Jo
05-17-2006, 09:11 PM
These are things to do that don't cost alot of money:
Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel~They have dolphins in their lagoons that you can visit. It's free to walk the grounds of the this beautiful hotel, you do have to pay for parking. Many celebrities (Lost stars) stay here. http://www.besthotelsresorts.com/kahalamandarinoriental.htm
Hula Show downtown Waikiki near the Duke Statue~ Every night around 6:00 on the beachfront-FREE
Swimming with the sea turtles~ Go to the North Shore through Haliewa and towards Kaneohe on the Kamehameha. There is a road that is called Pohaku Loa Way. Park somewhere near there and walk to the beachfront, there are huge sea turtles there that you can swim with. They even come out to bask in the sun. :) http://starbulletin.com/2005/08/14/news/story1.html
Ko'olina Hotel and lagoons~ There are lagoons at the Ko'olina hotels that are open to the public. They are beautiful and a fun place to hang out for the day. I believe there are 5 lagoons now.
http://www.hawaiiweb.com/oahu/beaches/koolina_lagoons.htm
The Punchbowl Cemetery~This is a beautiful cemetery that is on a mountainside inside a crater overlooking Waikiki. It is off the Pali and has signs that direct you up the hillside. We usually go here after visiting the Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri.
http://www.cem.va.gov/nchp/nmcp.htm
USS Missouri and the USS Arizona~Something not to miss. Here is the info on it. http://www.nps.gov/usar/
Pali Lookout~This is a lookout that you can see from Kaneohe to Lanikai beaches. It's soooo beautiful. Do this the same day that you to the Punchbowl Cemetery because it's only about 5 miles up the Pali headed toward the windward side.
Dole Plantation~It's fun to make a quick stop here. They have a gift shop and wonderful icecream!!!
Hale Koa Hotel~You can swim and hang out here all day. If you aren't a hotel guest and have a military ID card (you can bring guests) you are able to get in. Bring towels and sunscreen. I usually planned a whole day down here.
Hilton Hawaiian Villiage~It's fun to walk through here and see all the fish, birds and penguins. There are warm weather penguins that live there. FREE
Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens~ at Kaneohe has a catch and release fishing program. Family fishing day will be allowed every weekend from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants can fish for tilapia and release their catch back into the park's stream. Families should bring hand-held poles, small barbless hooks, bait, buckets, walking shoes, insect repellent, light rain gear and a picnic lunch. If you don't have poles, you can get a bamboo pole there.
Parking, restrooms and drinking water are available at the visitor center, about a 20-minute walk from the fishing area. For more information, call 233-7323. The event is free.
Paradise Cove Luau is the best luau on the island. Check with ITT for ticket prices. We always sat in the Royal box and it was worth it to spend the extra money. :) TRUST ME-we've only been about 10 times. :giggle
Lanikai Beach~One of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Drive to Lanikai and go around the Lanikai loop and find a place to park and walk up beach access.
Haunauma Bay~BEST SNORKELING PLACE WITH BATHROOMS! Take something to prove that you are a resident and you can get in for free. It's about $5.00 for anyone else. Get there early to get parking. After leaving Haunuama take a right out of the parking area and drive to see the BLOW HOLE. It's a piece of lava rock that has a hole in it, the sea then crashes into the lava from underneath and shoots out the top of the rock.
Aloha Towers~It's a fun little shopping center and you can go to the top of the towers to view all of downtown!
Childrens Discover Center~This is sooo much fun for the kids. It's relatively inexpensive and I always packed a lunch and we had a picnic on the beach across the parking lot. Here is the info: http://www.discoverycenterhawaii.org/pages/geninfo/general.htm
Honolulu Zoo~http://www.honoluluzoo.org/
That is all I can think of for right now...I'll add more as I remember them!!
Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel~They have dolphins in their lagoons that you can visit. It's free to walk the grounds of the this beautiful hotel, you do have to pay for parking. Many celebrities (Lost stars) stay here. http://www.besthotelsresorts.com/kahalamandarinoriental.htm
Hula Show downtown Waikiki near the Duke Statue~ Every night around 6:00 on the beachfront-FREE
Swimming with the sea turtles~ Go to the North Shore through Haliewa and towards Kaneohe on the Kamehameha. There is a road that is called Pohaku Loa Way. Park somewhere near there and walk to the beachfront, there are huge sea turtles there that you can swim with. They even come out to bask in the sun. :) http://starbulletin.com/2005/08/14/news/story1.html
Ko'olina Hotel and lagoons~ There are lagoons at the Ko'olina hotels that are open to the public. They are beautiful and a fun place to hang out for the day. I believe there are 5 lagoons now.
http://www.hawaiiweb.com/oahu/beaches/koolina_lagoons.htm
The Punchbowl Cemetery~This is a beautiful cemetery that is on a mountainside inside a crater overlooking Waikiki. It is off the Pali and has signs that direct you up the hillside. We usually go here after visiting the Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri.
http://www.cem.va.gov/nchp/nmcp.htm
USS Missouri and the USS Arizona~Something not to miss. Here is the info on it. http://www.nps.gov/usar/
Pali Lookout~This is a lookout that you can see from Kaneohe to Lanikai beaches. It's soooo beautiful. Do this the same day that you to the Punchbowl Cemetery because it's only about 5 miles up the Pali headed toward the windward side.
Dole Plantation~It's fun to make a quick stop here. They have a gift shop and wonderful icecream!!!
Hale Koa Hotel~You can swim and hang out here all day. If you aren't a hotel guest and have a military ID card (you can bring guests) you are able to get in. Bring towels and sunscreen. I usually planned a whole day down here.
Hilton Hawaiian Villiage~It's fun to walk through here and see all the fish, birds and penguins. There are warm weather penguins that live there. FREE
Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens~ at Kaneohe has a catch and release fishing program. Family fishing day will be allowed every weekend from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants can fish for tilapia and release their catch back into the park's stream. Families should bring hand-held poles, small barbless hooks, bait, buckets, walking shoes, insect repellent, light rain gear and a picnic lunch. If you don't have poles, you can get a bamboo pole there.
Parking, restrooms and drinking water are available at the visitor center, about a 20-minute walk from the fishing area. For more information, call 233-7323. The event is free.
Paradise Cove Luau is the best luau on the island. Check with ITT for ticket prices. We always sat in the Royal box and it was worth it to spend the extra money. :) TRUST ME-we've only been about 10 times. :giggle
Lanikai Beach~One of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Drive to Lanikai and go around the Lanikai loop and find a place to park and walk up beach access.
Haunauma Bay~BEST SNORKELING PLACE WITH BATHROOMS! Take something to prove that you are a resident and you can get in for free. It's about $5.00 for anyone else. Get there early to get parking. After leaving Haunuama take a right out of the parking area and drive to see the BLOW HOLE. It's a piece of lava rock that has a hole in it, the sea then crashes into the lava from underneath and shoots out the top of the rock.
Aloha Towers~It's a fun little shopping center and you can go to the top of the towers to view all of downtown!
Childrens Discover Center~This is sooo much fun for the kids. It's relatively inexpensive and I always packed a lunch and we had a picnic on the beach across the parking lot. Here is the info: http://www.discoverycenterhawaii.org/pages/geninfo/general.htm
Honolulu Zoo~http://www.honoluluzoo.org/
That is all I can think of for right now...I'll add more as I remember them!!