Sights and Eats in Hawaii - Big Island (Hilo, Kona) and Oahu

[mykalberta]

If you are only in Oahu for 2 days this might take up too much time but I highly suggest the Circle Island tour. You hit all the spots (mac nut farm, dole plantation, whale watching spot, etc) and the drivers are really good at giving you a play by play.

The other suggestion would be Hanama Bay and Pearl Harbour combo - just call to check because I believe its closed 2 days a week for maintenance.

Diamond head is nice to walk up there for exercise but its view is fairly meh imo. I usually walk it from Waikiki at least 3-4 times when I am there just for the exercise alone.

[DylanScores]

I highly suggest going to TED's Bakery on the North Shore. it is a mom and pop's store that sell wicked garlic shrimp that comes with free pie of your choice! Their coffee is the best and their prices are pretty good and waaay cheaper that other places around North Shore.I also highly suggest the "poke" at the Kahuku Superette. They have the best poke in North Shore hands down!!I also suggest taking a a drive the opposite side of north shore where you can find almost deserted beaches that you can enjoy to yourselves!
Also remember that the Pearl Harbour( USS Arizona) tour is free and is a must see!
Stay away from Waikiki ( too busy), the Dole Plant and if you want to see a Luau at The Polynesian cultural Center, just get the basic package ( i think it is $49) eat somewhere and enjoy the show later on.

[North East Goon]

The all-you-can eat sushi buffet in Honolulu is called Todai! I found all the restaurants even tourist one's like Cheesecake factory and Bubba Gump's much better in Hawaii than anywhere else.

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

The all-you-can eat sushi buffet in Honolulu is called Todai! I found all the restaurants even tourist one's like Cheesecake factory and Bubba Gump's much better in Hawaii than anywhere else.

Ok you are going to have to forfeit your opinion

[HotHotHeat]

There are lots of "must see" beaches on the Kona Coast.

Here are my two favourite...

Kua Bay:


Can't remember the name of this one, PM if you want the location.

[drewboy12]

ONO Cheese steak! lol. Original, with cheese whiz.... so good.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

The all-you-can eat sushi buffet in Honolulu is called Todai!

What he said, and thanks for finding it, so I didn't have to dig through a lot of old stuff to find the name.

Also, in defence of the Macadamia Nut factory...I've always enjoyed the ins and outs of mass production. So it was interesting to me to see 'how they do it'. However, the gift shop will bend you over for prices, esp when any ABC store has much the same stuff at 1/2 the price. Additionally, the Nut factory is FAST, even with my interest in the machinery, we were done inside of a half hour. We avoided the Dole Plantation.

[billybob123]

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

However, the gift shop will bend you over for prices, esp when any ABC store has much the same stuff at 1/2 the price.

Even cheaper is the Walmart in Honolulu (there's two - one is on Keeamoku (walking from West Waikiki but a drive form most) and the other is in Ewa). It's like 50% the price of the nuts in the ABC stores. Plus everything is for sale at the Walmart that you'll need - beach mats, sunscreen, snacks, t-shirts, souvenirs, calendars, drinks. At way cheaper prices than anywhere else.

There's also a Walmart in Kona - I seem to remember it's at the top of the hill on the way out of town towards the airport.

There's also an old-style diner restaurant across from the Walmart in Honolulu called the Like-Like (pronounced leekay-leekay) that has good Hawaiian and mainland food for cheap. Also best for breakfast and cheap lunch is the Wailana coffee house on Ala Moana in Waikiki -- it's regular priced whereas the hotel restaurants tend to be obscenely expensive for crappy breakfasts.

I also learned how delicious a hamburger with a pineapple slice could be in Hawaii. It's really yummy. Everyone should try it.

[likwid888]

Favorite places to eat in Oahu:

- PF Changs (Amazing chinese food, a must try)
- Margaritaville (American/Mexican food. Awesome atmosphere)
- Cheesecake Factory (Go there for desert, you won't be disappointed)
- Cheeseburger Hawaii (The best fast food burgers in Hawaii. Try the Kobe Beef Burger)
- Yardhouse (Over 100 beers on tap. Very good food for a pub)

Also, as others have mentioned. Be sure to buy water and other everyday items at an ABC store, rather than at a hotel/resort.

[likwid888]

Originally Posted by fotze

Not sure if serious chainy magoo?

Yes, most of them are chains, but they are not found anywhere in Canada as far as I know.

[Jing]

Originally Posted by Lchoy

Thanks for the tips guys

Good call on the volcano tour. Looking at it, it seems better to do the park ourselves, especially since we'll have a car.

Thanks for the tip for Hanauma Bay, we'll definitely try to drive by it. The wife is not a really strong swimmer so it would just be me if I wanted to go snorkling.

The Macadamia Nut and Dole plantation will be our "touristy" thing to do I guess. We won't spend too much time there.

I don't plan on going to the Polynesian centre. I'm already doing a Luau anyways
I've done the swimming with Dolphins and Rays as well before. Looking forward to just relaxing on the beach though.

Helicopter might be neat. We vetoed the travel agent's suggestion for that submarine voyage to explore the reefs.

Do you happen to know the name of that sushi buffet White Tiger? Sounds great

we were also checking out Chef Alan Wong's restaurant and Morimoto's in Oahu. I'm a big Iron Chef fan so I might have to go. Huggo's also seemed to come up a bunch during out research for food. I'll know to sample "Poke", Yam pies at Macdonalds, "purple fries", great seafood, and Japanese and Korean cuisine

Funny, someone else was mentioning to us about the prevalence of ABC drug stores

Appreciate all the tips and advice

Alan Wong's is very good, you won't be disappointed.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

Its quite gay to notice my sunburn and not the two hot Asian chicks at the waterline!!!

Cowperson

It's more gay to focus the picture on a hairy sunburned foot instead of the two hot Asian chicks.

[Speros]

I took a trip down to Oahu last summer and loved it. If you have a wild side, then these were my two favorite actives:

The shark cage was a lot of fun as the water was crystal clear and the sharks come right up to the cage. I went with these guys: http://sharktourshawaii.com/


I jumped with these guys: http://www.skydivehawaii.com/

[Language]

Originally Posted by likwid888

Favorite places to eat in Oahu:

- PF Changs (Amazing chinese food, a must try)
- Margaritaville (American/Mexican food. Awesome atmosphere)
- Cheesecake Factory (Go there for desert, you won't be disappointed)
- Cheeseburger Hawaii (The best fast food burgers in Hawaii. Try the Kobe Beef Burger)
- Yardhouse (Over 100 beers on tap. Very good food for a pub)

Also, as others have mentioned. Be sure to buy water and other everyday items at an ABC store, rather than at a hotel/resort.

Was about to recommend this place. If you go there during happy hour it's literally the cheapest greatest well made food I've ever had.