Hello.. MCS owner here looking to bring the wife and I to Hawaii for a week in Early October.. already have one day planned out but wanted to hear from the experts what the best places to stay and things to do outside of the typical tourist.. we like to feel the culture of a place rather than have the place adapt to us..

That being said we still want do the Pearl Harbor/Volcano experience as well.. oh and we're doing the Jimmy Buffet concert as well

Thoughts/suggestions?

What's travel between the islands like?

 

Which island are you visiting? I am assuming Oahu since you are going to the Jimmy Buffet concert. First time visitor?

There are no volcano experiences by Pearl Harbor (Arizona Memorial?) or on Oahu so it looks like you are island hopping to the Big Island. LOTS of volcanic activity right now but check with the park offices as many areas are now restricted (could be slowed-down by October). They do have awesome helicopter tours - well worth the price.

Keep an eye on the local inter-island carrier websites as they have crazy fare battles every so often (even $1 fares! ).

Let us know which island you will be on, how many times you have been here, etc., and we should be able to give you some thoughts and suggestions.

 

Staying on Oahu (current plan anyways..haven't booked tickets/hotels yet)

Never been before but the wife has been. My only thing in concrete is being on Oahu on the 4th for the concert.

Very stoked about this

 

Take a trip over to Maui, it is awesome...Maui No Ko Oi(Maui is the best)!
Shaka(hang loose)

 

On Oahu, here is the link for a FANTASTIC place to eat.. http://www.dukeswaikiki.com/

SO many cool things to do...the helicoper tour is pretty neat. Take a drive to the North Shore - big waves - worth going so you can say you've been there.. And of course - there is TONS of shopping...

Donna

 

Updated plans...we're staying in Kona for four days and the Oahu for four days.. not cheap, but hey that's life

Definitely want to hit Volcano national park and do some hiking but other than that don't have anything planned yet!

 

Aloha John,

Plenty of stuff to do and see in 4 days on Oahu- it will be like drinking from a fire hose

We are Hawaii transplants currently living in CA but go back home at least once a year.

Great notion of "do outside of the typical tourist.. we like to feel the culture of a place rather than have the place adapt to us.. " If this is the goal, a few suggestions:
Venture out of Waikiki as much as possible Most of the hotels are in the Waikiki area but booking one on the perimeter will save you some $ and
time away the "strip" traffic.
Eat at local establishments (vs chain restaurants) as much as possible.
Drive out to the windward side of the island one of your days- the views of the Ko`olau mts are breathtaking. The beaches are nicer on this side also.

Big Island will be a relaxing contrast to Oahu and Volcano National park is an incredible treat. The park service provides ideas for one day visits and hikes but make sure to get an early start in the day ( its ~ 2-2.5 hr drive from Kona one way). Neighbor island fares to Kona are typically $39-79 each way.

Feel free to call for any other suggestions- 925-336-1054

enrico

 

Thank you all for the PM's and ideas posted on here.. Definitely stoked about visiting!

 

We're rapidly closing in on October, I hope you're ready.

 

Oh he!! yeah

Leaving in 7 days 23 hours and 56 mins

 

Let the countdown begin.

How long are you staying???

 

Till roughly 8PM on the 6th

 

Where are you traveling from?

Where are you staying while in Hawaii?

Renting a car?

Planning on doing any snorkeling?

 

Travelling from the KC area. We're staying on the big island for four days and the four days on Oahu. The Outrigger Keauhou and Resort Quest Waikiki.

We are renting a convertible on the big island but decided to go sans car on Oahu and play it by ear.

Definitely planning to snorkel! I wish I'd had more time to get scuba certified before coming out as well.

Any recommendations on places to snorkel and places to grab some gear?

 

Snorkel Bob's rents decent gear: http://www.snorkelbob.com/

A couple places to go:

Three Tables - up on the north shore next to the fire station near Waimea.
Hanauma Bay - Go early, parking fills up fast. They are closed on Tuesday.

I'd also second the earlier recommendation of going to Duke's. It's in Waikiki and a great place to have a few and watch the sunset.

Also check out Shorebird. Another great place to watch the sunset. They also have food that you grill yourself. http://gohawaii.about.com/library/ga..._hotels_44.htm

 

Planning on hitting Duke's before and after the Buffet concert on the 4th.

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

When you go to Duke's, more than likely there will be a line at the front. This line is for the dinner section. There is also a large bar/lounge section. If you dont want to wait in line, just bypass the line and go to the bar area. There are 2 bars and lots of tables to sit at and they have good views as well. If you do bypass the line, its every-man-for-himself seating. Depending on the day and how close it is to sunset, you may have to stalk out a table where people are getting ready to leave. Typically it gets more crowded the closer it gets to the sunset.

Either that or be content with being at the bar or hanging out standing on the patio. Also, there are tables on the patio that they take names seperately for.

I usually bypass the dinner line, go straight to the patio to put my name down, grab a Kona Longboard Lager and then see if I can scope out a table on the upper side. I ususally get a table before too long.

Check the horizon, if its clear of clouds where the sun will set, you may get to see the green flash.

 

sounds like youre gonna have a great time man, take plenty of pics to share

 

Thanks Gonzo!

 

If you are in Waikiki you are fairly close to Snorkelbob in Kapahulu at the corner of Date Street and Kapahulu Avenue. On one end of Waikiki is the Zoo which marks the boundary end of Waikiki and the edge of Kapahulu. From the zoo you can travel (walk or bus) up Kapahulu Avenue and after about 1.5 miles is Snorkelbob at a busy three way intersection. They do snorkel gear rentals which are good and give advice.

Around Waikiki there aren't as good places to snorkel but toward the east side of the coast there is Hanauma Bay accessible by Bus (kinda far or go early). North shore areas are also accessible by Bus but very far away so leave alot of time for travel. Bus is very cheap and runs all the time.

Snorkel areas on the northshore include-
Waimea bay- as you get to the beach head far left facing the ocean and there are some big rocks- go left of the largest rock formation.
Shark's cove across from the Foodland grocery store past the Fire Station past Waimea Bay. Go early as these places get filled up by mid morning.

Other stuff-
Good views from Tantalus Round top- overlooks most of Honolulu
Or from the top of Punchbowl National Cemetery- overlooks Downtown Honolulu.
Good hikes- Diamond Head crater is close to Waikiki and the tunnel to the crater is open from 6am. Small fee to walk the one hour up to the summit of the crater with good views of Waikiki, Kapiolani park and the Zoo as well as the south coast/ocean.
Good tour- Pearl Harbor and memorial- very busy you have to start really early in the morning to be standing in line before it opens, you can reach it by bus. It's free but fills up quickly then you have to wait a long time. Highly recommended.
MINI of Hawaii- On Kapiolani Blvd near Ward Avenue and the Blaisdell Arena
Good swimming- besides Waikiki (kinda busy) there is Ala Moana Beach Park and Magic Island at the west end of Waikiki, bus is good and there is a big Shopping center across Ala Moana Blvd. Again, go early it's cooler or go late and enjoy the sunset from Magic Island- it's usually good.
Good site- Waikiki Aquarium, on the edge of Kapiolani Park and just beyond the Zoo and along the water is a very good but small aquarium.
Very nice displays and a good indoor activity if we have rain.

In a nutshell there are far too many good things to do in four days but you can get a feel for stuff and come back anytime, especially in the winter when it's cold and snowing over most of the country.

If you are up for excitement then try surfing off waikiki, you can rent a board and take some lessons but don't forget the sunblock and don't stay out all day.

 

Just got back today...had a great time. Definitely love the Big Island and will be revisiting in the future.

Can't believe the number of MINI's we saw on both the Big Island and Oahu. Saw a really really nice PW w/ custom red trim? Is whomever owns this part of NAM?

 

I just return from a week long cruise around the Hawaiian Islands - what a fantastic part of the world.
Toured the Volcano Nat Park - simply amazing!
Took a helicopter trip on Kuai - what a ride!
I was also amazed at the number of Coopers, especially on Oahu.
Spotted a couple of MINI's at the USS Arizona Memorial in the employee parking lot (left a calling card on both).

Looks like I'll be saving up to go again real soon.

Mahalo,

Tim