4 Comments

• CorpCityGrl says:

  August 21, 2006 at 19:31

  We didn’t honeymoon there, but my husband and I vacationed there before we got married.

  * Pearl Harbor – your best bet is doing this as part of a tour. The US Navy will only ferry over a certain number of people a day to the actual memorial site, so you have to be there really early to get a ticket. With a tour group, they usually pick you up at around 6/6:30 to guarantee that you all get a ticket. It’s a definite must see.
  * The Punchbowl – the only National cemetary in the Pacific.
  * Diamondhead – an inactive volcano, you can climb to the top. Wear comfortable shoes, I suggest hiking it early before it gets really hot and bring lots of water and maybe a flashlight because you go through some dark caves. Once at the top, it commands incredible views.
  * Go to a luau – there are several offered, so you can talk to your hotel. It’s a fun experience with lots of food and and Polynesian entertainment.
  * Historic Honolulu – you can walk around the area and visit Iolani Palace, which is the only royal palace on US soil. There’s tons of historical sites and buildings to visit.
  * The Oahu North Shore – You can get there in about 45 minutes from Waikiki, but it’s where surfing is on the island. Be sure to stop at the Bonzai Pipeline where you can see surfers make their way through the middle of a wave.
  * Shopping
  * The Honolulu Zoo and Aquarium
  * Take surfing lessons – there are many companies that offer them, so once again get suggestions from your hotel.
  * Oahu diving – even as a beginner, you can go diving and see the wonders of Hawaii below the surface of the water.
  * Dole Plantation – in 2001, they made the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest maze. You can take a tour and sample the fruits–remember though that you cannot bring the pineapples back with you on the plane and they must be shipped separately.
  * The beach – of course, you can’t go without sitting on the beach. Sun there is much stronger, so wear TONS of sunscreen and don’t stay out on the beach for too long because you can easily burn within minutes. I think they still show movies out on the beach on Fridays (I believe), so you can also grab a blanket and some food and settle in for a relaxing evening.

  There are tons of things to do on the island of Oahu (where Honolulu) is. We really enjoyed Pearl Harbor and parasailing and just being able to relax. Go with an open mind and sample the local foods and culture.
• Nicole C says:

  August 18, 2006 at 20:51

  I will actually be also honeymooning in Hawaii too. Beware the July is peak season, so things will be a little more expensive there. We are going at the end of May, which is still the off-season. I was born there so here are my suggestions:
  - Pearl Harbor – this is a must see
  _ Polynesian Culture center – you get to see other islands, sample food, hear music, etc. It is located on the north side of Oahu.
  - Waikki beach – time to take in the beach is a must
  - The Dole Pineapple factory- you can sample fresh pineapples and go through the outdoor maza there
  - Hanama Bay- secluded bay that you can go snorkeling and see the waterlife

  You could also checkout the following website to see what special events might be going on around that time. If it is near the 4th, you can be sure that the base there will have a big celebration. Make sure you go to a real luau and sample EVERYTHING. Seaweed is actually pretty good to eat.

  Check these out:

  Hope this helps and you have a great time. For my hotel, we are staying at the Hale Koa, which is a miltary only hotel. But you can go to the above websites and check out the different hotels. You want to book as early as you can because they will get packed. Ask about honeymoon packages or extras that could be added to your room if you are interested in that.
• phantom_of_valkyrie says:

  August 16, 2006 at 10:52

  What interests you? How old are you? I know my parents went to Hawaii and they didn’t do anything I’d want to do. I think the Must Do list is go to the top of the volcano (they have many overnight trips that do this–you can horseback ride or bike. I’d pick horse). Go to the Luau in Oahu at the Polynesian Center. Learn to surf.

  As for the best place to stay, that ranges all over the board both in looks and price. Waikiki beach hotels are generally seen to be the “best” but it is crowded and Oahu is never listed as the most beautiful of the islands. Many prefer to stay on Maui or Kauai for that.

  The advantage to staying on the Big Island is that most flights to all the smaller islands go through here anyway so if you want to see all the islands you’ll be flying through it a lot. However it is just like any other city–not very “beautiful Hawaii” at all.

  Honestly if I were you I’d pick up a travel book on Hawaii. My personal favorite is Lonely Planet but flip through several of them to see what format you like best. The TOP 10 are great b/c it only lists 10 points of interest. I love those if I can only be someplace for a couple days. Let’s Go is well written but Fodor’s is my 2nd choice. My aunt prefers Michelin. It’s got more of the upscale restaurants and splurge ideas.

  It really depends on your own personal style. I like the bigger books for trips I plan. A trip like Hawaii I’m going to go through the book and mark up things I really want to see. I’m going to make notes on a pg for the things at each island and who to contact. I’m going to arrange a lot of these things ahead of time (like for example this tour is only Tues and Wed so I’m going to make sure those are the days I’m at this island). For me the planning is half the fun. It’s anticipation.

  However some of my friends are completely opposite. They like to fly by the seat of their pants and just wander–jumping into whatever catches their eye. For that style of traveling, thinner books are better and ones with a lot of maps. You aren’t going to read it anyway and you just want to make sure there aren’t any HUGE you’ll regret if you don’t do this activities.

  Do you prefer to have one hotel that is your base camp? You day trip from there but always return, or do you plan to spend 2 days on each island?
• ♥Tying the knot on 6-20-2009♥ says:

  August 15, 2006 at 08:33

  Never been.

  Im sure its pretty tho.

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