I'm Going to Oahu!! Suggestions?

[Scout101]

might as well skip the luau, then, if you've got a free one. The PCC one is probably the most "authentic", but honestly, who cares? The PCC one is also pretty long, and can drag a bit if you're hot, tired, or not into it. You'll get just as much out of it by hanging out for the day. Plus can't get a mai tai there with dinner...

 

[Lookingglassman]

You gotta visit Pearl Harbor. It is a humbling experience. The last time I went a bunch of old WWII navy vets got into a fight with a bunch of old Japanese tourist and the memorial staff had to break them up and take them to the memorial at seperate times. One old guy in a wheelchair was calling the Japanese all kinds of names.

I stayed in the Hale Koa military hotel right on the beach. Down the street from it is a restaurant called (if I remember correctly) Jack's seafood. It is a great place with great food. It is on a street corner so it isnt too hard to miss.

Also check out the flea market in the stadium on Oahu if they still have it. I got all kinds of stuff cheap there.

If you visit a volcano, dont steal any lave rocks because you will suffer the curse of the volcano goddess. I dont beleive in that mess, so I took some rocks anyway and had all kinds of bad luck afterwards. I ended up mailing the rocks back to Hawaii, but my bad luck conitnued so I should have kept my rocks!

I loved Hawaii and hope to go back one day.

 

[Thena]

If you visit a volcano, dont steal any lave rocks because you will suffer the curse of the volcano goddess. I dont beleive in that mess, so I took some rocks anyway and had all kinds of bad luck afterwards. I ended up mailing the rocks back to Hawaii, but my bad luck conitnued so I should have kept my rocks!

I picked up a lava rock on the beach that had been worn down quite a bit. That night at dinner, I happened to look up and spot a hideous-looking insect scurrying up the wall of the Chinese restaurant. The next morning, I was sick to my stomach. I never figured out what made me so sick, but that night I immediately got rid of the lava rock and was just fine the next morning.

 

[Scout101]

^also, there are fines for taking lava rocks or coral away, so there's that...

 

[Lookingglassman]

Thena, More proof the curse is real! LOL! I actually mailed mine back to the Hale Koa hotel with a note for them to dump it back at the volcano site.

One more piece of advice: Dont be dumb like me when you call back to the mainland. I wanted to place a call to my parents and told the operator I wanted to call the "United States" and she replied, "This is the United States." I then told her I want the "REAL United States" luckily she was a good sport and we had a good laugh at my stupidity.

 

[Scout101]

If you want to exchange your money for Hawaiian money before you go, I've got some left over, and will give you a decent exchange rate!

 

[Thena]

^also, there are fines for taking lava rocks or coral away, so there's that...

Also, don't forget the Dept. of Agriculture will confiscate your fruits and vegetables as you board your flight back to the mainland. You can definitely purchase pineapples in special packaging that have been cleared to take off the island.

Thena, More proof the curse is real! LOL!

I certainly scoffed at it initially, but now I'm not so sure. Either way, there are plently of legitimate souvenirs made from carved lava stones, so Pele seems content if you pay for one rather than just taking them.

 

[Lookingglassman]

Pele is a ho if I got to pay for her "goods"

 

[Spot's Meow]

So no taking lava rocks, got it. Unless I want to be cursed.

I am REALLY looking forward to this vacation. Partly because it's a new place for me but mostly because the past few months have been extremely busy for me and I need time to relax, even if it's only a week.

 

[ceejay2005]

Tour the USS Missouri at Pearl Harbort our the submarine USS Bowfin at Pearl Harbor Shop at the swap meet at Aloha Stadium. You will find the best prices on your Hawaiian shirt and other merchandise there.
Go to the top of Aloha Tower, shop, and dine at the Aloha Tower Marketplace.Visit the Polynesian Cultural Center.Tour the Dole Pineapple Plantation. Go to Sunset On the Beach for free Hawaiian entertainment and a free movie. There are food vendors there as well. hawaii jeep tours

 

[Spot's Meow]

Well it's been more than a month since I went but since this thread was dragged back out I guess I'll mention that we went to the Dole Plantation, shopped at the International Marketplace (actually hotel was right behind it), went to Kailua beach and went kayaking, went to Kualoa Ranch, spent a day driving around the island and checking out the North Shore, hiked up Diamond Head Crater, went to the Bishop Museum and Iolani Palace, went to the Polynesian Cultural Center and Pearl Harbor, and went snorkeling at Hanauma Bay....I'm sure we did other stuff as well but I can't remember it all.

I loved the Dole Plantation and Kualoa Ranch. The rest of the trip wasn't good, for a variety of reasons. I loved the weather very much, but otherwise I'm not a big fan of Hawaii.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy your trip as much as you hoped. It is fairly humid and everything is ridiculously expensive. But at least it looks like you had a full itinerary and hit all the major sites.