Going to Oahu - any ideas? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

johnnymysto · 07-28-2004, 07:31 AM

My wife and I are going next week for our 5-year anniversary, and I wondered if anyone knew of any good things to do, places to see, eat, etc. that aren't in all the travel books. I see there was a thread on this before, but I wanted to see if I could do better than just one useful comment.

Thanks all!

quadro2000 · 07-29-2004, 07:58 AM

Happy Anniversary!

I have a few thoughts. Although I'm sure they're in the travel books as well, I've done them and can obviously vouch for them. I didn't do too many touristy things as I was staying with family in Pearl City, but here's what I can recommend:

Pearl Harbor, obviously. Just get there very early in the morning; otherwise you'll waste your whole day.

Hanauma Bay is a must. (here's a nice page.) It gets crowded (especially later in the day), but the beach is nice and the snorkeling is really fantastic. My fiancee and I swam right up to some gigantic sea turtles - it was breathtaking. Two points of advice on Hanauma Bay: rent your snorkel equipment elsewhere beforehand (like Snorkel Bob's), and bring food with you. The food prices at Hanauma Bay are freakin' outrageous. I suggest packing sandwiches beforehand.

After Hanauma Bay, which is on the southeast end of Oahu, take a drive up the northeast coast. As you're driving up, you'll see plenty of small areas where you can park and look out from the bluffs onto the water. Plenty of great photo ops here! Keep following the H3 highway north and you'll wind up driving through a mountain, which is just kinda nifty.

Climbing Diamond Head is a nice time, but not a must. LOTS of steps...

I found Waikiki to be friggin' annoying. We walked around the area for a few hours and that was all we needed. The beaches are horribly overcrowded and waves are nowhere to be found. Check your guidebook for better options - the north shore, in the summer, might have some better beaches for you to hang out at. Speaking of the north shore, check out Pipeline on the North Shore, if the waves are high - we didn't get to go here, and wished we had - we wanted to see some kick-ass surfing!

Food:

If you're up at the North Shore, they say that Matsumoto's has the best shave ice on the island. I had it, it was pretty good.

We also ate up in that area at Haliewa Joe's, which was very good.

The best meal we had was at Alan Wong's, which is amazing pan-Asian cuisine - but be prepared, it's quite pricey.

The other two touristy things we did was go to the Polynesian Cultural Center, which was fun, and we did a luau at Paradise Cove. Again, they're pretty touristy, but if you're into that sort of thing, it's a nice way to spend a day/evening.

That's about all I can recommend, I think. Have a great time!

johnnymysto · 07-29-2004, 11:02 AM

Thanks, Quadro! Good advice, and sounds like some really neat things to do.

bobw · 08-11-2004, 07:45 PM

If you are into dive-bars there is a place in an alley not far off Waikiki beach called "The Hideaway". On a good night it might even be called a bit scary (my wife even got her sweater stolen by a prostitute). But prostitutes aside, the locals there will go out of there way to chat if you appear non-intimidated and willing to throw down some drinks. .... This is a place where most tourists wouldn't ever find, let alone stray into !

07-28-2004, 07:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
johnnymysto Overreactor Location: South Ca'lina	Going to Oahu - any ideas? My wife and I are going next week for our 5-year anniversary, and I wondered if anyone knew of any good things to do, places to see, eat, etc. that aren't in all the travel books. I see there was a thread on this before, but I wanted to see if I could do better than just one useful comment. Thanks all! __________________ "I'm disinclined to acquiesce to your request." - Capt. Barbossa

07-29-2004, 07:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
quadro2000 All Possibility, Made Of Custard Location: New York, NY	Happy Anniversary! I have a few thoughts. Although I'm sure they're in the travel books as well, I've done them and can obviously vouch for them. I didn't do too many touristy things as I was staying with family in Pearl City, but here's what I can recommend: Pearl Harbor, obviously. Just get there very early in the morning; otherwise you'll waste your whole day. Hanauma Bay is a must. (here's a nice page.) It gets crowded (especially later in the day), but the beach is nice and the snorkeling is really fantastic. My fiancee and I swam right up to some gigantic sea turtles - it was breathtaking. Two points of advice on Hanauma Bay: rent your snorkel equipment elsewhere beforehand (like Snorkel Bob's), and bring food with you. The food prices at Hanauma Bay are freakin' outrageous. I suggest packing sandwiches beforehand. After Hanauma Bay, which is on the southeast end of Oahu, take a drive up the northeast coast. As you're driving up, you'll see plenty of small areas where you can park and look out from the bluffs onto the water. Plenty of great photo ops here! Keep following the H3 highway north and you'll wind up driving through a mountain, which is just kinda nifty. Climbing Diamond Head is a nice time, but not a must. LOTS of steps... I found Waikiki to be friggin' annoying. We walked around the area for a few hours and that was all we needed. The beaches are horribly overcrowded and waves are nowhere to be found. Check your guidebook for better options - the north shore, in the summer, might have some better beaches for you to hang out at. Speaking of the north shore, check out Pipeline on the North Shore, if the waves are high - we didn't get to go here, and wished we had - we wanted to see some kick-ass surfing! Food: If you're up at the North Shore, they say that Matsumoto's has the best shave ice on the island. I had it, it was pretty good. We also ate up in that area at Haliewa Joe's, which was very good. The best meal we had was at Alan Wong's, which is amazing pan-Asian cuisine - but be prepared, it's quite pricey. The other two touristy things we did was go to the Polynesian Cultural Center, which was fun, and we did a luau at Paradise Cove. Again, they're pretty touristy, but if you're into that sort of thing, it's a nice way to spend a day/evening. That's about all I can recommend, I think. Have a great time! __________________ You have to laugh at yourself...because you'd cry your eyes out if you didn't. - Emily Saliers

07-29-2004, 11:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
johnnymysto Overreactor Location: South Ca'lina	Thanks, Quadro! Good advice, and sounds like some really neat things to do. __________________ "I'm disinclined to acquiesce to your request." - Capt. Barbossa

08-11-2004, 07:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
bobw Psycho Location: somewhere....	If you are into dive-bars there is a place in an alley not far off Waikiki beach called "The Hideaway". On a good night it might even be called a bit scary (my wife even got her sweater stolen by a prostitute). But prostitutes aside, the locals there will go out of there way to chat if you appear non-intimidated and willing to throw down some drinks. .... This is a place where most tourists wouldn't ever find, let alone stray into !