Hawaii

Smokin Joe · 06-19-2005, 10:45

Next month the wife is dragging me to Hawaii.

I know it completely sucks but hey someone has to go.

We are staying on Ohau just outside of Wakiki. Neither one of us has been to Oahu before so we are kind of at a loss as to what we should go see and do.

So I'm seeking some guidance and advice on where to go and what to do. We will be there for 10 days. The wife will be in a conference for 5 days while I get to enjoy mysef the entire time we are there.

. Is there anything I should go and see that the wife shouldn't or wouldn't like? Is there any restraunts or anything that we HAVE to go see?

Thank you for any recommendations....I appericate it.

Air.177 · 06-19-2005, 13:09

I'm no expert, and I didn't stay in a Holiday inn Express last night but I'll do my best.

I highly recommend Matsumoto shave ice in Haleiwa. It's on the north shore, and a bit of a haul but if memory serves, the Dole pineapple plantation visitor center was on the way, and while touristy it was worth a stop.

I found that local food tends to be cheaper than mainland fare. McDonalds even has food only available in the islands, such as Portugese sausage with rice and eggs for breakfast ( My own personal favorite,you get a platter of food and a large coffee for roughly the same $$ as an egg mcmuffin & a coke) Check out grocery stores in small outlying towns for their deli counter lunch specials referred to as,"Plate lunch" or "Box Lunch"

Pearl Harbor/Uss Arizona memorial - this is a no brainer, everyone should visit this site at some point in their life. Also, Punch Bowl National Cemetary is quite moving. The USS Missouri is on display in Pearl Harbor and the guided tour is well worth the price, try to get one of the older tourguides, our guide was a wealth of information and also had a scrapbook of unofficial photos that really added to the tour.

Hanauma Bay natural preserve - on beyond Diamond Head on 72 this is an excellent place for snorkeling/scuba diving, lots to look at.

Here is a basic map that lists a lot of common tourist traps, some worth visiting some not. (map works better when downloaded and opened in a program that allows you to enlarge it)

Oh yeah, and if you just want to lounge on the beach all day, I highly encourage you to visit a home depot or Wal mart and pick up a pound or two of quarter size galvanized washers, fill your swim trunk pockets with them, and covertly spread them in the early morning out in the shallows in the area of beach you plan to lounge on. All the folks with metal detectors hoping to strike it rich will be going nuts. I found this quite entertaining.

Most of all, Have fun

Good times,
blake

Smokin Joe · 06-20-2005, 10:34

Thanks Blake,

I will check them out.

I will also try the washers routine. With the Misses being in meetings and such I may just have to do this in the early morning. To better cover my targeted area like one every 3 feet.

Bravo1-3 · 06-20-2005, 11:02

While the Mrs is in meetings, head for Ft. Derusy and tour the museum. Afterwards, head for the beach in front of the fort. Off to your left as you're facing the water is the Outrigger Reef Hotel. There is a beachfront bar there called Shorebirds. I believe they're open 11am - 2am. Drink beer and enjoy the view. I have wasted many hours and many brain cells there. The waitresses are HOT.

Sunday head for the Pacific Beach Hotel Brunch. They've got one of the worlds largest indoor aquariums, and the food is fantastic too.

If you're there for 2 Sundays, drive to the North Shore to Turtle Bay and do the Sunday Brunch there, then go play some golf (if you can get a Tee-Time).

Go take a ride on Atlantis Submarines (the white subs, not the yellow ones. The white ones are real subs, the yellow ones are just glass bottom boats that look like subs.

Word to the wise: THERE IS NOTHING FOR SALE AT THE ALA MOANA MALL THAT YOU NEED OTHER THAN A BUS.

Want cheap fun? Catch the #56 Kaneohe/Circle Island bus in the morning. Make sure you get a transfer from the driver. You'll be back in Waikiki is a couple of hours, and it's only a dollar for the ride.

**The Reaper** · 06-20-2005, 11:02

Get a car and drive.

Get out of Waikiki and see some stuff.

Blake has good recommendations, Hanauma Bay is great, but get there early or miss out. Drive around the Windward side (east). Go through the Wilson and Pali Tunnels and stop at the top for spectacular views. Drive the North Shore, see Elvis' mansion, the surf hangouts, and drive west on the North Shore all the way out to Dillingham Airfield. Skip the west side of the island.

See the Arizona and Missouri Memorials, and the sub as well if you have time. Walk down to Fort DeRussy and check out Battery Pratt and enjoy the only undeveloped piece of Waikiki.

Surf should be low if you want to try some boogie boarding. Snorkel or just swim around the area. Climb to the top of Diamond Head.

If you get a free day with the wife, consider a day trip to Maui or Kauai.

Relax, get some rays, and have fun Bruddah!

TR

Bravo1-3 · 06-20-2005, 11:09

All of the above is good gouge, but this bit is especially good:

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Skip the west side of the island.

One word about renting a car: Parking in the wrong lot can be a very expensive mistake.

While you're in Haleiwa, you can pay a visit to that idiot who set up the human shields thing in Iraq and stomp him.

**Ambush Master** · 06-20-2005, 16:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Get a car and drive.

Get out of Waikiki and see some stuff.

See the Arizona and Missouri Memorials, and the sub as well if you have time. Walk down to Fort DeRussy and check out Battery Pratt and enjoy the only undeveloped piece of Waikiki.
TR

If you do the sub thing, they have a recording that was done by the Skipper who commanded her during the war. He made several runs into Tokyo Harbor !!! He recorded the tour as he walked through the Boat and explains what each of the various duty stations were for. Very interesting !!!

Be sure to give us a Brief-back when you return !!

Later
Martin

**Roguish Lawyer** · 06-20-2005, 17:27

Concur with Air.177 and TR, but I have only been to Oahu once. I like the Big Island best and can make recommendations if you go there.

Smokin Joe · 06-20-2005, 18:52

Thank you gentlemen.

I will be a googling fool tonight to get maps an itenary.

Max_Tab · 06-23-2005, 07:41

It's been awhile since I've been there, so my memory may be a little hazy, But You need to check out the Pali lookout, Waimea bay, and take the missus, to the Polynesian Cultural Center.

jbour13 · 06-23-2005, 08:51

Smokin Joe,

It's been 3 years since I lived in paradise but I still remember what not to do. I lived on Oahu for 3 1/2 years while stationed at Schofield.

If you like a little night life you should go to a luau. Very entertaining for couples. Beach strolls aren't a bad thing to do either.

Bars to visit, Duke's is a good one and right off the beach on Waikiki. They are pricey like most everything else out there but are receptive of tourists.

I'd strongly recommend avoiding Lewers street on Fri-Sun. When the military has any free time that is where they frequent. Bars to avoid: Moose Macgilicuddy (sp?) or commonly referred to as Moose's. Red Lion is a good place for your wife to avoid and so is the Cellar. They have a woman shortage and get a bit handsy because the crowds are so large you can't tell who's grabbing you.

If you are out late enough around Lewers street you'll most likely see a fistfight or some kind of altercation. Lewers isn't far from the beach and Ft Derussy so be aware.

PM me for specifics if you'd like.

Huey14 · 06-23-2005, 09:29

I'm dissapointed noone has made a Magnum PI joke yet.

Bravo1-3 · 06-23-2005, 09:37

What's wrong with Mooses? I have my own reserved bar stool there!

jbour13 · 06-23-2005, 10:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bravo1-3

What's wrong with Mooses? I have my own reserved bar stool there!

Nothing against you and your brother Marines, but when you all came off of RIMPAC (sp?) all you guys wanted was brews, broads and brawling if anyone denied you that right.

I'm not a badass but I had to put a fella down (cheap shot) for being an ass. Kept bumping me as he'd walk by (up on floor #2) and when I politely asked what his issue with me was he got a bit angry. I told him I didn't want any trouble, he looks at his friends and calls me a choice female body part. As he had his head turned laughing I cracked him in the noggin' and did some short legged husltle down the stairs and out the front door. At that time I was running 11:40 2 milers, came in handy that night as my friends and I E&E'd to the Derussy parking lot and continued to Schofield.

Oh the good times, I do miss'em.

**The Reaper** · 06-23-2005, 10:43

The dreaded sucker punch.

Cheap, but effective.

TR