Oahu

[marqueemoon]

My wife and I are here until Friday. We're staying in Kailua. It's niiiiice here.

We mainly plan to take it easy, but we're planning to visit Pearl Harbor and spend the day in Honolulu on Friday.

Any "must see/do" stuff you'd recommend?

 

[dokblues]

The North Shore and a drive through the Pinnapple fields to get there! Oh and Pay for the Tour through the Missouri it`s Great! But not for the Claustrophobic!

 

[marqueemoon]

Thanks. We will probably hit the North Shore at some point. Not sure about the Missouri.

 

[Sam Cogley]

Do the big tour of the USS Missouri - it's an extra $25 on top of the $20 ticket, but well worth it. I just got back from Maui (which I prefer over Oahu, but I tend towards laid-back areas), but I took a side trip to visit the Missouri as she was still on active duty the last time I visited Pearl.

 

[onepixel]

It might be to late to get tickets for Pearl Harbor. They tend to go well in advance.

If you're in Kailua, paddle out to the Mokulua Islands. You can rent or take a tour. If you hit the North Shore make sure you stop at Giovanni's shrimp truck. But before you get to the North Shore check put the Dole Pineapple Plantation.

The Polynesian Cultural Center is touristy, but a great way to learn about the South Pacific culture and they have a show and luau. The Byodo-in Temple is pretty cool and a scene from "LOST" was shot there.

Hike up Diamond Head for a spectacular view. Have brunch at the Royal Hawaiian. Learn to surf in Waikiki. Visit Foster Botanical Garden. Take a sunset dinner cruise or sail. Snorkel Hanauma Bay. Eat a lot of fresh fish and have fun!

 

[bigstereo]

My wife and I are here until Friday. We're staying in Kailua. It's niiiiice here.

We mainly plan to take it easy, but we're planning to visit Pearl Harbor and spend the day in Honolulu on Friday.

Any "must see/do" stuff you'd recommend?

Kailua was my home for 6 years.
I was fortunate enough to be stationed for 6 years at KMCAS-Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station. K-Bay for short.

The base sits alone on a penninsula with Kaneohe Bay on the northern side and Kailua Beach on the southern side. What a beautiful piece of real estate that was to spend a chunk of my life on. Surrounded by beaches and crystal turqoise blue water. Man those were some good times.

Hanauma Bay is cool for looking at fish and stuff in the water. Check out Sandy Beach for some awesome boogie boarding or body surfing. Undercurrent is/was strong when I was there. I advise fins if you go there to try the waves. They can surprise you.
Enjoy brah. Drink it in.

 

[Jack Lord]

As I look outside at the rain and slush, I realize you guys are killing me.

Go to the lava beaches on the North Shore at sunset. All the tidal pools in the lava get lit up by the setting son and it looks like another planet.

 

[KeninDC]

Hanauma Bay

Great fun. Lots of turtles and fish. Avoid the weekends. It's a park, so you have to pay and then watch a short "don't kill the animals" flick, but it is worth it.

The hut where Elvis lived in "Blue Hawaii" was on this beach. Just up the road, IIRC, from the park is the "From Here to Eternity" beach.

BTW - my sister works in a surf shop on Oahu. She shapes boards and sells 'em.

Waikiki is also essential. It is so Athur Godfrey/Jack Lord Hawaii.

Ken

 

[Jack Lord]

Athur Godfrey/Jack Lord

Watch it punk.:nono:

 

[similost]

Let's see.. if I was in Hawaii.. :scratch2:

my do list would be "DO stay away from AK and go do stuff..."

I'm sure beach and umbrella drinks would be way high up on that list..

 

[Jack Lord]

Let's see.. if I was in Hawaii.. :scratch2:

my do list would be "DO stay away from AK and go do stuff..."

I'm sure beach and umbrella drinks would be way high up on that list..

Amonst other things....

 

[similost]

No.. that would be if I was in Jamaica..

 

[KeninDC]

Amonst other things....

Kona Gold, Mr. Godfrey.

 

[Sam Cogley]

It might be to late to get tickets for Pearl Harbor. They tend to go well in advance.

We got our tickets for the three museums (Bowfin, Missouri, Naval Aviation) at 9:45 in the morning that day. Our tour of the Missouri started at 11am, and left the Wardroom with only three people. Another tour guide brought four more as we were standing on the bow a few minutes later. This was on a Saturday earlier this month. The Bowfin was almost deserted when we walked through. My former roommate who's living in Maui just went along because he knew I really wanted to see the Missouri, but ended up loving the tour. Unless a massive batch of tour groups has just shown up, you should be just fine.

Let's see.. if I was in Hawaii.. :scratch2:

my do list would be "DO stay away from AK and go do stuff..."

I'm sure beach and umbrella drinks would be way high up on that list..

Why do you think I was really quiet for a week?

 

[slow_jazz]

Scoot over to Maui if you get a chance for a day.

 

[marqueemoon]

Thanks for the suggestions. We went to a botanical garden and a Buddhist temple today.

Kailua has a pretty good record store as it turns out.

 

[SpeakerLabFan]

I second the recomendation for hitting the Dole plantation - check if they are serving food, if so it's a very nice lunch stop on the way to the north beach, and they provide jobs there to local disabled folks so it's for a good cause. Kailua is a beautiful spot on Oahu, we found that it's a quick, cheap bus trip over the hump from Honolulu and we spent the day at the beach park on 3 different days the last time we visited.

Get out and soak up the sun - you won't see much of it again - when you return to Seattle - until July :sigh:

Oh, and for Jack Lord, it's currently 8:30pm Hawaii time, Fair and 70' ...

 

[mech986]

Hi, here's a few suggestions:

1. If you haven't already, take a short visit back to Pearl Harbor and visit the Arizona Memorial. Nowhere else in Hawaii is the feeling you will get knowing the sacrifice of our military from that day in 1941. I take that back, visit Punchbowl Cemetary for another perspective.

It never diminiishes no matter how many times you go.

2. Check out Iolani Palace in Downtown Honolulu, take the tour for some insight into the royal families of Hawaii. Tour is a little pricey but well worth it, don't recall if there are any discount tickets, call ahead for reservations.
364 South King Street, Honolulu, HI 96804, (808) 522-0822

2. Go to the Liliha bakery for some homemade pastries - go early, it goes fast. 515 North Kuakini Street, Honolulu, HI 96817-2299 (808) 531-1651

4. Travel up the Pali Highway into the Nuuanu District. Visit the Queen Emma Summer Palace nestled in the Pali Area. Excellent and quick tour with a Hawaiian host. 2913 Pali Highway, Honolulu, HI‎ - (808) 595-3167‎

5. Head up to the Pali Lookout near the summit of the Pali Highway before it heads into Kaneohe. Be certain there are no visible valuables in your car - the parking lot is not secure and there are folks willing to take advantage of tourists.

At the Pali lookout, you will walk north up the hill to the top of the look out. If its a good day, the weather will be clear and somewhat windy but the view will be spectacular to the north. If its a great day, the weather will be rough, the skies will be cloudy or stormy, and the wind will be HELL.
HOLD ON TO ANYTHING THAT COULD COME OFF OF YOU!!

You will see the sheer slopes of the mountain range where historic battles were fought for control of Oahu. Be sure to bring a great camera but hold on to it!

6. Once on the north side, travel around the Pali or Koolau Golf clubs for some majestic scenery.

Oh, and if you are interested or have the time, consider visiting the New Hope Church. Its Christian Worship Contemporary Hawaiian style.
290 Sand Island Access Road Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 842-4242
www.enewhope.org for videos and service times before you go. You'll meet a lot of neat local people.

7. Get some authentic Luau food before you go. You might not like it all but eat like a Hawaiian before you leave.

Have fun@!!@!

Bart
'eh brudha!

 

[mech986]

PS: Buy some Kalapana albums locally - Kalapana I and II or a Best of Kalapana Vol I or II. Contemporary 70's Hawaiian Rock and Pop.

Also Brothers Cazeimero (Sp) for some very nice Hawaiian singing. Recommend "Hawaiian Hula Eyes" as a cruising album.

Gotta have some tunes to remind you of your time there.

Bart