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Hawaii Advice
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 horrid. 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."
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.
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:
Kapahulu Avenue is right outside of Waikiki.
You 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.
Restaurants I particularly love there are :
(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 the first
impression.
(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.
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! http://www.diamondheadcove.com/ 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.
Swim with the dolphins:
Here is a link to all the options in Hawaii for swimming with the dolphins. http://tinyurl.com/hk3xn
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.
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.
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.
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