2 Comments April 2nd, 2008

Traveling to hawaii for the first time?

gwwoody2007 asked:


Hi, we are traveling on a Grand Hawaiian Tour with a Tour Co. It is our fist trip, 14 days of island hopping and upgraded specials throughout. Can anyone give use insight on food, things to see when on our own, special beaches to visit and romantic quiet coves. All inquires appreicated.

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2 Responses to “Traveling to hawaii for the first time?”

  1. Crystal V Says:
    April 6th, 2008 at 2:37 am

    Hmm… the biggest thing I can suggest is (while on Oahu) to keep the amount of time you spend in Waikiki to a minimum. Waikiki is a great spot for tourists and has a lot of activities, but if you really want to capture the essence of the island, don’t spend all of your time there. A trip to the North Shore is a definite must, though you’ve missed the major surf competitions which are fun to watch. I definitely recommend you take some time to snorkel here. Shark’s Cove is lovely place to spot some beautiful sea life, though my husband and I spotted 7 sea turtles in a single day at Waimea Bay. Make sure you visit one (or all) of the shrimp stands on the North Shore as well. Shrimp caught THAT DAY cooked however you like. Somewhat pricey, but delicious. Haleiwa is my favorite place on the island. It’s a fun beach town with tons of quaint shops and great restaurants. I recommend checking everything out there. On your way to the North Shore, stop by the Dole Plantation. It’s home to the world’s largest maze (which you can walk through and even play a little “game” in) and also features a train ride touring part of the plantation, souvenir shop, classes on selecting a ripe pineapple and how to cut it (very informative!) as well as a cafe that offers a plethora of pineapple based items. The pineapple ice cream is incredible. There’s the Macadamia nut farm which has all things macadamia nut and also local hawaiian treats and all the free macadamia nut coffe you could want as well as free samples of the nuts themselves. Visit a luau!!! They’re incredibly entertaining and money well spent! My husband and I had a blast at Germaine’s luau but there are several to choose from. The Polynesian Cultural Center is also a lovely place to visit to learn the history and customs of the people. They also have luaus. Back to snorkeling, Hanuama Bay is also a nice spot to snorkel but is more of a tourist spot than anything. However, the view there is incredible. There are man-made lagoons at the resorts in Ko Olina which are also quite lovely. Pearl Harbor has quite a few activites other than the Arizona Memorial including a tour of the USS Bowfin, a submarine, and the USS Missouri, the battleship. The Arizona Memorial is free though the others require a fee. Make sure to arrive at the Arizona Memorial early as tickets go quickly.

    There are PLENTY more things to do on the island, I simply don’t have the energy to list them all! You can always speak with an activity rep at the hotel you stay at which can give you brochures and more information on activities available.

    Oh, if you’re adventurous, I would suggest cage diving (with sharks) as well as swimming with the dolphins. Money well spent and an experience you’ll never forget.

    Have fun.

  2. Auntie Says:
    April 6th, 2008 at 10:58 am

    Have fun! It is the trip of a lifetime! I only spent time on Oahu, my favorite things were watching the torch lighters on Waikiki beach every night at sunset. They blow conch shells and run around the area with torches to lite the tiki torches. The north shore is a must to see. My favorite beach was Sunset beach. Incredible waves and beautiful sand. We went snorkeling in Hanuma Bay, we saw a giant sea turtle and about a hundred diff. types of fish.
    Polynesian cultural centre is fantastic to learn a little history.