Honolulu

Pros: Shangri La, the Honolulu Art Academy, beaches, good public transportation (The Bus)
Cons: I wish the water was a bit warmer

The main Hawaiian islands each seems to have a range of booklets with coupons and maps, lots and lots of maps, and some information. One that I picked up last weekend in Honolulu as "Top 10 Things to do on Oahu." Not a one of them was in Honolulu (though ...

Pros: Lots of stores to choose from, good deals
Cons: the crowds

Where NOT to go
When tourists first come to Hawaii and settle in their Waikiki hotel, they easily get lured into shopping at expensive shops. The shops in Waikiki are all overpriced because tourists don't know any better and think...

Pros: Open-air beachside dining
Cons: Having to grill your own food

Would you like dining in an open-air restaurant right on the edge of one of the world's most famous beaches? Then you must visit the Shore Bird Beach Broiler next time you are lucky enough to be in Honolulu.

Whenever we are staying in the...

Pros: Skillful Preparation, Friendly Staff, Free Parking
Cons: Location on Waialae Ave. Requires A Cab Or Rental Car

Review Topic:  Restaurants

When visiting Oahu, there are plenty of interesting, and slightly out of the way (meaning Waikiki) places for you to try. 3660 On The Rise, is a jewel of a restaurant, featuring the finest in...

Pros: Honolulu and Oahu are great places to visit.
Cons: A few things are simply not worth the time and money.

In March of 2000 my wife and spent 5 nights on Waikiki as part of a longer tour of the Hawaiian Islands and French Polynesia. Overall we had a great time but there were a few things we did that were not so great. So - rather than be accused of ONLY...

Pros: Moderate Prices, Fabulous Foods Beautifully Presented
Cons: Crowded On Weekends, Limited Parking

There are many worthy Thai restaurants in Hawaii, and in Honolulu Keo's, on Kapahulu, is the one I recommend time and time again.
Keo Sananikone has at least three other Thai establishments on Oahu, and Keo's is the flagship eatery, by...

Pros: Sun; balmy climate; rainbows everywhere; great bus system; convivial people.
Cons: Mediocre food, if you don’t know where to go.

Many tourists complain that Honolulu isn’t the “real” Hawaii they expected, or that it’s just like any other U.S. city. While it’s true that the “real” Hawaii disappeared years ago when all the high-rise buildings began to...

Pros: Lots of variety
Cons: An expensive place to live, or visit

Hawaii is expensive, and dining in Honolulu is no exception.

In most major cities prices are controlled by competition. If you don't like what you see one place, you move on, going out of state if necessary. Because Honolulu is thousands of...

Pros: Read on!
Cons: Still has city problems, traffic and such

Okay, I must admit that my first visit to Hawaii was not solely for the purpose of going to Hawaii. I didn’t stay at a resort, and I didn’t hit all the “hot spots,” but I still had a blast.

I made the grueling venture (2 ½ hours to Dallas from...

Pros: Inexpensive, Tasty And Filling Local Food
Cons: Not A Wisp Of Ambience, Unless You Count Local Color, Plenty of Carbos

Whenever people tell me how expensive it is to eat in Hawaii, (Honolulu in particular), I have to chuckle. Dollar for dollar, I can eat as cheaply, and as well, in Honolulu as in any other major U.S. city. Do what locals do, and eat cheap and filling...

Pros: Good first-time trip
Cons: Crowds can be annoying

My first time in Hawaii I played it "safe" and took a package tour "Sun Trips" for $470 pp in October 1996. The plane was a typical charter and due to some contract stuff never took off! Never book travel without the trip insurance-it...

Pros: BEAUTIFUL SCENERY, FRIENDLY PEOPLE, FRESH AIR
Cons: Some areas are too crowded with tourists

You have seen the opening scenes of Hawaii Five-0 where you see a group of guys in an outrigger paddling. The backdrop to this scene is Diamond Head circa 1960's. I hope you have a good memory because now that is all it is -- just memories! Today tall...

Pros: and I hope well paid
Cons: it costs money

I have been here many times, even though I live on Maui and this restaurant is on Oahu. We almost didn’t eat here only because it might have been time to try something new but the familiar lured us back for the best meal I have had there or maybe even...

Pros: It's Hawaii, right? Pearl harbor. Submarines, and other fun activities
Cons: It's a city.

Review Topic:  Sights & Attractions

Those were the words that came out of my mouth as I walked out of the car and toward my 20 story hotel! The other islands I had been to were very quaint and small, and they had beautiful...

Pros: Beautiful, Sobering, Scenic and Peaceful
Cons: That These Places Should Need To Exist At All

High above the Honolulu skyline, Punchbowl is home to more than 20,000 American war dead, now nestled lovingly in Pele's arms. Punchbowl is both the crater of an extinct volcano, and a National Memorial Cemetery. At first I didn't want to "do"...