So glad you had a great time! It’s really a lovely island with tons of things to do! Did you make it to Duke’s?
It sounds like you git to enjoy much of our island’s offerings—I’m so glad! I’m a huge fan of Iolani Palace and Bishop Museum and their fabulous cafe! Yay!
Yes, our island and state have amazing food—some of the best I’ve ever had as well.
I’m so glad the you enjoyed the trip! Thanks for coming back with trip review.
I’m hoping to get one of my kids to Hanauma Bay for snorkeling - now I can add also natto to my list of must tries!
Ooops - sorry I was so late to the party - posted this before I read that you had already been:
"Oh, you are going to have a wonderful time! No need to go off the island of Oahu. Give yourself time to just take in the air at the airport - it’s the most wonderful scent you will ever know! I wish they could bottle it!
I stayed at the Prince a number of years ago when my ex husband was there for a conference. It was absolutely wonderful. The door men/valets/bell boys remembered our name and greeted us every time we came in and out. They had beach toys available for the kids - just a wonderful experience. If the taco truck is still in the marina area - yum!
Airbnb might be good for different areas of the island you want to explore because traffic can get bad - i.e. you might want to do an airbnb for a night or two on the North Shore or on the windward east side. But in Waikiki, stay near the beach. And don’t miss the lighting of the tiki torches at dusk!
Oh, and definitely make time for drinks and a meal at the Mai Tai Bar at the Royal Hawaiian hotel. Best burger I’ve ever had in my life!
@Momofadult - Last year I took my friend to snorkel at Hanauma Bay (his very first time snorkeling and he loves sea turtles) - while it was “fine” and we had fun, over the 10 days we found 2 even better snorkeling spots…one was Lanikai Beach on the windward side of O’ahu (which was really beautiful - no turtles though), and the other Electric Beach (Kahe Beach) on the leeward side…this isn’t a place you go for the vista (unlike Lanikai), it’s the snorkeling with turtles here! We swam/snorkeled with a good half-dozen turtles, we could hear dolphin song underwater, and seriously, it was a-maz-ing! That was a little over a year ago, and he is still talking about it (me too).
@JustaMom, Thanks for the recs!!! I am definitely taking notes!