

My favorite beach is Bellows - spent many a night there also .

Wish I was there now

Sunburn1944 - that was me reminiscing about the Tahitian Lanai earlier. Oh for some pan fried taro, eggs benedict and those banana muffins...
I didn't arrive til 1974 so I don't remember the piano player at TL. But I think I remember that there was a piano bar at Canlis. ((S))((*))

Plantation iced tea! They make an excellent version at Diamond Head Market & Grill on Monsarrat. Speaking of Monsarrat, I also love the Saturday morning farmers market at Kapiolani Community College.

I used to love watching the rain coming down off the Ko'olaus, making it's way to Kaimuki. I got pretty good at guessing how much time I had to grab lunch/get to my car before the downpour arrived.

Thanks to this thread and others like it that extol the virtues of Oahu, I am planning a trip there for next year! Yippee! First time back since 1985!
-Bill

15 years ago I had the time of my life in Oahu....my most memorable vacation.
I still recall the hawaiian music in the Woolworth's store on Kalakaua and the song playing was "the green green grass of home" sung in hawaiian.
It gave me goosebumps then to hear the intoxicating gentle tones of Hawaiian to a familiar song.
Along with the gorgeous sunsets, the tikis, torches, surfers, breezes, waves, blue , blue and blue ocean and palm trees waving, and hibiscus flowers falling everywhere and so many other memories...Here's to you Oahu!
When I'm there in 4 weeks I'll toast you with a mai tai.
Aloha

Many mahalos, kamahinaohoku... you always seem to pull this thread back up when I need it most... this cold weather can't last much longer!

Aloha for now... ((R))

I love this thread!

Makai1 - Mahalo nui loa to you as well. Obviously we both need a big dose of Oahu when the weather is this bad. And it's supposed to be spring! Weather's all kapakahi.
((S))((*))

The sunsets from Magic Island have been spectacular (except last night) this week. Orange orange skies, glassy Pacific Ocean, sailboats on the horizon. Makes up for the cold weather we had had.....the temps dropped down into the mid 50s!!

Another thread with things to do on Oahu:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34652188

Besides the websites listed on the thread that are good for all islands, here's some more for other islands:

Big Island:

www.bigisland.org

Maui:

www.mauihawaii.org

www.visitmaui.com

Kauai:

www.kauaidiscovery.com

www.kauai-hawaii.com

Whatever island(s) you choose, you can't go wrong.

aloha dusty... you seem to have missed the point.. Oahu... why I love Oahu... just thinking about the crashing surf of the north shore makes me want hop on a jet plane... don't know when I'll be back again... ((H))

I love this thread tanman! I love speed walking/running up Diamond Head, going for a long jog along Kahala, rainbows as we head towards Bellows beach, malasadas at Leonards, the views from Punchbowl, hanging out have a plate lunch.

Makai1 - I didn't miss the point. I was reading the other message with the link to this one and when I wanted to respond to the other one I forgot that I had clicked on the link to this thread.

So I screwed up and responded to the wrong one.

But if nothing else, it brought this one back to the top.

((R)) Aloha... topping for heavens!
Chinatown... yes... fresh leis being strung in Chinatown. ((L))

((R)) topping for max!
Oh yah... watching the surfing at Pipeline and Sunset Beach during the Triple Crown!

A fresh new topping for all of those souls wondering if O'ahu offers anything of importance... enjoy the aloha spirit here... ((R))

No intention of ((R))on your ((?)), curious about this ((W))report((W)) as well:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/03/30/hi.....ap/index.html

what a beautiful thread...and I will not let it fall on such a sour note. waikiki is for sure not for everyone...no place is. each island, and each area of every island has something unique & special to offer. let's stick to honoring beautiful ohau...

I love Oahu for many of the same reasons... it's the feeling I get when I arrive in the airport (I even love the musty smell!) My heart smiles instantly and then I'm on my way...even a trafficy, congested H-1 can't break the feeling. it just adds to the anticipation... stroll along the beach, warm sand in my toes, come to kapiolani park and follow the road up to my favorite spot on Diamond Head to watch the surfers and drink it all in. sunset anywhere. That first early morning stroll is even better...everything is so fresh and waikiki slowly wakes up and comes to life once again. play in the water, ride a wave, nap.... take a drive, roundtop/tantalus does not disappoint... or go the windward coast/north shore and explore a whole new world. calm waters with pristine beaches or big-wave excitement - take your pick. eat your way around the island...malasadas, shrimp truck delight, shave ice oh my! drinking wine out of a plastic cup with great friends on sunset beach, early morning jogs on Laniakai beach before the tour buses roll through for turtle watch, slip into north shore vibe, ride bikes, stroll haleiwa.... fun times & yummy banzai roll at banzai sushi... can't wait to do it all again... maybe next year!

Aloha everyone! Mahalo Oahu!!! We love you. : )

LOL, I don't remember hookers on every street corner! Anyway, Waikiki does put a little negativity on the island of Oahu in general. But there's still plenty to enjoy Windward, Leeward and North side. We had a lot of fun at the Dole Plantation and the maize. :-)

Waikiki is wonderfully nostalgic... and if you wander and breathe and experience it's magic... you'll never be the same...

((R))

Makai1- mahalo plenty for topping. I need a Waikiki fix...

((8))((8))...Waikiki my whole life is empty without you,I miss that magic about you
Magic beside the sea
Magic of Waikiki, Waikiki, Waikiki
Magic of Waikiki...
sigh...
((S))((*))

Well, since this thread has been resurrected anyway, I'm going to go ahead and add: Mac nut pancakes at Boots and Kimo's!!!

Shirokiya Dept Store at the Ala Moana Center, then trip to the food court at the basement for a super wide selection of whatever i feel like eating at the moment.

We are huge Hawaii Five-O fans and love watching our taped shows before we go back to Oahu. We also watch them on the plane on the way over. Then we go to all the different places they shot the show and take pictures. We have pictures of Jack Lord's a.k.a Steve McGarrett's condo. When he passed away his wife threw his ashes into the water right in front of thier condo.

In one episode at the HHV, the bad guys missed when they went to shoot one of the good guys. The next shot shows Danno digging the bullet out of a coconut palm. A couple of years ago I actually found the coconut palm and the hole from Danno digging into it. I have a wonderful picture of it.

WE LOVE WAIKIKI/HONOLULU FOR HAWAII FIVE-O!!!

We got back last week. It was our first trip to Hawaii and we had a great time. Here is our list

1. Rented a car and toured the island. Magnificent beaches.

2. Sun, sun, sun in Waikiki

3. Mackey's Shrimp truck on the north shore. Don't miss it!

4. We saw birds we have never seen. Not to mention the mongooses.

5. Hilton Royal Hawaiin and Turtle Bay Resorts are awesome.

6. Though kind of hustle bustle in Waikiki, it is laid back.

7. Fresh pineapple, mango and papaya.

8. People won't jaywalk here....

Thanks for resurrecting this great thread - Oahu is my hands down favorite island, and Waikiki my favorite place on earth. Even though I haven't even been home for a month since my last visit I am still longing for the beauty and tranquility that waits for me there. It helps to read through all of these posts and close my eyes and it's almost as good as being back there again. I'll just have to read posts like this and daydream until June 26th rolls around and I get to go back to paradise again ....

topping for degas

I love Oahu because of all the fabulous Fodorites that live there and play host to travelers like me!

As I continue to search for this thread to refer it to others who have never been here... and just back from a lovely time with my sister in Jan 08, and new heart pulls... just thought I'd share a few thoughts...

((R)) Heartfelt tribute to Don Ho... beloved Hawaiian voice... you will be missed

((R)) Waialua Farmers Market... perfect... buying fresh ahi from the back of a fishermans pick up

((R)) Mokuleia beach... precious for solitary walks... not a soul in sight

((R)) Watching weddings on KeIki and Lanikai beaches taking our breath away

((R)) Pulling over at Pupukea beach at sunset...

((R)) Whales breaching at Kaena Point

((R)) Tasting mangosteen for the first time in Chinatown

((R)) Enjoying time with MelissaHI at Aloha Tower Marketplace and meeting Icuy ;;)

((R)) Getting lei'd w/ tuberrose

((R)) Fawwaz seranading us with ukulele and original music at Hauula Gift Shop as we tried on clothes

((R)) Talking story with an ole timer as he was carving and staining tikis

((R)) Sipping champagne at the beach at Turtle Bay

((R)) Purchasing original Hawaiian tapa cloth from a lovely lady at a fruit stand on the north shore... more story

((R)) Enjoying our last night with a fine bottle of red on KeIki beach and a brilliant sunset

((R)) Big waves

((R)) Love, love, love O'ahu

enjoying Oahu is easy when you are with Fabulous Fodorites like Makai!!

By the way, you can get to know the different neighborhoods at www.myadvertiser.com. MY neighborhood blog is at www.myadvertiser.com/kakaako -- scroll down, you'll see my photo on the right. click on my photo and you can read all about the different "insider" things a local does around here.

&lt;<b>&gt;LOVE&lt;</b>&gt; the &quot;whale tales&quot;, Mels!! Great pix too!

mak((R))

Topping, cuz Makai1 is a fantastic sleuth!

LOL!! You know me too well Mels!!

Here's what dictionary.com says for sleuth...

&quot;a dog used for tracking or pursuing, such as a bloodhound.

I'm just a regular ole K9... no gettin' away from it! ;;)

~smooch~