| Author |
 Topic  |
|
FROPPE
Akahai
USA
81 Posts |
 Posted - 01/27/2008 : 6:34:18 PM
|
Aloha, Everyone!
My wife and I will be coming to Oahu from February 26 until March 6, to celebrate our anniversary. We have explored most of the other islands, but have yet to spend any time on Oahu.
Fortunately, we will not be on a tight budget, and want to make this a special trip. Any suggestions as to places to stay and special music, dining, and other entertainment (is there anything else?) venues would be much appreciated.
I have already been told that she would like to do some shopping in Honolulu, and she fully expects me to visit the KoAloha factory, to see the birthplace of my very special Tenor Baby. We have also been informed that The Bus is a great way to get around in the big city.
We'll probably spend a few days in Honolulu, then the rest of the time on other parts of the island. Mahalo for any suggestions, and for any experiences, good or bad.
Aloha!
Ben Sterling (Froppe)
|
|
|
Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2008 : 8:41:05 PM
|
Call the Pacific Beach Hotel in Waikiki and ask when Benny Chong and Byron Yasui are playing. They have a regular gig at the restaurant on the second floor. Benny is a world class master of the 'ukulele, and Byron is an unbelievable bass player. As a team, they are truly extraordinary!
If you are looking for a great place to have breakfast. I can highly recommend "Eggs & Things". It is usually very crowded, and for a good reason: The food is great!
Ledward Kaapana plays at the "Kona Brewing Company" one night a week. It might be listed on his web site or on Mele.com.
"House Without A Key" at the Hale Kulani is well known for its sunset Hawaiian music, and they have great food and drinks.
Let me know if any of these tips come in helpful... My wife, Shirley, and I really enjoy trips over to Oahu, too.
Aloha,
-Konabob |
Konabob's Walkingbass - http://www.konawalkingbass.com
Taropatch Steel - http://www.konaweb.com/konabob/
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=Konabob2+Walkingbass |
 |
|
|
wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2008 : 11:54:13 PM
|
Aloha e Ben:
For dining out, I recommend Chai's Island Bistro at the Aloha Tower Marketplace. Chai's supports local music and when dining there you can experience the music of Bros. Cazimereo, Jerry Santos, Nathan Aweau, and who knows who else (check out their web site as it gets closer to see who he has scheduled). The music is fantastic and the grub is out of this world. It is a beautiful restaurant and is kind of high priced, but well worth it for a special occasion dinner.
Thursday nights, you can go to the Waikiki Marriott to see Aunty Genoa Keawe and her retinue. For free. Also at the Marriott on Sunday evenings is Martin Pahinui, George Kuo and Aaron Mahi. With both these shows, you never know who of their friends will drop in to play or dance hula.
Tiki's Lounge at the Resort Quest Waikiki Beach is a great restaurant (try the macadamia encrusted mahimahi or the Aloha Friday platter with laulau, lomi salmon, poke, poi and the lilikoi cheesecake). They have wonderful live musics both at breakfast and two different shows in the evening, one early about 6:00 and another about 8-ish. We have seen Na Kama, Ray Sowder and lots of other wonderful musicians.
Sunday afternoons you need to rent a car and go to the Ko`olau Golf Course to Honeys (down in the basement). Another excellent restaurant (order the bread pudding for dessert), with some of the best music ever. Eddie Kamae, Mike Ka`awa, Paul Kim, Analu `Aina, sometimes Ocean Kaowili. Once again - you never know who of their friends will join in. (More free music).
Culturally, I highly recommend Bishop Museum. If you stay Waikiki, you can easily take the bus. When you have a rental car, go Kahuku and eat at one of the shrimp trucks. I can highly recommend Giovanni's. You will want to go to Haleiwa, which is a neat town on the North Shore, and be sure to stop in at Matsumoto's for shave ice. Try the rainbow kine with ice cream and azuki beans. The Honolulu Zoo is very nice and the Aquarioum is really swell. Lots of folks like the swap meet at Aloha Stadium -- lots of walking there. Of course, don't forget Pearl Harbor, the U.S.S. MIssouri and Punchbowl Cemetary. There may be shows playing at the Waikiki Shell or at the Blaisdell Arena -- you can check their web sites and order tickets on-line, which you can print from any computer (for the Shell, I do not know about the Blaisdell). You will want to see Iolani Palace and the huge Kamehameha the Great statue. You will want to see all the beautiful land on the windward side of the island and see the beautiful Ko`olau mountains, Hanauma Bay, Kane`ohe, Kailua, Sandy's Beach, Pipeline, etc. Also the Makapu`u lighthouse. Depending on how you are at hiking, you can hike there. Me, I only got pictures from a distance!
There is Queen Lili`uokalani's Garden, The Royal Mausoleum, Queen Emma's Summer Palace, Byodo-In Temple, Nu`uanu Pali and just ever so much to see. Get one of the many guidebooks -- I recommend Fyodor's.
I also recommend taking one of the organized tours with a tour guide. You will learn so much more than just going off by yourself. They will show you heiau that you may miss or birthing stones and other important historical and cultural things. And they will talk story with you and tell you of the history and legends and of the gods and goddesses of long ago. I highly recommend one of the all day Grand Circle Island tours.
I also recommend spending a day (yes, an entire day) at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Buy the fancy guided tour-lu`au-evening show package. If you take the guided tour, you will have a personal escort who will explain many things to you, you get priority seating at the different shows and demonstrations, you many times get to ride a golf cart thing instead of so much walking and get pictures taken, etc. You also get priority seating for the lu`au and the evening show and you get a swell dessert concoction at the evening show during intermission. Well worth the expense. I am amazed at the place. Some may think it is very commercialized (the luau is good, but not great). I think it is an excellent way to learn about many different Polynesian cultures.
You will see there is just so much to do that you will need to go back again and again and again. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
|
|
|
FROPPE
Akahai
USA
81 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2008 : 06:38:30 AM
|
We don't have our hotel reservations set yet. We have heard that there is some noisy construction around some of the hotels in the Waikiki area in Honolulu. We plan to contact the hotels directly, and hope that the feedback will be reliable. Anyone know anything about this?
Mahalo,
Ben Sterling |
|
|
|
Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2008 : 08:22:31 AM
|
Ben,
Look up Vacation Rentals By Owner (VRBO).
http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/hawaii/oahu
Then search for rentals in the towns you'd like to stay in. I rented a place for a song ($125/night) just across the street from the beach at Chun's Reef in Haleiwa. Sea turtles (honu) pulled up on the sand at dusk to rest for awhile. I asked for a one bedroom for a month and they put me in a five bedroom suite for the same price so they could rent out the smaller units for shorter stays. The owners had their unit in the back and let me borrow from their quiver of surfboards to see how out of shape I was. They caught me playing slack key on the front porch one sunset then invited me for dinner with some of their friends later in the week if I assured them I would play for them. [Will play for food] Only traffic on the North Shore is when the surf gets REALLY BIG or the locals are cruising the island loop on the weekends. Drawback is that trips to waki-waki take a while but that is true from anywhere except in waki-waki. Oh yeah, and the organic alarm clock (rooster) does not have a snooze button.
I used to live in Aiea and Kahalu'u on Oahu. After a while you get real sick and tired of trying to drive around the Waikiki (waki-waki) traffic looking for a parking spot and avoid going there altogether. There are so many other beaches on Oahu that are nicer -- just not as famous. Fran Guidry swears by a rental he stays in on the Kaneohe side in Kailua (I visited him there and can confirm that it is real nice). There are also so many other things to do and places to see, stories to hear, when you are not in Honolulu -- the hike to Kaena Point; the beach at Bellows Air Force base (open to public during the day); the heiau, botanical gardens, and "jumping rock" in Waimea; shave ice at Matsumoto's, the list goes on. The swap meet at Aloha Stadium is THE place to find real bargains on T-shirts, Aloha shirts, Mu'umu'us, and all kinds of stuff to impress your friends back home without breaking the bank.
There is a nice guide book that you can pick up at CostCo (along with your own copy of the He Mele Aloha songbook ) called Oahu Revealed (ocean blue cover) that will give you information to discover those places where the money-sucking-tourist-machines will never take you and where you can enjoy the fun of discovering things on your own.
When you go and visit the Okami family at the KoAloha Lutherie (it is hard to find, but if you are near the COSTCO and Home Depot in Honolulu, you are within walking distance -- three blocks), tell them CAPT Mike  sent you. Ask Pops about how he came up with the "SCEPTRE" and ask Trish how she broke her arm with the grandkids -- guaranteed to keep you in there for a few hours.
Last piece of help -- DO NOT RENT A CONVERTIBLE. It WILL get broken into and you will have to pay for the damages. |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
Edited by - Mika ele on 01/28/2008 08:24:39 AM |
|
|
|
Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2008 : 08:27:22 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Konabob
Ledward Kaapana plays at the "Kona Brewing Company" one night a week. It might be listed on his web site or on Mele.com.
Sunday, when you're there - he'll be back from his Mainland gigs by then, lucky you.
Oh --- and congratulations on your anniversary! |
|
|
|
wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2008 : 09:14:32 AM
|
Retro - you are a true gentleman. Everyone was very quick to give Ben advice, tell him where to go, etc., and you are the only one kind enough and nice enough to wish him a happy anniversary. You, sir, are a gentleman. You make me ashamed of myself.
Ben - belatedly -- Happy Anniversary! |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
|
|
|
ypochris
Lokahi
USA
398 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2008 : 11:13:35 AM
|
There are two things that draw me to O'ahu besides friends- the Bishop Museum and the State Archives.
Perhaps most people are not as crazy about Hawaiian history as I am, so the archives might be a bit deep- you have to know what you are looking for. But I have never been able to spend enough time at the Bishop Museum. If you enjoy museums and are interested in Hawaiian history, plan on a full day.
Chris
|
|
|
|
Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2008 : 08:28:20 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by wcerto
Retro - you are a true gentleman. Everyone was very quick to give Ben advice, tell him where to go, etc., and you are the only one kind enough and nice enough to wish him a happy anniversary. You, sir, are a gentleman. You make me ashamed of myself.
Pshaw; no need for shame. If my behavior can ever be considered something that is a good influence on another person, that's a pleasant shock. And a credit to those who have taught me by their example (like Momi). |
|
|
|
rendesvous1840
Ha`aha`a
USA
1055 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2008 : 5:30:53 PM
|
Talk story- with anyone who stands still long enough. Ask questions, comment on what you see around you, ask opinions. Be open to the cab/bus/trolley drivers, wait staff in restaurants, musicians on the stage or on the beach. We have a wonderfull time just talking to the people we meet. And memories of good people who were "only" doing their job of driving, feeding or selling to us."It's the same all over, good people everywhere you go." Have a lovely anniversary. Try food you never had before.
Paul |
"A master banjo player isn't the person who can pick the most notes.It's the person who can touch the most hearts." Patrick Costello |
|
|
|
FROPPE
Akahai
USA
81 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2008 : 08:46:38 AM
|
Mahalo to everyone for your comments, suggestions and good wishes. I sincerely appreciate the input. We are certainly looking forward to a wonderful trip, and the best part will be soaking up the Aloha!
Mahalo,
Ben Sterling |
|
|
|
hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2008 : 7:41:55 PM
|
If it hasn't changed, you should check out the Aku Bone Lounge down by Ala Moana Shopping center where there is Hawaiian music featured, usually Tues/Wed nights. In the past, various combinations of musicians play great Hawaiian music. When I was there a year ago, Holunape and Pilioha were there a lot. It's a little out of the way, but just a few blocks from the Ala Moana parking garage. Led shows up there on some nights and plays with those younger musicians who credit Led with teaching or promoting them.
Jesse Tinsley |
|
|
|
Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2008 : 9:50:54 PM
|
Waaahhhh
All this talk makes me "homesick". Da Bus. Eggs and Things, still around? Wish the Tahitian Lanai was. Talk about tight budget, one time I spent 6 weeks on O'ahu with $90 in my pocket. Good thing I had my boyfriend in Lanikai to put me up.
Tight budgets make for great adventures.... when you're young.
Julie |
|
|
|
`Ilio Nui
`Olu`olu
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2008 : 06:51:28 AM
|
I love going to Oahu for the music. Pick up a copy of the TGIF section of the Hololulu Advertiser for a listing of who's playing where for the entire week.
Have a great time.
Julie. Last time I was there it was no longer PC to call it "Da Bus". Sadly now it's called The Bus. I've spent many a hour on that wonderful public transit system.
dog |
|
|
|
Momi
Lokahi
402 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2008 : 10:25:43 AM
|
quote:
Posted by da Big Dog:
Last time I was there it was no longer PC to call it "Da Bus".
I'm old enough to remember when it was called "Uncle Frank's limousine service" (for Frank Fasi, former infamous Mayor of Honolulu). Now it's "Uncle Mufi's taxi service." |
|
|
|
javeiro
Lokahi
USA
459 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2008 : 11:27:23 AM
|
quote:
I'm old enough to remember when it was called "Uncle Frank's limousine service" (for Frank Fasi, former infamous Mayor of Honolulu). Now it's "Uncle Mufi's taxi service."
Wow! So I'm not the only one who is that old!
Just kidding! |
Aloha,
John A. |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
