A WEEK IN WAIKIKI
Henry Nowicki ...19 June 1998
In any event, the week might well start for a typical westbound visitor with a 2,400-mile, five-hour flight from the west coast and early arrival the first day in Honolulu. It's only seven miles from the international airport to Waikiki but a taxi will run upwards of $20 while shuttles can go for $6 and the city bus (no baggage) costs but $1. Probably the best arrangement involves renting an automobile for the week at $20/day and up.
Once ensconced in a suitable accommodation, the urge will probably be to head for the beach to start the tan and mingle with the hoi polloi. If you're not a water person, then a walk through Waikiki is in order to see what's there. In an hour or two you'll have an idea as to where you will probably want to eat, shop and purchase tickets for the multitude of attractions that will fill your days and nights. In fact, that is one of the strengths of Hawaii; ie, there are so many enjoyable activities readily available. For example, the week of June 10-17 saw two parades, one honoring King Kamehameha's birthday and the other an assemblage of Japanese fan clubs that practice Hawaiian dancing, singing, ukulele and Hawaiian guitar; a two-day Oceanfest ironman contest that featured running, swimming, kayak and paddleboard races with world class athletes;
a Pan-Pacific block party and the inauguration of the new Hawaii Convention Center, a state-of-the-art exhibition facility in Waikiki. It is of interest to note, however, that the new convention center wasn't configured adequately to host the 1998 Miss Universe contest held in Honolulu during the month of May!
Also during that week outrigger canoe paddlers were constantly practising their speed and endurance techniques on the colorful Ala Wai Canal that borders Waikiki to the north. Just about every form of outdoor exercise is visible in the Waikiki area - jogging, cycling, sailing, surfing, swimming, you name it. Truly, Hawaii is exercise heaven.
But let's say you that is not what you came for. You want to taste Hawaiian style ... from food to entertainment, from scenery to life styles, from tropical clothes to skimpy beach wear. It's all here. Incidentally, it's surprising how many people look good in swim wear in Waikiki these days. Maybe people are getting into shape much more than they give themselves credit for.
Budget Car Rental has an interesting arrangement whereby a few dozen coupons are provided with each rental for a variety of free activities without the need to purchase a second one at full or discounted value. In other words, this is good for the single traveler. Here is a list of the better attractions: 1. Polynesian Cultural Center, 2. Bishop Museum, 3. IMAX Theatre, 4. Kualoa Ranch Safari Tour, and 5. Mililani Golf Course.
Presuming you have a car then the second day might well be spent driving around the island.
A counterclockwise loop from Waikiki would lead east to Hawaii Kai and Hanauma Bay which is a delightful beach set in a breached crater that has fish eating out of your hand. A bit further past the blowhole and an interesting rocky shoreline is Sea Life Park, a recommended stop to see a number of aquarium and marine life exhibits to include a remarkable show of highly trained dolphins. Driving north brings one to Chinaman's Hat in the northernmost part of pretty Kaneohe Bay and a visit to the Kualoa Ranch might be in order. And still further up the windward coast is the highly regarded Polynesian Cultural Center which contains villages of Pacific island peoples from Fiji, Samoa, Marquesas Islands, Tahiti, Hawaii, New Zealand and Tonga. Their evening show is extraordinarily complete. However, if the evening show is attended then one might as well head directly back to Waikiki inasmuch as completing the drive north and then west to Haleiwa and back to Waikiki via the central valley will be in the dark ... not conducive to sightseeing at its best.
A third day might be spent at the beach or at a golf course inasmuch as there are quite a few courses on Oahu. Restaurants are plentiful and it might be nice to try as many as possible. As you might expect, there is a full range of prices with everything from fast food to gourmet in Waikiki. If golf is not high on your list, the day might be devoted to visiting the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, where shortly the battleship USS Missouri will be moored, followed by a drive to the Memorial Cemetary of the Pacific at Punchbowl just northeast of downtown Honolulu. An afternoon or sunset dinner cruise from Kewalo Basin or Aloha Tower, both near the downtown area, would serve as a nice change of pace. The Aloha Tower Marketplace and the Hawaii Maritime Center are in the same area and are both worth a visit.
A fourth day might be spent at the Bishop Museum with visits to the campus of the University of Hawaii and perhaps a drive up to Tantalus with its excellent views of the city and shoreline. A stop at the Ala Moana Shopping Center is enjoyable and most convenient. Of course, Waikiki abounds in shops of every description with a heavy emphasis upon world class goods.
A fifth day might be a bit more adventurous with the possibility of a glider or helicopter flight, a parachute jump or a submarine dive. If that sounds a little too much then maybe a surfing, windsurfing, boogieboard, snorkeling or scuba dive might be just the thing. Still too strenuous perhaps, then lounging at the beach or pool followed by some evening dancing might be adequate. In any event, you won't find yourself with nothing to do.
A sixth day might see you attending the IMAX Theatre offering which is excellent and will probably prep you for a return visit when you will see the outer islands and watch a volcano in action. This will also be the last day for shopping or getting that last exotic meal that you had your eye on. There is also an opportunity for a little more beach time and a picture or two. If you are like most visitors, you will want to catch a night flight back to the mainland and return home at a reasonable hour.
To supplement the above suggestions, one only has to consult the daily paper to see the events of the day then call for details. Send questions and comments to WaikikiWeb@webtv.net and, as always, the internet is loaded with information to make that next trip easier and most pleasant.
www.hshawaii.com/ovp/tourf4wk.html
www.city.net:80/countries/united_states/hawaii/honolulu/
www.tiac.net/biz/drmike/waikiki.shtml
www.search-hawaii.com/otcgi/lfscgi60
www.gohawaii.com/hokeo/school/report.html
www.co.honolulu.hi.us/events/
starbulletin.com/doit/index.html
www.alohatower.com/atm/index.html
usacitylink.com/citylink/hi.html
www.hotwired.com/rough/usa/hawaii/oahu/honolulu/city.html
The Tropics Shoreline
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