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February 13, 2006 6:56 AM   Subscribe

TravelFilter: Heading to Hawaii Feb 17-24, what should I do that most likely isn't mentioned in any travel guide or website?
posted by Clementines4ever to Travel & Transportation around Hawaii (15 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
What island?
posted by tkolar at 8:06 AM on February 13, 2006


There's been quite a few Hawaii threads, almost all asking for travel advice. Click on the 'hawaii' tag.
posted by smackfu at 8:11 AM on February 13, 2006


I was just there and can give you lots of tips, but please tell me which island(s) you'll be on.
posted by Dr. Wu at 8:14 AM on February 13, 2006


I'm a resident, and with some info could possibly present a few ideas.
posted by scottymac at 8:46 AM on February 13, 2006


Based on the tags, the poster is going to Honolulu and is looking for chicks and sunshine.
posted by barnone at 8:55 AM on February 13, 2006


Response by poster: What island?

If there is something out of the ordinary on any one of them, I'll fly intrastate, but mainly Oahu.
posted by Clementines4ever at 9:13 AM on February 13, 2006


Is there anything on the islands that is so remote that it won't be listed somewhere?

As for some less traditional things, I enjoyed wandering around downtown Honolulu looking at the architecture of the state legislature building and the royal palace. The later had a nice tour and film.
posted by mmascolino at 1:22 PM on February 13, 2006


Ah... Chicks and sunshine...

Well, this is unlikely to be mentioned in most travel books: Waikiki has the best-looking street prostitutes I've ever seen. I swear to god, they look like models. I'm in no position to give you any more details on this particular subject, however.
posted by mr_roboto at 1:31 PM on February 13, 2006


Waikiki has the best-looking street prostitutes I've ever seen. I swear to god, they look like models. I'm in no position to give you any more details on this particular subject, however.
Um, yeah, there's a reason for that.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 2:28 PM on February 13, 2006


Go to the Big Island and see the volcano. You'll be glad you did.
posted by Afroblanco at 5:13 PM on February 13, 2006


Outside of Waikiki beach, and maybe the Kona coast of the Big Island and the Lahaina side of Maui (to a lesser extent), Hawaii is nearly devoid of tourists. I mean, they're around, and there are hotels and stuff, but it's not as jam-packed as I thought it'd be.

I agree, check the other threads for fun stuff to do. But if you're looking for drinking and girls and laying in the sand with a beer in your hand, then Waikik beach is the only way to go. Diamond head is nice, but going up the crater was only meh. Kinda fun walk and a nice view at the top. But skippable, IMO. The in-water attractions like snorkeling and sea-life and surfing and windsurfing (maui) and bodyboarding and beaching are amazing though. Have fun!
posted by zpousman at 5:46 PM on February 13, 2006


Sorry for the delay between responses - busy day.

I must say that more or less anything I could tell you is in those other threads. But I will, here, urge you to get off of Oahu and explore Maui, Molokai, and Kauai (haven't been to Lanai, and it's been a long time since I was on the Big Island). Though the North Shore of Oahu is great, the rest of it, especially Waikiki, gets very old very fast. I loved Molokai the best - very quiet, very slow, and totally fascinating. The leper colony there, Kaluapapa, is not to be missed, but book your tickets early.
posted by Dr. Wu at 6:45 PM on February 13, 2006


sit on the beach at lanikai. snorkel at hanauma bay. the other islands definitely have more "out of the ordinary" stuff, but there are certainly lovely quiet parts of oahu as well.
posted by judith at 7:55 PM on February 13, 2006


The volcano on the Big Island is amazing. There's also a small mock-Polynesian village on the way from Kona-Kailua to the volcano that is pretty neat.

Also I think you can go cliff-diving in various places on the islands? If you're not afraid of heights, that is.

Or you could hang out on Kauai and keep a lookout for Evangeline Lilly and Yunjin Kim if it's babes in bikinis you want.

Ooof, this saddens me ... last time I went to Hawaii (and did the first two things I mention), I was all of nine years old. Which is also why I can't give you more specific info.
posted by anjamu at 8:51 PM on February 13, 2006


Best answer: -Rent a kayak with a buddy and launch it off Kailua beach and paddle out to the Mokulua islands. Definitely bring good shoes to hike around in, and snacks to munch on. The island on your left is a relatively easy land, but as it gets shallow the waves come from the channel between the two islands and the opposite side of the island coming together and making a big wave explosion. You'll likely tip, but it's fun.

-Go to Sandy's beach and get smashed by the huge shore break. Don't do this if you have females in tow.

-See a waterfall. I recommend buying The Hikers Guide to Oahu by Stuart Ball and choosing a hike from there. My favorites are Ka'au crater, Sacred falls, and there is a tiny double waterfall in a valley down the old pali highway. This is a really fun adventure if it is absolutely pouring rain (a safeguard against getting rained out on your vacation).

-Go eating and drinking outside of Waikiki. Be hesitant to spend money anywhere there are a lot of tourists. Think about it: what kind of product would you make if your business did not depend on the same people coming back?

-Don't go to another island unless you want to see the lava on the big island. O'ahu is an awesome place to meet people, do the same things you can do on the mainland with a more diverse set of people, and there are tons of gorgeous beaches and serene hikes to do as well.

-One of my favorite things to do is: put on a pair of polarized sunglasses and go to the southeastern corner of the island. Don't go there, but drive by there. At least once. When you are on Kalanianiole driving by Hawaii Kai looking at the beautiful ocean, and then all of a sudden the highway takes a severe left instead of continuing eastward, and you see the most stunning view of vast, open, crystal blue ocean, you'll know what I'm talking about.

-Go to the north shore and watch the big wave surfers. You may very well catch some of the biggest waves of the year.

-You can rock climb in Mokuleia after about a 25 minute hike from the road. Then you can come down and jump in the water and/or lay out by the beach after you've worn yourself out. Also another rock climbing site a small hike up from the Makapu'u lookout.

-If you want chicks, hang out in Waikiki. Don't hit on locals, stick to touristy white/japanese looking girls. Lots of locals with chips on their shoulder like to go to Waikiki and yell at tourists. No serious surfer goes there because of the crowds for lame waves, ridiculous prices, and tourists get really irritating really fast, so if you find an angry guy/boyfriend they are up to no good.

-Also, don't buy weed. Especially in Waikiki.

-Drive around Diamondhead, Kailua, and other super-rich residential areas near the water and look at the awesome houses.

-Touristy, but probably worthwhile: Polynesian cultural center. Sea life park. Hanauma Bay.

-Have you ever had a plate lunch? Haha, try one, it's fun. Keneke's in Waimanalo is good, but there have to be a hundred places to get one that are much closer.

Try to do at least one "thing" a day. Do NOT overdo it, you are here to relax. Also, don't fall into the routine of drinking at the same spot every night and going to the same beach every day. Have fun.
posted by GooseOnTheLoose at 9:25 PM on February 13, 2006 [1 favorite]


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