Avoid the tourist traps... get a local to show you around!
Written: Jun 14 '02 (Updated Aug 18 '06)
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Pros: Great hiking, beaches, and scenic points.
Cons: Touristy areas like Waikiki, road signs hard to follow, mainland banks/ATM's hard to find.
The Bottom Line: Oahu can be romantic and great fun to explore if you know how to avoid the tourists. (Of course, having a local to show you around doesn't hurt.)
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| divad23's Full Review: Oahu |
This review is dedicated to Christine, my friend, lover, and wife, who sure knows how to show a haole from the mainland a good time. I constantly look forward to our next trip back to your island paradise.
Here I am again, writing another travel review. What can I say, I've spent over a month of my life on the island of Oahu (during separate trips, that is), and I wanted to share the experience. More than just allowing you (the reader) to live vicariously through me, however, I'm hoping to give you an assortment of helpful hints and places to visit should you plan your own trip to Hawaii's busiest island, Oahu. This won't be a typical travel review - just a pastiche of a visitor's impressions of the island, and what seems to be the daily life of someone who lives there, after having visited enough times to start feeling at home there.
"I Am Not a Tourist!"
A few disclaimers before I get started - I'm not big on doing a lot of touristy stuff when I travel. I like to explore and see where the road takes me. I don't tend to spend a ton of time shopping, or nightclubbing, or whatever else. Some folks can visit Oahu, spend an entire week at Waikiki, and get around via tour bus. That ain't me.
You'd think another Hawaiian island would be better suited for me. I've been to Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island on previous trips, and while those were more my style, I've left that for other reviews. These days, I have in-laws who live on Oahu, and visiting them doesn't always leave us the time or resources to island-hop. The great thing is that we always seem to find plenty of new and exciting things for both of us to do (which is saying a lot given that my wife lived there for the first quarter-century of her life), and we manage to avoid the crowds and traffic most of the time.
Now I realize that not everyone has friends or family to visit in Hawaii, and some people have no choice but to come as clueless tourists. Well, hopefully I can make you slightly less clueless by the end of this review!
Get off the Plane, Get a Car, Get Out of There
Three words: RENT A CAR! That's the single most important thing I can tell you if you're going to spend more time on Oahu than a simple layover while you're awaiting a flight to one of the other islands. Don't assume you'll get to see much if you don't have your own transportation. Maybe it's just my L.A. mentality showing through, but it's worth it to be able to explore every nook and cranny of the island that you can.
As soon as you get your car, get out of Honolulu. I'm serious. Hopefully you didn't check into a hotel there. (Most of 'em are there, but if you haven't booked anything yet, try to find something in the outlying areas - maybe not as far away as Waianae or Turtle Bay, which might isolate you a little bit, but something north or west of Pearl Harbor or over on the Windward Side might work.) The state's capital can be a nuthouse, especially during the summer, and my personal vision of paradise doesn't include tall corporate buildings and endless souvenir stores. Oahu isn't a difficult island to find your way around, once you adjust to the fact that road signs and highway exits aren't always as apparent as they are in the continental U.S. Generally speaking, you'll be driving slower than you're used to (speed limits are generally 55 on the freeway, with a posted minimum of 45, as if to remind the locals not to be too laid-back, and highways tend to run around 35 or 40, with even some of the busier residential streets dropping to 25), and you'll have plenty of time to change lanes. Driving in Hawaii is certainly less stressful than it is in Los Angeles. Enough said about that.
You can get yourself almost anywhere on the island by knowing four main roads - Interstates H1, H2, and H3 (no joke, there actually are interstate highways in Hawaii!), and Kamehameha Highway. H1 starts somewhere at the eastern end of Honolulu, and runs past the International airport, up around Pearl Harbor, and along the southern shore over to the west side. H2 originates at H1 just east of Honolulu, and runs north between the island's two major mountain ranges, hitting most of the major cities on the interior of the island before petering out somewhere near Wahiawa (which is roughly the midpoint of the island). Kamehameha Highway (which some call Kam Highway for short, but I'd avoid saying that around most of the locals if I were you) runs parallel to H2, meeting it where it ends and continuing up to the north shore, eventually curving up around the northernmost tip of the island and wandering down the eastern shore. From there, H3 will take you underneath the mountains and back over to the Honolulu area (as do the alternate and equally beautiful routes Pail Highway and Likelike Highway. Farrington Highway, split into two pieces, covers the rest of the Western shore from the end of H1 up through Waianae, and then, past where it dead-ends near the northwestern tip of the island, restarts near Mokuleia Beach and Dillingham Airfield, meeting back up with Kamehameha Highway in Haleiwa. All told, you can traverse the perimeter of the island (or at least the majority of it) in three hours or so. Must make road trips for Hawaiian families rather uneventful...
Of course, you're not just there to do a bunch of driving, and part of the charm of Oahu's other three shores is that you can meander through a lot of little towns, stop and enjoy the fresh, humid, but delightfully non-smoggy atmosphere, and maybe a passing rain shower, as you walk in and out of quaint souvenir shops and local plate lunch joints. (More on the food later). You can really stop just about anywhere and be almost guaranteed to find a previously hidden slice of Hawaii life as you explore - carve out your own memories of the island instead of letting the tour buses decide for you what you will remember after you go home.
Take a Hike!
So now that I've assured you that you can explore without getting lost, what should you do? Well, my extremely biased advice would be to see something you can't see from a road. In other words, go on a hike and immerse yourself in nature. There are plenty of great trails on the island, of which I've only explored a few. If you can put up with the humidity, mosquitoes, and mud (dirt trails can be a bit treacherous if it is raining or if it has recently), I'd say you should explore the eastern (windward) side of the island. That's the side that gets the most precipitation, and you'll see more breathtaking shades of green than you ever thought possible.
One hike that I'd recommend starts near the city of Kailua and ends up at Maunawili Falls. It's muddy (tip: bring an extra pair of shoes that you don't mind turning a permanent shade of red) and requires crossing a stream at least five times and climbing a monster set of stairs on the way out, but the destination is worthwhile - a lovely waterfall tucked away deep in the tropical forest. It's about 3 miles roundtrip and can be accomplished in an afternoon.
For something a little closer to the Honolulu area, drive up into the Manoa Valley neighborhood and hike the short trail (it can get muddy in places and there are some stars to climb and tree roots to negotiate around) up to Manoa Falls. At times, the falls can be reduced to merely a drip, trickling down a massive vertical rock wall into a pool below (which you should stay out of, as this area is landslide-prone), but even then, it's a beautiful sight.
Another interesting hike (albeit more of a tourist attraction) is Diamond Head, which is basically a volcano crater at the southern tip of the island (just west of Honolulu). This hike is less green and considerably less shady, so slather on that sunblock! It's shorter - less than a mile from the trailhead to the top, but it does involve a bit of climbing, including another monster flight of stairs and a dark passageway through what appears to be an old military lookout (I forget exactly what it was used for, but in any case, bring a flashlight). Once at the top, you'll get a wonderful view of the surrounding hills and suburbs, and if you're lucky, you'll be able to see out across the water to neighboring islands Lanai and Molokai.
Further out to the east, at the southeatern edge of the island before you reach Sea Life Park (assuming you're heading east from Hawaii Kai), you'll find a parking lot and a trail that leads along an old paved road up to the Makapuu Lighthouse. There's no shade anywhere on this trail, and it gets windy - it might be better attempted in the early morning or late afternoon. The view of the lighthouse from the vantage point above, as well as the nearby islands and Sea Life Park, is quite scenic.
One hike that is popular with locals is the Aiea Loop Trail, which starts at the top of Aiea Heights Drive in the city of the same constant-lacking name. It's a 4.5-mile loop through a heavily forested and beautiful area of the local foothills, offering several views into the neighboring valleys at various breaks in the trees (including a generous view of the H3 to the northeast - though some might have preferred the view from before this concrete giant was built). Be prepared for some narrow sections, and spots where you have to negotiate fallen trees. It may help up to look up a map or specific directions, as the connecting trail that bisects the middle section isn't well-marked, and to make matters worse, a wrong turn can put you on the Aiea Ridge Trail, which climbs up an extremely narrow ridge through some less well-maintained areas until finally coming out at a viewpoint on the Ko'olau Range overlooking the Windward Side. I'm sure it's breathtaking, but a wrong turn took me halfway up that trail before I realized my mistake, and getting back down was hell.
For more trails, check out these websites:
http://www.hawaiitrails.org/island.asp?island=Oahu
http://www.backyardoahu.com/
http://www.hawaiiweb.com/html/hiking.html
If you really aren't in a position to do a lot of walking around, try visiting a botanical garden such as the Lyon Arboretum, which occupies a lush green valley just north of Honolulu featuring a cute treetop restaurant and more birds than you can handle! (Sadly, the arboretum is closed as of my last update in summer 2006, and the restaurant's buffet appears to have dropped in quality since 2002.) Back on the windward side of the island, Ho'omaluhia Gardens is a lovely place for a picnic or a campout, near where H3 and Likelike Highway jut out of the jagged hillside. It has its own lake, and several small gardens in open grassy areas carved out of the forest, connected by trails that you could explore for hours if you wanted. Finally, Wahiawa Botanical Gardens are a small area of paths leading through a beautiful jungle valley, and Kaneohe has the tiny but idyllic Haiku Gardens, which seem to be an ideal spot for wedding photography with its small pond and gazeboes. These places are especially recommended for quiet, romantic getaways.
http://www.lyonarboretum.com/
http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/parks/hbg/hmbg.htm
And while you're on your way to or from the island's east side, take a slight detour along Pali Highway and check out the view from Pali Lookout, where the highway cuts through near a infamously windy mountain pass. From almost any vantage point, you'll find plenty of photo ops - just steer clear of the edge when you're up there if you don't want to risk getting blown away! Another interesting hike starts from Pali Lookout and descends along the old paved highway to the right. It's a pleasant walk that gets you up close and personal with the green slopes of the Ko'olau, and it's not too strenuous on the return, but the highway is overgrown in several places and the road eventually degenerates into a dirt trail that winds through the woods, so don't head too far if you end up getting caught in a drizzle that threatens to develop into the full-on rain that provides the windward side with its extreme green beauty.
Beach Bums
Alright, so I'll admit that it's criminal to take a vacation in Hawaii without spending some of your time in or near the water. I'm not an expert on surfing, snorkeling, fishing or any sort of aquatic sports/recreation, so I tend to judge beaches by how they look, how many people are typically there, and how easy it is to find shade. With that in mind, I will once again advise you to avoid Waikiki. Drive or walk by it if you must, just to say you've been there. My personal preference, if it's not a particular windy or stormy time of year, is to spend beach time on the north shore. The waves can be a little rougher up there, so exercise discretion. Waimea Bay, which is on the north shore just east of Haleiwa, isn't too bad of a place - very scenic, though parking and crowds can still be a little crazy, especially when there's a surfing competition going on. Haleiwa itself is a cute little town and it's got a good amount of beach space. It makes for an ideal place to watch the sunset (my wife and I did this once when we were first dating, and got a near-postcard quality picture out of the deal). In general, no trip to Oahu feels complete without a trip to its fabled North Shore.
If you have little kids, or are an inexperienced swimmer yourself and prefer to avoid rougher waves at all costs, Kailua Beach, in the town of the same name on the windward side, is your ideal destination. It's a calm, tranquil, white beach with a great view of the peninsula that forms the southern edge of Kane'ohe Bay. That might just be my favorite beach on the entire island.
Venturing to the western (leeward) side of the island will also provide you with some scenic shore views, but you'll want to exercise caution on those beaches during the rougher months as well. That side of the island (which can be reached by followiong H1 west until it turns into Farrington Highway) is drier due to fewer rainclouds making it all the way over Oahu's two mountain ranges, and it can seem almost like some coastal areas of California at times. That side of the island is generally a little more rustic and undeveloped, with the locals a little more isolated from the visitors, though resorts are starting to creep in. It's worth checking out for the drive up the coast and back, but I can't think of a whole lot else to do over there. There's supposed to be a hike out to Kaena Point, which is the northwestern tip of the island, starting a few miles away at the highway's bitter end, but this route can be closed when the seas are rougher in the winter. Exercise caution when leaving your car at a beach or trailhead for extended periods of time on the leeward side, as it is known for being more of a theft-prone area.
Good eats... and not so good
If there's one thing that I love about taking a vacation, it's finding new places to eat. Now, I'm not all about spending tons of money on the fanciest food out there - nor is my wife. With the exception of one evening deemed our "date night" that we always make sure to have when we visit Oahu, we mostly eat at fast food places or laid-back, family-type restaurants when we're out and about. (And even on the date nights, she's up for looking for a bargain. Smart girl.)
One place we particularly enjoyed was Pizza Bob's in Haleiwa. They had a fairly standard pizza/pasta menu with a few island-themed items. We had an extremely cheesy chicken/artichoke pizza that was to die for. There are many cute little restaurants up in that area (it's really a quaint little town), but I'd recommend avoiding Rosie's Cantina if you're up there. Mexican food generally doesn't fare as well once you're outside a certain mileage radius of Mexico, though Cholo's Homsetyle Mexican Restaurant, just a few blocks away, fares a lot better.
Bravo, along Kamehameha Highway near the Pearl Ridge Mall, is excellent for Italian food. Just handle the garlic bread with care - it's strong stuff!
If you're into Asian food, there's an abundance of Chinese and especially Japanese food on the island. I've tried some of the more touristy stuff such as Jackie Chan's at the massive shopping center Ala Moana in Honoulu, and it's decent, but it's the little places that can surprise you. Maile's in Mililani is an excellent local place for Chinese (you haven't had good cashew chicken until you've had it with sweet Maui onions!), and Gyotaku in Waimalu serves up some excellent sushi and other Japanese fare. There's no shortage of sushi on the island - you can even get bento-to-go at gas station mini-marts if you're so inclined. That takes some of the fun and culture out of it, but it meets needs for locals on the go. Tourists are probably better off experiencing it in an actual restuarant, though.
Now if it's fast food you want (and if you're bored with the mainland chains), a place called Zippy's seems to be a staple of the local culture. You'll see them all over the place. While the color scheme leads you to believe it's the Hawaiian version of Weinerschnitzel, it's actually more like what you'd get if you crossed Wienerschnitzel, Burger King, Denny's, your local mom-and-pop owned Asian restaurant, and your local bakery. Basically, that means you can stop in for a quick bite of almost any type of fast food you want when you're famished from that grueling three-hour road trip all the way around the island. Or you can stop in at an odd hour when you want to have dinner with a bunch of friends at a place where you can actually sit down and have someone take your order. You can get a burger and your friend can get a local dish such as saimin (which is basically the Hawaiian version of noodle soup - worth a try, though not my favorite dish in the world). And you can pick up breakfast for the next day while you're there. I can't speak to the quality of all of these items compared to other quickie restaurants, but nothing struck me as substandard, either.
I was also happy to note that there were a great many coffee/tea type places on the island that served "bubble tea". For those who aren't acquainted with the concept, it's worth checking out - basically, a bunch of tapioca balls are added to the cold beverage of your choice (usually some sort of coffee or tea beverage), and you drink through a large straw, sucking them up as you go. Given that I'm from California and tend to eat at a lot of Asian restaurants with my friends, I've become rather addicted to this delicacy (around here it's called "boba" - it tends to have different names depending on where you are), so I was pleased to have it readily available in Hawaii.
For tasty desserts, one place that you must check out is Bubbie's. They used to have locations in Mililani and Waipahu that have sadly disappeared, but there's still one open in Hawaii Kai. They're like the 31 Flavors of mochi ice cream (a Japanese rice cake that in this case has ice cream in the middle), and they range from Asian-themed flavors like red bean and lychee to more inventive creations such as root beer. They also have ice cream cakes and other delectable things - it's worth tracking this place down in order to get a taste.
The I Love Country Cafe comes highly recommended by my girlfriend and her family, being a cozy home style restaurant in their lovely town of Mililani, but sadly, that location has closed, and the only one left that I know of is a small, express version in the Kahala Mall near Hawaii Kai (head east from Honolulu until H1 runs out; it's right near there). Check it out if you're in the area.
There is, of course, your pick of more traditional Hawaiian food and Japanese food (which is expensive!), and we've always gotta have our sushi and tempura fix, but for the most part, we avoid the more expensive venues. If Asian food is your favorite, you'll certainly feel right at home in Hawaii. Somewhere in between Japanese food, traditional Hawaiian food, and good old American burgers and fries, sits the concept of Hawaiian plate lunch, where you can get anything from a chili dog to a teriyaki burger to loco moco (hamburger patties and eggs smothered in gravy) served with a scoop of yummy macaroni salad and rice. Places like the aforementioned Zippy's and L&L Drive-Inn are probably the most well-known venues for this sort of food, but you'll find hole-in-the-wall places that serve it literally everywhere.
Two staples of Hawaiian food that I personally avoid at all costs are poi (a mashed-up taro paste) and lau lau (fish, pork, or chicken cooked inside ti leaves, usually with taro). Sorry, but I'm not a taro fan. It's like a pasty purple potato that just tastes wrong to me in any configuration. If you feel differently, then you might want to go ahead and give those a try.
Miscellaneous Places to Go
A few other places of interest to visit that are relatively easy to find:
Dole Pineapple Plantation: Since Dole does quite a bit of their pineapple harvesting out in Hawaii, they decided to go ahead and devote a museum to everyone's favorite spiny tropical fruit. Kind of a silly concept, if you ask me, though they do serve a great chocolate-covered pineapple. Probably their biggest draw is a life-size maze - it's basically a pineapple grove molded into a labyrinth, where visitors are defied to find six checkpoints and then return to the entrance in a matter of minutes. I tried this on my previous visit - I love mazes, so I thought it'd be a blast. I actually found it quite irritating and confusing. But it's probably a fun place to visit if you have kids, and not terribly expensive to enter the maze. (hint: Don't wear sandals. The floor of the maze is gravel and you will have a heck of a time just walking normally.) To get there, just take Kamehameha Highway north out of Wahiawa.
http://www.dole-plantation.com/
Pearl Harbor: Though I'm not much of a history buff, I will say that anyone who goes to Hawaii should make it a point to visit Pearl Harbor once. It's only a few minutes west of Honolulu. The basic tour (which runs every half hour to 45 minutes or so) involves a brief slide show explaining the tragic events of December 7, 1941, and then you will be escorted out to the Memorial, which is situated above one of the sunken ships. Do keep in mind if you go that voices echo once you're on board the Memorial, and since you are basically visiting a cemetery, it's not nice to make a lot of noise. Probably not advisable if you have really young children who wouldn't understand the impact of it. I'd advise going really early in the morning if you plan to actually take the boat ride out to the memorial. The wait time for this can easily surpass the 3-hour mark if you show up mid-day.
http://www.nps.gov/usar/
Polynesian Cultural Center: I'm also not much of a culture buff. But I did enjoy my visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center, located along Kamehameha Highway on the eastern shore, north of Kanoehe. A fairly decent price will get you into a set of themed villages for the indigenous cultures of the Pacific Islands, a luau or buffet dinner (depending on the package you choose), and an evening show complete with some fairly spectacular tribal dances. Brigham Young University operates the place, so I'll admit to being skeptical as to the cultural authenticity of the whole thing, but it certainly was an entertaining evening (especially one part featuring a few big Samoan guys trying to light each other's grass skirts on fire).
http://www.polynesia.com/
Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park: Located near the western sided of the island along H1, this is a medium-sized Water Park. It's probably more of a local thing than a tourist thing, but the group I went with had a blast. They have some easygoing waterslides for the kids, a few more adventurous ones that involve steep drops and so forth, and a lagoon with fairly good-sized (machine-generated) waves that kick up every half hour or so. Be prepared to fight with little kids if you want an inner tube on any of the calmer attractions, though. (A few hints: The sun is way more intense in Hawaii due to a more direct angle at which the sun hits the Earth. Plan accordingly when applying sunblock. It might be good to invest in water shoes or something like that as well, so that your feet aren't blistered by the hot pavement. Also, if you wear glasses like I do, it might be good to either stow them in your locker or hold them in your hand on some of the rougher rides. I lost mine twice and had to go back and look for them - not a fun experience!)
http://www.hawaiianwaters.com/
Sea Life Park: Located near the southeastern tip of the island, on the way from Hawaii Kai to Waimanalo, is this seaside marine-life park, which actually made an appearance in the movie 50 First Dates as the place of employment for Adam Sandler's character. While they have no walruses, they do have interesting exhibits and shows featuring dolphins, seals, turtles, manta rays, penguins, etc. A bit pricey considering the relatively small size of the place, but it's a great spot for photos and for education about some of the endangered species in or near the island chain.
http://www.sealifeparkhawaii.com/
Waimea Falls Park: Kind of a combination of botanical garden and theme park, this beautiful valley just inland from Waimea Bay (on the North Shore) features some short hikes, horseback riding, swimming at the falls, and a spectacular cliff diving show. Go in the winter when there's been more rain and the falls are a little more impressive.
http://www.oahu.islands-travel.com/waimea.html
Kualoa Ranch: Located north of Kaneohe on the windward side, the ranch has several acres set aside for such varied activities as horseback riding, driving ATV's through the mud, touring locations from movies that have been filmed there, honing your sharpshooting skills on the firing range, and uh, getting married. Yep, it's the site of our wedding - a quaint little area called Moli'i, which is right by a lovely fishpond and apparently not too far from a shack which was used as the cafe in 50 First Dates. It's a recommended spot for reciting your vows in terms of the logistics of actually holding such an event there - they host them all the time and it's easy to fall in love with the place, caught in between the ocean and the majestic mountains that vie for one's attention. You may recognize the jagged cliffs and vast valley from various scenes in the TV show Lost - a well-known scene from Jurassic Park was also filmed here.
http://www.kualoa.com/
Other Random Bits of Advice
Honolulu ain't such a bad place for souvenir shopping (in case you were inspired to bring back little trinkets for everyone at the last minute), simply because there are a lot of little shops close together. After a while, though, it all starts to look the same, especially all the little candle shops, or even worse, the ABC Stores, which are basically the souvenir version of 7-11. There's literally one of these about every block near Waikiki - and you thought Starbucks was bad! The shopping climate really depends on the time of year you go and whether you're looking for cheesy fun gifts or more authentic gifts. My general rule of thumb - the farther you are from the rest of the tourists, the more "real" your Hawaiian experience. There is a little shopping village area near Waikiki that can be fun to get lost in, but I kind of prefer to happen upon souvenirs unexpectedly on my way to more remote locations. Of course, you can always hit up Ala Moana for your mallrat needs - cheap stuff and food court on the first floor, regular mall shops and drug-stores on the second, really posh stuff and fancy restuarants on the third.
However, I've found many of the island's other malls - Pearl Ridge and Pearl Highlands in the Pearl City/Aiea area, and the Windward Mall in Kane'ohe, to be much more suited for laid-back, low-stress, mall wandering. Those places are more local style, so if you get the shopping bug, they might save you money. Shoot, you can sometimes find interesting souvenirs at Long's Drugs if you look carefully enough.
Don't assume that everything you can depend on finding on the mainland will translate to Hawaii just because you're still in America. On my first visit to the island, I made the mistake of assuming I could find a Wells Fargo ATM and pull out cash without that annoying surcharge. No dice. No Bank of Americas, either, or any other bank I recognized from the mainland. If you want to avoid this annoyance, pull out as much cash as you can before you fly out to the island.
"Mahalo" means thank you in Hawaiian. "Aloha" means hello, goodbye, love, and just about everything else.
If you're visiting friends or family, always remove their shoes before entering their houses. It's a custom out of practicality, due to the redness of the dirt there (as I mentioned above under "hiking").
Bring light clothes to sleep in (assuming you sleep in clothes; if you don't, you're probably better off). Unless you're in a pristine, air-conditioned hotel, it can get awfully darn humid there.
Assuming you're coming from the U.S. mainland - For the love of God, don't plan your return flight the day before you have to be back at work. You'll lose two hours (three during Daylight Savings Time, which Hawaii wisely does not observe) and you'll have a time getting to the office by 9 A.M. the next day. Also, fly back at night if you're coming back to L.A. or a similarly polluted city. It's a less depressing sight that way, after the beautiful scenery you've been drinking in during your trip.
General rule on any Hawaiian island is that the west side is more sun-drenched and the east side is more green and moist (due to the fact that it's more rainy). Keep this in mind when determining where to spend most of your time, if you care as much for scenery as I do.
Last but not least, you will never have enough time to see as much of the island as you wish you could. Don't pack your schedule with one activity after another. Plan a few events and places to see, and go with the flow. Adopt the more laidback style of the island, and it will pay off when you realize halfway through a week that it feels like you've been gone for almost a month! Time has a way of stretching out in Hawaii if you cooperate with it.
Well, I think my random, rambling excuse for a travel review has gone on long enough. I hope you've gleaned some pearls of wisdom from what I can recall of my two visits to the island of Oahu. Populous and touristy as it may be, I think it's a great place to spend a week or so, or to slowly adjust to civilization again after visiting a more remote part of Hawaii such as Kauai. I hope to have more helpful tidbits about other islands in the future (after all, I'll have plenty of chances to go back over there to visit the in-laws, might as well squeeze in some of the side trips I've been fantasizing about!) Until then, well, I can always daydream...
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Sep - Nov
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Epinions.com ID:
divad23
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Member: David Martin
Location: Pasadena, CA
Reviews written: 567
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About Me:
Just add an implicit "in my humble opinion" to every sentence I write.
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