Hurrah. It’s no more sleeps. Today we get off to Hawaii. I couldn’t be more excited {and more nervous about the flight, hello baby that doesn’t like to sit still for more than 3.47 seconds}. It’s happening. I got soooo many great recommendations after I wrote this post, so I’m putting them all in once place so I can refer back to them, and so that if you ever find yourself in Hawaii you’ve got a post to go to too.
Everything you need to do when visiting Hawaii
♥ If you go to the big island, do the dolphin and Manta swim, or you can see the Manta at the Sheraton restaurant.
♥ If you go to Kauai you have to try Chicken in a Barrel, it’s a little side pop-up café in Kapa.
♥ Go to happy hour at Top of Waikiki, and snorkelling at Hanauma Bay. Now this place gets very crowded, so suggest you go early or later in the day. Early prob better, before all the sand gets stirred up by the tourists. It’s a lovely spot, but gets busy.
♥ Stay at Poipu beach – it gets the best weather – Poipu Kapali apartments are great!
♥ In Waikiki – on the main shopping strip there is a Victoria’s Secret, they have the best service and you can spend easily an hour or two in there they will fit you and run around getting whatever you want. They sell sportswear and the PINK label is a younger brand. Sephora is next to Victoria’s Secret which doesn’t need an explanation, they are just awesome!
♥ The best shops and more can be found at Ala Moana, you can get a trolley {which is a open-air bus} there and spend at least 4 hours there. Don’t forget to collect your “o/s visitor discount card” when in Macys. This gives you 10% off all purchases! You will need to show ID though.
♥ ABC shops are everywhere, on every corner! They have everything: sunscreen, towels, beach gear, clothing, food, souvenirs… Oh and you can buy your lilo for the beach here – $3.87 and they will even pump it up for something like 50c
♥ PF Changs is fantastic! If you get there between 3pm and 6pm they have happy hour on food and drinks. We were just getting the happy hour food which is like starters. You can also get a ‘doggy bag’ which they seem to get offended if you don’t take so we just took it to be polite!
♥ Roy’s is a great restaurant, is a bit fancy!
♥ Hard Rock Café is fun and good for kids {it’s a little bit noisy}.
♥ The Cheesecake Factory is really good, but be warned the meals are huge and the wait is long to get in.
♥ Luau! A definite must! Was the best night ever and that’s hard to say given the great time we had.
♥ There are catamarans along Waikiki Beach. You can try the ones neat the Outrigger. You can go swimming with turtles and then open wind sailing. It was fantastic, the turtles are pretty tame and will swim straight for you {kinda scary!}.
♥ Pearl Harbour is fantastic! Not much to say really, you should go!
♥ Dukes Waikiki: This place is not an option, it’s an institution. You will go there many times and eat many chicken wings and ribs and you must have the Hula Pie, it WILL change your life. The barefoot sand bar is on the beach. Try and get a table before sunset. Expect a wait though. Sometimes you can be lucky. This place is very popular but worth it.
♥ Moana Surfrider, Beach Bar: Visit for sunset cocktails. There is always live music and an hula girl! You sit under a giant banyan tree and just watch the world go by. Bliss!
♥ Rumfire at the Sheraton: Great place to watch the sunset as the hotel is on the point. Get there early to grab a table. Nice pu pu’s {Hawaiian for snacky food!}.
♥ Yard House {great American Food}: You will probably have a wait to get in here if you want to eat. But wait at the bar if you can, or just sit there and eat. The food is fab, huge servings. There is something like a million beers on tap! Great atmosphere.
♥ Morimoto {Japanese}: This is great Japanese food! Request a table outside {its still undercover} but on a Friday at about 8pm you can see the fireworks from the Hilton.
♥ Sans Souci Beach: This is a beach that mainly the locals know about, its on the way to Diamond Head. Beautiful, clear, flat water. Take your snorkel as there is some reef off the beach and you can see fishies! Shhhh, don’t share this with too many peeps!
♥ Climb Diamond Head: Spectacular view form the top. You need to wear joggers though. Not for the faint hearted. A public bus will drop you up there.
♥ Sea Life Park: You can swim with the dolphins here. If that is your thing, its quite fun.
♥ Dole Pineapple Plantation: massive maze and great pineapple soft serve!
♥ Kahuku Grill: This place is an institution. Cheap and super tasty feed of shrimp. The coconut shrimp really is to die for! Not open on Sundays!
♥ Eat garlic shrimp from the food trucks on the north shore. loco moco at Rainbow Drive In, shave ice, an acai bowl malasadas, poke (pronounced po-kay).
And now I’m even more excited, and a little less nervous. Bring on the good times!
Got anything to add, please tell me in the comments below. x
Hawaii is so much more than Waikiki. Go to the North Shore to see some “real Hawaii”. Drive to Haleiwa, stroll around the shops and get a shave ice from Aoki’s or Matsumoto’s. Then visit Waimea Bay park, swim at Three Tables Beach, watch surfers at Sunset Beach/Bansai Pipeline. Spend a day at the Polynesian Cultural Centre and stay for the dinner show.
I love Aoki’s but they had to close down due to redevelopment. 🙁
This is one my ‘go to’ list! So jealous!! Have a great time… Looking forward to some great pics!
Whoot Whoot!
ENJOY!!!!!!
C x
Hanauma Bay is closed on Tuesdays I think. You have to watch a 5 minute clip about how to not kill the reefs and such. There’s a trolley that takes you down and up the hill.
If you’re into hiking, there are several hikes easy enough for the kids. Manoa Falls, Makapu’u Lighthouse, to name a couple.
Best (subjective, of course) shrimp truck along the North Shore of Oahu is Giovanni’s. The Spicy plate is REALLY spicy. Bring lots of wet wipes; the toilet/bathroom is at the back of one of the stores.
Diamond Head — be prepared to walk from the bus stop into the park itself. It’s a pretty long walk! Best to rent a car and drive into the park. Entrance fee is $5/car (regardless how many passengers) or $1/person.
If you’re renting a car, make sure the kids are in their appropriate car seats. Booster is fine for kids between 4 and 7. Infants have to be strapped in an infant car seat. You might be able to rent one locally? I’m not sure.
The line for the Cheesecake Factory isn’t long before 5pm. Portions are just as generous but a little cheaper on the lunch menu. The line isn’t too bad before 6pm too.
If you want to try shave ice, skip the long lines at Matsumoto’s in North Shore and go to Waiola’s in Moili’ili. It’s in a residential neighborhood. The line can get a little long BUT it’s shorter and not much of a drive.
You MUST try Bubbie’s ice cream, especially the mochi ice cream! The line at the University Ave store gets really long in the evenings.
I will think about it some more and post! 🙂
To add to the seaside comment – they have the only 2 wolphins in the world – as far as I know they still have them. They are beautiful. Half dolphin half false killer whale. They also have a luau with a great show.
If you like the movie Forrest Gump and you like prawns (I don’t and I still love it – great burgers and Mamma’s southern fried chicken) bubba gumps is a great place. One in ala moana shopping centre in Waikiki. There is also one in Maui and another in Kona on the big island.
Oh and the abc stores are incredible – they sell everything and are super cheap and there is one on very corner of Waikiki pretty much.
I’m going next May with my husbands family – we just booked this weekend. It’s been nearly 10 years since I’ve been, so we’re trying to work out where to stay in Waikiki. We’ve booked 5 nights in the modern before our cruise, but still need somewhere for the last 3 nights before home. Would be great to get your feedback about where you stay.
Most importantly, Have a great time!!!!
Get in touch with Chris Durietz – she lives in Hawai’i and is a Photo a Day player.
Woohoo! Have an amazing time x
Where ever you are staying, if they have a concierge, ask them if that have a Happy Hour list.. Our hotels did, and it showed where to go for Happy Hours to get specifics drinks/foods/entertainment! It was fantastic, and a great way to explore.
That sounds amazing – have a great time!
Hang out on the beach in front of the Hilton Hawaiian village, it’s good for kids since it’s protected by a reef. The restaurant in front of this beach that’s right on the walkway has great food. Plus there are penguins in the Hilton Hawaiian village and birds that your kids would love!
I still fantasise about the Mac n cheese from Yardhouse so that’s my tip. I love Hawaii. enjoy sun, sea and shopping!
This sounds so so exciting! It has always been a dream of mine as well!! good luck and look forward to hearing about all of your great times!!
We always have a sunset dinner at House Without a Key in the Halekulani Hotel.
My daughter is probably on the same flight as you, she’s meeting some girlfriends there to celebrate their 30th Birthdays, they decided a few years ago to do something special and it’s all happening now!
She’s a bit nervous about leaving her 3 year old, it was very hard for her to say goodbye, she told him she was worried about going in a plane, he told her she should just go in a truck then!
Have a fantastic time. What a great list of things to get through. Its on my to do list.
I’m so excited for you! Can’t wait to see all your beautiful holiday pics. x
Don’t forget outlet shopping at waikele premium outlets
Have a wonderful time! 😀
Have fun!
And don’t forget to visit the Waikiki zoo, cheap entry. It has lots of big improvements, especially for the elephants enclosure. My fav was seeing the orangutans and eating a huge snow/ice shave cone at the end of the walk.
How was the wee one on the flight? We are debating if we should actually buy a seat or not for our 14 month old.
She was not-so-great on the flight over, but I think it was because she was getting sick, but great on the flight home. Well not great. Great would be passed out for the entire flight {ha!} but great for a 1 year old who would ideally like to be running free and sleeping in her own bed! 🙂
Oh and we booked a bassinet for both flights, but were told there were none left when we checked in BUT we did have our own seat for her. I think it would have been super painful without that seat, but if you can guarantee a bassinet for the bub – that would be a great alternative {I think there’s only one per flight}. Another thing to consider is that you can take your car seat on board, so if your baby sleeps in the car seat that might work too. x