Recommendations on Oahu.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Loob

I worked and lived in Waikiki giving surf lessons. I can make a list for you of the best places on the island. Beaches, food and secrets that tourist don't know.

+1 for me if you wouldn't mind. I am doing Oahu this November.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

I'm not sure if we will need to hit up other pools. Sounds like the one at Aulani is going to be the best hands down. Also at Aulani they have a place to drop off the kids for free called Aunties Beach House. If you want your kids to get a meal there it is $15. I have heard nothing but good things about Roy's so that is a definate. Do you need reservations there? Thanks for all the info.

It is the best no question, just that kids have a short attention span, and sometimes a change of scene can help. Just keep it in your back pocket. The hotel at the end of the beach is good too.

Autoe's beach house is quite nice, but I was suggesting if they don't have night time sitter service. Nannies Hawaii is cheap and their NAnnie's are very good. ours was a teacher at a local school.

Roy's was quite good, if you like seafood, mix it up. We got the Octopus and followed up with the steak. It was super good. Also, sit out on patio weather permitting it is quite nice.

You made an excellent choice in Ko Olina, it is awesome. I have only steayed at the beach resort but Disney is a great place. You'll love it, we went there all the time. The lagoons are awesome for kids too.

At any rate, I am super jealous. I love Hawaii and especially Ko Olina.

[tvp2003]

Bump -- we are staying in Oahu for a week in July (first time in Hawaii) and need to figure out where to stay on the island. We will likely travel throughout the island (including the North Shore and a day in Laie) so I'm thinking something relatively central. We're also travelling with two very small children so we will likely avoid Wakiki and Honolulu for the most part -- might go to the zoo though.

Any recommendations? I should also mention -- we were thinking of a VRBO but would consider a hotel/resort depending on cost

[burn_baby_burn]

Sitting on my balcony at Aulani right now in nothing but a pair of shorts. Aulani is really nice for those of you looking at going. Food isn't the best, but we have a one bed room villa so we are making our own breakfast and lunch, then heading out for supper. Breakfast at Ama'Ama at the resort is ok, you can see whales while you are eating over looking the ocean.

Spent eight hours at Pearl Harbor and the five year old wants to go back. He fell in love with battle ships and has ben playing with the eight pacific fleet battle ships we bought at the gift shop any time we are back in our villa.

So far so good. However, after experiencing the traffic to and from Pearl Harbor, I don't plan on going too far from Ko Olina for the rest of the trip. Aulani has everything a person could ask for on a relaxing holiday.

[Minnie]

Sounds fabulous; am slightly jealous. Enjoy!

[Dion]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Taking the family to Oahu for 10 days in early February. I was just wondering if anyone had any must sees or do's and don'ts for the island. We are staying at Aulani in Ko Olina for the entire trip. For the most part we want to relax, however, we do want to spend a few days exploring the island. I have a vehicle rented so transportation isn't a concern.

Pearl Harbor is a definite, maybe even two days for myself. I might take the kids to the Dole Plantation. I have heard that it isn't that great, but that kids love it. My five year old son is obsessed with trains and they have one there so it should make him happy. We might also take a few tours at the Kualoa Ranch. Both of my kids are huge Jurassic Park fans, so I think they would love that part of the tour.

One thing I would love to do is whale watching. Anyone every gone on one of the tours in this area?

Make sure you take the kids to Hanauma bay.

http://www.hanauma-bay-hawaii.com/

The kids will like the train ride they have at the Dole Plantation.

Some pics I took a few years ago

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by Byrns

A better beach than Waikiki:

http://www.hawaiigaga.com/oahu/beach...kai-beach.aspx
http://www.hawaiigaga.com/oahu/beach...lua-beach.aspx

Spent some time on these beaches rented a B&B nice pace town on the east side

If you are going to see beaches these are the ones

[jeffh]

One thing about Hanauma Bay, you need to be there real early, like 7am, if you want to park in there small parking lot. There is no where else to park and they monitor it religiously. Or you could just take a shuttle bus with the masses. I think there is a place in town(Honolulu) that rents snorkel gear called Scuba Bob's or something like that, good place, but next time I'd bring my own gear. Keep in mind, that Hanauma Bay boasts that it is one of the top snorkel locations on the planet. May want to bring a good underwater camera with you too.

The Audobon (Botanical) garden is pretty cool, its a nice paved hike and a beautiful natural pool and waterfall awaits you at the top, and you can swim in it.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Bump -- we are staying in Oahu for a week in July (first time in Hawaii) and need to figure out where to stay on the island. We will likely travel throughout the island (including the North Shore and a day in Laie) so I'm thinking something relatively central. We're also travelling with two very small children so we will likely avoid Wakiki and Honolulu for the most part -- might go to the zoo though.

Any recommendations? I should also mention -- we were thinking of a VRBO but would consider a hotel/resort depending on cost

Any thoughts on the above post I'm leaning towards the East side (near Lanikai/Kailua beach), leaving us with a reasonable drive up to the North Shore as well as the opposite direction to Hanauma Bay and some of the other places down south.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Any thoughts on the above post I'm leaning towards the East side (near Lanikai/Kailua beach), leaving us with a reasonable drive up to the North Shore as well as the opposite direction to Hanauma Bay and some of the other places down south.

This is where I stay in Oahu. Nice units with full size kitchens so you don't have to eat out. Also a nice sized salt water pool, jacuzzi, tennis courts, BBQ area, etc.

http://waikiki-banyan.com/?gclid=CN-...FYV_QgodiwcADA

[jeffh]

I stayed on the westside at some beach house. The north-west side doesn't offer much. Big power plant, plently of tent people, a few golf courses, couple Luau spots, much drier climate, and always a 'drive' to go somewhere. The only big draw is really just the man-made lagoon beaches. I'd focus on the north (1st) and east(2nd) if I were you.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Any thoughts on the above post I'm leaning towards the East side (near Lanikai/Kailua beach), leaving us with a reasonable drive up to the North Shore as well as the opposite direction to Hanauma Bay and some of the other places down south.

I heard that July and August are the busiest tourist months on Oahu, which blows my mind. Apparently Americans go there to beat the heat in the summer months. So plan accordingly. Aulani, for example, sounds like a nightmare in the summer. Over crowded and long lineups for everything. On my stay, the resort wasn't even half full.

[Buff]

Have they renovated the Pearl Harbour memorial site recently? I was there in September 2004 and recently heard you can check it out with street view. It is nothing like I remember.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Buff

Have they renovated the Pearl Harbour memorial site recently? I was there in September 2004 and recently heard you can check it out with street view. It is nothing like I remember.

Yeah, I think a lot of it is fairly new. It seems nice and clean and modern.