Hawaii Waikiki (or near) - any recommendations on what to do?

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jen1001

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#2306571 27-Aug-2019 08:30

If you have time, try going to Kamehameha Bakery.

They're really popular over there and make the best donuts - Poi donuts are their specialty and everyone seems to go there to get them. We brought some back to NZ, the TSA agent at Honolulu airport spotted the box in our carry on and told us we made the right choice 😁

https://www.kamehamehabakeryhi.com/

We took the bus to Pearl Harbour and I'm pretty sure it was on the same route. Make sure you go there in the morning as they seem to run out after a certain time.

Leonard's bakery is very good too https://www.leonardshawaii.com/home/

Have a great holiday!

duckDecoy

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#2306677 27-Aug-2019 11:42

Just discovered the USS Arizona is closed :( https://www.nps.gov/valr/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

For those who have been

1. Is the tour still worth it without going onto the memorial itself

2. Are the other sites worth visiting, e.g. the submarine place, battleship Missouri etc

A consideration in any replies: will have an 8yr boy so it needs to be interesting and probably with some hands on stuff.

SATTV

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#2306684 27-Aug-2019 11:58

duckDecoy:

Just discovered the USS Arizona is closed :( https://www.nps.gov/valr/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

For those who have been

1. Is the tour still worth it without going onto the memorial itself

2. Are the other sites worth visiting, e.g. the submarine place, battleship Missouri etc

A consideration in any replies: will have an 8yr boy so it needs to be interesting and probably with some hands on stuff.

I found the submarine fascinating, my mother would not go in it as it was a bit claustrophobic, if I recall there were 50 crew, we only had 10 in our tour group and that was cramped enough.

Might not be for everyone.

John

I know enough to be dangerous

zyo

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#2307175 28-Aug-2019 10:40

Also make sure you try Helena's Hawaiian Food (very popular with locals)

Dingbatt

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#2307220 28-Aug-2019 12:01

I think the boats will still go out to the memorial, but you won't be able to go on to the memorial itself. You will still be able to see the wreck from the boat.
Just as interesting for me was sailing past the Naval Base on the way out to the memorial. The USS Nimitz was in port and we went quite close to it.
The Missouri, Aviation Museum and Bowfin triple pass was worth it, but then I'm into that sort of stuff. You can get close enough to the exhibits to touch them. Might depend if your boy likes military machinery as to whether it is worth your while. Don't go into the Bowfin if you get claustrophobic. We spent the whole day at Pearl Harbor. Arrived at about 9am and left about 4.30pm. Got an Uber to and from Waikiki. Doing it yourself was much cheaper than the advertised tours of Pearl Harbor where you are picked up from your hotel.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

xpd

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#2307234 28-Aug-2019 12:19

I havent been since 1990, but remember visiting USS Bowfin, Arizona memorial, Ala Moana shopping mall, International markets, hopped on the bus and went right round the island for like 25c, Waimea Falls and more....

Had a ball....

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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Dono

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#2307262 28-Aug-2019 13:25

duckDecoy:

Just discovered the USS Arizona is closed :( https://www.nps.gov/valr/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

For those who have been

1. Is the tour still worth it without going onto the memorial itself

2. Are the other sites worth visiting, e.g. the submarine place, battleship Missouri etc

A consideration in any replies: will have an 8yr boy so it needs to be interesting and probably with some hands on stuff.

We were there at the start of the month and did a Missouri + Monument tour. IMO the replacement option for the monument (where they take you on a boat past it and the Missouri) was pretty disappointing, you couldn't really see anything as they didn't get close. We did a helicopter tour a couple of days before (http://www.magnumhelicopters.com/) and that offered a better view when they flew over.

The Missouri part was pretty good though

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allan

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#2307266 28-Aug-2019 13:50

If you go on the Missouri, check out the WWII Japanese surrender document, where the Australian witness signed on the wrong line, forcing the NZ rep to sign in the wrong place (I'm guessing we were last). Oh and also the 1980's vintage McDonalds plastic swivel chairs in the crew mess area - obviously from one of the numerous refits mentioned earlier in the thread.

duckDecoy

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#2307269 28-Aug-2019 13:53

Dono:

We were there at the start of the month and did a Missouri + Monument tour. IMO the replacement option for the monument (where they take you on a boat past it and the Missouri) was pretty disappointing, you couldn't really see anything as they didn't get close. We did a helicopter tour a couple of days before (http://www.magnumhelicopters.com/) and that offered a better view when they flew over.

The Missouri part was pretty good though

Did you book online first? Or just do a walk up. It doesn't look like they are offering online bookings for the early slots, which I would prefer due to the heat.

Are they physically separate areas and you have to leave one to travel to the other, or are they sort of all together and you wander between them.

I'd also like to know how long they take to do. I think the Monument said its a 75min tour, but how much other stuff is there to do at each? The reason for the question is knowing how far apart to space the tickets if we end up booking online.

Dingbatt

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#2307326 28-Aug-2019 14:35

We just walked up and asked what monument tours were available.
"One is leaving in 15 minutes, how many tickets do you want? Four please."
Being a National Monument, it was first come first served, and free. You could request which timeslot you wanted (from memory).
The Missouri, Bowfin and Aviation Museum tours (admission charge) are in the opposite direction from the Arizona theatrette and wharf. (Go left for the Arizona, go right for the others). I can't remember if you you can leave these museums and then return after visiting the Arizona so I was glad we were able to do that first.
There are hop on hop off buses to take you between the Missouri, Museum and Bowfin. The Bowfin is tied up at the beginning/end where you first walk in. We left it till last to make sure we had plenty of time at the other two while the buses were running. The Missouri and Aviation Museum are both on Ford Island and reached via a causeway/bridge. The museum is in a hangar that still has bullet holes in it from the Japanese attack.
Each attraction has its own souvenir shop and there is one at the entrance/exit by the Bowfin as well.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

pdh

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#2307333 28-Aug-2019 14:43

Okay - info from one year ago, but still good AFAIK.

Pearl - rocked up at opening, bought self-guided 'super' tickets.
I remember 5 separate 'components'.
1- Gallery of history - photos, text and video was superb.
Had my wife in tears - and she's not a crier.
2 - Launch trip was worth doing - Arizona Memorial raft is/was closed - didn't matter.
3 - Bus trip across causeway to island to Battleship - excellent, lots to see;
4 - and on to aircraft museum - quite good (or better if you like military aircraft).
5 - Bowfin submarine was best sub I have been in

#1 & 5 were a couple of minutes walk from each other.
#2 left from nearby - maybe a couple of minutes walk ?
#3 & 4 were two stops on same bus route (part of super ticket)
maybe 5 minutes on the bus - queue for bus was not long.

We did #1 first - to get overview.
Then the rest in the order listed above - seemed logistically the easiest, but not imperative.
Can't remember what the super ticket was called - still expensive but less than buying the parts separately.
Didn't feel the need for a guide.
Didn't feel ripped off - glad we went.
Left a mark.

For an 8 yo... 2, 3 & 5 would be good - maybe 4 and a bit of 1.
Whole place is run jointly by USA Parks - who usually work to be good with kids -
and the US Navy - it's still both an active Naval base and a National Memorial.

It's an impressive and moving (and technically interesting) visit.
We spent pretty much the whole day - and we're not Military nerds.

pdh

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#2307334 28-Aug-2019 14:45

No one's yet suggested going to the big flea market at the stadium parking lot.
Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 8 til 3
I know - sounds lame, but actually the sheer scale is impressive.
Lots of kids all ages and a million stalls with everything from junk to food to clothes.
Take water and hats (or buy there).
Free to get in.
Good vibe.

Well worth a couple of hours

Dono

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#2307773 29-Aug-2019 12:33

duckDecoy:

Did you book online first? Or just do a walk up. It doesn't look like they are offering online bookings for the early slots, which I would prefer due to the heat.

Are they physically separate areas and you have to leave one to travel to the other, or are they sort of all together and you wander between them.

I'd also like to know how long they take to do. I think the Monument said its a 75min tour, but how much other stuff is there to do at each? The reason for the question is knowing how far apart to space the tickets if we end up booking online.

We booked as part of a tour to save on hassle, so it was all organised for us. The Missouri and Air Museum are separate (on Ford Island) from the visitors center, where the Monument tour leaves and Bowfin Sub is. Ford island is an active Navy facility so only authorised vehicles are allowed (Shuttles tours etc) and you can't just walk over the bridge.

We spent a bit of time looking around the Missouri about 1.5 hours. At the visitor center, the trip to the monument includes a short movie about the events leading up to the day, it's about 15 or 20 minutes from memory but really good.

Apart from the Bowfin there isn't much at the visitor center apart from some exhibits so we didn't spend much time there

Kiwifan

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#2307975 29-Aug-2019 18:02

Just seen on Flipboard that the USS Arizona Memorial will be open again as of this weekend. We were very moved when we did the tour a couple of years ago. If you were on the fence before this might be a deal breaker.

shk292

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#2308007 29-Aug-2019 18:50

I was there last week, some great advice so far on this thread. I've previously visited Missouri and the aviation museum, both very worthwhile if you have any interest in military history.

Shopping is great but not as cheap as it used to be with the exchange rate how it is.

I have to say I was very disappointed with Hanauma Bay, but most of the snorkelling I've done has been in Rarotonga so I'm spoilt. The water vis wasn't great, neither was the variety of fish and coral.

Having visited before but not got out of Honolulu, I thoroughly recommend hiring a car and just doing a slow road trip around the island. The north shore is more like a real Pacific Island than the city is. Shrimp stalls make a great lunch stop, although one we stopped at and hurriedly left had a disgusting smell from the nearby ponds

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