***** UPDATE ****We made a trip to Oahu in April 2006 and because it was with my in-laws (parents and sister-in-law's family) we did more touristy things. I am including our itinerary which will be a good starting point for anyone wanting an idea of what to do on their trip to Honolulu. Some of what we did was outside the city but I will keep everything on this page for easy access. Also, look for more tips and definitely some photos as well.
Day 1 - FRIDAY (arrived HNL @ 2:30pm): Check-in hotel (
The Breakers); walk to
The House Without a Key at the Halekulani Hotel for drink and appetizer; stroll through Halekulani and Royal Hawaiian Hotels; shop at
Newt; Japanese oden dinner at
Hakkei.
Day 2 - SATURDAY:
Farmers Market at Kapiolani Community College for fruit, flowers, baked goods (breakfast stuff for following days), and breakfast; pick up road bike rental at the Bike Shop;
Honolulu Academy of Arts and
Shangri-La tour; lunch in Chinatown at the
Little Village Noodle House; Mililani Memorial Cemetery to visit my grandparents' gravesites; shop at Aloha Tower Marketplace; dinner with cousins at
Chai's Island Bistro.
Day 3 - SUNDAY: Bike ride up Pali Highway to Hanauma Bay; snorkeling at
Hanauma Bay;
Beard Papa's cream puffs for snack at the Foodland in Hawaii Kai plus more breakfast foods for the rest of the week; late lunch at
Rainbow Drive-In; hang out at hotel; walk down Kalakaua Avenue to Queen's Beach and
Sunset on the Beach for dinner and a movie.
Day 4 - MONDAY: Short bike ride around Diamond Head and Kahala areas;
Pali Lookout; Ho' omaluhia Botanical Gardens in Kaneohe; Hong Kong style Chinese lunch at
Pah Ke's in Kaneohe; hike to
Manoa Falls; visit Hank Wittington's home in Kailua to view his Hawaiian wood bowl/calabash art; authentic Japanese noodles at
Nakamura Ramen; stroll along Kalakaua Avenue and buy aloha shrits at
Avanti.