What are the best things to do in Honolulu?|171830

My fiance and I are going to Hawaii in June for our Honeymoon. We will stay 4 days in Honolulu and 3 days in Kauai. We are wanting to see and do a lot, especially in Honolulu. Does anyone have any tips or thoughts on the best things to do and see?

Wow, this is the longest answer I_ve ever done!!

I am assuming you already have a tour book that lists the main stuff (Waimea Canyon on Kauai, Iolani Palace, Pearl Harbor, surfing lessons, etc.) so I won_t:

* There are a lot of romantic restaurants in Oahu. The Hau Tree Lanai, on a terrace right on Sans Souci Beach (a quiet part of Waikiki) is outside seating under some Hau Trees. Reserve right before sunset to watch the sun go down and the surfers come in. For a busy Waikiki Beach experience, people always like Duke_s. The most beautiful _Bali Hai / South Seas_ tropical view to cuddle up close about is on the windward side of the island, in Kaneohe called Haleiwa Joe_s. The view is spectacularly gorgeous as the food is spectacularly average but with the view who cares? They have music. Go early, as the garden they overlook, Haiku Garden is famous, in fact a lot of local weddings there. For breakfast, go to the Plumeria Restaurant at the Kahala Resort....ahhhh. The locals all go to John Dominis when they have a special occasion. Smooth, seamless restaurant but I like it because it is the only time I_ve ever seen the famous foot-long centipedes we have here in the islands...I saw it in front of the lobby (nobody wanted to catch it and take it out...). Roy_s and Alan Wong_s are the top two local-food chefs in the islands, both restaurants are amazing. Alan Wong_s is also amazing $$$$$-wise.

http://www.haleiwajoes.com/111111_hjoes_��


http://www.johndominis.com/


* Walk down Mauna Kea Street in Honolulu_s Chinatown. Huge number of small florists that make flower leis are there. You can buy a hand-made work of flower art for $5 to $10 (some are amazing!). How wonderful to give each other an orchid or plumeria lei! I like Cindy_s Lei Shop.

http://www.cindysleishoppe.com/


* If you want to see a decent hula dancer, Kanoe Miller at the House Without A Key at the Halekulani Hotel (the top hotel in Oahu) is the most consistent dancer, the food is above average, great atmosphere right out of the 1940_s. Locals call this ambience the _Territorial_ era, before Hawaii was a state.

http://www.halekulani.com/dining/house_w��


* If you are thinking about having your fiance buy you a nice Hawaiian style keepsake jjewelery not too expensive, the local jeweler (many locations) is Na Hoku. Then at least you know it is legitimate. Avoid the Black Coral, Maui Divers and Tahitian Black Pearl shops, they are a rip-off I think.

http://www.nahoku.com/NaHoku/Home


* June 5-7 is the Matsuri Festival in Honolulu. There are a lot of ties between Japan and Hawaii (18% of locals are Japanese in fact).

* There are a lot of Vegas-style shows on Waikiki, they are all entertaining. But if you want to see local _Hawaiian_ music talent, go to Chai_s Island Bistro in the Aloha Tower. They have the top names in the islands in an intimate setting. If the dinner price is too high, go for drinks.

http://www.chaisislandbistro.com/


* The Iuaus are not-so-great nowadays. However, the show at the Polynesian Cultural Center is probably the most entertaining and informative. It is run by the Mormon Church so no drinks if that is important to you. I_m pretty sure you can still buy a ticket for just the show if you don_t want to see the exhibits of the different South Sea islands.

* Do you like to hike? Diamond Head is actually a round crater (doesn_t look like it from Waikiki) and you can hike from the inside to the highest point above Waikiki. It is hot and dry (tradewinds are blocked on the inside of the crater, ugh) but the view is amazing...worth a kiss or hug at least when you get there! If you are willing to put up with the mud, hike to a tropical jungle waterfall and pool, such as Manoa Falls (I always recommend this) in back of Honolulu in Manoa Valley...wear very strong flip-flops (cheap ones will break and it won_t be fun walking through the jungle without shoes) or Tevas. Bamboo forests, giant ferns and orchids on the way.

* Drive up to the overlook in back of central downtown Honolulu on the Nuuani Pali Highway to the windward side. It is called Nuuani Pali Point, and is considered to be one of the most beautiful vistas in Hawaii. If the tradewinds are blowing (which is usually the case) the wind funnels through the valley with spectacular wind speeds here.

* I_m sure you will snorkel at the two top spots Hanauma Bay National Preserve (GO EARLY or water gets cloudy and parking spots difficult) and Shark_s Cove on North Shore, but rent a car and go to beautiful Kailua or Lanikai Beach, both on the windward side.

* When you go to see Pearl Harbor, as exciting as the memorial is the perfectly-preserved WWII submarine on the grounds, don_t miss it! It is amazing how small it is inside, and you wonder how they stayed under the water in it for so long!

On Kauai:

* Absolutely you should go to Ke_e (or Ki_i) Beach near Hanalei/Princeville, the spot they filmed the beach love scene in the Thorn Birds. You can (theoretically) hike along the Na Pali Coast from here, but it will be more fun to take a zodiac inflated boat tour over here to see the sea caves, waterfalls that drop into the ocean.

* You should have the local _asian noodle_ dish in the islands. A mix of chinese, japanese and hawaiian. It is called _saimin_. Go to Hamura_s Saimin in Lihue, eat at their counter, it_s a fun _dive_ you will enjoy.

While in Honolulu take her to Dillingham on the North Shore of the Island. You can get a bus from Honolulu for $2. There is a small airfield at Dillingham where you could fly a glider (With a qualified instructor). If you get bored with that the just across the street, literally, you have some of the best surf in the world.

I don_t have a URL but for sure Google will find it

Have fun

Ian M.

1. surf
2. climb diamond head
3. meet people
4. stay up all night and watch the sunrise on the beach

Sex ?