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Honolulu

Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club

this is 1 view from the owners loangeMore Photos

by big_frank

An August 2003 travel journal

Last Updated: June 4, 2003

Journal Usefulness Rating 2 out of 5
Journal Usefulness Rating
6
Reviews
2
Photos

Lobby and check-in was nice. The first room was poorly designed.

I saw the Don Ho show and he had his daughter Haku rock the place.

Quick Tips:

Pearl Harbor is a must see, and there is great shopping and great eateries within walking distance.

Best Way To Get Around:

A car is not needed, but if you want to really see the island get one for three days.
this is 1 view from the owners loange
Best Things Nearby:
Beach is one block away. Great food and shopping within walking distance. A car is not needed here but if you want to explore on your own it''s nice to have.

Best Things About the Resort:
The lobby and the owners lounge was nice. They have valet parking but charge you $12 a day to park. What i realy liked that they gave free scuba diveing lessons in there pool. My son had a ball Breathing underwater with the scuba gear.

Resort Experience:
The first room I had was a palm. It was Very small, dirty, and poorly designed. The second room, which I had to pay an upgrade for, was a Halo which was on a higher floor and was much nicer. It had a very nice view and seemed to be newly refurbished.

  • Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
  • Activities: Fair
  • Amenities: Fair
  • Unit Satisfaction: Fair
  • Family Friendliness: Excellent
  • Service: Excellent
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by big_frank on April 23, 2003

Imperial Of Waikiki
205 LEWERS ST Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
808-923-1827

Germaine's Luau

Activity

Luau
This luau was fun. As soon as you get there buy the Germaines large glass for $6 because you can refill them for drinks that gets you a two for one deal because of the size. You are able to sit up front, sitting on the floor on short tables. The food was average, but they had a lot of audience participation. In fact, you can kiss all the men and woman that go on stage. After they learn the luau dance.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by big_frank on April 23, 2003

Germaine's Luau
91119 Olai St Waianae, Hawaii 96707
+1 808 949 6626

GET THERE EARLY. Do not bring any fanny packs or backpacks. It is amazing to see the oil still leaking out of her after so many years. You will see the fish that swim on top of the ship. I learned a lot from this trip. Besides the Arizona the Bowfin Submarine is also there for an additional fee to enter inside. There is also a walk around torpedo graveyard That you can spend hours walking around and reading up on history.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by big_frank on April 23, 2003

Pearl Harbor
Off Highway 99 after Halawa Gate Honolulu, Hawaii 96860
(808) 422 2771

Dole Plantation

Activity

Dole Plantation is home of the worlds best pineapples and the home of the worlds largest maze. You can take a tour but we decided to pass it by. Instead of the tour I recomend doing the giant maze. It is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest maze.

The giant maze was started in 1997 and has been on T.V many times. It has 11,400 plants, it is 100,000 square feet and adding all its paths togeter you have 1.7 miles of paths. You ask how do I know so much? Easy, I read it off my son's shirt that he won for coming in second in breaking the record. My son did it in 8 minutes and had his name placed on the board of fastest times. I did it in 23 minutes. The average is about 24 minutes. It is very hard to do you must go around to get 6 stamps from the 6 sections of the maze. Finding them is pure luck. The plants are high so you can not see. If you do this, bring water. The cost is $3 per person.

In the store you can buy pineapples, which we found to be expensive. What was great is the pineapple ice cream. In the Dole store, there is Maui Divers Jewelry store. There I bought my wife a heart pendant that has small lettering inside and when you look at the shadow of the heart, it says ALOHA. You can buy shirts, hats, coffee, mugs, toys -- in fact you can purchase all your souvenirs there.

We enjoyed this very much and highly recommend you do this.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by big_frank on May 8, 2003

Dole Plantation
64-1550 Kamehameha Highway Wahiawa, Hawaii 96786
+1 808 621 8408

"Don Ho"

Activity

Well it's time to retire. He forgets the words, hums a lot, and trys to tell jokes that are not funny. He really does not move from behind his keyboard. He does get the kids in the audience to participate and gives them free tapes.

The night we saw him, he had his daughter Haku come on stage. She totally took over the show and blew the place apart. She sang the song from the movie Snow Days which she sang in.

At the end they signed autographs and took pictures with you; they also sold tapes and CD'S that they would sign.

  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by big_frank on June 4, 2003

Don Ho Show
2330 Kalakaua Ave Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
+1 808 923 3981; +1

About the Writer

big_frank
big_frank
Middle Village, New York

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