Oahu

[justHB]

My sister and I (and our husbands) will be spending a week in Oahu right after Christmas. Neither of us has ever been to that particular island so I'm looking for recommendations. We already have our accommodations (the Renaissance hotel at the marina), so really I'm interested in things to do outside of Waikiki, places to eat, must see things.

Thanks!

[KristyK]

Make sure you drive to the other side of the island. The north shore is so much more beautiful than the honolulu side. I was only there briefly for my honeymoon for 2 days, and that was 3 years ago. I lived there back in the 80's and there was so much to do back then, but I'm sure most of that has been tourist'ized (new word!), since then.

Once, while driving around the island, going toward the north shore, we took a left off the main road (near the pineapple fields in waiawa) and came upon what used to be an old base and airstrip, no longer in use. It was beautiful, and there was nobody else on the beach there. That's what we did a lot of when we lived there, but like I said, it was over 20 years ago, things change, and we didn't get to try that when we were there 3 years ago.

I'd love to live there again.....but I'm a dreamer! :D

Forgot to add....HAVE FUN!!!

[houseblend]

DH and I just got back from there. We spent more time on the other islands, so didnt' have much time, but we had a great time while there. I would strongly recommend getting the Oahu Revealed book. It goes into great detail about so many different places.

There is a place called the "Sunken Island" which we kayaked to that was absolutely amazing. It is 2 1/2 miles out, but about a mile out, the water starts to become shallow again. The water is completely clear and the bottom is all sand. You can actually get out of the kayak and swim and play around since it is only 2-3 feet deep. The island is very small, but we had it all to ourselves. It was neat being 2 miles away from civilization or anybody. The closest kayak rental is a half hour away, but was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Definitely easy kayaking for a beginner, too.

If you want to try some Hawaiian cuisine, there is a restaurant called "The Willows" in Waikiki. It is buffet-style, but the food is wonderful and the atmosphere is relaxing and fun.

Have fun!!!

[jennylou]

Hey - I was gonna ask this question. :p

Looking forward to hearing more information.... particularly about dining options (in various price ranges) and things to do.

Also, we'll be there over New Year's Eve....any ideas on something fun to do for that night?

[Akemi]

If you want to try some Hawaiian cuisine, there is a restaurant called "The Willows" in Waikiki

I love the Willows, and I agree... it has a nice atmosphere and the food is good. It's not really Hawaiian food as much as "local food", but there's something for everyone (it's a buffet). It's actually a bit outside of Waikiki, closer to the University... get directions from the hotel if you want to go (it's on a little back road).

For real Hawaiian food, the best is at Ono's Hawaiian Food on Kapahulu (close to Waikiki), but it's a little hole-in-the-wall type of place, and they have shorter hours than you would expect.

Recently we ate at Orchids at the Halekulani for my birthday... I'd never been there before, but I'm really recommending it... oceanfront, view of Diamond Head... ask to sit on the veranda. Food was awesome, too, and the service was impeccable (and not rushed at all).

I can give more food recommendations if you want... I'm not so awesome at activity recs except that kayaking is supposed to be fun (if you're into that kind of thing).

[knoelani]

Hi HB & jenny! I grew up on Oahu, so ask away! I always say that I was temporarily insane 8 years ago when I moved away. Luckily for me, my folks are still there so I get to visit! :)

What specifically are you looking for, ie: what type of atmosphere, entertainment, activities, food...that will help make the recommendations more specific.

HB, can you give a better name / area / marina for the hotel you're at? I've never heard of it (that doesn't mean anything, I'm just curious!).

I do agree with the Willows for "local" food and with going to the North Shore, you have to go to the North Shore and stop at Sunset, Wiamea, and Haleiwa. While you're in Haleiwa you have to stop at Matsumoto's Shave Ice, it's the best in the world and one of the originals!

[Freckles]

The North Shore is amazing! I would stay in Waikiki for the shopping, dining, and nightlife, but the north shore is trulu where the beauty is on Oahu.
It is much more secluded, offers such gorgeous scenery, fabulous quiet beaches with out of this world surfing,snorkeling, and diving. I have visited Oahu, Maui, and The Big Island, and I have to admit the North Shore of Oahu was one of my favorite spots.

Have a fabu trip! :D

[justHB]

What specifically are you looking for, ie: what type of atmosphere, entertainment, activities, food...that will help make the recommendations more specific.

HB, can you give a better name / area / marina for the hotel you're at? I've never heard of it (that doesn't mean anything, I'm just curious!). We're staying at the Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel.

As for activities, I dunno ... places to drive to, sights to see, not to be missed beaches. DH and I have been to three islands so far and to be honest, I'm getting a bit bored with the recommendations from the "Revealed" publications. When we visited Kauai in February, everything they said not to miss was just "meh" to us and the things we liked best, they said not to bother with (like the Waimea Brewing Company in Waimea - I think the resort it's located on was so quaint and charmind and we watched the sun set from the beach there and it was a really great day).

[euphorhea]

Hawaii transplant here! :)

I may be biased being that I'm from Kailua and all, but the Windward side of Oahu is the most beautiful part of the island. ;) Lani Kai Beach and Kailua Beach have awesome windsurfing and the beaches there are less crowded and A LOT cleaner than Waikiki Beach, by far. The drive there is gorgeous, too. You'll see Makapu'u Beach, Sea Life Park, Blow Hole and Sandy's on the way. The scenery is great, but it may be a little windy and cool during the winter months.

Pali Lookout is cool, too. You'll see an awesome view of Kaneohe/Kailua. Bring a sweater because it's almost always windy up there as well.

I got married at Halekulani in Waikiki and I have to echo Akemi and say that Orchids is a FABULOUS restaurant with great views of Diamond Head and awesome food to boot. They have a really great brunch menu on Sundays, which is amazing!

Suntory at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center is good, too. It's a Japanese steakhouse that my DH and I go to everytime we're back home. It's a little pricey, but the food there is yummmmmmy. Also, Alan Wong's, Phuket Thai at the McCully shopping center, Leonards Bakery [ask for malasadas!], Rainbow Drive Inn, and Zippy's are worth mentioning, too. :)

The nightlife is pretty good, if you're into that kinda thing. There should be quite a few clubs near your hotel. Here are a couple off the top of my head: The W is a good spot on Saturdays, Zen Club, Ocean's at Restaurant Row, D&B's on Wednesdays, Feng Shui at the Hyatt, Mai Tai Bar at Ala Moana...etc.

If you make a trek up to the North Shore while you're there, be sure to stop by Matsumoto's for shave ice. It's a popular tourist attraction. Oh! And Ko'olina is beautiful, too.

I hope that helps you a little bit...

[justHB]

I got married at Halekulani in Waikiki and I have to echo Akemi and say that Orchids is a FABULOUS restaurant with great views of Diamond Head and awesome food to boot. They have a really great brunch menu on Sundays, which is amazing! Thanks for all the recs euphorea! I was a Hawaii bride as well. We got married in Maui at the Fairmont Kea Lani.

[honeygirl]

Another former Oahu resident here. I know the Ilikai, used to eat at a restaurant across the street and a couple of my friends got married at that hotel.

Anyway, for New Year's Eve my friends and I used to go to Waikiki (usually to a fancy condo one of us lived in) and watch the big fireworks show. One time we went swimming while the fireworks were going, very pretty. Big parties in Waikiki during pretty much all holidays so you're in a good place if you like crowds.

Like others said drive around the island, explore.

Have a great time, we're thinking of heading back for a trip around Dec, maybe we'll see you there, JK. :)

-Anne

[Michelle]

We stay at the Ilikai every year. It's a fantastic location!!!! You're within walking distance from Waikiki and Ala Moana Shopping Center, which is great. You can do a lot by foot.

First things first. If you need your coffee fix, there is a Starbucks across the street on Hobron. When I go on vacation, this is the first thing I need to know!

Just start walking and you'll find a lot of awesome places.

My favorite place to eat is Chucks Steak House. It's in the Outrigger Waikiki across from the International Market Center. They open at 5:00 and if you get there early and wait for them to open, you'll get a table on the deck, overlooking the water. You won't want to leave! It's above Dukes which is really popular restaurant, but I still like Chucks better. Even though Dukes has a great salad bar!

Oh and I love Benihana (at the Hilton). I know that they are everywhere, but it never has the same atmosphere when I have gone to it here in Seattle or Vegas. But Tanaka of Tokyo is another Japenese steakhouse and it's really good and in the Ilikai. If you go there, make sure you pick up a coupon in one of the 'This Week' Publications.

If you want to do a buffet there is one at the Sheraton Moana Surfrider. My husband still talks about it as the "finest buffet he has ever had" (notice the quotes because he ran in here when I asked him about it). It was expensive but it was a Prime Rib and Lobster Buffet. It's been a couple of years since we have eaten there, but I'm pretty sure they still have it.

Look for beach side bars in hotels. They are so much fun! You won't have this at the Ilikai but you are a couple minute walk away from hotels that do! There is a poolside bar at the Ilikai which is great for poolside drinks.

I'll think of more, I'm sure. If you have any specific questions about the hotel, location, etc, just let me know! Now you have me counting down until I go in October! :)

[knoelani]

Yay, I can get back on here!

I have to agree with euphorhea, the windward side is really nice. She’s already mentioned some of these, but here are my recs for stuff:

Beaches / Outdoor Fun stuff:
Lanikai Beach (it’s been rated the #1 beach in the US)
Kailua Bay / Beach, you can rent kayaks here and it’s pretty calm
Doris Dukes, it’s in Kahala and really more of a swimming hole than beach
Waimea Bay
Botanical Gardens
Manoa Falls, nice short hike to some small falls, LOTS of mosquitoes
Pali Overlook, definitely bring a sweater, it is pretty and one of my favorite spots, we used to go up there in high school to hang out, be prepared to see a pretty view and golf courses
Ka’ena Point, pretty barren most northern tip of the island, it’s a nice hike
Ko’olau Mountain Range, there’s a lot of different hikes here, including one that crosses the entire range

Culture:
Bishop Museum
Honolulu Academy of Arts, nice museum and they have a pretty extensive collection of Asian art
Iolani Palace

Food (my favorite):
3660 on the Rise
Beau Soleil (both of these are in a neighborhood, not too far from Waikiki)
Duke’s Canoe Club
Manapua Factory
Kincaids
Keo’s Thai (my favorite Thai restaurant)

Honestly, my best recommendation for food is just driving / walking around and trying the hole in the wall local places that you see. It’s always hit or miss, but I think hit more often.

I'm so jealous of everyone going, we didn't get to go this year! I hope everyone has a great time!

[jennylou]

Bumping up for more info. :)

[Rancid13]

Hubby and I are planning a trip for next month to Oahu. We're trying to stay away from the Honolulu and Waikiki areas and staying near the North Shore. Any recommendations on where to stay? The only hotel or resort I've managed to find in the area is the Turtle Bay Resort, and it's mucho expensivo (at least $300/night). We're hoping for something a bit more pocketbook friendly, say ~$100/night or near that.

My inlaws just moved to the North Shore area in June and are renting a condo on the beach (not sure what area-my SIL threw out a bunch of area names to me but I couldn't match them up with the map I'd found-she gave me Haleva and Mokuleia.) We're planning on visiting them while we're there, as well as the rest of hubby's extended family on the island (aunts, uncles, cousins); FIL is native Hawaiian but getting so old now that his train of thought drifts when I try to talk to him about locations and such.

Any suggestions or recommendations on where to stay?? Any rental condos or B&B's I should look into?? A lot of the rental 'cottages' and beach houses I've seen online don't look all that great for the daily and weekly prices they're asking. :)

[Hawaii2SJ]

Hi :) Have you taken a look at rent101.com? The city you mentioned is Haleiwa, its a cute small town in North Shore. As far as B&B's on the island of Oahu, you won't find as many cute ones like they have on the other islands. I think it's due to competition from the bigger resorts. Turtle Bay is the only hotel out in North shore as well. The only other hotel outside of Waikiki would be Ihilani Resort and Spa in Kapolei, there isn't much out there but you are right next to a golf resort (Ko Olina) and one of the big Luaus (Paradise Cove) the beach around the hotel is nice and calm, its pretty at sunset! You could also look into the town of Kailua, they may have some rental properties (condo or house), Lanikai beachfront properties are beautiful and the beaches out there hardly have anyone on them. But you may not be able to find deals as low as you might find if you were staying in Waikiki. Good luck though :)

I hope this help a little, I grew up in Hawaii and go back a few times a year since all my family is still out there. I hope you find something and Happy Vacation planning....man I miss that place so much.

[jennylou]

Bumping up again as it's getting colder here and I'm looking forward to some warmth in Hawaii. :)

[justHB]

Can anyone recommend a good catamaran/snorkel tour. I've read conflicting messages on other message boards and was wondering what companies you guys have used.

[dnagirl]

I don't know what I was thinking, but DH and I are taking MIL to Oahu over my spring break for 5 days. Can anyone offer any fun things to do?

So far I am thinking...
Polynesian Cultural Center...should we get the buffet package?
Dole Plantation
Diamond Head hike
Pearl Harbor/USS Arizona

Any recommendations for beaches/bays with good snorkeling?
Or any good general trips about vacationing in Oahu?
If anyone also has a trip recap (or can direct me to one), that would be VERY appreciated!

THANKS!

[Rosebud]

Here's a new thread to discuss travel to Oahu, Hawaii!

You can also reference these old threads for more information on Oahu:

Hawaii Chat (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3924)

Oahu (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=183)

[Sazoo]

Thanks for the new threads, Rosebud. I'm sure once they get populated with info on the specific islands in question they'll become a great resource! :) However I do have a question...in which of these new Hawaii threads would it be appropriate for people to discuss "Which Hawaiian island should I visit?" :confused: Seems like there is often a lot of discussion in the 'master' Hawaii thread comparing one island to another, which is better for what types of budgets or styles of vacations you're looking for, etc.

[Rosebud]

Sazoo- That makes sense. I'll start up a general Hawaii thread, too. It would be really great to keep any island-specific stuff in the island threads, though. It's just much easier for people to search for information that way.

[vee05]

I am not sure if i should be posting here but I have a question. We are visiting Oahu end of July for our 2nd anniversary and will be staying at the Sheraton Moana Surfer for 5 nights. Do we need a rental car for the entire trip?

TIA

-V

[wendalah]

Vee--I'd say yes. It's worth the cost. There is so much to see and do on the island and a car just makes it easier.

[jennylou]

Agreed, get a car. :)

[vee05]

Thanks ladies I will start looking now :)

[justHB]

Some quick thoughts -

1. Yes, get a car! If you don't have a car, how are you going to get to some of the more remote, out of the way beaches? (Lanikai is my favorite.) People will say you can take the bus - you can, but you don't want to.

http://pics.livejournal.com/dakotapie/pic/000g7977 http://pics.livejournal.com/dakotapie/pic/000gex6b

2. The Polynesian Cultural Center is a waste of money. We left halfway through the luau and were pissed that we'd wasted an entire day on driving out there, hanging out before the show, and then having to sit through that cheese fest.

[justHB]

Looks like we're going back to Oahu for my 30th bday this summer. We used our timeshare for the flight from SFO and then booked a room yesterday on Hotwire. I'm a little disappointed by hotel we ended up with (The Prince Hotel Waikiki down near the marina), but it was cheap, so there's that.

Aside from the hike up Diamond Head, are there any other hikes y'all recommend? Maybe something to a waterfall?

[SweetRed]

We did the Maunawili Falls hike as described in the Oahu Revealed guide. It was a nice hike, but it POURED when we got about 30-minutes into our hike, so I'm a little jaded by memories of squishy socks. ;)

The A#1 reason I would recommend this hike is because so few people were doing it while we were there, and this was early January, the busiest time of year. The waterfall is good, the hike itself is pretty, but the best part was the peace and quiet. But maybe it's because everyone but us knew it was going to pour that day!

[Phen]

We juuuust got back from a week on Oahu. Favorite things were definitely Pali, snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, and swimming in Waimea Falls at the Audubon Park.* In our opinions, there was no bad food at all, except for the food court outside the U.S.S. Arizona memorial (gak! that was the worst shave ice ever).

We hiked Diamond Head at dawn but honestly did not find it to be the highlight of our trip. Probably because we were so exhausted afterwards! wooo. we are not in shape.

~ phen

* we went on a tour of shooting locations from the TV show "Lost," and Waimea Falls is where Kate and Sawyer found the briefcase with the guns in it.

[justHB]

I want to rent a VW Beetle convertible in Oahu for our trip at the end of August. Does anyone know of any specialty rental places I can book through?

[JenInAZ]

subscribing for ideas for my early october honeymoon :D

JustHB, I don't know of any that specifically rent beetles, but I found a site that does soft top wranglers for what I thought was a very decent price if that's a reasonable alternative to you :)

[justHB]

subscribing for ideas for my early october honeymoon :D

JustHB, I don't know of any that specifically rent beetles, but I found a site that does soft top wranglers for what I thought was a very decent price if that's a reasonable alternative to you :)Thanks but we've done the Wrangler thing for the majority of our trips and I was looking for something a bit different.

[taffers]

We're going to Oahu for Thanksgiving this year (11/18-23).

(1) Does anyone have a good recommendation for a nice place to eat for Thanksgiving?

(2) For those who have stayed at Turtle Bay...how long does it take to drive to Waikiki? We're going with my parents, who really want to stay in Waikiki to be in the "action", but I think it would be fun to stay on the North Shore for a change! Also, how is that area in November? Is the water calm and clear or does it get rough over there?

Thank you!

[Rosebud]

I was in Oahu a couple years ago at Thanksgiving. The North Shore beaches had BIG waves during that time and also warning signs saying not to swim. I don't know how it is right at Turtle Bay, but in general the North Shore is for surfing only in the winter months. Waikiki beaches were lovely, warm and very swimmable while we were there.

[taffers]

Thanks Rosebud...after posting, I did a bit more research on tripadvisor.com, etc., and I think we are going to stay in Waikiki. Now it's just a matter of where to eat!

[Phen]

taffers, we stayed in Waikiki in April and a tour we were on took us to Turtle Bay. It was a good 45-60 minutes from Waikiki, I'd say, maybe more.

There's a Morton's (http://www.mortons.com/website/index.html) in the Ala Moana mall* on the edge of Waikiki Beach. It's not at all hawaii-like (nothing different on the menu from any other Morton's), but it's still fantastic food.

~ phen


* not a cheesy mall, either. This mall has shops like Versace, Prada, Louis Vuitton, etc.

[taffers]

Thanks Phen! I love that mall...that's one of the reasons I didn't want to be too far from Waikiki! You can't lay out ALL the time. :cool:

I definitely think Turtle Bay is going to be too far...my family is not the sit, relax and do nothing types so we always have to be close to the action.

Morton's isn't a bad idea. I don't need Thanksgiving dinner to be "Hawaii-ish", but my parents might want some local flavor so we'll have to see.

[chortles]

Hi - bumping up - does anyone have good places where they can rent houses or condos in Oahu? I checked VRBO - any other good ones? We're looking to go over new years.

Also - would love to hear recommendations on great hotels in Oahu.

[GeekGirl]

Hi - bumping up - does anyone have good places where they can rent houses or condos in Oahu? I checked VRBO - any other good ones? We're looking to go over new years.

Also - would love to hear recommendations on great hotels in Oahu.

I'd check Turtle Bay on the North shore. It's beautiful, but kind of far from the city.

[sportyj]

We stayed at the Rainbow Inn in Aiea (I think its on VRBO) it was AWESOME! More bed and breakfast type but amazing views, your own private pool and just an overall awesome place. It is not on the beach though. I have pics if you want them, just PM me.

[justHB]

Hi - bumping up - does anyone have good places where they can rent houses or condos in Oahu? I checked VRBO - any other good ones? We're looking to go over new years.

Also - would love to hear recommendations on great hotels in Oahu.Here are a couple of good places to look at for condos/houses in Oahu.

http://www.hawaiianbeachrentals.com/Hawaii/Oahu/rentals1.htm
http://www.homeaway.com/oahu/s/245/fa/find.squery

As for hotels on Oahu, having just gone back a couple of weeks ago, I would recommend the Westin Moana Surfrider or the Royal Hawaiian - both are part of the Starwood group. The beach is nicer in front of the Royal Hawaiian - the beach in front of the Hyatt and Marriott is rocky and they're not exactly ON the beach (you have to cross the street). A mid-range place that's not too bad is of course the Outrigger - there are two along the strip of hotels.

[wendalah]

If you don't want to stay in Waikiki, I would recommend the Kahala resort--it's not too far out of town and is very pretty (but it's expensive).

Also, at the farther end of Waikiki (and thus away from the crowds a bit) is the New Otani. There is no pool at this hotel but it's on a good beach.

I have stayed at the Hilton and the Parc in Waikiki and would recommend either. The Hilton is huge and I think they do a good job of creating a fantasy-type escape feel (Waikiki is really crowded and cramped); the drawback is the resort can get really crowded and there were tons of kids when we went. The Parc is on a cram-packed street and doesn't look like much from the outside, but is surprisingly quite nice inside and they have great service.

I have stayed at a couple other hotels in Waikiki, too, but won't mention them as they were (in a word) gross. :)

[chortles]

Thanks so much, ladies!

I'm torn - we have good friends on Oahu, so we've been a number of times. Typically we avoid staying in Waikiki area, since it is incredibly crowded. Since we don't have kids, staying in places where it is super-packed with families isn't ideal either (not really relaxing for us). In the past we've opted for the Kailua/Lanikai area, but I'm open. We've been to the JW Marriott towards the North Shore (our friends got married near there) and have also stayed in downtown Waikiki as well.

I checked out some beach villas at Turtle Bay Resort - $9K/night. Yowzah. Perhaps someday ;)

Seems like based on a lot of the VRBO availability, we're jumping on this really really late (I've never traveled for New Year's - didn't realize it was so popular!). Looks like we might end up spending the actual New Years at home and then going for the first week or so to Hawaii.... (hey, I'm all about extended celebration of birthdays, extended celebration of new year sounds good too!)

I remain torn between having a nice rental place (i.e., beachside villa) where we'd have a kitchen and not have to pay for restaurant service, vs. a hotel where we'd be guaranteed cleanup, pool, etc.) Must continue to think on this :)

[SoPasMom]

Regarding snokeling/catamaran trips... We've gone on the Ko Olina Cat three times in the past 2 years. It's an amazing trip! The crew is great...and a few of them weren't bad to look at. :-) I can't say enough good things. Go on the morning trip if you can (you have a better chance of seeing dolphins). They provide great drinks, snacks, etc.

If you're looking for a family friendly resort try the Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club. You won't be disappointed! It's on the western shore about 25 minutes from Waikiki. You need to have a car so you can sightseeing. Also, Roys is worth the money! Sit outside by the bar and not in the restaurant.

[CarlaB]

My DH, DS, and I will be in Northern California for a few days at the end on Feb and are thinking (hairbrained scheme!) that we should go to Oahu for a 7 days. We live on the east coast, so we figured are about halfway there!

With an 19mth old, we are considering 4 hotels:

Waikiki Parc Hotel (http://www.waikikiparc.com/)

Ilikai Hotel (http://www.ilikaihotel.com/index.html)

W Diamond Head (http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1246)

Outrigger on the Beach (http://www.outriggerwaikikihotel.com/)

We do not want to be completely secluded, which is why we did not select the North Shore. We plan to rent a car (at least for a few days) to explore other parts of the island. We'd like to be close enough to a beach so that if someone has to be with a napping kid, it's not a big production for the other person to go and do something fun. We'd love to have an ocean view, but it is not particularly critical, we would need a small refrigerator to keep some milk and snacks for DS. Other than that, we're open to exploring, eating out, and soaking up some sunshine.

Does anyone have thoughts and opinions on these hotels? We ruled out the Kahala Resort because they seem to be undergoing some construction. I'd love any comments since we should book this week if we're going to make this happen.

Thanks!!

[Sazoo]

Does anyone have thoughts and opinions on these hotels?

We were in Hawaii a year & a half ago with friends, and they stayed at the Waikiki Parc Hotel (we stayed somewhere else a few blocks away). I can't remember what they thought of it and DH and I never actually went inside their hotel to see their room or anything, so all I can say about it is that it's pretty close to the beach, and that it is sandwiched in between a bunch of other hotels. I'm not sure how many of their rooms have an ocean view - I think it's kind of behind another hotel, if I remember correctly.

I'll ask my friend what he and his wife thought of it and let you know if he has any feedback to offer. :)

[Sazoo]

Me again - here's what my friend said about the Waikiki Parc Hotel:

No ocean view really, but close to the beach. You just have to basically walk through one other hotel to get there, pretty close. Make sure it is no longer under construction, as it was when we were there... but thankfully it wasn't loud from our room. Overall, decent place... not fantastic if you're looking for a fancy place, but good if the price is low enough.

[justHB]

We stayed at the Ilikai Hotel - it's kind of 60s and not really in a great location. My recommendation would be the Outrigger on the Beach. We took a catamaran trip from the Outrigger and it was kind of 80s, but has a great beach in front of it. When we were there in August for a second time, they were doing major renovations on the hotel and it looked like it was going to be really nice.

[Michelle]

Stay away from the Ilikai right now. It's under major renovation and is a ghost town. The nice pool and poolside bar are torn up and all of the restaurants in the main building are closed. Unless you get an awesome price, want no amenities and want to deal with construction in the building, I'd go elsewhere. Especially since you have a 19 month old, I'm sure you'd want a pool. The small pool could be open, but even if it is, it is nothing. My grandparents are currently in the Ilikai Marina so I know that the construction is still going on and just told me about it. It was like that last year too, so obviously they are not moving very fast.

As an FYI, we stayed at the Embassy Suites last year and loved it. It's across the street from the Reef on Lewers (or Beachwalk, I think they renamed it). It's a little pricey ($269 a night right now I think) but there is a free full breakfast every morning and free happy hour (free drinks) with live entertainment every night. The only downfall of that hotel right now is that the Trump building is going up next door so one building is next to construction while the other building is not.

I've never seen the rooms at the Outrigger Waikiki but go into the hotel every year. It's right in the heart of Waikiki. They have some great places to eat. Dukes is good and Chucks Steakhouse is my favorite because of the atmosphere and view. That is a must, no matter where you stay! The pool is usually really crowded but is right on the beach. It's nothing fancy but like I said, it's in the heart of waikiki across.

You really can't go wrong with any location in waikiki because you can walk everywhere. It's just a matter of what you want to spend and what you want in a hotel.

I hope you have fun! I'm envious! :)

[CarlaB]

Yay, yay, yay! Thank you all for your input. I am so glad that I asked because we'd have made a mistake with the Ilikai. I think we've settled on the Outrigger, we can get a room there (city view and a small fridge) for about $250/ night. A bit more that we wanted to spend, but it sounds like the right place for us. Really, other than keeping some milk, a couple snacks and some leftovers on hand, we should not need a whole kitchen (because heavens knows I don't want to be cooking).

I am so excited!!

[singerwife]

If you are into it, Henry Kapono plays Dukes almost every Sunday afternoon. (Go early to get a seat.) There is nothing finer than hearing Henry sing next to the ocean while sipping a rum drink.

[Michelle]

If you are into it, Henry Kapono plays Dukes almost every Sunday afternoon. (Go early to get a seat.) There is nothing finer than hearing Henry sing next to the ocean while sipping a rum drink.

Then when you're done there, head upstairs to Chucks Steakhouse at about 4:45, get a table outside, and enjoy the sunset! :) Ask to be in Chad or Jetsens section, they're my favorite servers.

You won't regret staying there. The location is perfect!

[mrsash]

* Bump *

We're headed to the Marriott Ko Olina at the end of April with our DS who'll be 21 months then.

Any recommendations for family friendly restaurants that aren't too expensive?

Any must do activities?

[SoPasMom]

* Bump *

We're headed to the Marriott Ko Olina at the end of April with our DS who'll be 21 months then.

Any recommendations for family friendly restaurants that aren't too expensive?

Any must do activities?

OH...I am so envious. We're not going this year until July. We just love Ko Olina. We started going a few years ago and ended up buy a place because we loved it so much. Does your villa have a kitchen? If so, cooking a few meals in the room is always a good idea. If not, I'd take some day trips and grab lunch while you're out. The pool has options, so check those out. The restaurant by the water is great for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The views of the lagoon are wonderful!

With a 21 month old...he might enjoy the Dole Pineapple Train. It's about a 25 minute drive from Ko Olina. You can grab a bit to eat there or head further north to the North Shore and grab lunch there (Haleiwa). The Marriott next door also has some great dining options. If you eat there, ask to sit outside by the shark and sting ray pool. Your son will enjoy watching the fish. Also, don't miss the fish feeding that Ko Olina puts on. It's early but worth the adventure. Also, be sure to venture into Waikiki one day. Wow, what a difference from Ko Olina. You can have a mediocre meal at Dukes or one of the other ocean front places.

Another great outting is going to see the turtles at Laniakea Beach (North Shore). You can look at the green turtles eating the moss off the rocks. DO NOT walk on the rocks too close to the water. The rocks are very slippery! I've seen many people fall and get hurt. We've also ventured over to the southeast part of the Island to go to the Sea Life Park. We "swam" with the dolphins...but what we really did was stand in freezing cold water while the dolphins swam next to us. We were able to touch them but not like the way they advertise it. They have lots to see and it's worth the drive.

I hope that helps! Lastly, don't miss Mai Tai Monday at Ko Olina or the Laua. The show is worth it! One more thing...if you want a nice dinner out Roys is wonderful. Ask to sit outside by the golf course. Why would you sit in a stuffy restaurant when you can enjoy the beautiful scenery! Enjoy...let us know how it goes.

I have lots more to share if you're interested.

[mrsash]

SoPasMom- Thanks so much for the great info! We'll definitely do some of the things you mentioned. I might end up asking more questions as vacation comes closer....
Can't wait to go!!

[SoPasMom]

SoPasMom- Thanks so much for the great info! We'll definitely do some of the things you mentioned. I might end up asking more questions as vacation comes closer....
Can't wait to go!!

I'm dying to know how your trip was! We're headed over there July 5th. I can't wait. :)

[Michelle]

Ohhhh, I'm glad this thread was bumped! I leave a week from today! :)

[mrsash]

I'm dying to know how your trip was! We're headed over there July 5th. I can't wait. :)

We just got back Sunday nite/Monday morning... after a four hour flight delay. But besides that, everything was great! And I already want to go back.

The Ko Olina lagoons were so nice. DS had a great time at the beach and at the pools. We went to the fish feeding once at the JW Marriott which my DS liked. And we did go to the Luau. DH and I had a lot of fun. The chief was so funny, a great performer.

We went to the Dole Plantation and had fun there. Also, we went to Pupukea Beach (North Shore) twice. They have shallow waters and lots of fish. People snorkel there but you can just walk around and see all the fish.

We ate at Roys which was a great recommendation. In Waikiki, we went to Duke's and The Hula Grill (right above Duke's). I personally liked Hula Grill better food wise and the atmosphere was a little quieter. And the shave ice at Matsumoto's- yummy!

Have fun!!

[laura]

Just bumping this up for any recent recommendations. We're headed to Oahu with friends in November. We're staying at a friends beach house (still waiting to find out the location), so no need for lodging recs, but open to all suggestions for activities and/or dining. I read through this thread and saw that there is a "Lost" tour, which I have a feeling I will be finding myself on b/c one of my friends is VERY exciting about scouting "Lost" sites while we are there... :)

[laura]

Bump, again! Does anyone know anything about the Kailua area? We are staying in a house on the beach there. Is it far from "sites"? It's really hard to tell from the map I found since who knows about the scale. TIA!

[wendalah]

IIRC Kailua is about 20 mins or so out of Waikiki. If you want to go to Waikiki, Chinatown, Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, etc. you'll just have a short drive.

Kailua is beautiful and has gorgeous beaches but it's more of a residential area so expect somewhat reduced dining and shopping choices.

[taffers]

Make sure to go get shaved ice at Matsumoto's...DELISH!!! So worth the line! www.matsumotoshaveice.com

Also, probably my favorite meal the last time I went (this past November) was Roy's. I resisted going there since we go there all the time at home, but they of course have a different menu, and it was the best meal I had there! Go to the newer one in Waikiki on Lewers St. because the original one is in a kind of mini-mall type location.

Also (and so random), if you like Banana Republic, the one right on the main street (not in the mall), is the BEST one I've ever been to...I don't know why, but they always have a TON of great sale stuff. Every time I go to that one, I end up coming home with practically another suitcase of clothes! And I don't even shop there very much at home!

[justHB]

Just bumping this up for any recent recommendations. We're headed to Oahu with friends in November. We're staying at a friends beach house (still waiting to find out the location), so no need for lodging recs, but open to all suggestions for activities and/or dining. I read through this thread and saw that there is a "Lost" tour, which I have a feeling I will be finding myself on b/c one of my friends is VERY exciting about scouting "Lost" sites while we are there... :)Phen did the LOST tour, I believe. We didn't, but did find the waterfall where Kate/Sawyer found the briefcase. It's at the Waimea Audubon society and is a really pretty walk to the falls. The swimming is fun too. Oh, and when we were in Kailua/Lanikai, we saw the actress that plays Juliet out for her evening jog.