OAHU: The Gathering Place
Who should go: Those of you who want to relax, stroll the
beach at sunset, dine sumptuously, experience history, and don't
mind some company.
Pack: Sundresses, casual and fancier eveningwear,
golf (and
more golf) attire.
Minimum stay: Two days.
What you should know: Oahu offers the most recognizable and
accessible
Hawaii experience. Many visitors never leave the bounds
of Waikiki. What with a plethora of fine restaurants, plenty of
shopping, unending sunshine, and Diamond Head crater as the
backdrop to your photos, who needs to spend time in a rental car?
You do, because there's plenty of island to explore once you rouse
yourself from your lounge chair.
Military history buffs should visit
Pearl Harbor and the
USS
Arizona Memorial, as well as Punchbowl, the National Cemetery
of the Pacific. Downtown
Honolulu has its thriving
Chinatown, arts
district, and Aloha Tower Marketplace (great for lunch or happy
hour). Drive over the Pali Highway and you'll come to the sleepy,
sultry town of Kailua and beautiful Lanikai Beach, with the Moku
Lua Islands bobbing in the pure sea-green water.
Oahu's famous North Shore is worth visiting any time of year.
Arrive hungry at Kua'aina Burgers in the village of Haleiwa, then
follow it with "shave ice" at Matsumoto's across the street. Take
care when swimming at the North Shore, because even in the summer
when the surf is generally calmer, the ocean can exert its
dominance. An excellent spot to swim and sunbathe is Waimea Bay. If
you want to hear the drums beat and see the dancers sway, plus
learn about Pacific Island peoples, plan a day at the Polynesian
Cultural Center in Laie. Then, get your
okolehau back to
Waikiki; your sunset is waiting.
HAWAII: The Big Island