Spotlight: The Island of O'ahu, 73 miles southeast of Kaua'i, is the third largest island in the Hawaii chain (596.7 square miles - 1,545.4 km2), and 20th largest island in the United States. The name O'ahu supposedly means "the Gathering Place" - somewhat appropriate for the most populous island in the chain. The island's population in 2020 was 1,016,494 - accounting for approximately 70% of the total population in Hawaii. Over 80% of the island's residence live in or around the state capital, Honolulu, which is located on the southern coast of the island. Modern analyses indicate that the first settlers probably arrived around 900–1200 A.D., from either the Marquesas and/or Tahiti. The first great king of O'ahu was was Maʻilikūkahi, the lawmaker, who initiated a 304-year dynasty of monarchs. On January 19, 1778, O'ahu was the first Hawaiian island sighted by English Captain James Cook, during his third voyage of discovery, but Cook bypassed the island before landing at Kauai. The islands were in the midst of a tumultuous war between rival chiefdoms vying for control of the islands. The islands were not fully unified until 1810. As trade with foreign nations grew, the city of Honolulu, with its ideal harbor, grew in importance until it was made the nation's capital in 1845 by King Kamehameha III. 'Iolani Palace was built there as a modern residence (the only royal palace still standing on American soil). In 1893, a group of American businessmen, aided by U.S. Marines, led a successful insurrection against the monarchy, establishing the Republic of Hawaii. They eventually succeeded in lobbying the U.S. government for annexation. The islands, and particularly Pearl Harbor, became a key military outpost for the United States, and were the target of a Japanese attack on Dec. 7, 1941, which led to an official declaration of war by Franklin D. Roosevelt against both Japan and Germany to cement the nation's involvement in World War II. Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States on Aug. 21, 1959.
Waikiki & Diamondhead
Activities: The Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) is a cultural theme park with a variety of different activities for visitors of all ages. The main attraction are the shows performed at the different "islands." The main portion of the park is divided into six "islands of Polynesia": Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, Fiji, Aotearoa and Hawai'i. Each island has a variety of activities, displays and shows (performed several times daily between 12:30-5:30). I recommend planning out your itinerary beforehand to hit as many of the shows as you can since they are very entertaining and give you an appreciation of some of the unique cultural differences from one island to another. In addition to the shows, each island has activities to try. You can "play ancient games, dance with grace, learn how to fish without a net, and sample poi" in Hawaii; "Learn the significance of Maori tattoos, test your dexterity by playing with twirling poi balls, and watch the Maori warrior dance known as, 'the Haka'” in Aotearoa; practice pounding on a derua (bamboo stick), learn how to make coconut oil, and get a temporary tattoo in Fiji; learn how to start a fire with two sticks, learn how to twirl a fire knife, or crack open a coconut with a rock in Samoa; sample coconut bread and fish with a primitive pole in Tahiti; or throw a spear and paddle a canoe in Tonga. After the island shows, there are several different dinner options, including a full-scale Lu'au with the accompanying show. The Breath of Life evening show is a "Pacific isle saga of birth and death, love and family, tragedy and triumph" told with dance, music and blazing fire knives. The Center is also home to the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, featuring players such as: Offensive Lineman Al Lolotai (the first Polynesian to play in the NFL), College Football HOF “Squirmin” Herman Wedemeyer, Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Marcus Mariota, Pro Football HOF Junior Seau, and other greats - Kevin Mawae, Kurt Gouveia, Jesse Sapolu, Jack “The Throwin’ Samoan” Thompson, Troy Polomalu and Olin Kreutz. The Hukilau Marketplace offers a variety of Polynesian food, clothing, jewelry and other souvenirs.
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| Welcome to the PCC |
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| Coconut show on Samoa |
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| Fire Knife show |
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| Canoe Ride in Tonga |
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| Music show |
Location: The park is located on the north-eastern side of the island. The address is 55-370 Kamehameha Hwy; La'ie. Transportation is available from Waikiki via Motor coach for about $28 per person. See site for details: https://www.polynesia.com/packages
Hours: The Polynesian Cultural Center is open from noon to 9:00 pm, but is closed on Sundays and Wednesdays. It is also closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Cost: There are several different packages available, depending on what type of experience that you are looking for: https://www.polynesia.com/packages. They range from $95-$294 for adults and $76-$235 for children (age 4-11). Children under 4 are free.
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| Luau dinner show |
Things You Should Know:
- Although the PCC is only 35 miles north of Waikiki, it will take more than an hour to get there. There are only two major highways that connect Honolulu with the northern shore. One goes over the mountains, and the other winds around the coast, slowing down at every little village along the way. Even under the best conditions, don't plan on averaging more than 40 mph. A traffic accident can easily double your travel time so make sure that you allow plenty of time when travelling with a time deadline. On our first trip to Hawaii, we almost missed our plane home because of traffic.
- The Cultural Center also offers their Circle Island Tour, which takes you around the island to many historical and cultural sites including: Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, the Poli Lookout, the Dole plantation, several famous North Shore beaches, and the Hawaii LDS Temple.
Rating: 5 stars
Activities: Kualoa Ranch is a private nature reserve that is 4,000 acres, and is an active cattle ranch. It was once a sugar plantation. During WWII, the U.S. army built bunkers there and used it as a base and airfield. Recently, it has earned the nickname "Hollywood's Backlot of Hawaii." Some of the movies filmed there include: Jurassic Park (1993) Jurassic World (2015), Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), Mister Roberts (1955), In Harm's Way (1965), George of the Jungle (1997), Godzilla (2000), Pearl Harbor (2001), Windtalkers (2002), Fifty First Dates (2004), Soul Surfer (2011), Journey 2: the Mysterious Island (2012), Kong: Skull Island (2017), and Jumanji - Welcome to the Jungle (2018). Several TV shows have also been filmed there including: Hawaii Five-O, Magnum P.I., Lost, and E.R. Many of the props used in filming some of these movies (in particular the Jurassic Park movies) are displayed at the ranch and can be seen on the various tours. Some of the different tours offered at Kualoa Ranch include: the UTV Raptor Tour, the Movie Sites and Ranch Tour, the Jurassic Valley Zipline Tour, an Ocean Voyage Tour, an E-bike Tour, the Jungle Expedition Tour, a Horseback Walking Tour, the Jurassic Adventure Tour, and Secret Island Beach Activities. We did the ATV Raptor Tour (now the UTV Raptor Tour). We got to drive our own ATV jeep, following the leader, and got dirty from all the dust kicked up by the other vehicles. It was a lot of fun, an we saw several cool movie props, but honestly I was a bit disappointed. Since we were warned to stay with the group, we couldn't stop to take pictures unless the whole group stopped. We only stopped at 3 places where the guide gave us the history of the place we stopped. However, there were at least five other places where I would have liked to stop and take pictures. I hope they've changed it in favor of a little more freedom of movement. For more information on the various tours, visit their website: https://kualoa-ranch.tickets-hawaii.com
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| Dinosaur escape |
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| Driving the ATV |
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| Following the Leader into Jurassic World |
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| One of our 3 Stops on the Tour |
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| The King Kong set we couldn't explore |
Location: The park is located on the north-eastern side of the island. The address is 49-560 Kamehameha Highway, Kaneohe. Although there are no buses that go directly to Kualoa Ranch from Waikiki, you can make it via one transfer. First, travel to the Ala Moana Center. From there you board Bus #60 or 88A to reach the entrance to the ranch. Taking the bus from Waikiki will take from 1 1/2 - 2 hours, and cost approximately $3 for a one-way ticket.
Hours: The Ranch is open from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm daily. It is also closed on Christmas and New Year's Day. Most tours run between 90 min. and 3 hours.
Cost: The different tours range anywhere from $59.95/person to $184.95/person.
Things You Should Know:
- You are instructed to arrive 45 minutes prior to your tour time.
- Wear clothing that you don't mind getting dirty. Also, I would recommend wearing a hat, sunglasses and of course sunblock.
- Weekdays are less crowded than weekends, so you'll have a better chance at getting your preferred time slot. Tours often sell out weeks in advance during the peak season (June-August; mid-December to early January; March)
Rating: 4 stars
Activities: Pearl Harbor National Memorial honors the lives of the 2,400 Americans who were killed at Pearl Harbor due to the sneak attack by Japanese forces on Dec. 7, 1941, which sank 12 boats. The attack triggered the United States' entry into World War II, changing the course of history as the Allied forces rallied to defeat the overextended Axis forces of Germany and Japan. The National Memorial includes: the open-air Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, two museums, the USS Arizona Memorial, the USS Utah and USS Oklahoma Memorials on Ford Island, shipwrecks, submerged resources, and historic sites like Battleship Row and the Chief Petty Officer Bungalows.
The highlight of any tour is the USS Arizona Memorial Program. The Memorial, built in 1962, is a 184-foot "floating bridge" that is only accessible by the NPS boat. It doesn't touch the sunken battleship, but rather straddles it, offering different viewpoints of the sunken battleship. The central assembly room features seven large open windows to commemorate the date of the attack. There is an opening in the floor overlooking the sunken decks where visitors can pay their respects by tossing flowers in honor of the fallen sailors. The shrine at the far end is a marble wall that bears the names of all those killed on the Arizona. To the left of the main wall is a small plaque which bears the names of thirty crew members who survived the attack.
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| USS Arizona Memorial |
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| In Memory of... |
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| The remains of the USS Arizona |
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| Museum model of the Memorial |
Location: The Pearl Harbor Memorial Visitor Center is located at 1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu. Parking is $7/day, or you can take TheBus (Routes #20 or #42 for about $3.)
Hours: The Memorial is open from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm daily. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas and New Year's Day. Plan on spending about 4-7 hours at the Memorial.
Cost: Parking at the Pearl Harbor Memorial parking lot is $7. Entrance to the Memorial and the museums is free; however, it is recommended that you make reservations to secure a time slot. Be aware that if you wish to do the Pacific Historic Parks Pearl Harbor Audio Tour or the Virtual Reality Experiences, these do cost extra.
Things You Should Know:
- No reservations or tickets are required to enter the Memorial, the Visitors Center or the museums. However, you are strongly recommended to make reservations ahead of time to participate in the USS Arizona Memorial Program. You are asked to arrive 1 hour prior to your scheduled time (but there is plenty to see while you wait). Check in at the Memorial Theater validation desk 10 minutes before your reserved program time. Since the Program can only accommodate a set number of visitors, those without reservations will need to put their names on the standby waitlist and hope that there's an opening. Reservations are required to go on the Ford Island Bus Tour, which makes stops at the USS Utah and USS Oklahoma Memorials. Reservations can be made at Recreation.gov.
- The Memorial enforces a strict no-bag policy for items that offer concealment, including: purses, handbags, backpacks, fanny packs, camera bags, diaper bags, luggage, etc., exceeding the dimensions of 1.5" x 2.25" x 5.5". There are lockers nearby where you can store the items, but there is a fee to use them.
- The VR Experience has three possible adventures, including "Walking the Deck of the USS Arizona Before the Attack" and "Witness the Attack on Battleship Row."
- Despite their proximity to the Pearl Harbor Memorial, the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum (aboard the World War II fleet submarine USS Bowfin SS-287), Battleship Missouri, and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum are privately owned, and thus not run by the National Parks service. If you wish to visit these sites, you will need to visit their websites for details on hours and prices.
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| Battleship Missouri |
- "The Pearl Harbor National Memorial is a site of significant loss and serves as the final resting place for hundreds. It is a space for remembrance and reflection. Appropriate dress and conduct are recommended to honor the solemn nature of the site." (NPS website)
- The Pearl Harbor Historic Site shuttle is free, and operates from the Visitors Center.
- Although some of the facilities are indoors, much of the Memorial is outdoors, so make sure you wear a hat, sunglasses and sunblock.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Activities: The Byodo-In Temple is a Buddhist temple located in Valley of the Temples Memorial Park on Oahu. The temple is a replica of the 900-year old Buddhist temple in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture on Japan - which is a United Nations World Heritage Site. The temple was dedicated in 1968 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. The Byodo-In is not a functioning temple since it doesn't host a resident monastic community, nor does it have an active congregation. However, it is a quiet place of reflection and worship for thousands of tourists who visit it from around the world. Inside the temple is an 18-foot statue of the Lotus Buddha, a wooden image of Amitabha, covered in gold and lacquer. Outside the temple is a three-ton brass peace bell that visitors can ring with a large wooden beam. Surrounding the temple are large koi ponds (covering 2 acres), and beautiful Japanese gardens where several different fowl nest, including swans.
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| Feeding the koi |
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| Ringing the bell |
Location: The temple is located on the south-eastern side of the island. The address is 47-200 Kahekili Highway, Kaneohe.
Hours: The temple is open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm daily. It is occasionally closed for special events, so check ahead of time. Most visitors spend between 60-90 minutes.
Cost: General Admission is $10/adult, $8/senior (65+), and $6/child (2-12). Parking is $6/hour.
Things You Should Know:
- Do not wear beach attire. Remember that this is a place of meditation. The following activities are prohibited: running, yelling, throwing things, climbing trees, bothering wildlife, or anything else that would detract from those who are seeking tranquility.
- Feeding fish is permitted, but only food purchased from the temple gift shop.
- Pets are not allowed except for service animals.
Rating: 4 stars
Activities: The Waikiki Submarine Tour is conducted by Atlantis Submarine Adventures aboard the Atlantis XIV - "the world's largest hi-tech passenger submarine." To board the sub, you first take a shuttle boat out into the harbor, where you witness the submarine rise from the depths and open its hatch to allow its passengers to transfer from the boat to the eco-friendly, battery-powered submarine. Once aboard, you head out to explore the ocean floor at a depth of about 100 feet. At first, the fish are few and far between, and you wonder whether or not you've wasted your money. However, when you arrive at a few shipwrecks, you find schools of tropical fish swimming in and around the wrecks. You will also see the occasional sea turtle or shark gliding around the artificial reefs created by ships and even an airplane.
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| The sub surfacing from the depths |
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| Entering the sub |
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| Inside the sub |
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| Fish exploring the wreck |
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| Sea turtle |
Location: Atlantis Submarines Waikiki, 150 Paoa Pl, Honolulu, HI 96815 (drop-off location - no parking); Tours depart from the Hilton Hawaiian Village pier, 2005 Kalia Rd., Honolulu, HI, 95815 - (Parking available for $4 that is valid for 4 hours from the time you park your vehicle with a discounted validation sticker card that can be obtained through Atlantis Submarine Adventures (see website for details - https://book.atlantisadventures.com/details/151625/atlantis-submarine-tour-in-waikiki. This validation sticker card is for the self-parking garage only. Normal parking fees are $15 per hour for the first hour and $10 per hour after.)
Hours: Tours are available on the hour from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm daily; but is usually closed on Wednesdays. Most tours run for 90 minutes (which includes the shuttle boat ride out to the sub). Guests should check in 30 minutes prior to departure.
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| Hilton Hawaiian Village Pier |
Things You Should Know:
- There is no parking at the drop-off location; however there is parking at the Hilton Hawaiian Village pier (the departure site). See above (Location) for details.
- Children must be at least 36 inches (3 feet) tall to ride.
- Guests should check in 30 minutes prior to departure.
- There are no restrooms on the submarine or tender boat.
Rating: 4 stars
Nearby: - Diamond Head State Monument is located 3 miles southeast of Waikiki. This is a popular 1.6 mile round trip hike that takes you to the top of Diamond Head Crater - a 300,000 year old extinct volcano. The trail is fairly steep (560 feet of elevation gain), but is paved and offers panoramic views of Honolulu from above. The hike takes most people 60-90 minutes.
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| The top of Diamond Head |
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| View of Waikiki from the top |
- The Dole Plantation is located in the north central portion of the island, about 27 miles north of Waikiki. The plantation offers an informational train tour through the pineapple fields, the World's Largest Pineapple Garden Maze, and of course the famous Dole Whip frozen Pineapple treats.
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| The Dole Plantation |
- Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is located 10.4 miles east of Waikiki. This is probably the most famous place to go snorkeling, and was my #1 favorite activity on our first trip to Hawaii. Unfortunately, we couldn't fit it in on this trip. Another popular snorkeling spot is Shark's Cove on the north shore (39 miles north of Waikiki).
- The Pali Lookout is 9.6 miles northeast of Waikiki. This roadside stop offers breathtaking panoramic views of the sheer mountain cliffs on one side and the beautiful windward coast on the other from an elevation of 1,200 feet.
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| View from the Pali Lookout |
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