Hawaii Vacation Specialist-Chris

Oahu is the main island of hawaii.  Yes it is the most populated, but I wouldn’t let that deter you away from visiting this wonderful island.  It has so much to offer from beaches, polynesian culture, botanical gardens, and historical sites.  Don’t let waikiki fool you into thinking that oahu is just all night life and crowds.  The North shore of hawaii is very laid back, not so crowded and for me is like a vacation just a short drive away.  You can go to haleiwa town, do some shopping and of course have some shaved ice at matsumotos after a warm day at the beach.  There is great snorkeling and diving out in the North Shore and the water is absolutely beautiful.  You can even stay out there at Turtle Bay.  The JW Ihilani Marriott is also a beautiful property to stay out to get out of the hustle and bustle of waikiki.

Pearl Harbor

Of course the main thing I get for people wanting to come to Oahu is for Pearl Harbor.  I have visited Pearl Harbor many times and it really is a fun filled educational day.  Oahu is home to the USS Arizona, USS Bowfin and the USS Missouri or better known as the MIghty Mo.  I do find a lot of people tend to forget about the USS Bowfin.  It kind of sits in the shadow of the Arizona and the Missouri but I find it quite fascinating to learn about US submarines.  There is an old submarine you can actually go on and a submarine museum to explore.  During peak times there is sometimes a wait to board the next available boat ride out to the arizona memorial and I find this is a great way to pass that time as it is located right across the parking lot from the Arizona.

Tips for visiting Pearl Harbor Hawaii

• Wear walking shoes.
• Don’t wear skirts or dresses
• No bags , purses or oversized camera bags are allowed in any of the memorials
• Make a bathroom stop before going on board the missouri, there are no bathrooms on the ship.
• If not on a tour, arrive early and do the arizona first to avoid long waits for the next available boat out
• Also if not on a tour ask about purchasing entrance to the bowfin and missouri together as they offer a discount.
• Don’t forget your camera
• Dont try to drive to the Missouri on your own.  It is located on Ford Island which is a military installation and requires a military ID and sticker on your vehicle.  There are waikiki trolleys that transport visitors over the ford island bridge regularly.

Waikiki Hawaii

Waikiki I think is the heart of Oahu.  It is filled with things to do and see and is also where 98-99% of our hotels are.  If you dont want a car none is needed on this island.  There is a charge for parking while staying in waikiki anywhere from $8-$19 a day, although you don’t find resort fees here on oahu like you do on other islands at some hotels.  You can take a taxi or shuttle from the airport to waikiki and once there everything is in walking distance from shops to restuarants, to shows and beaches.  You can find restaurants from fine dining to fast food, shops from souvenir kiosks in the iternational marketplace to grocery stores to mall type stores.  There are shows galore such as Cirque hawaii, society of seven, magic of polynesia and the don ho show.  And of course the beaches.  Waikiki is located on a very long stretch of beach.  If staying in an oceanfront property it is right at your fingertips, but if not it is a short walk across the street.  If planning a trip to hawaii and are hesitant about coming to oahu because it is citylike, think about it and discuss it with a hawaii specialist as there are some wonderful things on Oahu you may not want to miss.