Oahu, Hawaii - Honolulu and Waikiki Beach

This is our first vacation to Hawaii and we were not spared the trials and tribulations often experienced by airline passengers. Particularily late departures and mechanical failures that can have a very negative impact on your trip, especially if you have planned in advance and the next leg of your journey is dependent on getting to your destination.

Recommendation
Once you're checked in at the airport and you learn that your flight may be delayed DO NOT contact the reservations system via your cell phone. You must work with an agent at the airport to resolve your problems.

We took a taxi, a limosine in our case, from the airport to our hotel, the Aqua Island Colony (read review) which is located about two blocks from the beaches of Waikiki. The ride was $35 dollars and covered 6 people and 10 bags of luggage.

Recommendation
HC Taxi Tour company - Limosine 808.935.5810 and taxi driver Luu in cab #332.

We checked into our hotel about 11pm and wanted to find a place we could have a nightcap. We walked two blocks to Kalakaua Avenue which is the main shopping section of Honolulu and right near the beach. There weren't a lot of choices as most establishments were closed at that time on a Wednesday night. But we did find Tiki's Bar and Grill which is located in the ResortQuest hotel. It has fabulous oversized tiki torches lining the perimeter and giving it a very cool polynesian flair and a huge tiki figure at the entrance where you must pose for a photo. It was open until midnight which gave us just enough time to down our drinks. My favorite was their Mojito, a lime and mint drink that was refreshingly sweet for $8. The Maitai was so-so and not recommended, also $8.

The Tiki Bar and Grill is located at 2570 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815 and their phone number is (808) 923-8454.

Honolulu is home to one of the most famous beaches in the world, Waikiki beach which includes the lovely Waikiki beach walk. Here you'll find a long stretch of white sand fronted by loads of shops for every budget.

Recommendation
If you will be visiting other Hawaiian islands you may want to stock up on souvernirs here as Waikiki is also known for its shopping, as evidenced by the large number of Japanese tourists. Pick up a hula girl for your dashboard as they are pretty nifty mementos and found in abundance at the many stalls and shops.

Oahu is a popular tourist stop and a must visit is the North Shore, in particular the beach at Waimea Bay and the Waimea Valley which is 1,875 acres of lush tropical vegetation (read review). This area will also give you a taste of the natural beauty and culture of Hawaii, including the vistas of sugar cane and red volcanic dirt.

Waimea Beach is a great place to stop for a swim, sunbathing or surfing. There are outcroppings of black volcanic rock from which to dive into the water although you may have to wait your turn as this is a popular activity. The white sands and relatively calm ocean waves are inviting and lure many a passersby.