Hawaii Advice

From Hawaii Insider, Beth Terry

I lived in Hawaii for almost 30 years and just moved to Arizona after 9/11. Over the years, I’ve had a lot of friends visit my island paradise. I will share with you what I usually send them while they are planning their trip. Right now most of this is for Oahu. Some of the general comments apply to all the islands. More will be added shortly.

When you get to the airport in Hawaii, you will see brochure racks everywhere. Raid them. A lot of these have 2 for 1 offers and coupons. Plus they all have maps and ideas for what to do. Also visit www.Hawaii.com, and go to www.hawaiianair.com – both have some good links for more info, as well as specials and an occasional coupon.

A warning about buying tour packages – especially before you arrive – make sure the operators are reputable. There are those who take your money and then don’t buy the ticket for you. You then have to go through a lot of hassles to get a refund, and your trip is soured. Be sure to ask your hotel for a trusted source and do your homework, go online to http://www.TripAdvisor.com and see if there are any negative stories about that tour company. You can also check with the BBB.

Traffic in Honolulu is very difficult at times. Oahu is a tiny island with waaaay too many cars. And it seems like everyone is out at the same time. So be prepared. It helps to keep a map and a sense of humor with you at all times. Study the map before you leave and get your bearings. Take a deep breath and repeat after me, "We are on vacation, and it is better to be in bad traffic in paradise than in a snowstorm back home." Don't assume that if you know the first few letters of a street or off-ramp name, you've got it. I remember when I first moved to Oahu from the Big Island. I had to drive up to the North Shore alone. I forgot to write down the name of the major offramp off the H-1 Freeway. But I was confident it wouldn't be that hard. I knew it started with "WAI..." something. Imagine my distress when I saw I had several choices: "Waipahu" or "Waianae" - and much further up the road I took - "Waialua." Gulp. I just guessed, and fortunately, guessed right! After that, I wrote down all my directions. But never fear. These ARE islands. Eventually you'll get back to where you started!

Be sure you have the phone number of the concierge at your hotel so you can call them if you get lost or turned around. Most GPS systems work in Hawaii, so if you are going to drive, be sure you have downloaded the most current Hawaii map.

Most importantly, leave yourself lots of time. Be prepared to be stuck in traffic. Carry some snacks, relax and notice the beautiful surroundings, even though you are stuck, and count your blessings, you COULD be stuck on the LA Freeway instead of in balmy Hawaii. That’s why our motto is “Hang Loose!”

Where to go... first, Pearl Harbor: there are a lot of tour packages of PH available where they will pick you up. You can also drive over. You’ll see it when you fly into Oahu. Usually you want to be on the left side of the plane to get a good view (but don’t hold me to that. A shift in winds and they’ll be landing from the other direction!) A lot of street vendors will be trying to sell the tour to you. Be well-informed before you buy. Here is the official site
http://www.pearl-harbor.us/tour.php

Ask your hotel concierge what a reasonable taxi fare should be if you aren't renting a car. The Bus system in Hawaii is also very good, so that is another option.

Punchbowl is another place to visit:

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~turner/oahu/pnchbwl.htm

If you have a car - you will want to go to Tantalus and Roundtop the same
day you go to Punchbowl. It is all in the same general area. Bring plenty of film! Here is that link (and you can cruise around this link for more good Hawaii advice)
http://gohawaii.about.com/library/weekly/aa080700a.htm

Polynesian cultural Center is a long drive from Waikiki.
http://www.polynesia.com/ it is run by the Mormon Church and has almost a full day of things to do. Think of it as a Polynesian Disneyland.

On the windward side of the island, you may want to stop at the Valley of the Temples and see the Byodo-In Temple. Buy some fish food at the little store and feed the Koi (brightly colored Japanese carp.) Get your video camera ready, and toss in the food. You won't believe the commotion that these huge, colorful fish make!
http://www2.hawaii.edu/~turner/oahu/byodo.htm

I always recommend a sunset drink at the bar/restaurant outside the Royal Hawaiian Hotel (the pink hotel in Waikiki). The view of Waikiki at night, the surfers catching waves, the sounds of luau music drifting in, the smell of the plumeria -- can't be beat. Again, worth it even if it rains.

Another great view is from Dave and Busters - a 3 story video game room and restaurant that is right next to the theatres in the new Ward Center. Go up to the top floor and sit on the lanai. The view is wonderful.
http://www.victoriaward.com/

At the far end of Waikiki where Kalakaua and Kapahulu avenues meet, there is a zoo with wonderful exotic animals. Just past that are several great beaches and a huge park. You are now near the foot of Diamond Head, the famed icon of Hawaii. If you are a hiker, Diamond Head is a great hike.

Restaurants I particularly love are :

Restaurants:
Kapahulu Avenue is right outside of Waikiki. You probaqbly need to drive there. It is a street to know about. I often go into Waikiki that way from the H1 freeway or one of the back streets like King street (which runs almost the entire
length of Honolulu) -Kapahulu Avenue has about 31 restaurants, most of them pretty good and not all that expensive. If you go to Mapquest.com and type in "Kapahulu Avenue Honolulu HI 96815," you will get a map that shows where you want to go and will give you your bearings.

(My lawyer says I have to put in a disclaimer here. I don't own these restaurants, control them, or accept money for advertising. As always, use your best judgment for what works best for you. These are spots you can find ME when I'm home in Hawaii.)

(1) Ono Ono Hawaiian food (very local, very "hole in the wall" - much cheaper than a luau and the same food. Be sweet and kind to them, you will have to wait to get in. They are wonderful people and it IS clean, despite being a little hole in the wall. For me, every trip has to include Ono Ono's. I love their Haupia (coconut pudding) for dessert. Try everything. You'll be deliciously surprised.

(2) Genki Sushi - you pay for sushi by the plate and it comes by you on a conveyor belt. The kids will get a kick out of it. Not all sushi is raw fish and you can order soup and things like that. It is more of a cultural experience than great food. But it is inexpensive.

(3) Irifune - a great Japanese restaurant. And if you like garlic, they will fix a plate you will dream about. Again, there may be a wait. These are locals’ favorite hangouts and much much much cheaper than eating in Waikiki.

(4) Rainbow drive inn - this is close to Waikiki and the Zoo. You have to have at least one "plate lunch" while you are there. Just go and let me know what you think. Well, you have to try it just once.

(5) Zippy's restaurants are all over the place and they aren't bad. Lots to choose from. They even have a kind of "health food" - brown rice is available as are some vegetarian chilis. Eat in or to go.

Heck - anything along Kapahulu is probably a good bet. Go and explore. Don't forget to check out Diamond Head Grill, too.

Outside of Kapahulu –

(6) There is a little Kava Bar called Diamond Head Cove on Montsarrat Avenue just above the Zoo area. It is on your right hand side and is easily missed. But it is wonderful! Tell the owner Marcus Marcos and his golden Labrador Pono that I said “hi.” Pono is a TV star, a surfer, and he does counting tricks. Worth the price of admission! The food is good and you could spend all day there.

Other places
(7) Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch and Crab is another nice place. They are on Nimitz Highway on the way to the airport. Nimitz is a split Highway and the direction going to the airport is the side that Sam Choy's is on. Right before Hilo Hatties.

(8) Michel’s - my top of the line, really special night out, very expensive favorite is Michels on the beach. Still in Waikiki but way down Kalakaua almost to Diamond head. The General Manager is Philip Shaw, tell him I said ‘hi.’

(9) If you love sushi – you don’t need to spend a lot. Aloha Sushi, Ninja Sushi, and Kozo sushi are fast food places where you can order by the piece and get it to go. All of them are good, inexpensive, and delicious.

Swim with the dolphins:
Here is a link to all the options in Hawaii for swimming with the dolphins.

Expect the event to last only 1/2 hour or 45 minutes. It usually runs around $200 per person or more, depending on what you are doing. (You suppose the dolphins have a sign up list to 'swim with the humans?' Makes ya wonder why they come to play, doesn't it?)

Places to shop - There are still some great little shops that are locally owned. They are worth checking out. Up on the north shore in the surfing town of Haleiwa, you will find great little local retailers to visit. On Oahu there are many large malls. Ask your hotel concierge for information and directions. Each island has a specialty. Be nice to the locals you meet and they will share their favorite places with you. Believe it or not, the ubiquitous ABC stores are pretty good deals on touristy stuff and bottled water. They are everywhere in Waikiki. Also, bring your Sam's club and Costco cards. You can get some cool stuff to take home there. Walmart also has a lot of tourist take home stuff. Just look in the phone book, or get online and look for local addresses.

Most major shopping centers are a tad pricey, but worth the cruise through. There are 99 cent stores. Another good one is PriceBusters. If you see these, check them out. International Market Place in Waikiki is definitely worth a stroll through.

What to Wear- Don't pack a lot of clothes. You can go almost anywhere in shorts, t-shirts and flip flops. One pair of good walking shoes that can double if you want to go somewhere nice. One nice outfit. But be comfortable. Pack a couple of those small umbrellas, because it does rain. That's why it is so green.

Where to Surf

- Ok, I know you are looking for this. Parts of Oahu are way oversurfed. I had some links here, but I think the people running the sites are out surfing. So, try searching for "Hawaii surfing spots" and see if you can find some current information. One thing I know - the surf is always up somewhere in the islands.

Be Safe - Don't bring things like jewelry or expensive equipment that you will have to worry about. This is a tourist destination and theft out of cars is a problem. Hey - criminals travel too!

Use the safe in your hotel room, it is worth it. Then you can put your airline tickets, etc, in there. Don’t carry things in your rental car or leave things on the beach that you can’t live without. Travel lightly. There are water-tight containers in the scuba section of most stores that carry sporting goods. Pick up a couple of those, then you and your travel partner can put your wallets, keys, cash, etc. in those and keep them with you at all times.

Have fun. Be careful. And take care. Just remember, Things move a lot slower there. So patience goes a long way. Be prepared, remember you are on vacation and some of the people waiting on you are working three jobs just to survive there. So remember to tip. Take a deep breath, and enjoy my favorite place on earth.

Don’t forget to go to http://www.goHawaii.com if you have general questions.

Here are the newspapers. Keep checking them for information on weather, traffic, etc. Also – check for holiday info – we have different holidays in Hawaii than mainland states.
http://www.honolulustarbulletin.com/
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/

Malama Pono (Take care of yourself)
A hui hou (till we meet again,)
Beth