Ange wrote:
We're staying in Wakiki (if that's how you spell it). I've had a look at a few tours that include Pearl Harbour and the Dole Plantation but I'm not sure whether we're best booking online before we go or waiting til we get there?
For the first week in Hawaii, we stayed in the Castle Ocean Resort Hotel Waikiki. A block from the seafront and much, much cheaper than the seafront equivalents (we were in a Diamond Head View Suite on the 19th floor, complete with kitchen, for 58 quid a night for the room).
Having looked it up, our tour was the
Circle Island Tour, run by Discover Hidden Hawaii. We booked it through Expedia and have absolutely
no complaints about it, even though it was the sort of thing we normally would avoid like the plague. The guide/driver was Kenn, a sort of cross between Isaac Hayes and Samuel L Jackson, with a wicked sense of humour.
It starts at 6am and lasts for about 11 hours, including lunch. Reason for the early start is that tickets to Pearl Harbour are free, but it is very, very busy. The ticketing system is first come, first served and there are only so many tours during the day, so the tours get there early. You see a very interesting film of the attack, plus a boat ride and abut 20 minutes out at the USS Arizona. From memory, we got to PH at 7.45am and our showing was 9.00am.
It is absolutely fascinating, very moving and totally free of all that US gushing sentimentality and patriotism.
From there, a stop at Dole Plantation - I hate pineapple normally, but fresh, fresh pineapple is
lovely. Then various spots on the island, beaches, a nut plantation. Some of the places where they filmed Lost, Jurassic Park and so on. All the while getting a feel for the history of Hawaii - totally, totally brilliant.
Looking at the receipt, it was £74.40 for the pair of us. Lunch was included I think, and was most excellent. Proper restaurant at
Koolau Golf Club.
You won't see the Byodo-in Temple though, but what it does do is give you a chance to scout the island a bit. When we got back to Oahu, we had to hire a car (long story), so we ended up at Byodo-In and it was just beautiful. The car also helped us get to Sandy Beach and the blowholes, about 20 minutes out of Waikiki.
Waikiki is a bit too touristy and cramped to be honest. Wonderful, clean, relaxing, but the beach can be cramped. (And it is imported sand as well.) It is a lovely honeymoon destination though, and the sunset is spectacular.