Hawaiian Vacation
|
|
| So, you've decided to finally take that
dream vacation? "I think that there are only two kinds of people: those
who have yet to visit Hawaii, and those who are between visits" (Keith
Wood, The Sierra Times).
After living a few years on Oahu, vacationing on Kauai, and receiving numerous requests from friends and family for information about Hawaii for travel there, I decided to create this page as a reference, specifically about vacationing to either Kauai or Oahu. I offer this information as my personal opinion, as one who has lived there, about what places and activities are worthwhile, as well as the places to avoid because they're not worth your time and money. Travel
Tips Travel TipsOne thing that many people don't think to do that helps a lot is pick up the free tourist brochures located at the airport baggage claim and along the sidewalks in Honolulu, especially in the Waikiki area. In the brochures are not only plenty of ideas of places to go see, but also helpful roadmaps for navigating around the maze of streets in Honolulu and around the island. I recommend you get a few maps of the island and Honolulu and keep them with you. Unless you plan to do a lot more than relax on Kauai, you don't necessarily want to rent a car there since the point of going to Kauai is to either relax on the beach or go hiking. There's not much on Kauai other than its natural beauty, which you can see by helicopter; plus, there are shuttles from hotels that can take you where you want to go. However, you'll definitely want to rent a car on Oahu to get around and see all the sites. "The Bus" just doesn't cut it; you'd spend all day trying to get where you want to go. WARNING: Hawaiian beaches are very alluring and can easily lull you into the worst sunburn of your life if you're not careful. Then you'll spend the rest of your vacation in a lot of pain! I've seen crab-colored tourists begging for aloe vera all too often. Don't go out without sun block on, and don't stay out on the beach for several hours at a time. You'll want to plot out which places are near each other and visit them on the same day so you're not running back and forth across the island. Some of the places I've included below are popular tourist attractions, while others are places the locals and the people in the know go to. Places to go see on Kauai |
 |
| Sadly, most visitors to Hawaii just go to the island of Oahu and figure they have seen all there is to see in Hawaii. As the locals will tell you, every island in Hawaii is very different. While Oahu has plenty to see and do for a very active vacation, the other islands, such as Maui and Kauai, have less urban development and are the places to go to relax. Kauai is argued by many to be the most beautiful of the Hawaiian Islands, being known as the Garden Isle (which is one reason why we went there for our honeymoon; that, and I know too many people on Oahu). I've heard that one of the best beaches to go relax on in Kauai is Poipu Beach on the south side of the island, but I've never tested this rumor myself. Should you go to Kauai, don't expect a lot of big tourist attractions like theme parks. For those travelers looking for adventure instead of just lying on the beach, you can hike the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific" or, even more beautiful, the Napali Coast. |
|
|
|
|
|
Helicopter Tour A typical tour includes a shuttle ride from your hotel to the office of the tour company. There, you'll wait with other tourists for the next flight and probably hear a short training on safety and receive life vests to wear, as pictured at right. From there, you'll ride out to the launch pad and prepare for take off. The tours usually include a description from the pilot of the sites you're seeing, which you can hear with headphones. If you're interested in getting a video of your flight, check with the different companies before you buy your tour, as not all companies offer this service.
|
|
Places to go see on OahuWindward Shore |
|
|
Polynesian Cultural Center The center is located in the quiet town of Laie, which is on the northeast side of the island, near the northern most point of the island. The drive up the winding windward shore on the Kamehameha Highway is very beautiful, and you pass by several beaches. Laie is about an hour's drive from Honolulu, and the highway is windy and frequently under construction, so drive carefully. Unlike most tourist attractions on the island, the Polynesian Cultural Center is an all-day event, so make sure you plan plenty of time for it. The center opens at noon, and you really want to arrive when it opens or shortly after and go through all the villages, see the canoe pageant, ride the canoe, and maybe watch an IMAX movie. I've always preferred the cultural presentations in the villages to the IMAX movies since the villages were real-life, but the IMAX can be nice on rainy days or if you really need air conditioning on hot days. There are also several gift shops to browse through. You'll definitely want to stay for dinner and the night show afterwards. Of the three restaurants in the cultural center and the McDonald's in the parking lot outside, I recommend the Ali'i Luau if you want a genuine Hawaii dining experience. The Gateway Buffet is an inexpensive alternative if you're more of a "beef and potatoes" kind of person, and the Ambassador Dining is a fancier place, which caters greatly to the Asian tourists. I've eaten at all three restaurants, several times, and I definitely would recommend the Ali'i Luau not only for the food, but also for the luau experience. The climax of the night is the night show after dinner, the biggest show in Hawaii, with more performers than any other attraction. However, the cultural presentations in the villages alone are worth the price of admission. Before dinner, make sure you see the show in the Samoan and Tongan villages. In addition to the cultural center, the small town of Laie has Hukilau Beach at the north end of town just off the Kamehameha Highway and Temple Beach just up the road from the cultural center after the Foodland shopping center. Also, a visit to the Hawaii Temple in Laie is very beautiful. However, remember the Polynesian Cultural Center is an all-day activity. (Some "circle island tours" just stop there for one village show and let their customers pay the price of admission, but they really miss out.) Fortunately, the cultural center offers free half-hour shuttle tours to the neighboring BYU-Hawaii campus and the Hawaii Temple, so you can see both if you like while at the center.
|
|
|
Valley of the Temples The colorful fish in the ponds there are interesting to look at, and you can purchase food to feed them from a small gift shop that neighbors the temple. When entering the innermost part of the temple, you will see signs asking you to remove your shoes. Besides fish, there are also several birds, including swans and peacocks, which frequent the temple grounds.
|
 |
|
Central Oahu and the North Shore |
|
|
Dole Plantation North Shore Beaches
|
 |
|
Honolulu |
|
| Arizona Memorial This is a must see for all patriots, but be forewarned if you go during the weekend or later in the day, you can expect a waiting time of up to three hours. When you go in the door at the visitors' center, you receive a ticket with a number on it and told an estimated waiting time. From there, while waiting, there are a few museum exhibits you can walk through. Listen to hear when your group's number is called, and line up at the entrance to the theater. You will watch a short documentary about the attack on Pearl Harbor, after which all of the people in the theater will board a ferry and ride out to the memorial that directly above the sunken hulk of the U.S.S. Arizona. Go first thing in the morning and get into the video and onto the ferry out to the ship in less than an hour! This is a very solemn and quiet experience. Parks officials allow photography on the memorial, but they ask that you keep your voice to a whisper out of respect, as the ship is the final resting place of over 1000 men. If you look closely, you can see some of the features of the ship below the water, including oil that still comes up to the surface. Swap Meet
|
 |
|
Waikiki Beach Southeast Oahu |
|
|
Hanauma Bay
|
 |
|
Pali Lookout
|
 |
LodgingUnfortunately, unless you know someone with a beach house or condo you can stay at, overpriced hotels are the rule in Hawaii. However, here is a list of a few hotels you can research. Kauai Hotels Oahu Hotels Speaking of getting out of Honolulu, you can't get any farther and still
be on the island than the Turtle Bay Resort. Located on the northern most
point of the island, this hotel is big and very nice looking (check out
their website). It's right on the beach, and it's just off the Kamehameha
highway. The Polynesian Cultural Center and the rest of the windward coast
are just down the road from here, and driving down the opposite direction
takes you to the North Shore. The Laie Inn is one choice if your main purpose on Oahu is related to
the Polynesian Cultural Center or something else in Laie. However, I've
heard that this hotel isn't exactly your top-of-the-line hotel. So, this
might be a good way to save money, but I make no guarantees on the quality
of the hotel. Me, I'm easily satisfied, so I could sleep on the beach.
This hotel is located right next to the Polynesian Cultural Center in
the town of Laie. It has a McDonald's right next door and beach access
across the highway. Here are some hotels if you prefer or must stay in Waikiki: |
|
|
Why are the islands so special? Check out this article that appeared in the Sierra Times about the Polynesian Cultural Center and the town of Laie. If you can understand what journalist Keith Wood is saying, you can almost understand why this is a special place. Unfortunately, the rest of it, the warm weather, rich cultures, and breathtaking scenery you would have to experience for yourself.
|
|
