We will only be there for a week in early April, so are leaning towards staying on Oahu the whole time.(After that loooong flight, I’d prefer to stay put and really dig in.)
There appears to be plenty to do in such a short period of time. Our first two nights, we are staying at the Waikiki Prince, but then would like to find an airbnb on another part of the island. What locations should I consider? Are there areas we should avoid staying in (due to remote location or lack of access to restaurants, food markets, etc.)
What are some sights we shouldn’t miss? I definitely want to see the Iolani Palace and the Bishop Museum. I am also considering a luau, simply because I’ve never been to one. Are there any that have really good traditional foods?
Neither one of us has ever been to Hawaii, but it will be freezing and miserable where we live, so even if it rains the whole time, we will still be thrilled to be there.
Go to Helena’s if you want real Hawaiian food. the shrimp trucks on the southeast part of the island are awesome. I would also suggest visiting Pearl Harbor.
I’d definitely go to Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial (I don’t remember if you get tickets in advance, there are crowds but I was glad we went). And right next door there is a submarine USS Bowfin that was fascinating to walk through. We went to the Polynesian Cultural Center which as a bit hokey, but we had fun.
Be sure to also spend some down time just relaxing. Enjoy.
Oahu has many kinds of options in terms of location. Kailua/Lanikai/North Shore for beautiful beaches and more recently the Ko Olina area for a more resort-type experience (a Four Seasons recently opened there).
I’m a water person, so my biases will show. April is a transition month but you could get fairly good snorkeling at North Shore, particularly at Shark’s Cove - Haunama Bay is very, very busy and kind of a pain, but is never blown out if conditions everywhere else are poor. Waikiki was where surfing was born, and it is a fun place to try it if you are comfortable in open water. Love the swim-with-dolphins experiences on the Waianae side, though they are pricey. Many wonderful hikes, too.
I also love Oahu’s food - it is a underrated food destination. There is farm-to-table, gourmet, local and some of the most authentic Japanese restaurants outside of Japan itself. The sushi can be incredible - if you want to go to one of the top-rated places I would book several months out. On the more affordable end I would definitely stop for some ice shave (Wai Ola, Uncle Clays), and Leonard’s malasadas - get them while they are hot!
Either Helena’s or Highway Inn (serving food at Bishop Museum) both have excellent Hawaiian foood, without needing to attend a luau. Polynesian Cultural Center has different dances of crafted from various South Pacific nations. It’s pretty interesting and they do have a buffet and evening show as well, if you’re interested.
We loved swimming around at Shark’s Cove! We didn’t stay nearby, but it was still easy to get to. You are swimming inside a shallow caldera, while the wild north coast waves break along the outer edges. Just with goggles you can see quite a lot.
I think we drove to Haunama Bay to swim and it was closed. Does it close during the new moon or full moon because of jellyfish? Plan ahead for that one.
Make sure you have water shoes or Teva-like sandals that can get completely wet. Walking around on the lava rock is surprisingly difficult and there are little sea urchin things that you don’t want to accidentally step on in the water.
Extra cost exhibits include the USS Bowfin submarine, USS Missouri battleship, and Pacific Aviation Museum. The latter two are quite large and can take quite a bit of time if you want to see everything.
Keep watching for the USS Arizona Memorial updates. It is currently closed for repairs to the dock and other things. We were on Oahu last April and were fortunate to go to the Arizona. It is very sad that it is closed right now. There is a great museum at Pearl Harbor. If you rent a car, be sure to get to the Pali Lookout. It is a great view. Also, the Punchbowl Cemetery is moving. It has mosaics of the Pacific WWII battles.
I visited with my non-swimmer DH. I agree with you, plenty to enjoy on Oahu for a week trip. We spent an entire day at Pearl Harbor. (caveat: We are musuem people and have WWII/military history interests) Museum is excellent, as noted above watch for info on Arizona and hope you can book in advance (necessary), Bowfin, USS Missouri, Aviation Museum. Sorry I’m re-iterating previous recs, just want you to know that if this is at all of interest, it is an unforgettable day.
We enjoyed Bishop’s Museum and the Highway Inn food @HImom mentions. Iolani Palace tour was terrific. The surrounding area is also interesting for a little walk with the nearby Mission Houses, City Hall, etc. We also enjoyed Queen Emma’s Summer Palace which is a significantly smaller version of Royal Hawaiian living, but one we found interesting and a nice contrast. We enjoyed walks in the Lyon Botanical Garden and a hike to Manoa Falls. We are art lovers; pleasant visits to both the Honolulu Museum of Art and the Hawaii State Art Museum. Agree that the Punchbowl Cemetary is unique and worth a drive.
I almost had my DH convinced to snorkel at Hanauma Bay. We drove over and he wasn’t too intimidated, but we ran out of time. We climbed Diamond Head which did have great views. We stayed at the Marriott Waikiki (points). Pretty typical Marriott, but we had a great balcony view of Waikiki.
We found a car necessary and had one the entire time. I remember that Tripadvisor had posts on how to manage with public bus, but I know DH would not have managed that.
We went to Kualoa Ranch and went horseback riding for 2 hours. That’s where the Jurassic Park movies are filmed. There’s also ATV tours and other tours. It’s beautiful there, I highly recommend it.
I will second Duke’s on Waikiki. Call ahead and reserve a table by the rail. It’s a hopping place and we all enjoyed our dinners.
Another very nice place to go is The House Without A Key. It’s outside with a beautiful view of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head. There is live Hawaiian music from 5 to 8, with a hula dancer for awhile. Call and request a seat outside in front of the entertainment. They just serve drinks and snacks out there. We ended up eating at the restaurant right next to that area, but none of us liked our food. So, I’d just for drinks and entertainment, then dine elsewhere.
You can hike Diamondhead.
We took a sunset cruise on a catamaran called the Maita’i. They do a very nice job and it was just a lot of fun.
Waikiki Beach area is very nice, upscale, trendy, beautiful at night. You’ll love it.
I would spend more time in Waikiki than 2 nights. I’d give it 4, but I don’t snorkel or surf.
I love Oahu and don’t understand why people skip over it, but I’m biased because my brother has lived in Honolulu for 40 years and my parents wintered there. The Prince Hotel is lovely and in a great location, IMO. I agree with above poster that you might want more than 2 nights in Honolulu. We love morning or sunset walks around Magic Island/Ala Moana Park, and walking along Waikiki Beach. House without a Key is at the beautiful Halekulani Hotel. My brother had his wedding reception here. As @conmama suggested, great place to sit and enjoy a Mai Tai at sunset with live entertainment - highly recommend. Will you be at the Prince on a Friday? Fridays are Aloha Friday and there are fireworks set off over the water in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Duke’s is great, we also like the Hula Grill overlooking WB for breakfast. The Prince is in walking distance of Ala Moana Mall, worth a visit (if you are staying more than 2 days.) Tons of great shopping and browsing all along WB. Recommend hiking Diamond Head, although it can get a bit crowded - go early. Catamaran ride is fun. Luau’s are hokey - which is all part of the fun! Best enjoyed in a group or if you want to fully indulge in the free drinks. Hanauma Bay is a beautiful stop-off spot and we have enjoyed snorkeling there, but it is much more crowded than it was 20 years ago. Dole Pineapple worth a stop to see the pineapple fields and try a pineapple whip - YUM! On the North Shore recommend trying a shrimp truck for lunch - yummy plate lunch (get the garlic shrimp!) and unique experience. Google North Shore shrimp trucks for more info. We enjoy driving all along the North Shore and stopping at the various surfing spots. You will have plenty to keep you busy - enjoy!!
I also recommend a drink at the patio at Halekulani, House without a Key, at sunset. An old school Hawaiian band and beautiful views to Diamond Head. I go there all the time. In my opinion, their Mai Tais are the best on the island.
You should dress nice for Halekulani. You won’t fit in in shorts and tank tops. Hawaii residents go here for a celebration or “dress up” evening. They have a certain corner they sit in.
There are beautiful botanical gardens on Oahu if you like that kind of stuff. The hike up Diamond Head is a must IMO.
To relax on the beach, Ko Olina is great. The new Four Seasons is lovely and relaxing even during high season. They have an adult only pool and they do mean it. The Disney hotel next door is always crowded but it does a great job keeping the kiddos occupied and out of the Four Srasoners’ hair. There are vacation rentals, too, at the Marriott or at the condo building next door.
@Massmomm - don’t pay for a luau, instead, make your way to the big banyon tree on Kalakaua Ave on a Tues, Thurs, or Sat evening for the FREE authentic Hawaiian music and hula shows by some of the finest halau hula (dance troupes) and Hawaiian performers (music). The evening opens with torch lighting and traditional blowing of conch shell. 6:30-7:30 p.m. (6:00-7:00 p.m. Nov-Dec-Jan) at the Kuhio Beach Hula Mound, diagonally across Kalakaua Ave. from Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach hotel (cross street Uluniu Ave). Outdoors, casual, seating on the grass; beach chairs, mats, etc. okay. Cameras welcome.
I went 4x on my last trip to Oahu. The hula is performed by students and some of them are life-time hula dancers. The sound of the waves, the music, the beautiful costumes all make for a great alternative to paying for a luau. Afterward walk up and down Kalakaua Ave. - there are restaurants and shops, street performers and a lot of fun.
And yes, Lanikai is beautiful! We kayaked just up the road from Lanikai, using Kailua Beach Adventures. We paddled out to a bird sanctuary, “Flat Island” (Popoia) - when we were done with our kayak tour they let us borrow any of their equipment for the rest of the day. we borrowed bikes and snorkel gear and rode about a mile to Lanikai for the most spectacular snorkeling right off the beach. If kayaking is something that could be of interest I can personally attest to this tour.
There are vacation rentals, too, at the Marriott or at the condo building next door.