Air Force Exercise in Hawaii

Overall, my favorite parts of Hawaii included Ken's House of Pancakes in Hilo, the swap meet outside of the Aloha Bowl, Pearl Harbor, and Waikiki Beach.

Quick Tips:

For military folks, there are great discounts to be had. Check out the Tickets and Tours office on Hickam AFB. We got 2-for-1 tickets at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Also, do your souvenir shopping at the swap meet near the Aloha Bowl and at the Naval Exchange (for military members rather than purchasing them at the tourist traps near Waikiki Beach. For military members, you can stay at Hickam in billeting for less than per night, or if you want something more luxurious, the Hale Koa or Bellows has great rates.

Best Way To Get Around:

We found the best way to get around was to rent a car (make sure to get your military discount) and split the cost, and then drive to where you want to go. If you want to shop in Waikiki, park across the street from the Hale Koa military resort. Very affordable parking rates for military members, and close to shopping and the beach.

The lodging at Hickam is your basic military fare. The base is fairly old, and the billeting hasn't been updated in several years, so don't expect luxurious accommodations, but it's clean and comfortable.

Ken's House of Pancakes is great! It's your basic American fare with a Hawaiian twist. They have all kinds of different Hawaiian-themed syrups (coconut, pineapple, mango, etc.) to put on your pancakes.

Like many other traveling to Hawaii, before I went, I read a lot of reviews from other travelers regarding the Polynesian Cultural Center(PCC). Several of the reviews I found made the PCC seem overpriced and overhyped, so I was a little concerned about going. Nevertheless, we decided to go anyway, and we didn't regret it. It met all of our expectations! We were in Hawaii for a military deployment exercise, and only had a couple of days to spend there. Therefore, the PCC was a great overview of the Polynesian culture for us. Is it overpriced? Perhaps. It is expensive, particularly if you're traveling with a family. For military members, I recommend checking out the Tickets and Tours office at one of the various military installations (we went to the one at Hickam AFB) prior to going. When we went in February, they were running a special. We attended the luau plus the evening show. (This meant that we were able to get in the door at around 4:00 p.m., which left us an hour or two to look around before dinner.) Our discounted ticket ran about $50/person, but while they were running the special, it was "buy one ticket, get one free." So, we felt that we got a great deal. So, is it overhyped? Again, maybe. We came knowing very little about the Polynesian culture, and we thoroughly enjoyed getting to see the various "islands" represented there at the PCC. Is it touristy? DEFINITELY! But, worthwhile? Also, I'd say definitely! The evening show is superb, and they really do a great job. Unless you're really impressed with the show and want to buy a DVD of the performance, I wouldn't buy souvenirs here. They are overpriced, and we found a lot of the same stuff for less than half the price at the swap meet, located over by the Aloha Bowl. I was most impressed that the show was so family-oriented and family friendly. You can take anyone here of any age group and not feel embarrassed. We felt that the employees and performers were extremely gracious and friendly, and we'd definitely go back again.

Pearl Harbor…what can you say about it that hasn't already been said? It's a moving experience, especially for those of us in the military. I visited the USS Arizona with four other military members. We were all touched by the film they show you when you arrive. It's been done from both a U.S. and a Japanese standpoint, and it's moving and informational, all at the same time. When you go out on the water and actually into the memorial itself, you feel a real appreciation and respect for those fallen seamen down below you. I found myself imagining how life must've been that day, and how grateful I am that they were there that day to defend our nation. In my opinion, it's a museum that all Americans should make an effort to see. Very worthwhile.

Like any tourist trap, Hawaii souvenirs can be very overpriced. Before buying souvenirs at a shop, my recommendation is to go to the swap meet, located near the Aloha Bowl. To my recollection, the swap meet is open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. It's an "open air" type market, and is located in the parking lot of the Aloha Bowl, which is in close proximity to Pearl Habor and Hickam AFB. You'll have to filter through the junk to find the treasures, but there really is a lot of great stuff to be had. We found everything from clothing to jewelry to fresh produce there - all at reasonable prices. The produce included fresh pineapples, mangoes, papayas and coconuts. We found a lot of beautiful Hawaiian jewelry (in silver and gold) as well as items made out of local coral and jade. Be sure to bring some cash, however. While some retailers do take credit cards, for most, it's a "cash and carry" business.

In March I attended PACJOLE, a military deployment exercise for Air Force and Army JAGs and paralegals. We were based at a remote location on the big island of Hawaii, where we underwent various training to simulate being deployed in an austere location. The most amazing thing about it was staying in these old WWII Army bunkers. Hardly anything has been improved since those days, and it was interesting to think of those who came before us back in the 40s and what life there must have been like back then.