Oahu with kids
Written: Apr 17 '05 (Updated Apr 17 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Lots for kids to do in Oahu
Cons: Waikiki is noisy at night and may interfere with an early bedtime.
The Bottom Line: Oahu is fun for children - they won't want to come back home! Just go!
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| rag47's Full Review: Oahu |
There are lots of good activities for kids on Oahu. We went in April 2005 with our two children, our son age 6 and our daughter age 3. Waikiki Beach was a big hit with them. They loved getting in the water, digging in the sand, riding on an inflatable mattress ($2.99 at the ABC store) and burying one of us in the sand. Waikiki is a public beach, it should be noted - you don't have to stay at a beachside hotel to use it.
Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay was less of a hit. We took the advice to arrive before 9am but I wish we had arrived before 8am. You wait in line to get a parking place, then wait in line to pay admission ($5), then wait in line to see the mandatory video, then wait in line to rent snorkel equipment. That's a lot of waiting. There is hardly any shade at the beach itself and the sun in merciless. Our son can swim and did fine with the snorkel gear and saw many fish. Our three year old daughter doesn't swim well yet and didn't like wearing a snorkel mask. On the upside, it's a very beautiful bay.
Our kids loved the free Hawaiian music and hula show held every night on Waikiki Beach by the statue of Duke Kahanamoku. It's sponsored by the city and county and runs from 6:30 to 7:30pm. They watched it twice. Their attempts at the hula were cute!
There is a free walkthrough aquarium in a store roughly across the street from the Royal Hawaiian shopping arcade (on the main drag of Waikiki). But even better was having dinner at the Oceanarium restaurant in the Pacific Beach hotel. They oohed and aahed at the big rays and sharks. A woman in scuba gear fed the fish at 6:15. The restaurant is expensive and reservations are needed, but unique and fun.
Waimea Falls park was a hit, too. They keep changing management - it now seems to be associated with the Audubon society. $8 admission for adults, kids less. You walk through a botanical garden, and finally reach the falls. Our children were quite interested in all that they saw. From Honolulu, take H1, H2 and 99. Quite soon after you hit the North Shore, the entrance will be on your right.
The ship "Star of Honolulu" that docks at Pier 8, Aloha Towers marketplace, offers whale watch lunch cruises in season, and cultural cruises out of season. We were on the edge of the season and got a little of both. The kids loved making leis, learning more hula and playing the ukulele. It's fairly expensive. Watch out for the parking fees - if you don't buy something in the marketplace, they'll sock you $24 for parking.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Dec - Feb
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Epinions.com ID:
rag47
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Location: Issaquah, WA
Reviews written: 21
Trusted by: 12 members
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