Hawaii (State of) General Tips by TropicGirl77

Favorite Thing: If you suffer allergies, you'll want to be sure to bring your medications. No matter what you do on any of the islands, sight-seeing will be what it's all about. The islands have so much to offer in the way of flora, and this is a year round event. Sometimes the most fragrant smells will come to you in the dark of the night in the way of our nightblooms.

Fondest Memory: While you can see the islands beauty in flowers and plants just by driving around, I would suggest going to Waimea Falls Park, or any of our many Botanical Gardens where you can learn the names of many of these tropical plants. For a change of pace, plan on being at the Waimea Falls Park (Northshore) on a Friday 8:30pm near full moon ... they have a MoonWalk ... which is a guided tour of the main trail. ($7per family; $5 per couple; $3 per person) BRING YOUR FLASHLIGHT. Your guide will point out many of the plants and give a brief history on the origins etc.

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Favorite Thing: Be sure to travel to the Northshores of the Island, check out Haleiwa beach. We have several Hawaiian Sea Turtles that come to shore and bask in the sun. Be mindful of the signs posted ~ DO NOT touch these endangered sea turtles! This is a good beach for hosting surfing competitions also.

Fondest Memory: I LOVE this Haleiwa sign! Sunsets at Haleiwa are gorgeous. To get to Haleiwa or northshore from Honolulu, travel westbound on H1 and exit onto northbound H2 (Wahiawa/Mililani exit) ... follow till exit 8 ... then travel on Kamehameha Hwy northbound. You will see the Haleiwa exit after about 15 to 20 minutes.

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Favorite Thing: Any of you have the WeatherBug on your computer? I get excited at most of the "chirps" it makes on my desktop, because (most of the times) it means there are high waves on the coasts of the island. I always chide "Big waves!" at the chirping. I will always be called to watch the waves crashing the shores of O'ahu ... never tire of it. The only sad thing about it is that you witness all the long faces of the would be surfers who are forced to stay on shore till the waves die down to a safe height!

Fondest Memory: Each day is a new memory .. and I have (at time of writing) about 973 memories to take with me when I leave.

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Favorite Thing: Free tidbit on our pink landmark ... we have two very distinctive pink buildings on Oahu (not limited to, but strikingly original) ... the one on the hill is our famous Army Hospital better known as Tripler or TAMC.

Fondest Memory: I still have nightmares of being lost in Tripler. I had to be there often as a teenager due to allergies and other health issues. Many times I'd find myself there alone, and lost! Now it's a community in itself! Offering swimming, bowling, post office, barber/hair stylist, etc ~ everything you need to make your stay at the hospital more fun (actually, the rec is more in the way of providing fun for the resident staff)

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Favorite Thing: Here is the another free tidbit ... the other notable pink building on O'ahu is the Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki. It's one of our older hotels, opening in 1927. Room rates are high (upwards of $300), This is a landmark in Waikiki ... everyone who's taken a photo of Honolulu from Diamond Head Summit probably has a photo of this historical hotel.


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