 | ||||||||||
Our Registry |
Oahu isn't the biggest in the island chain, but it's definitely the one with the most to see and do! There are too many to list them all here, but if you can't find anything you like in our suggestions below, feel free to get in touch with us and we guarantee that we can find something that you'll enjoy! We tried to list as much basic info as we could find about each place, but any of these places can be "Googled" for more detailed information and pictures! 
 Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center2201 Kalakaua Ave. Honolulu, HI 96815 808.922.0588   This is a great place to experience and learn Hawaiian culture for FREE! In addition to having many shops and restaurants, this shopping center offers FREE activities like hula, ukulele, and lei making lessons. Did we mention that these activities are all FREE? Hula Lessons When: Every Tuesday and Thursday Time: 4:15 pm - 5:15 pm 
Where: Building A, 2nd floor at top of the escalator Lei Making When: Every Monday Time: 4:15 pm - 5:15 pm Where: Building A, 3rd Floor next to Chibo Restaurant Ukulele Lessons When: Every Tuesday and Thursday Time: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Where: Building A, 3rd Floor next to Chibo Restaurant   Diamond Head
Diamond Head State Monument 4200 Diamond Head Rd. Honolulu, HI 96816 808.587.0300 Admission: $5/car if driving in or $1/person if walking Hours: 6:00 am - 6:00 pm, daily This is a moderately easy hike that anyone with good shoes, sun protection, and lots of water can do in less than 2 hours roundtrip. There is very little shade on this hike and two sets of stairs (76 steps and 99 steps), which can make it a little tiring, but the view of the entire west side of Oahu from the top is the ultiimate reward! If you're taking a car there, we recommend going a bit early because parking is limited and you may be forced to wait in a line until a spot opens up and the parking attendant allows you in. Also, there are no bathrooms at the top, so make sure you go BEFORE starting the hike!  Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens
45-680 Luluku Rd. Kaneohe, HI 96744 808.233.7323
Admission: Free Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, daily How about a picnic or hike in a tropical garden? Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens is 400 acres of lush tropical vegetation and sits at the base of the Ko'olau Mountain range. Camping (with a permit), biking, picnics, fishing, and hiking are all possible here. If you love nature and greenery, you'll love this place! This garden is located on the windward side of Oahu where rainfall is abundant, so if you do plan to visit, make sure you bring a rain jacket! And a word of caution, your shoes might get muddy so don't wear your 'nice' walking shoes!  Manoa Falls
end of Manoa Rd. Honolulu, HI 96822 (no phone number available) Admission: Free Hours: 24 hours, daily This is one of our favorite hikes. Only a mile long, it's relatively easy and also shaded the entire way because it's in a rainforest. You'll see a stream, Japanese bamboo, flowers and moss, and a waterfall at the end of the trail. Be careful if you go after it rains, the trail will be slippery. There's a small pond at the base of the waterfall, but we don't recommend that you swim in it! To get to the trailhead, go on Manoa Road. You'll have to drive through a residential area and go all the way past where the houses end. There's an area to park but take your valuables with you, just to be safe!   Bishop Museum
1525 Bernice St. Honolulu, HI 96817 808.847.3511 Admission: $14.95/General $11.95/Seniors (65+) & Children (4-12) Hours: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, daily Ancient Hawaiian/Polynesian artifacts are on display here, as well as traveling interactive science exhibits like 'The Science of Roller Coasters' and 'Robots'. There is also a planetarium on the grounds here and admission to planetarium shows is included in the cost of general admission. Check their website for current exhibit information and schedules. Bishop Museum is only a short 10 minute drive away from Waikiki!  Iolani Palace
364 South King St. Honolulu, HI 96744 808.522.0823
Admission: (see tour description below) Hours: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm, Tue-Sat This is the only official state residence of royalty in the United States and dates back to 1882, when it was built by King Kalakaua. The Grand Tour ($20/general, $15/military, $5/children ages 5-12) is approximately 90 minutes long and includes a docent-led tour through the palace. You can also choose to tour the palace on your own by choosing the Audio Tour ($12/adults and $5/children ages 5-12). This tour is a 50-minute self-guided, pre-recorded audio tour. A cheaper alternative is the Gallery Tour ($6/adults and $3/children), which is a self-guided tour of the galleries in the basement of the palace. Children under the age of 5 are not permitted on the Grand Tour, but are allowed on the Gallery Tour. Reservations for the Grand Tour are recommended so please call a day or two ahead to reserve your spots!  USS Arizona
1 Arizona Memorial Pl. Honolulu, HI 96818 808.422.0561
Admission: Free Hours: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm, daily You'll watch a documentary film about the attack on Pearl Harbor and take a short boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial. There's also a small museum that you'll be able to browse while you wait for your turn for the film and boat ride. Tickets are issued on a first come, first served basis. Go early to avoid long lines! Due to security reasons, bags of any kind (backpacks, purses, camera bags, fanny packs, etc.) are not allowed. There are lockers on-site to store any valuables for a small fee. Do not leave anything valuable in your car! For those interested in more naval history, the USS Bowfin Submarine Park and Museum and Battleship Missouri Memorial are also within walking distance.   Honolulu Zoo
151 Kapahulu Ave Honolulu, HI 96815 808.926.3191
Admission: $8/General $1/Children (6-12) *children 5 and under are free! Hours: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm, daily This place is best to visit in the morning, before it gets too hot. The recently renovated Children's Zoo is also interactive and is a fun spot for the kids. The zoo also has strollers for rent, if you're not feeling up to piggy-backing your younger ones while you're there. There's also a concession stand for food, snacks, and drinks but we suggest packing a lunch and eating it picnic-style on one of the many grassy areas in the zoo!  Sea Life Park
41-202 Kalanianaole Hwy Waimanalo, HI 96795 808.259.2512
Admission: $31.20/General $24.95/Children (4-12) Hours: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm, daily You'll find all kinds of sea creatures here...from sea cucumbers to pufferfish to penguins! There are a variety of animal shows that are included in the cost of admission, but there are various 'add-on' activities like turtle feeding, Dolphin Discovery, and a Hawaiian Ray Encounter. Bring a hat and sunscreen because some of these shows are outdoors with no shade and can get VERY hot! Also, for the Hawaiian Ocean Theater show, if you want to stay dry, stay away from the splash zones!  Waikiki Aquarium
2777 Kalakaua Ave. Honolulu, HI 96815 808.923.9741
Admission: $9/General $6/Active Duty Military w/ ID & Seniors $4/Youth (13-17) $2/Juniors (5-12) *children under 4 are free! Hours: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm, daily This is the 3rd oldest aquarium in the US. It's not big or flashy like some of the newer aquariums, but it has an amazing collection of colorful corals and anemones and giant clams. The aquarium staff and volunteers are all top-notch! (Including John, who is usually there on Saturday mornings, from 9-11 a.m.!) Admission includes a handheld audio wand that contains descriptions for all the various exhibits..   Paradise Cove
92-1089 Alii Nui Dr. Kapolei, HI 96707 808.842.5911 1.800.775.2683 (toll-free number)
Admission: packages start at $73/General $63/Youth (13-18) $53/children (12 and under) Hours: 3:45 pm - 4:15 pm Waikiki hotel pick-up 9:30 pm - 10:00 pm Arrive back in Waikiki This luau is located on the west side of Oahu. Even the 'basic' package includes round-trip transportation from Waikiki, shell lei greeting, Mai Tai Greeting plus 2 standard drink tickets, Hawaiian luau buffet dinner, and the evening show. It can get a little cool here at night since it's right on the beach, so bring a light jacket or cardigan just in case! Here at Paradise Cove, you can try out Hawaiian games, listen to storytelling, and even take part in a hukilau on the beach! These are just a few of the things to do at Paradise Cove!  Polynesian Cultural Center
55-370 Kamehameha Hwy. Laie, HI 96762 808.293.3333
Admission: starts at $50 (evening show only) $80 - $200 (dinner and evening show packages) $35/Child (evening show only) $56 - $150/Child (dinner and evening show packages) Hours: 11:00 a.m. Parking lot, gift shops, snack bar open 12:30 pm Island tours and presentations begin 9:00 pm Evening show ends *CLOSED ON SUNDAYS One of the best luaus on the island! There are different Polynesian villages to visit and each has their own special demonstration show. Don't miss the Aotearoa village, their show is the most exciting! If you decide to drive, go early and enjoy the other sites on the North Shore before the Center opens at noon. There are many different packages to choose from, but if you choose one of their luau dinner packages, you will actually get TWO luau shows in one night! Another good reason to choose this luau is because a large part of the staff here are BYU-Hawaii students. Their internship program is fully funded by the PCC through its ticket sales and other PCC revenue!   Ala Moana Center
1450 Ala Moana Blvd. Honolulu, HI 96814 808.955.9517
Hours: 9:30 am - 9:00 pm, Mon.- Thurs. 9:30 am - 10:00 pm, Fri. 8:00 am - 10 pm, Sat. 10:00 am - 7:00 pm, Sun. *Restaurants open until late night This 'outdoor' shopping mall has everything from luxury designer goods from Louis Vuitton and Chanel to dollar trinkets you can buy at Long's Drugs and The ABC Store. There are also many great restaurants here if you feel like you need to recharge after a long day of shopping! Even your food options are as varied as the shopping! You can enjoy fine dining at Morton's or Neiman Marcus's Mariposa or just grab a quick bite to go from McDonalds or Subway. Check out the food court on street level for the most food options in one place! Ala Moana has many of the same stores and restaurants as you can find on the mainland, but check out Shirokiya for Japanese goods and food and T&C Surf or Hilo Hatties for Hawaiian t-shirts and souvenirs.  Aloha Stadium Swap Meet
99-500 Salt Lake Blvd. Aiea, HI 96701 808.486.6704
Admission: $1.00/person *children under 12 are free! Hours: 6:00 am - 3:00 pm, Wed./Sat./Sun. This is probably one of the best places to find deals on souvenirs! You'll find EVERYTHING here in this huge outdoor swap meet. Try to negotiate prices with the vendors to get an even better deal! Credit cards might be accepted at some stalls, but cash would probably work best here. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and something to drink to keep cool while you search for the perfect thing. Also, if you see something you like, get it! The swap meet is so huge, it'll take you another hour of walking just to get back to the same stall!  Victoria Ward Centers
Ala Moana Blvd. (across Ala Moana Beach Park) Honolulu, HI 96814 808.591.8411
Shopping hours: 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., Mon.- Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sun. *Restaurants and movie theater open until late night 4 city blocks of shopping, entertainment, and food! Hawaii's newest and biggest movie theater is here, as well as Dave and Buster's, a fun place with arcade games that both kids and adults will love. There are over 120 shops too! The stores here are smaller and feel more 'boutique-like' than the ones you'll find at Ala Moana or in Waikiki. For a cheap and casual dinner, check out The Old Spaghetti Factory! Yum!   Maita'i Catamaran
Waikiki Beach in front of the Sheraton Waikiki hotel 808.955.9517
Hours: Sail times differ, please call to find out! This is just one of the catamarans that sail out of Waikiki. The Maita'i catamaran is one of the bigger vessels and docks right in front of the Sheraton Waikiki hotel. You get super views of Diamond Head and the famous Waikiki shoreline from the water. Other catamaran companies that sail from Waikiki include Kepoikai and Manu Kai catamarans. (You'll find these two catamarans in front of the Outrigger Waikiki and Moana Surfrider hotels.) Most catamaran rides are about an hour long and cost around $20/adult. If you want a sunset catamaran ride, make reservations because those spots tend to fill up quickly! They usually start their first sail at around 11:30 and have another sail every 90-120 minutes or so. Sitting in the front on the net is GUARANTEED to get you wet!  Hanauma Bay
7455 Kalanianaole Hwy. Honolulu, HI 96825 808.396.4229
Admission: $5.00/General Admission Free/children (13 and under) Hours: 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., closed Tue. *6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., every second Sat. The most popular snorkeling spot on Oahu, Hanauma Bay is located about 25 minutes by car east of Waikiki. The bay is closed every Tuesday to make sure that amazing place has a chance to recover from hosting its many visitors. The parking lot ($1/car) closes once it gets full, so go early OR be prepared to kill some time by driving around or checking out the nearby small shopping mall until the lot reopens again. Each visitor to the bay must watch a short educational video before getting anywhere close to the water. Please have fun here, but also do your part to protect and take care of our beautiful natural bay!  Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park
400 Farrington Hwy. Kapolei, HI 96707 808.674.WAVE
Admission: $34.99 + tax/General $24.99 + tax/Youth (3-11) $14.99 + tax/Seniors (60+) Hours: 10:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. *Hours change during different periods and seasons, so please call before going! This is Hawaii's only 'amusement' park! It's located on the west side of Oahu and is a great place for a full day of fun in the sun for both adults and kids. There are great rides for adults as well as a play area for kids. Don't forget the sunscreen!! |
|||||||||