First Time in Hawaii:)

[mlfrank]

sheesh!! I've got to go here to find out my son made it there okay!!

Enjoy the warmth there (people as well as weather) - it has warmed up to the 40s here.

pops

[saintyohann]

Well I've lived here for a little over a year now and try to keep a good list of fun touristy things for visitors...I seem to get a lot of them since moving.

Sea Life park is OK for kids, but Adults might not find it all that exciting. They do have a program where you can go into the reef tank and feed the turtles and rays. If you're not afraid of the sharks. My daughter loves to feed the turtles.

Pearl Harbor needs to be done early in the morning, you need to be there 30-45 minutes before it opens. Otherwise you end up sitting for hours waiting for your tour. The Arizona memorial is the most dramatic and free. The Bowfin and Missouri are also there, but more for the history buff.

If you're up for some snorkeling, Hanama Bay is also a morning stop, be there when they open the gate at 6AM (by the way, with the time difference it will be easy to get up that early). The buses of Japanese tourists show up at 9 am, you'll have already seen a great sunrise and finished snorkeling by then. Plus early morning is the best time to see turtles and squid. There is a very nice canyon just before and to the right of the channel marking buoys, you can see it from the trail down into the caldera. Note: There are no lifeguards on duty until 7-8 depending on the season and swimming past the buoys puts you in deep water with a strong current.

You'll want to do a circle island tour, but I usually break it up over 2 days (if you have the time).

North Shore to see the waves (if they're up) and for some shave ice. Most people go to Matsumoto's because they're more famous, but Ijust think they're too sweet. Every flavor I try tastes the same, like sugar. Just down the road there is the Aloha Market in the Northshore marketplace. Their shave ice has flavor and a better consistency.

Pupukea Beach/Shark's cove - Just outside of Haleiwa (traveling north-east) you'll pass some of the more famous surf beaches (Sunset etc.) then a firestation on your left (this is Pupukea) there is a hugh tidepool here...about the size of a football field. If the waves a big they surge against the volcanic shelf then smash against the outer ring of rocks. Bring a video camera and look around the tidepool for a bit (if you're willing to get wet).

If you're going up to Pali lookout from Honolulu, there's a cutoff that takes you through the Rainforest. Awesome drive and then it drops you right back on Pali Hwy before the lookout.

Round Top Drive lookout - start at the Punchbowl memorial and head north into the rainforest. There is a washout on roundtop so you have to go back where you came from, but just before (it's at the center of a sharp turn, maybe .5 to 1.5 miles before the washout) the washout there is a park with a lookout. You can see everything from Kokohead to Pearlharbour.

Diamondhead hike (if you're up for it), bring water and a flashlight.

Bellows Airforce Base has a beach that the public can visit and maybe even camp at during the weekend.

Sunset Cruise (aka "The Booze Cruise") - this is a must for any visit. Walk along waikiki beach and select your favorite sailboat (they all charge different amounts and some include drinks).The Na Hoku II used to give 1/2 off if you said repeat, but I haven't seen it in a while. Check that, we went surfing on Christmas day and she was back, but I didn't recognize the crew.

Aloha tower - go before 4:30 and they have fish food vending machines in front of the boats. Throw some in the water and you'll be greeted by a great assortment of fish. I got a very large ray to come up off the harbor floor once. My daughter loves this too.

And a new addition to this list, just for the spicy food lovers. There is a Phuket Thai restaurant at the McCully shopping center (mccully and kapiolani) great thai food and moderately priced (I say that because it's inexpensive here, but more expensive then where you're from I'm sure ($7-15/plate, family style). Parking is horrible skip the lot and try a side street.

[saintyohann]

One more thing:

On the first business day of the month, they test the emergency systems here.

So at 11:45 or about 30 minutes from now all the civil defense sirens will go off...it's OK...the world is not ending...yet.

This always freaks out a lot of visitors.

[Robo]

You definitely need a car anywhere on the Big Island. Of course you should visit the volcano. There is a beautiful black sand beach called Kehena about 40 minutes from Hilo which you should visit if you get the chance. Actually better to stay in that area than Hilo itself. Avoid that beach if pot or nudity bothers you, or go in the morning to avoid both. If you like snorkeleing, Kapoho tidepools can't be beat. About 1.5 hours north of Hilo is Waipio Valley. The overlook is beautiful, but if you're in good shape, take half a day and hike in and out.

[davester]

Why are folks discussing the Big Island? I thought he said this was only an Oahu visit.

Anyway, apart from the things discussed above, I'm shocked that nobody has mentioned going to the beach park in Kailua, probably an hour's drive from Honolulu. It's one of the most beautiful beaches in Hawaii, swimmable, and great for windsurfing (windsurfers can be rented locally and then the rental company will drop them and pick them up at the beach as I recall).

If you have to stay in Honolulu (something I try to avoid), one of my favorite things is to walk the length of Waikiki Beach at sunset, preferably bare-footed (but toting sandals for going into the hotels), wearing a vintage aloha shirt, listening to the music issuing from the hotels and occasionally stopping to have a Mai Tai. Also, during the day time have one of the beach boys teach you how to surf in the area in front of the Duke's statue (ask a local...everyone will know where that is). The surf there is generally very mild...a great place to learn in my admittedly inexperienced opinion.

[chapba_99]

Lol, im trying to get to any other island but would also like ideas for oahu. We have settled on going to Hilo and renting a car and try to stay for awhile. does anyone know if there a free or low fare camping spots on big island?? im going to visit a friend but would prefer not to be a burden on anyone. thank you all for the advice! im having a great time so far

[Robo]

http://www.instanthawaii.com/ for lots of BI stuff. There are tons of places to camp for free or cheap.

check here too
http://www.hawaii-county.com/parks/parks.htm