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jimscottjr
Aloha
USA
38 Posts |
 Posted - 01/27/2011 : 6:04:57 PM
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I will be visiting Honolulu this summer, mostly to visit the Bishop Museum, and related locations. I have visited the big island many, many times, but never been to Oahu.
Where does one look to stay on Oahu that is kind of out of the way, but close to Honolulu? I don't need to visit the tourist areas much, more of a historical visit. Maybe see if I could look Ozzie once to thank him for teaching me slack key (he doesn't know it I'm sure, but he did a fine job).
Any suggestions?
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Old Haole
http://www.haoleslackkey.com/ |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2011 : 01:21:41 AM
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Jim we stayed in Kailua, on the windward side of O`ahu, maybe about 20 miles from the airport. To get to Bishop Museum from there might take you 25 or 30 minutes most (if not rush hour), going across the Pali Highway. The place we stayed is a "cottage" with 2 bedrooms, living room, tiny kitchen & all accotrements, and bathroom. They have a coin-operated washer and dryer on premises, wireless internet. Price was $89/night for us. I do not know how much they charge now, but here is link to their web site. This is where Slpry1 and Thumbstruck stay when they go O`ahu, too. Of course if you stay there, you will definitely need to rent a ridiculously priced rental car.
http://kaysvacations.com/awakea.html |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2168 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2011 : 05:10:59 AM
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| Don't forget to go to Leonard's for malasadas! |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2011 : 5:10:22 PM
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| Thumbs & me recommended the place in Kailua to Paul & Wanda. It's a great location, but you need one car. Hard to park near the Bishop Museum, tho. I like Kailua a lot, quiet, great restaurants and a fabulous beach. You can drive through the hole in the mountain (Pali Highway) to the madness that's Honolulu. I usually only go in to hear or play with friends and idols. Lenoard's Malasadas reshape really good after 30 sec. in the microwave. |
keaka |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2011 : 01:22:31 AM
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Only thing - she gets ants in the kitchen. Little tiny, itsy bitsy ants. Oh, and a gecko in the bathroom. Scared me to death. No air conditioning, either, but plenty fans and ceiling fans, too. I think it rained some just about every night (or maybe early morning), but I think that is normal for that side of the island. Kailua Beach is indeed beautiful.
Rental cars are not cheap, but if you are wanting to see stuff away from Waikiki, you will need a car.
However, if you have never been there, then I recommend you take at least one guided tour with a tour company. They will teach you so much that you may miss on your own. We recommend O`ahu Nature Tours: http://www.oahunaturetours.com/
You also should go to the Polynesian Cultural Center in La`ie. Not too far away if you stay Kailua. If you decide to stay in a hotel, you can arrange with a tour company to pick you up and your hotel. It is well worth the price. Once again, here we spent $$$ for the "ali`i" package. It gives you tickets to the lu`au, tickets to the evening show with a dessert during intermission and a guide to take you all around the park. It is worth it because they ride you around in an electric cart and you get preferred seating in all the different areas, and you get much more information from the guides than if you try to take in all this amazing stuff on your own.
And don't go to the Crouching Lion Inn. It stinks. In more ways than one. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2011 : 01:29:09 AM
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Oooh, but I forgot to say that oyu will probably want to go to Waikiki at least once to go to the Kani Ka Pila Grille at the Outrigger on the Beach. Great music every evening - check their web site but you may be Cyril Pahinui on Wednesdays, Thursdays might see Kawika Kahiapo & Martin Pahinui, Tuesdays might see Bryan Tolentino, Alika Boy Kalauli & Weldon Kekauoha, or maybe sometimes even Del Beazley.
Thursday evenings at the Marriott -- the Keawe `Ohana (Aunty Genoa's family)..
Sunday evenings at the Marriott - George Kuo, Martin Pahinui, Aaron Mahi & often Bobby Ingano
Sunday evenings at Kona Brewing Co. iin Hawai`i Kai - Ledward Kaapana
Sunday afternoons at Honey's at the Ko`olau Golf Course, The Sons of Hawai`i - Eddie Kamae, Mike Ka`awa, Analu Aina and sometimes that CUTE Ocean Kaowili.
And Chai's (a very special occasion restaurant) at Aloha Tower has wonderful music every evening. Sometimes Jerry Santos, sometimes Brothers Cazimero, sometimes Na Palapalai, sometimes Makaha Sons.
All that music is FREE. Just need to buy food or drinks or pupus. Which you would need in the first place.
There is a plethora of music. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2011 : 08:14:22 AM
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"Crazy ants" we call those little erratically-moving buggahs. Much like the geckos and similar lizards, they are a part of life in the tropical world. Just bring zippered storage bags to keep your food in (and ants out). A daily chance of windward mauka showers is also standard on that side of O`ahu - usually brief.
I won't go deeply into the "politics" of visiting P.C.C. - it's good for some accurate information on Polynesian life, and the people who are there (mostly Brigham Young/LDS students) are wonderful people to talk with. But it's also commonly known as "the human zoo."
If you do advance research, there are many historical sites you can visit - ancient fishponds, heiau and the like - that are not overly tourist-y or heavily covered with modern interpretive signage; but visit them with great respect and you may find them to be intense experiences.
One of the best sources for a range of excellent publications on Hawaiian culture and history is Nā Mea Hawai`i/Native Books in the Ward Warehouse shops in Honolulu. Bookends, at the Kailua Square Shopping Center, has some marvelous used books in their "Hawaiiana" section.
As for the free music in Waikīkī, be aware that the not-so-hidden cost comes from parking in the area, so if you are staying outside of Honolulu and driving a rental car, that's a very big hit in the wallet. |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2011 : 08:53:25 AM
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| Cheap and sometimes free parking at the Outrigger. Valet kine. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2011 : 08:58:09 AM
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| And re: the "human zoo" aspect of P.C.C., I agree that it might seem that way if you do not engage the people and talk to them and ask questions about their culture and appreciate the unique aspects of each of those cultures. We absolutely loved the place. But if we went without a guide and were just walking around on our own, I think I might agree that it would be like that. I feel like that when I go Amish area of Ohio. All the city folks go there and drive by just to see an bearded Amish guy driving a horse-drawn buggy and then they get all p.o.'d and beep their horn when they can't pass him by at 50 mph. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2011 : 09:38:04 AM
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Re Wanda's free validated parking recommendations - there's validated parking at:
Waikiki Marriot
Halekaulana
Outrigger
Also, 25 cents/hr parking meters in the zoo parking lot on Kapahulu, if you're headed to the eastern end of Waikiki (Marriott, Royal Hawiaan, and other east end hotels). You can get a bus to the other end, or hoof it. |
keaka |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2011 : 10:08:50 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by wcerto
And re: the "human zoo" aspect of P.C.C., I agree that it might seem that way if you do not engage the people and talk to them and ask questions about their culture and appreciate the unique aspects of each of those cultures. We absolutely loved the place. But if we went without a guide and were just walking around on our own, I think I might agree that it would be like that.
What you see, hear & learn at P.C.C. is tightly controlled, and the message is filtered by the L.D.S. Knowing that going in, it can still be an enjoyable experience. |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2168 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2011 : 2:52:56 PM
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| Eh, Wanda, da gecko was cute and didn't bother my guitar and was too small to open the fridge. |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2011 : 3:03:38 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by thumbstruck
Eh, Wanda, da gecko was cute and didn't bother my guitar and was too small to open the fridge.
You didn't see his big braddah den - musta been at da beach. 
Momi's madda is also freaked by lizards - and she's lived her whole life on O`ahu. Wanda's got a lot of company in that realm. |
Edited by - Retro on 01/29/2011 3:04:53 PM |
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kuulei88
Akahai
USA
75 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2011 : 7:08:45 PM
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I am a big fan of TheBus as the most responsible way of not adding to already congested traffic conditions with a rental car. All the bus maps and schedules are online at www.thebus.org There are two more apps that make it usable.
1. Google Maps: you can get directions from Point A (usually your current location) to Point B via public transit--click on the bus icon right next to the car icon.
2. TheBus website has a page called TheBusHEA at http://hea.thebus.org Every bus stop has a number, and most buses are equipped with GPS. So on the HEA page, you enter the bus stop number, or you can enter street names too. The app will tell you when the next buses are due at that stop.
The major drawback is that service at night is infrequent except in Waikiki and along the #1 route (Kahala Mall to Kalihi Transit Center along Beretania / King St.). BUT if you are staying anywhere in Waikiki, you can get many many places extremely conveniently AND when you get off the bus, you donʻt have to worry about parking or paying for parking.
Many lines run through downtown to get to Iolani Palace, State Capitol, State Archives. #2 and B Express will get you to Bishop Museum. And the circle island lines are the budget way to see the island on a bus fare. There are several options of bus passes to purchase, and the ubiquitous ABC Stores all sell the passes. |
amy k |
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dr. cookie
Lokahi
USA
299 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2011 : 10:30:31 PM
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Once upon a time (a long long time ago) a lady friend made dinner for me and few other friends at her home in Kahala.
Half-way through dinner she needed to refill the pepper grinder.
She tapped it on the palm of her hand to remove the last of any old peppercorns . . . and half of a dried gecko fell out.
Yes, half.
Just thought I'd share.
Don |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2168 Posts |
Posted - 01/30/2011 : 06:27:30 AM
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| Gecko jerky? |
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Topic |
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Location advice for Honolulu visit
