Hawaiian Interlude in Honolulu

Quite unfortunately for us, Hawaii was more of a stopover for us than a true destination (we were on our way to Australia), but we packed in as much in our 2 full days in Honolulu/Waikiki as we could!

*** Slightly off-topic side note: Should you ever find yourself flying to the other side of the world, Hawaii is an excellent stopover point, and it often won't even cost you extra (as far as your flight is concerned, anyway) to spend a few days. It's a great way to break up a long flight, and an excellent way to justify a Hawaiian vacation! ***

We spent a full afternoon/evening at the Polynesian Cultural Centre (North Shore, Oahu) and the rest of our time in and around Waikiki and Honolulu. Our hotel, the Radisson Prince Kuhio, was a couple of blocks from the beach, and we enjoyed spending the early part of the morning and the early evening on the beach, when it was a bit less hot and crowded and every bit as beautiful (especially the famous Waikiki sunset!).

No doubt about it, Waikiki is a tourist mecca - if you're out to see the *real* Hawaii, then this probably isn't it. Still, you can certainly get an idea of the laid-back, casual Hawaiian attitude and, if you're lucky, find a few authentic experiences along the way. If you're into history, than Honolulu is the place to be, as it has a long history as the Hawaiian Islands' capital and there are many unique places to visit, such as the Iolani Palace, Bishop Museum, and the USS Arizona Memorial. For nature lovers, there's always biking around Honolulu, visiting the Foster Botanical Gardens, or a trip out to hike at Diamond Head.

Honolulu is a great destination for just about anyone: singles, couples, families...there are attractions and activities to suit every taste. Short on time? Don't worry - there's plenty that you can squeeze into just a couple days, and you'll leave feeling like you still had that Hawaiian experience. One warning: you'll probably leave already thinking about all the things you'll do when you return.

Quick Tips:

As we only had a couple of days to see the sights, we used tours to not only get us to destinations, but also to sightsee at the same time. Our scenic bus ride (about 75 minutes) out to Oahu's North Shore to the Polynesian Cultural Centre was a great opportunity to view some of the smaller villages, gorgeous ocean beaches, and lush green mountains we may have otherwise missed, spending all our time in the more popular tourist areas. Taking the hop-on, hop-off trolley allowed us to not only get where we wanted to go, but also to see much of Honolulu and Waikiki with informative commentary on the area. Its a great way to maximize your time if you only have a few days to spare.

If you're feeling frugal, start with accommodation - while you may want to stay in Waikiki, if you like the beach and tourist attractions, there is no need to stay "on" the beach. There are lots of hotels within a couple of blocks of the beach that are much more reasonable. Giving up a ocean view will also save you some cash - the mountain view is actually a lot more interesting!

If you plan on seeing a number of attractions in the area, you may also want to get a Go Hawaii Card.
For one price, the Go Hawaii Card gives visitors unlimited sightseeing with free admission to over 25 attractions as well as savings at shops and restaurants and a pocket guidebook to the city. The card comes in 1-, 2-, 3-, 5- or 7-day increments and is activated the first time you use it. You then have up to 2 weeks to use the days that you have purchased. The card includes things like a Grand Circle Island Tour, Waikiki Trolley, Bishop Museum, and ‘Iolani Palace. Prices range from to for adults and to for children, depending on the number of days purchased.

Some websites with information about Honolulu/Waikiki include
http://www.honolulu.com - for information on accommodation, dining etc.
http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/menu/visitors - for all the pertinent facts for visitors
ttp://www.honoluluweekly.com - for info on events, nightlife, dining, and more

Best Way To Get Around:

If you're staying within Honolulu and Waikiki, you're probably best off going by foot, using a taxi, or hopping on one of the many trolley or shuttles (some are even free!).

If you're planning on seeing more of the beautiful island of Oahu, you're best off renting a car (warning: there is very little parking in Waikiki, and what is available is quite expensive) or using public transportation (reportedly quite reliable!). If you're feeling less independent, there are many island tours offered.

Some quick info on various transportation options:

Public Transport - The Bus is Oahu’s mass transit system, servicing the entire island with over 65 routes. Routes 19 and 20 run between Honolulu International Airport and Waikiki daily, every 20 minutes from 5am to 11:30pm. Schedules for other routes differ, and there is reduced service on weekends and holidays, so it's worth checking out their website. Fares are free for children under the age of 6, and a Visitor Pass provides unlimited use for 4 consecutive days.

Open-Air Trolley - The Waikiki Trolley operates four lines around Oahu, including stops at major attractions such as Bishop Museum, Chinatown, Iolani Palace, Hanauma Bay, Sea Life Park, and Ala Moana Center. Trolleys run from 8am to 11:30pm, and fares include unlimited boarding and reboarding on all lines. They also offer a Vistor's Pass, good for four consecutive days.

Taxis - Readily available at the airport, Ala Moana Center, and Waikiki area, but hailing a cab may be difficult in other areas. Taxis are metered and can generally take you anywhere on the island.

Rental Cars - All the major rental companies have locations at the airport and in the Honolulu/Waikiki area.

We stayed at the Radisson Prince Kuhio for 2 nights, and although the hotel itself is of average/good quality, the location is excellent, and we found that it was a good value.

The Radisson Prince Kuhio is located in the heart of Waikiki, close to all the area attractions and just a couple of blocks from the beach. At first glance, it's just another giant, unattractive, boxy concrete hotel, typical of the Waikiki strip; inside, though, it's quite elegant, with a lovely lobby and public areas (which have been newly renovated since our stay!). The gardens on the hotel grounds are also quite nice, and provide a little haven from the "concrete jungle" feeling of the area.

The hotel was quite busy during our stay, and we actually received a room outfitted for disabled guests (which we had not requested). Not sure how this may have affected the layout of the room itself, but the bathroom was much larger than I would imagine it is in other rooms with a roll-in shower (so no bathtub). The room itself was the typical chain-hotel layout, with a king-size bed, entertainment center, and small table with two chairs.

We did have a small balcony/lanai with a mountain view - we just couldn't justify the added expense of an ocean view, and seeing all the little houses and buildings up the side of the lush green mountains was just as interesting! We found the room to be very clean and tidy when we arrived, and housekeeping did a good job of keeping it that way throughout our stay.

As far as the room decor, the only thing particularly Hawaiian about it was the pineapple-patterned bedspread, but it was quite neutral and comfortable. Renovations are currently underway to all of the 600+ rooms in the hotel and are expected to be completed by the fall. The proposed new decor is certainly an improvement on the rather bland appearance of the current rooms.

Rooms include most of the amenities you would expect from Radisson: coffeemakers with complimentary coffee/tea, mini-fridge, two phones, an iron and full-size ironing board (very handy), high-speed Internet access, an in-room safe, and bottled water are all available for a fee.

We found the service of the hotel staff to be top-notch, always smiling and helpful. There is also a tour desk on-site where you can book tours, attraction tickets, and excursions. The best feature of the hotel, for us, was the availability of a hospitality room. We checked out in the morning and the hotel stored our luggage (at no charge), and we spent the day sightseeing, then returned to the hotel after dinner. We were given the keys to a room and allowed use of it for an hour, which gave us time to shower, get changed, and re-pack our carry-on items for our 11:30pm flight. Definitely worth it!

Cheeseburger in Paradise definitely has one thing going for it - awesome location! Located across the street from Waikiki Beach, it has great laid-back rock n' roll atmosphere, but that's probably the last time you'll see the word great in this particular review.

First, the particulars. Cheeseburger in Paradise (no longer owned by Jimmy Buffet, as the mainland versions of this restaurant are) is located on Kalakaua Avenue, between the Sheraton Moana Surfrider and Outrigger Waikiki.

Cheeseburger In Paradise is open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offers a full-service bar serving tropical drinks and ice-cold beer. Can't vouch for the bar, as we didn't have alcohol that night, but it looked like it was hopping.

Entrees are the standard American fare, including burgers, salads, fries, onion rings, and sandwiches. The house special, Cheeseburger in Paradise, includes a "half pound Natural Angus Beef Patty topped with a special blend of Jack and Cheddar cheeses." Hubby and I both had it (when in Rome, right?) - he had fries, onion rings for me. We both fairly unimpressed - for a joint with "Cheeseburger" in its name, there really was nothing special about our meal. Considering the higher-than-normal prices for this kind of fare ($10 to $12 for a hamburger), it was pretty disappointing.

Great service might have made up for the food: sadly, that was also lacking. Everyone we encountered, from the hostess to the two different waitresses we had, looked like they would just rather be elsewhere and like it was their inconvenience (rather than their pleasure) to serve you. I will admit that it was very busy; however, I'm certain it's very busy there all the time, and I would expect the staff would know how to deal with the situation. It actually took us longer to get our bill than it took for us to order and eat, not really acceptable in my books.

My final analysis is that Cheeseburger in Paradise is exactly what it seems to be, a chain restaurant in an excellent location with overpriced, mediocre food and lacklustre service. Check out the bar if you must, but skip the rest of the "experience."

I can honestly say that Hilo Hatties was like no other store I've ever shopped in - truly, a one-of-a-kind experience. Their website (at www.hilohatties.com) touts it as "the largest retail source for Hawaiian and Island Lifestyle products." They aren't kidding.

There are a number of locations on the various islands - two are located in Honolulu. There is a smaller "boutique" store in the Ala Moana Shopping Centre, and then the flagship store and manufacturing facility, which we spent a goodly portion of time exploring.

If you're looking for Hawaiian...well, anything...this is the place to be. Souvenir shopping? Hilo Hatties can be your one-stop shop. There are aisles and aisles (or maybe that's acres and acres) of Hawaiian printed/themed fashions for men, women, and children: shirts, shorts, pareos, dresses...you can buy matching outfits for the whole family (if that's your thing)! Hawaiian beauty products, check...in lots of luscious fragrances. Hawaiian home decor, check...with beautiful handcrafted items made from local materials. Hawaiian treats, check...tons of scrumptious goodies to choose from (make sure to pick up some of my personal favourites - chocolate toffee macadamia nuts, mmmm!). Guaranteed you'll leave with your head spinning from the sheer "Hawaiian-ness" of it all.

Getting there is easy, with free "Hilo Hatties" trolley shuttles available throughout the tourist areas Honolulu and Waikiki. We spotted ours at Waikiki Beach and figured it would be a good way to kill a bit of time and do some souvenir shopping. Now, I can only speak from our experience with our particular driver - he was amazing! As we drove around Waikiki and Honolulu on our way to Hilo Hatties, he gave us a bit of a guided tour of all the sites. When we left the store, we were told that we could be dropped off at any of their stops (we chose to do some more shopping at the Ala Moana Shopping Centre!). It was a great (free!) tour, and we ended up talking the same driver into taking us back into Waikiki when he did his last pick up at the Ala Moana Centre.

While it may not be the most authentic Hawaiian experience out there, it is certainly one that I'll never forget (nor will our friends and relatives who received that little bit of Hilo Hatties).

The Polynesian Cultural Centre is a strange but intriguing concept and is touted as Hawaii's most popular paid attraction.

It was founded in the '60s by the missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, who also found a nearby university, Bringham Young Hawaii. The Centre is almost like a theme park, with seven mock ‘villages’ set on 42 acres of lush landscaped parkland. About 80% of the employees of the Centre are from one of the seven Polynesian cultures represented (Hawaiian, Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, Tahitian, Marquesan, and Maori) and are working at the park to subsidize their schooling at the university.

We took a bus tour from Waikiki to the PCC (on the North Shore), which took about an hour and passed through the mountains and past some beautiful ocean views. Our ticket package included a Luau dinner and the Horizons evening show. There are many ticket options and packages available - the best bet is to check out the PCC's very informative website at http://www.polynesia.com.

Due to the late departure of our tour, we were only able to spend about 3 hours visiting all the villages and attending some of the cultural presentations that go on every hour. We saw the New Zealand presentation (which was about the Maori way of life and included song and dance, even the well-known haka performed by the All Black Rugby team), the Fiji presentation (about tribal Fijian village life, which included song and dance as well), and the Marquesas presentation (including a mock pig hunt and song and dance about the creation of the Marquesan Islands). To truly enjoy all of the villages and presentations, you'll require 5 to 6 hours, but it is definitely worth it.

At 5pm, it was time for the Luau – yes, the typical Hawaiian feast. We arrived and immediate got leid - with orchids, natch. Then it was on to the food and entertainment. Of course, because the PCC is run by Mormons, no alcohol (or even caffeinated beverages) is allowed, so it was decaf pop and Gatorade for everyone. The meal itself was fairly traditional and featured roasted pig and some small samples of some more ‘interesting’ Hawaiian dishes. During dinner, there was traditional Hawaiian songs and hula dancing. Overall, the Luau was good, but not excellent - not a "don't miss" experience.

After the Luau, we made our way over to the amphitheatre for the "Horizons" evening show – a 90-minute tribute to the Polynesian cultures represented at the PCC. Horizons showcases the music and dance of the various Polynesian cultures (including a spectacular finale featuring Hawaiian fire dancers!), and we thought it was excellent and thoroughly entertaining. Definitely worth the additional cost!

Overall, the Polynesian Cultural Center was an excellent way to spend the day, great for couples or families, and a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the warm, friendly, and beautiful Polynesian people.

Waikiki Beach is truly beautiful...and truly overrun with tourists; however, it is still worth spending some time enjoying the fantastic ocean view and taking it one of the spectacular sunsets.

We spent a few hours on the beach during the afternoons: getting a little bit of sun, enjoying the view of Diamond Head, and watching the surfers catch waves. While it can feel cramped and crowded on the beach at times, there are many amenities available and lots of opportunities for eating and shopping close by. A stroll down Kalakaua Avenue (which runs parallel to the beach) will turn up many surf shops, restaurants, boutiques, and interesting places to take a break from the heat of a sunny afternoon.

As with any popular tourist destination (and it seems especially those that involve beaches), there are lots of people around willing to part you and your money. We got taken in by a couple of young guys and their colourful parrots. They insisted on taking our photo with the birds (with our own camera) in various poses and then, of course, required that we provide them with a "donation" to keep the birds happy and healthy. Eventually, we just gave in, too tired to deal with a confrontation that day.

Our best experience on the beach was taking in one of the famous Waikiki Beach sunsets. After dinner, we strolled along the beach, stopping at a not-too-crowded spot and watching as the sun slowly lowered and then dipped below the horizon. The sunset bathed the beach in colour, from orange to red to purple, and was a fitting ending to a wonderful day. Our best advice is to get there early, before the sun begins to set, to ensure you get a good viewing spot - it does tend to get pretty crowded, but you can always pretend it's just the two of you.