Best places in Hawaii to visit?

Question

My girlfriend and I are planning a trip to Hawaii. I'd love some ideas on what to see and do there from people who live there or have visited. I'll be going to the island of Oahu. Thanks!

Answer 1

ahhhh, Oahu! My favorite island to visit! I have been there five times and am going again in less than two weeks!!
Go to Duke's Restaurant for buffet breakfast, and eat outside on the beach!! Then at night, you can view the amazing sunsets!! How romantic, huh???
Do the Polynesian Cultural Center and view the night show: Horizons!! It is a must see!!
Go to the Pearl Harbor/Arizona tour!! That is also a must do!!
The Grand Circle Island Tour is great also...take a lot of photos!!

Answer 2

Sorry, not familiar with Oahu.... but Maui was great and by far the best thing, well besides all the laying out and doing nothing, was our trip on the "Road to Hana"

If you get a chance, do it-it's practically an all day event, and you really need to start early. Frommers guide book was also very helpful... points out the various waterfalls at the exact mile marker you should see them. If your adventerous, you can actually hike up to or down to the waterfalls..... word to the wise, the best way to go down isn't always the best way to come back up! And if there is a will there is a way!!! just stay safe :)


IF ANYONEEE gets car sick, avoid this!! I think I recall something like 500 turns over a 30 mile period. Driving straight through will take at least 2 hrs, and you will be doing little more than 15-25miles/hour. It will take much longer if you stop to see the sites... But hte drive and views are gorgeous. Plus at the end you get to see the black sand beaches-hike through caves and even more gorgeous water falls!

Answer 3

You gotta get over to the Windward Side. Waimanalo has fabulous beaches. Kailua has great beaches and restaurants. Kaneohe has Byodo-In in the Valley of the Temples. North a bit to Kualoa Beach Park. So beautiful! Just driving north around Kahuku and over to the North Shore is so much fun!

I would look into renting a car for a day at least, starting out early in the morning (if you're still jet-lagged from North America, it's easier the very first day), getting to Hanauma Bay before the masses of tourists do. Then drive around Makapuu on Kalanianaole Highway and on up.

Views are spectacular from the top of Diamond Head (some climbing), from Pu'u 'Ualaka'a State Wayside up on Round Top, and from the Pali Lookout

Answer 4

Waikiki is a must, so is diamond head & the arizona, after that rent a car and head up to the north shore for a day, it's beautiful & much less touristy, don't let someone tell you Oahu isn't a good place, it's great just get out of honolulu a little bit.

Answer 5

Certainly there are plenty of answers to your question available in the many 'visitor' publications throughout all airports/hotel lobbies/street dispensers. There is no shortage of 'opinions' & the vast array of things to do & see are often 'contaminated' with business interests, from 'HiloHaties' to 'Parasails'. There's the 'Alohaland' Cultural issues mixed with the 'no alcohol' rule at the Polynesian Cultural Center (operated by the Mormans, too far away from Waikiki). I always recommend it only as a last boring option & only if you're from Utah!
The tours are vast & varied & the full Round Top/Tantalus would be among my personal favorites. I lived in Wakiki for 23 years & drove a taxi for 16+. MY experience produced the most positive feedback from people I took to the peak of Diamond Head. It's a tough act to follow. Aloha!

Answer 6

Hmm...Oahu...well, going to Waikiki is a must for most tourists...if you want to go to a beach, i would suggest Waimea on the North shore. you have to go early though because the parking lot is small so a lot of people have to park on the side of the road and walk. but the water is nice, clear, and calm...and there's this rock that you can jump off of! my friends and I go there once in a while. but driving around the north shore area can be really peaceful. and they have this shaved ice place called matsumoto's that is really crowded but really good. usually going to the beach is the main thing here because a lot of the other things to do here can be done on the mainland anyways.

Answer 7

On top of the usual tourist crap, Check out the USS ARIZONA memorial (Free! And after 9/11, this should be mandatory for everyone.), the USS BOWFIN submarine memorial next door (good museum plus WW2 submarine tour, about $12 per person for both), and the USS MISSOURI battleship tour (the bus round from the submarine memorial parking lot, about $20 per person for the fancy tour).

Also, just drive the new H3 freeway to Kaneohe in addition to driving aroundthe island.

Answer 8

Hanalei Bay in Kauai. It was one of the best places I went to and I was in Hawaii for a month long vacation. There were never that many people and its so peaceful and serene. Love it and cant wait to go back!

Answer 9

pearl harbour was nice but a very long day-b/c so many people want to visit-i liked the island of maui better-oahu was like tokyo w/ plam trees-too crowded

Answer 10

Go on tour to the Polynesian Cultural Center. When i went there i went on a tour that bought us to a couple other places liek the Dole factory and a macadamia nut center.