Listed below are my itineraries for my Hawaiian Vacation for four adults. Can you tell me what you think? should I change, add or modify anything to my itineraries?
Flight departure to Honolulu, Hawaii
Morning: (0730hrs) USS Arizona Memorial Park/Museum (Take Ala Moana Blvd. /Nimitz Highway or (H-1) West to begin. While on H-1; look for the USS Arizona/Stadium exit, #15A)
Visit: the USS Bowfin Museum ($8), USS Missouri ($16), USS Oklahoma (Free), and Pacific Memorial Museum ($14)
Afternoon: Visit: the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punch Bowl (2177 Puowaina Drive 1-808-532-3720-Free)
Drive to Punchbowl Crater (Site Seeing/picture taking)
Visit: the Iolani Palace (364 South King Street $12)
Visit: the King Kamehameha Statue (957 Punchbowl Street)
Visit: Aloha Tower and go to the observation deck (1 Aloha Drive)
Evening: at the Aloha Tower Marketplace and dine in one of many in restaurants in area
Saturday
Morning: Breakfast at Duke’s Waikiki (2335 Kalakaua Ave at the Outrigger Waikiki)
Full day at leisure
Relax at Waikiki Beach and take a picture with the Duke Kahanamoku Statue (Next to the Moana Surfer Hotel)
Late Afternoon (If time permits): Take Highway 61 (The Pali Highway)
Visit: The Nuuanu Pali State Wayside (for some pictures)
Visit: The Town of Kailua and the beaches of Kailua and Lanikai
Visit: Pinky’s Pupu Bar and Grill (970 Kalaheo Ave, Kailua) for a quick bite or snack
Evening: Dine at the MAC 24-7 (Hilton Waikiki Prince 2500 Kuhio Avenue) or any restaurant in Kailua or in Waikiki
Sunday
Morning: Visit Diamond Head State Monument ($5 per Car), Diamond Head Light House, Diamond Head Beach
Visit: Makapuu Lighthouse lookout point
Visit South Shore beaches: Hanauma Bay State Underwater Park, Sandy Beach (8800 Kalaniana’ole Highway), Moana Beach Park (1201 Ala Moana Boulevard)
Visit: Hike to the Manoa Falls
Visit: Halona Blow Hole (along the Kalanianaole Highway) and Hike to Halona Rocks
Drive around Round Top and Tantalus Drive on Mount Tantalus (GPS Pu’u Ualakaa State Park for directions to Mt Tantalus)
Visit: Pu’u Ualakaa State Park (Movie: Blue Hawaii with Elvis Presley was filmed here)-Park closes at 6PM
Afternoon: Take to North Shore (take H1 to H2 to drive along the center of Island)
Visit: The Town of Haleiwa
Lunch: at Cafe Haleiwa (66-460 Kamehamaha Highway) or at any of the numerous restaurants in town
Beaches to Visit: while at Haleiwa: Waimea Beach Park, Waimea Bay, Banzai Beach (where the famous Banzai Pipeline is), Ehukai Beach, Sunset Beach
Visit: Matsumotos Shave Ice (66-087 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa) for a brief snack of famous shaved ice.
Evening: Drive back to Waikiki for some relaxation or shopping and dine in one of the many restaurants in Waikiki
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Boy, you are a trip planner after my husband’s heart Me, I just show up and look around to see what looks fun. lol. So, my first impulse is that you have a LOT planned - but I understand - you want to see it all. Anyway, regarding Oahu, everything looks good to me. One thing is I would do Manoa falls before you head out to Hanauma Bay, maybe even before Diamond head - it’s more above Honolulu than to the East like the rest of that stuff. Plus, Manoa falls is a HIKE. It’s just a mile but most of it is sloped up. You’ll want water and maybe a change of clothes or at least a towel to dry off with. Also, Kailua and Lanikai beaches are so awesomely beautiful you might want to plan a swim there.
I will be traveling to the West side of the Big Island slightly north of Kona this coming January. Do you recommend any remote less crowded beaches to go too?
I have hiked from Hwy 19 to a couple of secluded beaches off of the beaten path. Is this safe to do?
It is 100% safe to do., in my opinion. People do it all the time. There is very little person on person crime here.
You could go to Maumae Beach through the Mauna Kea Beach hotel. The entrance station guard will give you a map. It’s a beautiful beach. There is Kiholo Bay and Beach 69 or Waialea Beach. the trailhead is by the 71 mile marker. Also try Makalawena, which you walk to from a trail at Kona Coast state Park. about 20 minutes.
Me, I just show up and look around to see what looks fun. lol. So, my first impulse is that you have a LOT planned - but I understand - you want to see it all. Anyway, regarding Oahu, everything looks good to me. One thing is I would do Manoa falls before you head out to Hanauma Bay, maybe even before Diamond head - it’s more above Honolulu than to the East like the rest of that stuff. Plus, Manoa falls is a HIKE. It’s just a mile but most of it is sloped up. You’ll want water and maybe a change of clothes or at least a towel to dry off with. Also, Kailua and Lanikai beaches are so awesomely beautiful you might want to plan a swim there.