Things to do, see and eat on Oahu

[Melia]

I started posting stuff on main page and though, I shouldn't croud there with my posts. I'll start adding anything I can think of here so it'll be easy for everyone to see.

[Melia]

There are many FREE hula shows at most of the hotel poolside or court yard in the evening. There is always a bar so you can just sit back, relax, enjoy your drink while you listen to a beautiful Hawaiian music and watch hula.

There is sunset on the beach event once a month. They set up a huge screen right on Waikiki beach and they have a live music at first then a movie. It is FREE.

They used to have brunch on the beach which they close down Kalakaua Ave. and had a lot of booth by local restaurants selling ono(yummy) food!

Waikiki likes to close down Kalakaua Ave. and do parades and such all the time. Honolulu festival is next week. If you happen to be there when they are having some kind of festival, you MUST go down to Waikiki!

You can get all those infos from http://www.gohawaii.com/

[Melia]

I do recommend Waikiki Trolley. http://www.waikikitrolley.com/

Pink and yellow line, you don't have to have a pass. You can pay $2 one way and it goes Waikiki-Ala Moana SC and Waikiki-Ward SC. Red line goes around downtown Honolulu and blue line goes Diamond Head-Hanauma bay-Sealife park. Red and blue are guided tour and if you have a pass, you can ride all lines as often as you want.

[Melia]

If you would like to learn some hula, ukulele, quilting....etc, head to Royal Hawaiian SC in Waikiki. They have FREE classes everyday.

http://www.royalhawaiiancenter.com/hawaiian-heritage/cultural-classes

Or take a look at this website.

http://hawaiieventsonline.com/quicksearch.php?CatID=20

Bishop museum and Mission Houses Museum are the great place to learn everything about Hawaiian culture. Bishop is between airport and Waikiki, right outside of downtown. Mission is in Waipahu, west from Pearl Harbor. Mission has many interesting programs you might want to check into.

http://www.bishopmuseum.org/

http://www.missionhouses.org/

[Melia]

There are two great salad bars in Waikiki everybody goes to. We did not eat much in Waikiki because real good restaurants are NOT in Waikiki but these salad bars are good and great value.


One is at The shore bird restaurant inside Outrigger Reef hotel.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-shore-bird-restaurant-and-beach-bar-hon...

The other is at Dukes Waikiki.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/dukes-waikiki-honolulu-2#hrid:-pyZocPcxK1oR...


Oh by the way, www.yelp.com should be everyone's friend. That is where I check before I go out to eat anywhere. You should check it out to see what REAL people's review is.

[Melia]

BREAKFAST

In Waikiki, Eggs'n things is the place to go. They closed theri old location and reopening very soon. It is very close from Hale Koa and right across the street from the military parking at Fort Derussy. GREAT food, there is always a long line but you have to go there! Good restaurants always have lines! I like their salsa which comes with any omelett is super good!!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/eggs-n-things-honolulu-2
It says closed but they just moved, that's all.


If you want shorter line, you can try Shore bird which I recommended for the salad bar. They have a breakfast buffet and it is pretty good also.


In Kailua(if you happened to be going to Kaneohe), Cinnamon's is the place to go. It is a bit hard to find but it is worth it!! I have to say their homemade cornbeef and hash is the best in the entire world. Their pancake is sooooooooooo good too.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/cinnamons-restaurant-kailua-kailua



There is another famouse breakfast restaurant in Kailua called Boots&Kimo's. I have never been there but I heard it is a very popular place. I heard their breakfast and mochiko chicken are very good. Mochiko chicken is something you will see all over the place in HI. It is a japanese style fried chicken.


If you are in Pearl Harbor area, you should try Anna Miller's by Pearl ridge mall. I would say it is a little up scale Denny's, kind of like Baker's square if you know what that is. BUT food is a lot better than those places especially their pies!! They are open 24hrs!!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/anna-millers-24-hr-restaurant-aiea

[Melia]

If you are on the budget, go to Ala moana SC's food court. That is the biggest food court I've ever seen with so many variety!! You can eat different kind of food every night under $10. Look under Makai market food court.

http://www.alamoanacenter.com/diningdirec.htm

Out of all of them, Yummy Korean BBQ is my favorite!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/yummy-korean-bbq-honolulu#hrid:qvD4XYdRc8nj...



You can also try small food court at International market place in Waikiki.



OH, if you are into hamburger, don't go to Burger King on Waikiki, go to Teddy's! It is at the end of Waikiki beach on east side by the zoo. I love their teriyaki burger with a pineapple.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/teddys-bigger-burgers-honolulu




Kua 'aina burger is the most famouse burger restaurant on oahu but I never could figure out why.

[Melia]

SHOPPING

DO NOT SHOP IN WAIKIKI UNLESS YOU HAVE TO!!

Aloha stadium swap meet is the place to shop.

Anything you want from HI is there like....picture frames/albums, fabrics, t-shirts, flip flops, magnets for your fridge, post cards, pa'u skirt(hula skirt), hawaiian quilt(beddings/bags), paintings, jewelries, koawood items, shell leis...etc.

Everything is about half the price compare to Waikiki! They have fruit stands and coconut juice stands. You would want to grab some li hing mango or pineapple to stroll around. Li hing powder is....to be honest with you, I don't know exactly what it is. It's a red powder which local people put on pineapple, gummy bears, dried plums....basically anything. You'll see it sold by registers at most grocery stores on the island.

Every Wed, Sat and Sun from 6am to 3pm. Aloha stadium is only 5 mins drive from Pearl Harbor.




There is an outlet mall called Waikele prime outlet but why would you want to go there? You are on vacation!



Navy exchange at Pearl Harbor is the biggest NEX of all. They opened about 5 years ago and it is just a great place to visit. YOU as parents are actually not allowed to shop there and I shouldn't be saying this but your sailor can buy it for you and you can give them money. I will de deleting this in a day or two before someone yell at me.



Ward is the place to buy HAWAII original stuff. Some are not cheap but I know you'll enjoy looking at them. It is located couple of blocks west of Ala moana SC and Ward is separated by couple of buildings/areas. They have many restaurants, shops and a movie theater.




Then Ala moana SC. There are some local stores in it but still it's a mall. Most of the stores are outside so if it's raining you wouldn't want to go there. Hilo Hattie is there. Hilo Hattie is a store selling aloha wear for everyone. Not cheap but not too expensive. There is a bigger store near downtown but you do not have to go there. (If you really want to go to the big one, they do have free shuttles which goes around hotels in Waikiki to pick up guests and take them to the store)



International market place.......yes, it is fun to walk around there but REMEMBER most everything they sell there, you can get them for half price at Aloha stadium swap meet!!



BE AWARE OF PEARLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There are many stands which will let you pick an oyster and give you the pearl in it. They just want you to sell you jewelries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO YOU DO NOT NEED PEARLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please don't be trapped by these tourist traps.

Unless you want black tahitian pearls. Now that is very famous in HI and it is expensive but if you can afford it, buy it.

[Dawn Russell]

Melia,
I will be taking my daughter our for her birthday while I am there. I was told the Kobe Steakhouse is good, but after reading the reviews on yelp, I am not so sure. I was also told hau tree laani is a great place.Now, I just don't know. I want to take her to someplace special. She had two crappy birthdays in a row, and I don't want this one to be bad. Ideas? We are going to Germaine's on Mother's day, and on my birthday, spending the day at PCC. See, I got three holidays in one trip! Thanks for helping us out!
Dawn

[Melia]

Ok, let me give you a list of NICE restaurant on Oahu for that special occasion.

Alan Wong's is my favorit. He is one of the top chef in HI. This restaurant is not about the view, it's all about FOOD! Just look at the review and you'll know.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/alan-wongs-restaurant-honolulu



Steaks, go to Hy's on Kuhio Ave. in Waikiki. There is no view involved here but great steak!!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/hys-steak-house-honolulu#hrid:6BqPw2CEgl-ED...



How about seafood? I'll just list them anyways ;)

Chart house Great view and great food. Seems like their steaks are good also.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/chart-house-honolulu-honolulu


John Dominis I would not say the BEST but still good restaurant with GREAT view.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/john-dominis-honolulu


Hale kulani is one of the best hotel on the island and their restaurant, House without a key is very good for anything.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/house-without-a-key-honolulu-2


Kincaid's is at Ward. Good steak and seafood.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/kincaids-honolulu



Michel's, I always wanted to go there but never had a chance. I heard they have the best view EVER! Super expensive though.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/michels-at-the-colony-surf-honolulu




If I think of anything else, I'll let you know ;)

[lynda n]

Hi Melia,
When my son first went to HI this past June he lived in Aiea too, now he has a condo in Ewa Beach. My husband and I are doing a 7 day interisland cruise end of May-June, and we spending our last weekend with our son, June 7-8. Our ship ports back in Honlulu at 7AM that Saturday, but we won't be able to get off the shoip until around 9AM. My question is, we want to see the Pearl Harbor Arizona Memorial with my son, and I'm worreid if we don't get there early enough we may have a problem getting in. Can my son get tickets ahead of time? or sjpould he go to the mmeorial that Saturday get tickets and then come pick us up at the NCL harbor?
Also, we are planning to go to Germaine's with my son and his friend, about how long is the bus ride there from the Marriot Waikiki? The restauants that you listed blow, are they within walking distance of the Marriot? Thanks for any help you can give me, we've been planning this for almost a year, and now it's almost upon us! Lynda

[Dawn Russell]

Lynda, be sure to have your son get your tickets for the luau through ITT office. My daughter got ours, and they were $30 cheaper! I can't beleive how much less! Also, he can get them ahead of time so you know you can get in. We booked ours, and it is on Mother's Day. Same for Polynesian Cultural Center. We saved $40 on our tickets.

[lynda n]

Hi Dawn,
I have asked Aaron to do this, but he tends to be a procrastinator, so I'll have to get after him to take care of this. How much in advance did you get your tickets?